Narrator: Amy Hall
Harlequin Audio
ISBN: 978-0778305477
Publisher: MIRA
Publication Date: 07/16/2024
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
The brand-new thriller coming July 16, 2024
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 careens 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 must take shelter in a nearby abandoned cabin. But Vienna’s dreams devolve into a terrifying nightmare as, one by one, her fellow band members meet a gruesome end…and Madison simply vanishes in the night.
Has Vienna’s closest friend finally decided to take center stage on her own terms?
She doesn’t want to believe it.
But guilty people run.
About the Author
“Internationally bestselling author Hannah Mary McKinnon was born in the UK, grew up in Switzerland and moved to Canada in 2010. While her debut, TIME AFTER TIME, was a rom com, she transitioned to the dark side thereafter. Her seven suspense novels include NEVER COMING HOME, THE REVENGE LIST, and ONLY ONE SURVIVES, and her work has been optioned for the screen. It’s rumored Hannah Mary still has a softer side because she also writes holiday romantic comedies as Holly Cassidy, the first of which is THE CHRISTMAS WAGER. Hannah Mary lives in Oakville, Ontario, Canada with her husband and three sons. You’ll find her on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and TikTok as @hannahmarymckinnon, and please visit www.hannahmarymckinnon.com for more.
Exceptional Authors. Standout Books. Elevator Talk.
INTRIGUING QUESTIONS. INQUIRING READERS WANT TO KNOW.
Behind the Book & the Author
with Internationally Bestselling Author
Hannah Mary McKinnon
ONLY ONE SURVIVES
Welcome to the third July 2024 #AuthorElevatorSeries! Joining us for the fifth time is a personal and fan favorite—special guest, internationally bestselling author Hannah Mary McKinnon, with her seventh thriller and ninth novel, ONLY ONE SURVIVES.
Join us as Hannah shares some fascinating behind-the-scenes exclusives from the book and up-close and personal fun moments from this talented author! Be sure and check out all the fun bonus materials—playlist, music by Bittersweet, book club kit, and more from Hannah!
Welcome, Hannah!
Behind the Book
Q. Give us your best ELEVATOR PITCH for ONLY ONE SURVIVES
Only One Survives is the story of the rise and violent demise of the all-female pop rock group the Bittersweet when, after a fatal car crash, one of the members decides the band’s now worth more dead than alive…
Q. DESCRIBE your novel in three words or less.
Original, twisted, surprising
Q. INSPIRATION: The spark that ignited this wildly addictive novel. Where were you when the idea came to you?
The very first sliver of an idea came from an abandoned house a few miles from my home. I drove past it one frigid afternoon, and saw the words Come Play written in red paint on the front door, which I found deliciously creepy. The image stuck with me, and I attempted to build a story featuring an abandoned lodge and work colleagues, but it didn’t sit right.
I sent a short description of my idea to my friends, authors Jennifer Hillier and Samantha M. Bailey, asking what they thought. They both liked it, and Sam suggested I make the group of people a band. The idea gave me an immediate ooh moment followed by one of them thinks the band’s worth more dead than alive. I knew I was onto something because writing a thriller featuring a band felt fresh and cool. The story shifted quite significantly compared to my initial idea, but the abandoned house remained a constant.
My editor, Dina Davis, was a fantastic help in my pulling the plot together because I got stuck as I developed the outline. We brainstormed Vienna and the Bittersweet’s trajectories, and our collaboration was brilliant. I’m immensely proud of how the novel turned out.
Q. SETTING: Tell us more about the book setting and why you selected it.
The book is set in Portland, Maine (because I’ve traveled there), New York City (for the music industry buzz), and the Catskills (because I needed somewhere mountainous with cliffs and snow that was within driving distance of NYC).
Q. MUSIC: An impressive thriller with jaw-dropping twists, combined with rock 'n' roll music, mystery, thrills, and more!
How was the experience writing the lyrics of Bittersweet for all the songs, the playlist, plus the two alternating parts and all the commentary, blog posts news articles, radio transcripts and social media— you master in the novel? How did you keep all organized? Are you a music or rock and roll fan? Do you play an instrument?
Thank you! I loved writing the various elements of the novel and figuring out how to make them all come together into a cohesive story. I outline my novels, so I spent a lot of time before drafting figuring out what would go where.
As for the lyrics, I’ve never written any before, so the first thing I had to do was understand how a song is structured. Next, I put myself in Vienna’s shoes and used lyrics to convey how she saw the world, and how she felt about everything going on in her life. It was a fascinating and exciting experience as well as a huge challenge. I hope to continue writing lyrics as I thoroughly enjoyed it. Once I started, I didn’t want to stop.
