Deep Dive: Thoughts on The House Across the Lake

Let’s talk spoilers for The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager—because I have some feelings..

First, I have to admit: I hated feeling duped by this book.

When the supernatural element was revealed, it completely caught me off guard—but not necessarily in a good way. I went into this story expecting a grounded psychological thriller, with unreliable narration and twisty domestic drama. That’s the genre I thought I was reading, so when the supernatural aspect came into play, I felt tricked. It wasn’t what I signed up for, and it left me questioning if the twist was brilliant or just poorly developed.

Here’s the thing: Riley Sager is a skilled writer. He knows how to craft suspense, build atmosphere, and keep readers on their toes. That’s why I think the supernatural reveal could have been handled better. There were a few moments earlier in the story—like when Eli told told that local legend when they were all sitting around the fire—that hinted at something otherworldly. For a brief second, I thought, Wait, is this going to take a supernatural turn? But then I dismissed it. Why? Because that’s not the norm for this genre. It felt like a red herring at the time, but looking back, I realize it was meant to be a clue.

The problem for me was that there weren’t enough of these breadcrumbs. If the supernatural twist had been woven more thoroughly throughout the narrative, it wouldn’t have felt so jarring. I’m not saying I needed the twist to be obvious—I love being surprised—but I think there’s a way to balance subtle hints with maintaining the shock factor. As it stands, the reveal felt more like a rug pull than a satisfying “aha” moment.

And sure, I’ll admit that I didn’t guess the twist. At all. It completely blindsided me. But is that a good thing? I’m not so sure. Part of the joy of reading thrillers is trying to piece together the puzzle, and if the twist comes out of nowhere, it can feel more frustrating than satisfying. I wanted to look back and see how the clues added up, but instead, it felt like the story switched genres on me halfway through. I don’t mind if I can’t guess the twist, but it has to make sense within the context of the book I just read and the world that was created with the story’s established rules. There was no creation or buildup of the supernatural, so it wasn’t even an option to consider while reading.

If the supernatural elements had been developed more, woven seamlessly into the narrative, it would have been harder to hide, but it also would have felt more earned. As it stands, the twist felt like it belonged in a completely different book.

Ultimately, The House Across the Lake had a ton of great moments. The atmosphere, the unreliable narrator, and the pacing were all fantastic. I absolutely devoured this book and loved it so much that I gave it a 4.5-star rating (rounded up to 5 stars). However, the supernatural reveal left me feeling conflicted. While it was undeniably surprising, it also felt underdeveloped and out of place. I’d love to hear how other readers felt about it—did it work for you, or did you feel as duped as I did?

If you’ve read this book, let me know your thoughts! Did the supernatural twist elevate the story or leave you scratching your head like it did for me? Also, check out my review of The Middle of the Night, another Riley Sager thriller where the ghost story elements are introduced so seamlessly that it made the narrative even more fun. I was still completely wrong about the ending, but it all worked perfectly within the world he created.