I’ve read and reviewed many of McKinnon’s other thrillers and they never fail to entertain. This one is no exception! I was surprised throughout and that’s always a good sign. I highly recommend you choose this one and then if you like it, check out her back list.
Only One Survives is a July 16, 2024 release by MIRA Publishers
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links, see disclosures for more detail.
About the Book:
Becoming the star is easier when the rest of your band is dead…
All drummer Vienna Taylor ever wanted was to make music. If that came with fame, she’d take it—as long as her best friend, guitarist Madison Pierce, was sharing the spotlight and singing lead. And with their new all-female pop rock band gaining traction, soon everyone would hear their songs…
Except, on the way to an event, the Bittersweet’s van careened off an icy mountain road during a blizzard—leaving one member dead and another severely injured.
In order to survive the frigid night, the rest took shelter in a nearby abandoned cabin. But Vienna’s dreams devolved into a terrifying nightmare as, one by one, her fellow band members met a gruesome end…and Madison simply vanished in the night.
What really happened to the Bittersweet? Did Vienna’s closest friend finally decide to take center stage on her own terms?
She doesn’t want to believe it.
But guilty people run.
My Thoughts:
I rated this 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4 on Goodreads)
This was a wild one! Let me first say that one of the quotes in the blurb says this is for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six. The only reason it’s even remotely similar is that both involve musicians and bands, but in this book’s case, it’s peripheral to the mystery/thriller aspect of the book. Daisy Jones is all about the musicians and their lives. I find no comparison between the two at all, so if you’re looking for a Daisy Jones-esque book you won’t find it here.
That said, this book alternates between two timelines–the past when Vienna and Madison meet during their senior year of high school and moving forward, and then the accident that is the catalyst for the rest of the story, and moving forward from that.
In high school, Vienna and Madison form a music duo with Vienna playing drums and Madison playing guitar, both of them singing. They get some recognition, but obstacles stand in their way. Moving forward they eventually move to New York and put together an all-girl band they name the Bittersweet. In a snowstorm on their way to a party, their van goes off the road and what happens next is unimaginable. Who survives?
This isn’t a perfect book, there are some awkward parts with the pacing and character development, but for a thriller book this one is unique and surprising. There are a couple of very shocking turns in the story that definitely elevated the book for me. However towards the end it became incredibly over the top and a bit too predictable, but I forgive that because the twists are worth it all.
I hesitate to say too much or I’ll devolve into spoiler territory, but I’ll just say that this novel is overall surprising and worth reading if you like thrillers.
About the Author:
Internationally bestselling author Hannah Mary McKinnon was born in the UK, grew up in Switzerland and moved to Canada in 2010. Her seven suspense novels include NEVER COMING HOME, THE REVENGE LIST, and ONLY ONE SURVIVES, and her work has been optioned for the screen. She also writes holiday romantic comedies as Holly Cassidy. Hannah Mary lives in Oakville, Ontario, Canada with her husband and three sons. You’ll find her on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads as @hannahmarymckinnon, and please visit www.hannahmarymckinnon.com for more.
SOCIAL LINKS:
Author website: https://hannahmarymckinnon.com/
X/ Twitter: @HannahMMcKinnon
Instagram: @hannahmarymckinnon
