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Then There Was One
"The pages turn themselves in this sizzling debut. Wendy Cross is relentless!" Jennifer Lynn Alvarez, author of Friends Like These.Let the games begin.Every inhabitant in the Quadrant knows about The Pinnacle, a reality TV contest set on a remote planet with a five million cash prize. For three desperate entrants, winning would mean: that BEX can finally leave her broken family behind. For politician’s son ZANE, it’s his only opportunity to save his mother. And it’s outcast RAYA’S last chance at a better life. But as the competition starts, the contestants are quick to discover that this year’s game has unscripted and DEADLY consequences. And the only thing they’re truly competing for, is SURVIVAL.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 5, 2023
22 people are currently reading
363 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
December 21, 2023
Gives off The Hunger Games meets The 100 (minus 90) vibes.
Ten teens are sent to an Island for a survival game show but it ends up turning deadlier than any of them expected.
The Hunger Games (THG) is one of my favourite books of all time, so to have something similar to read for the first time was so nice. It brought back that sense of wonder, fear and hope that I had when I first read THG. The ending was definitely such a twist, I really thought it'd end up being someone else and the last sentence? Excuse me Miss Cliffhanger, I need to know what happens next!!
Ten teens are sent to an Island for a survival game show but it ends up turning deadlier than any of them expected.
The Hunger Games (THG) is one of my favourite books of all time, so to have something similar to read for the first time was so nice. It brought back that sense of wonder, fear and hope that I had when I first read THG. The ending was definitely such a twist, I really thought it'd end up being someone else and the last sentence? Excuse me Miss Cliffhanger, I need to know what happens next!!
October 23, 2023
Ideal for fans of The Hunger Games!!!
TEN COMPETITORS. ONE WINNER. NO SECOND CHANCES.
In this teenage, dystopian, sci-fi mystery, 10 teenagers are selected to partake in a contest designed to test their intelligence and physical capabilities in an unknown location. Which is why when they arrive on a remote island they think nothing of it, until they start suspiciously dying.
We follow the story along from the viewpoint of the three main protagonists; Bex, Raya and Zane, who are each introduced at the start of the novel. The rest of the characters are quickly set in motion, and their twisted backgrounds revealed to the reader. I absolutely love books with more than one P.O.V so this was an added bonus for me!
Wendy Cross has done an excellent job at creating a dystopian futuristic world, with an apparent class divide. The unlikely teenage trio is crafted perfectly, and develops lovely throughout. By the end I was genuinely concerned about their friendship and the future of the teens.
Ending on a cliffhanger it is very clear that this is just the beginning of their story! I cant wait to see what Cross has in store for the future.
A massive thank you to Wendy Cross and Penguin Publishing for the chance to digitally review this masterpiece!
TEN COMPETITORS. ONE WINNER. NO SECOND CHANCES.
In this teenage, dystopian, sci-fi mystery, 10 teenagers are selected to partake in a contest designed to test their intelligence and physical capabilities in an unknown location. Which is why when they arrive on a remote island they think nothing of it, until they start suspiciously dying.
We follow the story along from the viewpoint of the three main protagonists; Bex, Raya and Zane, who are each introduced at the start of the novel. The rest of the characters are quickly set in motion, and their twisted backgrounds revealed to the reader. I absolutely love books with more than one P.O.V so this was an added bonus for me!
Wendy Cross has done an excellent job at creating a dystopian futuristic world, with an apparent class divide. The unlikely teenage trio is crafted perfectly, and develops lovely throughout. By the end I was genuinely concerned about their friendship and the future of the teens.
Ending on a cliffhanger it is very clear that this is just the beginning of their story! I cant wait to see what Cross has in store for the future.
A massive thank you to Wendy Cross and Penguin Publishing for the chance to digitally review this masterpiece!
October 9, 2023
"Then There Was One" is a ya mystery thriller sci-fi novel written by Wendy Cross.
Extremely compelling, dynamic and peppy book that kept me glued to the pages from beginning to end! It seemed to me like a sort of "And Then There Were None meets The Hunger Games"! I admit that I love Agatha Christie's famous mystery novel and usually, if done well, I like books that reproduce its same pattern, in any variation possible and imaginable. And in this case, in my opinion, "Then There Was One" managed it very well! I liked everything a lot!
The writing captured me! I found it simple, light and concise, characterized by a fast and tight pace and the presence of short chapters. It tantalized and entertained me quite a bit, without moments of boredom or heaviness, so much so that I finished the book in less than a day!
