I find myself to be not much of a thriller lover, yet every time Riley Sager publishes a new book, I must read it. So I did with this one. I really liked the premise of this one, but things started to feel a little too familiar pretty quickly.
Creepy setting - ✅
Narrator with a suspicious past who is somewhat unreliable ✅
Handsome handyman who comes with the setting but is also possibly suspicious ✅

Ultimately the reveal and the ending didn’t have much to do with any of those things and honestly felt a little ridiculous.

Probably my least favorite Sager book so far.

Unsettling and atmospheric, Riley Sager's latest novel delivers a chilling Gothic tale that will haunt readers long after the final page. With a backdrop reminiscent of the infamous Lizzie Borden case, the story immerses us in a web of mystery and suspense, blending the past and present in a masterful way.

The narrative revolves around Kit McDeere, a young caregiver assigned to Lenora Hope, the woman accused of a horrific massacre decades earlier. The vivid imagery and rhythmic schoolyard chant that accompanies the introduction instantly grabbed my attention, setting the stage for an unsettling journey into the depths of the human psyche.

Hope's End, the cliffside mansion where the massacre occurred, becomes a character in itself, its decaying grandeur providing a gothic backdrop for the unfolding events. Sager's descriptive prowess transports readers to this eerie setting, where secrets are buried and the line between reality and illusion blurs.

As Kit begins her caregiving duties, the author masterfully builds tension by gradually unveiling the dark history of the Hope family. Lenora, confined to a wheelchair and rendered mute, communicates with Kit through an old typewriter, tapping out sentences that gradually expose the hidden truths surrounding the fateful night. The interplay between Kit and Lenora is captivating, with each revelation deepening the sense of unease and suspicion.

The brilliance of Sager's storytelling lies in the duality of Lenora's character. On one hand, she is a frail and seemingly harmless woman in need of care, but on the other hand, there is an undercurrent of danger and manipulation that lingers beneath the surface. The author skillfully weaves a web of uncertainty, leaving readers questioning Lenora's intentions and the extent of her involvement in the tragedy.

The intricate plot unfolds through Kit's perspective, as she becomes increasingly drawn into the twisted history of Hope's End. The author deftly incorporates elements of psychological suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they uncover the truth alongside the protagonist. The pacing is expertly controlled, with every chapter building upon the previous one, leading to a stunning climax that left me breathless.

Beyond the gripping plot, Sager excels at crafting complex and multidimensional characters. Kit's determination and vulnerability make her a relatable and compelling protagonist. The exploration of themes such as guilt, redemption, and the darkness that lies within us all adds a layer of depth to the narrative, elevating it from a mere thriller to a thought-provoking examination of the human condition.

With "The Only One Left," Riley Sager proves once again why he is a master of the suspense genre. This five-star book is a hauntingly addictive page-turner that will keep readers guessing until the very end. It is a must-read for fans of Gothic literature, psychological thrillers, and anyone who enjoys a skillfully crafted tale that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned.

Thank you so much publisher and netgalley for an e-arc of this book to review. I really enjoyed this read and never anticipated the twists. I enjoyed this book until the very last page. This gave spooky haunted house vibes but also gave off some Verity vibes. Overall, this is one of my top favorite reads from this author. I love how he adapts his stories from some older films and the outlandish endings always get me. This book will have you on the edge of your seats. I definately recommend this read.

At seventeen, Lenora Hope
Hung her sister with a rope
Stabbed her father with a knife
Took her mother’s happy life

This is Sager’s BEST NOVEL EVERR!!! The amount of times in the last 20% I sprung up and screamed, “WHAT?!” is infinite!!
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
The Only One Left is a tantalizing and mysterious gothic read about a woman who was accused of killing her mother on her deathbed and now has to take care of accused murderer herself. It’s paced so perfectly with each reveal, that you’re constantly being thrown a new secret. It was both a who-dun-it and a thriller in one! I was super creeped out with the noises in the house, but also extremely intrigued and suspisious of each character.
The plot twists and reveals were so shocking, my jaw was hanging open!
I mean seriously, if you’re not reading this thriller this summer, what are you doing??

Wow, just wow. It gives such Verity vibes, if it was better written, had a concrete ending, and featured a Lizzie Bordenesque character. Are any of the characters likable? Not really. But in a thriller, I don't feel like that's a requirement. I didn't see any of the twists coming, which is a bit rare for me. It's fast paced, alternating between the 1920's and the 1980's. I'd never been so excited to see the historical portion of a book!

Honestly, clear your evening for this one. Even if you hate it, you won't be able to put it down.

*Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This book is a new all time favorite! I loved the pacing and the twists the story took. I cannot wait to recommend this book to everyone I know! This author never lets me down. Thank you for the opportunity to review this amazing book!

