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Home Before Dark  By  cover art

Home Before Dark

By: Riley Sager
Narrated by: Cady McClain, Jon Lindstrom
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Publisher's summary

The Instant New York Times Best Seller

One of USA Today's Best Books of 2020

“A haunted house story - with a twist.... [Sager] does not hold back” (Rolling Stone) in this chilling thriller from the author of Final Girls and Survive the Night.

Every house has a story to tell and a secret to share.

Twenty-five years ago, Maggie Holt and her parents moved into Baneberry Hall, a rambling Victorian estate in the Vermont woods. Three weeks later they fled in the dead of night, an ordeal her father recounted in a memoir called House of Horrors. His story of supernatural happenings and malevolent spirits became a worldwide phenomenon, rivaling The Amityville Horror in popularity - and skepticism.

Maggie was too young to remember any of the horrific events that supposedly took place, and as an adult she doesn’t believe a word of her father’s claims. Ghosts, after all, don’t exist. When she inherits Baneberry Hall after his death and returns to renovate the place and sell it, her homecoming is anything but warm. The locals aren’t thrilled that their small town has been made infamous, and human characters with starring roles in House of Horrors are waiting in the shadows.

Even more unnerving is Baneberry Hall itself - a place where unsettling whispers of the past lurk around every corner. And as Maggie starts to experience strange occurrences ripped from the pages of her father’s book, the truth she uncovers about the house’s dark history will challenge everything she believes.

©2020 Riley Sager (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"What could be better than a haunted house with ghosts aplenty? Home Before Dark is equally superb and terrifying. Buckle up for a wild ride. This book should come with a warning not to be read after dark." (Mary Kubica, New York Times best-selling author of The Other Mrs.)

"Flawless pacing, a dexterous dual narrative, and character through the roof. But the biggest revelation to be found in Home Before Dark is this: There's nobody writing scarier books than Riley Sager is right now." (Josh Malerman, New York Times best-selling author of Bird Box and Malorie)

"Houses breathe. Some have a heartbeat. None forget. Grabbing you from the first page, Riley Sager crafts a devilish plot, twisted timelines, and horrors that linger in this haunting thriller that needs to be on your reading list!" (J.D. Barker, international best-selling author of She Has a Broken Thing Where Her Heart Should Be)

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What listeners say about Home Before Dark

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    2,710
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    1,465
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Story
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
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Great story!

Lots of twists and loads of unexpected turns! Highly recommend it!! A great listen and very entertaining !

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Could not stop listening

This is the first Sager book I’ve listened to/ read, and I loved it! A lot of people said they’ve read better from the Author, but now knowing that I am excited to listen to more from the Author. The narration was awesome, keep in mind they were trying to capture a thick Vermont accent ( if ya know, ya know). Thats probably where people have an issue the most.

The story has layers and also the writer has a way of deception that is absolutely delicious. The twistiness Was non stop to the very last minute.

Overall I think if you’re not familiar with the author definitely listen to the book! And if you are familiar with the author still listen to the book, and leave a review about how great all his other stuff is so as to inspire Sager newbies to keep listening/reading more of his stuff. Deal? Deal.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Listen

Performance was wonderful. This was the 1st "horror" book I've listened to. Was not disappointed!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Spine-tingling read

This book made me want to believe in ghosts! Loved that both versions of the stories were entwined together, made it very hard to put down

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

This book kept me entranced the whole time I could barely stop listening! The ending surprised me, and was such a great twist! Definitely recommend! Also the narration really gave it so much more depth with the two narrator.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fun listen!

I really enjoyed this story, reminds me of Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn, with a very similar story arc. It also reminds me of classical haunted house stories which I really enjoy. So glad I chose this story! I tend to be disappointed by a lot of mysteries/ghost stories hyped by audible (but this one was good!)

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

great book

I really really enjoyed this one. this went is a totally different direction than I was expecting!

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awesome!

I loved the going back and forth in POV! 2 narrators made is even more amazing! the book was full of suspension and well written!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Couldn't stop listening!

Such an exciting story! I literally couldn't stop listening. I had to see what happened and I wasn't disappointed with the surprise ending.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Wow, but not a good wow

I really had high hopes for this book. I was definitely let down. I didn't find it creepy or suspenseful. I like a good mystery, but even that wasn't very intriguing. I will say that I liked the way the author goes back and forth between the father's novel and Maggie's narration. It was the only thing that kept me listening.

The most memorable moment of the book came towards the end in the form of a letter. It actually made me laugh out loud at the ridiculousness of some of the content. Based on this book, I won't be listening to anything else from this author.

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