Riley Sager seldom disappoints and The Only One Left is absolutely engrossing. Reminiscent somewhat of the Lizzie Borden case, Sager builds up the suspense nicely, along with a few surprising twists and turns. A mix between psychological suspense and the supernatural, the novel is a home run.

I was pleasantly surprised by this! I was a big Sager fan back in the days of Final Girls and Last Time I Lied, but was very disappointed in his most recent novels (though I know lots of readers loved them, so I'm sure it was a "me problem"). This was fresh, unique, and kept me guessing to the end. A great thriller!

Riley Sager never fails to disappoint! Sign me up for his new thriller and every time it will be my new favorite of his! After losing her patient and her home health aide job, our main character Kit is given one last chance - to take care of Lenora Hope, who has long been believed to be the murderer of her own family.

"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 must live in this old mansion full of mysteries, secrets, and lies. Who really killed the Hope family, and is there any hope left for either of them?

Lots of twists and turns in this one. A good mystery and I really enjoyed the way it unraveled between the Lenora typing out her story and the flashbacks.

Super twisty and kept me up all night trying to figure out what was happening. I did want more time spent in the house and building up the creepy factor but over all, the perfect spooky July experience!

Riley Sager never misses! Another thrilling and interesting read from this author. I couldn't put this book down, the setting was so incredbly atmospheric, I couldn't have asked for a better time -- highly recommend for the spooky months!

yes yes yes!! A new Sager book and I just loooooved it. Honestly I will read anything by this man! This story is one of my favourites and I loved the twists! Please read this book!

In Riley Sager’s latest endeavor, the highs and lows of every Sager novel are present. Lenora is a stellar character to be intrigued with, and the book does a wonderful job of setting up her mystery. The pages will turn with anticipation of what is to happen next; Sager will keep a reader moving. As to be expected with Sager, the setup leads to a conclusion that is less than satisfying and is riddled with too many twists and turns to keep their value. Despite this, I found this to be one of his more successful writing ventures and enjoyed what it had to offer.

This book had so much potential! For the first half or so I was gripped, mildly creeped out… then the climax happened. And twists upon twists upon twists. I had to roll my eyes at a couple of them and actually groan at the <i>cheese</i> of others. It devolves into daytime drama territory. This is Riley Sager after all, and I wasn’t expecting a masterpiece, but what a disappointment. I thought I had finally found a Sager novel I truly loved. 3 stars for the evocative atmosphere and mostly solid first half. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

"The Only One Left" by Riley Sager is a gripping and masterfully crafted psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Sager's storytelling prowess shines through in this chilling tale of suspense and mystery.

The novel follows a compelling protagonist whose journey unravels the layers of a haunting family secret. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to emotionally invest in their struggles and triumphs. The author's ability to build tension and maintain a sense of unease throughout the narrative is commendable, keeping readers guessing until the final pages.

Sager's prose is engaging, with a perfect balance of vivid descriptions and fast-paced action. The plot twists and turns are cleverly executed, providing unexpected surprises that will leave readers reeling. Each chapter reveals a new clue, further deepening the mystery and leaving readers eager to uncover the truth.

The atmospheric setting adds to the book's appeal, creating a sense of foreboding and enhancing the overall reading experience. Sager's attention to detail immerses readers in the story, making it feel as though they are living alongside the characters.

Additionally, the book delves into complex themes of family, trust, and resilience, making it more than just a thrilling read. The emotional depth adds another layer of richness to the story, allowing readers to connect with the characters on a profound level.

"The Only One Left" is a testament to Riley Sager's talent as a writer. It's a compelling page-turner that offers a blend of psychological intrigue and emotional resonance. Whether you're a fan of thrillers or looking to explore the genre, this book is a must-read that will leave you eagerly awaiting Sager's future works.

In conclusion, "The Only One Left" is a standout psychological thriller that captivates with its compelling plot, well-crafted characters, and skillful storytelling. Riley Sager proves once again why they are a master of suspense, delivering a novel that will leave a lasting impression on any reader.

