Literally Dead Book Club discussion

This discussion is for the first 121 pages of the book.

Tell us your first impressions!
Have you read from this author before and what were your ratings?

This book has 2 timelines. Do you think it's well balanced or are you wishing there was more or less of one.

What mysteries have been introduced? Do you have any predictions?

I didn’t read this in sections, but I really enjoyed this book! Super fun.

15 pages in and I already have the creeps.

Immediately was sucked in by the story line and wanted to know more. I have read The Only One Left and that was a 5 star rating for me. I think the two timelines are well balanced. Mysteries include what is the deal with the baseballs appearing after Billy's bones are found, what's with The Institute and what happened to Billy up there? No predictions at this point.

I’m having so much fun! I think Sager has really set up the book well. I’m engaged and keep wanting to return to the story when I have to put it down.

Could it still get really really stupid? Yes. But as of right now I’m optimistic.

I'm enjoying this very much so far. I'm curious to find out what happened to Billy and if the story will preserve the paranormal element. Although based on the previous Riley Sager's books I don't think so.

I’ve read all of Riley Sager books and I was definitely excited to pick this one up.

So far I’ve been enjoying the “paranormal” aspects he has introduced - if that’s what they really are since I’m on 33% in.

I will say it’s a slower burn than his usual stories where a million plot twist would have been unraveled by this point, but nonetheless I’m having a good time.

Am I the only one who is a little bored at around chapter 12? Let's see if this will improve or not

I agree this feels pretty slow-placed comparing to his previous books. But I'm enjoying the setting / scenario—and feels like by Ch.10 we finally have all the pieces for things to get moving, fingers crossed!

First impression of the book is really good and I'm looking forward to the mystery unravelling.
I've read The Only One Left and Home Before Dark from Riley Sager and gave them both 5 stars so I have high hopes for this one.
I feel the timelines are balanced enough and I really like how the past timeline is told from different perspectives :)
No predictions yet but I think Russ had something to do with Billy's disappearance and Ethan's mother was forced from her job by Fritz, due to something that happened between them or something she saw/heard.

I have read all of Riley Sager’s books and have enjoyed them all. My favorite was The House Across The Lake

So far I am intrigued. It is a slower burn but I expected that after I saw him talk about this one.

I think that Fritz guy is super sketch. What happened between him and Mom? What is The Institute? Damn that little kid of Ashley’s is cute!

I'm really enjoying this so far. It's a bit of a slower start, but I'm fine with it. I like the 2 timelines and to me they are well balanced. The institute intrigues me, it's giving me a bit of Stranger Things vibes.

This is my first Riley Sager but I've heard good things and have at least three more in my tbr.
I do like two timeline stories, I think it helps keep me on my toes when reading and I like how the past helps to understand what's going on in the present.
So there is the baseball mystery, who killed Billy, and what happened near the institute.. the baseball has to be Billy I think and Fritz seems very suspicious like what happened between him and Ethan's mom. I think the experiments or something with the institute have something to do with Billy's death.

Just started this the other day. 21 pages in and I'm liking it okay. Noticed a small reference to Final Girls and The Last Time I Lied as well which I liked.

First impressions, I'm really it enjoying so far! At this point I mostly have questions. Is it supernatural or someone just messing around? Why is he so insistent that his dad is Decent Guy Supreme™ (and is that even relevant)? What went on between Ethan's mom and Fritz? Is it what they're implying? And is it related to why she lost her job? It's also funny to me that they're all so paranoid about "stranger danger" but not the people right next door. Like just because someone lives by you they're automatically innocent?

The other Riley Sagers I've read are The Only One Left which was a 4.5, and Lock Every Door which was a 3 b/c I felt the ending was a little silly. Still, a pretty good track record so far.

I'm actually liking the two timelines. I think it's well-balanced and we get tidbits of the '94 timeline at the right moments.

I can't decide if I think the Hawthorne Institute is involved or just a red herring. I can't shake the feeling that Ethan's parents are somehow involved or at least know more than they're letting on.

I’m enjoying this more than I thought. The characters are distinct and the summer vibes are matching this crazy heat wave. It is slow but because of that I can skim right along so it’s just a fun, chill, easy time.

