I honestly think this is my favorite book by Riley Sager, so far. I thought I had it all figured out- and I literally had NOTHING right. Sager is such an accomplished writer, and knows exactly how to keep the reader glued to the pages. There wasn't a slow part of this book, which is something I cannot say about 80% of the books I've read in the past year or so. I don't know how an author will be able to top this book, but IF there is one who can, Riley Sager has my complete confidence.

Caveat: I am a fan of Riley Sager, as controversial as that is. I really enjoyed the Only One Left, though I was a bit confused by the promotional idea that it was somehow inspired by or parallel to the Lizzie Borden murders. The murders in the book are completely different, even culturally. Beyond that, I enjoyed the breadcrumbs spread throughout the storyline, and I found (most of) the characters to be interesting and developed. I personally did not guess the twist, but looking back can see all of the clues laid out for the reader!

Riley Sager's THE ONLY ONE LEFT is a genuinely spooky thriller. A caretaker is assigned to care for a woman accused of murdering her own family decades earlier. She says that she's finally ready to talk about what happened that night...

I am a longtime reader of Sager's and appreciated this novel for the unpredictable twist, gorgeous cover, and because I'm a sucker for anything set off the coast of Maine. I do struggle with a "I could tell you everything right now, but I won't" plot line and did feel that I lacked investment as I couldn't connect to any of the characters.

I'd say this falls right in the middle of Sager's work. An interesting, well-written thriller.

"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”

Kit McDeere is barely hanging onto her job as a caregiver after a pervious patient dies under suspicious circumstances. Forcing her to accept the one job that no one else wants. Caring for Lenora Hope, suspected murder, at her decaying mansion Hopes End. Lenora is suspected to have murdered her entire family in 1929, but due to a lack of evidence, never charged. Kit quickly realizes that not all is as it seems at Hopes End, and ends up being drawn into a web of lies and secrets that has remained hidden for decades. Perhaps she'll even uncover what actually happened that night, and who really killed the Hope family?

I never knew how much I wanted a Gothic Murder Mystery set in the 1980s. This story kept me hooked from the first page! I've been a fan of Sagers previous books but this one might be one of my favorites. This is a fantastic thriller with just the right amount of gothic hints to keep a wide variety of readers happy. This story kept me guessing right up until the last page, and there were multiple twists that I never saw coming! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this new Riley Sager. This may be my favorite Riley Sager book so far! Just when I thought that I had it figured out, boom, a twist! I think I know have whiplash from all of the twists and turns. Excellent storytelling and kept me gripped from the first page.

Thank you NetGalley and Mr. Sager for the opportunity to review "The Only One Left." Mr. Sager is one of my favorite thriller authors. His books leave you guessing and are very hard to put down. "The Only One Left," is no exception. The book takes you on fast paced ride, with murder, revenge and a creepy old house to top it all off. I really enjoyed this book, I had no idea who was the culprit and I also like the fact that there was closure in the end.

Thank you to Riley Sager, Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I have been a fan of Riley Sager's for a while so I was ecstatic to be approved for an arc of this! He is an author I can count on to be entertained by, and this was no exception.

This story certainly had a gothic feel to it with a gritty and captivating cast of characters. I felt the pacing of this book was some of Sager's best. I genuinely was kept on my toes wondering what was going on. Another thing I appreciated was no romantic interest popping up for Kit's character. I prefer thrillers without fleeting romance and I am glad that unlike some of Sager's other books, he didn't feel the need to include it in this story. I enjoyed getting to unravel everything that was going on at Hope's End and trying to figure out everyone's motives.

My issue with the book is the ending didn't really resonate with me. I felt like the twists that were added were going mainly for shock value, and felt like a last minute thought. Some of them didn't make sense with what I learned about the characters. I was left feeling overwhelmed and a bit confused.

Overall, I would recommend the book and think it will be a great summer thriller.

Thank you, Dutton Books, for the gifted copy of The Only One Left {partner}

Genre: Thriller
Trope: Locked Room
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 6.20.2023
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5

“At Hope’s End, the past is always the present.”

Shew! The Only One Left was my last shot at Sager after feeling fully let down by his previous two books, but luckily this was just the book I needed him to write.

The Only One Left gave me all the Lizzie Borden vibes and had no shortage of twists to keep me guessing. There was also the addition of the unreliable narrator, which took me by surprise (which is hard to do these days). My only complaint is that the ending got messy with all the character revelations.

Typically in Sager’s books, the female protagonist spends the better part of the book in a drug or alcohol-fueled state, trying to convince those around her to take her seriously. But, In The Only One Left, the MC, Kit, kept her wits about her and stood up for herself for what was right. She was an enjoyable character to spend time with and a fully believable addition to the story - she was someone to root for. I have my fingers crossed that Sager will continue this trend with his future titles.

