TL;DR: Sager's latest is…really fun. It’s an unputdownable gothic thriller and murder mystery set against the backdrop of a creepy dilapidated cliffside estate. The book is classic RS: creepy, suspenseful, scary, and a whole lot of fun, not to mention twisty in all the best ways (with a couple truly gasp-worthy moments). Reviewers seem to agree, with Publishers Weekly calling it a “superior nail-biter” and Booklist calling it “claustrophobic and haunting”.

And here we are, once again, declaring undying love for another Sager book. I genuinely don’t think this author can write a book I won’t love. The gothic, eerie atmosphere was absolutely phenomenally done and added so much to the already creepy plot. It was paced perfectly; the way the plot and crumbling of the manor aligned was just perfection. The twists were turning and winding, and forever shocking.

Highly recommend if you are a fan of gothic novels. Has all the elements, distressed heroine, creepy house, invalid old lady, household of possible suspects and old murders to solve. A really enjoyable read!

This book was kindly given to me by Netgalley and the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.

This book was a solid 4.5 for me. I think I actually enjoyed more than Riley Sager's last release; some of the twisst I saw coming early one but, some I really didn't. I truly loved the last twist of all... I think as a reader its the twist we are all hoping for. I'm afraid to talk too much about this book because I don't want to give any of the story away but it ticked all the boxes I look for in a thriller.

Kit is reeling from the loss of her mother, the investigation into a work tragedy and Hope's End is her last hope... a crumbling estate where a murderess never proved guilty still lives and is in need of Kit's help. She's ready to tell her side of the story. This book was fast paced, kept me wanting more and ended up reading in a day.

This might be one of my favorite books of the summer. It ticks all my thriller boxes, gothic mansion, complicated family relationships, likeable heroine and the most ridiculous plot. There were twists on twists and honestly some of it was completely unbelievable but you can't help but love each of the characters. There's an exploration of morality, honesty and I was here for all the morally grey characters. This was like a soap opera with the craziest twists that kept me guessing until the very end and it was also fun.

Dang I just love Riley Sager's books! You can always rely on him to turn out a fun, fast pased story that you can't wait to read!

Another Riley Sager book that I'm sad to say disappointed me. I was so excited about this book, I loved the premise, the title, the cover, everything. And it did start out pretty well for me, I was immediately intrigued and pulled into the story. Then the middle of the book started to drag for me. I put this down multiple times and I wasn't being pulled to pick it back up. Alas, I did finally continue to read it and the ending was about the only thing that saved me from giving it 2 stars, even though I had an inkling to some of the twists. Which there were plenty of twists and paranormal aspects thrown in which I did enjoy as well as the spooky, secluded atmosphere. I will give Riley Sager props for the settings he creates, they are eerie and chilling. The ending was easily my favorite part of the book and the main reason I'm giving it a 3. I loved the conclusion and how everything was tied up and explained. I will continue to read more of the books Riley writes in the future and still go into them with an open mind.

Thanks to Dutton for the gifted copy for my review!

Really enjoyed this twisty thriller full of family drama and plot turns that I didn't see coming. It starts out as a story of a caretaker and her little old lady charge, who is an infamous woman accused of murdering her entire family. Our caretaker has a bit of a past in which she was accused of assisting with the death of her patient, and she is still trying to recover from the aftermath of the allegations on her career and her life. The best part about the story was that as a reader, I was never sure who I could trust and who was telling the truth. Great writing, and more like Sager's early novels, much to my delight.

I have read most of Riley Sager's books and have enjoyed them all. I listened to the audio book The Only One Left it has a great ending, however I feel it took a long time to get there.

Wow, this was fantastic! I read this in one day! I didn't want to put in down and now that I am retired, I don't have to! The plot, the story, everything was perfectly executed. So many twists and turns, it was hard to catch my breath. Riley Sager is one of my favorite authors and if you haven't read him before, you should. Readers who like B. A. Paris will devour this book! Wow!

