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The House Across the Lake; Riley Sager
Dutton/Penguin Audio - 2022
(Bernadette Dunne - narrator) - 11 Hours approx.
Casey Fletcher is a former NYC actress and a recent widow. She is trying get some peace, quiet and relaxation at the family lake house on Lake Greene in Vermont. She also drinks too much with a penchant for bourbon. With plenty of time on her hands she takes to spying on her good looking neighbors across the lake, Katherine and Tom Royce. When one day Casey saves Katherines from a drowning incident, the two women become friendlier. Before long Casey is thinking that the couple across the lake isn't the perfect, happy couple she initially thought they were. She begins to wonder if perhaps Katherine should fear Tom.
This is one of those thrillers with an unreliable narrator that starts out a bit slow but, I still remained engaged and kept wondering what the heck was going on. The set up, think The Woman in the Window, AJ Finn or the movie Rear Window. Yes, it is a style that has been overused and, in the end this book had more twists than I could have anticipated -- yes, some were a bit much.
This was a combo read/listen and although Bernadette Dunne has been a terrific narrator that I've enjoyed in the past, she was inappropriate for the voice of the younger Casey. Bernadette, although a great reader, she has a raspy voice that makes her sound like an elderly woman. After a while I found it necessary to switch to the print edition. Overall, this was an okay read but, it did not wow me by any means.
This is my 8th book read from my initial 20 Books of Summer list.
Rating - 3.5/5 stars
(Note: audio book downloaded from my library and eBook courtesy of the publisher.)
Spying on the neighbors never leads to anything good. ;D I think I might pass on this particular Riley Sager novel.
ReplyDeleteYes, this was not his best effort!
DeleteI've got this one on hold at the library, but will keep in mind what you said about the audio. We'll see how it goes.
ReplyDeleteKay, as I mentioned previously, Bernadette D is a good audio narrator and I started off liking her in this book until I released the voice she was portraying was a 30-something perhaps and she sounded like a 70-something.
DeleteDiane, I'm reading this one right now! I'm up to p. 137. I'm finding it to be better overall than the new historical novel that I'm sorry I put on my list of 20. That would be The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer. I'm retiring that one after reading 106 pages. Just doesn't cut it. I'll read more about what you thought of The House Across the Lake after I've finished it.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun enough but didn't expect the turns it took.
DeleteI realise I haven't read many of these 'spying on the neighbours' books which is a shame as the trope appeals. Perhaps not start with this one though.
ReplyDeleteNo, I wouldn't start with this one Cath, although it was fun to a certain extent.
DeleteThanks for the review - have been seeing this one all over the internet!
ReplyDeleteIt is popular right now as it was just released. Not the author's best IMO.
DeleteI’ve heard other bloggers mention the odd choice for narrator too. It does make things difficult when the voice doesn’t match the character.
ReplyDeleteYes,it is too bad as Bernadette is a great narrator just wasn't the right choice for this book.
DeleteMy daughter and I felt the same way about the narrator for this one. She sounded too old for the character. I was shocked to hear that Casey was only 35 in the novel as the voice sounded older.
ReplyDeleteYes, when Casey kept speaking to her mothers - I was scratching my head, like what? this elderly voice has a mother still living ?? LOL But then I realized she was in her 30s.
DeleteBummer about this book. Riley Sager's earlier books are so good. I'll still read this one, though. Hopefully his next book will be better.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun Melody, just took some unexpected turns.
DeleteBernadette D is a good audio narrator and I started off liking her in this book until I released the voice she was portraying was a 30-something perhaps and she sounded like a 70-something.
ReplyDeleteIt drives me crazy when a narrator doesn't fit with the character or book at all! I've enjoyed other books narrated by Dunn but I can see this being an issue for this book. A narrator can really make or break a book. This author has been on my TBR but I don't think this is the book I'll start with.
ReplyDelete