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A review by _chelseachelsea
The Only One Left by Riley Sager
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I have such whiplash with Riley Sager. Lock Every Door was great, The Final Girls was just okay, and Survive the Night was infuriating; because of this, I went into The Only One Left expecting to be disappointed, but I’m pleased to say this latest novel is a nice return to the storytelling that made me a fan in the first place.
I’ve often said that Sager has a gift for the art of misdirection, and it’s particularly on display here. I won’t say any more because I don’t want to give anything away, but to suffice to say my jaw dropped more than once and I truly delighted in the twists and turns of the final act. Unlike some of his other works, the reveals don’t feel rushed. The unraveling of secrets avoids the villainous exposition dumping so many books in this genre fall victim to, and the conclusion is satisfying without being over-explanatory (or, in the case of Survive the Night, implausible to the point of bewilderment).
What really works for this book is the setting. Modern day technology has made it increasingly more difficult for readers to buy in to mysteries that could so easily be solved with a Google search and online sleuthing. By containing this tale to a pre-smartphone era, in a time when true crime was new enough to still be scandalous and shameful, it’s much easier to be patient with Kit’s slow burn investigation of the mystery of Hope’s End.
This is a great summer read for anyone looking for a twisty little tale about greed, guilt, and murder.
I’ve often said that Sager has a gift for the art of misdirection, and it’s particularly on display here. I won’t say any more because I don’t want to give anything away, but to suffice to say my jaw dropped more than once and I truly delighted in the twists and turns of the final act. Unlike some of his other works, the reveals don’t feel rushed. The unraveling of secrets avoids the villainous exposition dumping so many books in this genre fall victim to, and the conclusion is satisfying without being over-explanatory (or, in the case of Survive the Night, implausible to the point of bewilderment).
What really works for this book is the setting. Modern day technology has made it increasingly more difficult for readers to buy in to mysteries that could so easily be solved with a Google search and online sleuthing. By containing this tale to a pre-smartphone era, in a time when true crime was new enough to still be scandalous and shameful, it’s much easier to be patient with Kit’s slow burn investigation of the mystery of Hope’s End.
This is a great summer read for anyone looking for a twisty little tale about greed, guilt, and murder.