I gave One by One four stars. It’s a tense thriller with a clever setup, a creepy woodland atmosphere and plenty of reasons to keep asking questions. I enjoyed trying to work out what was happening, even though there were moments when I thought, “This is a little bit messed up!”

What is One by One about?

Claire Matchett is hoping for a break from the demands of work and family life. She’s heading away with her husband and friends for a trip that is meant to give everyone a chance to relax. But the journey does not go to plan. Their minivan breaks down on a lonely road, they have no phone reception, and the group decides to continue on foot through the woods.

Before long, they are lost. The forest is difficult to navigate, help is nowhere close, and the group begins to realise that their problems may be far more serious than a ruined holiday. As people start to disappear, the question becomes whether they are dealing with bad luck, something in the woods, or someone among them. I’ll leave the details there, because this is a story best approached without knowing too much.

A setting that keeps you on edge

The woodland setting gives the book an unsettling feeling from the start. It’s the sort of place where a path can seem to lead somewhere safe, only to leave the characters even more lost. There are no busy roads, familiar landmarks or easy ways to call for help. The trees surround the group, and every decision feels like it could make their situation better—or much worse.

I liked how isolated the characters felt. Even though they are together, they cannot simply rely on one another without question. When people are frightened and tired, small disagreements can quickly grow, and every strange comment or change in behaviour starts to look suspicious. That made me wonder who I would trust if I were in the same situation. Honestly, I’m not sure I’d trust anyone for very long!

Trying to work out who to believe

One of the things I enjoy in a psychological thriller is having a chance to make my own guesses. One by One gave me plenty to think about. The group all have their own worries and relationships, and the more pressure they face, the harder it becomes to know whether someone is being honest or simply trying to protect themselves.

I kept changing my mind about what might be going on. A detail that seemed unimportant could start to feel suspicious later, and a character’s reaction could make me question what I had assumed about them. I enjoy that feeling of being pulled between different possibilities. I didn’t want to know the answer too soon; I wanted to keep trying to piece it together as the story unfolded.

Claire and the group

Claire is a good character to follow because she begins the trip already hoping to get some space from everyday pressures. The holiday is meant to give her a chance to reconnect with her husband and friends, but being stranded in the woods brings a completely different kind of strain. Her personal worries sit alongside the danger, which helps the story feel like more than just a group of people trying to find their way out.

The group dynamic also adds to the tension. These are people who know one another, but knowing someone does not mean you understand everything about them. As the situation becomes more frightening, I found myself watching how they spoke to one another and wondering what might be left unsaid. That uncertainty kept the story interesting for me.

A little bit messed up

I would describe this book as a little bit messed up, and I mean that as part of my reaction to its dark, uncomfortable atmosphere. The characters are frightened, the situation keeps getting worse, and there are moments that made me stop and think about just how strange things had become. It isn’t a cosy mystery where you can sit back and feel completely comfortable. The story wants you to feel uneasy, and it succeeds.

That darker feeling suited the thriller, even if I did occasionally think, “What is going on here?” The book has the kind of escalating suspense that makes you want to keep reading because you need to understand how the characters ended up in such a frightening position. I wouldn’t call it an easy, relaxing story, but I did find it entertaining.

My final thoughts

Overall, I enjoyed One by One. The remote setting, the growing suspicion between the characters and the question of who—or what—is behind the danger all worked well for me. I liked being able to form theories as I read, and I stayed curious about how the group’s situation would turn out.

There were moments when the story felt strange and unsettling, but that was also part of what made it memorable. I can see why some readers might find parts of it a bit much, yet I liked that it took me somewhere dark and unpredictable. It kept me involved and gave me plenty to think about without needing to reveal every twist here.

I’m giving One by One four out of five stars. It wasn’t a perfect read for me, but it was tense, entertaining and definitely a little messed up. If you enjoy psychological thrillers about a group of people trapped in a dangerous situation, with secrets and suspicion building along the way, this one could be worth adding to your list.

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5

More Freida McFadden reviews

I also liked that the story made an ordinary trip feel suddenly unsafe. A broken-down vehicle and a walk through the woods might sound like a simple problem at first, but the situation keeps changing until there is no comfortable way to explain it away. That gradual shift from inconvenience to real danger helped hold my attention and made the book’s strange moments stand out even more.