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The Unknown
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In 1926, five women disappeared from a remote island in Vermont. Now, one hundred years later, it’s happening again.
Struggling actress Marin Keane is shocked when she lands a role in a major motion picture about the unsolved mystery of New Avalon, an island on sprawling Lake Faraday in Vermont. She’s even more surprised when she learns that the role requires a weeklong research trip to that very spot.
Because New Avalon isn’t your ordinary island. A century ago, it was a commune for spiritual mediums—until they all vanished in 1926. The only trace of them was five dresses hanging from the branches of an old oak tree in the middle of the island, one for each missing woman. Some locals say they simply left. Others think they were murdered. But the prevailing opinion, thanks to a diary left behind by one of the vanished, a young woman named Daisy Rue, is that a séance gone wrong conjured something supernatural that took them all one by one.
Not long after arriving, Marin and her castmates, including legendary actress Violet Wright and white-hot director Ronan Peters, begin to realize all is not right with New Avalon. They hear strange noises in the night and notice mysterious symbols left behind by the island's previous occupants. And after a sudden health emergency leaves Marin, Ronan, and the other actors stranded on the island, the disappearances begin again.
Is it the work of someone trying to derail the movie? Or is the island’s alleged supernatural past catching up with the present? As fear and suspicion mount, Marin turns to Daisy’s diary, hoping it holds the key to figuring out what really happened to the women of New Avalon—and how to keep the island’s terrible history from repeating itself.
Struggling actress Marin Keane is shocked when she lands a role in a major motion picture about the unsolved mystery of New Avalon, an island on sprawling Lake Faraday in Vermont. She’s even more surprised when she learns that the role requires a weeklong research trip to that very spot.
Because New Avalon isn’t your ordinary island. A century ago, it was a commune for spiritual mediums—until they all vanished in 1926. The only trace of them was five dresses hanging from the branches of an old oak tree in the middle of the island, one for each missing woman. Some locals say they simply left. Others think they were murdered. But the prevailing opinion, thanks to a diary left behind by one of the vanished, a young woman named Daisy Rue, is that a séance gone wrong conjured something supernatural that took them all one by one.
Not long after arriving, Marin and her castmates, including legendary actress Violet Wright and white-hot director Ronan Peters, begin to realize all is not right with New Avalon. They hear strange noises in the night and notice mysterious symbols left behind by the island's previous occupants. And after a sudden health emergency leaves Marin, Ronan, and the other actors stranded on the island, the disappearances begin again.
Is it the work of someone trying to derail the movie? Or is the island’s alleged supernatural past catching up with the present? As fear and suspicion mount, Marin turns to Daisy’s diary, hoping it holds the key to figuring out what really happened to the women of New Avalon—and how to keep the island’s terrible history from repeating itself.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 4, 2026
70423 people want to read
About the author
Riley Sager
20 books58.4k followersRiley Sager is the New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, most recently THE ONLY ONE LEFT and THE HOUSE ACROSS THE LAKE. His first thriller, FINAL GIRLS, won the ITW Thriller Award for Best Hardcover Novel and has been published in more than thirty-five countries. His latest novel, MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, will be published in June.
A native of Pennsylvania, he now lives in Princeton, New Jersey. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, cooking and going to the movies as much as possible. His favorite film is "Rear Window." Or maybe "Jaws." But probably, if he's being honest, "Mary Poppins."
A native of Pennsylvania, he now lives in Princeton, New Jersey. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, cooking and going to the movies as much as possible. His favorite film is "Rear Window." Or maybe "Jaws." But probably, if he's being honest, "Mary Poppins."
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
➳ 4.5/5 stars
The Unknown by Riley Sager was genuinely one of my most anticipated reads of this year. I’m not exaggerating when I say I almost screamed when I received the e-ARC. I truly did not expect it at all, and that’s what made it so special. One moment I was just going about my day, and the next I was sitting there in complete disbelief, smiling like an idiot. Cloud nine doesn’t even begin to cover it. Getting this ARC felt surreal, and I was incredibly grateful, especially because this book had already been living rent-free in my head long before I even opened the first page.
Going in, I knew I would love it. I just had that feeling. And thankfully, I was right. This book wasn’t just good, it was marvelous. Everything worked. The storyline, the atmosphere, the setting, the characters each piece fit together so perfectly that I was completely locked in. It was sharp, eerie, and so well paced that I kept thinking, how is this getting better with every chapter? And let me say this: my brain is pretty desensitized at this point. Not a lot rattles me anymore. But this book? It gave me chills. Actual chills. I caught myself looking around my room, half-expecting something to be lurking in the shadows.
I didn’t expect anything less from Riley Sager, honestly.. He’s an author I trust, someone whose work I’ve loved consistently, so my expectations were high, and somehow, he still exceeded them. The tension, the unease, that creeping sense of dread… it all landed exactly where it should have. This book didn’t just deliver; it overdelivered. And I’m so glad it did.
➳ ABOUT THE BOOK
Riley Sager’s novel revolves around a film being made by a director named Ronan Peters . His idea is unsettling from the very start. He gathers five women to act in his movie and takes them to an isolated island called New Avalon not exactly to shoot, but more like to rehearse and immerse themselves in the story. The catch is that New Avalon already has a dark past. Decades ago, five women disappeared there overnight. Just vanished. No bodies, no clues, nothing. One of them, Ruth Semple, even owned the island, which only made the mystery deeper and more disturbing.
Because there were no answers, people created their own. Rumors spread that these women were witches, that they practiced seances, tried to contact spirits, and accidentally summoned something evil. The island slowly gained a paranormal reputation, and the story became more legend than fact. Years later, Ronan Peters decides to turn this chilling mystery into a movie, and that’s where things start getting really unsettling.
As the story progresses, the creepy factor doesn’t just build, it creeps. Slowly. Quietly. Until you’re sitting there questioning everything. I genuinely reached a point where I wondered if what was happening was actually real.
The plot twists? Completely unpredictable.
