29 November 2024
Middle Of The Night Review And Book Club Questions
Reviewed by: Melissa Ng
Quick Facts
Book Publication Date: 18 June 2024
How I Read It: Borrowed from my local library
Where You Can Find Middle Of The Night by Riley Sager: Amazon | Kobo | Audible | Dymocks | QBD Books | Apple Books | Spotify Premium
Content & Trigger Warnings: Murder, missing child, death of a spouse, child death, kidnapping, drugs

Middle Of The Night Summary
In Middle Of The Night by Riley Sager, Ethan Marsh is haunted by the disappearance of his childhood best friend, Billy, a mystery that has remained unsolved for over 30 years.
When they were ten years old, Ethan and Billy had a sleepover in Ethan’s backyard on their idyllic New Jersey cul de sac (Hemlock Circle). But when Ethan woke up the next morning, Billy was gone, the tent sliced open, and a nightmare began.
Despite extensive searches, Billy was never found.
Now an adult, Ethan returns to his childhood home on Hemlock Circle, struggling with insomnia and plagued by guilt over that night.
Strange occurrences begin to unsettle him: items appear in his backyard that only Billy would recognise, and shadows seem to move in the dead of night.
Is someone playing a cruel joke, or has Billy somehow returned?
Ethan’s investigation into the past reunites him with old neighbours, each with their own secrets.
As he digs deeper, he learns that the picturesque Hemlock Circle is far from perfect. The mysterious Hawthorne Institute on the edge of the woods becomes a focal point, rumoured to be involved in a cult conducting secret experiments.
Billy had always spoken about the monsters in the woods — could there be more truth to his fears than anyone realised?
As Ethan uncovers the truth, he realises that the Hemlock Circle he once called home is darker than he ever imagined, and that the past doesn’t stay buried for long.
Middle Of The Night Review
This is the fourth Riley Sager book I’ve read. Here’s a quick rundown of how I’ve rated his others:
- The Only One Left – 5 stars
- The House Across The Lake – 3 stars
- Survive the Night – 4 stars
Middle Of The Night falls on the weaker end of the spectrum for me.
While the first 90% of the book had me hooked, with solid suspense and a compelling mystery, the ending left me underwhelmed.
Initially, I was ready to give this a 4-star rating, but after some reflection, I dropped it to 3 stars. It’s been a week since I finished, and honestly, I haven’t thought about it since.
Let’s start with the positives.
The pacing and suspense are classic Sager. Each chapter ends on just enough of a cliffhanger to keep you reading, and the flashbacks are well-executed, giving insight into each character’s childhood and the events leading up to Billy’s disappearance.
The morally gray characters were a highlight; everyone in Hemlock Circle has something to hide, and the idyllic suburban setting reminded me of Desperate Housewives.
There’s a sense of nostalgia, too, especially for millennials who grew up in similar neighbourhoods.
Unfortunately, the book starts to falter in its final act.
The reveal of the murderer felt lacklustre and anticlimactic, and the supernatural undertones that were hinted at throughout the story went nowhere. I was hoping for a payoff that never came, leaving the ending feeling unsatisfying.
Overall, Middle Of The Night is a solid thriller for most of its length, but the ending doesn’t live up to the build-up.
If you’re new to Riley Sager, I wouldn’t recommend starting with this one. Instead, pick up The Only One Left. It’s still my favourite of his books.

Middle Of The Night Book Club Questions
- What did you suspect happened to Billy on the night he disappeared? Did your theories change as you read the book?
- Do you think Ethan saw what happened to Billy and repressed the memory?
- Ethan struggles with guilt throughout the story. How do you think this impacts his actions and relationships?
- Were you surprised when Billy’s remains were discovered? Why or why not?
- Everyone in Hemlock Circle has a secret. Which character’s secret did you find most shocking?
- How did you feel about the suburban setting? Did it add to the story’s atmosphere?
- Did the flashbacks help you understand the characters better, or did they interrupt the pacing?
- The book hinted at supernatural elements. Did you find these effective, or would you have like them to be explored more?
- What were your thoughts on the Hawthorne Institute? Did you believe it played a larger role in the story?
- Who did you think was leaving the baseballs in Ethan’s backyard?
- Were you surprised to learn about Claudia’s (Ethan’s wife) death? How did her loss shape Ethan’s character?
- Did the reveal of the murderer surprise you?
- What did you think of the ending with Ethan and Henry?
- Have you read any other books by Riley Sager?
- If so, where does Middle Of The Night rank?
- If not, are you interested in reading more of his novels?
- If Middle Of The Night was adapted into a movie, which actors would you cast for each character?
If you liked my review of Middle Of The Night, you might also like to read my review and book club questions for The God Of The Woods by Liz Moore.