Riley Sager has a made a name for himself in the thriller/horror genre that I think is extremely clever. Each of his books has taken a new look at the many sub-genre's and given them a fresh twist. 'The Only One Left' is a gothic thriller set in a crumbling mansion on the rocky bluffs of Maine and within the walls of Hope's End are many secrets; such as, did Lenora Hope truly kill her entire family?

While set in the 80s, the story gave Old Hollywood vibes along with nods to the Lizzie Borden murders, and a touch of some cult classic films such as "Sunset Boulevard," "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?," and "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" to name a few. I enjoyed the twists and turns the story took, especially with the grandiose final act and my continuously changing thoughts on how it would end (which, was not how I guessed it would end!)

This is a fast paced suspenseful story that didn’t want to end lol! In 1929 Lenora Hope was accused of murdering her parents and sister Virginia, she continues to live at her family’s estate Hope’s End. Lenora cannot speak or walk, she needs constant care. Caregiver, Kit McDeere, having escaped her own trial of assisting her patient’s death, is given another chance. Kit grew up with the schoolyard chant and stories of Lenora Hope, without a job she agrees to care for Lenora. Kit is on a mission to seek the truth about what happened in 1929. Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for an advanced copy.

Riley Sager is back. Okay, technically he didn't go anywhere, but I personally wasn't a huge fan of his last two novels. This, however, is a wonderful addition to his already impressive body of work. It's a gothic thriller with plenty of twists and turns. I flew through it, not knowing for certain what was true. Unreliable narrators, a crumbling estate, a murder nursery rhyme... I couldn't get enough.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

Riley Sager is always reliable when it comes to breakneck summer thrillers, and THE ONLY ONE LEFT was no exception. I am once again impressed by the way Sager crafts a mystery that seems fairly straight forward, but you know has deflection and misdirection, and yet even knowing that you STILL find yourself surprised by various reveals. I loved the mix of Lizzy Borden and "Dolores Clairborne" in theme and tone, and I really liked getting into the minds of both Kit, the nervous, recently reinstated caregiver, and Lenora, the non speaking wheelchair bound patient who is thought to have murdered her entire family decades prior, but never formally charged with the crime.There are many mysteries in play, and I really liked how we got to sift through it all through both Kit's perspective as well as Lenora's through her writings. The tension builds perfectly, the pacing is quick, and there were lots of surprises that caught me off guard. While I thought that there was a bit of a twee-ness to some aspects of the solution, and while I thought that the bottom of the ninth final twist was a little unnecessary, overall I had a blast reading this book.

THE ONLY ONE LEFT is just in time for beach reading season! Riley Sager, you've done it again!

Wow, where do I even begin?!

Riley Sager has done it again! This had me SHOOK. I didn’t think there could be so many twist and turns in just one story. I didn’t think there was any way more twists could come in the last 2% but boy was I wrong! My brain was constantly trying to keep up with everything that was happening.

The atmosphere was absolute perfection with not only the cold rainy coastal setting, but the mansion that was literally sitting on a tilt about to plunge into the water! I mean how much more suspenseful can you get?!

My favorite part was the dual timelines and book within a book element. The way the characters were connected was tied together so seamlessly but still kept you guessing up until the end!

I will never look at a typewriter the same way again. Dare I say this is my favorite Sager? I don’t know but it was GOOD.

Thank you to the publisher for sending an advanced copy my way!

I’m a huge Riley Sager fan and have read all his books so I was super excited to snag an e-ARC of his latest thriller, The Only One Left. In 1983, caregiver Kit McDeere is tasked with caring for Lenora, the mute and elderly woman believed to be responsible for the 1929 Hope family murders. Lenora offers to reveal the truth about that fateful night, but as Kit assists her in writing the story, she begins to suspect that Lenora may be hiding darker secrets, especially when she uncovers unsettling details about her predecessor's sudden departure. Kit realizes that the seemingly harmless woman under her care may be more dangerous than she ever imagined. I was completely blown away by Riley Sager's latest thriller, The Only One Left! It has easily become my second favorite book by the author, right after The Last Time I Lied. The characters were incredibly well-developed and I found myself engrossed in the alternating perspectives of Kit and the haunting events of the past. Just when I thought I had the twists figured out, Sager expertly threw curve balls that left me pleasantly surprised. The journey to the end was an intense and unexpected ride, and I highly recommend diving into this book without knowing too much about it. If you're a fan of Riley Sager, don't miss out on picking up The Only One Left!

