A week off with no young children and no work responsibilities. Just hiking and hot tubs with friends. This is what Claire signed up for when she planned a vacation with her husband, Noah, and two other couples. From the very beginning, there is a conflict between the main character and her husband. They are disconnected, marriage on the rocks and trust is lost.

The story literally moves along introducing each new character as they are picked up for the road trip. Good 'ole Boy Scout Jack has a secret that will damage the friend group. His wife, Michelle, is a workaholic and not very well liked among the women. Claire's best friend, Lindsay, brings along her new smart-mouthed plastic surgeon boyfriend Warner. So many mixed personalities in one vehicle!

Then the real thrill begins when the fairly new minivan inexplicably breaks down. They are forced to hike the rest of the way to their reserved inn. The woods aren't easy to navigate with no cell service, an unreliable map printout, an old compass, trail mix, beef jerky and two bottles of water to share.

This is where Freida McFadden shines. Not only did the author perfectly set the scene with the right amount of suspense and character background, but she leads readers down a rocky path of WTF is happening?! What unfolds is a dark twisted thriller where a group of friends, lost in the woods, fall one by one until it is shockingly clear: only the killer will return home alive.

I loved every fast-paced chapter. Clues are dropped. Personalities are revealed. Animosity escalates. The anonymous killer narrates chapters here and there providing hints and motives. It is a game of #whodoinit? Who is the hunted and the hunter? Who is the anonymous narrator and are they reliable?

One by One kept me on the edge for more. There are eye-rolling moments, sometimes so ridiculous it is funny, but often a twist I didn't see coming when it came. I am glad the publisher decided to reprint this 2020 release so it pushed to the top of my radar. Highly recommend!

Happy Pub Day, Freida McFadden! One by One is now available.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

Here are my thoughts on this book (keep in mind that I am a big Freida fan).

1. Loved that it was a quick read and short chapters.
2. It was very spooky and kept me captivated the entire time. I’m not usually scared during books but this one creeped me out and I had to turn the lights on and make my dog lay with me.
3. Overall it was kind of silly and I don’t think it was one of Freida’s best works. It was so short that it seemed a little underdeveloped (characters and storylines) and while there was a plot twist, it didn’t shock me and I was kind of expecting it to an extent.

✨Book Review - Spoiler Free ✨
One by One - Freida McFadden
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

🥸 who dunnit/murder mystery
🌲lost in the wild/survival
🔀 twisty turny

TW: marriage infidelity, child trauma, death

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you @poisonedpenpress for the opportunity!

Frieda has done it again!!! Every book I read of hers, I’m never able to guess outright WHO the crazy one is 🤪. This is what I love about her writing. She has me guessing until the very end. This new novel has twists and turns all the way up until the very last few pages. I love that the setting in this one took place more in that classic horror movie type setting of in the woods/creepy cabin vibes.

Six friends book a relaxing couples’ retreat to a resort in the Colorado woods, but one is planning on being the only person to make it home alive.

This book kept me guessing at every chapter and whenever I thought I knew who the killer was, I was thrown off again and again. This was a classic Frieda with detailed storylines and psychotic characters. Definitely recommend for my thriller readers or Frieda fans!

What the heck. I couldn’t stop reading. I had to know what was happening. I didn’t guess it. I thought I had it but I was completely wrong oh my gosh. The drama and the planning. Omg

Another great psychological thriller by Freida McFadden. Claire is looking forward to a week long getaway with friends to try and repair her marriage (or move on). After her car breaks down in a remote area, they must walk to find the inn. The friends feel like they are being hunted but aren't sure by who or what.

This is a great story about betrayal and survival (if possible). Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honesty opinion.

Not my favorite McFadden book— it felt very one dimensional and lackluster. The twist was pretty obvious too. However, I’ll read anything she writes, so this wasn’t a deterrent!

This one had me on the edge of my seat! This intense novel follows 6 friends who head into the woods (cliche I know) for a week of relaxation. Claire, our main character, thought this would be the most relaxing time of her life; man, she was wrong.

Claire, Noah, Lindsey, Warner, Jack, and Michelle set off on the perfect vacation realizing that one by one people disappear and that not everyone will make it out alive.

If you like thrillers, this is the one for you!

This book is a pretty quick read and a decent thriller/who dunnit. A group of friends get lost in the woods and one by one disappear...the chapters are from the perspective of one main character and are peppered with "anonymous" chapters. These "anonymous" chapters kept things a little more interesting and I did like that they were interspersed throughout the main (present day) story line. However, there's no real groundbreaking, jaw dropping twists to this story. Nevertheless, if you're looking for a quick read and like the idea of a stranded-in-the-middle-of-nowhere thriller, this is the book for you. You can easily finish this book in one day if you're a quick reader.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and to the author for this ARC. I voluntarily wrote this review of this book.

A group of friends who are not really friends are going on a week away together. What they don’t know is that some of them are sleeping around with each other so they are all keeping secrets and hoping that they don’t come to light while they’re together but it also makes for some very unrealistic scenarios.
The group, which is made of 3 couples, gets lost in the woods after their car breaks down on the way to the inn that they’re staying at and they start disappearing one by one from the pack. They go in circles and have no cell service and make no attempt to backtrack to the vehicle, even when they see claw marks on the tree and then find the bloody body of one of their group. Make it make sense.
I think this had potential but it didn’t live up to it. I usually love her books but this was a miss for me.

In "One by One" by Freida McFadden, readers are thrust into a suspenseful narrative where a seemingly idyllic vacation turns into a nightmare for protagonist Claire Matchett and her companions. What was meant to be a peaceful retreat in the wilderness quickly descends into chaos as the group becomes lost and members start mysteriously disappearing, leaving behind a trail of fear and suspicion.