And I don’t say that lightly. I didn’t guess a single one. Not even close. I was shocked again and again, right up until the very last page. I was hooked from page one, and honestly, I finished the book in two or three days because I physically could not put it down. Every chapter ended with that feeling of okay, just one more, and suddenly hours had passed.
What made it even more haunting was how history began to repeat itself. The women involved in the film started experiencing the same things the women from past had experienced, seeing the same visions, feeling the same presence, reliving the same fear. It felt like déjà vu wrapped in dread, as if the island itself was pulling them into the past. New Avalon felt alive, paranormal, and deeply unsettling, as though the spirits of what happened before were still watching, still waiting.
I truly loved almost every aspect of this book. The atmosphere, the tension, the slow unraveling of the truth, it all worked so well. That said, there was one particular turn the story took that I didn’t fully love. It wasn’t bad, and I understand why it was there, it helped move the story forward, but I personally felt the book could have done without it. That single moment is the only reason I didn’t give it a full five glorious stars. Still, I’m not really complaining. The overall experience was intense, gripping, and unforgettable. This book had me chilled, intrigued, and completely consumed, and honestly, that’s exactly what I wanted.
➳ FINAL THOUGHTS
That being said, I’ve always been a fan, actually, a big fan of Riley Sager’s work, and this book just solidified that love for me. I know I might sound a little biased, but honestly, I don’t even care. I’ll let you be the judge. What I do know is that I genuinely want people to read this book. Like, really read it. For me, it felt like an absolute piece of art, and I loved every single second I spent with it.
This is one of those books that completely pulls you in and refuses to let go. It immerses you so deeply that your mind stays stuck in the story even after you close the book. And I’m not exaggerating when I say it occupied my thoughts for days. I was obsessed. Genuinely obsessed. Capital letters, no shame O-B-S-E-S-S-E-D. I was in love with this book.
Every character felt layered and intentional. Each one had their own story, their own creep factor, their own flaws, and somehow, Riley Sager wrote them all perfectly. His writing has always felt less like reading and more like someone sitting across from you, telling you a story. It’s flowy, easy to read, and incredibly immersive. It never felt like I was reading a book. It felt like I was inside it, living alongside the characters, seeing everything unfold in real time.
Maybe it was the writing, maybe it was my mood, or maybe I really am biased, but this book felt real. It was exactly what I needed at the right moment. And yes, I loved almost every single aspect of it. I’m really not complaining. There was one particular turn, one twist, that I didn’t enjoy as much because it wasn’t what I expected, but even then, it didn’t ruin the experience for me. Especially because there were so many other plot twists that completely caught me off guard.
And that final twist near the very end WOWW. I won’t spoil anything, don’t worry, this review is entirely spoiler-free. But that moment genuinely blew my mind. I just sat there, staring into space, trying to process what had just happened.
⚘ "Overall, if you’re looking for a book that will hook you, consume you, and stay with you long after you’ve finished it, this is the one. If you want something that will completely mess with your mind, in the best way possible, this book is an absolute, undeniable catch." 💌
— Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
౨ৎ pre-read:
⤿ started - 26 January , 2026
ahhh, did I just get the ARC for my most anticipated read of the year??? YES OMGGGGG I’m crying 🤧🤧
The Unknown by Riley Sager was genuinely one of my most anticipated reads of this year. I’m not exaggerating when I say I almost screamed when I received the e-ARC. I truly did not expect it at all, and that’s what made it so special. One moment I was just going about my day, and the next I was sitting there in complete disbelief, smiling like an idiot. Cloud nine doesn’t even begin to cover it. Getting this ARC felt surreal, and I was incredibly grateful, especially because this book had already been living rent-free in my head long before I even opened the first page.
Going in, I knew I would love it. I just had that feeling. And thankfully, I was right. This book wasn’t just good, it was marvelous. Everything worked. The storyline, the atmosphere, the setting, the characters each piece fit together so perfectly that I was completely locked in. It was sharp, eerie, and so well paced that I kept thinking, how is this getting better with every chapter? And let me say this: my brain is pretty desensitized at this point. Not a lot rattles me anymore. But this book? It gave me chills. Actual chills. I caught myself looking around my room, half-expecting something to be lurking in the shadows.
I didn’t expect anything less from Riley Sager, honestly.. He’s an author I trust, someone whose work I’ve loved consistently, so my expectations were high, and somehow, he still exceeded them. The tension, the unease, that creeping sense of dread… it all landed exactly where it should have. This book didn’t just deliver; it overdelivered. And I’m so glad it did.
➳ ABOUT THE BOOK
Riley Sager’s novel revolves around a film being made by a director named Ronan Peters . His idea is unsettling from the very start. He gathers five women to act in his movie and takes them to an isolated island called New Avalon not exactly to shoot, but more like to rehearse and immerse themselves in the story. The catch is that New Avalon already has a dark past. Decades ago, five women disappeared there overnight. Just vanished. No bodies, no clues, nothing. One of them, Ruth Semple, even owned the island, which only made the mystery deeper and more disturbing.
Because there were no answers, people created their own. Rumors spread that these women were witches, that they practiced seances, tried to contact spirits, and accidentally summoned something evil. The island slowly gained a paranormal reputation, and the story became more legend than fact. Years later, Ronan Peters decides to turn this chilling mystery into a movie, and that’s where things start getting really unsettling.
As the story progresses, the creepy factor doesn’t just build, it creeps. Slowly. Quietly. Until you’re sitting there questioning everything. I genuinely reached a point where I wondered if what was happening was actually real.
The plot twists? Completely unpredictable.
And I don’t say that lightly. I didn’t guess a single one. Not even close. I was shocked again and again, right up until the very last page. I was hooked from page one, and honestly, I finished the book in two or three days because I physically could not put it down. Every chapter ended with that feeling of okay, just one more, and suddenly hours had passed.
