Had to listen to the end to find out what happens but the writing and characterization is not very good. ( )

Super fast read. Kept me on my toes. Easy and fun to read. ( )

Like I have said with most of the author's other books, it was alright but not exceptional.

I thought I was narrowing things down quite well based on which narrator spoke for 'Anonymous', but they fooled me again. *face-palm* ( )

"One by One" by Freida McFadden is a gripping thriller that plunges readers into a harrowing tale of betrayal and survival. When Claire Matchett and her friends embark on a much-needed getaway in the woods, they anticipate relaxation and camaraderie. However, their vacation takes a sinister turn when their minivan breaks down in the remote wilderness, leaving them stranded and vulnerable. As they trek through the dark forest, they soon realize they are not alone, and a deadly force is picking them off one by one. McFadden masterfully builds tension as the group grapples with fear and suspicion, wondering who among them can be trusted. With its relentless pace and spine-tingling suspense, "One by One" will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the shocking conclusion. ( )

Fast paced and entertaining mystery thriller.

Three couples set off together in a minivan for a week at a secluded resort. Claire and Noah are married but she is super unhappy and hopes to hook up with Jack who is along with his uptight wife, Michelle. Lindsay is Claire’s best friend since college and is bringing her new beau, Warner. Things quickly go from tolerable to bad to worse. Soon they are wandering in the woods, hopelessly lost without food or water. Then, one by one, they start to die off.

I listened to the audio while also following along with the e-book and the narrative moves along briskly. The main voice is that of Claire though there is an anonymous point of view — I guessed early who it was only because with this author I’ve learned to go for the most unlikely to get the big twist. To be sure, most of the characters were actually pretty unlikeable to the point that I wasn’t sure I would care who would be the last one standing. There’s a lot of repetition and some of it strained my ability to suspend disbelief that 6 grown people could get themselves into this situation. But it made for a quick and easy read as you keep guessing and turning the pages to see what happens next. No surprises for me though some might feel otherwise.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-book ARC to read and review. I enjoy this author’s books as they aren’t long and involved. They make great beach reads. Got the audiobook from my library. ( )