When I read the description of this book, I thought the plot would have more to do with the ghost that haunts the road known as Sally in the Wood, so I expected something spookier. What I got is more of a combination of domestic drama and whodunnit.

A party in the woods ends in death for one teen in a murder mystery told from multiple points of view.

Ellie has been withdrawn ever since her parents split up, but after that party, she is keeping even more secrets. What really happened that night, and why is there blood on her clothes? Her father Ben, is a detective investigating the murder, and her mother Rachel, is the school guidance counselor who in trying to deal with so many students, is missing some signs from her troubled daughter.

A lack of communication between Rachel and her ex-husband Ben felt contrived rather than natural, in order to keep those characters in the dark for longer than necessary, before they finally learn what the reader already knows from the start, that their daughter Ellie was at the party on the night of the murder.

While I was not the target audience for this book, and I did not care much for any of the characters, it did succeed in pulling the wool over my eyes in every attempt to guess who the murderer was, which led to a satisfying reveal at the end.

My thanks to Atria Books for the invitation to read an e-ARC

One Dark Night intrigued me from the start. A thriller set in the woods, a spooky urban legend, and a mysterious murder makes for an exceptional backdrop for this twisty (and dare I say cozy?) story. The main characters are solid, the suspects are creepy and numerous, and the twists are surprising, but believable. I really enjoyed this and will definitely be picking up more of her books!

First off, I want to thank SS Atria Books for the ARC of this book. It is a thriller with so many possible suspects, each with a dark and twisted motive. The book begins with an urban legend - who doesn't love a murder mystery haunted by a ghost from the past?! It is exciting to see the townspeople both joke about the legend while also having a general fear of its basis. The classmates of the victim may be young, but what teenager doesn't have an explosive side buried away with all of their other secrets?! The book is exciting, scary, and also heartfelt as you see Rachel and Ellie struggling to maintain footing considering their situations. The multiple points of view round out the story while also adding to the suspect pool. This is not a simple murder, and the investigation will crack the foundation of this little town! We take many dark turns before all the secrets are brought to light. This is a thrilling nail-biter of a mystery!

One Dark Night had me gripped from the start, with the discovery of a gruesome crime on Halloween in a forest that is the subject of urban legend. 🎃

The story is told from a few different perspectives, weaving them in perfectly to keep the anticipation building and peeling back the layers with each chapter. While the crime investigation is underway, there are also sub-plots between the characters and their relationships unfolding and I found myself equally invested in both— a rare thing for me when it comes to the thriller genre! Highly recommend if you’re looking for a captivating thriller, with detective procedural elements and real human stories at the heart of it all. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to the author, Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for both the physical and e-arc of this book.

WOW.

"One Dark Night" exceeded all my expectations. My review will be brief because I think everyone should read this one. It was so well-written, the entire book made me tense. I kept turning pages to see what was coming next and it did not disappoint! The book was atmospheric and dark. AND THE ENDING? I was shocked. Still shocked.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you, Atria Books, for providing a copy of One Dark Night by Hannah Richell. I wasn’t expecting to be blown away by this book, but I was from the start. I love stories set in schools, and this was written exceptionally so I was drawn into the story immediately. I loved how the ghost story permeated the story and added a spooky element to it. I was humbled by thinking I knew who the perpetrator was early only to find out I was wrong! If you’re looking for a creepy story that will keep you reading, this is the book for you! The characters were so vivid I want to know what happens to them next. 5 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Absolutely gripping!
One Dark Night is a spooky, twist-filled thriller set on a school campus during Halloween night. The writing is vivid and eerie, and the suspense had me hooked from page one. I couldn’t put it down! If you love unpredictable mysteries with multi layered characters and a chilling, creepy vibe, this one’s a must-read. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for what might now be my favorite spooky season read!

