The Only One Left

A Novel

By: Riley Sager

Narrated by: Christine Lakin, Dawn Harvey

Length: 12 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Named a summer book to watch by The Washington Post, Boston Globe, USA Today, Oprah, Paste, Country Living, Good Housekeeping, and Nerd Daily

"Propulsive ... a dizzying Gothic whodunit."
—New York Times Book Review

Bestselling author Riley Sager returns with a Gothic chiller about a young caregiver assigned to work for a woman accused of a Lizzie Borden-like massacre decades earlier.

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.

©2023 Riley Sager (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“As is often the case with Sager’s novels, trying to predict where the many twists will take you is fun (and maddening), but some of the most interesting parts of the story lie in the people you meet along the way. The mystery is as tantalizing to us as it is to Kit, but The Only One Left is also an exploration of family, of love, of loneliness. It even asks an examination of true-crime obsessiveness and when tales overtake reality.” —USA Today

“This twist on the Lizzie Borden murders has it all: A reclusive woman who was acquitted of brutally murdering her family living in a big, decrepit house; a new caretaker hiding secrets of her own. And, most importantly, there are a number of twists you won’t see coming.” —Katie Couric Media

"Riley Sager is one of my favorite authors, and The Only One Left might be his best yet. Not only is it a deliciously Gothic thrill ride featuring two of my favorite things (Creepy Houses and Murderous Ladies), but it also asks big questions about grief, loss, and the secrets we keep even from those closest to us. Fun, scary, and so absorbing I almost missed a flight because I was trying to read just one more chapter, The Only One Left is one hell of a read!" —Rachel Hawkins, New York Times bestselling author of The Wife Upstairs

Surprised!!!!

A really different kind of novel . Lots of surprises. Hope y’all enjoy. I know that I did.

Couldn’t stop listening!

I enjoyed this book very much. It was a great story with really good characters. The final twist was a bit too much for me but overall I loved it.

One of my favorite audiobooks.

Edge of your seat story. Enjoyed listening. Definitely my top 5 so far this year

Wow, the end!!!

Riley Sager is my favorite author. I have loved all of his books.

This one gets a four-star simply because of the amount of storyline and characters. There are four separate storylines all with their own characters. It ends up being connected in the end, but my brain was burning a lot of calories, and I found it a bit hard to keep in that sense of the word.

But boy am I glad I hung on because Sager never disappoints with his endings. Every single, psychological thriller I have read, I’ve always been able to figure out the ending before I get there. But never with Riley Sager‘s books. They are so incredibly out there. Something I never would’ve thought and also satisfied at the same time.

Well, done! I recommend this book for sure. Just be sure to pay attention to everything or you might get lost.

Went for A Ride

All I will say is that I thought this ride was over many times before it ended and I love this book for that reason.
My predictions were all over the place and just when I thought I had it all figured out they flipped it on me.
The last 2 hours is non stop!

Wow.

I thought i knew what was going on. I was wrong. You will be too.

Great Book!

Very intriguing story with surprising twists! My favorite Riley Sager book to date. Narration was very good.

Wow! What a ride!

I couldn’t wait for Riley’s new novel to be released. It did not disappoint! I guarantee you will not guess all the twists! Highly recommend!!!

So twisty 🤯 So good!!

One of my favorite Riley Sager books to date! This was so atmospheric and when I thought I knew what to except and had idea of what twists were to come.. I was completely humbled to realize I had no idea what was to come 😯 Highly recommend!

What a humdinger!!!

This is sooooo good! I couldn’t put it down. Just when you think it’s this story, Riley Sager turns it on it’s head to make your jaw drop. Well done!