Gothic, twisted, heartbreaking, and absolutely AMAZING.

Yes, I am shouting from the rooftops that Riley Sager’s newest novel is AMAZING.

“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.”

I think my jaw is still on the floor. Brace yourself- Sager brings the chills, repeatedly, in The Only One Left.

All the stars ever.

**Many thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for the digital ARC. My opinions, though gushing, are my own.”

The Only One Left by Riley Sager is a story of family tragedy ripe with intrigue, red herrings, and mansion literally crumbling around them. Lenora Hope was suspected of murdering her entire family in 1929, but no charges were ever made against her except in the court of public opinion. In 1983 she is a frail woman who has suffered from multiple strokes, causing her to only be able to slightly move her head and use her left hand. After Lenora's previous caretaker vanished into the night, Kit McDeere is assigned to be her new caretaker after having experienced her own tragedy. Without the ability to say no, Kit begins to communicate with Lenora via a typewriter, and Lenora promises she will explain everything about that night.

The Only One Left is a gothic thriller with beautiful atmospheric qualities. The mansion Lenora lives in shows signs of a crumbling facade that worsen as Lenora continues spinning her story to Kit, and with a cast of suspicious characters surrounding Kit, she doesn't know who to trust. Each chapter ends with an excerpt from the story that Lenora has written, in a very similar fashion to Riley Sager's previous novel Home Before Dark.

There were quite a few red herrings thrown into the plot, and in the end, I guessed incorrectly on quite a few twists, something I like in a novel. There were few likeable characters in the novel, but in this case that added to the suspense of who could have committed the crime. The book was paced well and really picked up toward the finale.

In terms of representation, there was a little bit of LGBTQA+ representation, but not much else. This did not detract from the narrative, but I always like to see more diverse viewpoints in my books.

This is definitely one of Riley Sager's best and I hope he continues to write more novels that have the back-and-forth POVs.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dutton Publishing for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy so I could provide an honest review.

The Only One Left starts with the Hope Family murders that turns into so much more over 50 years later when the only survivor, Lenora (who most people thought was responsible for the three murders), meets her new home-health aide, Kit, after the previous nurse fled in the middle of the night.

This book will suck you right in, especially once Lenora decides she wants to tell Kit everything. As Kit continues to learn more about this Hope Family and their home, you learn that there is so much more to the story. And I am telling you right now, this is a story you do not want to miss. I would have never been able to guess these twisty outcomes, which is why Riley Sager is one of my favorite authors.

I’ve been a fan of this author’s other books, so I found it very disappointing to read that latest installment. While I appreciated the Gothic elements, the plot itself ended up making no sense, and there were holes you could drive a truck through. I’m not recommending this one.

3.5 ⭐️

The Only One Left is the story of the once wealthy Hope family, their now crumbling cliffside mansion (Hope's End), and the live-in aide hired to take care of the last remaining family member, Lenora—who was suspected of killing the rest of her family in 1929, but who is now paralyzed and unable to speak due to a series of strokes. Kit, the caregiver, has also recently been suspected in the death of one of her patients. Neither woman was ever found guilty, but the suspicions still hang heavily around them both. It's now 1983, and Kit is determined to find out what really happened at Hope's End all those years ago and who was responsible for the triple homicide.

The story is cleverly constructed. Most of the story is told from Kit's perspective in present tense. Throughout the novel, we are also shown the story that Lenora is able to type with her one good hand, which reveals bit by bit what happened in 1929. I appreciate that rather than seeming like two alternating timelines, Lenora's typewritten story is embedded within Kit's narrative.

Sager's writing style is compelling, for sure. I was thoroughly engaged for most of the book—the first half, especially! About a third of the way in, I pretty much figured out the big twist, so at about 50%, I felt like the story stalled out for me because I was just waiting for the big reveal, which comes at about 75%. In the last 10-15% of the story, it goes COMPLETELY off the rails. Sager ties up all the loose ends, but with twist after ridiculous twist, the resolution is just outlandish. I will say, though, that I did like the very ending. I suppose it wouldn't have been possible without all the other twists, but maybe those could have been paced out a little more evenly and written more plausibly.

What a wild ride! I really did enjoy reading this one, but hoo boy, that ending is way WAY over the top. I'm stuck between 3 and 4 stars, and after more thought, I may round it down. For now, it's a cautious 4, with that missing fifth star being the last 20% of the book during which I could no longer suspend my disbelief.

Despite not being 100% about this book, I'm glad I finally read my first ever Riley Sager—and will probably come back for more. I have The House Across the Lake on my bookshelf at home, so that one will probably be next!