What made it even more haunting was how history began to repeat itself. The women involved in the film started experiencing the same things the women from past had experienced, seeing the same visions, feeling the same presence, reliving the same fear. It felt like déjà vu wrapped in dread, as if the island itself was pulling them into the past. New Avalon felt alive, paranormal, and deeply unsettling, as though the spirits of what happened before were still watching, still waiting.
I truly loved almost every aspect of this book. The atmosphere, the tension, the slow unraveling of the truth, it all worked so well. That said, there was one particular turn the story took that I didn’t fully love. It wasn’t bad, and I understand why it was there, it helped move the story forward, but I personally felt the book could have done without it. That single moment is the only reason I didn’t give it a full five glorious stars. Still, I’m not really complaining. The overall experience was intense, gripping, and unforgettable. This book had me chilled, intrigued, and completely consumed, and honestly, that’s exactly what I wanted.
➳ FINAL THOUGHTS
That being said, I’ve always been a fan, actually, a big fan of Riley Sager’s work, and this book just solidified that love for me. I know I might sound a little biased, but honestly, I don’t even care. I’ll let you be the judge. What I do know is that I genuinely want people to read this book. Like, really read it. For me, it felt like an absolute piece of art, and I loved every single second I spent with it.
This is one of those books that completely pulls you in and refuses to let go. It immerses you so deeply that your mind stays stuck in the story even after you close the book. And I’m not exaggerating when I say it occupied my thoughts for days. I was obsessed. Genuinely obsessed. Capital letters, no shame O-B-S-E-S-S-E-D. I was in love with this book.
Every character felt layered and intentional. Each one had their own story, their own creep factor, their own flaws, and somehow, Riley Sager wrote them all perfectly. His writing has always felt less like reading and more like someone sitting across from you, telling you a story. It’s flowy, easy to read, and incredibly immersive. It never felt like I was reading a book. It felt like I was inside it, living alongside the characters, seeing everything unfold in real time.
Maybe it was the writing, maybe it was my mood, or maybe I really am biased, but this book felt real. It was exactly what I needed at the right moment. And yes, I loved almost every single aspect of it. I’m really not complaining. There was one particular turn, one twist, that I didn’t enjoy as much because it wasn’t what I expected, but even then, it didn’t ruin the experience for me. Especially because there were so many other plot twists that completely caught me off guard.
And that final twist near the very end WOWW. I won’t spoil anything, don’t worry, this review is entirely spoiler-free. But that moment genuinely blew my mind. I just sat there, staring into space, trying to process what had just happened.
⚘ "Overall, if you’re looking for a book that will hook you, consume you, and stay with you long after you’ve finished it, this is the one. If you want something that will completely mess with your mind, in the best way possible, this book is an absolute, undeniable catch." 💌
— Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
౨ৎ pre-read:
⤿ started - 26 January , 2026
ahhh, did I just get the ARC for my most anticipated read of the year??? YES OMGGGGG I’m crying 🤧🤧
Read
December 24, 2025How did no one tell me there was a new Riley Sager book coming out???
Want to read
January 8, 2026For Riley Sager - I'm in!
But that synopsis sounds amazing! Can't wait for this one in 2026!! 🥳🎉🎊
*** UPDATE: That cover! OMG! I love it!!
But that synopsis sounds amazing! Can't wait for this one in 2026!! 🥳🎉🎊
*** UPDATE: That cover! OMG! I love it!!
Want to read
January 19, 2026I'm intrigued.... I think.... 💭💭💭
Want to read
November 21, 2025I don't care what everyone says, I'm seated for this.
March 25, 2026
Wow. I feel like I held my breath through most of this book. It gave me actual goosebumps and chills. Truly a Riley Sager at his best! You need to pre-order this one. It felt like a perfect mix of my two favourite of his books: The Only One Left and Last Time I Lied.
Thank you Dutton Books for the early copy.
Thank you Dutton Books for the early copy.
Read
February 6, 2026Review to come once I have digested this story.
This is between a 4 and 5 stars.
This is between a 4 and 5 stars.
January 28, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
riley sager is always an auto buy for me, and this premise had me hooked. the idea of 5 women disappearing without a trace off this island is nothing short of intriguing. i’m not usually a person who leans towards paranormal books, but this held my attention.
it was creepy, the descriptions made me feel uneasy and i definitely don’t recommend reading at nighttime. i was a little disappointed by the plot twist, but sager has a way of making you think you know what’s going on, when he rips the run out from under you. some of the writing felt a bit shallow and the point that is being made felt weak, but i enjoyed enjoyed myself. definitely pick this one up when it releases in august!
riley sager is always an auto buy for me, and this premise had me hooked. the idea of 5 women disappearing without a trace off this island is nothing short of intriguing. i’m not usually a person who leans towards paranormal books, but this held my attention.
it was creepy, the descriptions made me feel uneasy and i definitely don’t recommend reading at nighttime. i was a little disappointed by the plot twist, but sager has a way of making you think you know what’s going on, when he rips the run out from under you. some of the writing felt a bit shallow and the point that is being made felt weak, but i enjoyed enjoyed myself. definitely pick this one up when it releases in august!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Damn!
That was a whirlwind! I grabbed this one from my NetGalley shelf on Friday night and sped through it over two sittings until Sunday night.
I had my suspicions about various scenes and explanations but there were more than enough details that caught me off guard. By the end, I counted at least two audible gasps, a couple of "whaaaat?!" exclamations, and one sideways glance from my husband on the other end of the couch. (he asked if I was shocked, haha!)
This is a good one, folks.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
That was a whirlwind! I grabbed this one from my NetGalley shelf on Friday night and sped through it over two sittings until Sunday night.
I had my suspicions about various scenes and explanations but there were more than enough details that caught me off guard. By the end, I counted at least two audible gasps, a couple of "whaaaat?!" exclamations, and one sideways glance from my husband on the other end of the couch. (he asked if I was shocked, haha!)
This is a good one, folks.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
March 17, 2026
This was a lot. So many things are happening. Riley Sager has done it again—another gothic horror to keep us up at night.
