This is the first Riley Sager book I’ve read, he is surely the most frequently recommended author on the Facebook Psychological Thriller Readers group I’m a member of, so I was keen to experience the magic.

One of those books that sets out the premise early on, the two main characters Charlie (female) and Josh are setting out on a journey together, but only one will ‘Survive The Night’.

The characterisation is very good, Charlie is the anxious introvert, movie obsessed student needing to get away from college following the recent death of her best friend and roommate. Josh is the handsome, helpful stranger, in the right place at the right time to offer Charlie a lift for the long journey home. Charlie suffers from a condition which results in temporary daydreaming trances, sometimes she struggles to tell which experiences are real and which happened in the trance.

For me a book of two halves, the first half much more Psychological as Charlie and Josh embark on their journey, there are some great edge of the seat moments, threats and scares, I found it exciting and compulsive reading, a potential 5 Star read. The story and writing is easily strong enough to keep it involving with just two characters, their memories, regrets and fears confined in a car.

Then other characters come in and different events take place, the narrative gets a little bit more conventional and for me it doesn’t maintain the Psychological threat and tension.

Very readable throughout, but I much preferred the first half.

I will look out for more of this author’s books with interest.


Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton

Oh my god, this is how you write an unreliable narrator!! From the very first chapter I was hooked, I read this all in one sitting. I was desperate to know what was the truth and what was the movies in Charlie's head. The entire novel had me on the edge of my seat in complete suspense. I don't read a lot of thrillers, so this may have been predictable to others, but the plot twist at the end had me in absolute shock! This was such a fun reading experience, every time I thought I had figured something out, another plot twist was thrown into the mix. For readers like me, who perhaps don't always reach for the thriller on the shelf, I'd recommend this one for sure. It wasn't overly complex but the characters were good, the plot was clever and the ending was wonderful.

Charlie wants to head home after her best friend and room mate, Maddy is killed by the “Campus Killer”. She takes a lift from Josh, who she just met on campus. During the drive, the information and conversation from Josh contradicts what he previously said. Charlie begins to suspect he is the Campus Killer, but also has doubts due to her ‘movie blackouts’.
After the stop for food, events take a dramatic turn and Charlie is not sure who she can trust.
A good psychological thriller, but some very cliche scenes.

#SurviveTheNight #NetGalley
This novel is like a Hollywood movie. Must read of the year.
Casey Jordan is being driven across the country by a serial killer. Maybe. Behind the wheel is Josh Baxter, a stranger Casey met by the college ride share board, who also has a good reason for leaving university in the middle of term. On the road they share their stories, carefully avoiding the subject dominating the news - the Campus Killer, who's tied up and stabbed three students in the span of a year, has just struck again. Travelling the lengthy journey between university and their final destination, Casey begins to notice discrepancies in Josh's story.
As she begins to plan her escape from the man she is becoming certain is the killer, she starts to suspect that Josh knows exactly what she's thinking. Meaning that she could very well end up as his next victim.
Can you Survive The Night?
I loved it's narration so much. It was a good read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder Straighten for giving me an advanced copy of this book.