Another hit! I was worried when I saw the descriptions on the first page that I would have too many characters to keep up with, but I was able to follow just fine. The pacing, twists, and writing hits it out of the park as always!

Wow! Three couples are headed on a week long vacation filled with hiking and hot tubs when their van breaks down in the middle of nowhere.
They set out hiking to find the hotel with no cell signal and hardly any water or food. This vacation turns out like none of them had planned. One by one, they die or disappear. I did not see the twist coming towards the end of this book! This is the first Freida McFadden book I've read but it will surely not be my last. Thanks to @NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC of this book.

NetGalley ARC - Paperback Edition (Publishing 4/2/24)

This was my 2nd Freida McFadden book and I loved it!!! She has the ability to pull you along for the ride and I am fully invested in keeping those pages turning as fast as possible.

One by One is about some people who go on a vacation together and one by one...well, you will have to read it to find out what happens. I hate spoilers, but I bet you can guess. But can you figure out the twists and turns? It was quite well done.

Thank you NetGalley.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Freida McFadden for an ARC to read and give my unbiased review of. This was the first book I've read from Freida McFadden but it definitely won't be my last. This was a quick read that was full of twists and turns and just when I thought I knew where the story was going, I was wrong. I enjoyed that the POV switched from Claire to Anonymous every so often to set up the back story of Anonymous and how their past plays into the present.

Feeling like a road trip with your friends? Expecting to have a relaxing fun filled adventure? That is exactly what six friends had planned.
They are off to a great adventure until the van breaks down and there is no cell service. Feeling like this is just part of the adventure the six decide to walk to their hotel. As tensions mount they can’t seem to find the hotel. Continuing to wander the woods, one by one they go missing.
The story will keep you guessing. Who is taking out the friends, is it one of the six? Who will walk out of the woods alive? Read the book to find out!!
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

_One by One_ by Freida McFadden is a fast paced, engrossing, and suspenseful read that will keep the reader guessing the outcome. Told from the perspectives of Claire and an anonymous character, it follows a group of friends as they begin their tranquil wilderness vacation, but are forced to abandon their vehicle to hike to their hotel. Their path should lead them to safety, but soon it’s apparent someone or something is hunting them. It’s an easy and quick captivating thriller.

Book Title: One by One
Author: Freida McFadden
Publisher: Poison Pen Press
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Original Pub Date was: July 13, 2020 and
Paperback Republished Date Scheduled for: April 2, 2024
My Rating: 3.7 rounded
Pages 295

I am a big psychological thriller fan and Freida McFadden is one of my favorite authors! I know to expect the unexpected with twists, turns, and deceptions. This is #16 for me she does not disappoint.
Once again looking forward to her next story!!!

6 people of on a 6 day vacation in a 6 passenger minivan
Hmmm did someone call 666 the number of the devil?

Story is told from the POV of Claire Matchette and “Anonymous”.
These six friends have been excited about their annual vacation together. Claire is married to Noah who was the love of her life but now she is unhappy. Michelle is married to Jack and Leslie + Warner She has been a friend of Claire’s since college – and seemed never interest in getting married until she meets handsome Warner.

These six set off in Claire’s minivan; however not far from the Inn the minivan breaks down. Since they are somewhat near they decided to walk. However these six intelligent people have next to no basic survival skills and get more and more lost. Next ‘one by one’ they are mysteriously eliminated – It appears only one of them will return home alive.
Claire is a typical naive McFadden protagonist and had me either rolling my eyes or shouting at her at her poor decisions. – How could she not know how to go potty in the forest?
(McFadden’s typical characters are ~ wife is naïve and the husband is charismatic but can be a jerk- (more recently stories wife is intelligent husbands are still charismatic and are also still jerks.)

I had an idea as who was ‘Anonymous’ although I didn’t have a clear reason for it –
As I thriller fan I know to suspect everyone and the most likely person didn’t do it!
.
– I have read enough Freida stories that I know she not only isa great storyteller known as’ the ‘Plot-Twist Queen’, but also has a great sense of humor.
I read several of the reviewers who gave a low rating-One asked - Why would a talented author use ridiculous elements such as the perfect tool to make claw marks on trees - magnets, maps, berries etc. as devious ploys?
I laughed and thought these reviewers don’t know Frieda’s sense of humor!


I like that there is a “Reading Group Guide’ Needless to say one doesn’t have to be in a book cub to think about the questions. The last one left me thinking ~
When we find out ‘Anonymous’ identity and the comment is made about what will happen to Claire and Noah– Do you agree or disagree with anonymous?

Want to thank NetGalley and Poison Pen Press for this early eGalley.
Paperback Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 2, 2024.

I enjoy all of Frieda McFadden’s book and this was no exception. I enjoyed the chapters with “anonymous” giving clues to who our killer was. Thanks for the opportunity to read early.

Ya know what, this may actually be my favorite novel by this lady. This was an absolute thrill and I enjoyed it so much.

