Thank you, SOURCEBOOKS Fire for providing the copy of Seven All Alone by Kirsty McKay. I liked how the book started out, and would have liked to know more about the past kidnapping. Sadly, we never learn much about the kids who left her or about the kidnapper. I liked the premise of the story, but the execution was rough, with unlikable characters and predictable reveals. It didn’t feel like it was plotted out, and the end didn’t make sense to me. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

This book was exquisite. The storyline had grit, emotional challenges, teenage angst, all the good stuff. What i didn't love was that I kept checking how many pages I had left and hoping there were more than there were because I didnt want the story to end. But, unfortunately, like all great books, it did end. But fantastically so. This was a great page turner, the characters were diverse, the plot refreshing, and never was there a time where I was bored in reading.

I love a book where the setting is as important as the characters to the plot. This was definitely one of those books as we see this group of young people making their way through treacherous conditions across the Scottish Highlands. This group of friends has actually been in this space before when they had a bus driver kidnapped them, and tried to take their wives when they were younger. Now it seems that someone is after them on the same mountain again, but they are older and wiser are working together to get the safety. This is another book that reminds me that I would have absolutely no survival skills out in the wilderness and that I definitely never feel the need to go camping lol. It was a great read. I finished it in just a couple of hours and will definitely be getting it for my classroom.

Seven All Alone follows Maggie as she goes on a school trip with the six other kids she was kidnapped with by their bus driver when they were six. She’s tried to forget what happened, but the trip into the mountains brings up the horrible memories. Especially when everything goes wrong. Her father and friend are separated from the group, their phones are lost, and their supplies are dwindling. To make matters worse, someone else is on the mountain with them … and they want them dead.

This was a fun mystery/thriller. I really enjoyed the setting. It was super atmospheric and had such spooky, eerie vibes. The premise was really interesting, and I like how everything was tied together. The pacing is quite good and kept me interested, especially as things picked up and the kids were convinced they saw someone. I did see the ending coming, but it was still an enjoyable read.

I wasn’t too fond of any of the characters. Maggie was probably the best in my opinion, mostly because everyone was always turning on her and I felt bad for her. But I did find it hard to connect with any of them overall. That being said, they were an entertaining group to read about with their hysteria and reactions.

Overall, if you love mystery/thrillers with a survival aspect, I’d definitely recommend checking this out.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the arc!

Every character annoyed me to no end and the writing style is the exact sort of quirky that I can’t stand, I have a really hard time with books that feel narrated by someone I would actively avoid in the real world and this felt like that.

This book follows seven young adults who head out on a camping trip that quickly takes a dark turn when they find themselves stranded and hunted down one by one. While the premise had potential, I found the execution confusing. At times, I had no idea what was going on, which made it hard to stay engaged.

On the positive side, the characters were written with depth, and I appreciated how the story eventually came full circle. However, despite those strengths, the overall experience didn’t hold my attention, and in the end, it just didn’t hit the mark for me, personally.

Thank you for the opportunity.

Thank you Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. When Maggie was little she was kidnapped by her bus driver along with six others. The were taken into the Scottish Mountains and held for three days. Then the six escape leaving Maggie behind. She does manage to fight off her kidnapper ending in his death. Now, ten years later, she’s about to go into those mountains again for a school trip. She wouldn’t be going but she’s trying to reconnect with her dad who is leading the trip. And the other members of the trip just happen to be the six who left her behind. When a storm comes in they get trapped with no phones and a limited food supply. It’s not long before they realize they aren’t alone. Someone is hunting them, picking them off one by one. And it seems like they know what really happened ten years ago. Can Maggie and the others survive? Or like last time will they abandon her to fend for herself? A fast past thriller that’s all survival instincts and tension! Filled with twists and turns that kept me hooked! I really enjoyed this one! Kirsty McKay hand me engaged and consuming the book! Highly recommend for mystery lovers!

Thank you, Netgalley, for this ARC!

PLOT

A decade earlier, seven kids were taken and held captive by their school bus driver. Now the seven are back together on a trip in the mountains, stranded and stalked by an unknown predator. As this book is largely a wilderness survival thriller, I was obviously most interested in how they managed to survive and escape back to civilization. In that regard, the author delivered, as I found their journey through the relentless storms and unforgiving terrain to be pretty well-executed.


CHARACTERS

Maggie: The main character, and the one who was left behind all those years ago. She annoyed me with the constant comments towards her ex and his new girlfriend; really, that entire plot point bugged me, and it didn't wrap up in an interesting way.