I am really enjoying this so far.

I haven't read from Riley Sager before but a few books are on my tbr.

I like the 2 timelines. I enjoy the different PoV's, especially Billy's. I like they the 1994 timeline helps to understand what happens in the present.

The mysteries include: Billy's murder, What happened between Mom and Fred, Why did she lose her job, what is happening with the garage lights and baseballs, everything surrounding the Hawthorne institute.

I have no real predictions but Russ seems a little suspicious to me.

Definitely a slow burn… trying to get into the next section, hopefully it picks up

Have you read from this author before and what were your ratings?
The Only One Left ★
The House Across the Lake ★
The Last Time I Lied ★★★★★
Survive the Night ★★★

The dual timelines are good. I'm intrigued by the use of third-person and first-person and know there must be a reason for this.

I'm interested in seeing what's up with the Institute. Russ is very suspicious. Something weird is up with Ashley and her kid. He's a little strange and brilliant, like Billy.

Just finished chapter Nine and I really am liking the slow burn of it all. I have so many questions still like what happened with Ethan's mom and Fritz...and Russ is sus but is he supposed to be or is it a red herring lol. Not to mention idk if I fully trust Ashley either but I am wondering what exactly is up with her father.

Also interested on if we will actually see Claudia and not just read about Ethan missing her/calling her/remembering their time together.

I think I’m going to be putting this book down, at least for now. I’m 50 pages in (the middle of chapter 4), and I want to care but the truth is I simply don’t. I can’t tell if that’s the book or just my slumpy reading year where I don’t really care about much of the things I’m reading.

I’m honestly not sure what to think so far.

I’ve given Sager a slew of different ratings and this one is so simmering slow compared to his others. I don’t feel the intense tension but more slowly peeling back layers.

I am enjoying being in the head of a male protagonist - I’m glad he listened.

I’m real suspicious of Russ. And Ashley’s dad.

I want to know what happened to Billy that day at the Institute more than I want to know who murdered him.

So far, this is reading better for me than some of his others, but it’s only 1/3 of the way in. He could pull his normal dumb twists and piss me off yet.

But I keep coming back for more because I do love the rides he takes me on.

Lala wrote: "This discussion is for the first 121 pages of the book.

Tell us your first impressions!
Have you read from this author before and what were your ratings?

This book has 2 timelines. Do you think i..."

This is my 4th Sager book, all books I read through the LBD Club suggestions: Home Before Dark, Survive the Night, and The Only One Left. There might have been a 3.5 star rating in there for one of these books, but according to Goodreads I gave all of them 4 stars.

I'm usually am not a fan of 2 timeline stories. I find myself wanting to skip the past to read the present or vice versa. So far in this book, I'm okay with both timelines, the past are short and informative and are flowing into the present chapters with consistency.

Middle of the Night is starting slow, lots of character building. Ethan is a sad average guy. I'm hoping he comes out of this story a stronger person with the ability to sleep a full night at the end. Perhaps with a new partner (Ashley).

Mysteries so far? Is Billy really dead? They found his remains and confirm it is him or is it. Billy had a brother, could it be him, haunting Hemlock Circle to find out what really happened? Is it another resident of Hemlock Circle? Or is there really ghosts among us, lol.

Looking forward to the next chapters..

This isn’t answering any of the questions, but does anyone else sing The River of Dreams by Billy Joel everytime they see the title of this book? “in the middle of the night, I go walking in my sleep”

I have read all of Sager's books and usually give between 4 to 5 stars. I think the first part is slow but it's a buildup for what's to come. I don't mind the 2 timelines but it is a little jarring to hace the past told from multiple perspectives. I think the Van der verr guy had something to do with it.

Bit of a slow start for me in the first 10 chapters. I'm just reading to find out what the heck the Hawthorne Institute is up to lol (anyone else find it strange that no one in the town seems to know what the Institute does? Weird that there's a gossip circle every single morning but everyone's okay with a mysterious research institute...)

I've read Home Before Dark and Final Girls by Sager. Goodreads shows I gave them both 4 stars but I remember next to nothing about them, so not sure I'd rate them the same now!

