One by One – Freida McFadden

“One by One” follows Claire Matchett and her friends on what should be a relaxing mountain getaway, but quickly turns into a fight for survival. After their van breaks down in a remote forest, the group faces a nightmare as they’re hunted one by one. Freida McFadden masterfully builds tension, weaving together claustrophobic dread and shocking twists. The story explores fractured relationships, hidden secrets, and the primal instinct to survive. McFadden’s background as a physician adds authenticity to the psychological stakes, keeping readers guessing until the final page. The novel’s pacing is relentless, blending atmospheric horror with razor-sharp character dynamics.

Claire’s strained marriage and the group’s simmering tensions set the stage for betrayal and paranoia. As the forest closes in, alliances shatter, and trust becomes a liability. McFadden’s prose is lean and gripping, with vivid descriptions of the wilderness that feels like a character itself. The book’s structure—alternating between past secrets and present danger—keeps the mystery layered and unpredictable. Themes of guilt, survival, and revenge are threaded throughout, culminating in a finale that’s as satisfying as it is haunting.

Fans of Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” will appreciate the isolated setting and escalating body count, but McFadden modernizes the trope with fresh psychological depth. The characters are flawed and relatable, making their desperation palpable. The author’s knack for misdirection ensures no guess is safe, and the final twist lingers long after the book ends.