Tara laskowski has written an eery and intriguing thriller. Told from two different perspectives and times, I was equally captivated by both stories. 1980s Maureen is a young girl working for the carnival who finds herself involved with a rich boy Who is in town for the summer. Present day Allison is housesitting for one of the summer homes of the wealthy trying to start her life anew. When she hears about the young girl Who went missing over 30 years ago she is intrigued. What follows is a clever, cunning, thrilling, addictive, twisty, spooky, and well told story. This is a fast-paced story that kept me entertained throughout. I loved puzzling the pieces of this mystery together. A perfect thriller to read fireside or poolside.

*** Big thanks to Harlequin for my copy of this book ***

One Night Gone by Tara Laskowski spans several decades as a woman seeking a fresh start after losing everything finds herself drawn in to solving the mysterious disappearance of a young woman long since gone. It has several twists and turns, most of which are a true surprise, and even some creepy, unsettling moments. It’s an excellent, atmospheric tale, perfect for fans of mysteries and thrillers alike.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

Wow you guys, Tara Laskowski has delivered a wonderfully atmospheric and suspenseful novel with her debut One Night Gone!

I loved that the weather and Opal Beach were practically characters themselves in this book. Everything seemed to revolve around both the weather and the beach which is what made it so atmospheric for me. One Night Gone was not only suspenseful but enjoyable to read as well. I really liked Maureen and Allison, and for the entire book I was dreading finding out what happened to Maureen.

The ending was basically a complete surprise to me, even though I did have my suspicions about a certain someone who I can't name for spoiler reasons. The full extent of everything came as a surprise though, and I really liked that. Even though One Night Gone is a slow burn, it does pick up towards the end and becomes pretty much nonstop action until the very end. The novel is told in dual timelines (which I love) between Maureen and Allison, and I really liked this as it helped with the pacing and mystery of what actually happened to Maureen that summer in 1985.

One Night Gone is relatively short as well, coming in at under 350 pages and I was so involved in what I was reading that life just seemed to fade away around me. I really lost myself in both Maureen and Allison's stories, and was able to finish this book in just about 4.5 hours which is pretty decent for me.

Final Thought: There was also a slight paranormal aspect to One Night Gone although it is very minimal. I really liked this addition, and between the weather and that it had me on edge during some parts of the book. I highly recommend this to lovers of atmospheric, slow burns and really, who can go wrong buying a book which such a great cover? I can't wait to see what Laskowski comes out with next and I think she is going to be an author to watch!

Thank you to the publisher for my advanced review copy via NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

The following review was posted on my blog (www.blogginboutbooks.com) on 12.21.19:

In 1985, Maureen Haddaway—a young woman trying to start anew—arrives in Opal Beach, New Jersey, one summer with the traveling carnival for which she works. Drawn to the wealth and sparkle that define life for the rich townies, Maureen's paycheck-to-paycheck existence becomes entwined with their idyllic lives. Before the summer ends, she vanishes without a trace. It's assumed that a vagabond like Maureen simply moved on without telling anyone, but is it true? Or did something more sinister happen to her?

Thirty-plus years later, 40-year-old Allison Simpson comes to Opal Beach to lick her wounds. After a video of the television meteorologist ranting wildly about her cheating husband goes viral, she's fired from her job. With nothing left to lose, Allison accepts a house-sitting gig on the shore, figuring she can get some much-needed R&R while figuring out what to do with herself now. She hears the story of Maureen Haddaway's disappearance from Maureen's former Opal Beach BFF. Before she knows it, Allison is obsessed with figuring out what happened to the beautiful carnie. It soon becomes evident that someone in town does not want Allison digging into the past. Can Allison figure out what happened to Maureen before she becomes the next woman to mysteriously vanish from Opal Beach?

Yeah, yeah, I know the premise at the center of One Night Gone, a debut novel by Tara Laskowski, sounds awfully familiar. I've read dozens of mystery/thrillers with the same basic plotline. Still, it's one I'm always sucked in by, especially when an author puts their own unique spin on it. Unfortunately, Laskowski doesn't do anything special with this one. The story feels far-fetched and generic throughout. Its cast consists of cliché, one-dimensional characters who aren't even likable. While I did want to know what really happened to Maureen, I can't say I cared overly much about either her or Allison. Neither one appealed to me. As far as plot goes, the tale is predictable, with no real twists or turns to keep the reader on their toes. Overall, then, this "thriller" didn't offer many thrills. For me, it was an average read at best. Bummer.

(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda)

Grade: C-

If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for language (a couple F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, sexual content, and depictions of underage drinking/partying and illegal drug use

To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of One Night Gone from the generous folks at Harlequin via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Thank you to Graydon House / NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

Trigger warnings: Depression, cheating, mention of rape, physical abuse, murder, gambling.

Characters | I didn’t have a particular favorite character. They were all pretty basic as far as thriller characters go. Allison and Maureen were equally interesting to me. You learn a lot about their home lives and their relationship with their parents. You even get a lot of backstories from side characters—Clay and Tammy. I honestly don’t have anything to say about them.

