INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “A claustrophobic spine-tingler.” –People “Not only do Ware’s novels wink at [Agatha] Christie in a saucy way, but Ware herself is turning out to be as ingenious and indefatigable as the Queen of Crime.” –The Washington Post The #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Turn of the Key and In a Dark, Dark Wood returns with another suspenseful thriller set on … Times bestselling author of The Turn of the Key and In a Dark, Dark Wood returns with another suspenseful thriller set on a snow-covered mountain.
Getting snowed in at a luxurious, rustic ski chalet high in the French Alps doesn’t sound like the worst problem in the world. Especially when there’s a breathtaking vista, a full-service chef and housekeeper, a cozy fire to keep you warm, and others to keep you company. Unless that company happens to be eight coworkers…each with something to gain, something to lose, and something to hide.
When the cofounder of Snoop, a trendy London-based tech start-up, organizes a weeklong trip for the team in the French Alps, it starts out as a corporate retreat like any other: PowerPoint presentations and strategy sessions broken up by mandatory bonding on the slopes. But as soon as one shareholder upends the agenda by pushing a lucrative but contentious buyout offer, tensions simmer and loyalties are tested. The storm brewing inside the chalet is no match for the one outside, however, and a devastating avalanche leaves the group cut off from all access to the outside world. Even worse, one Snooper hadn’t made it back from the slopes when the avalanche hit.
As each hour passes without any sign of rescue, panic mounts, the chalet grows colder, and the group dwindles further…one by one.
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I tried several times to win this one on GoodReads, but no such luck. So I borrowed it from the library. Glad I did.
When I read the synopsis, I immediately thought of Agatha Christie’s “Ten Little Indians” (or to be more PC, “And Then There Were None”). And it started out that way. There was even a few references to that classic stuck in.
The action starts right away and does not stop until the very end. At first, keeping the 12 characters straight was a little confusing, and I had to concentrate to keep track of where everyone was (physically) as the story unfolded. I read this in a 24 hour span, with an 8 hour work day in the middle. Whoosh!
Who-dunnit and why were totally a surprise, and even though I know squat about skiing, I was able to follow along. Great read.
Ruth Ware never disappoints and this page turner whodunit in the French Alps follows a tech company whose senior staff ski as ruthlessly as they work. I strongly recommend this to fans of Ruth Ware and devoted mystery lovers.
So… 3.5 stars. The ending saved this book for me. I loved the beginning, but in the middle, I totally lost interest. It lagged and dragged, and at one point I almost stopped reading. It was painfully obvious who the killer was. But the final 70 pages were decent and even a little emotional. I wish the narrative had been 100% from Erin’s POV, and I wish the novel had a little more surprise and oomph.
I’ve loved several of Ruth Ware’s books. This is not one of my favorites, but it’s an okay read, nothing earth-shaking, but it entertaining, especially at the end.
A contemporary take on the Agatha Christie classic AND THEN THERE WERE NONE (1939) in which eight people arrive on a desert island and are met by the butler and housekeeper, after which they are murdered one by one. In Ware’s version, ten people on a company retreat arrive at a luxurious ski chalet in the French alps and are met by the cook and housekeeper; shortly afterward an avalanche cuts off all communication, rendering the place a virtual island. One by one, the guests disappear and/or die. Like Ware’s other books, this hits its target of being a quick, easy-to-read thriller. I must confess, I guessed the killer about half-way through, partly because the story is told in chapters with alternating narrators. The fact that the company is a tech startup aimed at connecting people through music was a nice touch, when the murders depend upon people becoming separated.
I have read all of Ruth Ware’s books. I love them! I just finished One by One, a locked room mystery. I had a hard time getting into the story. A group of co-workers are together to discuss a big business deal and decide the future of the their company. Things are not as clear cut as they seem in this one and one by one, people are dying. It had a slow start but picked up at about the half-way point. I didn’t fall in love with the characters and for me that is key when I am reading any novel. I skimmed pretty quickly as the end came closer for the final resolution. I am still a big fan of this author, I’m excited for the next book, even though this was not one I enjoyed as much as previous stories.
A corporate retreat heads to the Swiss Alps for a week of skiing. Once they arrive, things start to go wrong and they are in a race against time to find out what is happening to their co-workers. This book seemed similiar to “And Then There Were None” and “The Unwanted Guest” but it definitely kept me guessing. I enjoyed the style of Ruth Ware’s writing as she told the story through the different points of view of the characters.
predictable
I hesitated over starting this book quite simply because it’s by Ruth Ware which meant once I’d started, I’d be reading it while brushing my teeth, making the dinner, (driving if that weren’t highly illegal and dangerous) etc etc.
I wasn’t wrong.
One by One gripped me from the get-go. Great claustrophobic setting (a ski lodge in bad weather), a strong cast of suspects/victims, some likeable, some not; some with secrets, some with more secrets, and an attrition/death rate that openly references Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.
For me, there was a bit too much skiing description (I hate skiing) but I enjoyed sussing out who the baddie was… and changing my mind about that a good few times along the way. A good’un.
Didn’t keep my interest, The characters were not appealing.
