Home Before Dark: 'Clever, twisty, spine-chilling' Ruth Ware

Home Before Dark: 'Clever, twisty, spine-chilling' Ruth Ware

  • Downloads:6879
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-08-13 02:41:20
  • Update Date:2025-09-23
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Riley Sager
  • ISBN:152935823X
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

In the latest thriller from New York Times bestseller Riley Sager, a woman returns to the house made famous by her father’s bestselling horror memoir。 Is the place really haunted by evil forces, as her father claimed? Or are there more earthbound - and dangerous - secrets hidden within its walls?

"What was it like? Living in that house?" Maggie Holt is used to such questions。 Twenty-five years ago, she and her parents, Ewan and Jess, moved into Baneberry Hall, a rambling Victorian estate in the Vermont woods。 They spent three weeks there before fleeing in the dead of night, an ordeal Ewan later recounted in a non-fiction book called House of Horrors。 His tale of ghostly happenings and encounters with malevolent spirits became a worldwide phenomenon, rivaling The Amityville Horror in popularity - and skepticism。

Today, Maggie is a restorer of old homes and too young to remember any of the events mentioned in her father’s book。 But she also doesn’t believe a word of it。 Ghosts, after all, don’t exist。 When Maggie inherits Baneberry Hall after her father’s death, she returns to renovate the place to prepare it for sale。 But her homecoming is anything but warm。 People from the past, chronicled in House of Horrors, lurk in the shadows。 And locals aren’t thrilled that their small town has been made infamous thanks to Maggie’s father。 Even more unnerving is Baneberry Hall itself - a place filled with relics from another era that hint at a history of dark deeds。 As Maggie experiences strange occurrences straight out of her father’s book, she starts to believe that what he wrote was more fact than fiction。

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Reviews

Kelli

Good book。 Ending had a twist。 Would’ve liked the twist to be creepier。 Even with the twist ending, it laid a little flat。

Lanna

Unreal。 This whole book took me for a ride, and honestly gave me the creeps。 Highly recommend。

Adele Greenhall

Creepy and clever。I’ve been looking for a book that gives me the creeps。 I don’t scare easily which leaves me disappointed with most horror books or films… everybody enjoys being scared witless don’t they?This book makes me feel slightly paranoid, a bit creeped out… and then。 nearing the end, when my daughter can’t sleep and unexpectedly barges into the bedroom… I realise I love this book as it’s made my daughter’s appearance scare the living daylights out of me! Really well written and put toge Creepy and clever。I’ve been looking for a book that gives me the creeps。 I don’t scare easily which leaves me disappointed with most horror books or films… everybody enjoys being scared witless don’t they?This book makes me feel slightly paranoid, a bit creeped out… and then。 nearing the end, when my daughter can’t sleep and unexpectedly barges into the bedroom… I realise I love this book as it’s made my daughter’s appearance scare the living daylights out of me! Really well written and put together。 Complex and thought provoking but enjoyable。 。。。more

Kaley Catron

Oh my god。 THERE WERE TWISTS。 But there were GHOSTS! And boy oh boy is it everything I needed。 I don’t even have proper words to express how excited I was about this book and while reading/listening to it I was literally sitting there with a huge grin on my face。 Supernatural elements with the classic shocking Riley Sager twists? I want more。

Mom & Dad

End was awesome…took a while to get there though。

Roxie Gallinger

My first time reading this Author, I feel this book was ok。。may try another to see if my opinion of this Author may change

Marizol Carmona

This book actually freaked me out it had me hearing noises and looking behind me 😬

Jeannette Mazur

I think I may be in love with Riley Sager。 His books are so well written and scary。 This has been one of the best ones I've read to date! It kept me guessing till the end。 I really, really enjoyed it。 Maybe I'll re-read it at halloween! 9。5/10 I think I may be in love with Riley Sager。 His books are so well written and scary。 This has been one of the best ones I've read to date! It kept me guessing till the end。 I really, really enjoyed it。 Maybe I'll re-read it at halloween! 9。5/10 。。。more

marion louise

This book was simply addictive, so much so that I could not put it down。 I highly recommend this if you are a fan of haunted houses with lots of twists and an unpredictable ending!!

