I think this one deserves a solid 4/5. It’s not the best of Sager’s works, but it’s one of the better mysteries. I have to give myself a pat on the back for cracking the case at chapter 8, but also still left me theorizing until the very end. It’s needless to say that I really enjoyed this one because I had a great time reading it. I also liked the ending as bittersweet as it was.

The idea of ghosts and grief was interesting. I think if Sager leaned into the grief part more, between the mystery of if Billy is back and what’s later revealed, then there would have been that extra punch that would have made this book even better. The mystery of the Hawthorne Institute felt like a Macguffin in the end. It’s all spookiness but is generally about ghosts and the spirits. I also want to know what happened to Johnny Chen. Was he really just taking drugs?

It’s a pretty slow build in between from beginning to the halfway point, but having read all of Sager’s books I knew it was going get going after the halfway mark. And it does.

In terms of where I would rank this it’s probably at number 5. This is based on story and build up and about 40% of my personal opinion or feelings on it.

1. The Last Time I Lied
2. Survive the Night
3. Final Girls
4. The Only One Left
5. Middle of the Night
6. Home Before Dark
7. Lock Every Door
8. The House Across the Lake