"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"

Eeesh!

I am a sucker for a creepy, mysterious family thriller so I was absolutely addicted to this book!

The Hope family were all murdered one night in 1929. All except one member, 17 year old daughter Lenora Hope. Obviously everyone thinks she did it, but it was never proven.

In 1982 Lenora is now elderly, paralyzed apart from her left hand and unable to speak but has decided to tell her story to her new caregiver Kit.

Set in a creepy old mansion on a cliff edge, this story was full of twists and turns. The ending was like bam, bam, bam, bam. Just more and more shocks and twists being thrown at you. Some are a bit unbelievable but it certainly made for fun, exciting reading.

I would say the book itself felt a little bit long to get to the real good stuff. It seemed to lack something throughout, and whilst I was hooked, there was times when I wondered how much I was really enjoying it or was I just desperate to find out the secrets because I'm so nosey 😂

This is my second Riley Sager book and I don't think it will be my last!

The Only One Left is my second Riley Sager book. The premise was amazing, so I immediately requested it. This book is a dual timeline gothic thriller. Kit is a caregiver and she arrives at Hope End to take care of Lenora Hope. Lenora is the only survivor and main suspect in her family's murder in 1929. She is now old, can't talk, and is paralyzed. She can only communicate with an old typewriter. Suddenly Lenore decided to tell everything that happened that night. It was such an amazing thriller. Riley Sager creates really creepy atmosphere and very unreliable characters. This book has a lot of twists and turns. I had so much fun reading. I'll recommend it a lot. Thanks to the publisher for this arc.

Riley Sager takes on the Gothic thriller genre with huge success, as he draws you into this stunning atmospheric world.

The protagonist in this book truly captured my heart, evoking a range of emotions and leaving a lasting impact. As a member of a broken family, their struggles and journey resonated deeply with me, highlighting the complexities of familial relationships and the challenges of overcoming adversity.

While the main character's emotional journey was compelling, I found other elements of the story perplexing. The plot seemed unnecessarily complicated, often relying on contrived coincidences and decisions that strained believability. Additionally, the portrayal of the servants in the story felt lacking in depth and cleverness, falling into stereotypes that were disappointing to encounter.

However, despite these reservations, the emotional depth of the main character's journey made the reading experience worthwhile. Their resilience, personal growth, and determination were inspiring and left a profound impact on me as a reader.

The presence of a broken family and the exploration of their dynamics added a poignant layer to the story. While the plot had its flaws and the portrayal of the servants could have been more nuanced, the emotionally engaging protagonist carried the narrative and made it a memorable read.

If you can overlook the occasionally contrived plot elements and underdeveloped servant characters, you may find yourself deeply moved by the main character's journey. Their story serves as a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit amidst adversity.

Considering the emotional impact of the main character and the exploration of the broken family dynamics, I believe the book deserves high praise and more stars in my review.

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

Riley Sager will give you a headache with this book but it is totally worth it.

Just brilliant

The premise of this book is great, the setting is atmospheric and this really appealed to me. Unfortunately I found the characters to be very one dimensional and the plot borders on preposterous. The main twist was great but unfortunately it seems as though sager tried to fit as many twists and turns into this story that by the end these minimised the shock of the big twist. This book reminded me a lot of verity (ableism included) however I think that sager fans and those that enjoy plot twist after plot twist will really enjoy this book. I’m disappointed that I didn’t enjoy this more.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

“Hope’s End isn’t a normal house. There’s a darkness here. I can feel it.”

Riley Sager in this new novel tells the story of Lenora Hope. In 1929 at the Hope family home, the lives of Lenora’s parents and sister were taken in a brutal way by Lenora who was seventeen at the time. She has been accused of the killings since as she was the only one left at the home. Years later in 1983 Kit McDeere a home health aid arrives at Hope End, the home of Lenora to take care of her as her previous nurse disappeared in the middle of the night. Lenora is in her seventies, mute and bound to a wheelchair, Kit’s curiosity and need to understand the truth sets events into motion she had not anticipated.

