One by One | 
bailedWell that‘s an unfortunate start to February. I‘m DNFing this one. The set up is fun-people trapped by an avalanche, someone is dead maybe? However, everyone is either stupid, bland or unlikable. Others may enjoy this one, but a big nope for me. #hailthebail
Yesterday‘s op shop purchases. The topical print skirt is way too big but I‘ll make something else with it as I love the material. Grand total 🟰 $44. The lady behind the counter warned me that they are getting rid of their loyalty cards. The 5th purchase over $10 gets 50% off clothing up to 10 items. Not for items that cost over $30 though. Guess who is going shopping at Salvos after ballet on Saturday. Like I need an excuse!
#StorySettings Day 1 #SkiResort
(Book read-January 2022)
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
pick3.5❄️⛷️Coworkers developing a music App go on a ski trip & when one doesn't return from the slopes, suspicions arise. Then an avalanche traps them in the chalet. A few murders occur, making for a claustrophobic thriller.This is told from 2 points of view. I was bored at first w/ all of the hipster corp business talk & the characters weren't always likeable, but once the mystery begins & the threat of freezing temps increases,I couldn't put it down
pickLoved this one! I think it‘s definitely an homage to Agatha Christie‘s And Then There Were None, which is a fantastic read. The pacing was good, and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time!
#bookspinbingo
#pop24 - book set in the snow
#24in2024
#readaway2024
#jumpstart2024
#tbrtarot - title starts with a number
pickI liked this one. I was in the mood for a wintery read, and this hit the spot. I enjoyed the setting and the pacing was fast. Although it was predictable in parts, it had some satisfying bits as well.
pickThis was a reread for me. I read it when it first came out and I think I was underwhelmed at the time. Listening to it on audiobook and already knowing “whodunnit” made it more interesting this time, if that makes any sense. The one thing I didn‘t miss is the posh, entitled techies who think they deserve the sky and moon. Anyway, give it a read. I think you‘ll like it. 😊
The cofounder of a London-based tech start-up organizes a weeklong trip in the French Alps. It begins as a corporate retreat, but as one shareholder pushes a lucrative buyout offer, tensions simmer and loyalties are tested. An avalanche leaves the group cut off from all access to the outside world. As each hour passes without any sign of rescue, panic mounts, the chalet grows colder, and the group dwindles further…one by one.
pickThird time‘s the charm with me and Ruth Ware since I finally enjoyed one of her books. 😂 This obviously plays homage to Agatha Christie and it mostly works. A “locked room” mystery involving a group on a corporate retreat in the mountains, Ware captures the tension of isolation and distrust well. I loved the setting. Nothing mind-blowing here, but I DEFINITELY will not be traveling to a remote location with my co-workers anytime soon. 😜 3.5⭐️
so-soIt is pretty good. I figured it out way too early and there is way too much wrap up for me. Felt like the last 30% was a slog, but it was great fun before that.
pickSet in a Swiss chalet, this tense, gripping thriller takes a page from Agatha Christie as ski resort guests meet untimely ends one after another. Alternating perspectives show the events as seen by Liz, an outsider among the posh group of tech execs from music app Snoop, and Erin, a host employed at the resort. An avalanche contributes to the chilly atmosphere as suspicion shifts from one guest to another; an ice cold read for a hot summer day.
Finally finished this one! Not my favorite Ruth Ware book, but certainly not my least favorite either. It was such a struggle to get into it though. It wasn't until about halfway through that this one really picked up, but I wasn't going to give up since this was the last book left to get myself up to date on all of her books released so far. It was worth it in the end but still probably only about a 3.5 ⭐ read.
pickI liked this one. There‘s 1 plot device that annoyed me but it‘s common in the thriller genre so I won‘t hold it against it. It was entertaining & the action toward the end was intense. The “snoopscribers” got annoying on audio but it‘s a small complaint haha #authoramonth
so-soOverall this was a good story, but progressed so slowly through much of the book before eventually an explosive end. Not my favourite Ruth Ware book but many elements of it were still enjoyable.
Sixth book finished for April‘s #AuthorAMonth, fourth book for #BacklistReadathon
@Clwojick @TheAromaOfBooks @Soubhiville
Kind of at a weird stage in my current art project. I‘m making some flowers inspired by Beetlejuice for my friend who bought us tickets for the musical. I have a vision. I hope it come together.
This book is good so far. I‘m at 45%. It is set up like the Hunting Party by Lucy Foley. I am yelling outloud at the characters here but the pacing is good. lol
#authoramonth
Hoping to squeeze one more #AuthorAMonth and #BackListReadathon book in before the end of the day. 🤞
@Clwojick @TheAromaOfBooks @Soubhiville
pickI‘m giving this a low pick, but I think I have decided I‘m not a Ware fan. Even though this had many things I love like a group of people stuck in a secluded spot, death and dangerous cold weather, it was just okay. Also, it was too long IMO. At one point, I was wondering how I could have nearly three hours left. #aam #authoramonth
The short story was just okay too.
I'm trying, I'm really trying... I don't know why I keep reading Ruth Ware. Every time I finish one of her books I just feel.. meh. Yet, I continue to keep reading every book she writes, so clearly I don't hate them. In fairness, they're quick, easy reads and generally entertaining. They just tend to be a tad predictable. Honestly though, I am struggling to get into this one. Please tell me, does it pick up at some point? Because really 🥱
pickLife has been a little crazy, the weather has been fabulous, I found a new video game addiction for the evenings, and my reading has suffered 😂 but it's all good! Today it is chilly and rainy so a great time to catch up on things like book reviews!!
