The Only One Left by Riley Sager: A Disappointing Journey into Predictability

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As a fervent follower of suspenseful mysteries, I approached "The Only One Left" by Riley Sager with eager anticipation, drawn in by its promising premise of a woman thrust into the midst of a decades-old murder mystery. However, what unfolded within its pages left me feeling more disillusioned than intrigued.

The narrative unfolds through the lens of a first-person point of view, skillfully wielded by the author. Despite my personal aversion to this perspective, Sager's execution was commendable, keeping me engaged enough to persist through the story. However, this initial engagement quickly waned as the tale progressed.

From the outset, we encounter two unreliable narrators, setting the stage for a potentially intricate web of deceit and suspense. Yet, rather than weaving a complex narrative filed with twists and turns, the plot unraveled in a disappointingly predictable manner. Each supposed revelation felt telegraphed, robbing the narrative of any genuine sense of surprise or tension.

My disappointment reached its zenith upon reaching the much-touted conclusion. Despite assurances from fellow readers that the ending would redeem the book's shortcomings, I found it to be anything but satisfying. Instead, it bordered on the absurd, culminating in what I can only describe as one of the most laughable conclusions I've encountered in recent memory.

While "The Only One Left" may elicit a chuckle or two for its unintentional humor, it falls woefully short of delivering a compelling mystery. For those in search of a truly gripping tale of suspense, I would advise looking elsewhere. This book, regrettably, fails to live up to its potential, leaving readers longing for a more satisfying literary experience.

(Note: I only rated this with 2 stars because I don't believe in 1 star reviews. I merely move on and dnf.)

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