🏚️ Deteriorating mansion setting
🗣️ Unreliable character/narrator
🔀 Twist after twist
😬 A bit of a messy ending
⏰ 80’s setting
👏🏼 Loved the ‘epilogue’

❌ attempted suicide

I recommend reading The Only One Left if you enjoy a creepy setting with a twisted cast of characters!

This is a hard one for me to review. It kept me guessing and reading, up until the last surprise, but I didn’t feel like I really connected with any of the characters enough to care by the end. I’ve loved all his other books, yet this one just was too slow in places for me. I still enjoyed the surprises as they were revealed and liked how it ended.

I usually enjoy Riley Sager's books and this was no exception. It had a gothic feel to it with a murder mystery. I have to say though I sometimes get tired of the amateur sleuth characters. There were plenty of twists in this book -perhaps too many. But all-in-all a fast paced and sometimes spooky read.

✨Book Review✨
The Only One Left by Riley Sager
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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Riley Sager does it again. I feel that this book won't be for everyone, but I really liked it. The creepy house vibes were strong. The urge to figure out what was going on kept me reading, and I finished it in a day and a half, which is very fast for me. Plus, the twists and turns at the end! It was a little much, but I think I gasped at least five times!
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Riley Sager is by FAR my favorite thriller author. I have loved almost every single one of his books, and can't wait for the next one already! I definitely recommend this one if you are a Sager fan or just want a good thriller that will keep you guessing.

Now THIS is how a book is written. From the first sentence all the way through the last head reeling chapters I was absolutely enthralled. Why can't all books be this good?!

Thank you so much to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for access to the ARC of The Only One Left by Riley Sager.

I have been a devoted fan of Riley Sager since he published his very first book! I was so incredibly excited to read The Only One Left in exchange for my honest review.

Wow, did Sager's new book not disappoint! This story pulled me in from the very first page. What a wonderful, twisted, and heart stopping tale. Whenever I thought I had the story figured out Sager threw a plot twist the readers way.

Definitely one of my all time favorites of Sager. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to get lost in a giant spider web of revenge, mystery, and a plot that keeps you guessing!

This was fantastic!! The atmosphere was so tense and the house was a character on its own. The multiple twists & turns were delightful! I really loved this one.

It wasn't terrible, it just kind of dragged on and didn't reveal anything incredibly ground-breaking (pun intended) in the wrap up.

Thx NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC! I will still read anything this man writes, for better or for worse!

OMG this book was so good! I love Riley Sager as an author because each and every book I read of hers, I can never guess what is going to happen. This title did not disappoint. I found myself intrigued by the characters in the story and all the plot twists just kept me guessing. I literally could not stop thinking about this book even after I finished it. I was gushing to people around me how good this book was (and that happens pretty rarely for me). Highly recommend this book for anyone who likes a good suspense/thriller.

Twist after twist after twist! I’ve always loved Sager’s books but this is a new favorite! The setting was so creepy and the characters were entertaining! I questioned every character and did not see that ending coming! It was a little lengthy at times, but all in all a great read! Thank you netgalley for my free copy in exchange for review.

Riley Sager has done it again with, "The Only One Left". Twisty, psychological fun all rolled into one.

This is a dark and eerie murder-mystery with a small hint of supernatural, with the kind of plot twist that is Riley Sager’s signature. The kind of plot twist that will make your face go: “What? Emoji”


What I loved the most in this book was the setting.
Imagine a gigantic mansion that was built in the 1920s. It’s on the edge of a cliff, and the cliff is starting to give.
So the house is kind of tilted. So tilted that you can feel how uneven it is inside the house.


Super weird, right?


In 1929, this house PRESENCIOU a bloody tragedy.
Mr. and Mrs. Hope were found brutally murdered, together with their daughter Virginia Hope.


Only Lenora Hope was found alive. She had blood all over her, and she kept saying “It wasn't me.”
But she’s the only one who survived. So who committed such a terrible crime?


Lenora became a legend in town. The cold-blooded teenager who killed her family and still lives in that gigantic house.


The year is 1983, and Lenora is 71 years old. She needs a caretaker, and Kit McDeere is assigned to the job. Kit has the chills every time she is alone with the infamous Lenora, but she really needs the job.


Lenora can’t really speak, but with a typing machine and Kit’s help, Lenora is ready to tell the truth about that bloody night in 1929.

Riley Sager is a must read for me, even though their books can often be hit or miss. I have to say that the gothic eerie setting of this book had me intrigued from the jump. I loved the Lizzie Borden-esque mystery of did this now disabled and harmless old lady REALLY murder her whole family as a teen girl? Or is there something more sinister to the story?

Unfolding slowly and methodically, this book can often feel slow and certain aspects can feel pointless to the plot, but by the end I was thankful for the slow burn reveal of every twist and turn. It's a fun classic Sager read, and I imagine that it'll leave thriller/mystery fans satisfied by the last page.