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Seven All Alone
Ten years ago, seven kids were taken and held captive until their kidnapper took his own life. Now the seven are thrust back together on a trip in the mountains, cut off from civilization and hunted by an unknown assailant who wants them dead. From the author of The Assassin Game and Have You Seen My Sister comes another chilling thriller.
Years ago, a tragedy shook a small community in rural Scotland. A bus driver kidnapped seven elementary school children, drove them into the wildnerness, and held them captive in a cave, before jumping from a cliff's edge. The children were unharmed, and for the most part, young enough to grow up and put their ordeal behind them.
But on the anniversary of their childhood trauma, Maggie, Ant, Ben, Stephanie, Lawrie, Seb, and Cass are on a school survival trip up in the mountains and cut off from the rest of the world when a storm hits. There's no help in sight and the group discovers they are just a stone's throw from the scene of their traumatic kidnapping.
As the group struggles to survive the elements, they realize someone else is on the mountain, someone who knows what really happened all those years ago, someone who wants them dead and is willing to take them out one by one.
Years ago, a tragedy shook a small community in rural Scotland. A bus driver kidnapped seven elementary school children, drove them into the wildnerness, and held them captive in a cave, before jumping from a cliff's edge. The children were unharmed, and for the most part, young enough to grow up and put their ordeal behind them.
But on the anniversary of their childhood trauma, Maggie, Ant, Ben, Stephanie, Lawrie, Seb, and Cass are on a school survival trip up in the mountains and cut off from the rest of the world when a storm hits. There's no help in sight and the group discovers they are just a stone's throw from the scene of their traumatic kidnapping.
As the group struggles to survive the elements, they realize someone else is on the mountain, someone who knows what really happened all those years ago, someone who wants them dead and is willing to take them out one by one.
328 pages, Paperback
First published December 2, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
July 17, 2025
I really enjoyed the first chapter and was eager to see where the story would go from there. I'm not going to lie, it had me pretty hooked.. Sadly, while the story was good, I saw everything coming pretty quickly. All of the twists were ones I was expecting, and while it was a good story, it was pretty predictable at the best of times. The writing wasn't bad, but most of the characters weren't very likable, and I found myself not really caring much about what was happening to them, more than being curious if I was right about who was behind it all (I was). Overall, I don't think this is bad, again, just predictable, but I think there are others who will enjoy it.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
December 9, 2025
A school field trip that goes horribly wrong and leaves a group of teens to try to survive the elements - and possibly someone following them!
Maggie doesn't want to be on this field trip. Not only did she not sign up for it, but her dad is running it AND her recent ex-boyfriend is here with his new girlfriend! But it doesn't take long for the trip to go completely off the rails - as one accident leads to the group getting separated and a few injuries. Now they are phoneless, GPS-less, with only the few packs on their back and what they know about survival.
This was a fun set up and I instantly felt drawn in. The narrator did a great job of individualizing each character so it was easier to keep them all straight. I liked how each person in the group kind of had to struggle with their own issues as they were out there longer and the reality sunk in. I liked that we had this previous trauma many of them had to sort and that the kids didn't always handle it well.
The mystery was good, too, although I did guess many twists before they happened - it made sense, in the moment, why those in the story didn't catch what I did. Highly entertaining, read like a movie that was easy to picture in my head. I enjoyed it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Maggie doesn't want to be on this field trip. Not only did she not sign up for it, but her dad is running it AND her recent ex-boyfriend is here with his new girlfriend! But it doesn't take long for the trip to go completely off the rails - as one accident leads to the group getting separated and a few injuries. Now they are phoneless, GPS-less, with only the few packs on their back and what they know about survival.
This was a fun set up and I instantly felt drawn in. The narrator did a great job of individualizing each character so it was easier to keep them all straight. I liked how each person in the group kind of had to struggle with their own issues as they were out there longer and the reality sunk in. I liked that we had this previous trauma many of them had to sort and that the kids didn't always handle it well.
The mystery was good, too, although I did guess many twists before they happened - it made sense, in the moment, why those in the story didn't catch what I did. Highly entertaining, read like a movie that was easy to picture in my head. I enjoyed it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
January 12, 2026
3.5⭐, rounding up
I love a good isolation trope and this book has that in spades as the natural disasters keep mounting. As someone is picking off the survivors of a kidnapping that happened a decade before, we are left to wonder exactly how that would be happening in this setting? I loved how big of a part nature played in this story, though I also don't like that happenstance affected so much of the "plan" of taking out the survivors. Additionally most of the characters were very surface level characters, not a lot of depth to them. Despite being in a life threatening situation they still really boil down to one trait per character instead of someone we would care about.
thank you to NetGalley, the author Kirsty McKay, and Recorded Books for my ARC of this audiobook.
