‘One by One’ follows a tech company called Snoop who go on a company retreat to a chalet in France. There’s risk of an avalanche and tensions are running high in the group, safe to say not everyone’s going to make it home.
So aside from the ten people on the ski trip we have Danny and Erin who run the chalet. The story is told through two perspectives - Erin and Liz, who is part of the group. As the guests start to drop one by one it’s up to Erin and Danny to keep a lid on things until help arrives - if help is coming at all.
I loved this story! The trope of being trapped in the middle of nowhere with people mysteriously dying is one of my favourites. It was the first book I’ve read by Ruth Ware and I thought the writing was really readable, I didn’t want to put it down and the pacing was well done so there was always a tense, suspenseful atmosphere. I really connected to Erin as a character which helped me get more invested in the situation. I personally liked the reveal of the murderer and their motives but I know it won’t please everyone. A really great mystery thriller and one that will be even more eerie when read in cold, snowy weather.

This is a hard book to review because I flew through it while I was reading it. Even though there were elements that jarred with me or that didn't quite work for me as a reader, I still found myself turning the pages at a rapid pace.

However, once the killer was revealed I just felt extremely disappointed in the book. It was far too predictable (to me at least). In fact, I had predicted that to be the outcome from the first 10% of the book. I then found the rest of the book grating.

The stilted dialogue between characters annoyed me, especially as the tension had disappeared altogether by that point, and I found the wrap up of the book to be skin-crawlingly cheesy. Ugh, so disappointing.

I have more thoughts about the ending and character development, in general, but to share them would be to spoil the book for others, so I will keep those thoughts to myself.

I will say, for a mystery novel, there are very few content warnings with this book (see those listed below), so it may appeal to a reader who enjoys cosy, predictable, mystery novels. I love a good twist, myself, and the 'twist' in this book was obvious to me as a reader, so I found it to be a very disappointing read in the end.


Content warnings: references to childhood abuse (parental alcoholism, DV, possible sexual abuse), murder, blood, skiing accidents, poisoning of humans.

I went into this slightly worried. Just because I thought it would have too many POVs for me to keep track. Thankfully this only had two. Although I did keep notes of characters. When and how they died. Just so I didn’t get confused.

This did start a little slow. Which made sense as we had plenty of characters to learn a little about. So it didn’t bother me too much.

When the first person went missing at around 30% the story started to pick up. I had questions and needed them answered. I didn’t want to put the book down.

I tried to make some theories but I felt like all the hints and clues given were to throw me off. I didn’t trust anyone or anything.

I did figure out the killer just before the reveal. I don’t know why I just got the feeling it must be them. They were too quite. Looking back there was something off about the character. There but not there when things happened.

When it comes to the reveal I’m not sure how I feel. I can see why Ruth Ware decided to go with that. But I also feel like it was too soon and abrupt. Like we found out too easily what was happening. I just found myself waiting for the big twist. Because surely with the amount of time left there would be a final twist right? Wrong. We got a motive sure but twist not really.

The build up was great kept me intrigued the whole time. But the ending felt a little weak and disappointing.

Overall I did enjoy it and would recommend.

Well! I discovered Ruth Ware only a couple of years ago and she has quickly become one of my favourite authors. This novel did not disappoint and is even better than her last offering. The tension in this story is perfectly pitched and mounts to screaming point two-thirds of the way through.

I must admit to guessing the murderer early on but I couldn't figure out the motive. Although the temptation is to liken the setup to Christie's 'And Then There Were None', the first murder actually put me in mind of 'Evil Under the Sun' - the scenarios are similar and a joy to read in a modern, freezing alpine setting. However, Ms Ware kept tipping the balance of reality and probability that I ended up with alternative culprits and theories as the story progressed.

This is a gripping read and the French Alps are brilliantly described and the characters expertly drawn. This is on a par with Ms Ware's famous 'The Woman in Cabin 10". If you enjoyed that one, you'll love this novel. Superb.

You know when a book comes along that you didn't know you needed?

When a locked room style mystery set on a mountain and it's snowing an d it's been likened to And Then There Were None but in a modern and tech fuelled environment?

Wonderfully atmospheric and brilliantly entertaining

Although I loved the concept, characters and setting of this book, I found it just to be a bit unrealistic. It was a bit scatty in places, but overall I enjoyed it enough to finish!

Loved this! One of my favourite authors does it again- I couldn’t put this down. A cousin to ‘and then there were none’ with lots of twists and turns to keep you reading. Perfect for someone who loves thrillers and domestic noir.