The world building is intriguing but little in-depth. The story takes place in the Cael Quadrant, a highly technological system composed of numerous sectors, within which there are a variety of planets, differing in wealth, welfare, and other economic and social conditions. In addition there are The Moons, a complex of satellites full of mines, where miners live in harsh and miserable conditions. As mentioned above, it is a fascinating setting, but with rather superficial descriptions, limited to the bare minimum. I liked it and did not feel the need to know more since the main story is basically set on a remote island, far from everything and everyone.
The plot proceeds fast and eventfully, rich in action, mysteries and deaths. Ten teenagers, from different planets and conditions, find themselves participating in The Pinnacle, a famous reality TV show, consisting of physical and mental challenges, located in a remote and unknown location that changes every year and with a huge cash prize for the winner. However, when participants are informed that they have been chosen because they are guilty of taking another person's life, the game takes an unexpectedly real and deadly turn, in which survival is the ultimate goal. I loved the way the idea was handled! The entrants start dying one by one, in a growing atmosphere of tension, suspicion, and paranoia. It's a story full of secrets, deception, lies, subterfuge, grudges and regrets that kept me entertained from beginning to end! I think the author was really good at creating the various interweaving, so much so that it took me a while to locate the solution!
I liked the characters a lot! Bex, Zane, and Raya are the protagonists, all with their respective first person povs. Bex is a rich girl, who wishes to escape from her troubled family. Zane is the son of a deceased politician, who needs the money to save his mother. And finally there is Raya, a miner who lives on The Moons in miserable conditions and needs to win to build a better life for herself. I can't say much to avoid spoilers, but everyone, protagonists and secondary characters, convinced me. In my opinion, they do not stand out for depth, but I think that is an intentional effect so as to make the atmosphere even more ambiguous.
From what I understand there should be a sequel, or at least I hope so, given the illegal ending!
All in all, this is a compelling, mysterious and dynamic book that I recommend to lovers of the genre!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Extremely compelling, dynamic and peppy book that kept me glued to the pages from beginning to end! It seemed to me like a sort of "And Then There Were None meets The Hunger Games"! I admit that I love Agatha Christie's famous mystery novel and usually, if done well, I like books that reproduce its same pattern, in any variation possible and imaginable. And in this case, in my opinion, "Then There Was One" managed it very well! I liked everything a lot!
The writing captured me! I found it simple, light and concise, characterized by a fast and tight pace and the presence of short chapters. It tantalized and entertained me quite a bit, without moments of boredom or heaviness, so much so that I finished the book in less than a day!
The world building is intriguing but little in-depth. The story takes place in the Cael Quadrant, a highly technological system composed of numerous sectors, within which there are a variety of planets, differing in wealth, welfare, and other economic and social conditions. In addition there are The Moons, a complex of satellites full of mines, where miners live in harsh and miserable conditions. As mentioned above, it is a fascinating setting, but with rather superficial descriptions, limited to the bare minimum. I liked it and did not feel the need to know more since the main story is basically set on a remote island, far from everything and everyone.
The plot proceeds fast and eventfully, rich in action, mysteries and deaths. Ten teenagers, from different planets and conditions, find themselves participating in The Pinnacle, a famous reality TV show, consisting of physical and mental challenges, located in a remote and unknown location that changes every year and with a huge cash prize for the winner. However, when participants are informed that they have been chosen because they are guilty of taking another person's life, the game takes an unexpectedly real and deadly turn, in which survival is the ultimate goal. I loved the way the idea was handled! The entrants start dying one by one, in a growing atmosphere of tension, suspicion, and paranoia. It's a story full of secrets, deception, lies, subterfuge, grudges and regrets that kept me entertained from beginning to end! I think the author was really good at creating the various interweaving, so much so that it took me a while to locate the solution!
I liked the characters a lot! Bex, Zane, and Raya are the protagonists, all with their respective first person povs. Bex is a rich girl, who wishes to escape from her troubled family. Zane is the son of a deceased politician, who needs the money to save his mother. And finally there is Raya, a miner who lives on The Moons in miserable conditions and needs to win to build a better life for herself. I can't say much to avoid spoilers, but everyone, protagonists and secondary characters, convinced me. In my opinion, they do not stand out for depth, but I think that is an intentional effect so as to make the atmosphere even more ambiguous.
From what I understand there should be a sequel, or at least I hope so, given the illegal ending!
All in all, this is a compelling, mysterious and dynamic book that I recommend to lovers of the genre!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2023
I couldn’t put this down. The twists and turns kept me guessing the entire time, and that ending left me SPEECHLESS. Bex and Raya are my new friendship goals. Stayed up far too late and it was utterly worth it!