Full review posted on Goodreads on 6/7/23: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5386367539

Twisted goth mystery set in Maine (but could have been anywhere else, there's nothing Maine-specific about it ). I enjoyed it a lot, despite some really far-fetched twists. Thank you, NetGalley for this advanced copy.

A creepy old house teetering on the edge of a cliff plus a fifty year old murder that took place in its rooms plus the paralyzed suspected perpetrator confined to its walls. The sum is an atmospheric and tense mystery with some twists that I could see coming and some that were (way) out of left field.

Kit McDeere was suspected but never convicted of assisting the suicide of the last patient she cared for so now has little choice about her next posting. It turns out to be at the aptly (and surely unlikely) named Hopes End for the remaining member of the Hope family, Lenora. Lenora was suspected but never convicted of murdering her parents and younger sister back in 1929. Now, after a series of strokes, she has just the use of her left hand. Her previous caregiver, Mary, had departed very abruptly and Kit begins to suspect that it was not voluntarily as she left behind all her possessions .

There’s a great cast of characters living in the house, all with secrets and secret connections to the Hope family. They are a little stereotyped - the uptight housekeeper, the slightly daffy maid, the warm-hearted cook, the handsome gardener - but I think deliberately so as the author plays with the tropes of haunted house novels. There are also, of course, creakings and footsteps in the dark of night. Perhaps the most inspired physical manifestation of the rot in the Hope family is that the house is sliding into the sea so the floors are tilted and Kit wakes up every morning at the bottom of her bed.

The plot is a well-paced mix of tension building, secret revealing, and slightly nutty resolution. Sadly it’s not quite as bonkers as the author’s last novel The House Across the Lake but it still gets pretty crazy (in a good way).

Thanks to Dutton and Netgalley for the digital review copy.

Riley Sager books are hit or miss with me - but The Only One Left was definitely a hit. I have always been fascinated by the Lizzie Bordon story - and most recently the "Candy" series - so this book got my attention.

In 1929 - 17 year old Lenora was accused of killing her family but it was never proven. Lenora has been a prisoner in her family's mansion her whole life. The story picks up in 1983 when Kit McDeere, a practical nurse, is assigned to care for Lenora after her other nurse left in the middle of the night. Lenora is confined to a wheelchair and can not speak due to strokes. But she can use a typewriter to write notes to Kit. Lenora confesses she didn't kill her family and wants to tell Kit the truth about what happened . But what is the truth and who is playing who?

As i've come to expect from Riley Sager, his setting is so compelling that it becomes a character in itself. In The Only One Left the decrepit house was such a chilling concern that it invaded every scene. There was a brilliant cast of characters giving each one depth and emotion. Excellent read!

This gothic thriller by Riley Sage is a must read. This book will leave you wondering and thinking about what happened and who did it. All the people believe that Lenora Hope is a mass murderer. Lenora was left mute and in a wheelchair but a caregiver helps her tell the story by typing keys on the typewriter. A must read for 2023.

Couldn't put this book down! The creepy gothic setting lended to the mystery of who killed 3 members of the hope family in 1929. Such a surprise twist at the end! This is my favorite thriller I have read in 2023! Highly recommend!

Caregiver Kit McDeere is charged with taking care of the town pariah, Lenora Hope. When Lenora was a teen, her entire family was murdered, while she was spared. Long thought to be the person who killed her family, but no evidence to prove it, Lenora is banished to her family's mansion on the cliff, never to be seen again. Yes, the very mansion where her family was killed. Kit comes in as her full time caregiver, interested in finding out the truth about what happened that night, but Kit has a few secrets of her own. sager tells another suspenseful story with lots of twists and turns. Clear you day because you won't want to put this one down. I highly recommend.

I sat on this review for a bit trying to figure out what I just read. Did I like it? Sure. Did I love it? Not really. Is it original? Not really. Is it scary? Not really. Was it a good escape from reality? Sure.

I was really frustrated with Kit most of the time. I didn’t understand why she did what she did. And I rolled my eyes at her a lot. She’s just a weird chick. I did appreciate that it took place in the 1920s and 1980s. That’s always fun!

Would I recommend it? Sure. But it was a pretty standard thriller for me. Nothing too earth shattering. I will say, if you liked his earlier works, you’ll love this one.

Go into it blind! Don’t read the blurb!

