The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager
Riley Sager has taken on a new role that hasn't come to many authors. He's solidifying his spot in my Top Ten Mystery Authors. In fact, he came in "like a wrecking ball" and shot up to #4 on my list after reading two of his three books.
How?
Well, let's start with a blog breakdown review of why he's become a favorite mystery author, who is taking the lead in psychological thrillers. Before we delve into all the reasons to keep an eye on this new kid on the block (now, I'm thinking about "The Right Stuff"), let me do a short preview of him that you might recall from my review of his first book Final Girls.
Turns out, Riley Sager is a pseudonym. In fact, this dude is a former journalist, editor, and graphic designer, but now writes full-time with his latest book already out in July 2019. Which, basically, means that I have to find it and read it too. His books have been translated into 25 languages, and he's considered a New York Times Bestselling Author (I suppose this means his readers will get to know his face and that pseudonym won't really work for him in the long run -- J.K. Rowling aka Robert Galbraith is one example). He's a native to Pennsylvania but currently lives in Princeton, New Jersey.
You can follow him too (on social media!) via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads, and Amazon.
Okay, now that we have a few details out of the way, let's get back to the juicy content known as the review, or in other words, my personal opinion of an author's book and how I loved or hated it and why.
Numeric Breakdown:
1: didn't like it
2: it was okay
3. liked it
4. really liked it
5. it was amazing
1. Writing Style: 5/5
This author's style is a plus for me. I love when a writer takes you back and forth from the past to the present, sharing snipets of how the current situation evolved. It's like a box of chocolates, and friends, I love me some chocolate!
Now, this author also utilizes a great first person in the present chapters which really helps the reader become acquainted with the protagonist. Likewise, the chapters set in the past for this book, Sager keeps to the first person narrative. There is a rogue chapter at the beginning where he switches to the second person context. Weirdly, I was okay with it in this scenario, and I continue to appreciate his style of writing throughout the entire book.
2. Overall Content: 5/5
Secrets can burden a person, and the longer you keep them, the greater chance they will have of sneaking out. This is where we find Emma Davis. She's stuck in the past, after one fateful night, when three of her fellow campers went missing.
Vivian, Natalie, and Allison are already in residence of the cabin when Emma shows up late and is given the same cabin to share. She's a bit intimidated by these older girls and delighted at being a part of their group. It takes a minute, but Vivian decides to treat Emma as a little sister and includes her in the daily routine.
Natalie and Allison feel like secondary characters and aren't often included in all of the flashbacks that Emma has about her time at Nightingale Camp. The few times she spoke with them and interacted with them in Vivian's presence, it was clear who was in charge. Interestingly enough, you come to find out that Natalie and Allison used to be the best friends of Vivian's sister. Her older sister drowned one night a little bit before the setting of this book. As a result, Vivian left her previous best friend(s) behind.
Coming into this already made setting, Emma does her best to fit in and stay on Vivian's good side. However, she begins to see things about Vivian that don't add up. Right before the girls disappear, Emma spies something she can never unsee. It rocks her world and leaves her feeling angry and betrayed by Vivian. This leads her to separate off from the three-some, and later that same night, the girls walk out of the cabin and never return.
Fast forward fifteen years, and the reader finds Emma a successful artist who's having her first art event. Each of the paintings she has created center on one event: the girls disappearance. It's something she's never been able to get out of her head, possibly because of the guilt she feels over her part played in their vanishing.
Every painting shows the wooded area, trees burying three white-dressed figures. They're always there but just out of sight. Her acclaim is instantaneous, and she begins to sell pieces immediately, including a large canvas to none other than Francesca Harris-White.
Owner of Camp Nightingale and the surrounding land, Francesca shut it down all those years ago when the recovery of three girls was never achieved. Due to bad publicity and scrutiny, she left her family's land sit untouched. Now, she's ready to return to Camp Nightingale and give it a new chance, and she wants Emma to be a part of that renewal.
There's something a bit weird about this invitation which Emma Davis receives. After her meltdown over the loss of all three girls, she blames Francesca's oldest son, Theo. The police question Theo at length, and a small part of her does believe he might be guilty after what she witnessed the day before. This creates a hesitancy on her end to return to the place she can't forget.