December 29, 2023
In this Sci-fi mystery thriller with similarities to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, ten teenagers have been selected to take part in a reality TV contest of puzzles and challenges which takes place in a secret isolated location. The background is a dystopian world of planets and moons which have been made habitable for the last few centuries and the story is narrated by three of the contestants, Bex, Zane and Raya.
The world building and character development of the contestants is minimal but in this case, it really doesn't matter as the action in the book takes centre stage and this story could have played out to a different background and still had impact.
The plotting is clever, the reader starts off thinking one thing, then another until finally the solution to the mystery is revealed and whilst you knew there was something not right you really couldn't predict the ending. The cliffhanger at the end made me realise how much I had hopes for some of the newfound friendships surviving the whole experience.
Perfect for fans of The Hunger Games.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC
The world building and character development of the contestants is minimal but in this case, it really doesn't matter as the action in the book takes centre stage and this story could have played out to a different background and still had impact.
The plotting is clever, the reader starts off thinking one thing, then another until finally the solution to the mystery is revealed and whilst you knew there was something not right you really couldn't predict the ending. The cliffhanger at the end made me realise how much I had hopes for some of the newfound friendships surviving the whole experience.
Perfect for fans of The Hunger Games.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC
October 24, 2023
3⭐️
First of all, thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
“Then There Was One” is a quick YA read with sci-fi, dystopian and thriller elements.
I liked the concept of the book and the plot twists were great, especially the ending.
I appreciated the author's ability to add new details about the characters, their story, and their connections in almost every new chapter.
However, I felt like certain parts of the book were a bit rushed, but that is just my opinion.
First of all, thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
“Then There Was One” is a quick YA read with sci-fi, dystopian and thriller elements.
I liked the concept of the book and the plot twists were great, especially the ending.
I appreciated the author's ability to add new details about the characters, their story, and their connections in almost every new chapter.
However, I felt like certain parts of the book were a bit rushed, but that is just my opinion.
October 10, 2023
This book was absolutely incredible! It had me on the edge of my seat till the very end! The characters’ emotions were portrayed so well, and the story line was so smooth. I didn’t want to stop reading this book from the second I picked it up! I would 100% recommend this to people who love mysteries and thrills!
February 9, 2024
Three teenagers are thrilled to receive an invitation to compete in 'The Pinnacle', a reality TV contest set on a remote planet where ten teenagers compete to win a cash prize. Bex wants the money to start a new life away from her overbearing father, Raya wants to win to travel further than the Moons where she has grown up poor & mostly alone except for Zircon the dog, whilst Zane also wants to win to give his mother a better life. The ten contestants meet on a deserted island but it's not long before they realise that they have been brought here under false pretences & that this is no ordinary contest, but a competition to survive & there can only be one winner.
The 'locked room' or 'isolated setting' genre is one of my favourites so one that was set in space was even better.
Unfortunately the contest side of things was quickly jettisoned & it was your usual murder thriller where the group are isolated from everyone else & they start being killed off one by one. Judging by the title, this is perhaps an updated YA version of Agatha Christie's 'And Then There Were None'. The reader has three points of view for the narrative but they were not really distinct enough & I had to look back at the chapter headings several times to see which one I was currently reading about. Overall, I felt that the concept wasn't really developed enough & the ending is rather abrupt, although it left me hoping that there is a sequel as I really need to know that someone goes & looks after Zircon the dog as Raya had to leave him behind for the contest. 3.5 stars (rounded down)
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Penguin Random House UK Childrens', for the opportunity to read an ARC.
The 'locked room' or 'isolated setting' genre is one of my favourites so one that was set in space was even better.
Unfortunately the contest side of things was quickly jettisoned & it was your usual murder thriller where the group are isolated from everyone else & they start being killed off one by one. Judging by the title, this is perhaps an updated YA version of Agatha Christie's 'And Then There Were None'. The reader has three points of view for the narrative but they were not really distinct enough & I had to look back at the chapter headings several times to see which one I was currently reading about. Overall, I felt that the concept wasn't really developed enough & the ending is rather abrupt, although it left me hoping that there is a sequel as I really need to know that someone goes & looks after Zircon the dog as Raya had to leave him behind for the contest. 3.5 stars (rounded down)
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Penguin Random House UK Childrens', for the opportunity to read an ARC.
November 5, 2023
I enjoyed this book. I liked the character progression and I really felt like we got to know them. Evie was easy to hate, Bex easy to feel sorry for! I found myself rooting for them even though the title suggested that they wouldn’t all survive. The format of the book was easy to follow and it kept me guessing. I had guessed which character was the murderer but didn’t see the final twist coming at all! I’m hoping there is a sequel planned because I hate it when a book ends on a cliffhanger. Who was missing?!