Fatima

I really thought I had it figured out。 I was convinced I had it figured out。 Iconic。

Amanda

This is my first Riley Sagar novel and this was definitely one heck of a wild ride! From beginning to end, I was caught up in what really happened at Baneberry Hall。 Thankfully, Sagar had written Maggie as a realistic main character, suspicious but still willing to set the record straight as far as how past meet the expectations from her father’s book。 I totally did not see the wrap up to end the way it did。 While some parts of Ewan’s storytelling seemed to be a little hard to get into at times, This is my first Riley Sagar novel and this was definitely one heck of a wild ride! From beginning to end, I was caught up in what really happened at Baneberry Hall。 Thankfully, Sagar had written Maggie as a realistic main character, suspicious but still willing to set the record straight as far as how past meet the expectations from her father’s book。 I totally did not see the wrap up to end the way it did。 While some parts of Ewan’s storytelling seemed to be a little hard to get into at times, the present day understandings and piecing together made up for it。 Looking forward to reading more from this author! 。。。more

Tina White

I loved this book。 I love the back and forth between Maggie’s fathers book and real time。 I really enjoyed the build up and I tried not to guess at what I thought was going to happen, but even with my theories, I was still wrong。 I enjoyed the twists and turns and each page kept me wanting more。 I can’t wait to read Riley’s other books!

greta ☁️

i was obsessed with this book。 flipping pages after pages & telling myself every single night before bed "one more chapter" thing。 it was soooo damn addicting 😩 i'm a chicken when it comes to ghost stories, so it's not surprising that i was unnerved reading this, but i never usually get creeped out over books, only movies lmaoo, but this one legit done the trick。 several times i actually got jump scares, one of them when my cat started suddenly scratching the door to get in the room while i was i was obsessed with this book。 flipping pages after pages & telling myself every single night before bed "one more chapter" thing。 it was soooo damn addicting 😩 i'm a chicken when it comes to ghost stories, so it's not surprising that i was unnerved reading this, but i never usually get creeped out over books, only movies lmaoo, but this one legit done the trick。 several times i actually got jump scares, one of them when my cat started suddenly scratching the door to get in the room while i was reading 😂what i also liked about the book was that the author put twists on twists on twists。 like, he lets u think one thing then boom turns out it's the other, but then it's not the other, but comPLETELY different one, yk what i mean??? he always does u dirt like that 😂 i didn't see anything coming tbh, so that thrilled me。also, can we just praise Riley Sager for writing short chapters? i love it。 damn much。 thank u。 from the bottom of my heart。anyway, the beginning & the middle part got me proper ✨OBSESSED✨, i couldn't put it down 😩and the book within the book?? LOVE THAT。 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀but then。。。 i've seen loads of people say that the ending disappointed them。 i was like how?? how can it disappoint w a story line like that?? but disappoint it did。。。 i won't tell u why cuz all the things started unraveling then & it'd be spoiled, but yeah, i'm with u guys。 i wasn't a fan AT ALL of the ending although it all added up so nicely。 it'd of been more thrilling and horrific if it kept going on the way it did。 。。。more

Markie Hicks

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Genre,Thriller,Horror,Psychological,Mystery Review:ok so I loved this book so much I thought Lock Every Door was good man this one blew my mind,This is my favorite Riley Sager book so far。What I liked:I loved almost everything about this book hence the five stars lol,from the characters to the amazing plot twists,None of it was boring it was action packed all the way through in my opinion,also the first twist where Maggie was the killer I was like holy crap so that’s the big one Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Genre,Thriller,Horror,Psychological,Mystery Review:ok so I loved this book so much I thought Lock Every Door was good man this one blew my mind,This is my favorite Riley Sager book so far。What I liked:I loved almost everything about this book hence the five stars lol,from the characters to the amazing plot twists,None of it was boring it was action packed all the way through in my opinion,also the first twist where Maggie was the killer I was like holy crap so that’s the big one with the letter, I was like that’s good but I don’t know if it’s five star worthy but then we got to where Marta was the one that actually killed Petra and I literally said out loud what the crap,😂So needless to say I won’t be forgetting about this book anytime soon。What I didn’t like:I wish there was a supernatural element to it I knew going in from reviews that there was gonna be no supernatural twist,but the twists were still amazing I just like supernatural stuff,I mean tonically Petra was kinda of a sprit that helped her in the end we think, but I wanted full proof if that makes sense。 。。。more