This is a fast paced thriller gazing deeply into the crimes Lenora is accused of from her past and ones Kit has been similarly accused of too. The mystery can only be solved by finding out the truth of what happened during those pivotal events. Kit’s need for this takes her through a journey which reveals more about herself than she was prepared for.

This was easy to read as the pacing was fast, there were plot twists one after the other and many I did not see coming at all. Especially towards the end to the point there were so quick I had to recap to make sure I was catching them all.

Overall this was an intense read, the creepy backdrop of the house with the unnerving sounds that plague the residents of Hope’s End add to that mysterious atmosphere of the story. As well as seeking the truth of the past, the horror of the present is a reality Kit and the reader are not prepared for.

The Only One Left is written from the first person perspective of Kit, alternating with typewritten pages from Miss Hope exploring both past and present timelines.

A traditional whodunnit (or perhaps more of a did-she-do-it?) thriller with layer upon layer of deception and intricately woven character stories. Sager maintains the pace as Kit dives deeper into the history of her immobile patient, unsure herself of the outcome she really wants to find.

The relationship between Kit and Miss Hope was an interesting one, their shared experiences and inability to leave the crumbling old mansion forcing Kit to look beyond the town stories about the rich murderess.

Hope's End made for an atmospheric backdrop to the mystery, an opportune location for the consideration of ghosts and another layer of danger found in the constant threat of the eroding cliffside.

In true Sager fashion everything you think you know will be flipped on its head. A few well placed hints had me getting closer to guessing correctly, but still I had to read one particular paragraph a couple times over to fully comprehend how well I'd been fooled!

I really loved the way Sager chose to end the novel, some may feel short changed but I found it a satisfying conclusion for all the characters. Another hit for me and I continue to recommend Sager for any thriller fan.

A Riley Sager novel appearing on NetGalley always puts me in a flap…just in case I don’t get access to it and have to wait publication. Thankfully, that didn’t happen and this is definitely a thriller you will not want to put down.
Kit is in a difficult position. Since being accused of killing her most recent patient she’s been suspended from work and her father can’t look her in the eye. The people around her think she’s a killer. So when she’s given the chance to work again, she’s desperate to take the job…even after she learns who she’ll be looking after.
Kit’s new patient lives at Hope’s End, a rambling mansion perched on the cliff tops. Her name is Lenora Hope, and when she was seventeen she was accused of murdering the three other members of her family.
The story follows Kit as she spends her days caring for someone she isn’t entirely sure she trusts. Strange noises can regularly be heard from her room, but Lenora can’t walk or talk. When Lenora lets on that she can type, Kit starts to learn more of what happened that night.
Sometimes the truth is stranger than anything you can come up with.
Sager does a good job of drawing us in to this very mixed-up family. The atmosphere of the house is suitably oppressive and the development of the story is well paced. I can’t say more as I’d hate to ruin the surprises for someone.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read Riley Sager’s upcoming release! I’m a big Sager fan, having read all of his previous work, and this book didn’t disappoint! It’s full of twists and turns and shocking moments, a lot of the twists caught me completely off guard. It’s a great thriller, really original albeit a little far fetched. That’s probably the only criticism I could give it. The story is very entertaining but a little unbelievable. That being said, I really enjoyed it nonetheless.

The Only One Left by Riley Sager
I give this book 4.25 stars

Everyone believes that Lenora Hope is a mass murderer.
When the Hope family was massacred decades ago, she was the only one left after that tragic night.
Mute, paralysed and confined to a wheelchair, Lenora has never been able to tell her side of the story.
Until her new live-in caregiver Kit brings her a typewriter.
And with one working finger Lenora begins to type:
I want to tell you everything……..

