I have to admit, I’ve always been a sucker for atmospheric thrillers that make you feel like you’re living inside the story. The Only One Left by Riley Sager was a book I picked up on a whim, and I can honestly say it ended up being one of the most gripping reads I’ve had in a while.
From the very first chapter, Sager hooked me with the eerie, isolated setting of the Hope family mansion. The house itself is almost a character in the story—a decaying, windswept place that holds years of secrets within its walls. I could practically hear the wind howling through the cracks in the windows as the tension steadily built. It’s exactly the kind of atmosphere I love—creepy but subtle, just the right balance of unnerving to keep me turning pages long into the night.
Kit McDeere, the protagonist, finds herself in a tough spot when she’s tasked with caring for Lenora Hope, the mute, elderly woman who’s been accused of a terrible crime. The mystery of whether Lenora truly committed the murder that has haunted her for decades is the core of the book, and I found myself questioning everything just like Kit. Was Lenora guilty? Was she an innocent victim? I couldn’t wait to see how it would all unfold.
What really made this book hit home for me, though, was the way Sager developed the character of Kit. She’s not just a caregiver caught in a strange situation—she’s a woman with her own complex past, struggling with regrets and the weight of her own decisions. As much as I was intrigued by the mystery of Lenora, I also found myself invested in Kit’s emotional journey. Her internal struggles made her feel real to me, and I loved how Sager wove her personal growth into the larger suspense of the story.
But let’s talk about the twists. Wow. Sager is a master of unpredictability. Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, he’d throw in a curveball that made me gasp. I won’t spoil anything, but there were a couple of moments where I actually had to stop reading and take a deep breath because I couldn’t believe what had just happened. I don’t think I’ve been this surprised by a thriller in a long time.
The ending was both satisfying and haunting. It’s one of those endings that stays with you, leaving you thinking about the story long after you’ve finished. I found myself questioning the nature of guilt and whether it’s possible to truly escape our past, which is something I think anyone can relate to, no matter the circumstances.
At its heart, The Only One Left is about so much more than just a mystery—it’s about people, their pasts, their mistakes, and the haunting consequences that follow. It’s a book that sticks with you, even after the last page is turned. If you’re a fan of thrillers that offer more than just twists and turns—one that also makes you reflect on deeper themes—then this one is absolutely worth your time.
So my question to you is, Did you find the ending of The Only One Left satisfying, or did it leave you with more questions?