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A review by _chrstnlvly
The Only One Left by Riley Sager
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“At seventeen, Lenora Hope
Hung her sister with a rope
Stabbed her father with a knife
Took her mother's happy life
‘It wasn't me,’ Lenora said
But she's the only one not dead”
In 1929, a brutal tragedy occurred: three out of the four members of the Hope family were murdered, and only Lenora, one of the daughters, survived. Everyone thought she did it... until 1983, when Lenora decides to tell her story to her new caregiver, Kit. The resulting tale is full of twists and turns, creating a gothic vibe while reading.
This is the third book out of seven by Riley Sager that I've read. He's quickly becoming one of my favorite thriller/mystery authors because of how grippingly he writes his stories and the unpredictable twists he includes. This book is his best one yet.
I had some ideas about how the story would progress, and while some of them were correct, it turned out to be even crazier than I anticipated. The final 100 pages kept me on edge, and I found myself wanting to finish it in the early hours of the morning.
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, and Pregnancy
Minor: Body shaming