This book is being republished in April. Don’t miss it!
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.

Once again Mrs Freida out does her self. You think you have it figured out but you don't and it's something wild but you never thought could happen. Freida McFadden is a brilliant and amazing writer that she will have you hooked by your first book and you would want more and more. I promise you read one book and you will be wanting more. Her books are full of twist and turns that you never expected.. I've read quite a few of her books and have not found one that I disliked. Her writing will have you hooked.

Claire and her husband Noah have been unhappy for a while. Neither is looking forward to their week at a cabin with friends. Things only go downhill as one by one, people start to disappear after they get stranded.

I am a huge Freida McFadden fan and this book reminded me why. Her books are so bingeable and full of twists that I don’t see coming. Really liked this book!

Claire's marriage to Noah is on the rocks. Very jagged and slippery rocks. She's been having an affair with her husband's best friend, Jack, and they're all planning a week-long getaway together. Instead of sharing a room with her husband, Claire's going to get her own room, which she will be sharing on the sly with Jack. But when they get close to their destination, the car battery dies and of course, like any good suspense/thriller characters, they set off through the woods to find the inn as the crow flies rather than continuing on along the road. You can guess by the title what happens next.

This group of six people has a long history, both together and separately. That history involves a lot of clashes and some serious personality disorders. When they tromp off into the woods together there are signs of a dangerous animal in the woods. But we all know the most dangerous animal of all... is humans. One by one the friends are picked off. Will the survivors find the inn and be rescued? Or will there ultimately be only one who remains?

This was the first book I've read by Freida McFadden and it will not be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and was not able to figure out what was going on. Not only was it satisfyingly swervy and exciting, but there was that little twist at the end just when you think the story is over. Because when you're truly twisted you will find a way to keep there from ever really being a happy ending no matter what. This book is a fun read, definitely a good one for a long weekend or vacation when you won't be pulled away.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars!
I like to pride myself on figuring out what is happening in a story before the story lays it out. Freida never lets me down. I did not know who the "anonymous" person was until the end. It was a good story and had me somewhat anxious about being stuck in the woods and something was making claw marks on the trees. Then the people just disappearing one by one. . .

Hottdang! McFadden has become one of my favourite authors. Yet again, I was at the edge of my seat dying to know what'd happen. And waiting for the insane twist McFadden plotted this time. Though I'm used to a little more insane plots from her, I was still quacking in my boots enough to yell out loud once, haha.

Freida McFadden never disappoints with a fast-paced who did it and wonderful characters. Going on a retreat to a cabin becomes a game of life and death and twists in every chapter. As the story unfolds from two perspectives one is left always wondering who is the killer but in the end, you do not see it coming. With an ending that leaves you wondering if you guessed correctly or not. A wonderful novel with an edge-of-your-seat plot that has you mystified even after the last page. One can only grab the next Freida McFadden novel and dive in.

one by one
ive only read one other book by mcfadden which wae Housemaid and despite it not being perfect i did really enjoy it! i cannot say the same for one by one…

even after the twist was revealed i cant believe how dumb some of the characters were and i cant really say WHY without spoiling.

last chapter in the epilogue actually killed this book even more. if that last chapter wasnt written, the ending would have been much much better but the author did the classic “explain everything to the reader” instead of just letting us imagine and wonder. it wouldn’t have even been an ambiguous ending but just something to ponder on.

anyways i just thought the twist was dumb (the motive at least), i guessed half the twist and the anonymous pov it just was not for me. probably great for those who dont read many thrillers or ppl easy to please but thrillers are veeeery hard to please me most of the time.

3.5 ⭐️

Was this the most perfectly crafted piece of literature? Maybe not but I had a good time and that’s really what I want out of a thriller. Really simple and easily digestible writing with a good amount of tension and just the right amount mess. This was my first outing with Frieda McFadden so I don’t know if the tone of the rest of her books are the same but I appreciate when there is a certain amount of self-awareness in thrillers. There was clearly a lot of camp in this one and it just fully embraced it.

I see a title referencing Agatha Christie, I read it; I’m just a simple gal.

This is a fun fast-paced page-turner, now try saying that three times :D

That being said, it’s not a new concept and a lot of things don’t make sense but hey, it’s a fun quick read.

If you’re looking to be entertained then you should definitely give this one a read!

What can I say about Freida McFadden besides that she doesn’t EVER miss!! Always a turn pager from start to finish! I would definitely recommend this one if you love a quick paced thriller!

Freida McFadden comes through yet again with "One by One". What starts out as an interesting adventure with 3 couples going on a trip, ends in a nail-biting struggle to survive. In typical Freida fashion, you think you have figured out the twist multiple times, second guessing yourself, then feeling pretty confident that you have finally cracked the code, only to get to the inevitable part when you scream "WHAT!?" and then pick your jaw up off the floor. Always a pleasure to read Freida McFadden's books.