Yes, I’m a big pop rock / rock music fan, but I don’t play any instruments. At least not very well!
Q. RESEARCH: Any fascinating research for the novel, or anything you learned along the way?
I knew absolutely nothing about the music industry before writing Only One Survives. However, one of my childhood friends, Roger, manages artists and has worked in the music industry for 30 years, and he graciously let me pick his brain, and read an early version of the manuscript. The fabulous character Roger Kent is based on him, right down to his favorite artist George Michael.
During my research, I also learned about an excellent place to hide an…extra body in a graveyard. You’ll have to read the book to find out where it is.
Q. WRITING: Do you have a favorite chapter or scene in the novel you enjoyed writing the most?
I loved writing the radio transcripts as I was imagining the conversations in my head and frantically making notes.
The scenes at the cabin were incredibly creepy. They gave me goosebumps!
Q. TAKEAWAY: What important message, theme, or takeaway would you like readers to be left with when reading your book?
I have always said my main goal is to entertain, and I hope readers have a rocking good time while immersed in Only One Survives.
Q. TOPICS: Name 1-3 topics or themes addressed in the novel?
Jealousy, greed, fame, betrayal…but also love, family, and friendship.
Q. FAVORITE THING: What is your favorite thing about the novel or this series?
I adore the music element. I’ve featured some music in my previous novels, but it’s a huge part of Only One Survives. It was a thrill to incorporate some of my favorite artists into the Bittersweet members’ lives, and to create a playlist, which readers can find here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6b9z0AGBTH8R3RUZnex5gK
Q. ROM-COMS: In addition to dark thrillers, you also write fun romantic comedies under the name of Holly Cassidy. Your first (2023) The Christmas Wager and your second upcoming, The Christmas Countdown, out October 22, 2024.
Please share with us a little about switching (writing) between thrillers and romantic comedy and more about your upcoming holiday book.
I wrote my sixth book, the thriller Never Coming Home during 2020 (year 1 of the pandemic), which was also the year my mum passed away. The book turned out to be funny (dark and twisted humor, but humor nonetheless) and that happened because I needed to escape someplace where I could laugh when everything else felt so desperate.
I enjoyed writing the humor so much, it got me thinking—could I go back to my romantic-comedy roots (my first book, Time After Time, was a rom-com). If so, how, and when would I do that? I didn’t want to stop writing thrillers but do both if possible, so I played around with a few ideas.
To be honest, I didn’t do much with them until my agent asked if I’d thought about writing a romantic-comedy. Now that’s what I call serendipitous! I had so much fun working on The Christmas Wager and, later, The Christmas Countdown. It truly is a delight to explore the lighter side of life before going back to my fictional murderous ways.
Q. UPCOMING: Can you share what you are currently working on or what is next in ten words or less (or more)?
My next Holly Cassidy holiday romantic-comedy publishes October 2024. It’s called The Christmas Countdown, a grumpy-sunshine story about a recently heartbroken woman who’s given up on love and the holidays, until she’s tasked by her sister to complete Advent calendar challenges. A charming baker might be the spoonful of sugar she needs to reignite her belief in herself, love, and Christmas again. It was inspired by the Advent calendars I used to make for my kids.
As for a thriller, my next one is tentatively called A Killer Motive. It’s about a true crime podcaster whose teenage brother disappeared from a beach party she took him to years ago, and who’s given one week by a twisted serial killer to solve not only her brother’s case, but to also find his missing best friend before he kills him.
Q. What’s this about free bonus material for Only One Survives?
I’m so glad you asked. The wonderful HarperCollins team and I put together downloadable, free bonus material that includes a Dear Reader letter, discussion questions, a Spotify playlist (listen here), lyrics I wrote for six of the Bittersweet songs mentioned in the book, as well as an extended conversation with me about the novel.
The bonus material looks gorgeous and is a way for the reader to extend and enhance their experience with Only One Survives. Visit https://hannahmarymckinnon.com/book-short-stories/only-one-survives/ for the download, or click here.
Thanks, Hannah, this is fascinating! Always a pleasure hosting you and we always learn something. Readers, continue reading below for more up close and personal with Hannah!
Behind the Author
BIRTH STATE? or (Country)
Stockport, which is in Cheshire, England
CURRENT STATE?
Ontario, Canada
ZODIAC SIGN?
Taurus
FAVORITE THING ABOUT WHERE YOU RESIDE?