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. The Only One Left by Riley Sager tells the story of the infamous Lenora Hope. She's infamous for murdering her family as a teenager, but there wasn't enough evidence to convict her. There's even a poem about her. Now she is a decrepit old woman who only has the use of her left arm and she needs a caregiver to take care of her. Enter Kit McDeere, who is also accused of killing someone close to her, without enough evidence, was able to get her job back with the caregiver agency, but they gave her the most undesirable position available, Lenora Hope. The two form a relationship and discover their lives are more intertwined than expected. Reminiscent of Fall of the House of Usher and shades of Lizzie Borden, this had twists and turns for days

Another amazing and thrilling story. I was hooked from the first page and no only did I love the MCs internal monologue, but I loved her hesitation with Lenora. I was genuinely shocked at parts and felt like I was going thru this creepy house with her. This was a really spooky one for sure.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝘼 𝙂𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙘 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙇𝙞𝙯𝙯𝙞𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣-𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙨 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙧.

📍 Read if you like:
• Gothic Thrillers
• Eerie Atmospheres
• Twists After Twists
• Unsettling Stories
• Riley Sager

I’m speechless and obsessed with Riley Sager’s new release. I’ve read every single Sager book so far and he’ll always be a favorite thriller author for me.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year. I didn’t look up what this book was about at all, and I highly recommend doing the same. It’s best to go into this one blindly, I had the absolute best experience with it.

I think gothic thrillers might be my thing now.

This story is set in 1983, it follows Kit McDeere. She’s a home nurse who is assigned to Lenora Hope - the town’s most notorious resident who was accused of murdering her family… but did she? Everyone believes she’s a killer, but Lenora knows the truth about what happened that night.

Secrets are kept until Kit makes her way to this mansion named Hope’s End, which is barely hanging onto the cliff.

The atmosphere in this book was extremely eerie and unsettling. It was so entertaining reading about Lenora as she wasn’t able to talk or move… the only way she communicated was with a typewriter, and only Kit could get the truth from her.

I’m so glad Sager is coming back after his last two novels - let’s not talk about those - but oh man, this brought nostalgic feelings from when I first read Lock Every Door and Home Before Dark.

The mystery itself is so suspenseful. I had my own predictions, but I was completely shocked when we got twist after twist. The ending was also super satisfying. If you’ve read Sager’s books then you know his endings won’t be for everyone - but I actually loved the way this one ended.

I did a combo of the ebook and audio, and I loved both methods. The creaky old mansion was super creepy and I loved the gothic atmosphere. The mystery and suspense were so well done and this story was so freaking entertaining.

I honestly think this is one of Sager’s best stories. I loved the unsettling gothic story and I can’t wait for this to release - I need someone to discuss it with. This is going to be the thriller of the summer!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Dutton Books for the review copy and PRH Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!

WHAT A RIDE!

And I mean that both metaphorically and literally. I was on a long flight and planned to sleep, but this book was so compelling and suspenseful that I was kept awake the whole time and ended up finishing the whole thing before landing.

Picture me being mindblown over and over again, looking slack-jawed, suddenly jolting and thinking, 'Wait wait wait a minute...', stroking my chin to digest each twist and turn — all from the confines of my plane seat. You might have also seen me wiping away a tear or two because the ending!!!

I loved pretty much everything about The Only One Left: Atmospheric setting, cast of shady characters, the rhymes, that it's a Lizzie Borden retelling and how brilliantly the author has spun it, the insight into caregiving, the crazy-ass twists and turns (some might find them outlandish or too much but I'm here for all of it).

Wild and unforgettable!!! Longtime fan here who wasn't hot on The House Across the Lake, but this is the Riley Sager that I know and love. Could this actually be my favourite by him ever?!

Engrossing and eerie modern Gothic novel set in the recent past, in which a young woman becomes employed at a crumbling seaside mansion as a care-giver for an older woman who infamously murdered 2 members of her family.

A gripping, twisted gothic thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. May be one of my favorite Riley Sager books to date -- highly recommend!

The Hope family murders shocked the Maine coast one bloody night in 1929. While most people assume seventeen-year-old Lenora was responsible, the police were never able to prove it. It’s now 1983, and home-health aide Kit McDeere arrives at a decaying Hope’s End to care for Lenora after her previous nurse fled in the middle of the night. This book was a twisted, terrifying puzzle with a story that is so compelling, it will make your head spin. The haunting setting of a mansion on a cliff was described so vividly I felt claustrophobic and yet I felt compelled to keep reading late into the night to finish. "The Only One Left" is a true gothic thriller written by one of the best masters of suspense. I highly recommend this book!

I always think I have a favorite Sager book and then the newest one comes out!! Never a disappointment you think you know where the story will go and you are thrown for a 180 twist you didn't think would happen. Keep me guessing until the end. The pacing was good sometimes with these types of mysteries I feel they lag in the middle and everything is thrown into the end but I felt like along with the main character we were constantly finding new things out and the mystery was growing ever deeper! There were so many layers to this and intertwining stories that made it very enjoyable!! Highly Rec this read it will hold the spot at my favorite Sager novel until another comes out and probably dethrone this.