Georgia Kostopoulou
Before I say anything else, I want to say that this is the first Riley Sager book that I read. I have been seeing all the hype around his books and I was so intrigued, that as soon as I saw “The House Across the Lake” available for request on NetGalley, Ι went ahead and pressed the request button! Well, the least I can say is that it was an enjoyable read.
Casey Fletcher, a daughter of an actress and an actress herself, is staying at her family’s lake house in Vermont as per her mother’s request. She had to leave the city and go hide over there because she has made a spectacle of herself. She has been more drunk than sober for so many days. However, according to Casey, she had a really good reason! She lost her husband not so long ago and she still cannot deal with what happened. The worst of it is that Len, her husband, had drowned into this very lake, so she doesn’t really agree with her mother’s decision to sent her there. Too many memories. Too many sad memories that will not help her get better any time soon! But at least, there are no reporters to witness her downfall. There is only Ely there to keep an eye on her, in case she needed something. Like more booze for example!
Well, actually, there is not only Eli. In the house across the lake, there is also a very well known and rich couple, Tom and Katherine Royce. That house is new and has so much glass instead of walls, that Casey finds it hard not to look at it. Especially at night, when the lights make it somewhat of a stage, Casey, armed with a pair of binoculars and a bottle or two of bourbon or whiskey, watches the glamorous couple, the tech innovator and the former supermodel. Until one day, Casey saves Katherine from drowning in the lake and this is the tipping point of their relationship. The two women come closer and build a friendship and so Casey continues watching Katherine and Tom as she realises that something is off about their marriage. And then, one day, Katherine suddenly disappears and Tom looks guilty in Casey’s eyes. She is determined to find out what has happened to Katherine even if it means breaking into Tom’s house or contacting the police.
When I started reading the book, it felt as if Casey was a man. The discussion she had with the detective is what had me confused there, even though the detective was clearly a woman. I guess it had something to do with the fact that she was consuming too much alcohol or that she had somebody tied up, which would require some strength. Maybe it was the way she was talking, I don’t know. After some time, when she introduced herself, it became clear that Casey was a woman that had gone through a lot.
While reading the book I had a pretty good idea of what might be happening, but then at some point, very far on the book, I understood that it’s not what I thought at all. There were a few twists that took place near the end of the book and changed the perspective a few times. All in all, it was really easy to read and it made you think you have a clue of what might be happening, but there are secrets that are not revealed until the very end.
Thank you to NetGalley & PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, Dutton for an advance copy of this book. The views expressed are my personal and honest opinion.