Book 6 towards my goal of 240! 4/5 stars for this adult mystery read! Loved the concept. Great story, great characters! Loved the cover. Great for fans of “and then there were none!” Highly recommend.
I love Ruth Ware and she is an autobuy author for me, but I have noticed as of late that her books are really hit or miss for me. While I enjoyed One by One, it is nowhere close to being my favorite book by her. Reviews are all over the board for this one and I can definitely see why. I loved the setting in a secluded mountain chalet, and it reminded me a bit of her first novel, In a Dark, Dark Wood.
One by One is still a ride and experience though and I loved how atmospheric it was. A lot of readers guessed the killer, but I wasn’t really thinking about it and I didn’t have it figured out until before the reveal. I kind of just let this one take me where it wanted to, and I think that is the best way to experience it. The audio was really helpful for the slow pacing and building the tension, and I’ve listened to a few books narrated by Imogen Church and I like her narration quite a bit. I love Ware’s writing style, and her idea of the tech startup Snoop was pretty interesting. I loved that aspect of the book as well, and there are definitely a few surprises along the way.
Although I didn’t love it, I did still really enjoy One by One and I’m glad I read/listened to it. I don’t think anyone is going to be truly shocked by the ending, and even though I didn’t guess it I probably would have if I’d put my mind to it. However, I don’t think the point of this book was to shock you with the killer, but rather the journey to get there, and what a journey it was.
Thank you to the publisher for my advance review copy via NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
And Then There Were None + The Guest List
10 current/former employees of a booming UK music app startup (for those of you from the States, think Silicon Valley yuppies) decide to take a holiday at a French chalet to make the biggest decision of their lives. When an avalanche hits, they and the two workers start to see what lies in the heart of (wo)men..
I enjoyed this book. It’s my first Ruth Ware (and won’t be my last). What would have made it a 5-star for me was structuring the book a bit differently so that it wasn’t obvious from before the halfway point “whodunit.” I don’t want to say much more than that for spoilers, but I think you’ll see when you get there. I did love the way she fleshed out the characters, and the way she opened each chapters.
Buy this for yourself or someone looking for a no -so-cozy mystery. If you’re twisted, get it for someone about to go on their first ski trip.
A great heart-pounding thriller.
The premise of this book reminded me almost immediately of Agatha Christie’s – And Then There Were None. A book I enjoyed, but didn’t really like the end. This ending is totally different and I love how Ruth Ware put it all together! Whenever Ruth Ware writes about a luxury holiday place (like in The Woman in Cabin 10) I want to go there immediately! The Alps might have to wait a year or two, but I am already planning it! Be kind, Be brave, Happy Reading!
She has become one of my favorite writers. When I hear she has a new book coming out, I place my pre-order right away. She doesn’t disappoint!
This book was definitely a page-turner! It was my first book by Ruth Ware and definitely won’t be my last. It left me hanging a few times, and I did not see the twists coming. One by One is a must-read thriller. I love how the book shifts from different characters, especially with the twists thrown at you. Ruth Ware captured the mountains’ atmosphere, too, making me feel the icy cold winds on my skin as I read. I loved the characters too, and how she was able to capture the Snoop founders’ personality along with Erin. She had Erin struggling with her past while incorporating her storyline in this book perfectly.
Ruth Ware
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Cleverly crafted thriller in the genre of Agatha Christie’s masterpiece “And Then There Were None”. In this novel members of an Internet start up company are on a retreat in the Alps to discuss the future of their company. People start dying, an avalanche strands them, and everyone is a suspect.
I felt it was obvious who the killer was, but there were plenty of red herrings to throw you off track. I also wasn’t completely sure of their motive, but did have some idea.
There are a very tense few chapters at the end where you feel like you are the person being chased. I enjoyed how Ruth Ware ratcheted up the tension in the final chapters. I thought the book was a little long, but I definitely enjoyed it.
Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. I will be recommending this book!
#OneByOne #RuthWare #Edelweiss
Slow moving, cardboard characters, many things happen which never would be allowed to happen. I found it also that I disliked the way each character has a Snoop ID and every paragraph opened with the characters name and that same ID. Yes, one time it changed as part of the story. But still annoying. I can’t recommend this silly book.
This was a frustrating read with a plot that was so predictable and characters that were boring and stereotypicable.
I absolutely loved this book and I know nothing about skiing (though I did learn quite a lot). In fact, I’d go so far as to say it’s Ware’s best to date. There’s an Agatha Christie-like vibe to it as folks start dying one-by-one (shades of And Then There Were None) but it goes far beyond that. The premise of Snoop (an online site that lets you listen, in real time, to the same music as those you follow) is beyond clever and the names and titles of the Snoop owners/principles who come to a ski resort where all the action happens are priceless: Topher, Tiger-Blue, Elliott (chief of beans)…you get the idea. But where Ware really shines is taking what seems like a predictable end about 3/4 of the way through and, while not exactly twisting things up, manages to keep building the tension. And then, when most authors would write THE END, she adds a few more finishing touches. A terrific read. Can’t recommend it enough.