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

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

  • Downloads:3187
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-08-28 08:51:10
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • 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

Roxanne Bryant

I actually really enjoyed this and I read it while in hospital in a darkly lit room which maaay have added a bit to creepy factor in it's favour but aside from that I thought the characters where very well rounded and I will admit I didnt guess to many of the twist probably because the book throws so many at you at once you never quite know who which ones going to turn up a useful answer。。。。 I recommend this book for anyone looking for a quickish read but thrilling enough to keep ur eyes glued t I actually really enjoyed this and I read it while in hospital in a darkly lit room which maaay have added a bit to creepy factor in it's favour but aside from that I thought the characters where very well rounded and I will admit I didnt guess to many of the twist probably because the book throws so many at you at once you never quite know who which ones going to turn up a useful answer。。。。 I recommend this book for anyone looking for a quickish read but thrilling enough to keep ur eyes glued to the page till the very last word。 。。。more

Leann

So many twists and turns。 I never knew what to believe and hadn't figured out the ending until the last few pages。 So many twists and turns。 I never knew what to believe and hadn't figured out the ending until the last few pages。 。。。more

Maggie

A fun ride that captured me within the first pages。 Perfect haunted house story。

Donna Schoening

This was my fourth novel by this author, and I again loved the twists near the end of the book。 The book is written during Maggie’s present day with every other chapter being a chapter of a book written by her father, House of Horrors。 Maggie doesn’t remember living in Baneberry Hall since they quickly escaped after only about 3 weeks。 Her father’s book emphasizes that the house was haunted, and when her dad dies & leaves Baneberry Hall to her, Maggie decides to fix it up & sell it。 But staying This was my fourth novel by this author, and I again loved the twists near the end of the book。 The book is written during Maggie’s present day with every other chapter being a chapter of a book written by her father, House of Horrors。 Maggie doesn’t remember living in Baneberry Hall since they quickly escaped after only about 3 weeks。 Her father’s book emphasizes that the house was haunted, and when her dad dies & leaves Baneberry Hall to her, Maggie decides to fix it up & sell it。 But staying there is not a good idea。 The house is indeed haunted, and Maggie soon finds herself trying to figure out what exactly is going on & how to escape the place alive。 A fun, quick read from an author I obviously enjoy。 。。。more

Ciarraighe Müller

Good lord, did I love this book!!I came across it randomly, as something suggested I might enjoy, and went in never having heard of the author & totally unsure how much I would like it。 WELL! This。。。 argh。。。 so many feelings?! This had me utterly on the edge of my seat in total fright; heart racing as I read it in the dark of the evening。 It had hairs on the back of my neck standing up, even reading it in broad daylight on a sunny afternoon by my window。The MC characters are so well brought to l Good lord, did I love this book!!I came across it randomly, as something suggested I might enjoy, and went in never having heard of the author & totally unsure how much I would like it。 WELL! This。。。 argh。。。 so many feelings?! This had me utterly on the edge of my seat in total fright; heart racing as I read it in the dark of the evening。 It had hairs on the back of my neck standing up, even reading it in broad daylight on a sunny afternoon by my window。The MC characters are so well brought to life, and the supporting cast really stands up too。 I could see everyone so vividly, as well as the house and the town。I absolutely love a 'book within a book', or a two-time-line story - so the mix between Maggie & her fathers times and perspectives was a major win for me。 I actually took a while to realise Ewan's section was his BOOK rather than his actual MEMORY (despite this having been stated in the book haha), which made the unravelling on the plot as things went on more enjoyable I think!The mix of crime, supernatural, misdirection was just superb。 Thought i'd worked some things out, turns out i was on the right track and then right off it again?! The ending was a blinder。The only down-side is that Maggie occasionally behaves in ways I found utterly bizarre or completely unlikely。 There are things like running into darkened woods alone at night having thought you spied an intruder, or charging around a scary old house with a knife to threaten someone you think broke in, that as a woman I just don't believe anyone would do? That said, 100% would recommend, and cannot now wait to get my teeth into the other stories Sager has written。 Honestly, it's such a joy to discover a new author to be excited about :) 。。。more

Jessie S

Absolutely terrifying。 Loved it。Couldn’t put it down and was afraid to sleep while reading it! A terror masterpiece。 I would love to see it as a movie。

Sara

This book is realy creepy and I loved every minute of it, just don't read it in the dark👀😅4⭐⭐⭐⭐ This book is realy creepy and I loved every minute of it, just don't read it in the dark👀😅4⭐⭐⭐⭐ 。。。more

