The Only One Left Review (Spoiler-Free): Riley Sager, 4.9/5
My sketch notes for The Only One Left.
The Only One Left is Riley Sager's 2023 gothic thriller about a young caregiver, a cliffside mansion and a family murder that has been pinned on one woman since 1929. This is a spoiler-free review: the setup, what worked for me, the content warnings, and who might want to skip it. My rating: 4.9/5.
Jump to: My verdict (4.9/5) · Who might want to skip it · Who should read it · Where to buy
Sketch inspired by The Only One Left.
Quick verdict
- Book: The Only One Left by Riley Sager
- Genre: Gothic mystery / thriller
- My rating: 4.9/5
- Best for: Readers who want a fast, twisty thriller they can't put down
- In one line: Fast paced, kept me up till 3am, and the last twist was fantastic.
The Only One Left at a glance
| Author | Riley Sager (pen name of Todd Ritter) |
|---|---|
| First published | 20 June 2023 (Dutton) |
| Setting | Hope's End, a cliffside mansion on the Maine coast. The main story is set in 1983; the murders happened in 1929. |
| Series | Standalone novel |
| Length | About 400 pages (publisher listing for the hardcover and paperback) |
| Pace (my take) | Fast from the first chapters |
| Content warnings | Murder, violence, a mention of a death by overdose |
| My rating | 4.9/5 |
Facts per the publisher's page (Penguin Random House) and Wikipedia. Page counts vary a little by edition.
What is The Only One Left about?
It's 1983, and Kit McDeere is a home caregiver who badly needs a fresh start. Her new job is looking after Lenora Hope, an elderly woman who can't speak and who has been blamed since 1929 for murdering her family at their cliffside mansion, Hope's End. Lenora wants to tell her side of that night at last, and she asks Kit to help her type it out.
But the previous caregiver has vanished, the house is full of odd noises, and the staff clearly don't want Kit digging. The more Kit learns, the less she trusts what she's being told.
What works: pace, characters and that last twist
- The pace. It's fast from the first chapters and doesn't let go. I stayed up till 3am to finish it.
- The characters. I was pulled right into their fear, and it made every creepy scene hit harder.
- The last twist. It was fantastic, and I'd say it's worth the whole ride.
What might not work for some readers
A few small gaps felt forced into the last few pages. It didn't take away from how satisfying the book was for me, but it's worth knowing going in.
Content warnings
Murder, violence, and a mention of a death by overdose.
Who should read The Only One Left?
- You love gothic, spooky-mansion mysteries.
- You want a fast read you'll finish in a day or two.
- You enjoy twists that make you want to talk about the ending.
Who might want to skip it
- You'd rather avoid stories that involve murder, violence or a death by overdose.
- You want an ending where every detail is airtight. I felt a few small gaps were forced into the last few pages.
My verdict
A satisfying thriller, and a must read. I gave it 4.9/5. Would you stay up till 3am for this one?
Where to buy
Disclosure: Some links in this post are Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
The Only One Left by Riley Sager on Amazon India → · US readers: Amazon.com Prices on Amazon India change often, so check the current price before you buy.
Prefer listening? The Only One Left is on Audible. Try Audible free for 30 days and use your free credit on it. New members only; the membership renews automatically unless you cancel.
Similar reads on this blog
If you like the atmosphere of a house with secrets, reviewers have pointed to a few gothic touchstones behind this book, including Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher and the real-life Lizzie Borden case (see the Wikipedia entry for the reviews).
- 10 Thrillers With Twists You Won't See Coming: more spoiler-free picks with a big reveal.
- 8 Domestic Thrillers Where the Real Danger Is at Home: spoiler-free picks about families with secrets.
- Freida McFadden books in order: another fast, twisty author, with a series and standalone thrillers.
- spoiler-free Verity review by Colleen Hoover: another dark, twisty read.
- Dan Brown books in order: all 8 novels in the right order, for another fast, can't-put-it-down read.
Want to read more by this author? See Riley Sager books in order: all ten of his thrillers in publication order, with a quick note on who each one suits.
Keep track of your own thriller reads: my Thriller Reader's Journal has a scorecard, suspect cards and a spoiler-free review page (get the thriller reading journal printable).
Follow me on Instagram @abi._.rambler and see my Linktree for every book I've read.
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