The thriller that blew me away: A review of One of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole

I am not easily impressed, so don’t take it lightly when I say that Alyssa Cole’s One of Us Knows is arguably one of the best thrillers I have ever read.

The opening of this novel is nothing short of electrifying. Imagine coming to consciousness on a wooden dock with no memory of how you got there. Your primary personality has been dormant for six years, and in that time, your headmates have taken over your life. The world around you has changed dramatically—having endured a global pandemic and political upheaval—and now, you’re being whisked away to a job on an isolated island, where things immediately feel… off. And then, as you begin to settle in, you realize that the house you’re supposed to care for is an exact replica of the castle that exists within your inner world. How could anyone *not* be hooked after reading that?

There are thrillers that grip you, thrillers that surprise you, and then there are thrillers that completely redefine your expectations of the genre. Alyssa Cole’s One of Us Knows is that kind of book. Fresh, utterly compelling, and impossible to put down, this novel takes every tired trope and reinvents it into something wholly original. I don’t say this lightly: this is literally one of the best thrillers I have ever read, if not the best!

From the moment I read the premise, I knew this was going to be something special. The story follows Kenetria “Ken” Nash, a historical preservationist whose career was derailed after a breakdown and a diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder (DID). When she’s offered a second chance as the caretaker of a historic home on a secluded Hudson River island, it seems like an opportunity she can’t afford to turn down. But soon, she finds herself stranded with a group of strangers, including the very man who ruined her life years before. When he turns up dead, Ken becomes the prime suspect. What follows is a tense, mind-bending journey through secrets, survival, and self-discovery.

For years, thrillers have leaned heavily into plot-driven narratives, focusing on twists and breakneck pacing. While One of Us Knows delivers on both, what sets it apart is its character-driven approach and unique storytelling method. The unreliable female narrator trope is turned on its head by introducing Ken’s multiple alters as additional narrators. Each voice provides a distinct perspective, making the novel a fascinating exploration of identity, memory, and survival.

I don’t know why it took me so long to pick up One of Us Knows, especially since I loved Alyssa Cole’s first thriller, When No One Is Watching. That book was gripping and fresh, but in hindsight, it feels like Cole was just sharpening her thriller-writing skills for this masterpiece. After this, I will never hesitate to grab her next thriller the moment it’s released. In fact, she’s now one of the very few authors on my auto-buy list.

If you think you’ve read every variation of the “isolated house murder mystery” trope, think again. Alyssa Cole brings something entirely new to the table with One of Us Knows, combining psychological depth, high-stakes tension, and a protagonist like no other. Whether you’re a longtime thriller fan or someone looking for a fresh take on the genre, this book is an absolute must-read.

Have you read One of Us Knows? What did you think of Ken and her alters as narrators? Let’s talk about it in the comments!

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