Review: One by One by Chris Carter
- Lilith Bastet
- May 15
- 2 min read
I picked up One by One as my first book by Chris Carter, and it completely exceeded my expectations. From the very first chapter, I was pulled into the dark, tense atmosphere and couldn’t stop turning the pages. What impressed me most was Carter’s writing style. His descriptions are so vivid that every scene felt cinematic, almost like watching the story unfold in real time. The imagery was sharp and immersive, making both the suspenseful moments and the disturbing details feel incredibly real.
I found myself drawn to Michelle, the alternative hacker badass of the story. She brought such a cool, unpredictable energy to the book and stood out as one of the most memorable characters for me. Her intelligence and edge added another layer to the story that made it even more engaging. I'd love to hear more about her in future books.
What really unsettled me was the Big Brother-like experience of the live online votes. It felt disturbingly believable, which made the tension hit even harder. The idea that people could become so detached behind screens while treating real suffering like entertainment felt far too plausible in today’s world. Chris Carter captured that digital mob mentality in a way that genuinely stayed with me after finishing the book.
I always enjoy a good cat-and-mouse thriller, and this delivered that brilliantly, but what surprised/worried me most was that I couldn’t help feeling sorry for the villain in some ways. As a parent, I could completely understand the pain and desperation driving his actions, even while recognising how twisted everything became. That emotional conflict added a depth I wasn’t expecting from a thriller and made the story feel far more human and haunting.
A bonus of the book for me is that the chapters were short. It made the book feel incredibly easy to keep picking up for “just one more chapter” before suddenly realising I’d flown through fifty pages. Short chapters really help me absorb the story better and keep my focus locked in, whether that’s my ADHD or just one of my reading quirks, I don't know. Either way, it worked perfectly for me with this book and added to the addictive pacing.
The pacing was excellent, the suspense relentless, and the characters felt layered and believable throughout. Even as someone new to his work, I can absolutely see why Chris Carter has such a loyal following among thriller readers. This book was gripping, unsettling, and brilliantly written, and it definitely won’t be my last by him.
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