WOW. WOW. WOW. Now I LOVE Riley Sager, like he's in my top 3 favorite authors, but this book of his might just be my favorite!! It was paced just right, kept me turning the pages....loved the characters, and he aboslutely NAILED the twists!!!! Honestly, the twists and turns were some of the most jaw-drop worthy of ANY books I've read, not just of Sager's. If you only read ONE of his books, let it be this one!!!!
If I couldl give this 6 starts, I would!!! DO. NOT. MISS. THIS. BOOK!!!!
Thank you to Riley Sager, Dutton and NetGalley for the ARC of this fantastic book!!!

I’ve only read two other RS books - Home Before Dark, which I enjoyed and House Across The Lake which was just fine. This one just may be my fave so far!! It was so wild and had me hooked instantly. The twists were twisting and the gothic vibes were vibing. This has me so excited to go back to his earlier books and see if there are more I love!

Exactly what I've come to expect from Riley Sager. I find his books perform best when their 'trick' aligns with things the reader is most uncomfortable with. Those who struggle with haunted houses will have a great time with this one.

After the House Across the Lake, I worried Riley Sager had jumped the shark. This was much better. I loved that it was a retelling of a familiar story and from a new perspective. The non-contemporary timeline was believable and added ambience, especially the typewriter. Most of the twists were surprising without being totally out of left field. I didn't find it very suspenseful and wasn't too curious about the ending, which is a big problem with a thriller.

I will probably keep reading Sager regardless, but I think he'd do well to revisit some of his earlier work and take his time with his next one.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Sager has let me down the past two books, so I was really hesitant with this one. I can’t say I loved it, but I didn’t want to hurl my kindle across the room like with The House Across the Lake, so there’s progress. This gave me big Verity vibes in that I didn’t believe Lenora was truly injured but couldn’t figure out why she would lie. I didn’t fully see the twists coming at the end, and in this case I enjoyed them. I wish I would have experienced a stronger “creep” factor because it fell a little flat. It’s very rare a book scares me though, so if you do get the heebie jeebies with them, you might really enjoy this one.

Always a fan of Riley Sager, I waited too long to read this book! This book kept my interest from start to finish. The characters were interesting, and the story kept me guessing throughout. I absolutely thought I had it all figured out, but it turns out I didn’t. Excellent read— you won’t be disappointed!

Finalllllllly I feel like Sager is back. THE ONLY ONE LEFT is definitely a winner from him! I loved it so much. This is an engaging story about Kit, a home healthcare aid and her experience caring for Lenora who is believed to have murdered her parents back in 1929. But one night Lenora offers to tell Kit what REALLY happened. After that, shit hits the fan. The suspense and twists kept me reading way past my bedtime and I ended up loving how it all came together.

If Sager's past books were a miss for you like they were for me, I recommend picking this one up because it has the potential to be one of my favorite thrillers this year!

Riley Sager does it again! I never miss a new release from him, his books are amazing every time. I work at B&N and this was a go too book and author to suggest during spooky season. The suspense gets me every time!

4 Stars

I’ve read and enjoyed a few of Riley Sager’s books, specifically Home Before Dark and Lock Every Door. I did also read House Across the Lake, but it was not my cup of tea. Not going to lie, I was a bit hesitant to pick up The Only One Left.

I’m happy to report that I was not disappointed with The Only One Left. Sager’s books are far from perfect, however they are compulsively readable and will almost always surprise you in one way or another. Another thing I enjoy about Riley Sager’s books is that I always question throughout his books whether I’m reading paranormal, horror, thriller, or mystery.

What I enjoyed:
The setting - the dilapidated house on the edge of the sea. Totally eerie.
The Lizzie Borden vibes with the story centering a high profile murder of a family with the lone surviving daughter as the suspect.
The caregiver - patient relationship aspect of the story.
How the story unfolds with alternating timelines of the past, told by Lenora via typewriter, and the present.
The twists and turns.

While Home Before Dark is still my favorite Sager book, this one is tied for second place with Lock Every Door.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review***

I'm always a little skeptical of Sager's books, but I went into this one with an open mind and ended up loving it!

This book seems to be based on the Lizzie Borden story, but I loved the twists and turns that were added to this version. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, something was pulled out from under me and I was left guessing what was going to happen! It was exciting and suspenseful and perfectly paced for a gothic thriller.