As always Riley has us glued to our seats as we turn the pages. This has to be one of the best he has written yet!

What a book! I loved all of the twists and turns. I thought they were really well done and al the questions I had were answered in the end, which I appreciated. I also found this book to be a lot less outlandish than some of Sager’s other books which was also a plus for me. Sometimes things get pushed too far so I lose interest but not with this one. I was invested for start to finish! Totally recommend!

Typical Riley Sager, characters with depth, a superb setting, and a story more like a journey. Could not put it down. This book will not be the only one left on my TBR list!

Let's start with some positives: I loved the atmosphere SO MUCH in this book— coolest setting!! The character development on Kit was strong too. I enjoy a gripping locked room thriller, so I was excited!

As I kept going, I found majority of the book to be kinda dry? Not much was happening that kept my attention and I personally felt like there was a lot of repetitive text. And then we get to the end… LOVED the first twist, super great. But then the second twist? Ehhh, idk such a stretch... I told myself, okay okay no biggie. I kept going. After the final twist in the epilogue, my rating dropped again. Honestly, I felt like the epilogue totally ruined it for me!! 😭 I’m all for suspending believe for fiction (especially in thrillers lol) but this one seemed almost ridiculous by the end that I was checked out 😂

This book was good, not great. I still REALLY enjoy Sager's books and will continue to read them 🥳

Thank you so much Dutton for my gifted e-ARC!

4.5🌟

Thank you @netgalley for the digital ARC!

I really enjoyed Sager's newest book! It somewhat reminded me of Home Before Dark (which I also LOVED). I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the dual narrations for the mc and the letters. The Only One Left has a bit of a gothic, creepy mansion setting filled with so many secrets. I was intrigued from the very beginning and super suspicious about everything going on and who to trust. I did have my initial assumptions as to what happened *that night* but was VERY surprised about the twists! (In a good way!)

«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»

📖📚📝
•Home Before Dark vibes
•two povs
•unreliable narrator
•atmospheric, gothic

This was my first Riley Sager novel and I was not disappointed. Fans of Ruth Ware and Julia Haeberlin with love this book. Full of twists till the very end, this book had me on my toes. I love any story that has a “wait, what?!” moment in it where you find out you’ve been tricked and you only know because the author was kind enough to reveal it. This is such an amazing technique that its use completely changes the way a story is read. It makes the reader start to question if they are a reliable as a reader, or if, perhaps, they missed something because, surely, they can’t have missed all the clues right?

A wild ride of twists and turns that keeps you guessing until the very end. Who's a good guy, who's a bad guy, who knows what and who is who are the questions floating around in your head right up until the end.

Twist upon twist upon twist, and I didn't see any of them coming (well maybe one). This was a wild ride. In 1929, a triple murder took place in the mansion of Hope's End, a massive estate perched on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic. Lenore Hope was accused, but never tried or convicted of, killing her parents and sister. There is even a rhyme about the murders, akin to the Lizzie Borden ditty. It's now 1983, and Kit McDeere is a disgraced home-healthcare aide who is sent to Hope's End to care for a frail Lenore. Kit is apprehensive to care for this notorious woman, who is partially paralyzed and can no longer speak. But Lenore does have the use of her left hand and her mind is still sharp. Slowly, using a typewriter, she decides that she will tell Kit what happened that night. The story is told through Kit's POV and the Lenore's type-written pages. Readers can get through this book, quickly because of all the twists and turns. Definitely, a contemporary gothic that has been compared to Poe's Fall of the House of Usher. I loved Sager's Home Before Dark, but his last couple of books have not been as captivating. The Only One Left more than made up for those.

It wasn't the best book I read this year, in fact I almost DNF'd it. The author is not my cup of tea

Great psychological thriller.
Loved how the viewpoints went back and forth in the first person throughout the book.
Will definitely keep you up at night reading “one more chapter”