The Only One Left cover art

The Only One Left

A Novel

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The Only One Left

Written by: Riley Sager
Narrated by: Christine Lakin, Dawn Harvey
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About this listen

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Named a summer book to watch by
The Washington Post, Boston Globe, USA Today, Oprah, Paste, Country Living, Good Housekeeping, and Nerd Daily

"Propulsive ... a dizzying Gothic whodunit."
New York Times Book Review

Bestselling author Riley Sager returns with a Gothic chiller about a young caregiver assigned to work for a woman accused of a Lizzie Borden-like massacre decades earlier.


At seventeen, Lenora Hope
Hung her sister with a rope

Now reduced to a schoolyard chant, the Hope family murders shocked the Maine coast one bloody night in 1929. While most people assume seventeen-year-old Lenora was responsible, the police were never able to prove it. Other than her denial after the killings, she has never spoken publicly about that night, nor has she set foot outside Hope’s End, the cliffside mansion where the massacre occurred.

Stabbed her father with a knife
Took her mother’s happy life

It’s now 1983, and home-health aide Kit McDeere arrives at a decaying Hope’s End to care for Lenora after her previous nurse fled in the middle of the night. In her seventies and confined to a wheelchair, Lenora was rendered mute by a series of strokes and can only communicate with Kit by tapping out sentences on an old typewriter. One night, Lenora uses it to make a tantalizing offer—I want to tell you everything.

“It wasn’t me,” Lenora said
But she’s the only one not dead

As Kit helps Lenora write about the events leading to the Hope family massacre, it becomes clear there’s more to the tale than people know. But when new details about her predecessor’s departure come to light, Kit starts to suspect Lenora might not be telling the complete truth—and that the seemingly harmless woman in her care could be far more dangerous than she first thought.

©2023 Riley Sager (P)2023 Penguin Audio
Horror Psychological Suspense Scary Fiction
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What the critics say

“As is often the case with Sager’s novels, trying to predict where the many twists will take you is fun (and maddening), but some of the most interesting parts of the story lie in the people you meet along the way. The mystery is as tantalizing to us as it is to Kit, but The Only One Left is also an exploration of family, of love, of loneliness. It even asks an examination of true-crime obsessiveness and when tales overtake reality.” USA Today

“This twist on the Lizzie Borden murders has it all: A reclusive woman who was acquitted of brutally murdering her family living in a big, decrepit house; a new caretaker hiding secrets of her own. And, most importantly, there are a number of twists you won’t see coming.” —Katie Couric Media

"Riley Sager is one of my favorite authors, and The Only One Left might be his best yet. Not only is it a deliciously Gothic thrill ride featuring two of my favorite things (Creepy Houses and Murderous Ladies), but it also asks big questions about grief, loss, and the secrets we keep even from those closest to us. Fun, scary, and so absorbing I almost missed a flight because I was trying to read just one more chapter, The Only One Left is one hell of a read!" Rachel Hawkins, New York Times bestselling author of The Wife Upstairs

What listeners say about The Only One Left

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
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Worth the Credit

Lots of twists to keep you guessing, this is my first Riley Sager book and I devoured it. Story comes together nicely, gave me chills at times and nearly brought me to tears at others - I’ll definitely be checking out his other books now.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great mystery, great ending

So many twists! Very satisfying ending. This was my first Riley Sager book, won’t be the last!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Riveting from start to finish

I was so enthralled with this story that I would choose to sit and listen to it instead of watching my shows.
It’s been so long since I could confidently rate a book 5 starts — I can’t recommend it enough. Amazing writing, great performance, twists right up until the very end. So much fun!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Great novel

Doesn’t disappoint again. Some great turns. Not as shocking as some of their other work but a great read nonetheless.

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The Only One Left

This was great! It was full of suspense. It kept me guessing right to the end. The ending was great and blew me away. Listening to this the performance were well done.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Twisty who-done-it

I was hovering between a 3.5 and 4 on the story. I liked the setting, characters and many twists. Without giving too much away a twist at the end had me suspending my disbelief too much. Overall loved the narration, and if you are looking for a good, twisty mystery this will definitely do.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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WOAH!

The twists and turns!!!! This book had plenty of unexpected turns, while I don't know how i feel about the end it was still amazing

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Five star performance

I was hooked on this book right away, the twists and turns had me interested until the very end! I also really enjoyed the voice acting.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good progression. Some scary bits.

Very good story. Classic who done it. Some scary parts made for a good time. Ending was a little convenient.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Just when you think you know,..

Page Turner. Lots of plot twists, all the way to the last page. Very enjoyable.

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