McFadden weaves a tale of survival and betrayal against the backdrop of the unforgiving Colorado wilderness. The tension steadily mounts as the characters grapple with their dire situation, questioning not only the dangers lurking in the woods but also the trustworthiness of their fellow travelers.

However, while the premise of "One by One" promises thrills and intrigue, the execution may leave some readers feeling disappointed. As a seasoned reader of McFadden's works, I couldn't help but notice the recurring patterns and predictable twists that have become characteristic of her writing. Once again, we are presented with a cast of privileged characters whose flaws and shortcomings are glaringly evident from the outset, while the protagonist is burdened with a troubled past.

One of the most glaring issues with the story is the lack of believability in the characters' actions and backgrounds. It strains credibility to imagine individuals living in Colorado who have never ventured into the outdoors before, let alone gone camping. This disconnect between the characters and their environment detracts from the overall immersion of the narrative and leaves readers questioning the authenticity of the story.

Overall, "One by One" delivers a fast-paced and suspenseful read that will keep readers turning pages until the very end. However, for those familiar with McFadden's previous works, the formulaic nature of the plot and the lack of depth in character development may diminish the overall impact of the story. While it may satisfy fans of the genre looking for a quick thrill, it ultimately falls short of delivering a truly memorable reading experience.

ONE BY ONE is a psychological thriller by bestselling author Freida McFadden. This is the sixth book I have read from this author, and having loved her novels, I was eager to start reading One By One.

Three couples decide to go on a week-long trip together. It sounded like bliss; but it became a deadly nightmare! Gripping, shocking, and tense, One By One was a page turner from the beginning! Just like all the other novels I've read by Freida!

Claire's minivan broke down on a dirt road in the country. There is no cell service, the compass isn't working, and tension is mounting. They decide to walk through the woods to their hotel, where they will laugh about this later. But they can't seem to find the hotel, they are lost, and have no idea where they are. Sounds like the making of a horror film, right?

Making matters worse, one by one they go missing!

Three couples are on their way to a remote inn for what is supposed to be a relaxing vacation. When their car breaks down, and they can’t seem to find their way to the inn on foot, they have to brave the woods, while a number of unfortunate events has the group dwindling one by one.

✨Review✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5)
Just when you think you know what’s going to happen, Freida gets you again! Told from the dual perspective of one of the main characters, Claire and an anonymous perspective, I was definitely suspecting each character at every chapter. It was full of twists and turns, just as we’ve come to expect from our psychological thriller queen.

I did find that some of the decision making by the characters hard to believe, so I would say I enjoyed some of her other books more. It was still a very fun read, and I finished it in a couple days. If you’re looking for a fast-paced read with a wild ending, I would definitely recommend picking this one up!

Ooh! This was a fun one. I wasn’t expecting the end reveal at all.

I loved the unknown POV and how it gave that creepy feeling running in the background.

You get a locked room thriller trope in the woods where not everyone who enters will leave. You’ll be entertained the entire time.

Frieda McFadden did it again. Another great thriller. Had me guessing until the end. Just when you think you know your friends you get a big surprise.

I previously read this book and didn’t realise it was a reprint.
I originally picked it up as it appealed to
me as a mum, (wanting down time not a death sentence) and I knew there would be a great plot twist in true McFadden style. And it did not disappoint.

If you haven’t yet read this or have it on your TBR. I recommend you do!

Freida McFadden is on my short list of go to authors when I need a book that will have me saying “just one more chapter” over and over. Just like “Housemaid” and “Never Lie”, this is another page turner that will have you guessing right til the end. I couldn’t tell which way was up, who was behind it, and whose character was reliable. Each chapter was told from a different point of view, either Claire’s, or Anonymous. I found myself dissecting each chapter by anonymous for clues of who that person could be, and even after the big reveal, I still found myself getting whiplash right up until the last page of the epilogue. If you are looking for a good page turner that you can read in a few sittings (or one long one!) this is a great one to pick up.

This was yet another Freida McFadden hit for me! I love her fast-paced thrillers. They’ve all kept me guessing until the very end, and One by One was no different!

Claire and her husband Noah are heading on a trip with two other couples. Their relationship has been strained, to say the least. Will this trip make or break them?

On the way, their car breaks down deep in the woods and they are suddenly thrown into a life-or-death situation with no cell service and limited resources. But things quickly begin to seem less like random bad luck and more like an orchestrated scenario. Who’s responsible? And why do members of the group keep mysteriously disappearing?

I loved the twists and turns of One by One! I always try to figure out the ending of McFadden’s books and have never been able to work out all the details before they’re revealed. I was sufficiently creeped out enough to not want to read this book after dark, which is a sign of a great thriller to me!

3/5 stars!

I love all of Freida McFadden's books. She knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat and throw in a major plot twist. This book kept my interest the entire time but I found it a little too far fetched. Some of the characters were hard to connect too, they were often frustrating at times. It was entertaining and I wasn't expecting the plot twist at the end! Overall, it was an easy thrilling read. I prefer her other books more!

To start, this murder mystery book is different from my normal reads. I started and finished it in a day though as I do with most of Freida Mcfadden's books! It starts out with 6 people (3 couples) going away for a stress free weekend, but that is FAR from what happens! On the way to where they’re staying the minivan they’re traveling in breaks down out of no where. There’s no cell phone service and they’re in the middle of the woods without much protection. Things start to take a turn very quickly and one by one they start dropping dead and disappearing. Leading up there’s lots of tension in each relationship, lots of secrets and the Plot twist is not at all what you think it would be! There’s two POVs that switch between Claire, the female main character, and Anonymous. By the end we find out who anonymous is and it is not who you’d expect! Its hard to trust anybody in this situation even though they’re all close friends. But can you trust those closest to you not to stab you in the back? Guess you’ll have to read to find out..