Story | The story is told in two different perspectives: Maureen and Allison. It opens up during the summer of 1986 in Opal Beach. There is a girl at a party who sees a “missing person” poster taped to a pole. Before she can do anything, the paper flies off into the darkness.
Skip ahead to September 2015, Allison is going through a rough patch with her divorce attorney and antidepressants. She used to be a meteorologist at WDLT before she called her ex-husband out on television. Her sister begs her to stay at a beach home during the off-season to get away from her troubles. Her friends know a couple who is going away to Europe, and Allison can watch their cat, Catarina, and watch over the house.
October 2015: Allison decides to go for it! It’s only a two-hour drive from downtown Philadelphia—between Ocean City and Atlantic City. She stays in the Worthington’s home. It has a lot of upkeep—salt on the windows and the plants need constant attention.
She goes to a coffee shop called The Sweet Spot where she meets Tammy. Tammy thinks that Allison is somehow related to Maureen. They become friends and Tammy ends up talking about Maureen and her thoughts on what happened to her during that summer.
Alternate timeline: Maureen, June 1985. She works at a carnival with Jacqueline and Clyde, the owner. Unfortunately, she has to deal with Desmond, Clyde’s brother, who always shorts her on her checks. He also watches her change through her trailer window.
One night at a party, Maureen meets Clay Bishop—his family lives next door to the Worthington’s. Him and Tammy save Maureen from Desmond, and the friendship blooms from there. The only hurdle is Mabel, Tammy’s “friend.” She hates Maureen.
Clay has to put up with his father’s shenanigans. You actually deal with Phillip and his brother, Zeke, more throughout the story but I don’t want to spoil anything! Maureen got mixed up in it, and Allison does too—obviously.
There is a lot of back and forth with this novel. I thought I knew what was going on but it threw me for a loop, even though the plot twist wasn’t all that surprising.

Writing | I really enjoyed the writing style. It wasn’t over the top but it wasn’t basic. There were some thought-provoking quotes throughout. I always like the alternating perspectives. It keeps the anticipation going in a thriller.

Overall | Would I recommend this? Yes, to readers who are trying to enter the thriller/mystery genre. If you read a lot of thrillers, then this would probably bore you. That doesn’t mean this was a bad story, it just means that there isn’t anything new being done and that’s okay! I still had a lot of fun reading it, and I would pick up more from this author.

In 1985, Maureen Haddaway dreams of starting her new life in Opal Beach where she develops the promise of love, friends and hopeful for an amazing life. She vanishes before her dreams come to be realized.

Now in 2015, Allison Simpson also trying to start a new life after a messy divorce, house sits for a home in Opal Beach. Allison becomes drawn to the missing woman 30 years prior and start to uncover secrets.

Written in two timelines, about these two women that is full of suspense and all the thrills. The pacing is absolutely amazing and kept my interest going. This is a well written novel that is highly entertaining with well thought out plots and characters you will grow to love.

I really enjoyed this story so much for a debut novel y Tara Laskowski. I look forward to her future works!!

*I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*

Back story: Maureen is a young girl who moves to a beach town and tries to fit in. Inevitably she vanishes. Years later, Allison moves to the same town to put the pieces of her own life together, and gets sucked into the mystery of what happened to Maureen.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. It had all the elements I usually like: mystery, dbag exes, multiple points of view, but I just didn't. For one thing I figured out what went down long before I got to the end of the book, which could have just been because I've read a ton of thrillers lately and my mind is just already down that dark path, not necessarily because it was too easy to figure out.

I really liked Maureen as a character, even though knowing she didn't survive throughout the book made that bittersweet. I was thoroughly amused that the roller derby nickname for the librarian was the "spine cracker". I even felt like I connected fairly well with Allison, although I felt closer to Maureen. I was glad that the victims got the ending they deserved, so it wasn't a total hatred of a book, it just wasn't my favorite.

I can totally see this being a book for people who like thrillers. I already know a few patrons I'd recommend it to. "One Night Gone" was published in October, so check it out on the shelves if you're looking for a book to take your mind off things!

One Night Gone by Tara Laskowski is a mystery that started thirty years ago, when a young Maureen moved to Opal Beach in the hope of a better life. Summertime on the beach brought parties and a summer romance. All was well till Maureen disappeared without a trace at the end of the summer, never to be seen again. Thirty years later, Allison moves to Opal Beach to house-sit an off-season beach house and to lick her wounds after a humiliating and very public divorce. She soon becomes interested in the disappearance of a young girl who went missing a long time ago. This disturbs many people in the community and Allison soon fears for her own safety. The story alternates between Maureen and Allison, maintaining the reader’s interest. The ending is unexpected and surprising, making this a satisfying read. Thank you to Graydon House Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.,

You can tell that Tara Laskowski is an award-winning short story writer and writing professor. Her writing is stellar, the scenes filled with fascinating and insightful details. The jumps between the two timelines work really well to create suspense.

I read this novel several weeks ago, but it’s rather haunting so I still remember it! It was well-plotted and suspenseful, moving back and forth in time as it tells Allison’s and Maureen’s stories.

