Cover Image: One by One

One by One

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Member Reviews

Loved this book! I was hooked from the beginning and could not put it down. A solid 4 star thriller for me!

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Another good read by Ruth Ware. I love the suspense in her books and am looking forward to her next release. While it's not my favourite of her books, many will enjoy this one!

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Ruth Ware’s books send customers flocking to the bookstore. Her novels are timely, twisted and the perfect escapism that readers crave. This one is the perfect read for a quiet evening by the fire during a snowstorm, or during a blisteringly hot day at the beach. Always bet on Ruth Ware.

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I should have known not to request this book. I have read almost all of Ware's books, and they are unequivocally not for me. DNF'd at 30%

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This was a slow burn thriller with a lot happening. It had a lot of intricate characters that all came together. This was a true all is not what it seems book. Well executed and took me by surprise. Not my favourite Ruth ware but still a good read

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Ruth Ware does it again! Every book is completely unputdorinable!
Even when you think you know whodunnit, Ruth throws another curve ball that gives your brain a scramble!

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Unfortunately, this novel really fell flat for me.

I didn’t find myself being drawn into the story or the thrill of the mystery. Frankly I was able to guess the ending quickly and it didn’t come as a shock to me one bit.

The characters in this novel were boring and nothing to write home about. I didn’t feel any connection to them and I feel as though I didn’t have a chance to build a connection due to the writing.

I was disappointed inted with how little I cared about what was happening.

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One By One by Ruth Ware just didn't work for me. Unfortunately, the story just didn't grab me and pull me in and I found myself not feeling engaged with the story. I did enjoy the isolated resort atmosphere but was not interested in the tech company aspect, which was a big part of the narrative. I also found the ending to be rather predictable. I do enjoy Ruth Ware's writing and will continue to give her books a try!

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This was a fun read once I got into it, but it definitely took me some time to get a sense of who the various characters were and what their relation to each other was.

Once the avalanche hit and the group’s situation became more and more dire, things picked up for me. I love a good survival story, and when that’s combined with a mystery in a remote setting, I am even more intrigued!

But the last few chapters became a slog for me, for spoilery reasons [SPOILER ALERT} Because Liz and Erin ended up alone in the chalet at the end, and Liz was the villain, it became repetitive and kind of annoying to read several chapters told from each of their POV. [END OF SPOILER]

This started out well for me but by the end I lost interest, unfortunately.

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2.5 Stars ⭐⭐💫
Ware's novels typically have an intriguing mystery, one that I love trying to solve. However, the suspense was lacking in One By One. The element of surprise, the twists, were not present. The story started out very slow and I guessed 'who dun it' almost as soon as they were introduced- my suspicions never waivered.
I did finish the story, but with the predictable plot, slow pacing, and lack of character development, it took me a while to get through. One by One was not a hit for me, and I would be quick to recommend some of Ware's other work over this one.


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*Complimentary copy for review provided by Simon and Schuster Canada. All opinions expressed here are honest and entirely my own.

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Can you call it a return to form when it's only a handful novels in to a writer's career? Well, it is. The last couple Ware modernized pastiches have been underwhelming but this is a gripping and evocative mystery. And knowing skewering of tech startup culture. Just *enough* of an homage to And Then There Were None but not too reliant on it.
Delighted to include this novel in the Fall Fiction spotlight of Zoomer magazine’s September/October print issue, as well as on new digital Books hub Club Zed "Read & Recommended."
UPDATE: This made my Best Books of 2020 list, the annual post of my favourite reads. The full Instagram post with book covers gallery is at the link, as is the Year in Reading essay of 2020 in review for Zoomer Books.

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I was SO excited for this new Ruth Ware thriller, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. It was boring, very cheesy, and VERY predictable.

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Thank you to the publisher for this copy - all opinions are my own.

I have to say that I have been the BIGGEST Ruth Ware fan since the days of In a Dark Dark Wood, and honestly, she just never disappoints me.

While I had seen some mixed reviews on this one, I personally LOVED IT. It has a very Agatha Christie / Clue vibe to it with a group stranded in a remote mountain chalet after an avalanche, and with members of the group turning up dead. Is it a new concept to the genre? No. Is it still incredibly fun to read and deeply entertaining? Hell yes.

