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Survive the Night: A Novel Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Riley Sager (Author), Savannah Gilmore (Narrator), Penguin Audio (Publisher)
Editors' pick Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
See all formats and editions

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER

One of New York Times Book Review's "summer reads guaranteed to make your heart thump and your skin crawl"; An Amazon Best of the Month Pick; Named a must-read summer book by The Washington Post, USA Today, Vulture, BuzzFeed, Forbes, Entertainment Weekly, CNN, New York Post, Good Housekeeping, E!, PopSugar, CrimeReads, Thrillist, and BookRiot.

It’s November 1991. Nirvana's in the tape deck, George H. W. Bush is in the White House, and movie-obsessed college student Charlie Jordan is in a car with a man who might be a serial killer.

Josh Baxter, the man behind the wheel, is a virtual stranger to Charlie. They met at the campus ride board, each looking to share the long drive home to Ohio. Both have good reasons for wanting to get away. For Charlie, it’s guilt and grief over the shocking murder of her best friend, who became the third victim of the man known as the Campus Killer. For Josh, it’s to help care for his sick father - or so he says.

The longer she sits in the passenger seat, the more Charlie notices there’s something suspicious about Josh, from the holes in his story about his father to how he doesn’t want her to see inside the trunk. As they travel an empty, twisty highway in the dead of night, an increasingly anxious Charlie begins to think she’s sharing a car with the Campus Killer. Is Josh truly dangerous? Or is Charlie’s jittery mistrust merely a figment of her movie-fueled imagination?

One thing is certain - Charlie has nowhere to run and no way to call for help. Trapped in a terrifying game of cat and mouse played out on pitch-black roads and in neon-lit parking lots, Charlie knows the only way to win is to survive the night.

Previous slide of product details
  1. Listening Length
    9 hours and 1 minute
  2. Author
    Riley Sager
  3. Narrator
    Savannah Gilmore
  4. Audible release date
    June 29, 2021
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Penguin Audio
  7. ASIN
    B08LR177VV
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 9 hours and 1 minute
Author Riley Sager
Narrator Savannah Gilmore
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date June 29, 2021
Publisher Penguin Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B08LR177VV
Best Sellers Rank #5,076 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#172 in Horror Fiction
#215 in Psychological Thrillers (Audible Books & Originals)
#519 in Suspense (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
9,262 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the reading experience great and awesome. They also say the book is predictable, cliche, and poorly written. Customers have mixed opinions about the complexity, saying it keeps them guessing and easy to figure out, while others say it becomes increasingly convoluted and exhausting to keep shifting gears. They have mixed feelings about the plot, with some finding it great and realistic, while other find it unrealistic and claustrophobic. They mention the pacing, with others saying it starts off slow.

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Reading experiencePlotPacingComplexityCharactersIntellectual level
90 customers mention "Reading experience"63 positive27 negative

Customers find the book great, awesome, entertaining, and addicting. They also say the pacing is perfect and keeps them turning the pages to find out what happens next. Readers also mention that the narrator trope works well in the story.

"...And it was so deliciously perfect, those pieces dropping into place were wholly satisfying...." Read more

"The book is okay, not terrible, but not great. It's really convenient but I guess that makes sense at the end....... conveniently" Read more

"Let’s get one thing straight - this book is NOT Final Girls quality...." Read more

"...one, although I did predict the “who” eventually, it was still a very good and suspenseful story !!" Read more

147 customers mention "Plot"96 positive51 negative

Customers are mixed about the plot. Some find the promised plot intriguing, visual, and satisfying. They also say it's unpredictable and hard to finish. Others however, feel the storyline is unrealistic, ridiculous, and hard.

"...If you enjoy cat-and-mouse suspense and well-plotted fiction, don’t miss this slick, edge-of-your seat thrill ride!" Read more

"...The end picked up, and I absolutely loved the big twists at the end, and I loved the ending!..." Read more

"...the twists and turns of all these books, I just felt the twist took too long to get there." Read more

"The hype for this book drew me in. Anticipated a fast-paced thriller with deserved homage to classic suspense movies as a conversational backdrop...." Read more

35 customers mention "Pacing"21 positive14 negative

Customers are mixed about the pacing of the book. Some mention it's fast paced and an enjoyable quick read, while others say it starts off a bit slow.

