Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

Is it haunted—or just ho-hum?

I picked up “Lock Every Door” intrigued by the premise alone. A young woman gets a lucrative offer to apartment-sit at a mysterious, historic building in New York City with a troubled past? Sign me up. I was especially drawn to the idea that the Bartholomew itself could serve as a character—the kind of location steeped in so much atmosphere and sinister history that it starts to feel alive. That eerie “is-it-haunted-or-is-it-not” vibe pulled me in fast.

Riley Sager does a great job crafting atmosphere and building out her characters’ histories. Sometimes, maybe too good of a job. The first two-thirds of the story start to drag as a result—while everything is well-developed, the momentum slows. By the time the final act kicks in, the mystery is mostly unraveled, but thankfully the pace finally picks up and delivers a satisfying punch.

As for the protagonist, Jules was a passable main character. I didn’t really connect with her—she felt a little too starry-eyed and naive for the circumstances—but it didn’t detract too much. After all, the real intrigue lies in the building and its secrets, not necessarily in the person exploring them.

There’s a decent mystery at the core of the novel, though seasoned readers will likely see the twist coming by the halfway mark. One glaring plot hole stuck with me and bothered me more than I expected: Jules’s friend somehow had the time and clarity to leave behind a gun and a cryptic warning note… but not an actual explanation? It felt contrived and clunky, and that frustration lingered for me through the final pages.

All said, I can’t wholeheartedly recommend this one. While the final act is engaging and the setting has potential, the slow build and a few frustrating missteps made it a mixed experience. If you’re a die-hard Riley Sager fan or love atmospheric thrillers centered on creepy old buildings, it might be worth the time. Otherwise, there are tighter, more rewarding thrillers out there.