Book Review: The Only One Left by Riley Sager
As I cracked open The Only One Left, the latest offering from Riley Sager, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of trepidation mixed with curiosity. Sager’s novels always seem to tease an adventurous twist on familiar themes, each book promising a ride filled with suspense, mystery, and more than a dollop of familial drama. The premise drew me in—when a solitary caretaker stumbles upon the secrets of a notorious family massacre? I just had to dive in.
Set against the eerie backdrop of Hope’s End, a decaying cliffside mansion, we meet Kit McDeere, tasked with caring for Lenora Hope, the only survivor of a gruesome family massacre from 1929. The tension is palpable as Kit navigates her own rescuing of a life in shambles, enveloped in a world of toxic family dynamics and deep-seated secrets. The haunting chants of the past echo through the pages: “At seventeen, Lenora Hope hung her sister with a rope.” In a society quick to judge, the specter of guilt looms large, and questions about truth and innocence become tantalizingly murky.
One of the most compelling aspects of this novel lies in its exploration of toxic family relationships and unresolved trauma. Lenora, mute and reclusive, becomes a fascinating enigma through her typewritten messages to Kit. The interplay between them blurs the line of trust, inviting readers into a spiral of suspicion and curiosity. This layering of perspectives keeps us guessing—what are the truths hidden beneath Lenora’s cryptic revelations? As I turned each page, I was not only engaged but also compelled to reflect on the heavy toll of familial dysfunction.
However, Sager’s writing style, often full of intricacies, sometimes feels overloaded. With a staggering 101 mentions of the word "murder" and other repetitive elements, I found myself rolling my eyes more often than receiving genuine chills. While the mystery elements captivated me initially, the pacing started to drag, and certain character behaviors felt unrealistic and frustrating—like Kit’s reckless decisions that left me exasperated. Ironically, her naivety distracts from the otherwise intricate storytelling.
That being said, there’s still so much to appreciate within the novel. The atmosphere is thick with anticipation, the kind that keeps you peeking over your shoulder as you read late into the night. I was particularly struck by lines that drew direct emotional responses, reminding us of Old Hollywood’s penchant for melodrama wrapped in mystery—a perfect blend for a twisted tale.
Ultimately, while The Only One Left brings some thrills, it stumbles over its own ambition. The multitude of plot twists, while initially engaging, feels overdone by the end—almost soap-operatic—and the resolution seemed rushed and convoluted rather than satisfying.
In conclusion, if you thrive on a whirlwind of plot twists, dark family secrets, and the eerie pull of an enigmatic past, this book might just be for you. Fans of Sager will find familiar comfort in his formula, but I can’t help but wish for him to break free from the constraints of his typical structure. For those new to the author, perhaps pick up one of his earlier works to truly appreciate his potential. While I had moments of enjoyment, the whirlwind of twists left me in tangled thoughts over what could have been an extraordinary conclusion.
Happy reading!
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