One by One by Ruth Ware

My Rating: 4 Stars

Here’s why

I have read every Ruth Ware novel and have enjoyed each of them for different reasons, but definitely have my favorites. Will this one be considered one of them? (Thank you Book of the Month for having One by One be an Add-On option for the month of September!)

Erin is a ski instructor at a beautiful chalet in the French Alps, where she meets all kinds of people. She loves being in the mountains and even with horrors of the mountains in her past, she cannot seem to leave them. This week, her and her co-worker Danny are to host the employees of Snoop, an app company for their for their company retreat. Tensions are high, especially between the two co-founders, but that is just the beginning as one of their members goes missing, an avalanche hits, and “one by one” they realize the people they are snowed in with cannot be trusted.

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This book gives me such And Then There Were None vibes it’s crazy; however, Ruth Ware does give it her own twist so it’s not exactly the same (obviously!)

I love Ruth Ware and this book did not disappoint (for the most part!) Last year, her novel, The Turn of the Key, wasn’t my favorite, but this one got me back on the “Ware-train!” I always enjoy when you get more than one narrator, especially during a thriller novel. I think it adds suspense, intrigue, and makes you question all the characters more. Can I trust my narrator? Have I been seeing things through the wrong lense? All of that really helps make a great thriller and I think this novel can be considered great. I don’t want to say more, but if you can guess by my hint above – or even the title – the clock is ticking for these characters, not only before they freeze with no electricity, but before they all need to be “taken care of.”

I am giving this book 4/5 Stars because I really did enjoy it! There were only two little things I had issues with. First – and I know this was definitely intentional by Ruth Ware or her editor – but I thought the reference to the title was waaaaay overdone. Probably four or five times different characters would say “one by one.” The first time, I understood the nod, but after that I didn’t think it was necessary. Secondly, I am ALWAYS looking for a good, extra little twist of the knife at the very end, and for me, we know who the killer is a little earlier than I would’ve liked. Since we do find out with at least 100-125 pages left, I was expecting one more twist, but was a bit disappointed in that sense.

Overall, Ruth Ware is a fabulous, respected author in the literary world, especially in the genre of Thrillers! If you have never read one of hers, give it a shot – and check out my ratings of her other novels to see which one you might want to read yourself! 🙂

HAPPY READING 🙂

Genre: Thriller/Mystery/Suspense/Contemporary/Crime/Seasonal