An Eerie Mansion, A Decades-Old Massacre, and One Woman’s Dark Past Collide
There’s something inherently unsettling about old houses. The creaky floorboards, the musty smell, the lingering sense that the walls hold untold secrets. In Riley Sager’s latest thriller “The Only One Left,” Hope’s End—a crumbling clifftop mansion in coastal Maine—takes on a sinister life of its own as the backdrop for a chilling tale of murder, deception, and long-buried truths finally coming to light.
From the moment we step inside Hope’s End alongside protagonist Kit McDeere, Sager infuses the atmosphere with a palpable sense of dread. This decaying gilded-age relic feels like a character in its own right—tilting precariously towards the sea, creaking and groaning as if in pain, its rooms still echoing with the horrors of that bloody night in 1929 when most of the Hope family was brutally slaughtered.
At the center of it all sits Lenora Hope – the sole survivor and presumed perpetrator of the infamous “Hope family massacre,” now elderly and mute after a series of strokes. Or so it seems. As Kit settles into her role as Lenora’s new live-in caregiver, she quickly realizes that nothing and no one at Hope’s End are quite what they appear to be on the surface.
A Masterclass in Slow-Burn Suspense
Sager excels at crafting an atmosphere of creeping unease, and “The Only One Left” sees the author at the top of his game. The mystery unfolds at a deliberate pace as Kit helps Lenora painstakingly type out her long-held secrets on an old typewriter. With each new revelation, the ground shifts beneath our feet as we’re forced to constantly reevaluate what we think we know.
Who really killed the Hope family all those years ago? What happened to Lenora’s missing baby? Why did the previous nurse flee in the middle of the night? And can Lenora—or anyone at Hope’s End—truly be trusted? Sager deftly weaves these questions and more into an intricate web, doling out tantalizing clues and shocking twists that kept this reader frantically turning pages late into the night.
Complex Characters Harbor Dark Secrets
While the central mystery is undoubtedly gripping, it’s Sager’s nuanced character work that elevates “The Only One Left” above standard thriller fare. Kit makes for a compelling and relatable protagonist—still reeling from her own recent trauma and desperate to prove herself after being unjustly accused of a terrible crime. Her growing bond with Lenora feels genuine and poignant, even as she grapples with increasing doubts about the other woman’s innocence.
The supporting cast is equally well-drawn, from the stern housekeeper Mrs. Baker to the kindly handyman Carter. Each harbors their own secrets and hidden agendas, adding layers of intrigue to the central mystery. But it’s Lenora herself who proves the most fascinating character study. Sager paints a complex portrait of a woman trapped by circumstance and her own choices, eliciting both sympathy and suspicion in equal measure. Is she a cold-blooded killer or a tragic victim? The truth, as always, lies somewhere in the murky middle.
Gothic Atmosphere Meets Modern Thrills
With its isolated clifftop mansion, family secrets, and hints of the supernatural, “The Only One Left” has all the hallmarks of classic Gothic fiction. Sager leans into these elements while putting his own modern spin on the genre. The result is a delicious blend of old-school atmosphere and contemporary psychological suspense that should appeal to a wide range of mystery fans.
Sager’s prose crackles with tension, bringing Hope’s End and its inhabitants vividly to life. You can almost feel the salt spray on your face and hear the ominous creaking of century-old wood as Kit explores the mansion’s shadowy corridors. The author has a knack for crafting scenes that get under your skin, from Kit’s unsettling nighttime encounters to the nail-biting finale as Hope’s End quite literally crumbles around the characters.
A Satisfying yet Bittersweet Resolution
After building layer upon layer of mystery and misdirection, Sager ultimately delivers a resolution that is both shocking and emotionally resonant. The truth behind the Hope family massacre proves even more twisted than imagined, forcing readers to grapple with thorny questions of guilt, redemption, and the lies we tell ourselves to survive.
While some may find the ending somewhat abrupt after such a long buildup, I found it fitting given the themes of secrets finally dragged into the light. Not every loose end is neatly tied up, but the core mysteries are resolved in ways that feel organic to the story and characters Sager has so carefully crafted.
The Verdict: Another Winner from a Master of Suspense
With “The Only One Left,” Riley Sager once again proves why he’s become a go-to author for readers craving clever, character-driven thrillers. This latest offering showcases all of Sager’s strengths – richly drawn characters, expertly calibrated suspense, and twists that genuinely surprise without feeling gimmicky or forced.
While it may not quite reach the dizzying heights of Sager’s breakout hit “Final Girls,” “The Only One Left” is a rock-solid entry in the author’s increasingly impressive body of work. Existing fans will find plenty to love, while new readers should find it an ideal entry point to Sager’s unique blend of psychological suspense and creepy atmosphere.
Who Should Read It?
I’d heartily recommend “The Only One Left” to:
- Fans of gothic-tinged suspense in the vein of Ruth Ware or Jennifer McMahon
- Mystery lovers who enjoy puzzling out complex, layered plots
- Readers who appreciate nuanced character studies alongside their thrills
- Anyone who finds old houses inherently creepy (you know who you are!)
How It Stacks Up to Sager’s Other Works
For those familiar with Sager’s previous novels, “The Only One Left” falls somewhere in the middle of the pack for me personally. It lacks some of the propulsive energy of “Final Girls” or “Lock Every Door,” but makes up for it with richer character development and a more complex central mystery. The Gothic elements also set it apart, giving it a distinct flavor compared to Sager’s more contemporary thrillers.
Here’s my subjective ranking of Sager’s novels to date:
- Final Girls
- The Last Time I Lied
- The Only One Left
- Home Before Dark
- Survive the Night
- Lock Every Door
- The House Across the Lake
Similar Books to Check Out
If you enjoy “The Only One Left,” here are a few other novels in a similar vein that I’d recommend:
- “The Death of Mrs. Westaway” by Ruth Ware
- “The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson
- “The Broken Girls” by Simone St. James
- “The Invited” by Jennifer McMahon
- “The Family Plot” by Megan Collins
Final Thoughts: A Chilling Tale Perfect for Dark and Stormy Nights
“The Only One Left” is the literary equivalent of a classic haunted house ride – familiar elements assembled with skill to create an experience that’s both comfortingly nostalgic and genuinely unnerving. Sager takes well-worn tropes—the creepy old mansion, the family with dark secrets, the outsider drawn into a web of lies—and breathes new life into them through sharp characterization and carefully calibrated suspense.
While it may not reinvent the wheel, “The Only One Left” is an immensely satisfying read that should please both die-hard Sager fans and newcomers alike. Just maybe don’t read it late at night if you’re staying in an old house. Those creaks and groans might suddenly take on a more sinister air…
