5 ⭐️

I am simply convinced that Riley Sager is one of the most prolific mystery/thriller authors of our time. This story was phenomenal, kept me guessing until the end, and left me feeling all the good feels.

The story itself reminds me of the board game Clue- constantly trying to figure out who killed who in what room of the enormous home on a hill that looks out towards the ocean. You will undoubtedly fall in love with the characters.

10/10 recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and Shari Lapena for supplying me an ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
 
Riley Sager actually surprised me in this book. There were moments in this book where it actually spooked me since I was reading it at 2am & it was a very easy book to read.
 
At seventeen, Lenora Hope hung her sister with a rope.
Stabbed her father with a knife.
Took her mother’s happy life.
"It wasn’t me" Lenora said.
But she’s the only one not dead.
 
In 1929, there was family murder surrounding a mansion on a rocky cliff side in Maine called Hope’s End. The only surviving member was the daughter Lenora Hope who was the main suspect. She was not convicted however due to a lack of evidence including her denial. She stayed at Hope’s End never to be seen outside the mansion and the story became some sort of a legend.
Now it’s 1983, and Lenora’s primary caretaker left in the middle of the night disappearing without a trace so Lenora is in need of a new caretaker which can be sort of a problem since people fear Lenora Hope & Hope’s End. Lenora is confined to a wheelchair, unable to speak or move, except for her left arm due to a series of strokes.
 
Kit signs up to be her new caretaker since Kit unfortunately, doesn’t have much of an option since she was accused of a crime so Kit accepts the job which involves living at Hope’s End.
 
Kit is dead set on finding out if this ghost story is true that a 17 year old Lenora could kill her parents and her sister or if there’s more to the story. Kit starts helping Lenora tell her side of the story by using an old typewriter to find out the truth of what really happened that dreadful night in 1929.
 
Kit starts wondering if the seemingly harmless woman in her care is far more dangerous than she first thought.
 
Thank you again, Netgalley, & Shari Lapena for supplying me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I have read most of Riley Sagers books…LOCK EVERY DOOR is still my favorite. This one was pretty good. Kit is a caregiver who was suspended from her job when a patient under her care passed away and Kit was seen as negligent. Now she's back to work and they only have one job available. To work at Hopes End, a dilapidated mansion at the Sea cliffs edge, caring for elderly Lenora Hope. She's not exactly excited for it because Lenora was a suspect in the murder of her family in that exact mansion, but there wasn't enough evidence to charge her. After that, Lenora has multiple strokes and now only has use of her one hand, and uses taps to communicate "Yes" or "No". Kit finds out that the previous caregiver left in the night and never returned…and left all of her things. Now Kit is staying in a room that connects to Lenoras room. She hears footsteps at night, and notices things are being moved…but Lenora can't be doing this as she is debilitated. One day, Lenora starts typing messages to Kit with her help. She wants to tell her what happened that night, but is only doing it bits and pieces at a time. You cannot trust anyone that is in the house like Mrs Baker who runs the home now, or the groundskeeper. This was a really good mystery and Sager leaves a trail of clues throughout. The ending was not what I was expecting and I thought it was well done. The reason this wasn't 5⭐ for me was that I wanted Lenora's story up front. Definitely another entertaining read though, that I did enjoy.

Out June 20.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my. My review will be posted on Instagram, Bookbub, Goodreads, and Amazon once it publishes.

This mystery had me devouring this story about family secrets and falling fortune, I could not put it down.

I read this so quickly because I had to know what happened, which is the most fun thing about reading a mystery. There were creepy moments that were written to put you in the atmosphere that the main character, Kit, is experiencing (large paintings of the murdered family members, crumbling cliffs, tilted stairs, shadows in windows, a missing person, etc).

Riley leaves plenty of breadcrumbs throughout this that makes the ending really satisfying. That said, because of that, I was not surprised by any of the twists and turns, but that did not put any dents in my enjoyment of this story. I loved being on the ride of Kit learning about the mysteries at Hope's End and Lenora, a woman holding onto decades long secrets with only one way to share it with Kit: to type it out. It is tedious in the best way possible.

Great follow-up to Riley's last book which I also loved. Maybe I am back on the Sager train...

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

The Only One Left is a mystery about… a lot of things. It’s advertised as the story of a health caregiver being assigned to care for an accused murderer. However a LOT more goes on in this book. Almost too much for me, to be honest- it was hard to keep track of things, and before I was able to digest one reveal or possibility, there was another one. However, it was definitely a page turner, and from what I’ve read will definitely please the author’s fans. I enjoyed it overall, but I wish there was a little less action and a little more depth.

