Middle of the Night

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Did you enjoy the book? What was your favorite (or least favorite) part? Who was your favorite (or least favorite) character? Why?
• What did you think of the resolution of the central mystery? Did you find it anticlimactic? Why or why not?
• Implicit in the novel’s conclusion is the idea that healing from an event like Billy’s disappearance requires uncovering the truth. Do you agree with this premise? Is it possible to move past a trauma you don’t fully understand? Why or why not?
• Have you read other books by Riley Sager? If so, how did this one compare? If not, how did you like Sager’s take on the thriller genre?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Given the book’s subject matter, did you find any parts of it difficult to read? 
• Do you enjoy thrillers generally? If so, what about these works appeals to you? If not, what do you think others might find in them?
• Ethan has struggled to move on in part because of the intense guilt he feels over what happened to Billy. Have you ever felt guilty about something that wasn’t your fault? How did you cope?
• Middle of the Night depicts a strong bond between Ethan and Billy. Did their relationship remind you of any of your own childhood friendships? Why do you think childhood friendships often run deeper than adult ones (or do you disagree)? 

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• The novel’s conclusion touches on issues of both underage drinking and driving under the influence. Are these merely plot points, or do they offer a particular perspective on debates surrounding adolescent development or substance use?
• Billy goes missing in 1994—just after the peak of “stranger danger” messaging in the 1970s-80s, as later campaigns would stress that children are more likely to be harmed by people they know. How does Middle of the Night contribute to a broader societal discourse around children’s safety?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• Like many of Sager’s works, Middle of the Night employs a nonlinear structure. What effect did this have on your experience as a reader? How does this structure serve the thriller genre?
• How would you describe Ethan as a narrator? How has his past impacted him, and how does this manifest in his narrative voice? Is he a reliable narrator of the story’s events? Why or why not?
• How does Sager characterize the community of Hemlock Grove? How does this setting contribute to the work’s tone and themes? 
• Consider the novel’s ghost motif (Ethan’s remark that Billy should become a ghost, Andy’s “haunting” of Ethan, etc.). How does this motif contribute to the novel’s exploration of memory?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Imagine that you are adapting Middle of the Night as a movie. How would you handle the novel’s flashbacks and point-of-view shifts? Who would you cast, and why?
• Create a playlist to accompany the book. How might you use songs from different eras to capture the novel’s two timelines? What songs correspond well to particular characters or themes?

Need more inspiration for your next meeting? Browse all of our Book Club Resources.