Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
No visitors. No nights spent away from the apartment. No disturbing the other residents, all of whom are rich or famous or both. These are the only rules for Jules Larsen’s new job as an apartment sitter at the Bartholomew, one of Manhattan’s most high-profile and mysterious buildings. Recently heartbroken and just plain broke, Jules is taken in by the splendor of her surroundings and accepts the terms, ready to leave her past life behind.
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.
Searching for the truth about Ingrid’s disappearance, Jules digs deeper into the Bartholomew’s dark past and into the secrets kept within its walls. Her discovery that Ingrid is not the first apartment sitter to go missing at the Bartholomew pits Jules against the clock as she races to unmask a killer, expose the building’s hidden past, and escape the Bartholomew before her temporary status becomes permanent.
Review:
This is the fourth Riley Sager book that I’ve read. So far, I have read and enjoyed The Only One Left, The Final Girls, and Home Before Dark with the latter being my favorite. I’d heard that this one is his best, and while I don’t feel the same, I’m happy to report that this one didn’t disappoint.
This book focuses on Jules Larsen, a young woman desperately needing a fresh start. Jules is basically an orphan – her parents are dead, and her only sibling – a sister – went missing several years before. Since her parents were only children, she has no aunts, uncles, or cousins. She was recently laid off from work and is desperate for a job. Her friend Chloe has been gracious enough to let her crash with her, but Jules knows this isn’t a long-term solution. When she sees an ad for a paid housesitting job online, she immediately makes the call. She expects to make a little cash to help her get by until she can find full-time work. When she learns that the apartment she’s to “watch” is at the famed Bartholomew, she desperately wants the job. Her favorite book was set at the Bartholomew, and she’s dreamed of living here (or at least visiting) since she was a little girl. Much to her surprise, she is offered the job. It’s a 3-month contract, and she’ll receive $1,000 in cash every week, meaning she could make up to $12,000 when all is said and done, so of course, she says yes.
Chloe is immediately skeptical – she doesn’t trust the setup. Getting paid cash means it’s likely illegal and suggests the owners could be hiding something. Also, the rules are suspicious. Jules has to stay there every night – no exceptions, and isn’t allowed visitors, allegedly to respect the privacy of the wealthy who live at the Bartholomew. Jules ignores Chloe’s fears and immediately moves in, and it’s not long before the creepies begin to happen.
One thing that I love is when the setting of the book is basically another character, and that is exactly the case here. The author paints a vivid picture of the Bartholomew, a prestigious apartment building in Manhattan that holds a dark secret, leaving readers eager to uncover its mysteries. The Bartholomew has a checkered past, including disappearances, suicides, and murders, and it’s not long before Jules begins to suspect that they could still be happening.
The descriptive writing style brings the setting to life, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the Bartholomew. The building’s dark past and hidden secrets are vividly portrayed, creating a sense of unease.
As our protagonist, Jules is a relatable and likable character. The fact that she is basically alone and trying to survive makes her immediately sympathetic. Her livelihood is at stake, and we want her to be okay. We know she should leave the Bartholomew, but we also understand why she doesn’t. She desperately needs money. Her connection to Ingrid, a fellow apartment sitter who disappears, adds an additional layer of intrigue to the story. The bond between the two women is palpable, and readers will find themselves rooting for Jules as she races against time to uncover the truth of what happened to Ingrid and save herself from the same fate.
The pacing is also perfect. Sager keeps readers hooked from start to finish, steadily building the suspense to a heart-pounding climax, culminating in a satisfying and shocking conclusion. While I wasn’t surprised by who was actually behind what was going on, the why behind it was definitely intriguing.
I mentioned earlier that “Home Before Dark” is my favorite book of Sagers, but this one is definitely up there. If you enjoy gripping psychological thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end, Lock Every Door is a must-read that will not disappoint.