"...I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a fast paced, “locked room”, 90s nostalgic summer read!..." Read more

"...Although there was an extremely slow start, there were then a billion plot twists within a very short period of time at the end and it was difficult..." Read more

"...The story has a quick pace and the suspense and tension builds as the story progresses leading to a thrilling climax and its foreseeable ending...." Read more

"...The story started strong for me, got a little slow in the middle, and then felt like it started smacking me in the face with twists for the last..." Read more

25 customers mention "Complexity"10 positive15 negative

Customers are mixed about the complexity of the book. Some mention it keeps them guessing, has an interesting concept, and is exciting. However, others say the story veers off and becomes increasingly convoluted, difficult to care about, repetitive, and has too much exposition.

"...Right here, the story veers off and becomes increasingly convoluted. Charlie is immediately wary of Josh, yet she still gets in his car...." Read more

"...But they’re not like life, which is wonderful, beautiful, and amazing in a different way.”" Read more

"...many different directions that felt too self-referential and frustrating to decode as reality completely folded in on itself...." Read more

"Easy, fast read. Several surprises….not a book I will remember for long or recommend for friends to read. Average story…." Read more

33 customers mention "Characters"9 positive24 negative

Customers find the characters in the book unrealistic.

"...Additionally, Maddy’s over-the-top character was stereotypical, narcissistic and difficult to care about...." Read more

"...it was a bit wordy and unnecessarily long at times and the main character is loathsome. So annoying and flat out stupid at times...." Read more

"...Great story, great scenery, good characters, twists galore and so so endings. I want to say that I did enjoy this book for the most part...." Read more

"...after red herring start popping up plus Charlie is just not a very likeable character...." Read more

33 customers mention "Intellectual level"7 positive26 negative

Customers find the book predictable, cliche, and poorly written. They also say the characters aren't interesting, lacking in basic common sense, and annoying. Readers also mention that the book is too imaginative and self-referential.

"...I have liked Sager’s other books, but this one was a bit absurd...." Read more

"...of how wildly it swung in many different directions that felt too self-referential and frustrating to decode as reality completely folded in on..." Read more

"...So annoying and flat out stupid at times. I can’t see any actual human being making the decisions she makes but I guess that’s why it’s fiction...." Read more

"...It started out interesting, but then dragged a little for me in the middle, and I did not know where this story was going...." Read more

Great !!
4 out of 5 stars
Great !!
Good and cheap copy ! I really enjoyed this one, although I did predict the “who” eventually, it was still a very good and suspenseful story !!
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Top reviews from the United States

Mae Clair
5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite reads of the year!
Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2021
Verified Purchase
Thank you Penguin Group, Dutton Books, and NetGalley for my ARC.

Wow. Just wow! I devour books by Riley Sager, so it was a no-brainer to request Survive the Night from NetGalley. I never know what to expect when I’m reading a Sager book. Each is so different, yet all are gripping and engrossing. Strangely, I had reservations about Survive the Night. I’m not a big fan of serial killer fiction, but, hey—it was Sager, one of my auto-buy authors—so I was more than willing to take a chance. I should have known he’d knock it into the stratosphere.

Charlie needs a ride from college to her hometown. She’s desperate to put the past behind her after her best friend becomes the third victim of a serial murderer known as the Campus Killer. She meets Josh, also headed to her home state of Ohio, and agrees to ride with him, sharing expenses along the way. But during the long, dark night over deserted back roads, Charlie begins to suspect Josh isn’t who he claims to be. Too much of what he says doesn’t add up, each successive hiccup making her think she may be sharing the car with the Campus Killer, a man who has reason to want her dead. She caught a glimpse of him in the shadows before he killed her friend.

Although this is a book about a serial killer, there is nothing gory or graphic about it. The operational word here is TENSION—with a capital T.

The story plays out over the course of several nail-biting hours during which the author had me second-guessing myself multiple times. I waffled between frustration, fear, and irritation over Charlie’s actions. Sometimes I was cheering for her, other times I wanted to shake sense into her. It wasn’t until the end when everything falls into place that I realized how deftly I’d been played.

I also loved the use of old movies in the story (Charlie is a film student) and Charlie’s penchant of separating from reality for brief spans for “movies in her mind.” I did spot one of the “reveals” before the last act, but by then, I believe it was expected. And it was so deliciously perfect, those pieces dropping into place were wholly satisfying.

Survive the Night reinforces why I devour books by Sager. He’s a master of suspense who crosses T’s and dots I’s with such subtlety the reader doesn’t even realize how skillfully he orchestrats threads in the background—until they explode in your face.

