ONE BY ONE by Ruth Ware

 

Named as the new Agatha Christie after publication of her first novel in 2015, Ruth Ware writes a fabulously suspenseful thriller novel. You will be turning those pages in a crazy frenzy to get to the end because you have no idea what is going to happen, who is going to die, who is going to save the day. And why!!! This is so good - always love a good thriller. 

Reading a bit about the author, she seems to specialise in plotting her novels in confined spaces where you can't get away - manor houses, cruise ships, locked down places. She doesn't seem to shy away at all from the Agatha Christie style, this latest closely aligned to And There Were None. The scary thing of course, is that no one knows who is going to be next to be the one. 

How claustrophobic and helpless would you feel stuck in a ski chalet having survived an avalanche, your furnicular out of action, no phone or internet coverage. And no power. Plus a killer on the loose somewhere indoors. 

Snoop is a wildly successful company that developed a unique music app - where do writers get the ideas for these things from - enabling you to listen into what any fellow user is listening to. Imagine how cool it would be to listen at the same time to whatever Lady Gaga is listening to - shared singalong! The excitement. How different and exciting your life is going to be knowing you and Lady Gaga are musical besties! Anyway, I digress. The nine current owners/employees plus ex-employee Liz have convened at the ski chalet high in the Swiss Alps for a week of skiing, bonding, apres ski, and as the plot unfolds, a whole lot more. 

Erin is the chalet housekeeper, and Danny is the cook - the hosts to the ten guests. The story is narrated in turn by Liz and Erin. It is immediately apparent that there are huge conflicts, smouldering resentments, unresolved fears, and a general feeling of impending doom. The freezing and immaculately white environment hiding its own dangers and obstacles does not help. As people die and/or disappear, the hope of rescue fading away, the pipes freezing over, who is going to make it out. Fortunately we know from page one that there are survivors as the story begins with a newspaper article. So no spoilers there. But who....

Many secrets, many resentments, many coming to terms with one's behaviour - everyone is a suspect. It's a cracker. Really look forward to the inevitable film or mini series. So much atmosphere you can create with snow and cold and evil.