I finally sat down to write the last time i lied review after finishing Riley Sager's camp-themed thriller in basically one sitting over the weekend. It's been sitting on my bookshelf for a while now, and honestly, I'm kind of annoyed at myself for waiting this long to crack it open. If you've ever been to a summer camp or even just watched a few 80s slasher flicks, you know there's something inherently creepy about the woods, the cabins, and those deep, murky lakes that seem to hide a thousand secrets.
Riley Sager has a way of tapping into those specific fears, and this book is probably the best example of that. It's got that nostalgic, slightly sinister vibe that makes you want to keep your bedroom light on.
The Setup: Welcome Back to Camp Nightingale
The story follows Emma Davis, who is now a successful artist in New York City. But back when she was thirteen, she was a camper at the prestigious Camp Nightingale. That summer, her three cabin mates—Vivian, Natalie, and Allison—sneaked out in the middle of the night and were never seen again. Emma was the one who saw them leave, and that trauma has pretty much defined her entire adult life.
Fast forward fifteen years, and the wealthy owner of the camp, Franny, decides to reopen it. She invites Emma back to be the art teacher. It's a bit of a weird move, right? If your camp was shut down because kids vanished into thin air, maybe don't reopen it? But Emma sees it as a chance to finally get closure and figure out what really happened to her friends.
The minute she gets back to the camp, you can feel the tension. Sager does a great job of making the setting feel like a character itself. You've got the old cabins, the social hierarchy of the campers, and the looming presence of Lake Emma (yeah, named after a different tragedy). It's the perfect playground for a psychological thriller.
Why the Dual Timelines Actually Work
I'm usually pretty hit-or-miss when it comes to dual timelines. Sometimes they just feel like a way to pad the word count, but in this case, they're essential. We alternate between the present day, where Emma is trying to play detective, and the past, showing us exactly what led up to the girls' disappearance.
The past segments are particularly haunting. You get to see the dynamics between the four girls, especially the "queen bee" of the group, Vivian. She's one of those characters you love to hate—manipulative, secretive, and way too smart for her own good. She played these "games" with the other girls, including a game called "Two Truths and a Lie," which obviously ties back into the title.
Seeing the events unfold through thirteen-year-old Emma's eyes makes the whole thing feel more vulnerable. You realize just how much she didn't understand at the time, which makes her current obsession with the truth feel way more earned. It's not just a mystery; it's about a woman trying to reclaim a piece of her childhood that was ripped away.
Let's Talk About Emma as a Narrator
Emma is complicated. In any the last time i lied review, you have to mention that she isn't exactly the most reliable person. She's an artist who hides clues in her paintings (which is a super cool plot device, by the way), and she's clearly struggling with some major PTSD.
There are moments where she makes decisions that made me want to scream at the book. You know the ones—where a character goes into a dark basement alone or trusts someone who is clearly a villain? Yeah, she does a bit of that. But at the same time, her desperation feels real. She's so haunted by the "ghosts" of Vivian, Natalie, and Allison that she's willing to burn her whole life down to find out where they went.
She's also a bit of an outsider, which I think a lot of readers will relate to. Even as an adult, she feels like that awkward kid who doesn't quite fit in with the wealthy elite running the camp. That sense of isolation adds to the suspense because you're never quite sure who she can actually turn to.
The Atmosphere and Pacing
If you're looking for a fast-paced read, this is definitely it. Sager knows how to end a chapter on a cliffhanger. I found myself saying "just one more chapter" at 11 PM and then suddenly it was 1 AM. The middle of the book slows down a tiny bit as Emma settles into her role at the camp, but even then, the eerie descriptions of the woods kept me engaged.
There's this constant feeling of being watched. Whether it's the security cameras Franny has installed everywhere or just the eyes of the other counselors, the paranoia is thick. It really captures that feeling of being stuck in a remote location where help is miles away.
I also loved the way the "ghost stories" of the camp were woven into the actual mystery. Is the camp haunted? Or are the humans just that much scarier? Sager plays with that line throughout the whole book, and it makes for a really atmospheric experience.
The Twists (No Spoilers, I Promise!)
You can't have a Riley Sager book without a massive twist. Or three. Or four.
Without giving anything away, I'll say that I didn't see the big reveal coming. Well, okay, I guessed part of it, but the final layers were a total shock. Sager is a master of the "sleight of hand." He leads you down one path, makes you feel all smug because you think you've figured it out, and then pulls the rug out from under you.
The ending is polarizing for some people. I've seen some readers say it felt a bit "out there," but personally, I thought it fit the tone of the book perfectly. It's a bit theatrical, sure, but the whole setup of a mysterious summer camp is a bit theatrical too. It felt satisfying to finally get the answers, even if they were darker than I expected.
How Does It Compare to Other Sager Books?
If you've read Final Girls or Lock Every Door, you'll find a lot of familiar elements here. Sager loves a "final girl" trope and he loves a gothic, slightly claustrophobic setting. In my opinion, The Last Time I Lied is stronger than Final Girls. The mystery feels more personal and the stakes feel higher because it involves children.
It's definitely got more of a "classic mystery" feel than some of his newer stuff. It reminds me a bit of Agatha Christie mixed with a modern psychological thriller. There's a limited pool of suspects, a closed-off location, and a lot of old grudges coming to the surface.
Final Thoughts: Who Should Read This?
To wrap up the last time i lied review, I'd say this is a must-read for anyone who loves a good popcorn thriller. It's the perfect beach read or "stuck inside on a rainy day" book. It's not necessarily deep literature, but it's incredibly entertaining and well-constructed.
If you like: * Summer camp horror vibes * Unreliable narrators * Dual timelines * Twisty mysteries that keep you guessing
then you're going to have a great time with this one. It's creepy, it's nostalgic, and it's got just enough psychological depth to make the characters feel like more than just plot devices. Just maybe don't read it right before you head off on a camping trip into the middle of nowhere. You might find yourself staring a little too closely at the treeline, wondering what's hiding in the shadows.
Overall, I'd give it a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars. It's a fun, spooky ride that reminded me why I love this genre so much. Now, I just need to decide which Riley Sager book to pick up next!