March 5, 2024
I always love good YA mystery book. This was a super easy read.
Quite a lot of characters in this book but it wasn’t too confusing.
This book completely had me fooled, I had no idea who the killer was and I was throughly surprised.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC.
Quite a lot of characters in this book but it wasn’t too confusing.
This book completely had me fooled, I had no idea who the killer was and I was throughly surprised.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC.
December 2, 2023
A young adult hunger games with a sci fi twist.
A fun, keep you guessing mystery featuring some unique characters and concepts. Perfect for fans of hunger games style battle royale stories. I'll keep an eye out for other books by this author.
A fun, keep you guessing mystery featuring some unique characters and concepts. Perfect for fans of hunger games style battle royale stories. I'll keep an eye out for other books by this author.
January 15, 2024
Then There Was One focuses on what we’re told is a well-known reality TV show, a competition called The Pinnacle. Contestants are in it to win a life-changing amount of money, and each of this year’s contestants has their own reasons for wanting to win.
From the outset we can see things are not what they seem. The body count is high, and a mysterious robotic voice suggesting that the prospective candidates all need to be punished for something they have done indicates that there’s more to this than meets the eye.
Indeed there is, but it is linked to the game. The way this is actually brought about doesn’t make a lot of sense, and I’m struggling to see how it could have transpired.
While the group are in the game and we’re seeing contestants get killed off our focus is on who might be behind it. As the game continues, those remaining work out some aspects and at this point we’re told a little more of what is actually happening. Unfortunately, for me it didn’t gel. Nice idea, and some interesting scenes, but it all seemed to rush out of nowhere and the explanation, when it came, simply muddied the waters.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.
From the outset we can see things are not what they seem. The body count is high, and a mysterious robotic voice suggesting that the prospective candidates all need to be punished for something they have done indicates that there’s more to this than meets the eye.
Indeed there is, but it is linked to the game. The way this is actually brought about doesn’t make a lot of sense, and I’m struggling to see how it could have transpired.
While the group are in the game and we’re seeing contestants get killed off our focus is on who might be behind it. As the game continues, those remaining work out some aspects and at this point we’re told a little more of what is actually happening. Unfortunately, for me it didn’t gel. Nice idea, and some interesting scenes, but it all seemed to rush out of nowhere and the explanation, when it came, simply muddied the waters.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.
February 28, 2025
A dystopian thriller that is a great mix of The 100 and The Hunger Games.
November 15, 2023
Then there was one is one of those books you can't help but finish is one felt swoop, because it is just that great. From the first paragraph any reader will be completely hooked, with multiple twists to keep the reader guessing. Wendy Cross's smooth writing is mesmerising, and gives a unique spin on the classic Agatha Christie - esque mystery style.
September 30, 2024
"There’s a difference between murder and exacting justice – the law recognizes that."
"But all it takes is one little lie."
What to Expect:
- Survivor meets The 100 (sort of)
- YA Dystopian/Sci-fi
- Multiple POVs
- Unreliable narrators
Sigh. Where do I even begin? I’m left wondering if I read the same book as everyone else. I’m really struggling to make sense of it. Let me try.
The characters are unlikeable. I can't sugar coat it. They just are. I liked none of them.
Character development? We don’t know her. She doesn’t exist in this world.
- Raya: The "poor" girl. Unfortunately, the author seems to have dumbed her down to an almost frustrating degree. Raya is supposed to be resilient and street-smart, yet she often comes off as just plain stupid and rude. It feels unnecessary. She’s insufferable and irritating, and to make her worse—she stole a dog. For no reason? It had no real impact on the story?
- Bex: The "rich" girl. Bland and one-dimensional. There was an attempt to give her depth but it was a shallow attempt.
- Zane: I suppose we needed a male character? He's a mommy's boy. That’s his entire personality. Although, the least selfish of the bunch.
I’m not sure why we needed all three of their perspectives, aside from giving the impression that their actions were somehow justifiable compared to the others. They aren’t. Well, maybe Zane, but only just.
At about 20% in, we learn that the contestants weren’t randomly chosen. There’s something more sinister at play, and each of them is hiding something. In theory, this should have made for an intriguing plot, but the sci-fi/dystopian angle just didn’t work for me. It had no significant bearing on the story. If you stripped away the sci-fi elements, it wouldn’t change anything.