This book drew me in from the very beginning with a mysterious dead girl and kept my attention right up to the twisty end. A group of teenagers throwing a party in a that is rumored to be haunted by a young girl killed long ago. This book will draw you in with the mystery and twists happening throughout and keep you engaged with the characters that you want to love and/or hate. Who murdered the young girl, who is hiding in the woods and will anyone else die in the process of learning the truth?

The synopsis pulled me in from the beginning. Halloween, woodsy lore, mysterious history of murdered girl? Really intriguing and fresh in the genre. The twists were well paced and kept me guessing. The multiple perspectives helped immerse you into the story and gain insight into several characters and their motives and thoughts. If you enjoy a book with the "the past continues to haunt us" and a creepy vibe throughout, this is a great book to pick up!

This was so atmospheric and the opening was chilling. I loved the contrast of folklore with a current case/murder. It ws a little bit more police procedural than I had expected and wanted but I loved the relationship between Ben and Rachel and how they tie into the case through Ellie. The cast was diverse and fantastic.

I am so glad I gave Hannah Richell another chance! It wasn't until after I accepted an invitation to read this book that I realized I had read the author before and didn't like that book at all. I kept putting off reading this one and then finally, reluctantly, started it. Well, I was riveted! The prologue had me hooked and I was practically unable to put it down after that. I read the first half in one sitting! One Dark Night is atmospheric with a great setting and characters that feel real. Some are likable, some aren't but they all come to life and add to the story. I was pretty sure I knew who the killer was, so I was gob smacked by the twisty ending that made me realize I knew nothing. There was a surprising amount of emotion in this story too, and I found myself getting teary eyed more than once. I am absolutely thrilled that One Dark Night had none of the problems I felt The Search Party had so I would definitely read more by Hannah Richell in the future. Highly recommended!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

One Dark Night is the perfect book for spooky season. Who killed the teenage student from Folly View College? There are so many suspects but I can guarantee you don’t guess the correct one.

You can practically smell the damp leaves as the author pulls you into this story and holds you there until the end. If you enjoy smart, atmospheric and eerie mystery and suspense books, this is the book for you. I could not put it down.

I just finished an early copy of One Dark Night by Hannah Richell, and I’m still thinking about it... it was so good! The story takes place in a quiet British town where a teenage girl is found dead the morning after Halloween, and the mystery around it ties into some spooky local legends. It had just the right amount of creepiness without being over the top.

What I really loved was how the story followed a few different characters, especially Rachel, a school counselor trying to protect her daughter while facing her own past. The mix of family drama, secrets, and a murder mystery kept me turning the pages.

The book has a moody, eerie vibe that’s perfect for fall, and I couldn’t put it down. If you like thrillers that are a little dark but still emotional and thoughtful, I definitely recommend One Dark Night. It’s one of those stories that stays with you.

Atmospheric, gripping, and full of spine-tingling suspense, One Dark Night pulls you deep into a chilling mystery set in a quiet British town. When a Halloween party in the woods turns tragic, the body of a teenage girl is discovered near a haunted stretch of road—and the town is thrown into chaos.

Detective Ben Case is brought in to investigate, only to discover his own daughter was at the party. His ex-wife Rachel, a school counselor, is also caught in the emotional fallout as fear and suspicion spread.

Told through multiple POVs, this story delivers rich character development, emotional depth, and an eerie setting that amplifies the tension. I loved how the book kept me guessing—just when I thought I had the killer pegged, the final reveal totally floored me. The writing is immersive, the pacing steady, and the twists cleverly planted.

Dark, haunting, and unpredictable—this is the perfect read for a crisp autumn night. Highly recommend for fans of twisty thrillers with emotional weight and atmospheric chills!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

The night of Halloween, a group of teenagers meet in the woods, right by a road that is rumored to be haunted by a ghost of a murdered girl. The following day, a girl was found murdered. This is a small town British community, where everyone knows everyone and the city begins to panic. In this gripping thriller mystery, things begin to unfold on what happened that Halloween night!

