The Only One Left
Ratings288
Average rating3.9
Believe it or not, I really did want to like this. The story really had me up until about 2/3 of the way through. Then it just falls into a convoluted mess where its biggest downfall is that it tries too hard to explain every single little thing in a sort of Chekov’s universe. Sheesh!
While the end certainly ruined everything for me, I have to give credit where credit is due. I did quite enjoy most of the characters and felt like they were pretty realistic. And the main character’s reactions to how things unfolded cracked me up. It was very self-aware. Much like with Sager’s other work, Final Girls, the author toyed with the reader quite a bit and even poked fun at the genre and its fans’ expectations.
But was the ending really that bad? Absolutely. At first it was like “oh” and then “oh!” and further with “I can see that” and even a little “wtf?!” Sager just didn’t know when to quit though. Just when I thought I’d read it all, the twists and the callbacks and all that jazz just kept coming and coming with no sight in end. As if all of that wasn’t enough, there’s one more shocker thrown in and, to be quite honest, it was beyond dumb. At that point, the book went from dumb fun pulp territory to just straight up insultingly bad. Avoid at all costs.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I give Riley Sager's newest release, “The Only One Left” 5 stars. In this thriller/suspense novel, Kat travels to Hope's End to care for the infamous Lenora Hope. Kat is going through a rough spell and is hesitant to take the case due to the allegations that Lenora murdered her family in her youth. Kat may have more in common with Lenora than she thinks...
A spine-tingling thriller like no other, this intricately woven story transports readers to the decayed enigma of a rundown mansion perched upon a stormy seaside cliff. From the very first chapter, the author's prose sets the stage for a highly immersive reading experience. Each creaking floorboard, howling wind, and crashing wave interweave seamlessly with the narrative, intensifying the mystery that pervades every corner of this once-grand estate. The mansion, sullied by time and secrets, becomes a living, breathing character in its own right, raising goosebumps with every flip of the page.
The pacing in “The Only One Left” is a masterwork. Riley Sager maintains a perfect balance between heart-stopping suspense and moments of respite. As the plot unfolds, tension tightens like a coiled spring, ensuring that gripping revelations regularly punctuate the narrative at just the right moments.
In “The Only One Left,” Riley Sager has proven himself once again to be a masterful voice in the thriller genre. A true five-star triumph, deserving of a place on every thriller lover's bookshelf.
So many twists! I enjoyed all the twists and turns at the end, but the middle was a little too slow.
This was my second book read by Riley Sager and will not be my last. The Only One Left had me hooked with its eerie vibes, suspenseful and easy to read writing, and those chilling plot twists that just kept coming. The letters woven into the story added a unique layer that really pulled me into the setting and the overall creepiness of the tale. The suspense was top-notch, especially as the tension built up toward the end. However, I found the main character frustratingly naive for her age. She often acted without thinking things through, which felt unrealistic, especially when her life was potentially on the line. It made some parts of the story hard to believe, but despite that, I couldn't put the book down as I neared the end. It's definitely an engaging read that keeps you guessing, even if the protagonist's decisions leave you scratching your head. It was a little slower paced than I was expecting at times, but still a solid read.