Hard to believe it’s a debut novel! Recommended to those who like a suspenseful mystery. Thank you for my copy!

I read it in one day! I really enjoyed the characters' backstories, but I wasn't crazy about the changing points of view. Solid mystery plot, though.

DNF at 27 percent. I don’t find these characters the least bit interesting or redeeming and I don’t like abused women stories so I’m giving this one up. Too many books out there to spend time on ones I don’t enjoy.

Highly recommend this book to all mystery fans! It was well written, compelling, and fast-paced. One Night Gone kept me guessing until the very end and I LOVED the ending! It was not at all what I was expecting! The chapters are told in past and present, but Tara Laskowski did a great job of transitioning the chapters. It was not at all choppy. The characters were interesting and well-developed. I felt like you actually develop a relationship with the characters in this story as opposed to some other thrillers I've read. I would suggest this novel to anyone who enjoys women led thriller novels! I can't wait to read more books by Tara Laskowski!

During a summer of the 1980's your Maureen, a carnival worker goes missing. 30 years later, Allison while housesitting in Opal Beach, becomes involved in the search to unravel what happened by Maureen's friend. Not everything is as perfect as it appears in this beach community.

A good mystery as to what happened to Maureen. The setting of Opal Beach was very well described and the surprise ending was a nice treat. I didn’t really relate to Allison until later in the story. Looking forward to more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This was the first full length novel written by this author and it was wonderful. It was a great, just creepy enough book , that made you look around when it was dark and quiet.

This book follows two timelines; the past (1985) when Maureen a teen girl comes to the affluent seaside town of Opal Beach with the travelling carnival and feels that this place is to be her destiny. She makes quick friends and enemies with several of the town's teen crowd, and finds herself best friends with Tammy and falling for Clay, whose rich parents would not approve of someone like her. Maureen gets involved with the wrong person and tried desperately to solve her problem herself. She is seen as a summer girl by many of the townspeople, one who will be gone when the summer ends, little do they know that she will be gone by the end of summer, but how? Did she leave of her own volition or did she never get the chance to leave?

The present day has Allison, a former meteorologist who had a grand breakdown of her marriage on air and ended up jobless, husband-less and lost. She is staying with her sister when a great opportunity comes up to house-sit for a few months in the off season at the lovely Opal Beach. She accepts and tries to get herself together there and reinvent herself, but she ends up befriending Tammy and getting sucked into trying to solve the mystery of the missing Maureen from 30 years prior. Allison seems to be getting too close to the answers and her own life is at rick; will the mystery be solved before she is the next victim?

I liked the way the weather was written in to mirror the story-line. The ending of the story was unexpected but a satisfying ending. I liked how Opal Beach a typical seasonal town is shown in the past at the height of summer with the lights of the carnival, the summer parties and bonfires and you can picture young Maureen in the prime of her teenage life, laughing in the sun and how Opal beach is contrasted now with the present in the incoming of winter, with Allison in a dark place in her life, the waves crashing on the shore, the storm and wind showing the darker side of this little seaside town. Great first novel, will definitely add this author to my list.

Allison gets a chance to house-sit a beautiful waterfront home in a small town where she gets pulled into the mysterious disappearance of a young girl decades ago. Someone wants her to find out what had happened to Maureen, but what does it mean for Allison? One Night Gone is a psychological thriller with a hint of the supernatural. I enjoyed reading it though it was a bit longer than I would have liked.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own. I voluntarily reviewed this book.

One Night Gone
By: Tara Laskowski

*REVIEW* 💖💖💖💖
This story was different than I expected. One Night Gone is the story of a girl, Maureen, who disappeared
about thirty years ago in Opal Beach; it's also the story of Addison, a girl in present day Opal Beach. Addison wants to know the truth about what happened to Maureen. She may get more than she could imagine. Questions lead to lies that lead to secrets and betrayals that were not meant to see the light of day. Does Addison discover the truth? Who is telling the truth? It's a suspenseful thrilling read with plenty of twists and turns and drama. I found this book interesting, and I enjoyed reading as the picture started to unravel. I recommend for mystery fans of missing persons.

One Night Gone was an atmospheric psychological thriller. The author did a fabulous job creating the tense atmosphere in this book, I will definitely read more from her. This is a slow burn book with some unexpected twists sprinkled throughout. It was a slow unraveling of the story and by the end, I was anxious to just rip the band aid off. It carried on for a bit too long for my tastes but a pleasant read nonetheless. Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is a decent psychological thriller, I love when someone goes missing and you don't know what happened to them. I figured out where this was going midway through, but it didn't spoil the adventure, which was very good overall. And in the ending there were some surprises as well, which elevated the book.
What I didn't care for was Allison's sticking her nose into something that had absolutely positively nothing to do with her. And towards the end she just got more and more hysterical and honestly, unbelievable. I just couldn't figure out why she was so invested in finding out what happened to Maureen, to the point where she was putting herself in danger trying to find out. For heaven's sake, the girl had been gone for a lot of years, I think it could wait until after a storm to do her own investigating, if she had to (and why did she have to again?)
I did like the mystery and how everything came together. Glad I read it and would recommend to mystery lovers.