However, another opportunity presents itself with the chance to return to this place of nightmares. If she goes back, she could try to find out what really happened to her new friends all those years past. It's a moment she doesn't want to pass up on. If there's any chance she can find out what happened to Vivian, Natalie, and Allison, she will take it.
Upon arrival, the cool welcome is her first clue that the Harris-White family hasn't forgiven her accusation all those years ago. Some more than others seem to want her there, and there's the feeling that they blame her for more than her allegation. As her time progresses, Emma finds clues that Vivian left behind. She also begins to feel as if she's being watched, and a camera pointed directly at the same cabin she stayed in all those years ago has her feeling accused herself. Especially when she finds out that it's the only camera on the campgrounds. Suddenly, it becomes a "her word against theirs" scenario in the making.
Now, here are a few *SPOILERS* that round out my review. You might want to STOP READING if you want the chance to read this story for yourself and not have it ruined. Fair warning, and all that, as I continue...
3. Hooks/Attention-kept: 5/5
So, a few things the author uses as twists and surprises in the story really held my attention. These are the parts of the book that acted like hooks for me. As I stated above, *SPOILERS* are ahead!
First, Emma had a crush on Theo. She even was bold enough to kiss him when he took her and Vivian into town. After kissing him, he told her he didn't see her that way, and Vivian saw what happened (but didn't hear). Later on that same day, and right before the girls vanished, Emma spotted an intimate scene between Vivian and someone who looked like Theo, and she thought it was him, but later we find out it wasn't. However, this knowledge played a part in her accusation of him.
Second, Emma keeps hearing and seeing Vivian. This leads the reader to think a few different things: a. Vivian's ghost is haunting Emma, b. Vivian is alive and trying to show her what happened, c. Emma is seriously hallucinating. For all intents and purposes, it adds to the creep-factor and drama of the story, and it leads us to Emma's confession.
Third, the night the three girls disappear, Emma locks the door after they leave. As a result of her being hurt by Theo's rejection, thinking that Vivian betrayed her, and the other odd occurrences, Emma allows her anger to rear its ugly head. Later that night, when she hears Vivian's voice outside the door calling out to be let back into the cabin, Emma ignores it.
Fourth, set in the present, Emma ends up having a repeat in history when the three girls she's in charge of turn up missing just like Vivian, Natalie, and Allison. Sasha, Krystal, and Miranda don't turn up one morning for breakfast, and Emma's sucked back into the past. The nightmare starts all over again, and she's the prime suspect.
Fifth, Emma doesn't just sit around waiting to be arrested for a crime she didn't commit. Instead, she goes after the girls. In doing so, she ends up finding out what happened to the original three girls and who the current bad guy is -- the one who "kidnapped" the current three girls.
I won't spoil all the parts of the book, but I can tell you that it's a fast-paced read that will keep you hooked until the very end.
4. Overall enjoyment of the story based on the genre: 5/5
The suspense builds anticipation and anxiety. Sager does a great job using the literary devices of plot twists, an unreliable narrator, stream of consciousness through first person point of view, the flashbacks to include backstory, and a skewed perception of what happened in order to lure readers in and keep them on the edge of their seat. LOVE IT. I can't express enough how fabulous this novel fits into the psychological thriller genre. It captures all of the pieces that make this genre great: mystery, drama, paranoia, action, and so much more.
5. Overall enjoyment of the story based on the content: 5/5
The action and adventure is intense; the ghostly vibe is spooky; the ending is unexpected. Basically, it was gripping and beguiling enough to keep me engaged. This book's overall content and hooks make it a worthwhile and exciting read.
6. Overall Story Rating: 5/5
It's been a while since I last read a mystery author and loved it. Lisa Gardner and Robert Galbraith were the last two authors I fell in love with, but they are a little different in the sub-genre category. As far as psychological thrillers go, in the mystery field, Riley Sager is one of the first to undoubtedly secure and keep my interest. It's why this author rates so high and managed to get into my Top Ten Mystery list so quickly. Kudos, Sager. Kudos. I hope you find this book an intoxicating addition to your own reading list.
