As a huge fan of Freida McFadden, I had great expectations for One by One. The initial chapters of the book successfully introduced the characters and built an atmosphere of suspense, promising an engaging narrative. However, as the story progressed, my enthusiasm wavered.
The second half of the book failed to deliver on its early promise. The plot veered into increasingly implausible territory, straining my belief in the story. Instead of richly developed individuals, the characters began to resemble mere stereotypes, leaving me questioning the authenticity of their relationships.

I could not put this book down. It will keep you guessing right until the end. Friendships, marriages, and unresolved childhood trauma all tied together as a group of three couples get lost in the woods and start disappearing one by one.

Imagine you're on a hiking trip with friends, looking forward to a relaxing vacation. But then your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, and you get lost in the woods. As darkness falls, you start to hear strange noises, and one by one, your friends start to disappear.

That's the nightmare that Claire Matchett finds herself in in "One by One." She and her friends are on a hiking trip when their minivan breaks down on a remote dirt road. With no cell reception, they are forced to hike the rest of the way to their destination. But as they venture deeper into the woods, they soon realize that they are hopelessly lost.

As fear begins to creep in, the group members start to disappear one by one under mysterious circumstances. Is there a wild animal hunting them? Or is the hunter one of them?

McFadden skillfully weaves a tale of suspense and paranoia, as the characters struggle to survive in the unforgiving wilderness while trying to uncover the truth behind their attackers. The isolated setting and the sense of impending danger create a palpable tension that will keep you guessing until the very end.

The characters are well-developed and relatable, each with their own secrets and vulnerabilities. Claire, the protagonist, is a strong and determined woman who is forced to confront her own inner demons as she fights for survival. The dynamics between the group members are complex and realistic, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the story.

The pacing of the novel is excellent, with the action building steadily to a heart-pounding climax. McFadden's writing is vivid and descriptive, immersing the reader in the eerie and dangerous world of the woods.

Overall, "One by One" is a highly recommended thriller that will appeal to fans of suspense, mystery, and the outdoors. It is a well-crafted and gripping read that will keep you guessing until the very last page.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an e-arc!

Claire has an uneasy feeling about the annual trip she and her husband, Noah, are about to leave for, especially since her daughter has a nightmare about something eating them all in the woods. The only bright side of the trip is that she might get some time away from her husband, Noah. Claire and Noah’s marriage hasn’t been in a good place for a while, yet they still uphold their tradition of retreating to nature with their friends, two other couples.

On the way to their hotel, Claire’s van breaks down in a remote area and won’t start again. This is especially suspicious since this is a new van that had recently been seen by a mechanic. The group decides to leave the van and walk for help, searching the woods for any clues toward civilization. The group quickly realizes something deadly is at play when one by one, members begin dying or disappearing. Claire finds herself not knowing who to trust, even though she’s known almost all of these people for years. While people begin to turn against each other, it becomes a fight to survive for everyone.

This was a fast-paced thriller, and it kept me guessing on who or what was responsible for what was happening to the group. I didn’t anticipate the plot twist that happened, and I definitely recommend this to any mystery or thriller readers.

Absolutely loved this, I didn’t want to put it down. So many twists and turns. Definitely one of my favorite Freida book.

Another 5 ⭐️ read from Freida! I could not put this book down, I devoured it! You think you know what's coming but then the twist comes and it blows your mind. When anonymous was revealed and the ending, just *chef's kiss*

Many thanks to NetGalley for sending me a copy prior to the republication.

I received this as an arc from netgalley. Once again, quick read and you just don’t want to stop. Freida is amazing at capturing an audience and hanging on her every word. I loved this one. Still not a million mind blowing twists but kept me guessing and I enjoyed it. Would recommend!!

It was a little short, but better than the average book. The outdoorsy angle was a nice change for McFadden, but I figured out what was going on fairly early (thank you, Agatha Christie.) A good, quick read - unless you're in the woods at night. Then pick a different book!

I’m not quite sure exactly how I want to rate this book so I’m giving it 3 stars because for the most part I was intrigued and it kept my interest. However, by the end I thought, this is ridiculous and I wasn’t at all surprised by the “twist.” The pros, great plot idea, I liked the anonymous POV although it threw out some interesting tidbits which makes you think it could be one person, which then makes you think, nah, that’s too easy. Cons, didn’t like ANY of the characters. At least in her other books there’s at least one character that’s somewhat likeable. This one, I could have cared less if they all died. The other con, terrible villain origin story and just didn’t seem that plausible, although what do I know about serial killers 🤷🏽‍♀️. So, overall, if you like this author, you’ll most likely like this book. Not as good as The Housemaid (the first one), but entertaining enough.

Thank you Net Galley/author/publisher for the eARC. I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a very quick read for me and I didn’t see the ending coming at all. It was fast paced without any lulls. The only thing that could have been better was the character development but then I don’t think it would have been as quick a read as it was.

