Freida McFadden does it again, I read this book in 1 sitting. I couldn't take my eyes off the pages. I honestly had no idea it was going to be Lindsay, Freida did a really good job with that twist. 10/10

4.5 stars !

Omg the ending was unexpected for me. I often guess the end of thrillers halfway through, but with this one I kept guessing who was anonymous. Was it a man or a woman? I really suspected everyone throughout the book.

The book starts very innocently. 6 friends go on holiday by car. Little by little we get to know all the people and their problems. Claire and Noah have not been very happy in their marriage for some time. Jack and Michelle who are having problems in their marriage and then our new madly in love couple Lindsey and Warner. And then we have anonymous's POV... who is anonymous?
That's something you wonder throughout the book.

When they almost reach their destination after a long car ride, they have to take a remote road. The navigation doesn't work, but don't worry. Warner printed out a map and brought it with him!

Halfway through that road, Claire's, as good as new, minivan suddenly stops working. because the inn is not that far away, they continue the journey on foot.

And then the trouble really begins. You'll have to read it yourself to find out what happens next, but I can tell you that you won't want to put the book down.

I suspected every person in this book, but at the end I guessed wrong.

The book is a very quick and easy read. It is truly a talent as a writer to be able to create a story so unpredictable!

I will definitely read more books by Freida!

🖤3 couples
🖤Claire's Pov + anonymous Pov
🖤murders
🖤psychic child
🖤betrayal
🖤cheating
🖤not who they seem to be
🖤creepy woods
🖤sabotage

This is an update since I just read the book again not knowing it was a re-release requested it on NetGalley and it definitely holds up I still believe it is an OMG read in my review update I do want to mention this time that Claire is one of the dumbest people in literature but she is not so dislikable that it ruins a boat because by the end of it I was totally rooting for her. I want to thank Net Galley for my free arc copy and giving me the chance to read it again.<strong>OMG, OMG This is a great book… So good!</strong>

The subject of this book is great, the twists are great the buildup is great! They have so many reasons why you should read this book, beside the ones I just mentioned. If you love the rollers that are unpredictable and hit that wow factor one by one is a book for you. I loved it!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. If you’re looking for a quick thriller that is hard to put down, this is the book for you. Frieda’s books have an addictive quality that keeps your eyes glued to the page, and this one is no different. I honestly didn’t see where this was going as I read it, and it had multiple jaw dropping moments

Freida McFadden, One by One, Poisoned Pen Press, April 2024.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

One by One is a competent psychological thriller. The plot is an edgy combination of ill-assorted friends on a holiday jaunt that goes wrong with attempts to find the hotel in which the group has booked thwarted by a compass that does not work, a map that is difficult to read and rough terrain to traverse. Add to this large claw marks in trees and mobile phones with no signal, murders and blood-spattered disappearances and rising tension as disagreements erupt over leaving the first body in the forest while the group seeks help, and it is inevitable that suspicion of friends and partners will mount. For Claire, the narrator, the absence of her children becomes an even more immediate concern.

Interspersed with this present-day narration is that of Anonymous. There is no clue to the identity of this person, even clues to their gender are cleverly obfuscated. However, their introductory account leaves the reader in no doubt: this person aims to be the only one alive at the end of the weeklong holiday.

Twists appear to be the hallmark of successful psychological thrillers, and One by One certainly has these. For me, one was predictable, but a good plot device; the others were more ingenious. More successful was the way in which McFadden maintained the tension, while providing detailed information about Claire’s marriage, and the other relationships in the group. She also introduces characters whose relationship demonstrates the value of female friendships and support where male control is abundantly obvious to onlookers, if not to the woman being controlled. However, this social commentary is a minor part of the plot and goes nowhere.

One by One is an easy read, a book for the beach or a plane trip. Anonymous adds an element of detection that is satisfying. However, I found it one of the less gripping psychological thrillers that I have read.

2.5. I was kinda shocked that this came from the same author who wrote the housemaid. I felt like the writing was sloppy and told you what was happening instead of leading you to it. I also hated every character. I enjoyed the length and might recommend it as a short thriller but….. not my fav

This was not quite as twisty and complicated as some books by this author; but, sometimes that is not necessary. This was just a “who will make it out alive” story with a decent twist. It is definitely one of those books you pick up when you want a quick and fast-paced read that will keep you engrossed throughout.

I loved the story, but the getting them into the mystery was contrived and unbelievable. Once they were in the forest it was great, but the driving into "road less travelled" was unbelievable. Then walking for hours before they figure there's a problem... uh no. But the story and mystery was great. I didn't see that ending coming. I figured the gender of the culprit pretty quickly, but didn't see the ending.
Thanks Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book sucked me in immediately! Three couples are going to an inn in the middle of nowhere for a vacation, but none of the relationships are great. Infidelity, verbal abuse, etc. It's hard to say much more without giving things away, but the author does a great job of building up the suspense and mystery. While I guessed most of the big "twist", it was still an exciting end. I've read a few sad, heavy books lately, and this was just the kind of fast, exciting read that I was looking for!

