One by One

A group of tech startup employees gather at a luxury ski chalet in the French Alps for a corporate retreat. When an avalanche cuts off access to the outside world and a coworker goes missing, the remaining guests must determine if they're trapped with a killer. The novel alternates between two narrators: Erin, a chalet staff member, and Liz, a former employee of the startup who holds shares in the company. Their perspectives reveal mounting tensions among the group as both business conflicts and personal grievances surface in their isolation. The locked-room mystery format combines with the stark winter setting to create an atmosphere of escalating paranoia and claustrophobia. The contemporary tech industry backdrop adds layers of power dynamics, wealth, and ambition to the traditional suspense elements. This thriller explores themes of greed, loyalty, and the hidden costs of success in the modern corporate world. The snow-covered landscape serves as both refuge and trap, mirroring the characters' complex relationships with wealth and each other.

Readers rate this locked-room mystery thriller as a fast-paced page-turner that builds tension through isolation and dangerous weather conditions. The dual narration and tech startup backdrop add contemporary elements to the classic "murder in a snowbound lodge" setup. Liked: - Atmospheric mountain setting and claustrophobic sense of dread - Clear character perspectives through alternating POVs - Details about skiing and startup culture feel authentic - Steady ramp-up of suspense Disliked: - Some readers found the first third slow - Character development feels thin for the large cast - Tech industry subplot drags in places - Several readers predicted the killer early on Ratings: Goodreads: 3.89/5 (219,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (28,000+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (1,200+ ratings) "Perfect winter thriller that made me glad to be reading safely at home" - common sentiment among positive reviews. Critics note "too many characters to track" and "takes time to get going" as main drawbacks.

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🎿 Set in a luxurious ski chalet in the French Alps, the novel's setting was inspired by Ruth Ware's own experiences staying in similar accommodations while on skiing holidays. 📱 The tech startup featured in the book, Snoop, is a fictional music app that allows users to see what others are listening to in real-time—a concept that draws from real-world social media anxieties about privacy and surveillance. ❄️ The avalanche that traps the characters is based on actual events; the French Alps experience approximately 30 avalanches annually that affect roads or buildings. ✍️ Ruth Ware wrote this novel during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its themes of isolation and being trapped indoors unexpectedly paralleled what many readers were experiencing. 🔍 The book's structure pays homage to classic locked-room mysteries, particularly Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None," with its dwindling number of survivors and isolated setting.