The people! People in Canada are fabulous.
FAVORITE FLOWER?
Peonies
FAVORITE COLOR?
Blue, ever since my big sister told me so. I wanted red but it was her favorite, and she said I had to pick another. I did as I was told, lol.
FAVORITE MAKEUP/HAIR TIP
After battling my curls for eons I finally accepted them and I’ve never been happier with my hair. Humidity? Who cares! It makes my curls even better.
FAVORITE FOOD/DRINK?
Definitely a raclette… Rösti is a close second (both are Swiss dishes)
MORNING/NIGHT PERSON?
I’m definitely a morning person, much to the chagrin of my family because I’ll talk their ears off if they let me (which they don’t, haha).
DOG/CAT LOVER?
I like both but we don’t have any pets because of allergies.
FAVORITE HOBBY?
Hiking in the mountains whenever I get the chance.
YOUR FAVORITE LIFE LESSON QUOTE?
Making mistakes is better than faking perfection.
FAVORITE TYPE OF MUSIC?
It’s got to be pop-rock!
FAVORITE SONG OR ARTIST?
No way, I can’t pick one, but if I have to, then it’s got to be P!nk. She’s phenomenal and such a powerhouse. I love her and her music.
IF YOU WERE STUCK IN AN ELEVATOR ALONE WITH ONE CELEBRITY, AUTHOR, OR CHARACTER— WHO WOULD IT BE? (Male or Female)
Let’s make it P!nk. I’d be starstruck, but hopefully I’d get over that so we could have a good chat about her career.
FAVORITE HOLIDAY OR SEASON?
Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love all seasons for different reasons (hey, that rhymes).
WHAT’S ONE THING YOU WISH READERS KNEW ABOUT YOU?
That I also write holiday romantic comedies as Holly Cassidy. The Christmas Countdown is coming your way on October 22, 2024!
YOUR SECRET TALENT?
I honestly can’t say that I have one!
FAVORITE READING FORMAT?
1. Hardcover
2. Paperback
3. Digital
4. Audio
I’ll read any format. I love them all!
FAVORITE TV SERIES? (Or Movie/Video) binge-watch, series, etc.?
Ted Lasso is one of my all-time new favorites. It’s gloriously uplifting.
MOST MEMORABLE PLACE YOU HAVE TRAVELED?
Thailand for our honeymoon was epic. Incredibly beautiful, interesting, and wonderful people. The food was out-of-this-world, tool.
IF YOU WERE GRANTED 3 MONTHS OF UNINTERRUPTED WRITING TIME—WHERE WOULD IT BE?
1. A Busy Urban City
2. A Quiet Scenic Mountain Cabin surrounded by nature
3. A Coastal Seaside Cottage
4. An Exotic Tropical Island
5. A Countryside Farmhouse surrounded by animals and organic gardens.
6. A charming, quaint historic Bed and Breakfast Inn
7. A Scenic Hunting Lodge
8. A Nostalgic Lake House
9. A Writer's Retreat
10. Other
WHEN YOU RECEIVE A SPARK OF INSPIRATION FOR A BOOK:
1. Do you immediately get out of bed or stop what you are doing and start typing? Totally immersed.
2. Make a few quick notes on a pad or device?
3. Save it for later when you are at your desk or office during your regular working hours?
YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO WRITE?
It varies. The spare bedroom when I’m writing my “puke” draft. The office when I’m editing and need two screens. The garden (or in front of the fire) when I’m reading one of the final drafts on my Kindle.
DO YOU PREFER WRITING THRILLERS OR ROMANTIC COMEDIES?
I love both for different reasons – and both are hard to write!
A CHARACTER YOU HAVE WRITTEN THAT IS YOUR FAVORITE AND WHY?
I don’t have a favorite. All my protagonists and antagonists are memorable for different reasons.
NAME A BOOK TITLE ON YOUR BOOKSHELF OR NIGHTSTAND THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOUR READERS?
Die Unendliche Geschichte by Michael Ende (in German)
WHICH OF YOUR BOOKS IS YOUR FAVORITE? WHY?
Ha! I can’t answer that. It’s like asking which of my kids is my favorite.
IF YOU COULD ELIMINATE ONE THING FROM YOUR DAILY LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Cooking! I do love to cook but it gets tedious and monotonous and I wish I only had to cook when I felt inspired.
HOW DO YOU RELAX?
Spending time with my family and friends, reading, walking, working out, watching TV, going to the movies, and…sometimes working! Work can be relaxing in a weird way.