I'm a long-time fan of Riley Sager. I loved 'Home Before Dark' and try VERY hard not to think of it just before bed. Sager is so very good at creating atmosphere and using the setting to help drive the plot. Not for nothing, I've been a little obsessed with the story of Lizzie Borden since I was a teenager, so I was excited to see what Sager would do with a similar story.

As always, the setting is vividly brought to life; I felt like I was transported to 1929. And the sing-song chant?! Fabulously chilling. I also really loved the 1983 details; I was instantly 14 years old again. This story is haunting, moving, and suspenseful. A fantastic summer read.

I'll be featuring this book on The Library of Lost Time podcast on 07 July.

Once I started this novel I just couldn’t put it down. Riley Sager does it again. Creates a creepy, check to see if your windows are locked, sleep with
the lights on storyline that is rich in characters and development. No matter what you think you see coming, some element is going to smack you in the face with surprise. Thank you Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my review.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the latest installment of Riley Sager's newest book. As much as I enjoyed this book, it isn't my top book by him, but it is a close contender. Not everything is as it seems in this story. There are many things that I did not see coming, and I grew fond of Lenora. She was a character that I fell in love with, but I was convinced that she wasn't as she seemed. Quite a few secrets are devolved in this story, and each one is as surprising as the next. I would highly recommend reading this book and dwelling on the residents' lives.

OH MY FREAKING GOD. This book is downright bingeable! I absolutely could not put it down!! I needed to know what happened and I was not disappointed in the least! Jesus talk about a plot twist of plot twists.

THIS IS THE TYPE OF STORY I EXPECT FROM RILEY AND HE FREAKING BROUGHT IT!!!!

A suspected murderer. A caregiver. Both accused of crimes. Both never actually arrested. Their paths cross when Kit (the caregiver) is assigned to take care of the accused murderer (Lenora Hope) who is confined to a wheel chair & is only able to move her left arm, because she has no options left. This is the same lady that they wrote a murder rhyme about. What Kit is hoping for is to find out why Lenora’s parents and sister were killed in 1929 and if she was responsible.

Honestly, go into this book blind because it makes for an absolutely AMAZING reading experience. READ IT AS SOON AS ITS OUT!!!

Thank you PRH AUDIO & netgalley for this arc 🫶

I devoured THE ONLY ONE LEFT and absolutely loved it. Anyone who knows me knows I’m an unapologetic Riley Sager Superfan and this book furthered my obsession. I just love being in the pages of one of his books.

Pitched as a Gothic chiller and set in 1983 in a coastal Maine town, we meet Kit McDeere. Kit is a caregiver whose new patient is 71-year-old Lenora Hope. Confined to a wheelchair, Lenora was rendered mute by a series of strokes and can only communicate with Kit by tapping out sentences on an old typewriter.

But Lenora is no ordinary patient. Back in 1929 her family was murdered in a Lizzie Borden-style massacre. Everyone assumed Lenora was responsible but the police could never prove it.

Lenora has never spoken about that fateful night or set foot outside of her family’s cliffside mansion, Hope’s End, since the night of the murders. But for the first time she is ready to revisit that night. Feeling a kindred connection to Kit, Lenora makes a tantalizing offer to Kit typing the message “I want to tell you everything”. Kit can’t resist learning the truth about what happened…

But in classic Riley Sager fashion nothing is as it seems and darkness lies ahead…as well as within the walls of Hope’s End.

Riley Sager has such a talent for creating memorable settings and his descriptions paint such a vivid picture. This book gave me the same feelings I had while reading HOME BEFORE DARK, and in this story Hope’s End, is a character in and of itself.

THE ONLY ONE LEFT was such a compulsive read and is a must for your summer TBR. It will be out on June 20th and I’ll have eyes out for my preorder to land on my doorstep.

Massive thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for the eARC. You made all my fangirl dreams come true.

My first read by author Riley Sager & I really enjoyed it! Loved the gothic setting of this one & (no) Hope's End house, which was very atmospheric. Also liked that it was set in the 1980's, though that might have been a plot device to reduce technology. Nobody here is what they seem, especially the two MC's - Kit, a home-care worker with a past & especially her charge, Lenora Hope, who may or may not have killed her family more than 50 years before. Fast-paced & I couldn't put it down! My thanks to the publisher & Net Galley for the complimentary DRC; my pleasure to read & review

Riley Sager’s writing just keeps getting better and better. This was truly a roller coaster ride of a suspense with a crazy amount of plot twists. The pages practically turned themselves in this unputdownable thriller. Everything came together perfectly for a brilliant and very satisfying conclusion. Perfect for fans of Ruth Ware.