Ben: Her ex. It sounded like they were best friends before, so I'm not sure why he didn't really seem to care about her or her well-being. I don't think they had a bad breakup or anything (maybe I missed the reason?).

Seb: Twin to Lawrence. A total asshole, to the point that I was actively wondering why the others weren't ganging up on him more. I 100% would have kicked him out of the group, what with how antagonistic he was.

Lawrence: Twin to Seb. Also an asshole, but slightly less so.

Cassie: Outsider, wasn't kidnapped as a kid. Steph's friend. Honestly, she was annoying as hell too.

Steph: The only normal person, and the only character I was actively hoping would make it to safety.

Ant: Maggie's best friend. Non-binary, and was pointedly misgendered by about half the group. At one point, of of them refers to them as an 'it.' As a character, I would say they were my favorite (aside from Steph), as they did a good job of relieving tension in the group.

Assailant: I figured out who it was fairly early on, I just got their motive wrong. I thought that maybe <spoiler>Nicholas killed himself, and then his sibling came to get revenge on the others for not reaching out to him and making sure he was okay.</spoiler> The actual motive felt a little meh.

CONCLUSION

Overall, while the survival aspect kept me interested, the weak characters kept me from truly caring about what happened to them. That said, the author did a great job building tension, and I’m hopeful future books will develop the characters more deeply.

Seven All Alone by new to me author Kirsty McKay, published by Sourcebooks Fire, is n ya mystery thriller. Well written even when the twists are predictable, a good story that I enjoyed reading. 4 beautiful stars.

I've never read this author before but this book was sooooo good! The pacing was on point, the flow flowed. Perfect! Thanks for the ARC, I appreciate it!

Very strong opening chapter I was so hooked! Unfortunately, I have to DNF at 10% because the explanation for the kids to be together again makes no sense to me and it's bothering me a lot that the plot feels unrealistic so early in, I can't focus on anything else.

Thank you anyway to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the opportunity to read this book. I'd read the author's other books, I just couldn't get into this one.

Thank you Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for the ARC.

1.75 stars

I will be honest. I didn't enjoy this. I found the concept to be interesting but the execution kind of felt lack luster. I think if we got more development in the past timeline plot and how it directly affected more of the actions made by characters I would've been more invested. However the story choices were unique and interesting to say the least.

I loved this YA thriller! There were so many twists and turns, and a big one at the end that left my jaw on the floor. This book hooked me from the moment I started it, and I read the whole thing in four hours! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves thrillers that are twisty and fast-paced.

★★★.5 – A Chilling Premise

Seven All Alone starts with a gripping setup and a tense, atmospheric vibe that immediately draws you in. The isolated setting, unsettling clues, and unreliable characters all work together to build suspense. Kirsty McKay definitely knows how to create a creepy, page-turning mood.

That said, while the first half pulled me in, the second half felt uneven. Some twists were predictable, and a few characters didn’t feel fully developed, making it harder to stay emotionally invested. I was hoping for more depth or surprise from the resolution, which felt a little rushed.

Still, if you enjoy fast-paced YA thrillers with eerie tension and survival elements, this one might be worth a read. Just don’t expect every thread to be tied up neatly by the end.

Seven All Alone is about a small town where killings dont happen often. Not unless your a child and you go into the woods. Thats where horrible things happen.

the story started to feel a bit scattered. The idea was there, but the execution lost its way. It felt like it was building toward something big, but never fully got there. By the end, it was bittersweet and not in a satisfying way, but in a way that left me wanting more closure and depth.

This is one of those reads that had the potential to be really strong, and while there are moments that shine, the overall payoff didn’t quite hit for me. Still, it’s a quick and atmospheric read with an intriguing core idea, and might work well for readers who enjoy survival thrillers with layered characters and a touch of real-world darkness.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

SEVEN ALL ALONE by Kirsty McKay (Dec 2)

