Freida McFadden killed it with this one. This was my first read from her and I will definitely be picking up more books from her. I’ve read my fair share of thrillers and the twists in this one were so good.

Claire, the main character, is horrible. Reading from her point of view made me dislike everything about her … but that’s definitely what made the story work.

One by One is a great summer read. It was the perfect thriller to kick off the season and I recommend for people who enjoy Riley Sager or Lucy Foley.

Three couples, all with their own issues, head off to spend some time together at a luxurious hotel. On the way, the road to the hotel becomes difficult to navigate and the minivan they are in breaks down. Do they shelter for the night or carry on? With the decision to carry on made, they grab a few things and head off. But the hotel remains elusive and it seems a night out in the woods is inevitable.

Then, one by one, they start disappearing or dying. Who or what is after them and will any survive the woods?

When I read the title, it smacked of Agatha Christie and the premise sounded very interesting. I’d never read this author before, so was looking forward to it. But straight away, there is something just a little off about it.

Claire’s character comes across as whiny and selfish, which may have been intentional, so we keep on reading. Now we have three couples going off on a short vacation together, but some of the people don’t even like each other. This seems odd considering why would you want to spend time with someone you don’t like?

Anyway, so we have Claire and her husband Noah, who are unhappy in their marriage and Claire wants out. In fact, she is putting the cart before the horse and indulging in another too soon. This vacation for her is to muster up the courage to say no more as they have separate rooms and she just needs to do it. She loves her kids but the marriage is a sham. We also have Lindsay and her new surgeon boyfriend, Warner, who suggested the hotel they are about to stay at. Warner is good looking (as Claire constantly alludes to) but is very controlling over Lindsay. Red Flag indeed. Then there is Jack, who has long been friends with Noah and Jack’s wife Michelle. She is a high-ranked divorce lawyer and is only interested in work. Why she is there, who knows? Jack has a little secret of his own too.

So here are five adults relying on someone they just met who has a map on a piece of paper, and the road to the luxurious hotel is almost impassable. First implausible thing. Then the responses to the situations are very juvenile. Compass obviously leading you in a circle? Must be human error? Only two hours to the hotel on foot (on the road meant to go to the luxurious hotel that suddenly ends) and six hours later still in the woods? Sounds legit. The girls wanting to pee in the woods but not knowing how to and the guys having to instruct them? Really??? Things just got weirder and weirder as though someone had taken a list of plot points, a list of evidence, and a list of reasons to kill, and then jumbled them all up and said somehow they will connect. But they didn’t.

Mercifully, the story is not long and the writing enough to keep you reading. The writing... not the plot or characters. Although the interjection of the chapters by “anonymous” made for an interesting sideline. If the goal was to get rid of someone, why take so long in the story? All could have been accomplished within the first few hours of the car breaking down. The intimate moment at the end? The timing was rather off. There were other silly errors, too.

A psychological thriller? Nope. The plot of a B-grade movie of the horror in the woods? Maybe. Or maybe just some good base ideas that didn’t mesh well with each other and characters that were not formed enough for a reader to care about. Just an average read...

This book was boring. Not one of FMF’s bests. It felt a bit all over the place. I read it a few weeks ago and now I can’t even remember the plot, I just remember not loving it. To me, it was not memorable.

Freida McFadden hasn’t let me down yet! This was a quick read that anyone could easily devour in one or two sittings (I did!)
Freida has such a unique ability to include so much suspense and thrill in all of her novels & it never lets me down! Really enjoyed this one!

Frieda’s books are instant must reads for me so I was very excited to receive this ARC. Another good phycological thriller, but not her best. Some of the language I found a bit boring and hard to process but it was an easy read and had a twist I didnt see coming! Would definitely recommend if you are a thriller fan.

Picture this: a whirlwind of anticipation as the clock ticks down to the review deadline, and just when you think time's up, fate intervenes. That's the story of how I came to dive into "One by One" by Freida McFadden, fashionably late, but oh-so-worth it.

Let me tell you, once I cracked open the pages of this tantalizing tale, I was hooked. McFadden has a knack for crafting narratives that grip you from start to finish, and "One by One" is no exception. With each twist and turn, I found myself on the edge of my seat, eagerly devouring every page.

But what sets McFadden apart is her ability to keep readers guessing. Just when you think you've got it all figured out, she throws a curveball that leaves you reeling. I lost count of the times I found myself rereading chapters, astounded by the subtle clues I had overlooked.

Now, I'll be honest, "One by One" may not be McFadden's magnum opus. But even on an off day, she still delivers a solid, satisfying read. Sure, I've encountered better from her, but that's the thing about McFadden – even her average works are a cut above the rest.

So, if you're looking for a book that will keep you glued to the page and guessing until the very end, "One by One" is definitely worth a shot. Trust me, you won't regret it. Three stars may not sound like a glowing endorsement, but in the world of Freida McFadden, even an "OK" read is a journey worth taking.

Freida does it again! I save her books for when I need something super fast paced to help me get out of a slump and she does it every time. Short chapters are my favorite and her characters always keep me intrigued. One by one was no different. I really enjoyed it and will definitely read anything she writes.

