This highly anticipated novel from NJ author Riley Sager is basically a summer blockbuster

This summer's much buzzed about novel, "The Last Time I Lied," by New Jersey author Riley Sager reads like a suspense movie.

While similar thematically to the author's bestselling first book, "Final Girls," which earned raves from Stephen King, "The Last Time I Lied" is more intense mystery journeyed through a fog than horror classic.

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"The Last Time I Lied" tells the story of Emma Davis, who, when she was a girl, watched three girls leave her summer camp cabin and never return, and explores how that affected her life. The summer camp decides to reopen, and Emma is asked to return. Strange things begin to happen, and I can't tell you anymore because no spoilers. 

I will say that the novel is quite a page-turner, making its near-400 pages go quickly. Emma is not your normal unreliable narrator — she tells you up front that she's lying about something — and, of course, there are plenty of twists.

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We spoke with Sager recently on "Fan Theory," our pop culture podcast for APP and the USA TODAY NETWORK.

Listen to the episode:

Sager told us what inspired "The Last Time I Lied," the latest status of the "Final Girls" tentative film and what he's working on next. He also told us what movie he can't wait to see and what he really thinks of the recent horror film, "Hereditary."

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"The Last Time I Lied" is available now from Dutton Books.

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