This is a quick read you won't want to put down! This is only the second Freida McFadden book I've read but it won't be the last. Love the never ending guessing and plot twists!

This was a great fast paced read with a classic Freida McFadden twist that will have you suspecting everyone and keep you guessing until the very end!

Thank you so much to Freida McFadden, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for this copy of One by One.
Freida, Freida, Freida…. You’ve done it again! I couldn’t tell you the last time I read a book in 24 hours. Maybe never? But I honestly couldn’t put this book down. McFadden’s short chapters keep me continuously reading “just one more chapter.” I had to pick my jaw up off of the floor at the end of the book. I couldn’t believe the ending but it all fit together in a way I really, truly did not see coming. 5/5 stars!!

One by One by Freida McFadden - 5 stars

This book was incredible and was one of those books I felt like I couldn't put down! I was 100% certain I had the ending figured out but boy was I wrong! That plot twist was insane and made me gasp!

6 people, 3 couples go on a vacation to the mountains/woods however before they reach their destination the mini van they are travelling in breaks down and they got lost in the wilderness. One by One, people begin to turn up dead.

The prologue was one of the best I have ever read and set the tone for the entire book. The book seamlessly flicks between Claire and Anonymous (when you find out your jaw will hit the floor like mine!) The chapters were short and snappy which kept me engaged.

A really easy read, that kept me hooked from the beginning.

Thank you again for the chance to read this book!

great quick thriller by freida! 6 friends get lost in the woods. one by one, they are "killed off."

claire and her husband noah are on the verge of divorce and are not getting along. she is sleeping with his best friend jack.

lindsay is claire's best friend and has her new boyfriend along on the trip too. lindsay has some childhood secrets and demons.

great twist at the end!!!!

Frieda McFadden delivers another twisty tale where everything is not as it seems. This is an addictive read that keeps a good tense pace.

Six adult friends are off for a luxury week in a Colorado inn, and planning to enjoy the hot tub, hiking, and fishing. What they didn’t expect was a broken down minivan and a bad compass in the wilderness, with very little food and water, and no cell service.

Then they start disappearing, one by one.

This is narrated by two individuals. Claire, and “anonymous.”
I absolutely loved the anonymous narrator concept. So clever!

Every one of the friends has secrets. But are they secrets they would kill for?

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press, Net Galley and Frieda McFadden for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available in paperback on April 2, 2024

I really enjoyed this read it was a page turner for sure ! Had you guessing and trying to figure things out the whole time ! I’d recommend this book to others for sure !

Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. I am a huge McFan and this book does not disappoint! I couldn’t put it down! One of Friedas best. I will be recommending to all my friends and coworkers!

Freida has a way of writing a suspense thriller that will keep you turning the pages until the end and this one was no exception. This is a quick read with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. I did think that I had it all figured out for most of the book but of course I was wrong. I think the added "twist" in the Epilogue was a great touch. I am no stranger to Freida's books and I have to say they are always entertaining and if she keeps writing them, I will keep reading them.

I enjoyed this book. It is full of mystery and tense drama. There are many twists and surprises. This is a suspenseful thriller.

There are people that love to trash this author and I honestly don't understand why. Frieda McFadden writes solid page turner suspense novels. Are they high brow literature? No. They are not meant to be. For me, they are palate cleansers for heavier books, some of which get higher ratings and some of which get lower ratings. They are "fast food" so to speak. I don't enjoy McDonalds but sometimes I like fast reading that keeps me guessing that don't make me overthink things. Some said this was far fetched. Perhaps; I have not really read a suspense book or seen that kind of movie where everything was realistic and people did everything that you expect them to do. Were people to do what is entirely logical would probably mean that the genre wouldn't exist. That is perfectly fine by me. I don't need things that are always true to life in my novels; I get plenty enough of that in real life and in other things I read. Often, I read things to escape my life. Some people read romance, science fiction or fantasy to do that. While I do read the occasional sci fi or fantasy, lately suspense has been my go-to. It might not be someone else's cup of tea.
This kept me engaged and reading. I think the one thing that kept me from rating it higher was that it was hard to like any of the characters but then again, in a story where we don't know who did it, that may be too much to ask since the author wanted us to think that it could have been any one of them. I did start to grow to like the main character and she was a special education teacher that loved her job (I am a special education teacher and I seldom see any character who is one, so I knew I was going to finish this when I saw that.
This was similar to her other novels (may not be fine for someone else but it is fine for me) and is perfectly fine for the genre it is.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review.