I love a good isolation trope and this book has that in spades as the natural disasters keep mounting. As someone is picking off the survivors of a kidnapping that happened a decade before, we are left to wonder exactly how that would be happening in this setting? I loved how big of a part nature played in this story, though I also don't like that happenstance affected so much of the "plan" of taking out the survivors. Additionally most of the characters were very surface level characters, not a lot of depth to them. Despite being in a life threatening situation they still really boil down to one trait per character instead of someone we would care about.
thank you to NetGalley, the author Kirsty McKay, and Recorded Books for my ARC of this audiobook.
November 19, 2025
2.5☆ | This book wasn't necessarily bad, but it wasn't that good either. The beginning had me hooked, and I finished the book rather quickly. But I feel that a lot of the book was quite predictable.
I didn't enjoy the writing style a whole ton, and the characters were unbearable more often than not. Though I kept wondering who it would be that did it all in the end, I didn't care all too much about what happened to the characters.
I was able to guess who the killer was but the motive was a bit eh. Could've been better for sure.
And of course, I've never been in a situation like this, so I don't know how I would react. But all of them just seemed 𝘴𝘰 immature. Like all this is happening, people are dying, and you're acting like that? Like, sure, everyone reacts to situations differently, but this just seemed like a bit too much.
This is my first read by Kirsty McKay. Though I don't think it'll be the last. My sister has read 2 of her books (Undead & Unfed) and has hounded me to read those, so at some point I probably will.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to have an e-arc of this book!
I didn't enjoy the writing style a whole ton, and the characters were unbearable more often than not. Though I kept wondering who it would be that did it all in the end, I didn't care all too much about what happened to the characters.
I was able to guess who the killer was but the motive was a bit eh. Could've been better for sure.
And of course, I've never been in a situation like this, so I don't know how I would react. But all of them just seemed 𝘴𝘰 immature. Like all this is happening, people are dying, and you're acting like that? Like, sure, everyone reacts to situations differently, but this just seemed like a bit too much.
This is my first read by Kirsty McKay. Though I don't think it'll be the last. My sister has read 2 of her books (Undead & Unfed) and has hounded me to read those, so at some point I probably will.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to have an e-arc of this book!
December 6, 2025
Wow, this was a journey. The book started off so strong—exactly the kind of teen survival setup I’m a sucker for. The tragic event, the attempted healing, the tight-knit friendships forming under pressure… it had all the ingredients for something raw and compelling. I genuinely thought I was in for a new YA favorite.
But as I kept reading, the momentum slipped. The plot became painfully predictable, and not in a “I guessed the twist because I’m clever” way. No—this was “the book practically held up a giant neon sign announcing every major turn.” Even the most casual reader would see each beat coming. Add in some meandering pacing and teen decisions that went beyond believable impulsiveness into “absolutely not, no one would do that,” and I found myself frustrated. The technical writing was solid, but the execution kept missing its mark. At that point, it felt like a clear miss for me.
Update!! Because I really did love the beginning, when the audiobook became available for review I scooped it up—and honestly, I’m glad I did. The audio shifted the whole experience. Elle Newlands delivered a strong performance, with great pacing and character distinction (especially for the teen voices). The narration smoothed out the flow, kept me engaged, and even helped me pick up details I had completely missed the first time around. Suddenly, the predictability didn’t bother me as much because I was simply enjoying the ride.
So while my original read landed flat, the audiobook bumped this from a 3⭐️ miss to a 4⭐️ read I genuinely enjoyed, all thanks to a change in format. Sometimes the medium really does make all the difference.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary eARC from Sourcebooks Fire via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me as it has way too many issues; I never DNF ARCs but would have had it not been one.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
But as I kept reading, the momentum slipped. The plot became painfully predictable, and not in a “I guessed the twist because I’m clever” way. No—this was “the book practically held up a giant neon sign announcing every major turn.” Even the most casual reader would see each beat coming. Add in some meandering pacing and teen decisions that went beyond believable impulsiveness into “absolutely not, no one would do that,” and I found myself frustrated. The technical writing was solid, but the execution kept missing its mark. At that point, it felt like a clear miss for me.
Update!! Because I really did love the beginning, when the audiobook became available for review I scooped it up—and honestly, I’m glad I did. The audio shifted the whole experience. Elle Newlands delivered a strong performance, with great pacing and character distinction (especially for the teen voices). The narration smoothed out the flow, kept me engaged, and even helped me pick up details I had completely missed the first time around. Suddenly, the predictability didn’t bother me as much because I was simply enjoying the ride.