Based in the alps, a work getaway from company ‘snoop’, it’s all going well until one colleague goes missing and an avalanche strikes, ploughing the chalet into isolation and cutting the electricity.

5 stars from me!

Whodunits are my very favourite kind of book and I have previously enjoyed some of Ruth Ware's other books so I was really excited to read this.

I loved the setting, I thought the ski resort was really well described and you could definitely feel a sense of escalating panic when the weather started to take a turn for the worse. Most of the characters were not likeable but they were believable and I really enjoyed finding out more about them.

I absolutely loved the first half of the book but personally I feel like the identity of the killer was given away too quickly. The official reveal wasn't until about 75% the way through but only a complete idiot wouldn't guess by about the half way point. The fun of a whodunit is being in the dark so although I still really enjoyed the story, I wasn't as invested in the second half as I was in the first.

Having said that, I loved this book and I can't bring myself to give it any less than 5 stars, but realistically it's more like 4.5 rounded up.

A very modern tale that is gripping and thrilling in equal measure. It could be said that the various characters rely too much on stereotypes. But these people become stereotyped for a reason. With plenty of red herrings thrown in, the reader is kept guessing at who the murderer is right up until the final reveal. Even once we know the identity of the villain, there's plenty of holding your breath moments to come. Another hit from the pen of Ms Ware.

The premise for this book was brilliant, colleagues and shareholders of a social media company go on a ski retreat together. It isn't long before there is an avalanche and one of their party goes missing.
Plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader on their toes throughout.

The settng in a ski resort with winter weather at its worst gives this book a chilling context. Nine team members,and one former employee,Liz,of a newstart online business arrive for a skiing holiday. it will be no holiday. There is the possibility of a buyout attractive to some of the main shareholders who are part of the group but unwelcome to the founder. The team is hosted by two employees of the ski company,Erin who has a past of her own and Danny the talented chef. Then the group begin to disappear One by One,thus the title of the book. Then it becomes a complicate murder mystery. The perpetrator has to be part of the group. Why are the three victims the ones chosen to die? Is it all connected to the possible buyout or are other factors involved. The skiing weather is used to advantage as wifi,water and electricity disappear. Then a number leave to seek help and Erin is on her own with Liz. The climax takes place in a detailed escape by skiing. The book is well written although the cloistered group leaves little room for a surprise ending. It is well written and keeps you reading.

I love Ruth Ware's novels so was thrilled to get this ARC. This did not disappoint. This could easily be dismissed as a Christie-esque novel and whilst there are definite 'And then there were none' vibes but it's more than that....and it's put me off skiing for life!

Thanks to Netgalley for the preview of this book. It was a good book but I felt it wasnt as gripping it thrilling as Wares previous books & didn't grip me as much as her books normally do. However in saying that it did pass a few hours in lockdown!

Erin and Danny are the chalet 'girl' and chef at an exclusive Alpine chalet, high up a mountainside with a private pool and a hefty price. When a group of senior management from a music app called Snoop hire their chalet for a corporate jolly, things don't turn out the way anybody had expected. With a tragic accident (or is it) early on and a massive avalanche soon after, the group are cut off from the nearest town and soon cut off for power too. A mysterious stomping off in a huff and a couple of deaths follow and it's soon clear that there's a killer amongst them but who is it and why are they killing people off?

The story is presented by two narrators - Erin, the chalet girl, and Liz, the ex-PA and minority shareholder in Snoop. Each of their entries is preceded with their Snoop registration and details which gets really silly very quickly - especially once the power is cut and there's no wifi or mobile signal. For about 2/3 of the book we get blank entries for the Snoop data. Honestly, I'd have just left all of that out as it added almost nothing to the story.

I was surprised to get the big 'reveal' at about 75% of the way into the story. I'd have hoped for a bit more ambiguity about whodunnit and more twists and turns.

This is my second Ruth Ware book - I previously borrowed a copy of 'The Turn of the Key' and it was OK but rather more obvious than this volume. It's nice to get a decent whodunnit that doesn't rely on too much sex, violence and last-minute revelations but I did find it a bit 'obvious' and would have appreciated a few more surprises.

I received a free e-book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

As someone’s who’ve tremendously enjoyed the stellar The Woman In Cabin 10 and The Turn Of The Key, I couldn’t wait to dive into Ruth Ware’s upcoming release, One By One.

This mystery revolves around a group of tech company employees who gather at an isolated chalet surrounded by snow, only to find out later on that...there’s a murderer amongst them. The story is told through the POVs of the the host and one of the employees.

