Middle of the Night

Riley Sager is prolific! Every book he writes is just so good. In this book, a man contends with the disappearance of his childhood best friend. Thirty years ago, Ethan’s best friend Billy was snatched from their tent, as the two boys camped in Ethan’s backyard. The case remains unsolved to this day, though everyone has their theories. When Ethan finds himself single and needing a change, he moves back home to his childhood home: a quaint New Jersey cul-de-sac with beautiful homes and manicured lawns (I pictured the neighborhood from Desperate Housewives!). From the minute he arrives home, fishy things begin to happen. In addition to Ethan’s regular nightmares, he becomes convinced that Billy’s ghost has returned to Hemlock Circle, to try and help Ethan solve the case. Is Ethan being pranked? Or is it really Billy’s ghost? Ethan begins to investigate. Everyone is a suspect. We’re introduced to a mysterious “institute” that Billy had been obsessed with. This is fast-paced and kept me guessing the whole time. Also, the ending made me cry. I really enjoyed it and literally stayed up into the “middle of the night” finishing it!