So while my original read landed flat, the audiobook bumped this from a 3⭐️ miss to a 4⭐️ read I genuinely enjoyed, all thanks to a change in format. Sometimes the medium really does make all the difference.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary eARC from Sourcebooks Fire via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me as it has way too many issues; I never DNF ARCs but would have had it not been one.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
June 18, 2026
The premise of the book was intriguing. It was a bit suspenseful with a number of twists. Characters weren’t very likable. I did not care for the way the author jumped on the bandwagon of the current pronoun usage. Reading they/them when referring to the character Ant, was irritating for me because it’s incorrect grammar usage. It did not add to the story in anyway.
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July 31, 2026Holy moly dude
July 18, 2025
I didn’t love or hate this book. It was well-written and the beginning had me eager to see where it was going. Unfortunately, that’s kind of where it ended for me. Everyone was unlikeable and a lot of the twists were predictable.
I feel like this is a good read for people who don’t really read thrillers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I feel like this is a good read for people who don’t really read thrillers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 23, 2025
Seven All Alone follows Maggie as she goes on a school trip with the six other kids she was kidnapped with by their bus driver when they were six. She’s tried to forget what happened, but the trip into the mountains brings up the horrible memories. Especially when everything goes wrong. Her father and friend are separated from the group, their phones are lost, and their supplies are dwindling. To make matters worse, someone else is on the mountain with them … and they want them dead.
This was a fun mystery/thriller. I really enjoyed the setting. It was super atmospheric and had such spooky, eerie vibes. The premise was really interesting, and I like how everything was tied together. The pacing is quite good and kept me interested, especially as things picked up and the kids were convinced they saw someone. I did see the ending coming, but it was still an enjoyable read.
I wasn’t too fond of any of the characters. Maggie was probably the best in my opinion, mostly because everyone was always turning on her and I felt bad for her. But I did find it hard to connect with any of them overall. That being said, they were an entertaining group to read about with their hysteria and reactions.
Overall, if you love mystery/thrillers with a survival aspect, I’d definitely recommend checking this out.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the arc!
This was a fun mystery/thriller. I really enjoyed the setting. It was super atmospheric and had such spooky, eerie vibes. The premise was really interesting, and I like how everything was tied together. The pacing is quite good and kept me interested, especially as things picked up and the kids were convinced they saw someone. I did see the ending coming, but it was still an enjoyable read.
I wasn’t too fond of any of the characters. Maggie was probably the best in my opinion, mostly because everyone was always turning on her and I felt bad for her. But I did find it hard to connect with any of them overall. That being said, they were an entertaining group to read about with their hysteria and reactions.
Overall, if you love mystery/thrillers with a survival aspect, I’d definitely recommend checking this out.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the arc!
July 3, 2025
ARC from Edelweiss
There were a few areas where your skepticism had to be suspended and that tripped me up a bit. Initial parts were very believable but then it started to become less and less plausible as the story progressed. Still, I enjoyed it and I did not expect the plot twist that happened!
There were a few areas where your skepticism had to be suspended and that tripped me up a bit. Initial parts were very believable but then it started to become less and less plausible as the story progressed. Still, I enjoyed it and I did not expect the plot twist that happened!
May 22, 2026
From the cover of Seven All Alone, I expected a mystery/thriller with plenty of twists. It delivered, but everything felt mediocre, with a somewhat interesting cast and intriguing sections, but it didn’t feel memorable, even with the high potential of the premise.
Ten years after seven children were rescued before they were sacrificed, six of them are off on a hiking trip which goes wrong basically from the start. It leaves the now-teens stranded and lost in the Scottish countryside. I did like Maggie, the protagonist, but felt beyond the typical insecurities about her body and being the one that was brave during the past incident, she was a bit flat. The rest of the characters had a couple of interesting things, but nothing super memorable, and their interactions didn’t intrigue me. And they weren’t likable either, which made me not care about most of them super fast.
Even though part of the point is the characters getting lost in the elements, I felt things were too hard to track at times and I was struggling at points where exactly the characters were at points. I wasn’t quite engaged with the solving the mystery part, and I think I was too confused to predict who done it. Though I do appreciate that the tension does ramp up and I like the way how everyone has to relive old memories, though I wish there was more connections to that. The reveal about why all of the cave victims were being brought together again was the most memorable part of the book and might be the only part I remember about this book after a while.
The audiobook narrator was good and brought some emotion to the story. While it wasn’t a problem for me, her Scottish accent is thick and added to the authenticity of the story. However, her voice felt like she was older than a high schooler, and threw me off a bit.