Multi-layered and ever evolving…there is more than one story line going on here. Together and separately.
Five stars. I need my brain to catch up with my feelings and maybe I can write a more coherent review. 😅
Multi-layered and ever evolving…there is more than one story line going on here. Together and separately.
Five stars. I need my brain to catch up with my feelings and maybe I can write a more coherent review. 😅
Want to read
January 8, 2026so seated for this one. sounds so good
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.25⭐️
I am a big fan of Riley Sager and haven’t met a book of his I haven’t liked yet and I wanted to go into this one completely blind to the storyline for fun.
At the start I was a little hesitant thinking is this going to be another movie set slasher book that has been over done and because of that took me a little longer to get into the story than it normally does for a Riley Sager book but Riley did not disappoint at all. When I hit that 50% mark I was SAT until the end! And that ending . . gave me so much satisfaction.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC of this book for my honest review. It is always appreciated to get to read an early copy of book for one of your auto-buy authors.
I am a big fan of Riley Sager and haven’t met a book of his I haven’t liked yet and I wanted to go into this one completely blind to the storyline for fun.
At the start I was a little hesitant thinking is this going to be another movie set slasher book that has been over done and because of that took me a little longer to get into the story than it normally does for a Riley Sager book but Riley did not disappoint at all. When I hit that 50% mark I was SAT until the end! And that ending . . gave me so much satisfaction.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC of this book for my honest review. It is always appreciated to get to read an early copy of book for one of your auto-buy authors.
February 17, 2026
When I was a kid, sometimes I’d find an amazing book. I’d start reading it at school or the library, then come home and just dive head-first into it, reading through the entire afternoon completely absorbed. There are very, very few books that do that for me now. This one did. Addicting, spooky, and atmospheric... so so much fun.
I was enthralled from the start and stayed fully invested through to the end. Marin's journey - from clueless spectator to determined detective - was classic and thrilling. Sager does a wonderful job (as always) of setting the scene and bringing readers along for the ride. There are plenty of twists and turns, and you never quite know where things will end up.
*Review of an ARC from NetGalley
I was enthralled from the start and stayed fully invested through to the end. Marin's journey - from clueless spectator to determined detective - was classic and thrilling. Sager does a wonderful job (as always) of setting the scene and bringing readers along for the ride. There are plenty of twists and turns, and you never quite know where things will end up.
*Review of an ARC from NetGalley
March 18, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up because I hate one of the twists as a trope in general but it was sosososo good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
March 4, 2026THAT COVER!!! This comes out the day before my birthday, soooo happy early birthday to me😩❤️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒇𝒇 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒔. 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍.
THE UNKNOWN takes us to New Avalon, a remote Vermont island where five women vanished in 1926, leaving behind nothing but their dresses hanging from an oak tree. Popular opinion, thanks to a diary left behind by Daisy Rue, one of the vanished young women, is that a séance gone wrong conjured something supernatural that took them all one by one. Now, one hundred years later, history is starting to echo. Struggling actress Marin Keane lands a role in a film about the infamous mystery and travels to the island for research, expecting moody inspiration, not actual dread. But New Avalon has a weight to it, the kind of place where the air feels thick with old secrets, and once Marin and the cast are stranded there, the past stops feeling distant very quickly.
One of my favorite things about this was the dual timeline structure, with Marin’s present-day experience colliding with the haunting fragments of Daisy Rue’s diary. Those epistolary segments added such an eerie intimacy, like you were holding something forbidden in your hands. The atmosphere is oppressive in the best way, steeped in themes of witchcraft, spiritualism, and the long history of women being labeled dangerous or delusional when they step outside what society wants them to be. And honestly? I was pleasantly surprised by how the female characters avoided easy stereotypes. They felt layered, sharp, and human, which made the tension crackle with anticipation.
This came so close to five stars. The only thing holding it back was one plot device that felt a little too convenient, and there were moments where the story leaned into telling instead of letting the horror unfold naturally on the page. Even so, this story was atmospheric, moody, and genuinely unsettling in several places. New Avalon is the kind of setting that will linger in your mind long after you’ve left the island behind. Many thanks to Dutton Books for the early copy. Look for this one August 4, 2026.
THE UNKNOWN takes us to New Avalon, a remote Vermont island where five women vanished in 1926, leaving behind nothing but their dresses hanging from an oak tree. Popular opinion, thanks to a diary left behind by Daisy Rue, one of the vanished young women, is that a séance gone wrong conjured something supernatural that took them all one by one. Now, one hundred years later, history is starting to echo. Struggling actress Marin Keane lands a role in a film about the infamous mystery and travels to the island for research, expecting moody inspiration, not actual dread. But New Avalon has a weight to it, the kind of place where the air feels thick with old secrets, and once Marin and the cast are stranded there, the past stops feeling distant very quickly.
One of my favorite things about this was the dual timeline structure, with Marin’s present-day experience colliding with the haunting fragments of Daisy Rue’s diary. Those epistolary segments added such an eerie intimacy, like you were holding something forbidden in your hands. The atmosphere is oppressive in the best way, steeped in themes of witchcraft, spiritualism, and the long history of women being labeled dangerous or delusional when they step outside what society wants them to be. And honestly? I was pleasantly surprised by how the female characters avoided easy stereotypes. They felt layered, sharp, and human, which made the tension crackle with anticipation.
This came so close to five stars. The only thing holding it back was one plot device that felt a little too convenient, and there were moments where the story leaned into telling instead of letting the horror unfold naturally on the page. Even so, this story was atmospheric, moody, and genuinely unsettling in several places. New Avalon is the kind of setting that will linger in your mind long after you’ve left the island behind. Many thanks to Dutton Books for the early copy. Look for this one August 4, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A ginormous thank you to Dutton for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger warnings: child drowning, sexual assault and abuse, non-consensual pornography.
OH, WE ARE SO BACK.