Definitely among my favorite reads of the year. If you enjoy cat-and-mouse suspense and well-plotted fiction, don’t miss this slick, edge-of-your seat thrill ride!
7 people found this helpful
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Cara F
4.0 out of 5 stars slower than the others, another success for Sager
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2024
Verified Purchase
4.5 stars
I was not sure I would enjoy this one as much as I have enjoyed all his other books. It started out interesting, but then dragged a little for me in the middle, and I did not know where this story was going. The end picked up, and I absolutely loved the big twists at the end, and I loved the ending! I am really looking forward to his next book, coming out in a couple of weeks!
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Susan M. Baumann
3.0 out of 5 stars Convoluted
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2021
Verified Purchase
The hype for this book drew me in. Anticipated a fast-paced thriller with deserved homage to classic suspense movies as a conversational backdrop. A college student’s long journey on a dark highway with an enigmatic stranger. This is yet another novel where what began as an intriguing premise, just didn’t deliver. Charlie is a young woman whose life has been rocked by the deaths of her parents and her best friend, Maddy. Each of the deaths was jarring and unexpected, but tragically, Maddy was murdered by a serial killer. To cope, Charlie seeks out the comfort of old movies. These then morph into virtual film reels in her mind, whenever she encounters sadness, fear or stressful situations. Frustrated and aimless, Charlie decides to return home, and accepts a ride from Josh, from the campus ride-share board.
Right here, the story veers off and becomes increasingly convoluted. Charlie is immediately wary of Josh, yet she still gets in his car. What woman would actually do that, knowing the lengthy drive ahead without much access to help or assistance? She abandons her intuition entirely. As the drive stretches on, Charlie’s apprehension intensifies, but she passes up numerous chances to get away. Again, why? The story only becomes more strange, and then silly.
I have liked Sager’s other books, but this one was a bit absurd. Also, Charlie was supposed to be a strong character, but she often doubted herself and her own mind. Not a good combo for getting into a vehicle with a man that one doesn’t know. Additionally, Maddy’s over-the-top character was stereotypical, narcissistic and difficult to care about. This was a convoluted, implausible tale that had tremendous potential.
20 people found this helpful
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robn
5.0 out of 5 stars Oh. My. God. Twists and Turns!!
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2024
Verified Purchase
This was the first book I read from this author, couldn’t put it down until I finished it. Definitely did not expect that outcome! Cannot wait to read the next book, but I think I need to read something lighter first, lol!
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Top reviews from other countries

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Fast paced, suspenseful!
Reviewed in Canada on February 24, 2024
Verified Purchase
What a read and what an ending! This book kept me invested from chapter one. Following the story of Charlie who accepts a ride from a stranger, Josh, to leave university and return home to Ohio. Only Josh isn't who he seems and Charlie has to literally survive the night! This is my favourite Riley Sager to date! Suspense, mystery! Great read!
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Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Unputdownable. Page-turner. For film buff.
Reviewed in Brazil on March 20, 2022
Verified Purchase
What a ride. It kept on the edge of my seat the entire reading. I kept guessing who was the killer, although I found out before the end, this is one of my favorite from Riley. One of my favorite parts about this book was the mentions of the movies and its dialogues as well as the actors. I really felt like I was in 1991, even though I was born in 1997. Anyway, this is a book for fans of film noir.
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TRACY
5.0 out of 5 stars Overall
Reviewed in Germany on February 1, 2024
Verified Purchase
Product was as described. In perfect condition and on time. Excellent
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Patrícia Contreiras
2.0 out of 5 stars Eh
Reviewed in Spain on June 22, 2023
Verified Purchase
Not the best.

I’ve read other books from the same author, which was the reason I bought this one. However, the more I read this title, the more I noticed the similarities between the main characters - always a woman, always naive, always a victim in every way.

It made me see the author in a different light and now I’m not sure I can’t bear the book (or him. And yes, it’s a he and not a she, the author). I stopped half-way and I’m trying to get back to it just to finish it and properly complain haha. Pardon me.

There are also a lot of moments when the female character digresses and just trips hardcore in her unusual “movie blackouts” condition. That gets very boring after the first time.

My opinion is: if you’ve read two books from Riley, that’s enough. (Read the haunted house one, it’s by far the best and the one with best reviews anyway.)
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Melissa
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
Reviewed in the Netherlands on May 29, 2022
Verified Purchase
Couldn’t put it down
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