Honestly, this was a miss and wasn’t for me.
*I received an ARC from Netgalley and Recorded Books. All opinions are my own.*
Ten years after seven children were rescued before they were sacrificed, six of them are off on a hiking trip which goes wrong basically from the start. It leaves the now-teens stranded and lost in the Scottish countryside. I did like Maggie, the protagonist, but felt beyond the typical insecurities about her body and being the one that was brave during the past incident, she was a bit flat. The rest of the characters had a couple of interesting things, but nothing super memorable, and their interactions didn’t intrigue me. And they weren’t likable either, which made me not care about most of them super fast.
Even though part of the point is the characters getting lost in the elements, I felt things were too hard to track at times and I was struggling at points where exactly the characters were at points. I wasn’t quite engaged with the solving the mystery part, and I think I was too confused to predict who done it. Though I do appreciate that the tension does ramp up and I like the way how everyone has to relive old memories, though I wish there was more connections to that. The reveal about why all of the cave victims were being brought together again was the most memorable part of the book and might be the only part I remember about this book after a while.
The audiobook narrator was good and brought some emotion to the story. While it wasn’t a problem for me, her Scottish accent is thick and added to the authenticity of the story. However, her voice felt like she was older than a high schooler, and threw me off a bit.
Honestly, this was a miss and wasn’t for me.
*I received an ARC from Netgalley and Recorded Books. All opinions are my own.*
December 4, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of this book!
In elementary school a group of kids got abducted by a bus driver and were kept in a cave.
Years later the same kids -now highschoolers- find themselves in the same area again for a school trip.
When their supervisor gets lost things go downhill quickly. Alone, no phones, and caught in a big storm. And then one after the other gets hurt and at some point they realise it can’t be a coincidence, right?
A very thrilling book that had me hooked the entire time. Full of twists and turns that sometimes were what I expected but often enough caught me by surprise. I loved trying to figure out what was going on along with the MC. This was right up my alley. I was super invested in this creepy little story and would’ve listened to it in one sitting if I were able to.
The characters weren’t necessarily likeable (besides the MC) but they created an interesting and entertaining group dynamic. And also: sometimes teenagers just suck so that was quite realistic lol
Also I enjoyed the narration a whole lot. Can definitely recommend the audiobook!
In elementary school a group of kids got abducted by a bus driver and were kept in a cave.
Years later the same kids -now highschoolers- find themselves in the same area again for a school trip.
When their supervisor gets lost things go downhill quickly. Alone, no phones, and caught in a big storm. And then one after the other gets hurt and at some point they realise it can’t be a coincidence, right?
A very thrilling book that had me hooked the entire time. Full of twists and turns that sometimes were what I expected but often enough caught me by surprise. I loved trying to figure out what was going on along with the MC. This was right up my alley. I was super invested in this creepy little story and would’ve listened to it in one sitting if I were able to.
The characters weren’t necessarily likeable (besides the MC) but they created an interesting and entertaining group dynamic. And also: sometimes teenagers just suck so that was quite realistic lol
Also I enjoyed the narration a whole lot. Can definitely recommend the audiobook!
December 2, 2025
Seven All Alone
By Kirsty McKay
⭐️⭐️⭐️
First I have to say thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for allowing me to listen to this audio book ARC.
The book took place in the Scottish terrain when a group of students were headed off on a class trip. Now, due to the weather and some natural disaster occurs, it doesn’t take long for their past traumatic experience to come back to haunt them and for someone or something to start picking them off…
I love a good mystery/thriller book especially one that is all about survival. The beginning of the book had me hooked to see what was going to happen and where the story was heading. However, my biggest gripe with the book was that I just had a hard time overall connecting to the characters. If you don’t necessarily need to connect with the characters and just enjoy some dark and twisty turns with a psychological tone this may be an enjoyably book for you!
By Kirsty McKay
⭐️⭐️⭐️
First I have to say thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for allowing me to listen to this audio book ARC.
The book took place in the Scottish terrain when a group of students were headed off on a class trip. Now, due to the weather and some natural disaster occurs, it doesn’t take long for their past traumatic experience to come back to haunt them and for someone or something to start picking them off…
I love a good mystery/thriller book especially one that is all about survival. The beginning of the book had me hooked to see what was going to happen and where the story was heading. However, my biggest gripe with the book was that I just had a hard time overall connecting to the characters. If you don’t necessarily need to connect with the characters and just enjoy some dark and twisty turns with a psychological tone this may be an enjoyably book for you!
