The Only One Left

Kit McDeere takes a job as a live-in caregiver for Lenora Hope, an elderly woman who lives in a Gothic mansion on the Maine coast. The position became available after the previous nurse vanished without explanation, leaving her belongings behind. Both women share dark pasts - Kit was accused of mercy-killing her terminally ill mother, while Lenora allegedly murdered her family decades ago. As Kit settles into her role at Hope's End mansion, Lenora begins revealing her version of the notorious family murders through dictated chapters that Kit helps transcribe. The narrative shifts between Kit's present-day experiences at Hope's End and Lenora's account of the tragic events from her youth. A complex web of characters surrounds them, including the mansion's small staff and a man claiming to be Lenora's grandson and heir. This Gothic suspense novel explores themes of truth, redemption, and the weight of decades-old secrets that refuse to stay buried. The parallel stories of two women branded as killers raise questions about judgment, mercy, and the stories we tell ourselves about the past.

Readers call this a gothic horror novel with echoes of "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" Many note the slow-burn pacing builds tension through dual timelines and unreliable narration. Positive reviews highlight: - The haunting atmosphere of the Maine mansion setting - Well-crafted plot twists that pay off in the final act - Complex relationship between the two main characters - Effective use of tension rather than gore Common criticisms: - First 100 pages move too slowly - Some found the ending predictable - Character decisions sometimes lack credibility - Romance subplot feels forced Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (83,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (11,000+ ratings) StoryGraph: 4.1/5 "The parallels between past and present timelines are masterfully woven," notes one Goodreads reviewer, while another states "the middle section drags before an rushed ending." Several readers compare it favorably to Sager's earlier works, particularly Final Girls.

The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward A gothic tale unfolds through multiple perspectives in an isolated house where a recluse, his cat, and his daughter harbor dark secrets.

The Family Plot by Megan Collins A true-crime-obsessed family discovers one of their own dead in their graveyard, leading to revelations about past murders and long-buried secrets.

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James A dual-timeline mystery connects a present-day journalist investigating an abandoned boarding school with the ghostly disappearances of students in 1950.

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware A nanny accepts a position at a remote Scottish estate with smart-home technology, only to end up in prison for the murder of one of her charges.

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas In 1820s Mexico, a young bride moves into her new husband's estate where the house itself seems to harbor malevolent forces connected to recent deaths.

🔍 The book was inspired by the real-life Lizzie Borden case from 1892, where a woman was accused of murdering her family with an ax. 🏰 Hope's End mansion draws architectural elements from both Gothic Revival and Second Empire styles, two prominent Victorian-era designs known for their imposing and sometimes eerie appearances. ✒️ Riley Sager is actually a pseudonym for Todd Ritter, who chose a gender-neutral pen name for his psychological thrillers. 📚 "The Only One Left" debuted at #5 on the New York Times bestseller list in June 2023 and remained on the list for several weeks. 🎬 The book rights were quickly optioned for television adaptation within months of its release, following the success of Sager's previous novel-to-screen deals.