Honestly, a book of his hasn’t hit this hard for me since my ultimate favorite 'Home Before Dark', and that comparison makes sense with 'The Unknown' sharing a lot of similar elements. For starters, I love a Hollywood/movie-making backdrop. The island setting felt immersive and I felt connected with the main character's dreams and aspirations, As someone who’s always been interested in acting, I enjoyed that aspect a lot.
The characters were engaging, and it was fun to imagine them as real life actors. (Meryl Streep for Violet, right?) I also didn’t expect the story to explore the darker side of Hollywood, including themes tied to the #MeToo movement, which added more depth than I anticipated.
One of the most compelling parts was how the dual timelines overlapped. Daisy’s diary from 100 years ago felt eerily relevant to what the women in the present were experiencing, and that mirroring was done really well. The pacing kept me hooked and I never felt bored. Getting to the final stretch was easy because I kept wanting answers.
Around the last 20%, the twists really start coming, one after another. It’s the kind of book where you’re completely stumped until the reveals, and I love that feeling. Everything was wrapped up in a satisfying way, with answers that made sense. Yes, there’s some suspension of disbelief required, as there is with anything that includes supernatural elements, but it’s part of the fun.
This felt like a return to form for Sager. After DNF'ing his last novel and feeling underwhelmed by a few before that, I was starting to worry. But this reminded me of why I loved his books like 'Final Girls' and 'Lock Every Door' in the first place. At his best, he's a master of fast-paced, twisty, really fun and creepy thrill rides.
I honestly wish I could wipe my memory and read it again.
Trigger warnings: child drowning, sexual assault and abuse, non-consensual pornography.
OH, WE ARE SO BACK.
Honestly, a book of his hasn’t hit this hard for me since my ultimate favorite 'Home Before Dark', and that comparison makes sense with 'The Unknown' sharing a lot of similar elements. For starters, I love a Hollywood/movie-making backdrop. The island setting felt immersive and I felt connected with the main character's dreams and aspirations, As someone who’s always been interested in acting, I enjoyed that aspect a lot.
The characters were engaging, and it was fun to imagine them as real life actors. (Meryl Streep for Violet, right?) I also didn’t expect the story to explore the darker side of Hollywood, including themes tied to the #MeToo movement, which added more depth than I anticipated.
One of the most compelling parts was how the dual timelines overlapped. Daisy’s diary from 100 years ago felt eerily relevant to what the women in the present were experiencing, and that mirroring was done really well. The pacing kept me hooked and I never felt bored. Getting to the final stretch was easy because I kept wanting answers.
Around the last 20%, the twists really start coming, one after another. It’s the kind of book where you’re completely stumped until the reveals, and I love that feeling. Everything was wrapped up in a satisfying way, with answers that made sense. Yes, there’s some suspension of disbelief required, as there is with anything that includes supernatural elements, but it’s part of the fun.
This felt like a return to form for Sager. After DNF'ing his last novel and feeling underwhelmed by a few before that, I was starting to worry. But this reminded me of why I loved his books like 'Final Girls' and 'Lock Every Door' in the first place. At his best, he's a master of fast-paced, twisty, really fun and creepy thrill rides.
I honestly wish I could wipe my memory and read it again.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
With a name like Marin Keane, she was bound to be famous, right? Not so much. Marin is an aspiring actress who works as a waitress in New York. She has done some theater but her only experience on film was as the bridesmaid with a skin condition. Which is why when her agent calls her in for a casting in a new Ronan Peters film starring the Violet Wright, she expects it to just be great experience. When she finds out that she actually got the part and that the weeklong research trip starts in 3 days, she’s completely floored.
The movie is about the unsolved disappearance of 5 women on the island of New Avalon which is an island on Lake Faraday in Vermont. The disappearance took place in 1926 and all that were remaining of the women were the 5 dresses hanging from an old oak tree - one for each woman. It wasn’t until the reading that Marin finds out that her character, Daisy Rue, isn’t a small part with minimal lines, but the main character.
Soon after arriving, strange things start to happen on New Avalon and they are alarmingly similar to the events of 1926. Ronan Peters has a history of being a director who likes to dive deep into the atmosphere of the time with actors living in the same conditions as their characters. Are the disappearances of the cast all part of the plan to fully immerse themselves into the lives of the women who disappeared? Is someone trying to prevent the movie from happening? Is it possible that they accidentally unleashed the supernatural entity that caused the women to disappear 100 years ago?
Each year since 2017, Riley Sager comes out with a new book and this is quite possibly my favorite book of his - just edging out Survive the Night. He’s known for his wild twists and turns that no one would expect, and this one does not disappoint! Similar to his book Middle of the Night, he keeps you wondering throughout whether the mysterious occurrences are real or supernatural and the ending was a complete surprise.
The movie is about the unsolved disappearance of 5 women on the island of New Avalon which is an island on Lake Faraday in Vermont. The disappearance took place in 1926 and all that were remaining of the women were the 5 dresses hanging from an old oak tree - one for each woman. It wasn’t until the reading that Marin finds out that her character, Daisy Rue, isn’t a small part with minimal lines, but the main character.
Soon after arriving, strange things start to happen on New Avalon and they are alarmingly similar to the events of 1926. Ronan Peters has a history of being a director who likes to dive deep into the atmosphere of the time with actors living in the same conditions as their characters. Are the disappearances of the cast all part of the plan to fully immerse themselves into the lives of the women who disappeared? Is someone trying to prevent the movie from happening? Is it possible that they accidentally unleashed the supernatural entity that caused the women to disappear 100 years ago?
Each year since 2017, Riley Sager comes out with a new book and this is quite possibly my favorite book of his - just edging out Survive the Night. He’s known for his wild twists and turns that no one would expect, and this one does not disappoint! Similar to his book Middle of the Night, he keeps you wondering throughout whether the mysterious occurrences are real or supernatural and the ending was a complete surprise.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The Unknown follows a group of actresses and filmmakers as they begin work on a film based upon the diary of a woman who disappeared, along with 4 others, on a Vermont Island called New Avalon in the 1920s. When unexplained things start happening during their prep week on the very same island, they begin to fear that the past is repeating. Is something evil really on the island? Is it some kind of messed up forced method acting? You have to read to find out.
