Crime thriller 'One By One' by Yeyet Soriano an intriguing examination of vigilantism

Do the ends truly justify the means?

Multi-genre writer Yeyet Soriano offers an answer to such question in her latest crime fiction, "One By One."

The story begins when several men start winding up dead under mysterious circumstances. Their distinct wounds spark speculations of a potential serial killer on the loose. As new evidence emerges, the narrative takes a darker turn.

At the center of the story are IT professionals—Charlie and Quinn, self-proclaimed super fans of true crime and the macabre—and their hacking expert friend, Becca. Together, they embark on a gripping journey to crack the case.

The book introduces a supernatural twist inspired by manananggal lore to add a layer of intrigue and cultural richness to the narrative.

"One By One" navigates the blurred lines between right and wrong, exploring the ethical and moral dilemmas surrounding killing, vengeance, and retribution — and challenges readers to question if and when such actions are justified.

"I want readers to think really hard about ethics, morality, and justice," Soriano shares with Metro News Central. "I would like them to put themselves in the shoes of my characters and decide whether they will make the same choices."

An IT executive in a multinational corporation, Soriano blends her professional expertise and literary passion to infuse authenticity into the characters and their surroundings and make the narrative thought-provoking.

"My life influenced the plot. I work in IT so my characters are in IT. I love writing and solving crime so my story weaves both crime and the manananggal lore," she says.

"I have always been fascinated by the macabre, the dark, and the possibilities of finding light within the very dark. I grew up on stories about Philippine folklore and myth so I was happy that I was given the opportunity to write a story with elements of what I love and am interested in truly," she adds.

Soriano has also written crime and romance stories and novellas, including "The Crime Circle," "In My Dreams," "Turning Points," "The Retreat," and "Kate, Finally." She is also a member of HeistClub, a group of Filipino crime fiction authors.

Her latest work, "One By One," is part of "Manananggal in the City," a nine-piece book collection that offers a fresh perspective on Filipino folklore. All these books were self-published with the support of Pinoy Indie Authors, a community of independent writers established earlier this year.

Other titles in the collection include "The Tie That Binds" by Mayumi Cruz, "Naima’s War" by Jean Karl Gaverza, "Moonlight Eclipse" by Maita Rue, "Maya, At Your Service" by Marigold Andres Uy, "Expansion" by Mia Daquial, "My Girlfriend is a Manananggal" by Keira Viresse, "My Manananggal Dream" by Paola Aliedo, and "The Groovy Manananggal" by Fred Figueroa. 

Visit https://yeyetsoriano.com/ or Pinoy Indie Authors on Facebook for more information.