Good Reads 2022 Challenge: Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
Hello gorgeous, happy mid-week-Wednesday! and welcome to the blog.
What’s up friends how yall feelin’ … I hope you’re having a positive day, staying hydrated, keeping out of that dangerous heat, and enjoying Summer.
Can you believe we’re already 3-weeks into July? Summer is flying at light speed. I’ve also been reading that the US is experiencing a sriracha shortage because of the heat and severe drought in Mexico affecting the growth and the quality of red jalapeños. It’s crazy right.
I hate this heat, but August is no better really, and it doesn’t start to cool down until mid-September, which (be honest) is everyone’s favorite time of year.
I’m finally caught up on all my reviews, and they are almost ready to post. I’m bummed because I started listening to an audiobook …Oracle narrated by Joshua Jackson, and my stupid audible expired. Since that book was an audible “exclusive” you can only listen to it with a paid membership, which sucks because I only had 2 hours left to listen.
I refuse to give Audible any more of my coin, so onward to the next one.
I’m currently reading “The Final Girl Support Group“, and so far I’m undecided. My daughter recently gifted me with “The Book of Cold Cases” by Simone St. James and I’m excited to get into that one.
Today I’m sharing my latest book review of Home before Dark by Riley Sager.
Title | Home Before Dark
Author | Riley Sager
Pages | 384
Genre | Mystery, Thriller, Horror
GR Rating | 4.09
Purchase | Amazon
Synopsis
Maggie Holt is used to such questions. Twenty-five years ago, she and her parents, Ewan and Jess, moved into Baneberry Hall, a rambling Victorian estate in the Vermont woods. They spent three weeks there before fleeing in the dead of night, an ordeal Ewan later recounted in a nonfiction book called House of Horrors. His tale of ghostly happenings and encounters with malevolent spirits became a worldwide phenomenon, rivaling The Amityville Horror in popularity—and skepticism.
My Rating & Review (☆☆☆☆)
So much more than a typical haunting Home Before Dark had an interesting twist. Maggie and her parents Ewan and Jess Holt move into Baneberry Hall, a large, dilapidated Victorian estate in Vermont unusually under-priced. This story may remind you of another famous haunting as the Holts only spent 3 weeks in the home before fleeing in the middle of the night in terror. Sound familiar…
Maggie remembers nothing of her time at the estate, and after the ordeal Maggie’s father, Ewan writes a book (House of Horrors) about the ordeal turning a large profit for the family and making them infamous as he details the paranormal activity, rivaling that other famous house haunting.
Maggie became the girl that sees and talks to ghosts and as a result of all the trauma, Maggie’s parents divorced. Maggie only learned of what really happened in those 3-weeks after reading her father’s book at the age of 12. She thought it was all a big lie.
Quote from Home Before Dark
“When you stare into the abyss, the abyss also stares into you.”
Maggie is all grown up and has created quite a life for herself restoring old homes and flipping them for a profit. Ewan (Maggie’s father) has passed away and left the home to her in his will. This surprises Maggie because to her understanding her father sold the home shortly after they fled. She has not been back since.
Her mother has advised against her returning to Baneberry Hall and tells Maggie to just sell the home, but Maggie knows she can turn a better profit, by fixing it up just enough to sell. So, she does exactly what her mother has advised her against, and she returns.
Quote from Home Before Dark
“Houses are always changing. Coats of paint. Rows of laminate. Rolls of carpet. They cover up a home’s stories and secrets, rendering them silent until someone comes along to reveal them.”
Maggie has a deadline to flip the home. Get in, assess the damage, hire a crew, and get the bare-bones repairs done quickly. Soon after she moves back into the home (sleeping in her childhood bedroom) to start the necessary repairs, strange things start to unfold around her she gets more than she bargained for.
Memories from the past, arguments, old mementos, and skeletons in the walls are a bit more than what Maggie has bargained for. Little-by-little Maggie starts her time at Baneberry Hall as fragments become more clear, and more questionable.
A murder, Mr. Pennyman, and strange occurrences would make this an experience that Maggie, will never forget.
I enjoyed this book, a house haunting with a “real” twist.
My Good Reads Challenge Progress
I’m excited that I may have to expand this little graphic to include more books!
Thanks so much for visiting the blog today. Don’t forget to follow and subscribe, as I really appreciate the support. — Peace