A couple of lukewarm theories I have:
1. Russ's brother did not die from a drug overdose. They mention it too often for that to actually be what happened.
2. There's something up with Ethan's ex, Claudia. I think she might be dead in the modern timeline? He leaves her messages but the language is careful enough that I feel like she's either not real or not here anymore.

First Impressions are alright, Riley Sager has been a 4⭐️ author for me. I’ve read 2 of his book, this will be a third.

The timelines don’t bother me. But there’s something about it that I wish was different but I can’t put my finger on it.

Someone on Hemlock Circle killed Billy, assumingely. So I think it’s Russ. My boyfriend tells me he thinks it’s Ashley.

I’ve read Home Before Dark and The Only One Left and I rated them around 3 or 4 stars so we’ll see where this one falls.

So far it’s starting off slow but I’m curious to find out what’s happening. It’s really strange that people in the town don’t seem to be more interested in this institute that is so close to them.

Im usually not a fan of dual timeline stories, but so far this one isn’t so bad. I’m still curious to see where this all ends up. I remember loving how unhinged the ending of The Only One Left was so I’m hoping to get the same with this one🤞🏽🤞🏽

The first 10 chapters have me hooked! It feels kind of slow, but at the same time… it doesn’t? I’ve have a few predictions, but the one that I have a gut feeling on the most is that Russ’ older brother who passed has something to do with Billy’s disappearance or perhaps Russ is the one who knows more than he’s telling.

Man, is this a really boring beginning. It really dragged for me for the first 90 pages. I live sager a lot and have just 1 more book to read of his until I've read them all. I've liked them a lot but this seems super underwhelming. The dual timelien is fine. I prefer the childhood timeline and I'm definitely curious about what happened at the institute and the relationship with Ethans mom and Mr. Van De Veer.

I’m getting such It vibes from this so far. The rag tag group of friends adventuring to places they prolly shouldn’t with a deep secret they are all keeping.

Shocking that the gossip group never spoke about the institute? I grew up in a suburban culture-de-sac, that would have been the hot topic for weeks until someone’s mom would have thrown a fit during a city council meeting demanding answers lol!

“Theories” I have:
1) it’s Billy’s brother doing all this. Explains why he looks/feels like Billy and would know about the baseball. He prolly also blames Ethan.
2) Ragesh did something truly horrific and became a cop to cover his ass
3) Billy did this to himself in an elaborate attempt to “be seen and acknowledged” like he so desperately wanted. Maybe even to become a ghost so he knew they were real. (This would be the most disappointing ending however)
4) Fritz. End of story. Most obvious answer which makes me feel like it’s too easy. Prolly bought and sold kids and Ethan’s mom found out so he threatened Ethan to keep her quiet.

This is definitely a slow burn, especially compared to his other books. I absolutely loved the house across the lake and the only one left. I have yet to read his other novels.


As far as mysteries go:
Billy has been missing for decades
Is Ashley’s dad really seeing Billy’s ghost?
The baseball appearing in the yard

Not sure which timeline I prefer.

Adding my late take to the discussion

I have read Survive the night with 2 stars and Only one left with 4 stars.

This one started of strong but I am geting bored and losing my interest towards the end of this section. I hope something happens soon.

Finally able to get this from the library. I had to order it for purchase and then it took months to become available to pick up.

Tell us your first impressions!
Have you read from this author before and what were your ratings?

This is my first Riley Sager book. I've heard a lot about his books and have been looking forward to reading one for ages. So far, I'm really enjoying the story. The writing is easy to follow with just the right amount of descriptive writing to set the scene without becoming waffly.

This book has 2 timelines. Do you think it's well balanced or are you wishing there was more or less of one.

I love the switching timelines. For me they're perfectly spaced out to keep me guessing and reading.

What mysteries have been introduced? Do you have any predictions?

There's the mystery of what happened to Billy in the past and in the present, we have to work out if we're really dealing with ghosts. I think Billy's ghost is involved because of the security camera; I can't think of a way for a human to get around it so successfully, so I think there must be something supernatural going on.