I also loved the dark and atmospheric vibes that surrounded the whole story. The house was almost a character in and of itself and I think it added a lot to the world of the book.

Overall I think this is my favorite of Riley Sager's thrillers!

Riley Sager's books have been hit or miss for me, so I"m thrilled The Only One Left was a hit. It was definitely a fun, thought-provoking, and wild ride! And so many twists! Yowza! Just when you think you've unravelled all of them, even more come along! This book has me hopeful that his next book will be just as good. Thank you NetGalley and Dutton for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

At seventeen, Lenora Hope
Hung her sister with a rope

... or did she? Riley Sager's books are so much fun, and I truly think this is the one I've enjoyed the most. I loved the bounce between time lines in this gothic thriller, and I was feeling like I was shivering along with Kit trying to figure out what went on then and now in that house and with this seemingly harmless old lady.

Sager did a really good job with the characters, the twists, and the pacing of this book. I really felt in it!

This was a classic Riley Sager. I really enjoyed the setting of this one and it was a perfect quick summer thriller. It didn't quite hold my attention as some of his other books but I would still recommend.

The Only One Left by Riley Sager is a Gothic thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. The novel is set in a decaying mansion on the Maine coast, and tells the story of Kit, a young woman who takes a job caring for an elderly woman named Lenora Hope.

Lenora is accused of murdering her family decades ago, but was never convicted. As Kit gets to know Lenora, she begins to question whether or not she is really innocent. The mansion is also haunted by strange noises and apparitions, and Kit begins to fear for her life.

Sager does a masterful job of creating a sense of suspense and atmosphere in The Only One Left. The mansion is a perfect setting for a Gothic thriller, and it is clear that Sager has done his research on the genre. The characters are also well-developed and believable, and Kit is a sympathetic and relatable protagonist.

The novel is full of twists and turns, and Sager keeps the reader guessing until the very end. Even when you think you have figured out what is going on, there is always another twist to come. The ending is particularly satisfying, and it ties up all of the loose ends.

Overall, The Only One Left is an excellent thriller that I highly recommend to fans of the genre. It is well-written, suspenseful, and full of twists and turns. If you are looking for a book that will keep you guessing until the very end, then this is the book for you.

Here are some specific things that I liked about the novel:

The setting is atmospheric and perfect for a Gothic thriller.
The characters are well-developed and believable.
The plot is full of twists and turns, and the ending is satisfying.
The novel explores themes of guilt, innocence, and the power of secrets in a thought-provoking way.

This wasn’t as bad as his most recent books, but this also wasn’t awesome. Super repetitive and not super shocking.

Great thrilled. I love an isolated book where you feel like you’re right there with the characters! Riley Sager is def an auto read for sure!

Content warning: abuse of power by a male to get sex, stabbing, murder, overdosing, drug abuse, talks of characters committing off-page suicide, teenage pregnancy

This might be my favorite Sager book yet. When the major plot twists were revealed with 2 hours left in the book I knew it couldn't possibly be done yet so I was prepared for more shocking reveals even if I had some suspicions of where the plot was going.

Hope’s End was the perfect setting that added just the right amount of foreboding atmosphere to go with Sager's story. I appreciate that readers are given parts of the Hope family story (via typewriter) somewhat before Kit learns the details (or figures them out herself)... but readers are kept enough in the dark to allow the tension to build.

I thought that how all the players connect were well done (even if some of them were easy to spot), overall this was an enjoyable thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. The ending was satisfying too.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, and Dutton in exchange for an honest review.

That ending!! The setting with the mansion on the cliff and the family murder story that is so reminiscent of the Lizzy Borden murders was fantastic. But that ending had my head spinning in all the best ways. Super creative and fun.

Damn... this book was wild.
It starts off when Kit McDere, disgraced home caregiver, takes a job at the Hope's End mansion caring for Lenora Hope.
Kit is suspected of aiding her mother in ending her own life, as she was suffering from a debilitating illness. Lenore is the last remaining family member after he parents and sister were brutally murdered decades before and needs constant care - and Lenore is Kit's only chance at employment after her own's accusations.

When Kit arrives, she is curious about the decrepit mansion, the mystery surrounding the murders and ... she finds out so much more than she bargained for.

It starts off a little slow... but by the end the twists and turns are crazy! Excellent!

An incredibly fun and fast-paced read, as can be expected from Sager. The Hope family lore is a lot of eerie fun.