December 22, 2025
This one had such a cool premise - a group of kids kidnapped when they were young, making it out alive, only to find themselves together again as teenagers stranded in the Scottish highlands - but was let down in its execution.
I wanted more flashbacks to when the kids were originally kidnapped, everything was described so vaguely that it kept a distance between me as a reader and the characters. All of the characters were unlikeable, to the point where I was hoping they'd each get knocked off by the threat stalking them in the wilderness. The dialogue was quite clunky and awkward, which added to the unlikability of the characters.
A good murder mystery allows readers/viewers the chance to be able to work out what is happening and solve it. A bad murder mystery makes it so obvious who the threat is it kills any fun or thrill in the narrative. This one was so predictable I picked who was behind the whole thing from the third chapter. And it wasn't even fun seeing the characters work it out, it was super frustrating seeing how dumb they all were to allow the events to play out as they did.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
I wanted more flashbacks to when the kids were originally kidnapped, everything was described so vaguely that it kept a distance between me as a reader and the characters. All of the characters were unlikeable, to the point where I was hoping they'd each get knocked off by the threat stalking them in the wilderness. The dialogue was quite clunky and awkward, which added to the unlikability of the characters.
A good murder mystery allows readers/viewers the chance to be able to work out what is happening and solve it. A bad murder mystery makes it so obvious who the threat is it kills any fun or thrill in the narrative. This one was so predictable I picked who was behind the whole thing from the third chapter. And it wasn't even fun seeing the characters work it out, it was super frustrating seeing how dumb they all were to allow the events to play out as they did.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
December 30, 2025
Seven All Alone has a sharp, attention-grabbing premise and a writing style that’s smooth, fast, and very accessible—especially for readers newer to YA thrillers. Kirsty McKay’s prose keeps the pages turning, and the atmospheric Scottish setting adds a steady undercurrent of tension. Where the book stumbled for me was in character work: most of the cast felt difficult to connect with, which dulled the emotional impact once the danger escalated. Still, the audiobook experience elevated the story—Elle Newlands delivers a strong performance, with clear pacing and distinct voices that help carry the narrative even when the plot feels thin. Overall, an entertaining listen with solid writing and audio execution, even if the story itself didn’t fully land for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia | Recorded Books for the advance listening copy.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia | Recorded Books for the advance listening copy.
December 5, 2025
Maggie Atkins was 6 years old when the bus driver kidnapped her and her friends.
Now after narrowly escaping with their lives 10 years ago it seems they are back in the same place, literally… they find themselves back on the same mountain with the same group of people and someone is taking them out one by one!
I really liked this book! I did kind of guess part of the twist at the end and because the characters were all high schoolers I didn’t really connect with them too much but the suspense of the story was great!
It reminded me a good bit of Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates which is one of my favorite books so I definitely liked that part of the story!
I gave this book 3.75 stars! It was a decent thriller!!! I would definitely recommend!
Now after narrowly escaping with their lives 10 years ago it seems they are back in the same place, literally… they find themselves back on the same mountain with the same group of people and someone is taking them out one by one!
I really liked this book! I did kind of guess part of the twist at the end and because the characters were all high schoolers I didn’t really connect with them too much but the suspense of the story was great!
It reminded me a good bit of Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates which is one of my favorite books so I definitely liked that part of the story!
I gave this book 3.75 stars! It was a decent thriller!!! I would definitely recommend!
December 6, 2025
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator! The book started off strong and I was hooked from the beginning. However, the more I read, the more predictable it came. It was too easy to guess the outcome and that’s just not for me.
I didn’t really connect with the characters, which could be why this was just an ok read for me. I feel like a little more character development and less predictability would have made this a 4 star read.
Thank you NetGalley and RBMedia for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
I didn’t really connect with the characters, which could be why this was just an ok read for me. I feel like a little more character development and less predictability would have made this a 4 star read.
Thank you NetGalley and RBMedia for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 30, 2025
This was an ARC audiobook. All opinions are mine and mine alone.
Maddie and some classmates were kidnapped when they were six by the bus driver. Years later they feel it’s happening again.
They were all sent on a class trip they didn’t sign up for or want. They are faced with challenges and try to work as a group but everyone is a suspect.
I figured out halfway through what was going on (well part of it). I wasn’t surprised. This was a YA book and I think I’ve just outgrown most of those types of book. I think someone much younger than me would enjoy this. It kept a nice pace and the narrator was really good.
Maddie and some classmates were kidnapped when they were six by the bus driver. Years later they feel it’s happening again.
They were all sent on a class trip they didn’t sign up for or want. They are faced with challenges and try to work as a group but everyone is a suspect.
