Sometimes the place itself feels alive.
In Lock Every Door by Riley Sager, the Bartholomew apartment building isn’t just a backdrop — it’s a character in its own right, with secrets in every shadowed hallway.
In The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell, the inherited Chelsea mansion shapes every twist in the story. It holds history, tension, and a silent kind of menace.
Even in Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, the war college feels like a living, breathing force — shaping friendships, rivalries, and fates.
A well-written setting influences mood, paces the story, and sticks in your mind. Sometimes, it’s the place you remember most.
If you could step into one setting from our reviews, where would it be?
