One by One by Ruth Ware is a gripping psychological thriller/mystery novel that strands a group of tech startup employees at an exclusive French Alps chalet during an avalanche, after which they begin
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One by One by Ruth Ware is a gripping psychological thriller/mystery novel that strands a group of tech startup employees at an exclusive French Alps chalet during an avalanche, after which they begin to die one by one. The novel is a modern take on the classic "locked room" mystery format, in the vein of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None.
Summary
A corporate retreat for the trendy music-based social media app Snoop is organized in a luxurious, isolated ski chalet in the French Alps. The team gathers for a crucial meeting to discuss a lucrative buyout offer that has the potential to make some of the shareholders millionaires, but the group is deeply divided on whether to accept it. Tensions quickly rise among the colleagues, who each have something to gain, lose, and hide.
An avalanche cuts the chalet off from the outside world, trapping the group with no power or cell reception. Even worse, one member of the team doesn't return from the slopes, and as the hours pass, the remaining members of the group are found murdered, one by one. The story is told through the alternating perspectives of two women: Erin, one of the chalet's hostesses, and Liz, a former employee and current minority shareholder.
Themes
The book explores several themes, including:
- Corporate rivalry and ambition: The novel pokes fun at shallow startup culture and explores the cutthroat nature of business, where the desire for money and power can lead to deadly consequences.
- Isolation and claustrophobia: The remote, snowbound setting effectively heightens the tension and paranoia, forcing the characters to confront each other in a confined space.
- Trust and betrayal: As the body count rises, loyalties are tested, and no one knows who can be trusted.
- Social and economic disparity: The novel highlights the class differences between the wealthy tech employees and the chalet staff, exploring how tragedy can temporarily break down these barriers.
Reviews
Reviews of One by One are generally positive, though with some mixed opinions on specific aspects:
- Praise: Many readers and critics praise the book for its gripping atmosphere, the well-executed setting of the French Alps, and the author's skill at building tension. The short chapters and alternating perspectives make it a fast-paced and highly readable thriller that keeps you hooked.
- Criticism: Some reviewers found the plot predictable, the killer easy to guess early on, and certain characters lacking depth. The pacing also received mixed reactions, with some feeling it was slow to start.
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