Welcome to this week's 5-Star Friday where I’m sharing my glowing review of The Only One Left by Riley Sager. A master of suspense and chilling twists, Sager delivers yet another captivating thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Set in a secluded mansion, the story follows Kit McDeere, a caretaker assigned to look after Lenora Hope, a mute and elderly woman who has been accused of murder. As Kit uncovers Lenora's dark past, the tension builds, and nothing is quite as it seems. With a blend of psychological thrills and gothic atmosphere, The Only One Left is a must-read for fans of Sager’s signature style. Read on to discover why this book earned a well-deserved 5-star rating!
Title: The Only One Left
By: Riley Sager
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 383
Release Date: June 20th, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★
Summary from Goodreads:
At seventeen, Lenora Hope
Hung her sister with a rope
Now reduced to a schoolyard chant, the Hope family murders shocked the Maine coast one bloody night in 1929. While most people assume seventeen-year-old Lenora was responsible, the police were never able to prove it. Other than her denial after the killings, she has never spoken publicly about that night, nor has she set foot outside Hope’s End, the cliffside mansion where the massacre occurred.
Stabbed her father with a knife
Took her mother’s happy life
It’s now 1983, and home-health aide Kit McDeere arrives at a decaying Hope’s End to care for Lenora after her previous nurse fled in the middle of the night. In her seventies and confined to a wheelchair, Lenora was rendered mute by a series of strokes and can only communicate with Kit by tapping out sentences on an old typewriter. One night, Lenora uses it to make a tantalizing offer—I want to tell you everything.
“It wasn’t me,” Lenora said
But she’s the only one not dead
As Kit helps Lenora write about the events leading to the Hope family massacre, it becomes clear there’s more to the tale than people know. But when new details about her predecessor’s departure come to light, Kit starts to suspect Lenora might not be telling the complete truth—and that the seemingly harmless woman in her care could be far more dangerous than she first thought.
Review:
The Only One Left by Riley Sager is a masterclass in suspense, mystery, and psychological thrills. Set in a decaying mansion on a cliff, the story follows Kit McDeere, a young woman assigned to care for Lenora Hope, an elderly, mute woman suspected of murdering her family decades ago. Sager expertly weaves a dark, atmospheric tale as Kit becomes entangled in Lenora’s haunting past. The slow burn of tension keeps you guessing, with each page turn revealing new twists and secrets. The gothic setting, combined with Sager’s signature plot twists, makes for an unputdownable read. The unexpected, jaw-dropping conclusion seals the deal, cementing The Only One Left as one of the best thrillers of the year. This is a must-read for fans of psychological mysteries and those who crave a chilling, unpredictable story.