The characters and plot could easily exist without all the elaborate world-building, which, again, feels pointless. It’s as if the author was trying to create a Hunger Games knockoff but with a sci-fi twist that simply didn’t land. The competition should have been the focal point. It would’ve been far more interesting to explore the competition’s history, the previous winners, and the overarching purpose of it all.
The plot twists were heavily foreshadowed and poorly disguised as world-building details or explanations throughout. By the time they arrived, I just wanted the book to be over. These plot twists could have worked really well if the focus had been on the characters and the competition.
The ending sets us up for a sequel—one that I don't think is needed.
Thank you to Penguin Random House South Africa for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"But all it takes is one little lie."
What to Expect:
- Survivor meets The 100 (sort of)
- YA Dystopian/Sci-fi
- Multiple POVs
- Unreliable narrators
Sigh. Where do I even begin? I’m left wondering if I read the same book as everyone else. I’m really struggling to make sense of it. Let me try.
The characters are unlikeable. I can't sugar coat it. They just are. I liked none of them.
Character development? We don’t know her. She doesn’t exist in this world.
- Raya: The "poor" girl. Unfortunately, the author seems to have dumbed her down to an almost frustrating degree. Raya is supposed to be resilient and street-smart, yet she often comes off as just plain stupid and rude. It feels unnecessary. She’s insufferable and irritating, and to make her worse—she stole a dog. For no reason? It had no real impact on the story?
- Bex: The "rich" girl. Bland and one-dimensional. There was an attempt to give her depth but it was a shallow attempt.
- Zane: I suppose we needed a male character? He's a mommy's boy. That’s his entire personality. Although, the least selfish of the bunch.
I’m not sure why we needed all three of their perspectives, aside from giving the impression that their actions were somehow justifiable compared to the others. They aren’t. Well, maybe Zane, but only just.
At about 20% in, we learn that the contestants weren’t randomly chosen. There’s something more sinister at play, and each of them is hiding something. In theory, this should have made for an intriguing plot, but the sci-fi/dystopian angle just didn’t work for me. It had no significant bearing on the story. If you stripped away the sci-fi elements, it wouldn’t change anything.
The characters and plot could easily exist without all the elaborate world-building, which, again, feels pointless. It’s as if the author was trying to create a Hunger Games knockoff but with a sci-fi twist that simply didn’t land. The competition should have been the focal point. It would’ve been far more interesting to explore the competition’s history, the previous winners, and the overarching purpose of it all.
The plot twists were heavily foreshadowed and poorly disguised as world-building details or explanations throughout. By the time they arrived, I just wanted the book to be over. These plot twists could have worked really well if the focus had been on the characters and the competition.
The ending sets us up for a sequel—one that I don't think is needed.
Thank you to Penguin Random House South Africa for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 3, 2024
What a BANGER!!
This was absolutely amazing and if you loved The Hunger Games and that you are a fan of Survivor, then you must pick up this book!
This novel is a dystopia, people are living on the different planets of the solar system where there seems to be a kind of class divide. We follow a group of teenages who received an invitation to compete in "The Pinnacle", a TV show in which they will have to the best in logic, but also physically. Except when they arrive, during their last "real" meal, one of them dies. But how? And of what? Soon, more of them dies and they understand that this is not the real TV Show and they aren't sure they will survive this at all...
There are alternate point of views in this novel and we follow Bex (a rich girl from planet Rikas), Zayne (who may or may not have killed his father) and Raya (a poor miner girl from The Moons) as they are trying to figure what is happening and how to survive.
Every character is well described and we have access to their past, which may be a reason why they are in this mess. The development of the characters is well done and I cared so much about their friendship at the end.
The writing is easy to understand, the chapters are quite short which kept me turning the pages. I wanted to know more and more!
But this ending though? I need more!!! I hope there is going to be a next book because it can't end like that, it can't!!
This was absolutely amazing and if you loved The Hunger Games and that you are a fan of Survivor, then you must pick up this book!
This novel is a dystopia, people are living on the different planets of the solar system where there seems to be a kind of class divide. We follow a group of teenages who received an invitation to compete in "The Pinnacle", a TV show in which they will have to the best in logic, but also physically. Except when they arrive, during their last "real" meal, one of them dies. But how? And of what? Soon, more of them dies and they understand that this is not the real TV Show and they aren't sure they will survive this at all...
There are alternate point of views in this novel and we follow Bex (a rich girl from planet Rikas), Zayne (who may or may not have killed his father) and Raya (a poor miner girl from The Moons) as they are trying to figure what is happening and how to survive.
Every character is well described and we have access to their past, which may be a reason why they are in this mess. The development of the characters is well done and I cared so much about their friendship at the end.