Once you've hit rock bottom, you'll do anything, including go to work to care for the woman who murdered her entire family. There's more than meets the eye going on in the dilapidated mansion. Where did the previous carer go in such a hurry? Fans of gothic suspense will enjoy this.

TOOL is full of atmosphere, secrets, and twists. The coastal Maine setting and time period of this one played such big roles. I was engaged throughout, especially the last 1/3. I thought Sager was very thorough in the details and presentation of some characters and especially the house as well,

The middle dragged a bit for me and parts felt repetitive. There were a lot of twists and turns at the end, but the middle was more slower paced. I breezed through the ending and could not turn the pages fast enough though.

Of his newer releases I think I liked this one more than THATL! Overall, this one probably falls in the top 3 or 4 of his.

Definitely recommend going in blind!

Gothic vibes with a twist. I will always defend Riley Sager. This title wasn't his best but it was good overall. Will definitely recommend to friends!

After her mom dies under her care, Kit is suspended for 6 months from her caretaker agency. When her suspension ends, the only job her boss will offer her is to care for Lenora Hope. Lenora requires constant care due to polio and multiple strokes and is unable to speak, walk, or do anything but move one hand. She was also accused (and deemed guilty by the public) of killing her entire family, since she was the only one left alive. Kit begrudgingly takes the job. After some time Lenora shows Kit she is able to type with one hand, and begins to type out her entire story, which will end with the story of what happened the night of the murders. But as the story starts to unravel, Kit starts to find herself in more and more danger.

I love every Riley Sager book, and this was no exception. I loved how the mystery built and I loved the format of the book and how it alternated between current day and the writings of Lenora leading up to the murders. As things started to unravel I was able to piece thing together a bit, but that did not take away from the overall story. I especially loved the ending.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This wasn’t my favourite Riley Sager book. The story was decent but I found it to drag at times. I was expecting a much more shocking twist.

Riley Sager Wins Again With His Newest Book That Will Chill You To The Bone
With His Complex Characters Very Well Fleshed Out Story And Gothic Horror Vibes And It´s Intriguing Storyline And Eye Grabbing Plot Twists
The Only One Left Will Have You On The Edge Of Your Seat Until The Final Page Is Turned

This was the perfect summer thriller! Riley Sager does it again. We loved the eerie atmosphere and the setting. An old mansion on a crumbling cliff? Sign us up! It was also interesting that he set this book in the 80's, we really enjoyed that aspect of the book. There were so many twists at the end that we never saw coming. Just might be a new favorite from Riley Sager!

The Only One Left by Riley Sager
Narrators: Dawn Harvey and Christine Lakin
Rating: 4.5 stars
Pub Date: 6/20

I am so excited about this book! Prepare to be blown away. Sager's talent for suspenseful storytelling shines through, making this a must-read for fans of gothic thrillers and unsettling narratives.

Set in 1983, the story follows Kit McDeere, a home nurse tasked with caring for Lenora Hope, a notorious figure accused of murdering her family years earlier. As Lenora reveals her side of the story through the typewriter she uses to communicate with Kit, it becomes clear early on that things are not what they seem. The decaying mansion of Hope's End perched on a cliff adds an additional layer of atmospheric tension to the narrative.

This book is so creepy! Sager masterfully constructed an unsettling ambiance with this suspenseful and gothic atmosphere. Lenora's inability to speak or move intensified the intrigue, making every interaction with her a chilling experience. The psychological depth of the characters, particularly Kit and Lenora, added further complexity to the story, keeping me guessing about their true motivations and intentions.

The twists and turns throughout the story are epic, and every time I thought I had a grasp on the truth, the story took an unexpected turn. The shocking ending was a satisfying resolution to the secrets and deception woven throughout the plot.

Whether you choose the ebook or the audio version, I highly recommend going into this one blind. I mostly listened to this on audio, and Dawn Harvey and Christine Lakin were incredible as Kit and Lenora. They added depth to the characters and another layer of spookiness to the already creepy tale.

Prepare to be enthralled by the secrets and surprises lurking within the decaying walls of Hope's End. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dutton Books for providing me with a review copy, as well as PRH Audio for the ALC, in exchange for my honest review.

I am a sucker for a gothic themed novel. Verdict? I really enjoyed this one! The atmospheric tension and questionable characters that are usually key elements of gothic fiction were well done. You didn't know who to trust through out the story and it kept you guessing up until the end.

