Title: THE UNKNOWN
Author: RILEY SAGER
ISBN: 9781399742139
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Pages: 353
Source: Jonathan Ball Publishers
In 1926, five women disappeared from a remote island in Vermont. Now, one hundred years later, it’s happening again.
Struggling actress Marin Keane is shocked when she lands a role in a major motion picture about the unsolved mystery of New Avalon, an island on sprawling Lake Faraday in Vermont. She’s even more surprised when she learns that the role requires a weeklong research trip to that very spot.
Because New Avalon isn’t your ordinary island. A century ago, it was a commune for spiritual mediums—until they all vanished in 1926. The only trace of them was five dresses hanging from the branches of an old oak tree in the middle of the island, one for each missing woman. Some locals say they simply left. Others think they were murdered. But the prevailing opinion, thanks to a diary left behind by one of the vanished, a young woman named Daisy Rue, is that a séance gone wrong conjured something supernatural that took them all one by one.
Not long after arriving, Marin and her castmates, including legendary actress Violet Wright and white-hot director Ronan Peters, begin to realize all is not right with New Avalon. They hear strange noises in the night and notice mysterious symbols left behind by the island’s previous occupants. And after a sudden health emergency leaves Marin, Ronan, and the other actors stranded on the island, the disappearances begin again.
Is it the work of someone trying to derail the movie? Or is the island’s alleged supernatural past catching up with the present? As fear and suspicion mount, Marin turns to Daisy’s diary, hoping it holds the key to figuring out what really happened to the women of New Avalon—and how to keep the island’s terrible history from repeating itself.
Official Summary
05 November 2026
What an awesome read! Without a doubt, this is one of my favourite Riley Sager books so far.
The story centres around an old mystery involving five women, believed to be witches, who disappeared from an island and were never seen again. Now, years later, a film director and his cast return to the island to recreate the lives of these five missing women. They dress in the same clothes, live in the same surroundings and immerse themselves in the roles they are playing. But as events unfold, it soon becomes clear that history might be repeating itself.
Initially, I thought I had a pretty good idea of where the story was heading. I couldn’t have been more wrong, and I absolutely loved that! Sager does a brilliant job of keeping the reader guessing, slowly building the tension and making you question what is really happening.
I particularly enjoyed watching Marin, who feels completely out of her depth as she tries to find her place among the famous actresses surrounding her. Her insecurities and struggles to fit in were wonderfully portrayed, making her an interesting character to follow.
The atmosphere was another highlight for me. The island setting, the history of the missing women and the references to ghosts, demons and witches created a wonderfully creepy, hair-raising atmosphere. There were moments when I was almost ready to accept that this might actually be a ghost story after all. And then Sager does what he does best and throws in a twist I never saw coming!
This story had me glued to the pages, eager to discover the truth. I loved the mystery, the suspense and the way the author kept me second-guessing everything I thought I knew.
A hugely entertaining read that kept me guessing right until the end. Definitely worth every one of its five stars!
Also By Riley Sager
THE HOUSE ACROSS THE LAKE
Casey Fletcher, a recently widowed actress trying to escape a streak of bad press, has retreated to the peace and quiet of her family’s lake house in Vermont. Armed with a pair of binoculars and several bottles of liquor, she passes the time watching Tom and Katherine Royce, the glamorous couple who live in the house across the lake. They make for good viewing—a tech innovator, Tom is rich; and a former model, Katherine is gorgeous.
One day on the lake, Casey saves Katherine from drowning, and the two strike up a budding friendship. But the more they get to know each other—and the longer Casey watches—it becomes clear that Katherine and Tom’s marriage is not as perfect and placid as it appears. When Katherine suddenly vanishes, Casey becomes consumed with finding out what happened to her. In the process, she uncovers eerie, darker truths that turn a tale of voyeurism and suspicion into a story of guilt, obsession and how looks can be very deceiving.
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.
A big thank you to Jonathan Ball Publishers for this review copy and I apologise for taking so long to share my review. I read this almost immediately after receiving it, but somehow did not share my review. Are you a Sager fan? Which is your favourite book? Leave a comment below. Until next time…. Happy Reading!