Freida McFadden's "One by One" takes a group of friends on a vacation from hell. Tensions simmer as a troubled couple brings their marital woes to the trip, creating an awkward atmosphere from the start. Things take a drastic turn for the worse when their car breaks down, leaving them stranded in the woods with no cell service and an unreliable map.

Desperate for help, they decide to trek through the woods, only to find themselves picked off one by one. Blood trails and mysterious disappearances raise the stakes as the remaining friends fight for survival.

McFadden delivers a classic whodunit with her signature style: short chapters, breakneck pacing, and unpredictable twists. Fans of the thriller genre will find themselves glued to the pages, racing to uncover the culprit. "One by One" is the perfect escape for readers in a slump or newcomers seeking a thrilling introduction to the genre. This is a gripping, fast-paced read that will leave you breathless until the very last page.

I love Freida McFadden’s books - they always keep me guessing and are so thrilling. One by One was no different - I was so hooked with the story. However, I hated most of the characters in this one.

I didn’t see this twist coming! This was a quick read for me. Suspenseful and kept my curiosity.
Claire, her husband and four of their friends leave for a trip and then start disappearing one by one. The story jumps from Claire’s point of view to the flashbacks of an anonymous character. It will leave you guessing the whole time who this mysterious character is!

The perfect fast paced whodunnit! The entire book was intriguing and kept me guessing up until the very end. Slightly predictable but still a fun read!

Freida McFadden is incapable of writing a bad book. I don't know how she does it again and again, but she finds a way to throw in a plot twist every single time. I loved the "Agatha Christie" vibe of bad things happening one by one. This is the perfect who done it mystery that will keep you on your toes!

I am a huge Freida McFadden fan and could not wait to get my hands on a copy of this book to read and review. I absolutely LOVED this book from beginning to end. It had me on the edge of my seat flipping the pages to see what was going to happen next. A trip with friends? yes please. I mean what could go wrong?

Apparently a lot! One by one the members begin to disappear. What or who is responsible for their disappearances? And why?

I loved the whodunnit vibes of this novel and the suspense! So many chills and thrills, that will keep you guessing to the very end.

Well done Freida! I look forward to more of your novels.

I highly recommend you read this novel if you haven't already!

Ive really been enjoying these books by freida mcfadden. They are so well built. Everytime you think you know whats happening, she switches it up again, and keeps the tension til the end. Absolutely awesome. And best of all, they are so quick and easy to read! Cannot recommend more!

Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review

Like most books by McFadden, this one is a page turner that can easily be finished in 1 to 2 sittings. The story revolves around 6 friends stranded during a trip and the POV alternates between one of the friends, Claire and an “anonymous” narrator. Several twists and turns lead to a surprise ending only McFadden can deliver! Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC of One by One!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🍿 love popcorn thrillers
🌪️ like twists you never see coming
📖 enjoy short chapters
🌲 are terrified of being lost in the woods

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Claire Matchett needs this trip. It will be a break from work and raising children. A chance to repair her damaged marriage. A week of hiking and hot tubbing with friends at a luxurious hotel in the woods, disconnected from the pressures of real life.

Then, on a lonely dirt road, Claire's minivan breaks down. With no cell reception, the group has no choice but to walk the rest of the way to their remote accommodation. But the forest is dark and difficult to navigate and, hours later, they are lost. Hopelessly lost.

As they venture deeper into the woods, the members of their party are struck down mysteriously, one by one. Are they being hunted? And by what―or who? As Claire's dream vacation descends into a nightmare, something becomes clear: only one of them will return home alive.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was a really fun read that kept me on my toes. I never correctly guessed the identity of anonymous throughout the story, so I enjoyed that aspect a lot. The chapters are short, and at less than 300 pages, you can easily knock this one out in just a few hours! I loved the setting of the book too. I couldn’t trust anyone, Claire included, even though she was the main POV. The story was really relatable at the beginning with how she felt so out of touch with her husband. Overall, a fun thriller!

Freida McFadden NEVER disappoints! Another book I could not put down! What I love most about McFaddens books are the varied plots - and this one was unique! Without giving away spoilers - you don't know who to trust in One by One - your best friend may be your worst enemy... I have now read every book this author has written and each one is 5 stars!!! Thank you so much for the advance readers copy - this will be the next book I share with friends!!!

Freida never lets you down and One by One is no exception! I love reading Freida's books as I like to think of them as popcorn thrillers, like a good movie you want to watch again and again with some popcorn but in book form. Loved this one!

I went between a 3 and 4 rating for this one. While I didn't figure out all the pieces to the puzzle of motive and murderer, the plot and the character development weren't strong enough to make me really care about how it all went together. This is a fast, weekend or beach read but won't blow you away.

Enjoyed this quick, suspenseful book from Frieda McFadden. It follows the same thriller style of most of her books. As mentioned, quick read following 3 couples on their way to a weeklong getaway, but relationships and people are not who them seem. Their car breaks down near their hotel and chaos ensues as they try to make their way to their final destination. Add in some childhood trauma for one of them in chapters labeled anonymous and you have the setup for a suspenseful thriller in the woods. If you like McFadden, you will like this book.