The Only One Left
Ratings288
Average rating3.9
Rating: 3.5 leaves out of 5-Characters: 4/5 -Cover: 5/5-Story: 4/5-Writing: 4/5Genre: Gothic, Mystery, Horror, Thriller-Gothic: 1/5-Horror: 0/5-Thriller: 5/5-Mystery: 5/5Type: AudiobookWorth?: YesHated Disliked Meh It Was Okay Liked LovedWhat a good book! It had me guessing who was who and what was what for majority of the time. This is my second book by him and I can say he might become a regular author for me. The only thing I didn't really care for was towards the end and what happened to her father. He deserved worse. I am also kind of confused on the timeline.
I always love reading Riley Sager! The twist and turns in this story kept me hooked! My best read of 2023 so far!
This was such a great book! I have to say I really appreciated the writing style. It was descriptive without stalling the story. The twist in the book were great and totally unexpected for me. I do have one critique, there was one reveal in the story that didn't really amount to anything once the rest of the story unfolded. However the story was brilliant nonetheless. This is my first Riley Sager book but definitely not my last. I can't wait to read their other work.
This whole book felt like a super twisty, dizzying and slightly creepy game of Cluedo. I enjoyed it, a lot.
It kept me on my toes, made me believe I'd figured out “who did it” only to be proven wrong time and time again. Admittedly, there were a few parts that were predictable, I could definitely see where elements of the story were leading BUT there was so much more than I expected and I loved how it concluded. This was my first Riley Sager book, and I know I'll be picking up another one soon.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for this review.
It's been a while since I truly loved a thriller book and this book made me feel like when I first read Sager's earlier books.
Kit is sent on a in home care assignment to Hope Ends, an infamous mansion that was the scene of horrific murders over 50 years ago. In 1929 Lenora Hope was accused of murdering her mother, father, and sister but was never found guilty. After a series of strokes Lenora Hope is now mute and is confined to a wheelchair with only the use of her left arm. Lenora uses a typewriter to communicate with Kit where she says she would like to tell Kit everything. And the more Kit learns the more she realizes there's far more to the story and it has present day consequences.
Sager does a very good job at making all of the twists and turns throughout the book compelling. The need to know what the answers to the mysteries propelled me to the end pretty quickly. Both Lenora and Kit are both likable but throughout the book I kept feeling like I couldn't trust either. And with every question answered several more popped up.
The setting of this book was also perfect. Set in New England, the run down mansion is set on a cliff that overlooks the ocean. Not only does the setting add to the creep factor, the fact that Kit is now tending to a possible murderer in a creepy mansion, but also the state of the mansion adds even more tension to the already strange circumstances.
A story with many mysteries sometimes ends with disappointment or a bit of lackluster but I truly loved the ending to this book. It all made sense in a reality is stranger than fiction sort of way even though this is a work of fiction. I also love when an ending gives you a little bit more than just the answers you're looking for and this book delivered.
Highly recommend this as a fun thriller read.
Read this as a partner read with my wife Tayler and throughly enjoyed it. The story is compelling and the author does a wonderful job of keeping you guessing. As our second Riley Sager book, we see that he enjoys his twists. A fun one to read for sure.
What an absolutely insane ride
This got me out of a reading slump! Not my usual genre, but you should read it if you want something spooky!
I read this in one sitting. Those last few chapters had me doing a few “are you serious” eye-rolls. A good and engrossing read for sure, but the final “no wait THIS guy/girl was really the killer after all” was a bit much for me. Like. Come on. You're telling me THAT many people could keep THAT big a secret for all those years without a whisp of gossip getting out? Ffft.
Riley Sager just spent 400 pages reminding me that tropes are tropes for a reason. The Only One Left threw me for so many loops that I literally could not put this down—the classic spooky sleuthy energy was absolutely killer...
Contains spoilers
Wow just wow! I loved this book so much, what a rush!
Even though I thought about the twist about Mrs. Baker maybe being one of the sisters and wondering about which sister was which long before it was revealed the overall story still had me in its grips! The end had me sad and happy and just all the feels!
I wish I'd own this book and not lent it from the library. Even though I doubt it's a book I reread or that it would gain anything from a reread, I feel it's a book I would like to own for myself...
i really enjoyed this book
the twist in it tho was one I definitely DID NOT see coming!
My first non-fantasy or sci-fi book of the year and ALSO my first disappointing read of the year all in one!
I thought it was stupid, a melodramatic nothing-burger of a book. And this is what yall were hyping up? Damn.
My first note of the book was “I'm 30 pages into the book and I've read the phrase “the only one left” and “the only one alive” near 5 times which I think is excessive. I get it.” and at that point I knew I was not in for a fun ride.
My main issue with this book is that I hated the main character, Kit. She likes to assume peoples thoughts and she never paints anyone in a favourable light. Shes pessimistic, rude, self-centered, and close-minded. Joyless, humourless, dull. She's so bad at her job it's almost comical. She's SO BAD AT HER JOB.
I will concede that there were some good atmospheric moments that were kinda creepy so it gets to keep a star for that as well as SOME of the twists I didn't see coming (because they were stupid and felt like an add on).
I propose a whole new genre for this book, not a Thriller but an Irritator.
I guess I just wasn’t all that convinced. I had heard about how twisty this book was, but none of those twists really surprised me. My problem was with how little some of them held. With some of the twists, the author would just flat out gaslight us into believing he had cleverly fooled us into thinking one way, but it really wasn’t. It was more like he ignored that some things had happened, because otherwise it makes no sense. A plot hole, if you will And then, some other twists, you really do have to suspend your belief in order to maintain them as the truth. Also, there were some characters who, out of nowhere, were super detectives and just knew things, just because??? Anyway, it’s not a bad book. But it kind of doesn’t really hold to the light.
Sager is the queen of plot twists. However, this book had a few too many. A lot of the twists were very random and just seemed like weird coincidences. I think the twists made the book a little less thrilling. However, many of the plot twists were excellent and well-written. I wish this author would write characters that are a little less pathetic. All of her female main characters, at least in the books I've read so far, are very sad and don't have much to live for. It makes it difficult for me to care about them while reading. Although not being attached to characters does make me more invested in the mystery.
3.75
im so conflicted!!!!!!!! i loved the atmosphere and the premise of this story, there was so many plot twists that i did not predict at all but idk why this was so confusing to me
Fun gothic melodrama, no surprises but still fun. Enjoyed the narrators on the audiobook.
Guys. Guys. Guys. Riley Sager keeps getting better and better with every book he releases in my opinion.
I really loved the dual timeline in this one, and there were so many twists and turns that I did not see coming.
Also as a medical professional that side of the book was also very interesting to read about and I feel like was done pretty well.
I will continue to read everything this man puts out. A staple in the current thriller genre for a reason.
