Home Before Dark

Home Before Dark

  • Downloads:5097
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-09-06 07:51:14
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Riley Sager
  • ISBN:1524745197
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

Every house has a story to tell and a secret to share。

Twenty-five years ago, Maggie Holt and her parents moved into Baneberry Hall, a rambling Victorian estate in the Vermont woods。 Three weeks later they fled in the dead of night, an ordeal her father recounted in a memoir called House of Horrors。 His story of supernatural happenings and malevolent spirits became a worldwide phenomenon, rivaling The Amityville Horror in popularity--and skepticism。

Maggie was too young to remember any of the horrific events that supposedly took place, and as an adult she doesn't believe a word of her father's claims。 Ghosts, after all, don't exist。 When she inherits Baneberry Hall after his death and returns to renovate the place and sell it, her homecoming is anything but warm。 The locals aren't thrilled that their small town has been made infamous, and human characters with starring roles in House of Horrors are waiting in the shadows。

Even more unnerving is Baneberry Hall itself--a place where unsettling whispers of the past lurk around every corner。 And as Maggie starts to experience strange occurrences ripped from the pages of her father's book, the truth she uncovers about the house's dark history will challenge everything she believes。

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Reviews

Karleigh

This book is great! It’s spooky, well developed plot, and fun characters。 I ended up having to read this during the day because it terrified me too much at night。

Morgan Ensor

Gosh, this was SO good! If you are a fan of “The Haunting of Hill House”, you will LOVE this! The atmosphere and setting was perfect for this creepy, yet fast paced thriller。 I could not put it down! Highly recommend reading during the fall, because this book has all the spooky vibes。

Celestineia

3。5 ⭐️。El principio de me hizo un poco lento, pero llegando hacia la mitad tomo vuelo。 Me gusto que este escrito desde la perspectiva de dos personajes diferentes porque ves claramente cómo coinciden (o no) lo que cuentan y después terminas llevándote una sorpresa。 Tiene vueltas y giros copados。 No es lo más de terror que leí, es más como misterio, thriller quizás? Me gusto bastante。

Maryam

4。5 stars This book is fantastic。 One of the best thrillers I have read in a while。 It's the perfect blend of supernatural elements and very real family drama。 The main character is Maggie Holt who returns to Baneberry Hall - a house that her family had to flee in the dead of night because it was haunted, or so her parents claimed。 Her father went on to write a book about the twenty days they spent in the house。 This book became so popular that Maggie had to spend her whole life in the shadow of 4。5 stars This book is fantastic。 One of the best thrillers I have read in a while。 It's the perfect blend of supernatural elements and very real family drama。 The main character is Maggie Holt who returns to Baneberry Hall - a house that her family had to flee in the dead of night because it was haunted, or so her parents claimed。 Her father went on to write a book about the twenty days they spent in the house。 This book became so popular that Maggie had to spend her whole life in the shadow of the book's fame。 But here's the thing: Maggie, who was five when her family moved to Baneberry Hall, has no recollection of the time she spent there。 It's strange being one of the main characters of a wildly popular book, but being unable to recall any of the things written about you actually happening to you。 30-year-old Maggie is convinced that ghosts are not real, and her father's book is a lie。 After the death of her father, Maggie decides to return to Baneberry Hall to try and find out what actually happened 25 years ago。 One of my favourite things about this book is how it is structured。 There is a story-within-a-story situation here (both stories equally compelling), and it's done in a way that's so damn clever。 The chapters alternate between Maggie's present-day perspective and her father's book。 It's so interesting because you're reading her father's book, his descriptions of the house, and then reading Maggie's chapters where she explores the same rooms that you read about in the preceding chapter。 It gives you the chance to compare Maggie's account with her father's, so you also become involved in trying to figure out how accurate her father's version is。 This makes it a very interesting, engaging experience。 The big reveals towards the end totally worked for me。 Almost everything about this book worked for me。 I am honestly surprised that this thriller didn't blow up。 It gets so many things so right。 It seems that Lock Every Door is Riley Sager's most popular work (I haven't read it), but I think Home Before Dark deserves a lot more love。 。。。more

M

If this were a movie, I would be covering my eyes! Creep AF! This was the perfect read as September arrives, setting the mood for fall。 This paranormal mystery had me guessing the whole way through +with some surprising twists。 If you enjoy reading about haunted houses, you will certainly love this! This was my second book from Sager, and in my opinion, much better than “Lock Every Door”。。。I look forward to reading more books by this author。

Masum

এই বই আগে পড়ি নাই কেন!!!! আমার মনে হয় না এমন থ্রিলার পড়ছি এর আগে, এত দ্রুত!! A must read for thriller lovers。。。

✿ Deni

This was a fantastic read! I expected a super scary ghost story but I got much more than that!