The writing is easy to understand, the chapters are quite short which kept me turning the pages. I wanted to know more and more!
But this ending though? I need more!!! I hope there is going to be a next book because it can't end like that, it can't!!
December 19, 2023
First of all, thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
The first YA book I've read in a while that I simply couldn't put down - once it got going, which didn't take very long at all thanks to the amazing world building and character creation, it was one of those books where you just have to keep reading.
A fast-paced sci-fi YA who done it where the plot twists really work and it keeps you guessing until the end. Really enjoyed this one and I'm intrigued by the ending and possibility of a sequel also!
A must read for fans of the Hunger Games, The 100 and similar - although this novel is uniquely its own thing and does it really well too! Excited to read more from Wendy Cross.
The first YA book I've read in a while that I simply couldn't put down - once it got going, which didn't take very long at all thanks to the amazing world building and character creation, it was one of those books where you just have to keep reading.
A fast-paced sci-fi YA who done it where the plot twists really work and it keeps you guessing until the end. Really enjoyed this one and I'm intrigued by the ending and possibility of a sequel also!
A must read for fans of the Hunger Games, The 100 and similar - although this novel is uniquely its own thing and does it really well too! Excited to read more from Wendy Cross.
June 9, 2024
I love nothing more than a murder YA mystery, so when I saw this I had to pick it up.
.Let the games begin.Every inhabitant in the Quadrant knows about The Pinnacle, a reality TV contest set on a remote planet with a five million cash prize. For three desperate entrants, winning would mean: that BEX can finally leave her broken family behind. For politician’s son ZANE, it’s his only opportunity to save his mother. And it’s outcast RAYA’S last chance at a better life. But as the competition starts, the contestants are quick to discover that this year’s game has unscripted and DEADLY consequences. And the only thing they’re truly competing for, is SURVIVAL.
One of my favourite books of all times is Agatha Christie’s And then there were none, a tale of 10 people lured to a remote island and someone starts killing them one at a time. Well this book is a modern day version of this book. This time aimed at a younger audience.
Set in the future it has multiple points of view telling the story, this works very well, and shows how the different social class works.
There is excellent word building and the descriptions of the worlds are brilliant.
This was an easy book to read and not very hard to follow.
Of course some characters are nicer than others but they all work well together.
YA readers are going to love the mystery and all the murders.
.Let the games begin.Every inhabitant in the Quadrant knows about The Pinnacle, a reality TV contest set on a remote planet with a five million cash prize. For three desperate entrants, winning would mean: that BEX can finally leave her broken family behind. For politician’s son ZANE, it’s his only opportunity to save his mother. And it’s outcast RAYA’S last chance at a better life. But as the competition starts, the contestants are quick to discover that this year’s game has unscripted and DEADLY consequences. And the only thing they’re truly competing for, is SURVIVAL.
One of my favourite books of all times is Agatha Christie’s And then there were none, a tale of 10 people lured to a remote island and someone starts killing them one at a time. Well this book is a modern day version of this book. This time aimed at a younger audience.
Set in the future it has multiple points of view telling the story, this works very well, and shows how the different social class works.
There is excellent word building and the descriptions of the worlds are brilliant.
This was an easy book to read and not very hard to follow.
Of course some characters are nicer than others but they all work well together.
YA readers are going to love the mystery and all the murders.
March 9, 2024
A Young Adult Sci-fi novel, this is a fast paced murder mystery thriller, with 3 main characters telling the story from their own different perspectives and backgrounds: Bex, Raya and Zane. I'm not going to go into it a lot so I don't spoil it for you, but here are some of things I can say: The 10 characters chosen to play the game are said to be between 16-18 years old. As you would expect from the title, this book does give a big nod to the Agatha Christie novel "And Then There Were None", and also to a lesser extent the Hunger Games, and even giving off a bit of Lord of the Flies vibes, but this is not a copy of those books. It's an enjoyable twisty page turner in it's own right, and things are definitely not what they seem. I initially thought there wasn't much world building going on at the start, especially as people start to get killed off so quickly, but that's intentional, as the more you read, the more you learn about the setting and each of the characters - it adds to the mystery and there are some big surprises! I loved Raya and Bex the most, who strike up an unlikely friendship along the way, and I was soooo not prepared for that ending!!
Hopefully there will be a sequel but sorry I'm not telling you any spoilers as to why I think that! I'd actually really like to read a follow up book or series, I think it was great for a debut novel, will keep you interested and guessing from start to finish. Much better than I was expecting and I enjoyed it. Well worth a read.
