Wells wanted to write the novel in such a way that new readers not familiar with John or his past would be able to understand the events that occur in this sixth book.

When townspeople begin to die under strange circumstances, John's gig allows him to examine the bodies of the victims: a woman who drowned nowhere near water, and a boy who was burned alive nowhere near fire.

With this in mind, he takes extra precautions, including arming the mortuary doors with motion detectors and finding a new place to stay.

Knowing that Mills will trace this evidence back to him, John runs out of town along the highway; but before he can escape, the same homeless-looking woman from the funeral attacks him.

Thousands of years ago, she gave up her unborn child to become a "goddess", and ever since, she has used her powers to take care of young wayward souls, trying to make up for her loss.

John thinks about something Jasmyn once said – that everyone is worth saving – and tries to help the Withered by telling them the rules he put in place for himself to control his dangerous impulses.

Margo reveals that she turned this woman, Dana, into a demon sixty years ago as part of her plan to create more monsters.

"[7] Alternative Magazine Online reviewer Marty Mulrooney wrote that "Nothing Left to Lose takes all the atypical ingredients that have made the series so devilishly enjoyable and mixes them together in exciting new ways," and stated that while the ending "stretches believability", but that it was "worth it".

[8] Elitist Book Reviews also rated Nothing Left as a worthy conclusion for the series, recommending the novel's "twisty villains, twistier plots, and ... main character with (a knife and) all the heart in the world" to readers.

[9] At the Barnes and Nobel Science Fiction and Fantasy blog, Adam Rowe wrote that he the story was "streamlined" and "gripping", "filled with the horrifying, murderous fun his fans rely on.