Published 2020, 2024
Earlier this year, I read and reviewed Freida McFadden’s book The Teacher, and noted that “I enjoy psychological thrillers, but had not previously read anything by Freida McFadden… I loved this book, and stayed up for HOURS to finish it. It is just good entertainment. Five stars.” So I was excited when, thanks to Poison Pen Press and NetGalley, I received a copy of McFadden’s One By One in exchange for my honest review.
So, here is another one of what I think of as somewhat schizo thrillers: the plot is totally unrealistic, reading it requires a BIG pile of “willing suspension of disbelief,” and yet it is GREAT FUN!
Right from the jump, there is definitely mystery: the Prologue is written by “Anonymous,” who starts the story by telling the reader there are six people in a minivan, heading out for a 6-day getaway at an inn, every one of them has “a secret they don’t want anyone to know” and only one of them is going to make it out of the trip alive.
The first chapter is told by Claire, who works full-time in addition to being a wife and mother who is apparently ready to dump her husband Noah. They are joined on the trip by Noah’s BFF Jack and his uber-successful wife, divorce attorney Michelle, along with Claire’s BFF Lyndsay and her new love Warner.
Before they get to the inn, the three couples find themselves out of cell range and completely lost, after Claire’s minivan breaks down. The six of them hunker down in the woods, seriously underprepared (hardly any food or water) and begin relying more than they perhaps should on former Boy Scout Jack’s wilderness skills. Noah and Claire are clearly unhappy, and their sniping at each other gets old quickly. Claire can hardly wait to be alone with Jack, who is her lover in addition to being Noah’s BFF. Warner isn’t someone known to any of them other than Lyndsay, and he really gets on Claire’s nerves. Then, things get crazy as members of their group start to disappear (very Agatha Christie). No spoilers, but as usual I did not guess the outcome, and despite the unreality and need to suspend disbelief, I found it VERY enjoyable.
Originally published in 2020, it wasn’t nearly as good as The Teacher, and I wondered if possibly it was re-released to take advantage of the McFadden mania currently underway. Wahtever, it still gets Four stars.