Hopefully there will be a sequel but sorry I'm not telling you any spoilers as to why I think that! I'd actually really like to read a follow up book or series, I think it was great for a debut novel, will keep you interested and guessing from start to finish. Much better than I was expecting and I enjoyed it. Well worth a read.
November 16, 2023
Then There Was One is a fast-paced dystopian mystery, perfect for fans of the Hunger Games.
I was excited to read this because And Then There Were None is one of my favorite books, I love the premise of trying to figure out the murderer in an isolated setting. The world building was creative, the characters were fleshed out and the author had plenty of twists to keep the momentum going. However, the competition elements that were promised were quickly thrown away once the group was on the island and the main twist was (in my opinion) too similar to Agatha Christie's famous twist.
Still a brilliant debut from this author, I would love to read another from her in the future.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
I was excited to read this because And Then There Were None is one of my favorite books, I love the premise of trying to figure out the murderer in an isolated setting. The world building was creative, the characters were fleshed out and the author had plenty of twists to keep the momentum going. However, the competition elements that were promised were quickly thrown away once the group was on the island and the main twist was (in my opinion) too similar to Agatha Christie's famous twist.
Still a brilliant debut from this author, I would love to read another from her in the future.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
September 8, 2024
Content warnings: death, murder, violence, poisoning, cheating (in the past), death of a child, drowning, animal death, animal attack
This is, essentially, a retelling of And Then There Were None set in space. And, like, I *wanted* to love it, I really did. But the characters were utterly flat, and there was so little backstory about any of them that I just.........didn't care. Maybe it will work for teens who haven't read the original and don't know how masterfully Agatha Christie wove that story? But for me, a grown ass adult, it just...wasn't it.
This is, essentially, a retelling of And Then There Were None set in space. And, like, I *wanted* to love it, I really did. But the characters were utterly flat, and there was so little backstory about any of them that I just.........didn't care. Maybe it will work for teens who haven't read the original and don't know how masterfully Agatha Christie wove that story? But for me, a grown ass adult, it just...wasn't it.
July 6, 2025
Whoops, forgot to log when I started this one.
This book is a bit of a debate about rating it lower, mainly because cliff hangers in the last sentence? Not cool.
I am typically a bit of a sucker for a YA mystery, but this was a little lacking on that front.
I found that the there were some foundations of the world that this was set in that werent laid out to properly reach the correct deduction. Which was a little annoying, but it wasn't a long book, so that's probably somewhat fair. Albeit still annoying.
As far as the who and the why, my suspicion was right, although there was some wider plot I missed. I could attribute this to my recent knowledge of the Christie plot of a similar name (which I also guessed, but that had more red herrings).
All in all, I was tempted to rate it a little lower, but remain conflicted if a cliff hanger that will not be resolved can equal a half star deduction.
This book is a bit of a debate about rating it lower, mainly because cliff hangers in the last sentence? Not cool.
I am typically a bit of a sucker for a YA mystery, but this was a little lacking on that front.
I found that the there were some foundations of the world that this was set in that werent laid out to properly reach the correct deduction. Which was a little annoying, but it wasn't a long book, so that's probably somewhat fair. Albeit still annoying.
As far as the who and the why, my suspicion was right, although there was some wider plot I missed. I could attribute this to my recent knowledge of the Christie plot of a similar name (which I also guessed, but that had more red herrings).
All in all, I was tempted to rate it a little lower, but remain conflicted if a cliff hanger that will not be resolved can equal a half star deduction.
April 7, 2024
Oh my god… what a book! I couldn’t put it down, neither I wanted to. I usually ALWAYS can guess what happens further in the book or get bored whilst reading some, but this one? I never got bored while reading it, nor guessed what would have happened. IN A MILLION YEARS. I was the entire time on the edge of my seat, and when I wasn’t reading the book, I was thinking of it. I’m mind blow…
But the cliffhanger at the end, and that last phrase? I NEED to know what happened!!!
But the cliffhanger at the end, and that last phrase? I NEED to know what happened!!!
August 21, 2024
Couldn't put it down! Finished it within 24 hours! The ending was a major surprise that I didn't see coming!
November 8, 2023
Finally a ‘who done it’ that kept me guessing till the end. Wendy Cross does a remarkable job weaving a tale of intrigue as 10 teens fight to stay alive while a killer is moving amongst them. Then There Was One draws you into its pages as you scramble to see if you can figure out who’s responsible. Try as I might I just could not figure it out! What’s more is the cliff hanger at the end that leaves me wanting and waiting to see what is coming next!
No pressure on the author for a sequel!
No pressure on the author for a sequel!