Final Girls used to be my favorite Riley Sager book, but I have a new favorite. Originally, I thought maybe it was because The Only One Left is set in Maine, and, because I'm a native Mainer, I can actually picture the cliffs that Hope's End sits on, the gates at the end of the drive, but it's not. It's because The Only One Left is perfectly placed and plotted. The story of the Hope family and the mystery surrounding the murders is the perfect fodder for thriller lovers, who I'm sure, just like me, won't be able to tear themselves away,

At seventeen, Lenora Hope hung her sister with a rope...

I mean, how can you not be instantly drawn in?

✨𝐑 𝐄 𝐕 𝐈 𝐄 𝐖✨

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐑𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫

Yesssss 👏🏼 these are the kind of mystery/thrillers I enjoy! I listened to this one on audio & it was such a crazy, fun ride! I also think this is a perfect summer thriller 😍🏠📖

👍🏼: I loved the eery setting with a giant house on a cliff, an elderly lady who is being taken care of who was accused of murdering her entire family, and the staff who dress in outdated outfits & can’t be trusted. The whole story was super suspenseful & creepy. There were sooo many great twists as the story went on - the best kind of twists that change your whole perspective of the story! I definitely enjoyed this one more than many of @riley.sager’s recent novels. This one felt the most like “Home Before Dark” which is my favorite by him 😍

👎🏼: There were lots of characters to keep track of which is sometimes tricky for me on audio, but it wasn’t too bad! Also lots of head scratching moments as the plot kept twisting, but overall, I thought it was super fun!

Thanks to @prhaudio for the ALC & @netgalley @duttonbooks for the e-ARC! This has quickly become one of my favorite novels by Riley Sager! I definitely recommend checking out when it publishes on 6/20🫶🏼

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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#theonlyoneleft #rileysager #prhaudio #junebookreleases #fivestarreview #mysterythriller #summerthriller

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for this awesome ARC! All opinions are my own.

The Only One Left is described as a gothic thriller, telling the story of caregiver Kit McDeere and her patient Lenora Hope. Here’s the thrilling part: Lenora may or may not have slaughtered her entire family over 50 years ago… Kit is a disgraced “killer” herself, and Lenora seems to be her last hope. Forced to work for Lenora, Kit begins to learn more about the Hopes and that fateful night.

I applaud Sager on truly shocking me at every corner. I wanted--no, NEEDED--a book like this in my life! His past books that I read (e.g. Final Girls and Survive The Night) were really stepping stones on his way to creating this epic book. I particularly enjoyed the '80s setting, as it kept me into the book--integrating social media or the internet might've screwed with this book--and I really like that decade with all of its music and fashion--which should've been mentioned more IMO. The characters were done very well, too; although, I wish Kit could've had some romance, but I can see now how that wasn't necessary.

The ending truly threw me for a loop! I was not expecting it at all, which then also kind of confused me. I like how not all the loose ends are tied up in a neat little bow--I hate that more than anything.

I would recommend this book to anyone!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Dutton, and Mr. Sager for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

If the rating was based purely on the speed with which I gobbled up this book, then it would be 10 stars. Let's just say, it was COMPULSIVELY readable. I prefer to be taken on the proverbial ride rather than parse out the mystery, so I'm happy to report that I was kept guessing the entire time. I was really surprised to find it was set in the 80s, which I had not expected (I guess I didn't read the blurb carefully?): what a fun surprise to be back in the world of Walkmans and newspapers and no social media. (Sidenote: was there fentanyl in the 80s? I mean, I guess there was, it just seems like such a current Hot Topic that it stuck out to me.)

I won't recap the synopsis and I *definitely* don't want to give any spoilers, so let's just say, this was a claustrophobic, gothic spooky old house mystery with liars at every turn. I enjoyed that things were wrapped up neatly at the end as it gives my vaguely OCD butt much-appreciated closure. I've been recommending Riley Sager at work for a while, and I've gotten good feedback, but this will be my new go-to for suspense recommendations. It was awesome.
4 1/2 stars

It’s a crumbling mansion on top of a cliff and it’s main resident is a woman who at 17 was accused of brutally murdering her father, mother and sister.

Riley Sager is an auto-buy author for me so I was super excited to receive this ARC and let me tell you that it did not disappoint! The story just kept pulling me in! And the twist?! I didn’t see it coming!

If you’re a thriller fan, do not sleep on this! It’s so good!

I don't know what to say....part of me loved it but I also hated it at the same time? Let me just get out of the way, the final twist was extremely unbelievable which left a sour taste in my mouth about the book as a whole. The rest though really kept me engaged and at the edge of my seat the entire time. I had to force myself to put the book down because I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. This is a HUGE improvement from Riley Sager's last book and I'm so glad he's back. I will continue picking up his novels and I hope to find one that rivals how much I loved Lock Every Door someday.