Published by Harvill Secker on September 8, 2020
Format: eARC, Hardback
Source: Publisher
Pages: 372
Goodreads
Getting snowed in at a beautiful, rustic mountain chalet doesn’t sound like the worst problem in the world, especially when there’s a breathtaking vista, a cozy fire, and company to keep you warm.
But what happens when that company is eight of your coworkers…and you can’t trust any of them?
When an off-site company retreat meant to promote mindfulness and collaboration goes utterly wrong when an avalanche hits, the corporate food chain becomes irrelevant and survival trumps togetherness.
Come Monday morning, how many members short will the team be?
Happy Publication Day Ruth!! Hope you have a wonderful day ????
I tell you what I frigging loved this book! Now I am a huge fan of Ruth’s despite only having read 2 of her books. You see if it wasn’t for her book The Woman in Cabin 10, well I wouldn’t have started blogging which I told her when I got to meet her at Capital Crime festival. Well, I told her in a backward tongued tied way that, oh that apparently I wrote her books! Me, flustered and fangirling! So whilst I may not be a super fan reading all her books, I own them all but I owe her for this blog too. I will be reading all the books too! So after that disclaimer back to One by One…
So I frigging loved this book! Although, not sure I want to go skiing again after reading this and I do enjoy a spot of skiing, might just stay away from this resort. I loved the concept of Snoop too, a social media app to track people’s music taste and listen to what they are listening to at the moment, it is quite intimate and intrusive at the same time but it brought background to the team to where everything begins.
As is the way when skiing, at times you are truly isolated when on the mountain if you have an empty run, but those avalanche warnings aren’t something to be messed with. That warning brings the start of something quite dark and devious. I had my suspicions from the start, but I wasn’t 100% confident in my reckoning. It reminded me of Agatha Christies And then there were none (my second favourite Christie book) where people are picked off One by One. But like always, is it the obvious person who is committing these heinous acts or is there someone else to blame?
I flew threw this book, the chapters are short and succinct. When we are with Liz, a shareholder of Snoop we see what it is like to be on the inside. When we are with Erin, the Chalet host, we see the outsiders point of view and both offering interesting takes on the events as they unfold.
I loved that the story is only told from two characters point of view. It made for riveting reading and adds a layer of mystery because you really didn’t know what was going on outside that small bubble. We are only told things when the character themselves learn of the events. Who is safe? Who should we be worried about? When the avalanche causes problems and the chalet is basically on its own kind of lockdown then the fun really begins. A web of deceit has been woven but do the reasons justify the crime.
Gah, so much I want to say, I just thoroughly enjoyed it, the cold and stark yet beautiful setting of the mountains. The unsuspecting flies in the middle of a spiders web. For me, it worked, I know it hasn’t for some people, but for me it did. I was racing through the book, eager to know how it would all end. To see if it would end, or would it just be a vicious loop. I felt the cold, I have experienced that cold but to be shut off from the world. To be truly alone, on a mountain that truly terrifies me.
Can not wait for my next adventure with Ruth, just need to decide which one to pick first!
Until next time xxx
My thanks to Graeme at Vintage Books and the author for a copy of the book in return for my honest and unbiased review
No judging now but I have read one other by Ruth. I am taking my time, can’t rush this now!
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2020 NetGalley
- 2020 Reading
- NetGalley November
nickimags @ Secret Library Book Blog says
Fantastic review lovely! I still haven’t read any of her book even though I’ve had them out from the library but had to return them when they were due back! xx
Zoé says
Aw thanks lovely. I loved Woman in Cabin 10 but i haven’t read the rest lol but i really enjoyed this one xx
Carla says
Wonderful review Zoe. I love how you gush. I have read all of her books except this one, and I can’t wait to get to it.
Zoé says
Aw Carla, you will make me blush. You are too kind. I need to catch up with her other books – eek. Hope you enjoy this one!