I figured out halfway through what was going on (well part of it). I wasn’t surprised. This was a YA book and I think I’ve just outgrown most of those types of book. I think someone much younger than me would enjoy this. It kept a nice pace and the narrator was really good.
December 9, 2025
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this audiobook, especially the ending. While the killer(s) wasn’t all that surprising, it was still thrilling leading up to the reveal. I enjoyed the survival aspect of the storyline as well. The ending wrapped up in a nice neat bow. I did really like Maggie’s character as well.
I enjoyed the narrator as well, I enjoyed the accents and it was easy to distinguish the different characters. I listened at 2X.
The reason for the 3.5 stars was due to the beginning was a bit boring, it took a bit to start to get thrilling. I also didn’t enjoy the nativity of the teens. It took them too long to piece things together.
All in all, I enjoyed this audiobook and story!
I enjoyed this audiobook, especially the ending. While the killer(s) wasn’t all that surprising, it was still thrilling leading up to the reveal. I enjoyed the survival aspect of the storyline as well. The ending wrapped up in a nice neat bow. I did really like Maggie’s character as well.
I enjoyed the narrator as well, I enjoyed the accents and it was easy to distinguish the different characters. I listened at 2X.
The reason for the 3.5 stars was due to the beginning was a bit boring, it took a bit to start to get thrilling. I also didn’t enjoy the nativity of the teens. It took them too long to piece things together.
All in all, I enjoyed this audiobook and story!
March 25, 2026
Basically a 4-star story in terms of sheer enjoyment, docked for not murdering Ant in the first 30 pages because I am honestly not sure what was more annoying, that character's exhausting ADHD or Maggie constantly correcting "THEY" every time the Designated Asshole character refers to Ant as she/her.
Otherwise, I loved SO much about this one. The setting was creepy and claustrophobic, but also eerily beautiful. The hunger and exhaustion were palpable. I was deliciously unnerved as the psychological torture began (here's a random knife on the doorstep! oops now it's gone!), and appropriately chilled & thrilled as people started getting hurt/killed in exactly the manner one expects from a story like this.
But most of all, the way the past comes back to haunt them was just super well done. Very creative motive and execution (figuratively and literally, yuk yuk).
Bottom line: not going to win any awards for character development but it doesn't have to; this was super fast paced and so addictive I read it all in one night. But I honestly wish I'd been able to pace myself better -- I'm acutely bummed my library didn't have the audiobook, because I think that medium would have really elevated it (see also, The Last Witness).
(edit: are you kidding me. not even a week after I read this, library got the audiobook. They never get a physical copy in circulation before Libby copies).
Otherwise, I loved SO much about this one. The setting was creepy and claustrophobic, but also eerily beautiful. The hunger and exhaustion were palpable. I was deliciously unnerved as the psychological torture began (here's a random knife on the doorstep! oops now it's gone!), and appropriately chilled & thrilled as people started getting hurt/killed in exactly the manner one expects from a story like this.
But most of all, the way the past comes back to haunt them was just super well done. Very creative motive and execution (figuratively and literally, yuk yuk).
Bottom line: not going to win any awards for character development but it doesn't have to; this was super fast paced and so addictive I read it all in one night. But I honestly wish I'd been able to pace myself better -- I'm acutely bummed my library didn't have the audiobook, because I think that medium would have really elevated it (see also, The Last Witness).
(edit: are you kidding me. not even a week after I read this, library got the audiobook. They never get a physical copy in circulation before Libby copies).
December 15, 2025
This is a YA mystery similar to Then There Were None. 7 teenagers are on a hiking trip, but there is something off and they start slowly dying one by one. I recommend this to anyone who likes YA mysteries.
April 22, 2026
An ok read! The writing/book wasn’t bad but I just found that because most of the characters weren’t likeable, that impacted the book massively. I didn’t really care about what was happening to them all and I felt like the killers motive was very meh 🫤
April 23, 2026
I am so guilty of loving YA fiction. It is just simple and full of twists and turns and for some reason it doesn't annoy me when it seems a little ridiculous. It just keeps my attention and it's so easy to read and speed through. This book was great 😃
May 6, 2026
very interesting premise (kidnapped by their bus driver when they were young—its why I picked it up), but this fell flat… lost me at baby shark CPR. But what a flipping nightmare to be stuck with the people who left you so many years ago.
November 29, 2025
This was such a thrilling read, I had to know what was going to happen next!
December 5, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for a copy to review!
This was an alright story. I liked the idea and some of the mystery parts, but most of the characters irritated me.
This was an alright story. I liked the idea and some of the mystery parts, but most of the characters irritated me.
