Introduction

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.

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Discussion Questions

From The Princeton Review:


1. The Only One Left explores the theme of isolation and survival. How does the author create a sense of claustrophobia and tension within the setting? How does this contribute to the overall atmosphere of the story?

2. The main character is faced with the difficult decision to trust or suspect others. Discuss the theme of trust in the novel and how it evolves throughout the narrative.

3. The book is structured as a mystery, with layers of secrets and revelations. Were you able to anticipate the twists and turns, or did the story surprise you? How did the author keep you engaged and guessing?

4. The protagonist undergoes a transformation throughout the story. How does her character develop and change as the events unfold? Were you satisfied with her arc?

5. Discuss the role of secondary characters in The Only One Left. How do they contribute to the suspense and the overall narrative? Which characters stood out to you and why?

6. The Only One Left explores themes of survival, resilience, and the lengths one would go to stay alive. How did these themes resonate with you? Did they provoke any introspection or reflection?

7. The novel incorporates elements of psychological suspense and a sense of the unknown. How does the author create and maintain a sense of unease and anticipation? Were there any particular scenes or moments that stood out in terms of tension?

8. The book raises questions about the nature of identity, truth, and perception. How do these themes play out in the story? Did the ending provide satisfying answers or leave you with lingering questions?

Book Club Talking Points:
The novel explores themes such as trust, survival, identity, and the human capacity for resilience. These themes prompt meaningful discussions and allow book club members to delve into deeper conversations about the characters' choices and motivations.

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