Riley Sager's The Only One Left - a blazing summer read!

Reviewed by Michelle Souliere

I’ve been a fan of Riley Sager since I read Home Before Dark.  While it won't be considered by most to be a masterpiece, it was a super-fun read, and really well-written, both of which I needed at the time.  Last summer I tried another one of his titles, The Last Time I Lied, and liked that one even better!

 

When I heard his next book was to be set in Maine, I was very excited to say the least. 

 

The Only One Left was released June 20^th, closely following the paperback release of his prior novel, The House across the Lake (which I will probably be reading next!).  I devoured the book in two or three days, not my usual speed (most books take me weeks, a chapter or a few at a time before bed).

 

In other words, it’s a page-turner.

The Only One Left is set in 1983.  Kit McDeere is back on the job after a six-month suspension from her position as a home health aide, once again cleared for work.  Of course, this does not mean most clients will want to hire her, as her boss well knows.  When she’s handed her first assignment so quickly, she’s a little surprised.

 

When she finds out who her client is, she is even more surprised.

 

She is being sent to Hope’s End, a massive estate in a remote and very exclusive part of her small Maine town known as the Cliffs.  The home is owned by Lenora Hope, the only survivor of one night in 1929 when the other three members of her family were murdered.  Kit has grown up hearing playground rhymes about that night.

“It wasn’t me,” Lenora said

But she’s the only one not dead

Kit asks her boss, knowing there's little hope, “There’s nothing else available?  No other new patients?”  Her boss is unsympathetic.  “Since she was never proven guilty, then we have no choice but to believe she’s innocent.  I thought you of all people would appreciate that.”

She knows he’s right.  And she needs the job, needs the money to get out of town after this.  She’s done with being stuck here where everyone looks at her sideways, either wondering what really happened or having already made up their minds about her themselves.  She’s spent the last 6 months trapped at home with her father, who isn’t talking to her either.  Something has to change.

 

And so she drives up to the Cliffs to take up residence at Hope’s End, as the caretaker for a woman who cannot speak or move any of her limbs except to tap out “yes” or “no” answers. 

 

As she settles into her new daily routine, she gets to know the other staff to varying degrees, some her age, others older.  To some extent, they all know the history of this place and its owner.  But no one knows the whole story.  And no one knows where her predecessor disappeared to, either.

 

The Only One Left is a rocket ride, but doesn’t feel like it.  The mysteries in the book overlap each other, drawing the reader through each of the stories a morsel at a time, as all the known local stories fall apart in the face of new information and revelations, one after the other.

 

I was originally excited about the Maine setting, but this is not really a Maine-centric book.  However, don’t let that stop you from reading it!!!  It certainly didn’t stop me.  It’s a fun and engrossing summer read, perfect to take to the beach, sit in a hammock, or a shady garden nook.  Or even read on your lunch break, although I’ll warn you, you’re not going to want to put it down when it’s time to go back to work!

 

P.S.  For those of you who have enjoyed Riley Sager’s books and may have run out of his titles to read, I would highly recommend you also give Simone St. James a try, especially The Sun Down Motel and The Book of Cold Cases.

 

The City of Light

by Sharon Kitchens

 

 La Ville Lumièr, The City of Light

A city of medieval beauty, picturesque bridges, and corner cafes meant for sipping espressos and people-watching. The Seine, the Eiffel Tower, swoon-worthy pains au chocolat. Jewel-like tea rooms. Gothic architecture. Shakespeare and Company (English-language bookshop near Notre Dame). Parisian chic. Effortless glamour and timeless allure. 

 

It is in this mythological place that Cara Black set her Aimee Leduc series. Twenty books featuring a half-French, half-American private investigator with a penchant for secondhand haute couture. A young woman with computer skills who ponders the darkest sides of Paris while dunking buttery croissants into steaming bowls of café au lait. 

 

Much attention is paid in Black’s writing to Aimee’s red painted lips, short brown spiky hair, makeup routine, and statement making accessories. The black jeans (or form-fitting tight black skirt) and well-cut black wool jacket and boots. Her “dressed-to-kill” look.

 

Threatening faxes, graffitied threats, and hostile cars are no match for the buttery caramel aroma drifting across the centuries-old cobblestone courtyard. A restaurant known for its upside-down apple tart.

 

There are national museums and red geraniums spilling from window boxes. Beautiful parks where visitors may stroll under arches, 17^th century mansions. City gardens with sculptures and benches. 