April 5, 2026
a little YA thriller cures all reading slumps
December 17, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and RBmedia for the audible ARC in exchange for my review. Seven All Alone by Kirsty McKay is scheduled for release December 2 2026.
It is written well and dose have the drama. But the characters were unlikeable for me. It was difficult for me to care what happened to them. The overall story was good. But this one was a miss for me.
Elle Newland's audible performance was perfect. Loved the Irish accent.
It is written well and dose have the drama. But the characters were unlikeable for me. It was difficult for me to care what happened to them. The overall story was good. But this one was a miss for me.
Elle Newland's audible performance was perfect. Loved the Irish accent.
July 26, 2026
Lo ammetto, con questo ho fatto veramente fatica.
Maggie non aveva aderito alla gita scolastica in programma - così come, a quanto pare, non lo avevano fatto neanche alcuni dei suoi compagni di classe. Eppure eccola lì, a poca distanza da dove lei e alcuni di loro furono rapiti e tenuti in ostaggio dieci anni fa.
Eccola lì con suo padre, al centro di un mezzo scandalo, a condurre la gita.
Eccola lì, con gli stessi compagni che alla prima occasione erano riusciti a scappare lasciandola indietro, nelle mani del rapitore finché Maggie non era riuscita a salvarsi da sola ad appena sei anni.
Eccola lì in mezzo alle montagne dopo aver appena ripreso a frequentare la scuola, visto che i suoi genitori iperprotettivi fino a qual momento le avevano fatto seguire le lezioni da casa per saperla sempre al sicuro.
Eccola lì con Ben, che l'ha mollata per mettersi con Stephanie e con tutti gli altri che non sembrano felici di vederla.
Eccola lì quando un incidente ne causa altri a catena e il gruppo si separa, alcuni restano feriti, non hanno cellulari o modi per contattare il mondo esterno o qualche adulto e devono cavarsela da soli. Proprio come dieci anni prima.
Ma, proprio come dieci anni prima, c'è qualcuno che non vuole lascino vivi quelle montagne e non se ne andrà finché non avrà concluso il lavoro.
Dunque, ho praticamente odiato tutti - tranne Maggie, che mi ha fatto una gran pena e che veniva accusata a destra e a manca di voler ferire prima uno e di voler ammazzare poi l'altro e senza alcuna ragione apparente. Veramente, quella povera ragazza è vittima di un odio ingiustificato e c'era una persona in particolare che volevo vedere morta.
I problemi però sono stati svariati.
Intanto - e mi dispiace dirlo, non se ne abbiano gli scozzesi, chi ha parenti scozzesi, chi conosce qualche scozzese, chi ama Scozia e scozzese in generale - l'accento è uno dei più terribili e incomprensibili in cui mi sia mai imbattuta. Quindi, oltre al fatto che mi aspettavo forse più plot twist e più tensione, il fatto di dover sempre tornare indietro di trenta secondi o un minuto per riuscire a decifrare cosa la narratrice stesse dicendo mi ha completamente distratta e tolta dall'atmosfera della storia. Dovendo sempre interpretare cosa tale parola corrispondesse in accento americano o anche solo british, non riuscivo proprio a starci dentro e a sentirmi partecipe - ad un certo punto se anche fossero precipitati tutti in una scarpata e fossero morti sul colpo non mi sarebbe importato più di tanto, anzi l'avrei accolto con gioia se questo significava che il libro era finalmente finito.
Leggendo i commenti su Goodreads tutti avevano capito chi c'era dietro, ma io no - a posteriori sì, riconosco che proprio ciò che detestavo di più era un indizio grande come una casa e altri atteggiamenti erano proprio da fuori di testa, ma al momento dell'ascolto ero troppo presa a capire che parola fosse appena stata pronunciata piuttosto che cercare di adattarla al contesto e a possibili collegamenti di colpevolezza. Ed è davvero un peccato, sento di non essermi goduta questa storia come avrei potuto e come forse avrei fatto se invece di ascoltarla l'avessi letta. Mi sento alquanto frustrata.
In generale comunque mi è mancato qualcosa - non so se sia stata colpa dei personaggi che avrei personalmente buttato giù dalla famosa scarpata e quindi avremmo risolto il problema alla radice o qualcosa nella scrittura della storia che non trasmetteva la tensione che avrei desiderato, ma credo che anche senza accento scozzese comunque non sarebbe stato all'altezza delle mie aspettative.