How?
Well, let's start with a blog breakdown review of why he's become a favorite mystery author, who is taking the lead in psychological thrillers. Before we delve into all the reasons to keep an eye on this new kid on the block (now, I'm thinking about "The Right Stuff"), let me do a short preview of him that you might recall from my review of his first book Final Girls.
Turns out, Riley Sager is a pseudonym. In fact, this dude is a former journalist, editor, and graphic designer, but now writes full-time with his latest book already out in July 2019. Which, basically, means that I have to find it and read it too. His books have been translated into 25 languages, and he's considered a New York Times Bestselling Author (I suppose this means his readers will get to know his face and that pseudonym won't really work for him in the long run -- J.K. Rowling aka Robert Galbraith is one example). He's a native to Pennsylvania but currently lives in Princeton, New Jersey.
Okay, now that we have a few details out of the way, let's get back to the juicy content known as the review, or in other words, my personal opinion of an author's book and how I loved or hated it and why.
Numeric Breakdown:
1: didn't like it
2: it was okay
3. liked it
4. really liked it
5. it was amazing
1. Writing Style: 5/5
This author's style is a plus for me. I love when a writer takes you back and forth from the past to the present, sharing snipets of how the current situation evolved. It's like a box of chocolates, and friends, I love me some chocolate!
Now, this author also utilizes a great first person in the present chapters which really helps the reader become acquainted with the protagonist. Likewise, the chapters set in the past for this book, Sager keeps to the first person narrative. There is a rogue chapter at the beginning where he switches to the second person context. Weirdly, I was okay with it in this scenario, and I continue to appreciate his style of writing throughout the entire book.
2. Overall Content: 5/5
Secrets can burden a person, and the longer you keep them, the greater chance they will have of sneaking out. This is where we find Emma Davis. She's stuck in the past, after one fateful night, when three of her fellow campers went missing.
Vivian, Natalie, and Allison are already in residence of the cabin when Emma shows up late and is given the same cabin to share. She's a bit intimidated by these older girls and delighted at being a part of their group. It takes a minute, but Vivian decides to treat Emma as a little sister and includes her in the daily routine.
Natalie and Allison feel like secondary characters and aren't often included in all of the flashbacks that Emma has about her time at Nightingale Camp. The few times she spoke with them and interacted with them in Vivian's presence, it was clear who was in charge. Interestingly enough, you come to find out that Natalie and Allison used to be the best friends of Vivian's sister. Her older sister drowned one night a little bit before the setting of this book. As a result, Vivian left her previous best friend(s) behind.
Coming into this already made setting, Emma does her best to fit in and stay on Vivian's good side. However, she begins to see things about Vivian that don't add up. Right before the girls disappear, Emma spies something she can never unsee. It rocks her world and leaves her feeling angry and betrayed by Vivian. This leads her to separate off from the three-some, and later that same night, the girls walk out of the cabin and never return.
Fast forward fifteen years, and the reader finds Emma a successful artist who's having her first art event. Each of the paintings she has created center on one event: the girls disappearance. It's something she's never been able to get out of her head, possibly because of the guilt she feels over her part played in their vanishing.
Every painting shows the wooded area, trees burying three white-dressed figures. They're always there but just out of sight. Her acclaim is instantaneous, and she begins to sell pieces immediately, including a large canvas to none other than Francesca Harris-White.
Owner of Camp Nightingale and the surrounding land, Francesca shut it down all those years ago when the recovery of three girls was never achieved. Due to bad publicity and scrutiny, she left her family's land sit untouched. Now, she's ready to return to Camp Nightingale and give it a new chance, and she wants Emma to be a part of that renewal.
There's something a bit weird about this invitation which Emma Davis receives. After her meltdown over the loss of all three girls, she blames Francesca's oldest son, Theo. The police question Theo at length, and a small part of her does believe he might be guilty after what she witnessed the day before. This creates a hesitancy on her end to return to the place she can't forget.
