Survive The Night by Riley Sager
[Review]
Synopsis
November, 1991 and Charlie is in a car with who she suspects is the rumoured Campus Killer. Charlie is a movie-obsessed teen who lives life for the movies. She absolutely loved her degree but when her eccentric best friend Maddy was brutally murdered, Charlie knows she needs to leave College, her boyfriend and her current life behind, and that is why Charlie is a car with a person who is a complete stranger who very may well be a serial killer. Charlie just needs to survive the night and get back to her Nana Norma, however, Charlie is plagued with hallucinations and she can no longer trust herself, which leaves her to trust the only other person she is with, the potential serial killer.
My Review
Sadly for me, this book just didn't live up to the others that Riley Sager has written.
The book is based on a teenage girl Charlie who is movie-obsessed, awkward and an introvert. Charlie's best friend however, is eccentric and outgoing and can always convince Charlie to mix with the crowd and have a good time. Charlie adores Maddy and loves her for her eccentricity and that they share the common love of movies. When Charlies best friend Maddy is brutally murdered, Charlie knows that she has to leave Olyphant University, her boyfriend and her current life behind. She is crushed and devoured by grief and guilt as Charlie believes she is the reason Maddy was murdered. All of this led Charlie to ride share with a complete stranger, although she does express her concern as the Campus Killer is still lurking about and she is determined she will get back to Nana Norma safely. Grief is not a new feeling for Maddy, she lost her parents as a child and was brought up with her Nan - 'Nana Norma'. Following her parents grief, Charlie started to experience hallucinations which confused reality with the movies that she loved, this plays a big part later in the book.
I felt that the idea of jumping in a car with the first stranger you lock eyes on, who just so happens to be going to Ohio whilst her friend had just been brutally murdered was too unbelievable, yes, even for the 90's. Not long after she jumps in the car with this stranger, it becomes clear that 'Josh' isn't who appears to be. Charlie decides to tell 'Josh', who remember, is a complete stranger that she has hallucinations and of course, to no ones surprise, he uses this to his advantage. Regardless of this, the worst part for me was the numerous chances she had to get away from 'Josh' who she wasn't sure if he was the Campus Killer but instead changes her mind, every. single. time.
Once the action all started to happen, Charlie regains her confidence and the absurdity of the events just increase. There is shootings, fire and yes of course, some hero to come and save her. The twists will catch you off guard but mainly because they were just too ridiculous to consider in the first place.
I absolutely love Riley Sager and I will continue to read his books but this one really didn't compare to his previous novels.
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5 stars).
Purchase Survive The Night here
About The Author
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment