I’ve been wanting to read this book for quite a while now. The cover and description really had me! Once I started the book I finished it within a couple of days because I was so into it! The story was really engaging and had some misdirections and twists which are always appreciated in a thriller! I enjoyed the multiple POV and felt that it helped to keep the story moving along and to keep my interest.

ONE DARK NIGHT is a dark atmospheric mystery that was full of red herrings.

Every time I thought I figured out the killer, another possible suspect (with evidence) would pop up.

I think some of the teen characters could have been quite as stereotypical, and maybe if we had gotten to know more about their families or parents, it would have made the story even more interesting.

I enjoyed the different characters' points-of-view (told in third person), and I enjoyed the small town/cottage/academy setting.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an e-copy of ONE DARK NIGHT to review.

I rate ONE DARK NIGHT four out of five stars.

Loved the Halloween setting and the atmosphere of the story. Overall it's not the most memorable story but I had a blast while reading it.

This was exactly the kind of slow-burning, atmospheric mystery I crave as the weather turns colder. One Dark Night is moody, haunting, and layered, the kind of novel that sneaks up on you emotionally while still delivering all the suspense and chills you’d expect from a story that opens with a body in the woods.

Set in a tight-knit British town, the book weaves together multiple perspectives, a burned-out guidance counselor, her emotionally distant teenage daughter, and her ex-husband who also happens to be the lead detective on the case. The death of a student following a Halloween night party near a ghost-riddled stretch of woods (“Sally in the Wood” is such a deliciously eerie setting) becomes the spark that sets everything unraveling, secrets, lies, grief, and generational guilt.

What I really appreciated was how personal the stakes felt. Richell writes teenagers with realism and compassion, Ellie is complex and believable, and the tension between her and her mom Rachel hit hard. The way Richell explores the dangers of privilege, teenage recklessness, and the way local legends can mask real world consequences gave the story depth beyond just the central mystery.

If you enjoy character driven thrillers with a strong emotional core, unsettling secrets, and that creeping sense of dread that builds with every chapter, this one’s for you. One Dark Night is not just about what happened in the woods… it’s about why it matters so deeply to everyone involved.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This one left me thinking long after I closed the final page.

Rounded up from 3.75 stars.

One Dark Night is well-written, atmospheric, and follows an intriguing plot. The story is a slow burn. There was a lingering sense of danger, but the suspense was pretty underwhelming until the last quarter of the book.

Overall, it was a good read, and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy a layered plot that unfurls bit by bit toward a satisfying conclusion.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for an opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Halloween night, a forest that is allegedly haunted, and a group of teenage kids. What could possibly go wrong? Sadly, a student is murdered in the woods that night. Their body is found posed and laying peacefully though their death looks like it was nothing of the sort. What unfolds is a story utilizing different character points of view trying to piece together what actually happened that night. This story is filled with multiple twists and turns and I personally couldn’t figure out who the killer was by the end.
Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely love this book and read it in one sitting. I loved the storyline and the characters. I thought the characters had great growth, I really could not put this book down, I had to know what was going to happen. I would definitely recommend this book.

This book hooked me from the start and never let go. The eerie and atmospheric setting of the creepy woods with Halloween vibes, and local ghost folklore was everything I love in a thriller. The multiple POVs added great depth, and the tension stayed high with twists I definitely didn’t see coming. I thought I had it all figured out… I was very wrong. That said, I could’ve done without Chrissie. Her entire character felt unnecessary to the plot, and I thought she was a dumb bitch. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Still, the story was dark, eerie, and totally gripping, I couldn’t put it down! Overall, it was a wild ride and exactly the kind of spooky read I was in the mood for

Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me. I went in expecting a tense, Halloween-centered thriller, but what I got felt more like dark academia wrapped in slow-burn family drama. The pacing was sluggish, the tone overly somber, and I couldn’t connect with any of the characters—especially the high school girls and the questionable adults surrounding them.

I’ve read enough thrillers involving predatory teachers and secretive teens to feel like this one didn’t bring anything new to the table. The setting had potential, but the eerie atmosphere promised in the synopsis never truly delivered. If you’re looking for suspense with a seasonal edge, this might not scratch that itch.

a quick and fast paced mystery with a lot of red herrings.
thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Great mystery for Halloween reading! It revolves around an urban legend—keeping the reader guessing about what is really going on, definitely a good pick for upcoming spooky season!

One Dark Night is an engrossing combo of police procedural, urban legend, dark academia, and messy relationships. This book had so many aspects that I love and look for in a book, especially a suspense story. The well plotted and executed story, the autumn setting, and the spooky atmosphere kept me riveted to the page. 

The opening scene set the perfect eerie vibe for the story and pulled me in right away. I was convinced I had the ending figured out several times, but I was quite wrong and happy to be fooled. 

I think lovers of murder mysteries who enjoy a dark, menacing atmosphere with a seasonal setting will have a good time with this one, just as I did.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria for the e-arc of this book. I was intrigued from the first page. The book kept me on the edge of my seat. When I thought I had the murderer pinpointed, it'd change to someone else. I had at least 4 suspects, none being the actual murderer. This is my first book by Hannah, and I highly recommend it.

One Dark Night is the story of a disastrous Halloween party that leads to the death of a popular teenaged girl. This one kept me guessing as it was as twisty as a British Gone Girl. The rapid shifts of viewpoint between Ellie, a scholarship student at an elite private school, her mother, Rachel, a faculty member, and her father, Ben, a police detective, who has left the family to live with another woman, are skillfully done, as each character has a unique voice.
Every time I thought I had figured out what was going on, I found myself proven wrong and, another twist brought me back to my first idea. Then, it happened again! And again!
With the possible exception of one rather far-fetched coincidence (which I will NOT reveal!), this book flowed smoothly and kept me engrossed throughout.
I will definitely look for more books by Hannah Richell.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for giving me free access to an advance copy of One Dark Night in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC ebook. All opinions are my own.

What happened in the woods on Halloween Night?? Yes, please! The atmosphere in this book was great and I am honestly kind of sad that I read it now instead of in the fall. It was a perfect fall read.

This was a dark, tense and atmospheric novel with an awesome twist at the end that I definitely never saw coming.

I’m so relieved it wasn’t a scary story! The way it began had me on edge because I’m quite easily spooked, but I was thrilled to discover it was a murder mystery.

A teenage girl goes missing on Halloween night, and now they’re on a quest to find her killer. And guess what? The daughter of the police is somehow involved in this case. I thought I had a hunch about who it was, but I was completely wrong.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC.

Halloween Night? A spooky ghost story? Small town drama? This description had me itching to read this book. Unfortunately I had my expectations set a little wrong. This ended more slow burn drama than thriller.

Did this make it a bad book and not worth a read? Absolutely not! I still enjoyed this. However it just was a bit blah in the end and I never really connected with any of the characters. They were all framed as suspects so I think that was issue in cheering for any of them.

I actually did not expect the killer, so the twist was shocking. It was just a bit too much of a journey there.

I would have hoped for a bit more atmosphere and a bit more of the spooky ghost story. However, if you go into this expecting a small town drama, then this is a nice read!

The body of a teenage girl is found in the woods near a prestigious boarding school in rural England. This was a slow burn mystery and took a little while for me to get into but picked up on the second half of the book. I liked the different POVs of the main characters and felt they were likeable. This a decent mystery/suspense with some good turns would recommend. I want to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria books for the advance copy of One Dark Night by Hannah Richell.

I was absolutely enthralled in this mysterious, eerie and atmospheric ‘Who Done It”. It made me long for a crips October night, curled up under a blanket trying desperately to figure out who killed Sarah.

After a secret Halloween party in the woods behind the private school, Sarah’s body is discovered, murdered and posed in a creepy way. Unfolding in multiple POV’s in the days following the discovery of her body the reader follows along with the staff and students of the school as well as the local police department as they rush to figure out what happened that night.

Filled with twists and turns the chapters flow nicely and the characters are likeable and relatable. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out how it was all going to come together… and then the twist?!?! I honestly couldn’t have wrapped it up better myself!

With themes of:
🎃Murder
🎃Small Town Tension
🎃Red Herrings
🎃Urban Legends

This book would be the perfect addition to your spooky season TBR!!

The body of a teenage girl is found in the woods near the local folly, an off limits but popular party place for the local teens in this small British community. When the body is stumbled upon by a group of girl guides, the story takes over the local media and the police are anxious to solve this incident quickly. What caused this young girl’s death? Did she fall? Or was she pushed… The local detective and his ex-wife are more anxious than anyone to uncover the circumstances surrounding her death - until they discover their own daughter has so much to hide. What happened in this spooky part of the woods? And is anyone else in danger?

PROS and CONS:
This was exactly the type of thriller that I adore - quick, multiple perspectives, hidden motives, local legends, secrets, family drama - it has it all. Rachel is the best type of main character, one who has loved ones to protect but still tries to uncover the truth. Flawed Ben is another good character, running the investigation and not backing down in his efforts. And a little twist at the end! This one is great!

READ IT?
If you love thrillers as much as I do, you won’t want to miss this one!

5 Stars