Jen

An extra star because-This book glows in the dark。I didn't see that feature mentioned in any of the reviews I skimmed。 I only noticed, myself, after reading it outside one afternoon, then seeing it -glowing green- on my bedside table later that night after a trip to the bathroom。 The title and spine both glow in the dark。Other than that, it's a mostly lackluster "suspense" tale that suddenly gets really good 3/4 of the way through。 I didn't care for how the author tried to make the Book more int An extra star because-This book glows in the dark。I didn't see that feature mentioned in any of the reviews I skimmed。 I only noticed, myself, after reading it outside one afternoon, then seeing it -glowing green- on my bedside table later that night after a trip to the bathroom。 The title and spine both glow in the dark。Other than that, it's a mostly lackluster "suspense" tale that suddenly gets really good 3/4 of the way through。 I didn't care for how the author tried to make the Book more intimidating by capitalizing it in the main character's mind。 Nor did I like how the story alternated between excerpts and present day。 At some point, the reader does forget to make the distinction between reality and Ewan's fiction。 The culmination of it all almost gets lost in the hype。 The ending is what makes the whole thing actually great, after reading through the rest feeling let down, worrying it will fall flat。 Could have used a better title, though。 This one lacks relevance。 。。。more

Ali Balchunas

Okay, I hated this。 I stuck it out through the whole thing hoping it would have some unique touch to it but it was just straight up copy and paste scenes from every haunted house story you’ve ever heard with some mystery thriller “twists。” It seemed like the author watched Haunting of Hill House, Stranger Things, and a bad Lifetime mystery movie and just made a story out of scenes he liked from all of those。 This author also really doesn’t shine writing female characters。 Women aren’t CONSTANTLY Okay, I hated this。 I stuck it out through the whole thing hoping it would have some unique touch to it but it was just straight up copy and paste scenes from every haunted house story you’ve ever heard with some mystery thriller “twists。” It seemed like the author watched Haunting of Hill House, Stranger Things, and a bad Lifetime mystery movie and just made a story out of scenes he liked from all of those。 This author also really doesn’t shine writing female characters。 Women aren’t CONSTANTLY thinking about men perceiving them as capable and strong—quit writing women as if their whole worlds revolve around how men see them。 Two thumbs down。 。。。more

Jessica

This is my favorite Ruth ware book。 Maybe even my favorite thriller。 Absolutely loved this

Maeher

Cliche but fun! Better pacing than "final girls" and easy to get through。 A good beach read, even actually scary at some parts Cliche but fun! Better pacing than "final girls" and easy to get through。 A good beach read, even actually scary at some parts 。。。more

Ananda Subramani

🤯。。。 What a plot-line。 I just couldn't keep this thrilling page-turner down。 Finished the whole book in 7hrs flat (the rest of my daily routines were paused for that entire period)。 A book that's nail-biting, scary and yet intriguing。 Whodunnit you ask? Well, read on to be mesmerized by a creepy house and all the secrets it bears!!! 🤯。。。 What a plot-line。 I just couldn't keep this thrilling page-turner down。 Finished the whole book in 7hrs flat (the rest of my daily routines were paused for that entire period)。 A book that's nail-biting, scary and yet intriguing。 Whodunnit you ask? Well, read on to be mesmerized by a creepy house and all the secrets it bears!!! 。。。more

Lauren

I really liked the second half of this book。 It took a while for the plot to get interesting but it picks up in the middle。 The first half is standard haunted house fare, nothing super interesting。 It's got a fun dual perspective though - I liked alternating between Maggie's and Ewan's books。 I enjoyed the fast pace and the reveals in the second half。 I didn't mind how quickly things were wrapped up。 I just don't understand why Ewan left Maggie the house in the first place。 Or why her mother dis I really liked the second half of this book。 It took a while for the plot to get interesting but it picks up in the middle。 The first half is standard haunted house fare, nothing super interesting。 It's got a fun dual perspective though - I liked alternating between Maggie's and Ewan's books。 I enjoyed the fast pace and the reveals in the second half。 I didn't mind how quickly things were wrapped up。 I just don't understand why Ewan left Maggie the house in the first place。 Or why her mother disappears on vacation in the beginning of the book。 These actions don't really make sense if they don't want Maggie to go back to the house。 Overall, this was an enjoyable read。 HBD was my first Sager novel and I'm interested in reading another。 。。。more

Amy

Similar to the "Haunting of" series on Netflix。 It was pretty spooky at times, but I was disappointed in the ending。 Similar to the "Haunting of" series on Netflix。 It was pretty spooky at times, but I was disappointed in the ending。 。。。more

