Every so often, life offers you a reset button. When it does, you need to press it as hard as you can. Her best friend, Chloe, tries to warn her off, but Jules doesn't see any other options. This is it. As she gets to know the residents and staff of the Bartholomew, Jules finds herself drawn to fellow apartment sitter Ingrid, who comfortingly, disturbingly reminds her of the sister she lost eight years ago. When Ingrid confides that the Bartholomew is not what it seems and the dark history hidden beneath its gleaming facade is starting to frighten her, Jules brushes it off as a harmless ghost story—until the next day, when Ingrid disappears.

The premise reminds me of An Anonymous Girl, but Sager has a style all his own. He manages to keep the tone light and fun, almost Scooby doo-like, with all the “kids” out to solve a crime in their Mystery Machine Van. I really enjoy this aspect! Could she have made a mistake choosing to live here? The Gargoyle outside her window stood tall and ominous. It didn't creep Jules out though, she thought it was like " a protector standing guard." She doesn't realize it quite yet, but she will need a protector! Jules is a strong, relatable, and engaging character. The toggling between past and present builds the tension to a fever pitch. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was excellent. It was so engaging that I listened to the entire book in 2 days. Love it or hate it, I didn’t see the end coming, and it blew me away About this book. Yeah, well, it’s great. I have a very good overall opinion about it and I am very happy that I had the opportunity to read it earlier as planned.Is there a chance that a new Riley Sager would not appear on a list of new-release books? I don’t think so. If you have been following us for a while you know we love Riley Sager enough to create The Best Riley Sager Books Ranked by Super Fans! In this thrilling tale, the protagonist, Jules Larsen, finds herself caught in a web of mystery and danger when she takes a job as an apartment sitter in the enigmatic Bartholomew building. As she unravels the dark secrets of the building and its inhabitants, the suspense intensifies, keeping readers guessing and eager to uncover the truth. It's always there. A loud hum buzzing through every waking thought. Things have gotten so bleak that I've recently started wondering how far I have left to fall before hitting bottom and what I'll do if I ever reach that point.” I was provided an ARC copy from Penguin-Random House First to Read program in exchange for an honest review. *** The revelations of the manipulations and the psychological toll it takes on Jules contribute to the psychological suspense of the novel.

The book reaches its climax when Jules confronts the mastermind behind Bartholomew’s secrets and attempts to expose the truth. Jules becomes particularly intrigued by Ingrid, a previous apartment sitter who mysteriously disappeared from Bartholomew. Forced to crash on her best friend's couch until she can find a place of her own, Jules is beyond desperate to improve her situation. The exploration of psychological manipulation delves into the dark aspects of human behavior and the tactics used to control and manipulate others. It prompts readers to question motives, trust, and the impact of psychological games on individuals’ well-being. She begins investigating the building’s history and uncovers a series of disappearances and unexplained deaths tied to Bartholomew.As Jules delves deeper into her role, she starts noticing peculiar occurrences and strange behavior from the building’s staff and residents.

As she gets to know the residents and staff of the Bartholomew, Jules finds herself drawn to fellow apartment sitter Ingrid, who comfortingly reminds her of the sister she lost eight years ago. When Ingrid confides that the Bartholomew is not what it seems and the dark history hidden beneath its gleaming facade is starting to frighten her, Jules brushes it off as a harmless ghost story . . . until the next day, when Ingrid disappears. I just did not connect with this “Hunh?” storyline, which seemed to veer off in strange directions. One dimensional characters only added to my disappointment. There were scenes, reading late into the night, when I was legit terrified. Without giving anything away, let's just say I have never been so fearful of something as unimposing as a dumbwaiter. The residents and staff of Bartholomew use psychological tactics to control and manipulate Jules, creating a sense of paranoia and uncertainty. They restrict her movements, monitor her activities, and play on her fears to maintain their control over her. I have to be up in a couple hours for work. But I don’t care. This book took a 180 turn and it was so unexpected and I loved it.

Mystery and Suspense: The book is a thriller that explores the theme of mystery and suspense. It keeps readers guessing and on the edge of their seats as they try to unravel the secrets and uncover the truth behind the mysterious occurrences in the Bartholomew building. The Protagonist: To put it kindly, she is not the brightest bulb. Yet, she is the one to put the pieces of the mystery together?

It is a creepy and addictive read. As usual, Sager approaches the “over-the-top” believability factor, but, for some reason, with Sager, you just let it slide. It is so much more fun just to go along with him! I love the NYC setting and the characters to root for. Of course, a satisfying ending for us! All in all, a fantastic beach read!Ahhh, not so fast - there are rules! One of which include no guests...period! Do not interact with the residents. And you must spend every night in your assigned apartment. Ok! Easy peasy!