Oh my goodness! Riley Sager has topped himself.! This was good and creepy and twisty. Just when I thought I had figured it out, he flips it on it ear and then does it again at the very end. If you want a stay up all night thrill ride, read this book!

Riley Sager has always been one of my favorite authors. I was severely dissappointed in his last 2 books, but this one surprised me. I'm glad I got the book I expected back. Lizzie Borden retelling was never something I expected, but it was definitely something I needed. Sager delivered!

𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐅𝐓⁣
𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑: 𝐑𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 ⁣
𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐑: 𝐃𝐚𝐰𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲 & 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧 ⁣
𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇: 𝟏𝟐𝐡 𝟑𝟑𝐦⁣
𝐏𝐔𝐁 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝟎𝟔.𝟐𝟎.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 ⁣
⁣
Kit McDeere a live-in caregiver receives an assignment to care for an elderly woman named Lenora Hope - the only survivor of a triple homicide that happened in the cliff side mansion, Hope’s End in 1929. Lenora’s previous caregiver left suddenly in the middle of the night leaving everything behind. Lenora is bedridden, mute, and only has the function of her left hand, but communicates with Kit through a typewriter. ⁣
The story is told through two timeframes - the first, as Lenora recounts the events of what happened leading to that bloody night, and then in 1983 as Kit digs to find more information. ⁣
⁣
I enjoyed the narration - loved the two voices - an elderly Lenora, and the younger Kit. I thought their voices maintained the atmospheric tone and the creepiness of the story. I enjoyed the twists - some I guessed but many I didn’t and it’s quite the story to uncover. Perfect thrilling read and one I really enjoyed.

Riley Sager does it again! This was a true gothic, creepy delight with a masterful twist at the end. Set in the 1980s, this is the story of Kit and her new job at the home of a rumored killer–who happens to be rendered useless and wheelchair bound from a stroke. Did Lenora really kill her whole family, or is there another end to that story? Loved every minute of it!

I’m a thriller girlie & this one was right up my alley! I couldn’t get enough of the creepy setting, the characters’ backstories, the rumors, the tension, the plot, and the twists. I feel like I say this with most of my thriller reviews, but seriously with this one there’s NO WAY you would be able to predict all of the twists. And unlike some of the other thrillers I’ve read recently, the ending felt satisfying and not too far-fetched.

This book made me forget that I was reading & I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! It’s the perfect dark & stormy book that I will certainly read again around Halloween😍

Terrific, twisty tale inspired by the old Lizzie Borden tale - but completely different too. Set it a spooky old house and filled with surprise after surprise you'll never see coming. I definitely recommend this and the other Riley Sager books too - he is one helluva an interesting author!

Absolutely fantastic work. Possibly Sager's best work yet! A seamless blending of influence from classic horror and his mind-bending twists and turns. Atmospheric, creepy, and top of my list for recommendations for the coming months.

Riley Sager has become a summer time staple. For years now he has delivered the twisty thriller of the season, and this summer was no different.

I really enjoyed this thriller! The whole story was mysterious, gothic, and suspenseful. Sometimes, these thrillers have a dud of an ending, but I was pretty satisfied with how things wrapped up in this one.

Sager has done it again! The Only One Left is a wonderful, keep you guessing, winding gothic mystery that grips you from the first page and keeps you on your toes until the end.

Kit is the latest caretaker to be hired to care for Lenore. Her predecessor left suddenly and to make matters worse, Lenore was accused of killing her own family as a teen but was never convicted. Lenore has also suffered multiple strokes that has left her with limited mobility and the inability to communicate. With the use of one hand and a typewriter, Lenore tells Kit her story. The problem is that Lenore is an unreliable narrator. Is what she says true or is she really guilty of the crime?

Overall, a great read. I adored the set up: creepy mansion perched upon a crumbling creek one shake away from tumbling into the Atlantic. The inside seems to be stuck in time. The characters are interesting as well. Best of all, the reader is dropped into the story and is left questioning what is truth and what is lie. It all cumulates in a roller coaster of an ending. It's a wonderful page turner and definitely worth a read.