This is an eerie and atmospheric read surrounding a murder investigation. The body of a young girl is discovered on Halloween night and she is said to haunt the woods. Is it real or a myth?

I loved the premise of this book, especially since stories about missing girls is one of my favorite topics in a thriller to read about. With that said, I just had a really hard time connecting to any of the characters. I appreciated the multiple points of view and the character growth that took place throughout the story, but I just didn’t connect with any of them. I think this factor would have mattered less if this wasn’t such a character driven story.

Even though I didn’t really care for any of the characters, I was still invested in figuring out who the murderer was and was surprised at the end.

If you like a whodunnit story told from multiple perspectives with an atmospheric vibe consider checking this one out.

Thank you @atriabooks for the gifted copy of the book.

Halloween, a murder, a small town. All the things I love in a mystery whodunit! I tore through this story filled to the brim with a slew of suspects, giving me the opportunity to don my detective cap and play along. The twists and turns kept coming against a spooky backdrop leading to a jaw dropping ending that I did not predict. Highly recommend!

A teenage girl dies at a party in the woods on Halloween night. A sinister ghost story that is local folklore. A local cop, his ex-wife who happens to be a counselor at the school that the deceased girl attended, their teenage daughter and another staff member or two get caught up in trying to untangle this mystery and find out who killed Sarah.

I enjoyed the characters in this book though after reading the premise, I was really looking forward to more of the ghost story of Sally In the the Wood being told but I felt that it really fell flat at doing that. It was definitely mentioned multiple times but it just felt like it was brought up more in passing and not at all as in depth as it had the potential to be. Just a personal disappointment of my own since I wish that the author had woven this ghost story more into her story. I think that would have added way more spookiness to it.

Thank you Atria Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

One Dark Night is the kind of thriller that sinks its teeth into you slowly. It's moody, atmospheric, and laced with secrets that echo through a tight-knit British community.

The story unfolds the day after Halloween, when a student turns up dead following a mysterious gathering in the haunted woods known as Sally in the Wood. From there, the novel deftly navigates the perspectives of Rachel, a school counselor and mother; her ex-husband Ben, a detective unraveling both the case and his personal life; and their daughter Ellie, who may be hiding more than anyone suspects.

Richell balances grief, guilt, and teenage recklessness with a steady hand, crafting a slow-burn mystery that’s as much about the ghosts of the past as the dangers of the present. The setting is eerie and unforgettable, the characters flawed and relatable, and the twists are revealed with a quiet, unsettling precision.

If you love thrillers steeped in folklore, fractured families, and the ripple effects of one fateful night, One Dark Night is well worth picking up. I thought I had it figured out and was expecting to eye roll at the end, but I was genuinely surprised!

Thank you to Atria books for granting me access to this title via NetGalley!

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.