Title: LOCK EVERY DOOR
Author: RILEY SAGER
ISBN: 9781524745158
Publisher: Dutton Books
Pages: 381
Source: Private Copy
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.
Official Summary
22 June 2026
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
I added Riley Sager’s books to my backlist challenge this year, and this is already my fourth one. So far, four stars has been my lowest rating, which says a lot about how much I enjoy his writing.
This slightly Hitchcock-esque thriller had me reading well into the night—I simply could not put it down.
Jules’s life is falling apart. Her sister disappeared when she was seventeen, and a few years later she lost both her parents in a murder-suicide. Now unemployed, broke, and devastated after discovering her boyfriend with another woman, she feels she has nowhere left to turn.
So when the opportunity arises to apartment-sit in the mysterious Bartholomew, it seems like the answer to all her problems—even if the strict rules attached to the arrangement feel more than a little unsettling.
But when Ingrid, a fellow apartment sitter, suddenly disappears without explanation, Jules begins digging into the building’s dark history and the secrets of its wealthy residents.
Convinced that something sinister is happening, Jules refuses to walk away. Her investigation leads her into terrifying territory as she uncovers the horrifying truth behind the Bartholomew and the real purpose behind its carefully selected apartment sitters.
This was a gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller with steady pacing that built beautifully toward its shocking conclusion. Not everyone survives, and not everyone receives the punishment they deserve, which made the ending feel all the more unsettling.
Jules was a fantastic protagonist. It was easy to understand why she accepted the strange rules—the desperation for money, security, and somewhere to belong felt believable and relatable. I also loved Sager’s descriptions of the Bartholomew itself. The building became a character in its own right, full of atmosphere and menace, while George the gargoyle added a strangely emotional touch to the story. I especially loved that Jules saved the gargoyle in the end.
At its heart, this is a disturbing story about power, wealth, and exploitation—how privilege and influence can be used to prey upon vulnerable people desperate for a second chance.
I was genuinely disappointed to discover that Charlie was involved and could not be trusted. I liked his character and truly believed he was one of the good guys, which made that revelation hit even harder.
Overall, this was an addictive and thoroughly entertaining read. While a few elements felt slightly predictable, the suspense, atmosphere, and relentless tension more than made up for it. I cannot wait to dive into another Riley Sager backlist title.
Also by Riley Sage
THE ONLY ONE LEFT
At seventeen, Lenora Hope
Hung her sister with a rope
Now reduced to a schoolyard chant, the Hope family murders shocked the Maine coast one bloody night in 1929. While most people assume seventeen-year-old Lenora was responsible, the police were never able to prove it. Other than her denial after the killings, she has never spoken publicly about that night, nor has she set foot outside Hope’s End, the cliffside mansion where the massacre occurred.
Stabbed her father with a knife
Took her mother’s happy life
It’s now 1983, and home-health aide Kit McDeere arrives at a decaying Hope’s End to care for Lenora after her previous nurse fled in the middle of the night. In her seventies and confined to a wheelchair, Lenora was rendered mute by a series of strokes and can only communicate with Kit by tapping out sentences on an old typewriter. One night, Lenora uses it to make a tantalizing offer—I want to tell you everything.
“It wasn’t me,” Lenora said
But she’s the only one not dead
As Kit helps Lenora write about the events leading to the Hope family massacre, it becomes clear there’s more to the tale than people know. But when new details about her predecessor’s departure come to light, Kit starts to suspect Lenora might not be telling the complete truth—and that the seemingly harmless woman in her care could be far more dangerous than she first thought.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Riley Sager is the New York Times bestselling author of ten novels, most recently With a Vengeance, Middle of the Night and The Only One Left.
His novels have been published in 40 countries, with more than 4 million copies sold worldwide. His latest book, The Unknown, will be released on August 4.
A native of Pennsylvania, he now lives in Princeton, New Jersey.
Do you read backlist books, or do you focus on new releases only? I have been having so much fun with my backlist reads. I have six authors on this year’s backlist challenge and I hope to read all their books by the end of the year. One of those is Riley Sager, I have five of his books left to read. That should give you a clue about what is still coming on the blog. Until next time… Happy Reading!