Alysha Cieniewicz

This book was okay。 I could've done without the chapters of the book that her father wrote。 Instead, just focusing on the main character and her plight in coming to terms with the house, her history, and grappling with her upended life。 I found the book a bit boring and it dragged quite a bit。 This book was okay。 I could've done without the chapters of the book that her father wrote。 Instead, just focusing on the main character and her plight in coming to terms with the house, her history, and grappling with her upended life。 I found the book a bit boring and it dragged quite a bit。 。。。more

Miriam Simut

5/5!!Another thriller I can add to my list of favourites! When I started reading thrillers I had such bad luck。。。 and still do most of the time but I have found another that blew my mind!This book is so unsettling but not too scary (I'm a huge wimp so I can't handle super scary books)。 It is full of atmosphere and inner turmoil and the twists at the end just blew me away。 I can't wait to read more of Riley Sager! 5/5!!Another thriller I can add to my list of favourites! When I started reading thrillers I had such bad luck。。。 and still do most of the time but I have found another that blew my mind!This book is so unsettling but not too scary (I'm a huge wimp so I can't handle super scary books)。 It is full of atmosphere and inner turmoil and the twists at the end just blew me away。 I can't wait to read more of Riley Sager! 。。。more

Heather Bickell

Not my fave Riley sager book, but I still liked it。。 great intertwined story of ghosts and an old house。 I love that I didn't guess the plot twist。 Great pre Halloween read。 Ps the book cover and spine glow in the dark! 👻👻👻🎃🎃🎃 Not my fave Riley sager book, but I still liked it。。 great intertwined story of ghosts and an old house。 I love that I didn't guess the plot twist。 Great pre Halloween read。 Ps the book cover and spine glow in the dark! 👻👻👻🎃🎃🎃 。。。more

Lisa

Love a good ghost story and this one was very spooky。 Maggie goes back to the house her parents bought when she was 5 and only lived in it for two weeks before leaving in a hurry one night。 Maggie’s father writes a book saying it was haunted and that is why they fled in the night。 Maggie inherits the house 25 years later after her father dies and goes back because she never believed her parents story and wants to find out the truth and OMG I did not expect that ending! Great story and great endi Love a good ghost story and this one was very spooky。 Maggie goes back to the house her parents bought when she was 5 and only lived in it for two weeks before leaving in a hurry one night。 Maggie’s father writes a book saying it was haunted and that is why they fled in the night。 Maggie inherits the house 25 years later after her father dies and goes back because she never believed her parents story and wants to find out the truth and OMG I did not expect that ending! Great story and great ending! 。。。more

Beverly Norman

I have a phobia about snakes! And, this book had snakes in it。 I found it to be a very confusing book!

Cherie Calcaterra

Audio book。

Mathilde Lectures du crépuscule

Depuis son enfance, Maggie a toujours été associée au livre qu’à écrit son père et pour cause, celui ci a rédigé un ouvrage à succès expliquant les événements paranormaux ayant survenu dans Baneberry Hall, leur nouvelle maison, quelques jours après l’avoir acheté。 Ayant quitté leur maison en toute hâte, dans le mois suivant leur emménagement。 Maggie qui n’avait alors que 5 ans n’a quasiment plus aucun souvenir de cette période, mais elle sait une chose, rien de ce qui a pu se passer à Baneberry Depuis son enfance, Maggie a toujours été associée au livre qu’à écrit son père et pour cause, celui ci a rédigé un ouvrage à succès expliquant les événements paranormaux ayant survenu dans Baneberry Hall, leur nouvelle maison, quelques jours après l’avoir acheté。 Ayant quitté leur maison en toute hâte, dans le mois suivant leur emménagement。 Maggie qui n’avait alors que 5 ans n’a quasiment plus aucun souvenir de cette période, mais elle sait une chose, rien de ce qui a pu se passer à Baneberry Hall n’est vrai。 A la mort de son père, Maggie hérite de la maison et elle est bien décidée à mener sont enquête pour découvrir la vérité sur Baneberry Hall et prouver que son père a tout inventé dans le but de faire grimper les ventes de son livre。 •Je ne vais pas vous mentir, cette lecture a été un coup de cœur。 J’ai tout simplement adoré le style d’écriture, très immersif et l’ambiance du livre qui est vraiment prenante。 De plus, les chapitres alternent entre le présent : Maggie adulte qui rénove Baneberry Hall ; et le passé : avec un récit dont le père de Maggie est le narrateur et qui explique les quelques jours que la famille a passé dans la maison 25 ans auparavant。 •Si tu cherches un livre pour la période automnale et pour te mettre dans l’ambiance à l’approche d’Halloween, celui-ci est parfait (et le niveau d’anglais est très accessible) !! 。。。more

