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.

Riley Sager never disappoints, definitely and an instant read with anything published.
Great spooky book for the season!

The Only One Left has us following Kit as she's coming off of a leave of absence as a caretaker after her mother's untimely death while under Kit's care. She get's an assignment taking care of Lenora, who was suspected of killing her family many years ago and now needs constant care because she is unable to do anything but move one of her hands. While Kit's taking care of Lenora she finds herself trying to solve the years old mystery and it starts to seem like things are happening that make her wonder how safe the old mansion is that they're living in. This suspense and mystery of this story builds as things start to come to light as Kit digs deeper and digs in to the past. Another winner from Riley Sager.

This book is full of secrets, rumors, and deception. With dual timelines it's incredibly suspenseful and spooky, with fascinating characters. The creepy mansion and the overall dark, suspenseful gothic vibe draw you in immediately. Not one character in this story was one you could trust. Everyone was shady. I recommend this novel! #TheOnlyOneLeft

🏡 BOOK / REVIEW 🏡

OKKKK. Finally, a book by #rileysager that I loved!! His writing has been hit or miss for me, so I prepared myself to hate #theonlyoneleft, but I ended up LOVING it.

Thank you, @prhaudio and @duttonbooks, for my #gifted #audiobook - I thought this was done brilliantly 👏.

💭 My thoughts:

-This is a fun read for fall. While it isn't super "spooky," there was a ton of mystery that made this book bingeable. There are a TON of twists that keep you on the edge of your seat!

-Everything falls apart in this book, including the house. I absolutely loved how atmospheric and chilling Hope's End turned out to be. You can’t help but be transported in time!

-The characters are puzzling - in the best way possible. The family endured a LOT and Sager does a wonderful job of tying up SO MANY LOOSE ENDS. And while this was a #thriller, this book ended on a happy note!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Riley Sager is a perennial favorite, it seems. For fans of mysterious family history, family drama, twists and turns, The Only One Left was intriguing and propulsive but overall didn't leave a lasting impression. Definitely worth reading for those with the very particular taste, though.

Bravo! This was amazing. It didn't let up from the first page to the last. Just when I thought I had figured it out, there would be another twist. Excellent work!

This is only the second Riley Sager book I've read with the first being Final Girls which I really didn't enjoy very much. This one though, was really fun!

The atmosphere was moody, gothic, and unsettling. Perfect story for the fall time! The crumbling cliffside mansion hovers over the edge of the Atlantic with haunting descriptions of the seaside home, its cracking walls, slanting floors, shadows, and mysterious noises in the night.

The story is told between our main character, Kit, in the present and the typewritten account of the Hope family's incident. The tension mounts as the past and present collide in this decaying old mansion perched high on the cliff. I enjoyed the sense of unease and frequently pondered the motivations of several of the characters. There are many plot twists in this and I enjoyed the journey even though I was able to predict some things about halfway in. Full of secrets and deception, this book is a crazy ride!