This book honestly feels like a return to form for Riley Sager, blending paranormal and traditional thriller elements that has the characters (and the reader) second guessing everything. Riley Sager has been an auto-read author for me since I read Home Before Dark in 2021, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed with some of his more recent works (With A Vengeance and The House Across the Lake particularly). This book recaptures some of that old magic that made me a fan in the first place.
My primary critique of this book is that the diary entries interspersed read far more like flashbacks than they did true diary entries. Though some late-revealed details may explain this tone/format a bit (not going to spoil it here), it felt strange that none of the characters who read the diary themselves felt that way. I don't personally find myself able to recall full interactions with direct quotes for any sort of post-hoc journaling. Ultimately I was able to suspend disbelief despite some initial stumbles with the format.
This is a great book for any traditional or paranormal thriller fan to pick up.
The Unknown follows a group of actresses and filmmakers as they begin work on a film based upon the diary of a woman who disappeared, along with 4 others, on a Vermont Island called New Avalon in the 1920s. When unexplained things start happening during their prep week on the very same island, they begin to fear that the past is repeating. Is something evil really on the island? Is it some kind of messed up forced method acting? You have to read to find out.
This book honestly feels like a return to form for Riley Sager, blending paranormal and traditional thriller elements that has the characters (and the reader) second guessing everything. Riley Sager has been an auto-read author for me since I read Home Before Dark in 2021, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed with some of his more recent works (With A Vengeance and The House Across the Lake particularly). This book recaptures some of that old magic that made me a fan in the first place.
My primary critique of this book is that the diary entries interspersed read far more like flashbacks than they did true diary entries. Though some late-revealed details may explain this tone/format a bit (not going to spoil it here), it felt strange that none of the characters who read the diary themselves felt that way. I don't personally find myself able to recall full interactions with direct quotes for any sort of post-hoc journaling. Ultimately I was able to suspend disbelief despite some initial stumbles with the format.
This is a great book for any traditional or paranormal thriller fan to pick up.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. After being disappointed by Sager's last novel (I know, I am an outlier), I still definitely wanted to read this book. We follow two story lines 100 years apart at New Avalon, a remote island on Lake Faraday in Vermont. In 1926 4 women came to the island invited by the owner, Ruth Hume Semple. What went on, no one really knows. Their dresses were found hanging in a large oak tree, none of their bodies were found, just a diary written by one of the women, Daisy? Now head into 2026 when a hotshot male director, Roman wants to make a film about the five women using the diary that was left behind. What really went on at New Avalon? Were they witches? Were they there just communing with nature? Was there really seances? All struggling actress, Marin wants is a role she can sink her teeth into and this sounds like the role of a lifetime, there is just one catch, Roman wants them all to stay at New Avalon for a week to really get a feel for their roles. With trepidation, they set foot on New Avalon and right from the start, things are not what they seem. When women from the cast start to go missing, is history repeating itself, or is there something much worse going on there? An interesting thrill ride with multiple plot twists that I really enjoyed.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
WOW. In full transparency, I've been a fan of Riley Sager since his first book. I was beyond stoked to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of The Unknown, courtesy of the publisher. Boy, let me tell you—this one did not disappoint! This is hands-down my favorite Sager novel to date.
As with all of his other works, I was already hooked by the basic plot description: an actress getting her start in the film business is brought to an isolated island for a week of method-style rehearsals, when things begin getting rather... spooky. We have seances. We have spirits. We have sordid history, thrills, chills, you name it. This book is a bombshell of atmosphere. 10/10 on that alone.
But one thing I really appreciate is the way that Sager writes his heroines, and female characters in general. I won't give any spoilers away, but Sager has taken this to a whole new level with his protagonist, supporting characters, and themes.
The Unknown is a major page-turner. Thread after thread unraveled to keep you guessing, fright after fright. The balance between reality and the supernatural, and past versus present is a true masterclass. This novel was such a treat and I'll be thinking about it for a long time to come! And of course, anxiously awaiting next year's book...
Many sincere thanks to Dutton Books and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. You kept me up through all hours of the night—I couldn't put this one down!
As with all of his other works, I was already hooked by the basic plot description: an actress getting her start in the film business is brought to an isolated island for a week of method-style rehearsals, when things begin getting rather... spooky. We have seances. We have spirits. We have sordid history, thrills, chills, you name it. This book is a bombshell of atmosphere. 10/10 on that alone.
But one thing I really appreciate is the way that Sager writes his heroines, and female characters in general. I won't give any spoilers away, but Sager has taken this to a whole new level with his protagonist, supporting characters, and themes.
The Unknown is a major page-turner. Thread after thread unraveled to keep you guessing, fright after fright. The balance between reality and the supernatural, and past versus present is a true masterclass. This novel was such a treat and I'll be thinking about it for a long time to come! And of course, anxiously awaiting next year's book...
Many sincere thanks to Dutton Books and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. You kept me up through all hours of the night—I couldn't put this one down!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 stars
Riley Sager will forever be an auto buy/read author for me and from the very first page of The Unknown I was hooked.
I always enjoy an isolated island setting, yet this offered a different twist on it, which I appreciated.
While I had a feeling that the reason that they were left stranded wasn’t exactly as it seemed, I didn’t guess or expect the twists and turns that unfurled towards the end.
I liked Marin as a main character, too.
Her being a fledgling actress hoping to get her big break allowed you to get behind her and understand her motivations. Plus, there was a good amount of seemingly paranormal happenings sprinkled throughout and the way in which Daisy's diary entries were interspersed also worked well.
I will say, I had a little bit of doubt when it was revealed what was really going on, in terms of a certain individual’s role in it all, but it did resolve itself in a satisfying way.
