THE ONLY ONE LEFT BY RILEY SAGER

Key Concepts and Themes

• Gothic Atmosphere and Setting: The novel heavily relies on a classic gothic setting: a large, isolated, decaying mansion ("Hope's End") perched precariously on a cliff overlooking the sea. This claustrophobic and eerie environment heightens the suspense and mirrors the crumbling secrets of the Hope family.
• Dual Narratives and Timelines: The story is expertly woven through alternating perspectives: Kit's present-day experiences in 1983 and Lenora's typewritten account of the events leading up to the 1929 murders. This structure creates a "thriller within a thriller" and allows the reader to unravel the mystery alongside Kit.
• Trust and Deception: A central theme is the constant questioning of who to trust. Both main characters have troubled pasts and secrets of their own, making them unreliable narrators who must decide if they can believe each other's versions of the truth.
• Appearance vs. Reality: The book explores the disparity between outward appearances and inner truths. Lenora appears to be a harmless invalid, but the town lore suggests she is a cold-blooded killer, challenging perceptions of her character throughout the novel.
• The Power of Secrets and Trauma: The story demonstrates the long-lasting and devastating consequences of family secrets and unresolved trauma that echo across generations and influence the characters' lives decades later.
• Unpredictable Plot Twists: Riley Sager is known for his signature plot twists, and this book delivers a multitude of them, designed to constantly mislead the reader and keep them guessingg until the final pages.