Freida McFadden’s One by One offers an engaging premise—a group of friends on a getaway becomes stranded in a remote forest, with members mysteriously disappearing one by one. The story begins with great tension, blending the isolation of the wilderness with the creeping realization that not everyone will make it out alive. Claire, the protagonist, adds complexity with her secrets and personal struggles, though she may not always be likable.

The book delivers fast pacing and suspenseful twists, keeping it a quick and absorbing read for thriller fans. However, some reviewers found the characters one-dimensional and the dialogue repetitive, which detracted from the emotional impact. The plot twists, while entertaining, could feel convoluted or rushed, leaving some loose ends and predictable moments. Despite these critiques, the atmospheric setting and overarching mystery kept many readers invested, making it a fun, if flawed, addition to McFadden’s thriller repertoire.

If you enjoy quick thrillers with dramatic twists, this might be worth adding to your list, though it may not satisfy those seeking deep character development.

Freida's books are always twisty good fun! Three couple friends decide to go on a weekend retreat for relaxation and Claire is wondering if this is the last chance for her marriage. Claire's minivan breaks down and the group becomes lost in the woods. One by One the group either gets lost or hurt and they have to keep moving on hoping to find their destination. No matter what Freida book you read, the twist is always totally unexpected.

Love this book read it in one day don't remember much cause I read it a while ago but the female lead is in a friend group and she's having issues with her relationship and they go on a car trip and the car breaks down and stuff goes down from there (from what I can remember ofc without spoiling haha)

Have you read start reading a book and you get an immediately feeling that this isn't the book for you? Well, I had that within the first chapter with our unlikable lead and her equally unlikable husband. Nothing wrong with unlikable characters - I quite enjoying reading flawed leads - but the writing and the repetition were the nail in the coffin for me.

I had such high hopes for Freida McFadden as it feels like everyone is raving about her thrillers, but this felt rushed and really absurd.

I love Freida McFadden books but this was not my favorite. I felt like there was a lot of repetition and sometimes it did not feel very realistic. It was a very quick read though. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I feel like FMF is just busting out books like crazy at this point. I would rather have 1-2 really good reads a year than multiple. :( this was was just not for me

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.

This story kept me interested enough to read it quickly. I did not guess the ending, which is something I look for in a murder mystery story. It did leave me with a lot of questions in the end. However, if you are a fan of Freidas work, then you would probably enjoy this one as well.

Freida has done it again!! This book is fabulous; highly engaging and easy to read. It kept me guessing the whole time and I definitely could not predict the ending. Highly recommend!

I will ALWAYS read anything by Freida McFadden! This book was filled with twists and turns. It was the perfect mystery-thriller. The only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars is because I feel like most of the time the characters are a bit flat and lack the details to make the book even better. The book is very fast paced and the perfect fall/winter murder mystery!

A special thank you to Netgalley, Freida McFadden, and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

One by One is an intense, edge-of-your-seat thriller that perfectly balances suspense and mystery. Freida McFadden masterfully spins a tale of a group trapped in a remote, snowbound cabin where trust erodes as tensions rise. Each character’s secrets are slowly peeled back, creating a chilling atmosphere of paranoia and fear. With each page, you feel the noose tighten, and just when you think you know who to trust, McFadden throws a twist that will leave you reeling. If you love thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end, this one is impossible to put down.

This book was very true to Freida McFadden's usual style. One comes to accept that at times the dialogue sounds out of place and the characters aren't fully fleshed out. If you want a thriller with all sorts of twists- then you have found the book to read. We have a cabin, a couple that doesn't like each other, friends and only one survivor. It's never who you think it is which I do enjoy. I'm kept on my toe and am more curious to find out how this is going to get wrapped up against all kinds of odds and still be somewhat believable. Yet, it is. That's the magic of Frieda McFadden.

This was pretty middle of the road for me but I enjoyed it overall.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Who doesn't like that common mystery troupe of each of the characters slowly getting picked off and murdered? This typical whodunnit plot scheme can seem annoying to some, but as a super Freida Fan--I just devoured this one! Yes, there are plot holes, but I don't care because I was having FUN. Also, there are clues left peppered in the text for the attentive reader to catch on to who the villian is before you get to the end! While the overall intentions of the villian are unclear until the end, it was an enjoyable read watching these adults squabble in the forest while walking in circles! 10/10 recommend to the Freida junkies who aren't too serious about the perfect mystery!

I love the plot twist and woah Freida brings. I am usually good at guessing where a thriller is going but McFadden gets me every time!

Freida McFadden's One by One had a gripping premise of a vacation gone wrong, but the execution felt silly and contrived. Claire Matchett and her friends quickly lose their way in the woods, but instead of tension, the plot spirals into absurdity, leaving me shaking my head more than holding my breath.

The characters were unlikable, making it hard to root for anyone's survival. Claire felt flat and reactive, and the rest of the group blended together, lacking any depth or charm. The subplot of Claire's troubled marriage and infidelity kept my interest, but it only barely.

Ultimately, while the pacing kept me reading, the ridiculous plot and forgettable characters detracted from the potential thrills. It was an okay read, but I wanted much more.

TL;DR: A silly plot with unlikable characters made it hard to engage. The marriage troubles added some intrigue, but it barely held my attention. A quick read that left me wanting more depth and tension.

I love Freda McFadden’s books. They are always fast paced and easy to follow. With that being said, this wasn’t my favorite. It was good, but I found the plot a little predictable. Would still recommend.

Loved this book! It had me hooked from start to finish. I enjoyed the characters, the setting, the push and pull. All of it… couldn’t put it down!

This one had me flying through the pages and guessing (incorrectly) the whole time! I would highly recommend for a quick thriller.

I’ve read The Housemaid by Freida McFadden and while it wasn’t the most well-written thriller I’ve read, there was just something so addictive that I couldn’t get enough of it. So of course, I was very excited to receive an ARC of this book in the hopes that it would also have me riveted.

It did not. 

This book was the silliest thing I’ve read in a long time – and not in a good way. 

When I say these characters were one-dimensional, I swear my baking tray has more depth than they do. They are defined by one trait only; they have no other personality but that one thing. 

There is also no consistency in the details given in the story and it is glaringly obvious. It shows a lack of care, a lack of effort, and a lack of editing. 

The plot was ridiculously bad, with clues that made no sense. The final twist in the end was equally ludicrous and left me even more disappointed. 

Literally, the only good thing about this book is that it was short. 

1/5 stars – I literally can’t rate this any higher even if I wanted to.

Happy reading ~

Six friends go on a trip. Who’s going to be the one who comes back? One by One is a fast paced thriller about 3 couples taking a trip to a secluded hotel in the woods. We find out quickly that their car breaks down and they are forced to walk the way there in the woods. The situation turns dire when someone or something starts hunting them. This book was a really good palate cleanser. It kept my attention the entire time. As per usual Freida style, it does have a big ending plot twist. I would definitely recommend for someone who does read a lot of thrillers, or is looking for a good palette cleanser after a long book. I’m giving this a solid three stars.