March 8, 2024
I was hooked the whole time. I loved the unique combination of murder mystery, dystopian, and sci-fi vibes. It’s been a while since I read a book that kept me from going to bed because I was so hooked on the story. I recommend for lovers of ya, mysteries thrillers, and fast-paced stories.
November 30, 2023
This took me back to the time where I read The Hunger Games, became obsessed with it and then devoured every single dystopian YA that came out off the back of its success.
I hope enough time has passed that we get a resurgence of the genre because this was so much fun. 10 teens each with a secret pitted against each other in a televised contest sounds very familiar and yet there were many twists and turns.
I hope enough time has passed that we get a resurgence of the genre because this was so much fun. 10 teens each with a secret pitted against each other in a televised contest sounds very familiar and yet there were many twists and turns.
November 6, 2024
Then There Was One
By Wendy Cross
This book was definitely not what i expected..dare I say that it was better than that!
It's been a while since I had a book that captivated me so well! I could have devoured it in one sitting and at the end of every chapter, i could not put it down, because I just needed to know what happened next!
It was so well written and so easy to read, and definitely gave me the eerie chills every now and then, which makes it a perfect read for spooky season as well!
I kept feeling like I had gone back to an Agatha Christie mystery novel, but with a futuristic twist on things!
Absolutely amazing world-building and the diverse characters with the mutiple POVs made for some interesting reading!
Loved this book, my only ick is that it has an open ending!😬 WHY??
Thank you to Penguin Books for this review copy in exchange for an honest opinion!
By Wendy Cross
This book was definitely not what i expected..dare I say that it was better than that!
It's been a while since I had a book that captivated me so well! I could have devoured it in one sitting and at the end of every chapter, i could not put it down, because I just needed to know what happened next!
It was so well written and so easy to read, and definitely gave me the eerie chills every now and then, which makes it a perfect read for spooky season as well!
I kept feeling like I had gone back to an Agatha Christie mystery novel, but with a futuristic twist on things!
Absolutely amazing world-building and the diverse characters with the mutiple POVs made for some interesting reading!
Loved this book, my only ick is that it has an open ending!😬 WHY??
Thank you to Penguin Books for this review copy in exchange for an honest opinion!
February 9, 2024
This book was such a fun read! I couldn’t stop reading because I just had to know what happened next. The story is written from three distinct and different points of view, so it’s hard to know what the true story really is. This book will keep you guessing until the very end.
Also, as a side note, there is ZERO romance in this book and I found that refreshing for a young adult novel.
Also, as a side note, there is ZERO romance in this book and I found that refreshing for a young adult novel.
January 27, 2024
I received an eARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
THEN THERE WAS ONE is a sci-fi thriller about ten teens on a game show competing for money, but all have killed someone and now they themselves are dying off.
The game show is set on a deserted island, which is a thriller trope I love. There is no way off, so the killer is among them, meaning you have the suspects in front of you (I loved the way it ended up playing out, a slight twist on the trope!) And then the deaths start in an array of grisly events that has you suspecting everyone (but particularly Evie as she's awful!)
I was a little surprised at the sci-fi element but I loved it. This is set in space with humans spread across planets, and it's lead to an even larger gulf between the rich and poor. Also there are things like space shuttles and space suits to add more ways for things to go wrong.
Most of the characters are rich, thrown into stark contrast by Raya who is not. It helps you sympathise with the leads by contrasting them to the really spoilt characters who simply value less the lives of those without money (i.e. Evie.)
The book ramps up the tension from slow deaths happening when no one watches to all out survival race in the action packed finale. It's a fun ride from start to finish.
THEN THERE WAS ONE is a sci-fi thriller about ten teens on a game show competing for money, but all have killed someone and now they themselves are dying off.
The game show is set on a deserted island, which is a thriller trope I love. There is no way off, so the killer is among them, meaning you have the suspects in front of you (I loved the way it ended up playing out, a slight twist on the trope!) And then the deaths start in an array of grisly events that has you suspecting everyone (but particularly Evie as she's awful!)
I was a little surprised at the sci-fi element but I loved it. This is set in space with humans spread across planets, and it's lead to an even larger gulf between the rich and poor. Also there are things like space shuttles and space suits to add more ways for things to go wrong.
Most of the characters are rich, thrown into stark contrast by Raya who is not. It helps you sympathise with the leads by contrasting them to the really spoilt characters who simply value less the lives of those without money (i.e. Evie.)
The book ramps up the tension from slow deaths happening when no one watches to all out survival race in the action packed finale. It's a fun ride from start to finish.
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