What can you do when a the prospect of an heavenly week turns out to be your worse nightmare? This thriller captivates us and keeps us guessing!
Claire goes to this vacation with her husband and 4 friends, and trough the week we can see through her perspective things going sour and people are dying.
We also have some perspective to backgroud of the 'annonimous', who we believe is responsible for the killings. We only discover who it is in the end!
I really enjoyed the story and was glued to my kobo screen to see what happended next. Some turns I can say I predicted but the main twist at the end?? Well, I can trully say I did not see that one coming!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kept me wondering "who done it"! It was a fast read with lots of twists and turns. I think the downfall I had was that I really didn't feel invested in any of the characters. They were all kind of terrible. The suspense and thrill were spot on and kept me going.

I found this to be fairly unremarkable. I didn’t find it tedious as some other reviews suggest, but it’s not the strongest or most engaging of Freida’s books.

4 Stars
An unputdownable fast-paced story about a couples trip gone wrong | Freida McFadden never seizes to surprise me - all my theories were wrong | The creepy setting adds to the thrill, but the characters lack some depth and complexity | Recommended for suspense lovers, but not my favorite Freida book

This review has been posted on Goodreads and Instagram.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

One by One is the latest Freida McFadden thriller, and as someone who is a huge fan of the author, I was excited to crack this one open. It is a mystery/thriller about a group of three couples -- Claire & Noah, Jack & Michelle, and Lindsay & Warner -- on a getaway to a remote cabin when things begin to go horribly wrong.

First, the minivan breaks down. Then, when the group decides to walk the rest of the way, they get lost. Very lost. Then, there is no phone signal or GPS, and the compass seems wonky. An then, something begins killing the members of the group one by one. At first it seems like an animal, but as everyone's relationships and secrets begin to come out, everyone begins to look like a suspect. Noah and Claire's marriage has fizzled out. Claire had an affair with Jack, who is Noah's best friend. misogynistic and controlling jerk. The reveal of the "anonymous narrator" (i.e. the killer) is shocking. I definitely did not have that one figured out!

One by one is a great, twisty, suspenseful read. I really liked the big reveal at the end and thought it was very well done. There is lots of foreshadowing and clues sprinkled throughout the book, which really makes you want to figure out "whodunnit" as you go along. In the vein of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, and Ruth Ware's One by One, so fans of those types of mystery/thrillers and Freida McFadden's other work will love this one. I will definitely be recommending this book to my book clubs!

I really enjoyed this book!
The characters were extremely unlikable which made it all the more fun.

Six friends lost in the woods, where secrets and tensions escalate, made this book a "can't turn the pages fast enough" experience.

The writing was brisk and engaging, keeping the pace moving quickly and keeping me hooked.

I've added McFadden to my auto-buy author list!

Loved this book. Freida does it again with an amazing book! I was seriously questioning the whole time. When I thought I knew who did it, can something else would happen! I couldn’t put this book down.

Claire and her friend's decide to vacation together along with their spouses/boyfriends. Then Claire's van breaks down and that's when everything starts happening. One by one a person either dies or disappears. Then only 2 are left. It was very intense and I was on the edge of my seat to fin out exactly what was going on.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc to review.

This is the 9th book I have read by Freida McFadden. I personally consider myself a Freida fan. This was a quick, fast-paced read but it wasn't my favorite. With that; I feel like I should say, i am not a "cabin in the woods, everyone dies one by one" girlie and that is exactly what this is.

I will say, it was a really short novel; so I was glad it didn't drag out too long. Overall, it was well written, there is a twist (pretty predictable) but a twist no less. Overall, i think this is a decent palette cleanser but not Freida's best book.

Rating: 2/5

Review:
As a reader seeking a thrilling and suspenseful experience, "One by One" by Freida McFadden fell short of my expectations and failed to deliver the gripping narrative I had hoped for. From start to finish, the story lacked the authenticity and tension necessary to immerse me in its world of mystery and intrigue.

From the outset, I found the premise of six friends stranded in the wilderness, facing a mysterious threat, to be intriguing. However, as the story unfolded, it became increasingly evident that the plot was lacking in believability and substance. The characters felt flat and unconvincing, failing to evoke any genuine empathy or investment on my part. Their actions and motivations seemed contrived, and I found it difficult to suspend my disbelief long enough to become fully immersed in the story.

Furthermore, the much-touted plot twist failed to deliver the shock and surprise I had anticipated. Instead of keeping me guessing and on the edge of my seat, the twist felt predictable. As the story progressed, it became increasingly clear where the plot was headed, leaving little room for genuine surprise or revelation.

Overall, "One by One" was a disappointing read that failed to capture the essence of a compelling thriller. The writing was nice. I enjoyed the dynamic between the characters, but the genre was lacking. The lack of believability and predictable plot twists left me feeling underwhelmed and dissatisfied. While some readers may find enjoyment in its easy-to-read prose and fast-paced narrative, for me, it ultimately fell short of the mark.