DESCRIBE ONE THING ON YOUR DESK, CURRENTLY?
A To-Do list as long as my arm!
WHICH DO YOU ENJOY WRITING MORE: DIALOGUE OR INTERNAL THOUGHTS?
I love dialogue. I adore “hearing” my characters chatting with each other. Internal thoughts are interesting to get into their heads though. So: both!
DO YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC WHILE WRITING?
No, it’s far too distracting. I listen to music if I’m making graphics or making promotional posts, but relatively quiet if I’m writing copy for them.
HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN?
Only One Survives is book 9. The Christmas Countdown is book 10. The thriller for 2025 is book 11.
YOU WOULDN'T BE CAUGHT DEAD, WHERE?
Singing on stage!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LOVE STORY MOVIE?
About Time
INTROVERT OR EXTROVERT?
Depends on the situation. If it’s about work: extrovert. Throw me a surprise birthday party: introvert. It’s weird.
NAME A TRAIT YOU INHERITED FROM YOUR DAD OR MOM? (Good or bad)
Being on time.
YOUR FAVORITE SANDWICH?
Tomato & avocado. Yum, yum.
A FAVORITE INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE?
A Different Drummer in Burlington, Ontario.
THE LAST BOOK YOU RAVED ABOUT?
Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson. Both of our 2025 books feature podcast hosts and missing pinky fingers!
WHAT WERE YOU DOING AT MIDNIGHT LAST EVENING?
Watching TV with my husband
IF YOU COULD CURE ONE DISEASE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Dementia
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED FOR?
Being kind.
WHAT IS YOUR WRITING PROCESS LIKE?
· PLOTTER
· PANTSER
· BOTH
LEADER OR FOLLOWER?
Leader
AT WHAT AGE DID YOU CONSIDER BECOMING A WRITER?
In my early 40s. My first book published when I was 45.
YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO AS A CHILD?
Play in the woods with my sister.
FAVORITE CHILDHOOD BOOK?
Asterix and Obelix
IF YOU COULD GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF WISE ADVICE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Put the chocolate down and work out more.
AN AUTHOR (s) WHO HAS INSPIRED YOU?
Jennifer Hillier, who is one of my closest friends.
WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST OR MOST OUT-OF-CHARACTER THING YOU’VE EVER DONE?
Getting married 10 weeks after meeting my husband fact-to-face.
ONE THING YOU HAVE LEARNED SINCE YOUR DEBUT NOVEL?
Trust my writing process.
NAME OF YOUR FIRST KISS?
I had no clue, but I remember being very much in love with a boy called Pete in primary school!
A SMELL YOU LOVE?
Freshly cut grass
WHAT ARE YOU FREAKISHLY BAD AT?
Singing!
WHEN THINGS BREAK, DO YOU PREFER TO FIX THEM OR REPLACE THEM?
Fix! My husband is fantastic at fixing stuff. He took our dryer to pieces and mended it for the grand sum of $25 in spare parts. Genius!
THANK YOU, Hannah, for spending time with us today! This has been so much fun! You always surprise.
Thank YOU, Judy. It’s been a pleasure!
Praise
“A raw, honest exploration of female friendships, envy, and the price of fame. Both thrilling and moving, Only One Survives will keep you on the edge of your seat. McKinnon is an auto-read for me.”
— Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of Local Woman Missing
“For readers eagerly awaiting the return of Yellowjackets, this novel from McKinnon blends the musical highs of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones and the Six with the darkness of The Girls by Emma Cline in a twisty thriller that is hard to resist.” —Library Journal
"It's rock’n’roll with a dash or two of murder in this juicy thriller that delves into the ugly side of fame. Only One Survives is devilishly fun, utterly addictive, and shockingly twisty—further cementing McKinnon as a force to be reckoned with!"
—Jeneva Rose, New York Times bestselling author
“Perfect for Daisy Jones fans who want an element of mystery and twisted suspense with their music, Hannah Mary McKinnon’s latest, Only One Survives, is a tour de force. Parts coming of age, subversive culture, and all kinds of thrilling, you’ll be hooked to the very end.”
—J.T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author of It’s One of Us
“Like a relentlessly sinister version of psychological musical chairs, when this thriller’s propulsive soundtrack stops—Only One Survives. Standing ovation!”
— Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of One Wrong Word
“A devilishly entertaining read that stabs at the heart of friendship, jealousy, and the relentless pursuit of fame.”
— Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of Everyone Is Watching
“McKinnon drip-feeds us clues, keeps us guessing, and shows herself to be a maestro of misdirection.”