I would describe One By One as a longer, modern version of And Then There Were None, with fewer twists. I thought there would be a more satisfactory twist at the end, but I found myself completely underwhelmed when the perpetrator’s identity was revealed.

While I loved the choice of the secluded setting and the atmospheric element, I was let down by the fact that this book completely lacked the author’s signature style. However, I did appreciate how - during the end - she put emphasis on the fact that evil is not all black and white, which - although not a totally unique element - did give the reveal a bit more meaning.

In a nutshell, I would recommend this to admirers of Lucy Foley and readers who are looking for a quick whodunnit mystery.

I enjoy Ruth Ware as an author and always look forward to her next read. We are taken to a ski resort in France where a corporate group are enjoying a week away. The team appear to be split in two teams and there is Liz in the middle, never quite sure who's side she should be taking. Why is she there? She has a 2 er cent stake in the business and despite not working there for years, Eva decides it's time to sell. Topher, the other main shareholder disagrees however so there is contention in the ranks.
Erin and Danny the hosts can see the disagreements and hear them. When an avalanche hits the resort, and people start to die, it becomes urgent to find out who is the killer amongst them. Who will survive.
I felt there may have been too many characters playing large roles to really connect with the story line the whole time which was a shame. I enjoyed the book, but did struggle sometimes to keep up.

A group of colleagues go to a ski resort to discuss plans for their product. They've developed an app and are in talks about a buyout. After what seems like an accident, it becomes clear they're being picked off one by one and someone is out to get them. This is fine as a run of the mill thriller and it was a quick enough read but its disappointing with what I'm used to from Ruth Ware. She has a distinctive style and I normally find her books super gripping but this was a bit of a let down from her.

One by One, Ruth Ware's latest thriller, has a irresistible premise (at least, if you like snow, isolation and murder in fiction as much as I do): ten members of a company on the verge of a buyout meet in an isolated chalet in the Swiss Alps, reachable only by funicular railway - then, after an avalanche cuts them totally off from civilisation, they realise the real threat might be each other. And the book absolutely delivers, although it isn't as accomplished and memorable as Ware's two previous outings, The Death of Mrs Westaway and The Turn of the Key. The large cast means that it's difficult to distinguish most of the characters other than a few traits or quirks, and, more annoyingly, the two narrators, Erin and Liz, sound very similar, to the extent that I was often confused about who was narrating. The setting and the technology-reliant plot reminded me frequently of Ware's first thriller, In A Dark Dark Wood - which I very much enjoyed, so this isn't exactly a criticism, but it did make me feel as if she'd taken a step backwards. I preferred the more literary feel of her last two books. On the other hand, she definitely makes the most of her chalet setting and the surrounding slopes, and the novel is very difficult to put down. Excellent grip-lit.

I will post my full review to Goodreads nearer publication date.

A group of people gather at a chalet in the exclusive ski resort of Saint Antoine in the French Alps – ten people from, or associated with wildly successful new music-related app Snoop, plus chalet host Erin and chef Danny. There are clearly tensions within the group – Snoop is on the brink of a major buyout, but not everyone is on board with that – but nobody expects murder... And when a devastating avalanche cuts off the chalet from the outside world, the tension swiftly ratchets up, all the way to a nailbiting climax.

The story is narrated in turn by Liz, ostensibly part of the Snoop group – although it’s clear she doesn’t really belong – and Erin (who, along with her colleague Danny, I liked a lot), as things quickly turn frightening. Is there really a murderer among them?

One by One is a great read, with a juicy premise, an atmospheric setting and an entertaining cast of characters. The book opens with extracts from the “about us” section of the Snoop website, immediately evidencing that whatever else they may be, Snoop are hilariously annoying, with staff called things like Tiger-Blue and job titles like Head of Cool, led by head honchos and co-founders Topher (no mere “Chris” for him, oh no) and Eva. Snoop itself is an interesting concept (the ability to “snoop” what other people are listening to) which I wonder if anyone in the real world has yet come up with?

I’ve really enjoyed all of Ruth Ware’s books and this was no exception. And Then There Were None has been mentioned in several reviews, and this does feel at times like an homage to Christie – even down to the title. Loved it.

I’ve always enjoyed Ruth Ware’s books and One By One is no exception. The plot was tight, there was mystery and intrigue. The characters were well fleshed out and made real.. the plot was interesting too, going on a Ski Trip which seems to be an upcoming trend on fiction of this ilk..