This was a fun read, fast and engaging. Don't think too hard about the details. Probably not one I would ever reread, but a fun thriller as a one-off.
so-soA corporate retreat goes wrong after an avalanche traps them in a ski chalet in Switzerland. This starts out slow but picks up the pace from the middle-ish onward. I wasn't blown away by this book, the only Ruth Ware I've read, but it was readable. I did figure out early on who the killer was & how things would end up. It felt a bit formulaic. A so-so pick for me. I'm not likely to pick up any other Ware titles.
#AuthorAMonth
@Soubhiville
Since I went wildly off script last week, this week's #WeeklyForecast looks a lot like last time! 😂 Back in the groove now, though - already finished Dangerous Island and am halfway through the tagged. This weekend was busy and this week the weather is looking gorgeous which means more time outside and less time reading, so we will see what happens!!
@Cinfhen
Don‘t mind me, I‘m just listening hoping that one character in particular dies shortly. 😏
pickMaybe I read too many books like this but this one was a bit flat for me. I mean it met expectations but it didn't blow my mind.
#AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville
#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks
so-soSo I figured out who the killer was right away. But I was really enjoying the first half of this book because I thought no way it would be this obvious. So I was looking at every clue in this book and trying to prove myself wrong. Alas, I was not. Really disappointed in that. I kept trying to disprove myself tho because I didn't think the person was a very good character to be there killer. As always with Ruth Ware, the book was just too long 3/5
pickFinal read of 2022, finished with about 45 minutes to spare.
While bummed that unseasonably mild temperatures have undermined my original reasoning for reading this snowed-in thriller in winter, I am glad that I was at least still right about Ruth Ware being reliable.
She‘s become a go-to for me; even when I call a “twist” early, it never prevents me from enjoying the rest of the book. Not something I can say about many authors in the genre.
#SundayFunday @ozma.of.oz
1. Tagged book involves an avalanche
2. The Dry
3. All the weather. I love reading while it snows but we don‘t get much in Raleigh.
Thank you for the tag, @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
pickA corporate skiing retreat good horribly wrong with an avalanche and a murderer on the loose.
A good soon on the trapped in an isolated location mystery. Very enjoyable
pickI always know I‘m going to enjoy a Ruth Ware novel! This one felt fitting for this time of year, with a snowy ski chalet and an avalanche that all but traps the characters together. And of course people start dying and our characters try to figure out who‘s doing it while also staying alive. I kind of knew who the killer was pretty early on but still enjoyed the ride! 🌟🌟🌟🌟
#tbt The news keeps threatening snow here, but today is beautifully sunny.
Makes me think of winter reads though, and Ruth Ware is always a win in my opinion. Even if I figure it all out before the reveal I enjoy the ride.
Hoping to read a few more winter themed books in the next couple of months!
I really love the #TrappedonanIsland challenge hosted by @aperfectmjk !!
@PuddleJumper you've ended up on this wintry island. Luckily it happens to have a cozy cabin, plenty of hot chocolate, and this pile of books!! I haven't read any of them, so I mostly went with #CoverLove 😂 Happy reading!!!
Well, here is my under-the-wire TBR for #Scarathlon/#BookSpinBingo On the left is my normal BookSpinBingo list, comprised of my “assignments“ for the month, with the rest of the spaces free for the backlog of assignments from past months that I haven't read yet (I don't have a problem 😂) On the right is my bonus Scarathlon list, comprised mostly of mysteries and thrillers from my own shelves that I haven't read yet. I'll probably switch back ⬇
pick8 hour flight to Hawaii? Finished 2 books! Loved this one, she does such a great job of a new twist on a must in a unique setting and this is a good one! And since I finished it and the flight attendant asked if I liked it and shared that she loves a good mystery, I passed it along to her so now I don‘t have to haul it all over for the next week. Win, win, win! #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks
so-soI was disappointed in this. I suspected who the killer was and I‘m usually way off base but this time I was right. It was just VERY predictable! I kept thinking there would be some twist that made it less obvious, but sadly, no. I finished it, but not my favorite 😵💫 this counts for #booked2022 #titlerepeatsitself so yay!
My choice for the #LetterO is one of my favorite Ruth Ware books.
#AlphabetGame @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
I love Ruth Ware, and this one was no exception. Great use of tech culture with an old school whodunit framework. So good.
#LetterO #alphabetgame @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
One of my new faves. Absolutely loved the mix of character backgrounds, mixing professional and personal drama and where the story takes place. 🧡
Eight coworkers snowed in at a ski chalet in the French Alps and one is a murderer….
#Snowbound #ItHadToBeYou @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
My favourite girl helped me finish ONE BY ONE while I cleaned the house—and by “helped,” I mean, “shed lots of hair for me to vacuum up.”
This was my second Ruth Ware, after THE TURN OF THE KEY, and I enjoyed it a lot despite a couple of weird pacing things. It got me wondering if she uses a basic formula for her books, though. I‘ll say a bit more about that in the comments, since it kind of gives the game away.
pick13 of 2022
#Booked2022
#2Title repeats itself
What happens when a group of coworkers at a work retreat get snowed in by an avalanche with a murderer? Good atmosphere. A little slow at first but I enjoyed it overall. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
pan
