A review by gemloukay
The Only One Left by Riley Sager

mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Lenora Hope is most famous for being the girl that got away with murder if her whole family in the 1920s. She now lives, mute and paralysed but for the use of her left hand, in one room of her mansion. Over 50 years have passed but the town hasn’t forgotten. When Kit McDeere finds herself with no other option than to take the job as her caregiver, the 2 form a bond seemingly over being wrongly accused. Typing very slowly on a typewriter, Lenora starts to explain what happened the night of the murders. But with the previous caregiver having disappeared, strange noises in the house every night, and the house itself gradually sliding over the edge of the cliff, will she finish telling Kit her story before outside influences prevent her from doing so? And if she does, will she ultimately just admit she did it after all? 

This is a twisty mystery with a gothic feel despite being set in the 1980s. It’s pacy, but the last 50-100 or so pages felt a little too unbelievable for me, particularly with reveal after reveal of twists, many of which you just can’t ever predict as you were given no clues to. That being said it was an enjoyable, easy read with plenty of guessing to be had. 
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