This book captured my attention in the epilogue! The setting of the novel is perfect. It’s autumn, Halloween night and is located out in the woods! It’s a great time for teenagers to get together and talk about a haunting that took place. I found this book to be dark, tense, engaging, mysterious, emotional, sad and adventurous! This came with multiple point of views and a diverse cast of characters! It is an easy medium paced read, that grabbed my attention and kept it throughout the entire book. It felt realistic, the setting fit the story and had vivid descriptions. It was twisty, suspenseful and unpredictable. It came with likable and unlikable characters, all having strong character developments! It had clever plotting and a strong ending! Overall, I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars!

Content warnings include death, murder and fear. I think people that like watching the series “Yellowjackets” would enjoy this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Hannah Richell and Atria Books for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on August 19, 2025!

Uhm hello spooky season. Hello Summerween. If you’re looking for a thriller perfect for either of those, this book is it. Look no further. I had so much fun with this one and I loved it!!

Thank you to Hannah Richell, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

On Halloween, a group of teenage students meet in the woods near Sally in the Wood, and by the end of the night, one student will be dead. She’s dressed to look like Sally and she has been posed as if sleeping. But her face is covered by a mask and her body has been covered in shocking words. It’s clear her death is no accident. Local police detective Ben Chase is on the scene to assist in the investigation, but it soon becomes apparent that the girl is a student at his daughter’s school. One Dark Night is a white-knuckled and suspenseful thriller about urban legends, privilege, and how the past continues to haunt us. I would characterize this a slow burn psychological thriller, but it's worth the wait as the atmosphere becomes more creepy and the characters develop. Almost everyone becomes a suspect and it kept me guessing until the very end. The author did a great job at creating such imagery that you could really imagine yourself being in the middle of the story. I felt like the tension was well crafted and I was satisfied with the ending. Overall it's a solid read!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of One Dark Night.

I read the author's debut, The Search Party, last year and though I wasn't a fan, I did like her writing.

Her second book focuses on Rachel, a school guidance counselor at a private school and her teen daughter, Ellie.

Rachel and Ben, her detective ex-husband, are recently separated but their lives collide when a student is found dead on school grounds.

First, I love the police procedural aspects of the case.

Ben is a competent detective, alongside most of his colleagues; they pound the pavement interview witnesses and potential suspects.

Second, the narrative is divided into multiple POVs, which I'm not a fan of. There are no chapter headings as to who is speaking but once you start reading, its easy to tell who is speaking.

Third, the narrative is padded with too much filler, too much background on the suspects and witnesses, shady characters

What could take one or two sentences to explain, the author takes paragraphs or a few pages instead.

As a result, the book felt much longer that it really is. Never a good sign,

There are plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing and when the murderer is revealed, it feels anti-climatic.

I wished the author had utilized the Sally in the Wood urban legend to add suspense and fear into the narrative.

Overall, there's a lack of urgency and drama even though a young woman has been murdered and the school and community are on edge.

It took too long to get to the point of the story since there are many secondary and minor characters with personal issue of their own the author felt needed to be explained.

I felt the inclusion of the mentally ill man was too much if only to throw in another red herring to shock readers.

I'm not sure why the author wanted to keep bringing up Ben's deceased sister, if only to press how devastated he was after her unexpected death that led to the end of his marriage.

OK, we get it, his inability to mourn and seek help led to him cheating on Rachel.

Sounds like an excuse to excuse his infidelity but that's just me.

I really enjoyed this book and hope there are more to come! Great story telling and twisted ending made it a great and easy read.

This book was easy to get sucked into. It’s set in the woods where a group of teens are having a party and telling ghost stories of the local girl who haunts the woods they’re in. All fun and games until the next day one of the teens ends up dead.

It’s told from multiple POVs, which I always love. And you’ll think you have this book figured out and stay up all night reading to the end to see if you’re right… but there’s a twist you won’t see coming!

I give it 4 solid ⭐️