All in all, I binged it in around 24 hours, which just goes to show how unputdownable it was.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
My official ranking of every Riley Sager book (just in case you were interested):
1: Lock Every Door
2: The Last Time I Lied
3: The Only One Left
4: Home Before Dark
5: The Unknown
6: Final Girls
7: Survive The Night
8: The House Across The Lake
9: With A Vengeance
Riley Sager will forever be an auto buy/read author for me and from the very first page of The Unknown I was hooked.
I always enjoy an isolated island setting, yet this offered a different twist on it, which I appreciated.
While I had a feeling that the reason that they were left stranded wasn’t exactly as it seemed, I didn’t guess or expect the twists and turns that unfurled towards the end.
I liked Marin as a main character, too.
Her being a fledgling actress hoping to get her big break allowed you to get behind her and understand her motivations. Plus, there was a good amount of seemingly paranormal happenings sprinkled throughout and the way in which Daisy's diary entries were interspersed also worked well.
I will say, I had a little bit of doubt when it was revealed what was really going on, in terms of a certain individual’s role in it all, but it did resolve itself in a satisfying way.
All in all, I binged it in around 24 hours, which just goes to show how unputdownable it was.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
My official ranking of every Riley Sager book (just in case you were interested):
1: Lock Every Door
2: The Last Time I Lied
3: The Only One Left
4: Home Before Dark
5: The Unknown
6: Final Girls
7: Survive The Night
8: The House Across The Lake
9: With A Vengeance
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
One thing about Riley Sager novels is that each is going to have it's entirely own feel. It is the best thing about reading a book by him. Nowadays, each book by an author feels the same with only slight differences. The Unknown cannot really be compared to his other works, and that is the best compliment.
I am a supernatural media hater, usually. However, I actually really enjoyed the supernatural elements in this book. It was done so well, and I was never annoyed by it as I previously had been.
The premise is very interesting, and it will make you want to read from the first chapter. Five women disappearing from an island twice?? You want to know what is going to happen/leads up to the events. Getting both the present-day portion and the 1926 piece of the story was great. You were able to slowly piece parts together, and it broke up the repetitiveness a bit.
This book is not rated any higher because the first half did feel sort of slow. I was not completely engrossed in that portion as I would have wanted to be in a mystery thriller. It definitely picked up in the second half.
Thank you NetGalley, Dutton, & Riley Sager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Unknown is released on August 4, 2026!
I am a supernatural media hater, usually. However, I actually really enjoyed the supernatural elements in this book. It was done so well, and I was never annoyed by it as I previously had been.
The premise is very interesting, and it will make you want to read from the first chapter. Five women disappearing from an island twice?? You want to know what is going to happen/leads up to the events. Getting both the present-day portion and the 1926 piece of the story was great. You were able to slowly piece parts together, and it broke up the repetitiveness a bit.
This book is not rated any higher because the first half did feel sort of slow. I was not completely engrossed in that portion as I would have wanted to be in a mystery thriller. It definitely picked up in the second half.
Thank you NetGalley, Dutton, & Riley Sager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Unknown is released on August 4, 2026!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Unknown is peak Riley Sager catnip at the start: a century-old island mystery (five women vanish, dresses left hanging like a dare), a modern film crew heading to the exact location for “research,” and a diary that basically whispers you’re next. It’s got that glossy, cinematic vibe—stormy lake, creepy symbols, famous actors with egos, and the sense that the island is quietly watching everyone like an audience that wants blood.
And for a while? It’s legitimately fun. The setup snaps, the atmosphere is dialed in, and the “is this sabotage or supernatural?” question keeps the pages moving. Sager’s good at that momentum—he knows how to keep you leaning forward even when you’re side-eyeing the coincidences.
But then the reveal hit and I felt the air go out of the room. Not because it was messy, exactly—more because it didn’t feel inspired. The ingredients are so delicious that I wanted the payoff to be bolder, stranger, or more emotionally sharp. Instead, it landed in a place that felt safer than the premise deserved, like the book spent its best energy on the promise and then cashed it out for something more standard.
Still, the ride is entertaining. I just wanted the destination to match the mood.
And for a while? It’s legitimately fun. The setup snaps, the atmosphere is dialed in, and the “is this sabotage or supernatural?” question keeps the pages moving. Sager’s good at that momentum—he knows how to keep you leaning forward even when you’re side-eyeing the coincidences.
But then the reveal hit and I felt the air go out of the room. Not because it was messy, exactly—more because it didn’t feel inspired. The ingredients are so delicious that I wanted the payoff to be bolder, stranger, or more emotionally sharp. Instead, it landed in a place that felt safer than the premise deserved, like the book spent its best energy on the promise and then cashed it out for something more standard.
Still, the ride is entertaining. I just wanted the destination to match the mood.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
(Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC)
A mysterious island off the coast of Vermont, steeped in unsolved disappearances, finds itself at the center of an indie horror film 100 years after its sinister events took place.
Well, I wish that the initial three fourths of this novel were as entertaining and twisty as the last one! Truly, I would have given this book a measly 2 stars had it not been for the last 75 or so pages that saved it. The initial pacing was just off. I found the Daisy journal entries flat out boring and the present-day/Marin chapters slow and predictable. It wasn't until the twists were revealed that everything started to gain momentum. Most of the time this read like a rehashing of The Lost Village and Run Time, so really I just kept reading it thinking "this has all been done before". Unfortunately, that seems to be a recurring thought of mine with Sager's more recent novels. But the last fourth of this gave me that old Sager flair that I have so desperately missed. So three out of five stars for breathing some originality back into the conclusion.
A mysterious island off the coast of Vermont, steeped in unsolved disappearances, finds itself at the center of an indie horror film 100 years after its sinister events took place.