Jennifer Claywood

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 3。4 stars…maybe 3。5It was a pretty solid story all the way through…except for a few things。 1) WHY was Maggie surprised every time something in the book her father wrote turned out to be true? He was a nonfiction author…who knew how to do research。 He also would have known that people could do their own research to contradict historical events he portrayed in the book。 Her thinking he was lying about that stuff just seemed strange to me。 2) Why wasn’t the fact that she couldn’t remember anything 3。4 stars…maybe 3。5It was a pretty solid story all the way through…except for a few things。 1) WHY was Maggie surprised every time something in the book her father wrote turned out to be true? He was a nonfiction author…who knew how to do research。 He also would have known that people could do their own research to contradict historical events he portrayed in the book。 Her thinking he was lying about that stuff just seemed strange to me。 2) Why wasn’t the fact that she couldn’t remember anything just basically ignored? 3) Recording equipment。 Not once is this even suggested as a way to document or catch people or supernatural entities doing things in the house。 I know there’s something I’m forgetting…will add more later。 Those problems being said…the book was entertaining and well written, even if derivative。 。。。more

Keisha | A Book Like You

It’s been a year since I read a Riley Sager book, so it was time to give it another go! This book was soooo scary。 Like I don’t do scary movies, and this was borderline too creepy at times for me。 But, hear me out, as long as you don’t read it in the dark, during the night time, or home alone, then I think you can make it through like I did! The storyline was absolutely gripping。 I loved the alternating timelines between present day with Maggie and years ago with her dad’s book。 I had so many di It’s been a year since I read a Riley Sager book, so it was time to give it another go! This book was soooo scary。 Like I don’t do scary movies, and this was borderline too creepy at times for me。 But, hear me out, as long as you don’t read it in the dark, during the night time, or home alone, then I think you can make it through like I did! The storyline was absolutely gripping。 I loved the alternating timelines between present day with Maggie and years ago with her dad’s book。 I had so many different theories throughout the story, but I never guessed how it would end! I still think The Last Time I Lied is my favorite Riley Sager。。 I mean nothing can top that twist! But this comes in as my second favorite RS book and one I will definitely recommend! 。。。more

Shauna Bostick

Could not put it down!

Lauren Hammonds

4。5⭐️ good book。 I really enjoyed this audiobook。 Very close to 5 stars favorite for me but I’m going to think about this novel some more。

Kayla Young

Wow wow wow。 I absolutely loved this book。 There were many twists and turns and it was unpredictable。 It was just the right amount of spooky。 I loved the format of the book because we saw the past story through the eyes of the Father in the book he wrote, then we saw Maggie’s perspective 30 years after they fled the house。 I highly recommend this one。

Ezzie Vissie

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 This (audio)book was a riiide。 The story started pretty solid and the dual storyline was entertaining。 The ending chhapters were superior! I definitely thought Dane killed Petra, because I got a bad vibe about that man haha。 Happy I was wrong though, because the actual ending was so much better。 The middle part of the book was a bit boring。 The horror aspect of the history of Baneberry Hall didn't really interest me either。 Therefore, a solid 3-star rating。 This (audio)book was a riiide。 The story started pretty solid and the dual storyline was entertaining。 The ending chhapters were superior! I definitely thought Dane killed Petra, because I got a bad vibe about that man haha。 Happy I was wrong though, because the actual ending was so much better。 The middle part of the book was a bit boring。 The horror aspect of the history of Baneberry Hall didn't really interest me either。 Therefore, a solid 3-star rating。 。。。more

jia

i cant believe this book made sound of music SCARY to me。。。。 listened to sixteen going seventeen while reading and it really adds to the chills。 the book itself was really atmospheric (dk if this is a good or bad thing for horror thriller bc sometimes the descriptions scared the shit out of me i had to stop reading lol) BUT i do enjoy this one quite a lot! its very haunting on the hill house

Meghan

I loved Home Before Dark and strongly recommend it!The story was gripping, well-written, and well-paced。 I couldn't put it down。One warning: the first 20 pages was torture for some reason, and it took me like three tries to get into the book, but I'm so glad I did!I'm only withholding five stars because the story zig-zags as the VERY end in a way that I felt should have been either given more time or a little more thought。 Other than that, LOVE。 I loved Home Before Dark and strongly recommend it!The story was gripping, well-written, and well-paced。 I couldn't put it down。One warning: the first 20 pages was torture for some reason, and it took me like three tries to get into the book, but I'm so glad I did!I'm only withholding five stars because the story zig-zags as the VERY end in a way that I felt should have been either given more time or a little more thought。 Other than that, LOVE。 。。。more

Gretchen

Definitely creepy! Feels like your typical haunted house story, but still wasn't what I expected and kept me on the edge the whole time。 Definitely creepy! Feels like your typical haunted house story, but still wasn't what I expected and kept me on the edge the whole time。 。。。more