Anna Castillo

You are sixteen going on seventeen。。。

Amanda Diesing

4。5 ⭐️ I really liked this one!

Christina B。

This was my first book by Sager and I was entertained enough that I’ll read more。 I really liked how the chapters were split between the past and present。 I connected with Maggie and thought the supernatural elements were handled well。 Though the end got a bit too unnecessarily complicated, it was a good read overall。

Persephonie

“It’s not safe there。 Not for you。” Despite being a nearly 400 page book, this novel flew by。 Sager masterfully wove current events and (another?) book in between to supply some creeps, doubts, and context。 The idea of this book was intriguing and the pacing was near perfect。 A twisty-ending kept this more thriller than horror, but hey, who am I to judge? The only thing that kept this from a higher rating was some of the cliché dialogue and plot structure。 Overall, a solid ride。 I’d give Sager a “It’s not safe there。 Not for you。” Despite being a nearly 400 page book, this novel flew by。 Sager masterfully wove current events and (another?) book in between to supply some creeps, doubts, and context。 The idea of this book was intriguing and the pacing was near perfect。 A twisty-ending kept this more thriller than horror, but hey, who am I to judge? The only thing that kept this from a higher rating was some of the cliché dialogue and plot structure。 Overall, a solid ride。 I’d give Sager another read。 。。。more

Hannah Bruch

Oh my god, read this book。 This book has so many twists and turns, the ending will surprise you。 This is one of the best horror books I’ve read!

Shauna

4。5, rounded up。 SUCH a creepy book。 It’s been a loooong time since I’ve read a book that made me wonder if I could continue reading alone in my bed at night。 While some things were far-fetched (I can’t really hate on this - I went into it knowing this was a book about a supposedly haunted house) the story sucked me in completely。 I loved this one。

Avery LuBell

This book was two books in one, and neither were satisfying :/。Maggie Holt's father, Ewan, wrote a "tell all" about the haunted house his family bought and then fled。 Every beat in this book is Paranormal Activity cliche: Cold fronts, bumps in the night, music or bells playing/ringing of their own accord, lights that seem to turn on or off on their own, wildlife that gets loose in the house, a silhouette sneaking around the property, on and on and on。 Because we are told upfront that this book i This book was two books in one, and neither were satisfying :/。Maggie Holt's father, Ewan, wrote a "tell all" about the haunted house his family bought and then fled。 Every beat in this book is Paranormal Activity cliche: Cold fronts, bumps in the night, music or bells playing/ringing of their own accord, lights that seem to turn on or off on their own, wildlife that gets loose in the house, a silhouette sneaking around the property, on and on and on。 Because we are told upfront that this book is full of lies, and because it contains SO MANY tropes, nothing about it actually feels sinister。 There are no stakes。The other half of the tale is about present-day Maggie trying to uncover the truth of what happened in this house。 In her desperation for a neat answer (and also thanks to an inordinate number of lying adults in her life), Maggie jumps to conclusions many times。 I never trusted her observations; any more than half a second's speculation would dismantle her conclusions。 (Namely, trying to retrace the motives of any one character。) And there are SO many twists, one person pointing a finger at the next person, then another, etc。, that it just becomes laughable, like unmasking the Scooby Doo villain but with 4 masks one on top of the other。 I, again, rarely got a sense that anything sinister was going on, only that Maggie wasn't a good observer。 And I usually like an unreliable narrator! But this one was, again, laughably unreliable。Mostly, this book bored me。 There wasn't any of the Gothic Horror psychology, like the house mirroring the mental/physical collapse of the protagonist, let's say。 Instead, it was a series of spooky moments, like jump scares, which were easily seen through。 Not the worst book。。。 but not a thrilling thriller :/。 。。。more