However, another opportunity presents itself with the chance to return to this place of nightmares. If she goes back, she could try to find out what really happened to her new friends all those years past. It's a moment she doesn't want to pass up on. If there's any chance she can find out what happened to Vivian, Natalie, and Allison, she will take it.
Upon arrival, the cool welcome is her first clue that the Harris-White family hasn't forgiven her accusation all those years ago. Some more than others seem to want her there, and there's the feeling that they blame her for more than her allegation. As her time progresses, Emma finds clues that Vivian left behind. She also begins to feel as if she's being watched, and a camera pointed directly at the same cabin she stayed in all those years ago has her feeling accused herself. Especially when she finds out that it's the only camera on the campgrounds. Suddenly, it becomes a "her word against theirs" scenario in the making.
Now, here are a few *SPOILERS* that round out my review. You might want to STOP READING if you want the chance to read this story for yourself and not have it ruined. Fair warning, and all that, as I continue...
3. Hooks/Attention-kept: 5/5
So, a few things the author uses as twists and surprises in the story really held my attention. These are the parts of the book that acted like hooks for me. As I stated above, *SPOILERS* are ahead!
First, Emma had a crush on Theo. She even was bold enough to kiss him when he took her and Vivian into town. After kissing him, he told her he didn't see her that way, and Vivian saw what happened (but didn't hear). Later on that same day, and right before the girls vanished, Emma spotted an intimate scene between Vivian and someone who looked like Theo, and she thought it was him, but later we find out it wasn't. However, this knowledge played a part in her accusation of him.
Second, Emma keeps hearing and seeing Vivian. This leads the reader to think a few different things: a. Vivian's ghost is haunting Emma, b. Vivian is alive and trying to show her what happened, c. Emma is seriously hallucinating. For all intents and purposes, it adds to the creep-factor and drama of the story, and it leads us to Emma's confession.
Third, the night the three girls disappear, Emma locks the door after they leave. As a result of her being hurt by Theo's rejection, thinking that Vivian betrayed her, and the other odd occurrences, Emma allows her anger to rear its ugly head. Later that night, when she hears Vivian's voice outside the door calling out to be let back into the cabin, Emma ignores it.
Fourth, set in the present, Emma ends up having a repeat in history when the three girls she's in charge of turn up missing just like Vivian, Natalie, and Allison. Sasha, Krystal, and Miranda don't turn up one morning for breakfast, and Emma's sucked back into the past. The nightmare starts all over again, and she's the prime suspect.
Fifth, Emma doesn't just sit around waiting to be arrested for a crime she didn't commit. Instead, she goes after the girls. In doing so, she ends up finding out what happened to the original three girls and who the current bad guy is -- the one who "kidnapped" the current three girls.
I won't spoil all the parts of the book, but I can tell you that it's a fast-paced read that will keep you hooked until the very end.
4. Overall enjoyment of the story based on the genre: 5/5
The suspense builds anticipation and anxiety. Sager does a great job using the literary devices of plot twists, an unreliable narrator, stream of consciousness through first person point of view, the flashbacks to include backstory, and a skewed perception of what happened in order to lure readers in and keep them on the edge of their seat. LOVE IT. I can't express enough how fabulous this novel fits into the psychological thriller genre. It captures all of the pieces that make this genre great: mystery, drama, paranoia, action, and so much more.
5. Overall enjoyment of the story based on the content: 5/5
The action and adventure is intense; the ghostly vibe is spooky; the ending is unexpected. Basically, it was gripping and beguiling enough to keep me engaged. This book's overall content and hooks make it a worthwhile and exciting read.
6. Overall Story Rating: 5/5
It's been a while since I last read a mystery author and loved it. Lisa Gardner and Robert Galbraith were the last two authors I fell in love with, but they are a little different in the sub-genre category. As far as psychological thrillers go, in the mystery field, Riley Sager is one of the first to undoubtedly secure and keep my interest. It's why this author rates so high and managed to get into my Top Ten Mystery list so quickly. Kudos, Sager. Kudos. I hope you find this book an intoxicating addition to your own reading list.
Thanks for joining me, and as always, Happy Reading!!
~Rebecca Reddell
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