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.

The Only One Left
Riley Sager
Pub Date June 20, 2023
Penguin
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is a fun, Gothic Who done it that I highly recommend. It starts in 1929. I recommend this for readers who like a good thriller.
4 stars

Believe it or not this was the first Riley Sager book I have read, despite owning several! The Only One Left did not disappoint me, and I can see why Sager's books are so popular. This was a really fun and entertaining gothic thriller!

On the top of a hill, next to a cliff, beside the ocean there is a mansion. And in this old, falling apart mansion resides Lenora Hope, who is the only survivor after her family was brutely murdered in 1929. Jump forward to 1983 and the last caregiver for Lenora has ran off into the night. Kit, our main character, is cautious of Lenora and the Hope Mansion because she knows the rumors of her killing her family, but after several strokes is left barely able to move. The story follows Kit finding out the truth of what happened that night in 1929, with lots of twists and turns. I think for this reason, I was not able to predict the end like I normally do, and my mind really tried to work it out. This is a must add book for anyone's pile. 4.5 stars, well done!

It’s 1983 and Kit McDeere is a caregiver in desperate need of work after being put on suspension (accused of incompetence at best, murder at worst) at her former job. That job was taking care of Kit’s own cancer-ridden mother, who died of a fentanyl overdose under Kit’s watch. Even Kit’s dad can’t bear to look at her.

Kit takes a job that no one else in town wants — as caregiver to the infamous Lenora Hope, who lives in a decaying time-trapped mansion on the cliffs, and who killed her own mother, father, and sister back in 1929. In spite of her misgivings, Kit feels a connection to the other accused murderdess. But with Lenora unable to walk, or talk, or do anything but use her left hand, communication is limited. Until Kit discovers the typewriter left by the previous caregiver, who disappeared under clouded circumstances.

Lenora and Kit begin to communicate through the typewriter, and an obsessed-to-the-point-of-negligent Kit begins to learn Lenora’s story. There is a wide cast, then and now; and as many false and mysterious leads as there are dusty, ghost-filled rooms in the mansion at Hope’s End. The narrative alternates between Lenora’s story, as revealed through the typewritten pages; and Kit’s as she strives to understand what happened on that long ago evening, and whether the frail, elderly woman under her care is truly capable of such atrocities.

Caveat: read this book and you will need a chiropractor afterwards. Or perhaps an excorcist. A well-placed plot twist is great, but there were so many that I felt the characters and motives got muddled. Still, the book very much had a creepy, gothicky, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane vibe, and was a fun, if not always wholly believeable, read.