Ashlesha

I don't know if it is enough said but this book is very similar to Haunting of Hill House。 Just a bit of twist and turn and we have a retelling sort of story。 And that is where the problem lies。I was hoping for something lot different but somewhere in my mind, I knew how it's going to go。The story was gripping but predictable。 For just a moment I was convinced about ghosts but I had an inkling from the beginning for who is going to be the culprit。 I don't know if it is enough said but this book is very similar to Haunting of Hill House。 Just a bit of twist and turn and we have a retelling sort of story。 And that is where the problem lies。I was hoping for something lot different but somewhere in my mind, I knew how it's going to go。The story was gripping but predictable。 For just a moment I was convinced about ghosts but I had an inkling from the beginning for who is going to be the culprit。 。。。more

Sofia SBM

Another let down。 Everybody love this author, but this is his second book I read and am not awed。Loved Final girls。。。 I am rubbish as a reader

Louna

J'ai souhaité sortir de mes genres habituels de prédilection avec ce roman, pour quelque chose de plus mystérieux。 Un écrivain, une vieille maison hantée du Vermont, sa fille qui cherche à découvrir ses secrets après sa mort。。。 Bon, sur le papier, ça paraissait classique mais alléchant。 La construction du livre, alternant les points de vue des deux personnages à 25 ans d'écart, mais aussi mélangeant fiction et réalité, était aussi un très bon point dans la création du suspense。Cependant, le résu J'ai souhaité sortir de mes genres habituels de prédilection avec ce roman, pour quelque chose de plus mystérieux。 Un écrivain, une vieille maison hantée du Vermont, sa fille qui cherche à découvrir ses secrets après sa mort。。。 Bon, sur le papier, ça paraissait classique mais alléchant。 La construction du livre, alternant les points de vue des deux personnages à 25 ans d'écart, mais aussi mélangeant fiction et réalité, était aussi un très bon point dans la création du suspense。Cependant, le résultat est vraiment décevant compte tenu du matériau de départ。 Les plot twists principaux peuvent être devinés dès les 50 premières pages, tant la présentation de chacun des personnages est caricaturale。 Maggie, une fille "pas comme les autres", nous raconte avec beaucoup de soin comment elle choisit son jean troué et sa chemise de flanelle poussiéreuse : on se croirait revenu aux meilleures heures de Bella Swan (HURGH le male gaze)。 Comme Bella d'ailleurs, elle est d'une naïveté confondante et perd tout sens pratique dès qu'elle voit apparaître trois abdos, alors qu'elle est censée être une entrepreneuse indépendante et futée。 C'est bien gentil de vouloir écrire des héroïnes puissantes mais faudrait-il encore ne pas juste le dire, mais s'y tenir !* spoilers*Pour finir, les faiblesses de l'intrigue sont nombreuses : beaucoup de questions restent irrésolues ( on ne sait toujours pas à quoi sert la fameuse cave, ni où mènent les autres portes du fameux passage secret, ni quel est le supposé agenda de Chief Alcott), et la mise en scène des événements principaux est extrêmement peu crédible (par exemple, le fait de demander à une mineure de baby-sitter son enfant en faisant le mur de ses propres parents, pour aller forniquer dans un motel ?????)。 Finalement c'est surtout l'histoire d'un homme hétéro qui ne prend absolument pas ses responsabilités dans le soin apporté à son enfant, à son épouse et à leur foyer。 Et le pire c'est que l'auteur semble penser que son comportement était exemplaire (il ne peut pas s'empêcher d'être négligent, le pauvre)。*fin des spoilers*Bref。 J'ai apprécié le suspense pendant le premier tiers du livre mais ce ne sera vraiment pas mon incursion la plus marquante dans le genre。 。。。more

Mena Marco

After reading this book, it pains me to know that I do not own a physical copy of this book since I read it via ebook instead。 I should have had trusted Riley Sager's writing more when he wrote The Last Time I Lied。 That book still left me in a state of daze whenever I think about it。 And Home Before Dark left a similar taste although not as strong as TLTIL。 Although I've only read two books from Sager, I realised he is very good in writing time jump scenes。 It's not messy and the past and prese After reading this book, it pains me to know that I do not own a physical copy of this book since I read it via ebook instead。 I should have had trusted Riley Sager's writing more when he wrote The Last Time I Lied。 That book still left me in a state of daze whenever I think about it。 And Home Before Dark left a similar taste although not as strong as TLTIL。 Although I've only read two books from Sager, I realised he is very good in writing time jump scenes。 It's not messy and the past and present reflects so well with one another。 I have to admit certain chapters were a teeny-bit draggy but I just went past through it because I want to know the actual truth。 The whole story is not the most original because it did reminded me a bit of Haunting Hill House and a mix of other common haunted house stories but it certainly has it's own twist。 And as usual, I could never guess anything right when it comes to your book so I love that for me。 This will definitely be the last time I read Sager's book via ebook because I must, must own at least one paperback of his stories! 。。。more

Karly Green

I loved the way this story was written from the dads book and then flipped to current。 It did a great job of filling in the past book to along with what was going on currently。 Each character was pulled in and had a purpose… I did not picture it ending the way it did!

