One by One by Ruth Ware
It doesn’t sound like the worst situation in the world to be snowed in at a posh, rustic ski chalet in the French Alps. Particularly when there is a stunning view, a chef and housekeeping who provide full service, a toasty fire to keep you warm, and other people to keep you company. That is unless the company consists of eight coworkers, each of whom has something to gain, something to lose, and something to conceal.
When the cofounder of Snoop, a hip tech startup with headquarters in London, arranges a weeklong trip for the team in the French Alps, it initially appears to be just another corporate retreat, complete with PowerPoint presentations and strategy sessions interspersed with required team building on the slopes.
However, when one stakeholder disrupts the plan by advancing a lucrative but contentious buyout offer, tensions rise and allegiances are put to the test. The gang is blocked off from the outside world by a deadly avalanche, despite the fact that the storm that is brewing within the chalet is no match for the one outside. And to make matters worse, one Snooper was still on the slopes when the avalanche struck.
Every hour that goes by with no sign of help increases anxiety, the temperature in the chalet drops, and the group shrinks further…one by one.
One by One by Ruth Ware
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Danny and Erin are employees in a luxurious lodge located far away in the Swiss Alps. Each week, they welcome a fresh group of pampered guests and act as hosts, cooks, concierges, and housekeepers. The visitors this week are from Snoop, a popular music app. Snoop has invited some of its top managers and voting shareholders to a retreat where they will also discuss a recent acquisition offer. The issue is that the two major shareholders possess divergent views on selling. Ava wants to sell right away and profit by the millions of dollars.
Topher wants to postpone going public until after some time has passed. Each of Ava and Topher’s 30% shares is supported by one additional shareholder, giving each of them 49% of the voting power. The remaining 2% is held by the modest, silent Liz. Her 2% gives her the deciding vote and the chalet’s most powerful individual. You can only speculate about the level of conflict, rivalry, and tension at the chalet! The skiers become separated on their first day, and Ava leaves without saying anything. The situation is made worse when a significant avalanche strikes the mountain, wiping down the electricity, mobile service, and internet, and cutting the chalet off from everything.
With no phone, internet, or way down the mountain, panic prevents them from contacting ski patrol to find Ava. No one is holding out much hope of finding Ava alive. The situation then becomes even worse when a Snoop employee’s body is discovered in his room. Next came another Danny, Erin, and the rest of the Snoop crew appear to be cooped up with a murderer in a remote chalet. Any of them could be the culprit.