I love it when a cover and book description have me hooked before I’ve even read the first chapter.The atmospheric setting and description of Hope House make it feel like its alive, Set in the 1980’s and 1920’s I enjoyed both timelines equally and the intrigue surrounding Lenora.There are a small cast of characters for you to suspect and more than one mystery to try to figure out. It’s chock full of twists and turns and like most of this authors books you need to slightly suspend realism and purely enjoy the ride. I wasn’t disappointed!!
With thanks to Netgalley,Riley Sager and Hodder & Stoughton for my chance to read and review this book

I’ve only read one of Riley Sager’s books in the past and adore their writing style. They manage to perfectly capture atmosphere in a way that I’ve only ever come across before in classic gothic novels. This book was a perfect example of atmospheric thrillers. It managed to draw me in and captivate me from the offset. I would recommend this book if you enjoy thrillers and creepy atmosphere’s!

4.5 ⭐️wow this book was so good!! Riley sager is always an auto read author for me so was so exited to read an early copy of this book and I absolutely loved it! There was so many twists and turns, leaving you unsure who to trust and what to believe, the past and present povs made the story so engaging and I didn’t want to put it down, would 100% recommend!

This was a chilling suspenseful thriller and I was guessing at what happened throughout. There were so many twists it was so exciting to read and I absolutely couldn’t put it down.

This was the first Riley Sager I have read and I will absolutely be reading more.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this arc.

Riley Sager is a name that's been appearing more and more, and kudos to the man. This book is excellently written. Kit is an interesting character, and I felt for her as she has to deal with her own demons as well as the ones surrounding her in Hopes End. The imagery is clear, Sager has a fantastic talent for describing places, and I struggled to guess the twist. This is a clearly thought-out and well-plotted book.

It's a great book, and I'm sure it will live up to the expectations of his fans. I'd recommend to anyone in love with the gothic horror subgenre.

I’m normally a huge fan of Riley Sager but although I enjoyed this book unfortunately I didn’t love it. I do love a plot twist or two but in this case there were far too many and some of them were a little to far fetched to be credible. Admittedly it’s fiction soI’m happy to suspend disbelief to a point. Also I think by having to many plot twists the author looses that sense of surprise the readers looking for. The creepy old mansion is the perfect backdrop for this story. Overall TheOnly One Left was an ‘ok’ read but unfortunately not the best book I’ve read by Sager

What a breathtaking experience! This was my first book by Riley Sager and I'll definitely take a look at his other work after enjoying this one so much.
Kit is a caregiver who is in desperate need of a new Job, because of a problematic event with her last patient. The only Job her agency has to offer, is taking care of Lenora Hope, who is known for being the sole survivor of her family murders and this probably making her the murderer. With no other choice left Kit moves into Lenora's secluded home at a cliffside with only three other employes. After several strokes, Lenora isn't capable to do anything besides moving her left arm. So why does Kit hear strange sounds coming from Lenora's room at night? And why did the previous nurse flee the house in the middle of the night? As Lenora offers to write down her story with a typewriter, Kit finds herself in a web of long buried secrets and with no one to trust...
I was hooked from the first page! The ambience of the isolated mansion and the surprising twists make this story absolutely thrilling and unforgettable!

The Only One Left probably consists of one of the most intricate and thought-out plots I have ever read. Kudo's where kudos are due.

Unfortunately, for me at least, it was all a little too absurdly interconnected and over the top that I just couldn't get into it. I honestly do wish I enjoyed this book more.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a Review Copy

creepy, intense and really self-panicking. this was intriguing from beginning to end. i enjoyed the suspense of the situation and how this was described.

Riley Sager is an author whose books I read now without really needing to read the synopsis, and I have to say this one didn't disappoint.

The Only One Left starts with Kit McDeere on suspension from her job as a live-in care provider following the death of a patient. At the end of her suspension, she is offered a position at Hopes End a mansion on the edge of a cliff. The pateint she will be taking care of is Lenora Hope, who is the only survivor and main suspect in the Hope family massacre in 1929. Lenora decides she wants to tell Kit the truth about what happened that night.

There are a lot of twists in this book, most of which I didn't guess. While I would say some of the plot is a little far-fetched in places, it doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the book. It's well written and the dual timeline works well to ensure the story is told fully.

Thank you, Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.