 

Black knows the city. She uses real Paris addresses that compliment scenes. Which areas are populated by what community, which are livelier quieter. Her routes make sense—she doesn’t plop you down in one place and pick you up again across the city. The light and ambiance of the city come through in flying colors.

 

My only criticism of Black’s work is her indulgence in Aimee’s appearance. The woman has as many fashion changes as Carrie from “Sex in the City” and she’s supposed to be scraping by and solving cases. It pulls me away from the story. Granted, I only began noticing this several books into the series. 

 

The first, Murder in the Marais, was published by Soho Press in 1999. If you’re going to read something from the series definitely start here! The early books are Black’s best writing and you really do need to get to know Aimee before she evolves. Also, it’s a really strong story!

Each book is set in a different administrative district (arrondissements) of Paris. 

The twenty districts are arranged in the form of a clockwise snail-like shell.  

1        Louvre  

2        Bourse  

3        Temple

4        Hôtel de Ville  

5        The Latin Quarter  

6        Saint-Germain-des-Prés  

7        The Eiffel Tower District  

8        Elysée

9        Opéra  

10      Canal Saint-Martin  

11      République  

12      Reuilly  

13      Butte-aux-Cailles  

14      Montparnasse  

15      Vaugirard – Grenelle

16      Chaillot -Auteuil – Passy  

17      Batignoles – Monceau  

18      Montmartre  

19      Buttes-Chaumont

20      Belleville

  

My personal mini-guide to Paris:

STAY: Skip the hotel. Rent an apartment. I prefer Haven In Paris.

One of the greatest joys of Paris is the food. The boulangeries and patisseries and fresh air markets. Heck even the supermarkets are tres chic. With an apartment not only do you embrace the general je ne sais quoi of the city, but you get a kitchen where you can prepare your own meals with ingredients you purchased during your day out. *Be sure to bring reusable bags. They’re ideal not just for things you buy, but for packing!

Make sure to read the comments section. Where you stay in the city makes a huge difference. In some areas the streets empty out at night and that can be intimidating for some traveling alone. Some neighborhoods are laden with bars and cafes, so the noise might get to a family with small children. And whatever you do, make sure you pay for a good view! Go small with space, big with view. It’s all about the light in Paris. 

DO: Bring a street map and mark it up before you being wandering around. Public transportation in the city is quite good. Know where the stops are. 

Try to learn a few words of French. Merci (thank you) or merci beaucoup (thank you very much). S’il te plait (please). Hello. Goodbye… My guess is everyone, or almost everyone you meet, will speak at least some English. But isn’t it nice to try new things and meet people part way?

 

One of the most touristy things you can do in Paris is visit the Louvre and then go for the most decadent hot chocolate at Angelina. Do both!! Skip the Eiffel Tower. Yes, really. Appreciate it from afar. 

At most cafes you can choose whether to sit inside or outside depending on availability. Be prepared to squeeze in/practically share a table with others. In Paris this is normal. Don’t feel obligated to talk to them. Don’t feel put out if they or the wait staff seem unfriendly. They may be perfectly lovely, but it’s just not the way. Note the Netflix show “Emily in Paris” — the main character (an American) is charming and boisterous wanting to be friends with everyone. The French are like cats. 

How to order a coffee in Paris. Not the same thing as in America folks! Trust me so many times over on this one. 

o   Café - Typically a shot of espresso. Sometimes served w/ a sugar packet.

o   Café Americain – looking for something along the lines of what you drink at home? Here you go.  

o   Noisette - A café with a drop of milk.

Feel  free to take your time enjoying your drink. Also, you’ll likely be charged a little more to sit with your drink vs. standing with it at the bar. Bring a book or journal. Relax. This is the Parisian way. 

Make your way to Shakespeare and Company. An English-language bookstore opened in 1951 by George Whitman, located on Paris's Left Bank. It’s near Notre Dame. Give yourself plenty of time to peruse the shelves. It can be a tad crowded. Please consider getting a tote bag. The classic white tote, silkscreened with burgundy ink, features the main shop on one side. Perfect for toting baguettes and books.   

Consider taking a class with Airbnb. I’m no fan of the company, but their classes are usually really good and priced appropriately. How about a cooking class?! No experience needed. 

Do the self-guided tour of the Palais Garnier. A stunning piece of 19^th century architecture. Think Phantom of the Opera vibes. 

Wander. Stroll through gardens. Don’t overcommit to a lot of museums. There are so many and they are all extraordinary, but really if you’re there for a week pick two or three.  The Sacre-Coeur Basilica and Montmartre are really interesting, but mind your pocketbook.