One by One

“An excellent mystery/suspense novel that will remind you of Dame Agatha at her best.” —Stephen King

This instant New York Times bestseller and “claustrophobic spine-tingler” (People) from Ruth Ware follows a group of employees trapped on a snow-covered mountain.

Getting snowed in at a luxurious, rustic ski chalet high in the French Alps doesn’t sound like the worst problem in the world. Especially when there’s a breathtaking vista, a full-service chef and housekeeper, a cozy fire to keep you warm, and others to keep you company. Unless that company happens to be eight coworkers…each with something to gain, something to lose, and something to hide.

When the cofounder of Snoop, a trendy London-based tech start-up, organizes a weeklong trip for the team in the French Alps, it starts out as a corporate retreat like any other: presentations and strategy sessions broken up by mandatory bonding on the slopes. But as soon as one shareholder upends the agenda by pushing a lucrative but contentious buyout offer, tensions simmer and loyalties are tested. The storm brewing inside the chalet is no match for the one outside, however, and a devastating avalanche leaves the group cut off from all access to the outside world. Even worse, one Snooper hadn’t made it back from the slopes when the avalanche hit.

As each hour passes without any sign of rescue, panic mounts, the chalet grows colder, and the group dwindles further…one by one.

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Published May 4, 2021

383 pages

Average rating: 6.81

429 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *One by One* by Ruth Ware offers a gripping snowy whodunit set in a luxury ski chalet, effectively creating atmosphere and suspense, espec...

Karla
Apr 10, 2026
10/10 stars
This was like a who dun it thriller and I love those, so it was right up my alley. Like the title, they all die one by one and we don’t know what’s happening and we’re trying to solve it. Was it anything out of the ordinary? No, but it was a fast paced thriller which I absolutely loved.
The.readrose
Jan 28, 2026
8/10 stars
3.75 Stars
Probably my favorite Ruth Ware.
Christine
Mar 23, 2026
6/10 stars
*3.25 stars
I find the "locked-room" trope can be a hit or miss for me. A luxury ski chalet cut off by an avalanche is the perfect setting for a thriller, however, One by One ended up being a bit of a mixed bag for me.
The atmosphere was definitely there but the execution felt a bit bogged down. The pacing was quite slow, and it took a long time for the momentum to really build.
My biggest struggle was the cast of characters; there were just too many of them to keep straight. I spent more time trying to remember who was who and unfortunately the plot wasn't very intriguing compared to Ware’s other work. It felt a bit predictable, and I never felt that "edge-of-my-seat" tension I was looking for.
annalee.ray
Feb 01, 2026
8/10 stars
My first Ruth ware book & loved it!!
JL Reads
Oct 21, 2025
6/10 stars
Erin and Danny’s determination to solve the mystery was irritating. The guests at the chateau were self-absorbed and difficult to like. The killer was fairly obvious, and the ending was dark and gruesome, yet fitting for the story. I’m open to more Ware books. Book #84 in 2026 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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