Perché c'è il personaggio unlikeable che comunque piace e poi c'è il personaggio unlikeable che gli daresti fuoco e se anche avessi un bicchiere d'acqua per spegnere l'incendio comunque te lo berresti davanti a lui - per non parlare poi delle motivazioni dietro a tutto che sono veramente da fuori di testa e sono anche uno di quegli argomenti che davvero mi fanno uscire dai gangheri.
In ogni caso gli mancava quel certo non so che, quindi ho dato tre stelle ma sono anche alquanto scarsine.
Maggie non aveva aderito alla gita scolastica in programma - così come, a quanto pare, non lo avevano fatto neanche alcuni dei suoi compagni di classe. Eppure eccola lì, a poca distanza da dove lei e alcuni di loro furono rapiti e tenuti in ostaggio dieci anni fa.
Eccola lì con suo padre, al centro di un mezzo scandalo, a condurre la gita.
Eccola lì, con gli stessi compagni che alla prima occasione erano riusciti a scappare lasciandola indietro, nelle mani del rapitore finché Maggie non era riuscita a salvarsi da sola ad appena sei anni.
Eccola lì in mezzo alle montagne dopo aver appena ripreso a frequentare la scuola, visto che i suoi genitori iperprotettivi fino a qual momento le avevano fatto seguire le lezioni da casa per saperla sempre al sicuro.
Eccola lì con Ben, che l'ha mollata per mettersi con Stephanie e con tutti gli altri che non sembrano felici di vederla.
Eccola lì quando un incidente ne causa altri a catena e il gruppo si separa, alcuni restano feriti, non hanno cellulari o modi per contattare il mondo esterno o qualche adulto e devono cavarsela da soli. Proprio come dieci anni prima.
Ma, proprio come dieci anni prima, c'è qualcuno che non vuole lascino vivi quelle montagne e non se ne andrà finché non avrà concluso il lavoro.
Dunque, ho praticamente odiato tutti - tranne Maggie, che mi ha fatto una gran pena e che veniva accusata a destra e a manca di voler ferire prima uno e di voler ammazzare poi l'altro e senza alcuna ragione apparente. Veramente, quella povera ragazza è vittima di un odio ingiustificato e c'era una persona in particolare che volevo vedere morta.
I problemi però sono stati svariati.
Intanto - e mi dispiace dirlo, non se ne abbiano gli scozzesi, chi ha parenti scozzesi, chi conosce qualche scozzese, chi ama Scozia e scozzese in generale - l'accento è uno dei più terribili e incomprensibili in cui mi sia mai imbattuta. Quindi, oltre al fatto che mi aspettavo forse più plot twist e più tensione, il fatto di dover sempre tornare indietro di trenta secondi o un minuto per riuscire a decifrare cosa la narratrice stesse dicendo mi ha completamente distratta e tolta dall'atmosfera della storia. Dovendo sempre interpretare cosa tale parola corrispondesse in accento americano o anche solo british, non riuscivo proprio a starci dentro e a sentirmi partecipe - ad un certo punto se anche fossero precipitati tutti in una scarpata e fossero morti sul colpo non mi sarebbe importato più di tanto, anzi l'avrei accolto con gioia se questo significava che il libro era finalmente finito.
Leggendo i commenti su Goodreads tutti avevano capito chi c'era dietro, ma io no - a posteriori sì, riconosco che proprio ciò che detestavo di più era un indizio grande come una casa e altri atteggiamenti erano proprio da fuori di testa, ma al momento dell'ascolto ero troppo presa a capire che parola fosse appena stata pronunciata piuttosto che cercare di adattarla al contesto e a possibili collegamenti di colpevolezza. Ed è davvero un peccato, sento di non essermi goduta questa storia come avrei potuto e come forse avrei fatto se invece di ascoltarla l'avessi letta. Mi sento alquanto frustrata.
In generale comunque mi è mancato qualcosa - non so se sia stata colpa dei personaggi che avrei personalmente buttato giù dalla famosa scarpata e quindi avremmo risolto il problema alla radice o qualcosa nella scrittura della storia che non trasmetteva la tensione che avrei desiderato, ma credo che anche senza accento scozzese comunque non sarebbe stato all'altezza delle mie aspettative.
Perché c'è il personaggio unlikeable che comunque piace e poi c'è il personaggio unlikeable che gli daresti fuoco e se anche avessi un bicchiere d'acqua per spegnere l'incendio comunque te lo berresti davanti a lui - per non parlare poi delle motivazioni dietro a tutto che sono veramente da fuori di testa e sono anche uno di quegli argomenti che davvero mi fanno uscire dai gangheri.
In ogni caso gli mancava quel certo non so che, quindi ho dato tre stelle ma sono anche alquanto scarsine.
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