I love the way Ruth Ware writes atmospheric suspense. I love her messy and wonderfully ambiguous characters. I love that there are a series of small reveals that bring you to the explosive conclusion. I love that it is the kind of easy reading thrillers that you can devour in a matter of hours and be left feeling like a perfectly satisfied reader.

Conclusion - I loved it. Honestly, if you want a thriller that is just a good bit of fun escapism, this is the book for you. I highly recommend this for winter vacation reading!

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Ready for another psychological thriller? In One by One by Ruth Ware a snow storm traps a group of people are trapped in a lodge on a ski mountain. And... one by one the bodies pile up.

I was glued to this book. It wavered a few times for me, but overall it kept me turning the pages. I especially appreciated the backdrop of a grand lodge on the top of ski mountain.

Ready for another psychological thriller? In One by One by Ruth Ware a snow storm traps a group of people are trapped in a lodge on a ski mountain. And... one by one the bodies pile up.

I was glued to this book. It wavered a few times for me, but overall it kept me turning the pages. I especially appreciated the backdrop of a grand lodge on the top of ski mountain.

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When it comes to Ruth Ware, her stories have always been hit and miss. And this..unfortunately, was a miss for me. I liked the format and idea behind this one, but the storytelling was slow and utterly boring for me.

I'm sure many will enjoy this one, but it wasn't for me. Sorry.

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ONE BY ONE by RUTH WARE was a fast, atmospheric, and enjoyable read with a fabulous cover that immediately grabbed my attention. I think Ruth Ware has the #bestbookcovers ever and I will continue to read her books solely because of that reason. I kind of have a love/hate relationship with her books though. This one I didn’t mind at all.

I think that we are pretty much privy to who the murderer is right from the introduction of one of the characters. I was entertained with how Ruth Ware kept the intrigue and suspense high with the why and the locked room atmosphere throughout.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Canada and Ruth Ware for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. I also had to purchase myself a copy of this book—well because of that cover!!

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A secluded setting, a cast of (some) unlikeable characters, a murder, or two.... That's all you need to know for a classic Ruth Ware novel. Not my favourite Ruth Ware book, but certainly won't be my last. I have read them all!!

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AHHHHHHH THIS BOOK. Ruth Ware does it again with a gripping tale with many twists and surprises. It's soooo hard to describe this book without giving so much away, but definitely worth the read! I read this book in one sitting because I just had to know who did it!!

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Colleagues from an uber popular tech startup arrive in the French Alps for a ski retreat at a stunning, isolated chalet, bringing secrets, tensions, and desires with them. A storm is brewing, and when an avalanche cuts the group off from all contact with the outside world, they discover that what they really should fear is the danger within.

Best bits:
* Super wintry setting - I think this would be perfect to read during a blizzard.
* Locked room mysteries are fun. And Ware does it well laying all of the pieces down oh so sneakily.
* The tension really ratchets up, I felt like I didn’t want to stop by around the 3/4 mark.

Howevers:
* It’s another thriller about mostly privileged people out for themselves. It was hard to care at times, for me anyway.
* I figured out the murderer before it was revealed (and I’m not usually very good at that). It actually didn’t bother me (may have even increased the suspense in fact) but it that irks you, you’ll probably guess ahead too.
* The cast of characters felt just like that, a cast, with only a few standing out as more interesting (but I respect that it would be hard to make some of them much more than that given the length of the book and the fact that they’re getting bumped off right and left).

Bookish Tea Pairing: a smoky pu-erh, to help you imagine being curled up by the fire, gazing out over an icy mountain vista.

I’ve read all but one of Ruth Ware’s (THE DEATH OF MRS. WESTAWAY - which I plan to read in October). For me, THE TURN OF THE KEY is her most atmospheric and creepy and interesting novel. ONE BY ONE is an entertaining locked room mystery overall, but I don’t expect it’ll stay with me for long.

(Thank you to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for my eARC).

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I don’t know if I over did it on thrillers or what but I just didn’t love this one it was missing that creepy factor that Ruth ware is so good at. I still love her and will read all her work though!

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