Desiree

Absolutely blown away by this novel。 It was so wonderfully written and had me turning pages so fast I literally couldn't put it down。 I finished it within twenty-four hours。 I had goosebumps shoot up on my arms more than once and the twists at the end had my head spinning! So freaking good。 Five stars easily! Absolutely blown away by this novel。 It was so wonderfully written and had me turning pages so fast I literally couldn't put it down。 I finished it within twenty-four hours。 I had goosebumps shoot up on my arms more than once and the twists at the end had my head spinning! So freaking good。 Five stars easily! 。。。more

Paul Morvant

My introduction to the world of Riley Sager was a great success。 I loved getting to read a book within a book, do I get to add House of Horrors to my book count list? Lol。 The back and forth between Maggie in the house today, and her dads book was a fantastic idea。

Dee williams

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 Riley Sager DID IT AGAIN!!!!Anther book where I was re-guessing the ending every 50 pagesAND THAT ENDING!!!!! W H A T a satisfying ending!!!

Paige Malone

5 ⭐️。 This book scared the ever-living shit out of me。 Read if you want to lose sleep, jump at every noise in your house, and always be checking your closet for Mrs Pennyface。 Fantastically written。 Sager seems to have a thing for writing a completely unexpected ending。 It was scary and so good!

Brandon McMahon

A story so similar to so many yet it still failed to stick the landing。That ending left me so frustrated, to sit through so many chapters that contribute nothing to the story instead of any that set up the last 30 or so pages was such a cop-out。2。5 Stars

Andrea Northam

Very spooky, and while the ending wasn’t what I’d thought it would be, it was very satisfying。

Kat Waters

I really liked this as a horror book。 The realistic ending kind of ruined it for me。

anto_betweenthelines

🖋”Quando fissi l’abisso, l’abisso sta fissando te。”Eccezionale, intelligente, deliziosamente terrificante, Riley Sager si rivela ai miei occhi un narratore geniale, che sa perfettamente come stravolgere intensamente il lettore con fredde ondate di paura nelle vene。 。A CASA PRIMA DI SERA, è un thriller dai risvolti paranormal astuto, brillante, intelligente e tortuoso che crea forte dipendenza e che vale ogni singola pagina divorata in pochissimo tempo。 Una storia perfettamente strutturata e intr 🖋”Quando fissi l’abisso, l’abisso sta fissando te。”Eccezionale, intelligente, deliziosamente terrificante, Riley Sager si rivela ai miei occhi un narratore geniale, che sa perfettamente come stravolgere intensamente il lettore con fredde ondate di paura nelle vene。 。A CASA PRIMA DI SERA, è un thriller dai risvolti paranormal astuto, brillante, intelligente e tortuoso che crea forte dipendenza e che vale ogni singola pagina divorata in pochissimo tempo。 Una storia perfettamente strutturata e intrecciata con una stabilità del plot pazzesca, che si dipana su due binari narrativi decorrendo ingegnosamente in tempi diversi attraverso un parallelismo magnetico quanto spaventoso, e all’interno del quale l’amore genitoriale tra un padre e una figlia respira e si aggroviglia a segreti, dolore e perdita。 。Sager, con il suo stile autentico, diretto e stupefacente, disorienta, confonde, rende partecipe il lettore di un puzzle dalle forti espressioni ed emozioni, inquietando con una maestria che appartiene a pochi e rari eletti。 Non ci sono avvisi sugli effetti collaterali durante la lettura, dove la linea di demarcazione tra il logico e l’illogico perde la sua nitidezza e dove tutto viene rimescolato spiazzando, mettendo in dubbio, e lasciando senza fiato。 Ti aggancia, ti mangia, ti mastica e ti fagocita nel suo mondo, ti porta dove vuole lui, quando vuole lui e sceglie il modo più positivamente raggelante per farlo, rendendo il lettore spettatore primario memorabile di ogni singola vicenda per nulla scontata e originale nel suo intreccio。Con lui, il thriller (completo nelle sue caratteristiche) e quel tocco di horror gotico ballano una danza perfetta dove esplodono rivelazioni agghiaccianti e sorprendenti ad un ritmo impeccabile, sostenuto, da brividi, ma così unico e speciale che definisce Sager come un autore che sa brillare a cinque stelle。 。。。more

Rachel

2。5? might re-score to a 3 idk i guessed the plot twist, and i struggled to connect with the characters because the book was divided and? just not a favourite