Middle of the Night

Riley Sager is the pen name of American author Todd Ritter, a best-selling author in the psychological thriller genre. Before adopting the pseudonym Riley Sager, Ritter worked as a journalist, a background that taught him some of the narrative techniques—including close observation and rapid pacing—that he uses in his fiction.

Sager’s journey into fiction began with the release of his debut novel, Final Girls (2017), which quickly established him as a fresh voice in the world of psychological thrillers. Reflecting on the creative process which brought Final Girls to life, Sager remarked:

Five years ago, I was laid off from my job [at a newspaper] and had a year of unemployment. During that year, I wrote Final Girls. So something great came out of it, but it was just this year of constant worry. I knew that if I put on the page how I felt at that time, a lot of people would be like, I hear you, I’ve been there (Castellitto, Linda M. “Riley Sager.” BookPage, 2020).

That sense of realism and palpable anxiety has since become a trademark aspect of Sager’s novels, along with his tightly plotted narrative style, marked by suspense and multi-layered characters. He often employs nonlinear timelines and multiple perspectives to build tension and intrigue, and his novels combine the complex characterization typical of literary realism with the suspenseful plots typical of the thriller genre. His protagonists are frequently complex and flawed individuals grappling with personal traumas and internal conflicts. Sager’s focus on what drives his characters, rather than superficial traits, contributes to the richness of his narratives. Sager has also been praised for his portrayal of female protagonists. He focuses on their inner lives and psychological experiences, avoiding superficial representations. This approach not only adds depth to his characters but also challenges conventional gender portrayals in thrillers.

Sager’s work often draws on conventions of the gothic horror and supernatural thriller genres. His novels often feature isolated or eerie locations, such as haunted houses or gothic mansions, which amplify the mood of suspense. In an interview, he observed, “I grew up in Pennsylvania in a boring ranch house. I longed to live in a house that was exciting in some way. I would’ve settled for a second floor! That’s probably why I think haunted houses and buildings with history are cool: childhood boredom” (Castellitto).

Sager’s fascination with haunting is also a recurring theme in his stories. In discussing the creation of Middle of The Night (2024) and Home Before Dark (2020), Sager remarked, “I don’t believe in ghosts, yet the thought of them is very, very frightening to me. That’s what I was aiming for with this book: coming from a place of skepticism, yet also being scared at the same time” (Castellitto).