—Caz Frear, internationally bestselling author of Five Bad Deeds
“An absorbing, thrilling page-turner. Every twist left my jaw on the ground.”
— Samantha Downing, internationally bestselling author of A Twisted Love Story
“Gutsy, original and hugely compelling, Only One Survives draws you in right from the very first page.”
—B.A. Paris, internationally best-selling author of Behind Closed Doors
“McKinnon is a master at flipping the script with twists that will keep readers on their toes.”
—Kimberly Belle, internationally bestselling author of The Paris Widow
Check out Hannah's Fabulously Fun
Letter to Readers
Discussion Questions
Vienna's Playlist
Music by The Bittersweet
A Conversation with Hannah
About the Author
My Review
Hannah Mary McKinnon (favorite author) returns following The Revenge List with her knock-out thriller and ninth novel, ONLY ONE SURVIVES. From murder, rock n roll, mystery, toxic female relationships, and mayhem, prepare for a highly entertaining rockin' adventure!
Wildly delicious! In this intense, addictive, and flawlessly executed tale, the author cleverly explores the fame (the rise and fall) of an all-female pop rock group, Bittersweet. After a fatal car crash on icy roads, one of the members decides the band is now worth more dead than alive in this atmospheric, thrills-by-the-minute suspense.
About...
Set in Portland, Maine, New York City, and a remote cabin in the Catskill mountains, we meet Vienna Taylor, the drummer. She has always wanted to make music with her best friend, guitarist, Madison Pierce.
With their female additions to the band, Isabel Riotto, and sisters Gabi and Evelina Sevillano, they were the perfect blend of powerful women who sang, played, and wrote their own tracks. They were a killer rock group known as Bittersweet and soon became a whirlwind sensation among music fans.
However, on the way to an event, the Bittersweet van careened off an icy mountain road in the Catskills during a blizzard—leaving one member dead and another severely injured.
They took shelter in a nearby abandoned remote cabin to survive the frigid night. But soon, their dreams of stardom turn into a terrifying nightmare as, one by one, her fellow band members meet a gruesome end…and Madison simply vanishes in the night.
Alternating from how Madison and Vienna's early complex relationship evolved to the tragic accident, leading up to (before and after), and the team member's deaths. The only survivors seem to be Vienna and the young documentary maker Libby since Madison seems missing.
"Be warned, even a small taste of fame will do stuff to you that you won't lie. It'll change you, make you ruthless. It already has."
Who is most desperate for fame, recognition, and checking social media constantly? What really happened to the Bittersweet? Did Vienna’s closest friend finally decide to take center stage on her own terms? Who among them is a cold-blooded killer? Their motive? Who will be the only one to survive?
My thoughts...
ONLY ONE SURVIVES is electrifying! Binge-worthy with a jaw-dropping shocking twist. A deep dive into female friendships, envy, and the price of fame.
McKinnon is at the top of her game with a creative killer murder mystery suspense thriller, twisty plot, well-developed characters, the writing of the impressive lyrics of Bittersweet for all the songs, a playlist, plus two alternating parts, commentary, blog posts, news articles, radio transcripts, and social media which enhances your reading experience.
Atmospheric, the cabin scene is bone-chilling. I adore the Catskills and could envision this vivid setting and the snow and ice. From unreliable narrators, toxic relationships, greed, betrayal, and jaw-dropping twists! You must read to find out who escaped the Bittersweet tragedy and how. What price will they pay for fame?
Topics: Jealousy, revenge, greed, fame, betrayal, family, love, and friendship.
The author takes us back to Vienna's complex early days in her twenties, coming from a poor family with an abusive mother and her boyfriend, an absent father while trying to take care of her grandmother with dementia. Her best friend, Madison (rich), and her chance to move to NYC and their rock band.
Wildly entertaining!
Nothing is as it seems in this riveting, creative, twisty thriller! An ideal choice for book clubs, music lovers, and further discussions. Be sure and check out her awesome book club kit!
I am a huge fan of the author and have read all her books. I highly recommend this book! It is one of the summer's hottest titles, and you do not want to miss it.
Recs...
For fans of the author as well as Jenova Rose, Taylor Jenkins Reid's Daisy Jones & The Six and Emma Cline's The Girls!
Interview...
Stay tuned for my upcoming #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A Chat with Hannah and ONLY ONE SURVIVES! Behind the book and the author (July 25th).
Thanks to MIRA and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early review copy for an honest opinion.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: July 16, 2024