Maxyne

Kinda disappointing。

Alex Italiano

You’ll NEVER catch me buying an armoire。

Diana

3。5 aunque me gustó, definitivamente prefiero Lock every door。

Dani Reumont

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 This book packs punches! The whole time I was expecting it to not be a ghost story。 I fully expected it to be a hoax。 But the further I got into the book, the harder it was to believe it wasn’t。 Between the short chapters & the nice twists, this was a solid enjoyable read。 Though after the revelation about Mrs。 Pennyface, I do wonder if her child was sick? It seemed to imply, to me, that there was a bit of Münchausen syndrome by proxy going on。

Morgan Davis

This was my first book by this author。 I really enjoyed it! I listened to this one and it translated very well via audiobook。 The book was full of twists and turns up until the very end。 It alternated between two timelines and typically that can be annoying for me but I didn't mind it here。 I loved the haunted house aspect of the story and how it initially focused on all issues being ~the house~, eventually moving into more of a crime story。 Sometimes when these two mesh it feels like too much i This was my first book by this author。 I really enjoyed it! I listened to this one and it translated very well via audiobook。 The book was full of twists and turns up until the very end。 It alternated between two timelines and typically that can be annoying for me but I didn't mind it here。 I loved the haunted house aspect of the story and how it initially focused on all issues being ~the house~, eventually moving into more of a crime story。 Sometimes when these two mesh it feels like too much is going on but, in this story it seemed to flow naturally。 I want to check out more books by Sager based on this one。 。。。more

Tea

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 The Haunting of the Hill House, The Haunting of the Bly manor, a little bit of The Shining with a dose of great plot twists makes this book fantastic。

Lisa

This one was let down by the first big reveal of its ending, and getting a bit too repetitive with the spooky happenings (the record and the electrics in particular)。 Nevertheless, it does create a creepy atmosphere with good old fashioned genuinely menacing ghosts, and I thought the chapters that were excerpts rom the book did a good job of representing an unreliable narrator who is also a hackneyed writer (not an insult, this lack of skill is commented on by characters in the story itself)。

Taylor Maguire

This book made my heart race。 I felt like I was watching a scary movie and was SO good 10/10 horror book

Alice✨

4。5⭐️

Shineigh Wren

I can’t help but get annoyed with Riley Sager’s subtle misogyny but seriously this book gave me spooky dreams! I rounded my 3。5 up- got to if a thriller gives me nightmares!

Mallory Willett

Really easy to read and sucked me in from the beginning。 The ending was pretty good but didn’t leave me wowed。

Kat Dee

3。5 down to 3。Enjoyed ending but skimmed last 3rd to get there。Not a fan of Maggie’s dad’s chapters。

Makayla

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 I found the plot very interesting especially from both the father's and daughter's perspectives。 It was an intriguing story and just horror-y enough! My main criticism is the way they reveal the killer。 It felt cheap that they guessed it was one character and then said "no, it was them" and then again "no, it was them" and still again "no, it was actually them!" They kept revealing different people as the assumed killer which got kind of old and made the actual killer less shocking than desired。 I found the plot very interesting especially from both the father's and daughter's perspectives。 It was an intriguing story and just horror-y enough! My main criticism is the way they reveal the killer。 It felt cheap that they guessed it was one character and then said "no, it was them" and then again "no, it was them" and still again "no, it was actually them!" They kept revealing different people as the assumed killer which got kind of old and made the actual killer less shocking than desired。。。 。。。more

Lexii bates

It wasn't my favorite Riley Sager's novel but it was still a great read。 Like all of his other books, there was a twisted ending, one you never see coming! It wasn't my favorite Riley Sager's novel but it was still a great read。 Like all of his other books, there was a twisted ending, one you never see coming! 。。。more

Kaitlin Orr

Fun fluff thriller about a haunted house

Pedro Melo

3,5*

relie

4。75⭐️

Tlwinky

This had every clique scary moment from every scary movie I've ever seen, but I thought it was great and the ending kept me guessing。 There was a whole cast of characters with tumultuous histories and each time I thought I had it all figured out another little surprise twist was added。 It was fun to read a ghost story and feel that anticipation of something lurking and about to happen。 Very quick and quite entertaining。 This had every clique scary moment from every scary movie I've ever seen, but I thought it was great and the ending kept me guessing。 There was a whole cast of characters with tumultuous histories and each time I thought I had it all figured out another little surprise twist was added。 It was fun to read a ghost story and feel that anticipation of something lurking and about to happen。 Very quick and quite entertaining。 。。。more