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the earc

10 years ago, Maggie and six of her classmates were kidnapped and held in a cave, which is something she'll never forget. Now, Maggie is back in the mountains with the same people. When a storm ramps up, the group is left with limited supplies and no phones---their chaperone also missing. They don't think it can get any worse, but then the b*dies start piling up.
SEVEN ALL ALONE is a YA thriller that immerses the reader in the Scotland mountains. From the eerie setting to the Scottish slang, this book is gripping but also a tad off-putting (as someone not familiar with some of the words the author used when the characters were talking, I was left confused about what they were referring to). Despite some of its faults---ahem: see above---I looked closer at the mystery begging to be solved.
SEVEN ALL ALONE is quite an interesting survival thriller that left me rooting for Maggie and her not-so-friends even though they weren't likeable as characters.
I was able to read this book rather quick, and I was so desperate to know the whodunit. There were times when I was like "Ooh, it's definitely this person," and there was even a time where I clocked in on someone and was so certain that they did it. So it came as a surprise to me when the actual whodunit was revealed. I didn't see it coming, nor did I ever suspect that character.
I would describe SEVEN ALL ALONE as a locked-room-eque thriller for obvious reasons; stranded in the mountain with a k*ller chasing them. I think that those who enjoy these types of m*rder mysteries will enjoy this book.

I love books, YA thrillers like this one, that are atmospheric, tense, and a chilling young adult story. As an adult, it presents the opportunity to relieve your youth vicariously and experience the fears, thrills, and danger of being at a more vulnerable age. Seven All Alone starts with a creepy, spine-tingling back story, and it just is non-stop suspenseful from that point on. I would recommend this highly for readers who love YA thrillers full of action and suspense. You will want to read this straight through. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

#SevenAllAlone

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Kirsty McKay’s “Seven All Alone” is a psychological survival thriller set against the misty, treacherous terrain of the Scottish wilderness and the even more treacherous terrain of teenage relationships. It delivers a high-stakes tale of trauma, paranoia, and the poisonous power of groupthink, all wrapped in a slow-burning mystery with horror edges. But while the premise grips from the opening chapter, its execution was a bit lacking.

Ten years ago, Maggie and her classmates were kidnapped by their bus driver and left to die in a remote mountain cave. Though they survived, the scars run deep. Now, in a cruel twist of fate, the same group of kids that are now teens is back on a class trip through the same area, led by Maggie’s father and including an outsider. When a natural disaster cuts them off from help and supplies, it doesn’t take long for old trauma to resurface and for someone to start picking them off, one by one.

The book opens strong, immediately pulling you in with a moody setting and a dark backstory. McKay uses the Scottish wilderness to chilling effect: landslides, starvation, isolation; it’s as much a character as any of the teens. There’s a lingering sense of dread, compounded by eerie messages and saint-themed deaths that suggest someone is hunting them and reenacting the martyrdoms of the saints they were ironically named after.

Where the book falters for some is in its characterization. While Maggie is a clear focal point and arguably the only sympathetic character, most of the others are intensely unlikeable, from petty and cruel behavior to outright bigotry. The group turns on Maggie constantly, making her a scapegoat for every misfortune. Even her supposed childhood friends, especially Ben, offer little support. You will need to stomach mean-spirited teen dynamics, body shaming, and moments of transphobia and racism, which, while realistic to certain adolescent behaviors, may be off-putting or upsetting for many.

Despite this, McKay does capture something chillingly accurate about trauma: it doesn’t make people kinder. It warps bonds, buries secrets, and breeds mistrust. The characters may be frustrating, but their unraveling is intentional, forming a grim psychological study of a group pushed to the brink.

The plot blends Lord of the Flies-style chaos with a locked-room mystery structure. As the teens begin to suspect that the killer is among them, suspicion spirals into hysteria. While the pacing remains tense, the twists are a bit predictable for seasoned thriller readers. Still, the final reveal, rooted in a warped sense of religious justice and long-buried childhood trauma, is compelling, and the ending offers full closure, with all plot threads tied off cleanly.

That said, the suspension of disbelief becomes increasingly necessary as the deaths pile up. Some of the killings—each mimicking a saint’s martyrdom—are elaborate to the point of implausibility, especially in a remote setting. The idea that someone could orchestrate such specific, symbolic murders under survival conditions strains logic, but adds flair to the horror.

Overall, “Seven All Alone” is an atmospheric, emotionally-charged survival thriller that explores childhood trauma, religious fanaticism, and the cruelty of teenagers. It won’t work for everyone, especially those who need likable characters to feel invested, but for readers who enjoy dark, twisty teen horror with a strong psychological undercurrent and don’t mind a few implausible turns, this is an engaging, high-stakes ride

I didn’t love or hate this book. It was well-written and the beginning had me eager to see where it was going. Unfortunately, that’s kind of where it ended for me. Everyone was unlikeable and a lot of the twists were predictable.

I feel like this is a good read for people who don’t really read thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.