Well, I wish that the initial three fourths of this novel were as entertaining and twisty as the last one! Truly, I would have given this book a measly 2 stars had it not been for the last 75 or so pages that saved it. The initial pacing was just off. I found the Daisy journal entries flat out boring and the present-day/Marin chapters slow and predictable. It wasn't until the twists were revealed that everything started to gain momentum. Most of the time this read like a rehashing of The Lost Village and Run Time, so really I just kept reading it thinking "this has all been done before". Unfortunately, that seems to be a recurring thought of mine with Sager's more recent novels. But the last fourth of this gave me that old Sager flair that I have so desperately missed. So three out of five stars for breathing some originality back into the conclusion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
✨Let’s start with this: It was 4pm on Thursday – the Thursday of my daughter’s WEDDING WEEEND – when I opened this book. Somewhere between decorating the church, the rehearsal, the rehearsal dinner, and the wedding day itself, I managed to sneak in enough reading sessions to finish by Monday. That’s how fast paced and bingeable this book is. Do I have your attention?
✨ I loved the atmospheric setting of the potentially haunted isolated location. What really kept me turning the pages were the dual timelines and points of view, the rising tension, the chilling details and the peeling back of secret upon secret. It was nonstop thrills and chills, and I could not stop peeking over my shoulder as I read.
✨What I loved most was the tension between the supernatural and the human. I truly couldn’t tell if the horrors were supernatural or orchestrated by someone behind the scenes. The reveal at the end was not one I saw coming.
✨I really enjoyed this one and felt like it was a throwback to his Home Before Dark era which will always be my Sager favorite.
🌿Read if you like:
✨Stories that blur the lines between supernatural and human-driven horror
✨Historical mysteries
✨Isolated island locations
✨Local folklore and legends
✨Movie production narratives
✨ I loved the atmospheric setting of the potentially haunted isolated location. What really kept me turning the pages were the dual timelines and points of view, the rising tension, the chilling details and the peeling back of secret upon secret. It was nonstop thrills and chills, and I could not stop peeking over my shoulder as I read.
✨What I loved most was the tension between the supernatural and the human. I truly couldn’t tell if the horrors were supernatural or orchestrated by someone behind the scenes. The reveal at the end was not one I saw coming.
✨I really enjoyed this one and felt like it was a throwback to his Home Before Dark era which will always be my Sager favorite.
🌿Read if you like:
✨Stories that blur the lines between supernatural and human-driven horror
✨Historical mysteries
✨Isolated island locations
✨Local folklore and legends
✨Movie production narratives
March 18, 2026
✨Let’s start with this: It was 4pm on Thursday – the Thursday of my daughter’s WEDDING WEEKEND – when I opened this book. Somewhere between decorating the church, the rehearsal, the rehearsal dinner, and the wedding day itself, I managed to sneak in enough reading sessions to finish by Monday. That’s how fast paced and bingeable this book is. Do I have your attention?
✨ I loved the atmospheric setting of the potentially haunted isolated location. What really kept me turning the pages were the dual timelines and points of view, the rising tension, the chilling details and the peeling back of secret upon secret. It was nonstop thrills and chills, and I could not stop peeking over my shoulder as I read.
✨What I loved most was the tension between the supernatural and the human. I truly couldn’t tell if the horrors were supernatural or orchestrated by someone behind the scenes. The reveal at the end was not one I saw coming.
✨I really enjoyed this one and felt like it was a throwback to his Home Before Dark era which will always be my Sager favorite.
🌿Read if you like:
✨Stories that blur the lines between supernatural and human-driven horror
✨Historical mysteries
✨Isolated island locations
✨Local folklore and legends
✨Movie production narratives
✨ I loved the atmospheric setting of the potentially haunted isolated location. What really kept me turning the pages were the dual timelines and points of view, the rising tension, the chilling details and the peeling back of secret upon secret. It was nonstop thrills and chills, and I could not stop peeking over my shoulder as I read.
✨What I loved most was the tension between the supernatural and the human. I truly couldn’t tell if the horrors were supernatural or orchestrated by someone behind the scenes. The reveal at the end was not one I saw coming.
✨I really enjoyed this one and felt like it was a throwback to his Home Before Dark era which will always be my Sager favorite.
🌿Read if you like:
✨Stories that blur the lines between supernatural and human-driven horror
✨Historical mysteries
✨Isolated island locations
✨Local folklore and legends
✨Movie production narratives
January 24, 2026
This other, always kind of marketing themselves as a murder, mystery, author, but in the last couple books, a scene of movement towards the supernatural and the horror. This one is no different as a young unknown actress gets the potential job of a lifetime, but in order to do so she has to travel to an island where five women mysteriously disappeared to prep for the movie role she hopes will make her famous. But as things starts happening on the island. It’s impossible to deny that there seems to be some dark force at work here. I turned to the pages as quickly as possible and finished it in just a couple hours. It was a great read and definitely a little bit bit different for me in terms of the occult aspect. There are definitely some messages here about the power of men in Hollywood and how they treat women that made the boogie war impressive definitely one of my favorites by this author.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is Riley Sager's best book yet! It is quite a winner! On an island in Vermont 100 years ago 5 women disappeared. Now, a film crew is "rehearsing" the movie on that same island, hoping to find realism and truth. Instead, the women begin to disappear, following the diary left behind by one of the women in 1926. There are seances and scares and disappearances and sounds and bumps in the night. Chapters rotate between the 1926 diary entries and 2026 activities. The diary is missing pages at the end, so the movie script continues the story on its own. I am amazed at the depth of plot and the intricacy of the characters. So much is going on here and it is so well-written that I could not stop! I wish I could give it 10 stars!!! My only concern is how will Mr. Sager ever top this book?! Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for providing an ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It was great.. until it wasn't. I have found that I always enjoy Riley Sager books but I do find them a bit predictable. I will say this was an enjoyable read the beginning of the book was really engaging and drew me in. Up until about 60% in I was very intrigued. The set up of the characters and the plot was phenomenal. The twists as previously stated were predictable with the exception of one that I did not see coming. The problem that I had with this book as it had the makings to be a 5 star read for me, and I am sure for lots of people it will be; but the potential to have this be a truly heart stopping thriller was there and we just sort of lost the plot a little. Overall the story was enjoyable and engaging. A very interesting thriller. I would say a 3.5 - 3.75 rating is more accurate
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