Lock Every Door by Riley Sager: A Harrowing Disappointment
When I first stumbled upon Lock Every Door by Riley Sager, I was swept up in a wave of excitement. After hearing glowing endorsements and rave reviews, I thought maybe, just maybe, this would be the thriller to pull me out of my reading slump. Unfortunately, the moment I turned the first few pages, my optimism collided with the cold brick walls of the Bartholomew, the mysterious setting that serves as both a home and a prison for our protagonist, Jules Larsen.
At twenty-something, Jules is teetering on the edge of despair, having lost her job and her boyfriend in swift succession. The allure of a high-paying apartment-sitting gig at the posh Bartholomew is irresistible, even with the slew of oddly stringent rules. It felt like a dream—who wouldn’t want to live in a glamorous Manhattan building for such a bounty? But as I began to peel back the layers of this novel, it became clear that what was meant to be a thrilling ride was more of a bumpy descent into the depths of frustration.
From the outset, I found myself grappling with Jules’ character. While you can often excuse a thriller protagonist for making questionable choices—which, let’s face it, is a staple for driving the narrative forward—Jules’ decisions felt excessively naïve. It was infuriating to watch her dismiss glaring red flags. Even her best friend, Chloe, appeared to be the only beacon of common sense in a world cluttered with absurdity. As I turned each page, I couldn’t help but wonder how someone could display such a staggering lack of judgement.
The writing itself left much to be desired; it felt clunky and unrefined. The pacing dragged, and I found myself almost wishing to DNF it halfway through, but the hope of a climactic twist kept me hanging on. Speaking of the twist, while it was unexpected, the execution felt so outlandish that I was left scratching my head rather than gasping in astonishment. In the world of thrillers, a twist should offer an exhilarating jolt, but here it was more akin to a flat tire on a winding road.
That being said, I did appreciate the eerie atmosphere Sager tried to cultivate. The vibe of the Bartholomew—enigmatic and unsettling—was perhaps the only redeeming quality of a book that otherwise fell flat for me. I could sense the potential for a gripping tale, but it remained tantalizingly out of reach.
In summary, Lock Every Door ultimately failed to deliver the heart-pounding excitement I was craving. If you’re looking for a captivating and profound thriller, I would steer you away from this one. However, if you’re intrigued by flawed characters, blueprints of poor decision-making, or a dash of the supernatural, you might just find something to relish. For me, it was a disappointing experience, after which I’m left yearning for a thriller that truly rekindles my love for the genre.