I’ll be honest, One Dark Night started off a bit like wading through molasses. I wasn’t sure I’d make it to the end. But stick with it, because once it hits its stride, you’re hooked. Around the one-third mark, the pace picks up, the suspense tightens, and I was racing through the rest with my heart in my throat.

As a counsellor, I particularly appreciated Rachel's character, a school counsellor navigating grief with youth. It added a layer of realism and empathy to the story that felt grounded in actual human experience, not just plot twists and red herrings.

Speaking of red herrings, this book delivers them in spades. Just when you think you’ve got the mystery solved, Richell sneaks in another twist. The ending truly keeps you guessing until the very last page, which I loved.

If you’ve read The Search Party, you’ll recognize a similar whodunit vibe: lots of suspects, lots of misdirection, and enough suspense to keep you up at night.

Bottom line: stick with it. The slow start is worth it for the thrilling payoff, the clever twists, and the moments that genuinely make you question who, if anyone, can be trusted.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #AtriaBooks for the ARC.

This was such a good and atmospheric thriller! I loved the legend of Sally in the Wood and thought it added a little spookiness to the story. There were some suspicious characters and good twists and turns. I was constantly guessing as to who the killer was and I didn't get it right!

Thank you, @netgalley and @atriabooks for the #gifted e-arc!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for my copy of One Dark Night!

The morning after Halloween a teenage body is found, dressed like local urban legend, Sally. DCI Ben Case has to find the killer, while also dealing with the fact that his daughter was at the party and could be a suspect, and his ex-wife is a counselor at the local school where the victim attended. Everyone seems to have secrets, making it hard for Ben to solve the case.

The setting was so atmospheric, eerie and spooky. I loved the dark, tense and twisty story. I thought I knew what was coming and was shocked when that wasn't the case. The pacing was great, and it was easy to just keep reading chapter after chapter. The Sally urban legend didn't really work for me though. I didn't feel like it really added anything to the story/plot. The book would have been just as good without it. Overall, this was a great Labor Day weekend read. Perfect for getting me in the fall mood!

What's in the woods? Is the story of Sally in the Wood true or just an urban legend?

This is the perfect eerie read for the fall and spooky season. Set during Halloween night, this story takes you in the woods and a party where one of the students the near-by school will not return home. What happened to her? Was it Sally in the Wood who claimed her next victim or another just someone sinister enough to kill? Everyone seems to have secrets that they are not willing to share?

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It may have started off slow, but when it picked up, I could not put it down. This was my first Hannah Richell book, and it will not be my last. If you love a thrilling spooky season read, this needs to be on you TBR.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC. It was spookily delicious.

I loved this book! This story takes place around Halloween (my fav!) and the author does a great job of setting a very spooky scene. There were twists and turns and it kept me wanting more! Highly recommend adding it to your fall TBR!

On Halloween night a group of friends have a party in the area of town known for the legend of Sally in the Woods. Most make it home with no problem but one girl is found dead at the bottom of the lookout tower. What happened to her? Who was responsible?

This book was a bit of a slow read for me. I was no instantly drawn into the story, nor did I develop any particular feelings for the characters. The plot was good, with an unexpected twist at the end. This is a solid read if you enjoy a small town setting with a. It of dark academia in the mix.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review. 

I really enjoyed this book by Hannah Richel and look forward to reading more of hers in the future.

This was a great thriller and although I thought I had it figured out, the twist got me!

The author was great at crafting the suspense and the characters that really immersed me in the story. I really loved how she wrote about a place familiar to her as it really helped her writing to be more immersive.

Definitely a page turner you won’t want to put down! Thoroughly enjoyed it!

Dark, mysterious, and thrilling—this one really pulled me in. It was such a mysterious vibe throughout the whole book.

We start off with a death in the wooded area by the elite private school after a Halloween party. This sets off a series of interconnected events.

Detective Ben Case is brought in, only to discover that his own daughter, Ellie, was at the party. His ex-wife, Rachel, a guidance counselor at the school, is not only terrified for their daughter but also deeply worried about all the teens caught up in this.
The mystery of the teen’s death unfolds while the adults battle their own struggles.

As suspects start to stack up, the tension builds and a real sense of dread seeps through every chapter.

I’ll be honest—I picked this up a few weeks ago and couldn’t get into it, but I’m so glad I gave it a second chance. The atmosphere was perfectly eerie, the character dynamics kept me hooked, and i loved the end.

Dark, tense, atmospheric, and chilling.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a digital ARC from NetGalley and Atria Books.

This was a great book!! I truly thought I had it figured out less than halfway through but the multiple twists…..just WOW! Did not see those coming. I highly recommend this for any mystery reader. This was the first book by Hannah Richell that I have read but I am definitely interested in reading more of her work.

Ellie is navigating the exciting yet challenging world of high school, supported by her dedicated mom, who serves as the school counselor, and her dad, Ben, a detective balancing his work with personal changes in his life, including his new pregnant partner. Their lives take a thrilling twist when a classmate, Sarah, is tragically murdered after a fun gathering in the mysterious Sally's Woods, a place known for its eerie history that many avoid. As Ben delves into solving this perplexing case, he faces not only professional challenges but also the emotional complexities of having his daughter and ex-wife caught up in the school’s drama. The plot thickens when a trusted teacher becomes a potential suspect! While some sections may have felt a bit slower, the captivating ending leaves readers with a sense of tension and curiosity. This story has the potential to resonate well with young adults, sparking their interest and keeping them on the edge of their seats. Thank you!

Wow!!! Is all I can say about this absolutely outstanding book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope there is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked! This was an outstanding novel from the cover to the last page!

I devoured One Dark Night on the first flight of my honeymoon and it was a great book to kick off the trip. I love a solid mystery/thriller and this fit the bill - suspenseful, propulsive, and hits all the major things you want in a thriller without being cliched. The characters were strong and I thought all the different POVs worked well together. The plot was creative and laid out in a way you can figure out what’s going on while still having some shocking moments. This was my first Richell but it won’t be my last!

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for this ARC. One Dark Night is out now!

4.5/5 stars

I really loved the setting of the school in a forest, with a local ghost. I liked the multiple POVs in the story as we tried to decipher who the murderer truly was.

Deliciously dark, oh so very twisty, and downright addictive, One Dark Night followed through on all of the promises from the synopsis. From the sinister atmosphere loaded with urban legends to the realistic family drama that grew worse at every turn, this book delivered everything I wanted and more. You see, on top of all of that, there was the dark academia vibe. Giving a convincing feel to the private school setting, I could see my own upbringing in many of the true-to-life scenes. Although, I do have to say that my experience lacked the shocking murder mysteries and intriguing scandals like there were in this unputdownable novel, of course.

On top of a plot that was as fast-paced as it was enthralling, the compelling characters ran the gamut from affable to thoroughly suspicious. Each step of the way, though, the plausible red herrings kept me miles away from the jaw-dropping final revelation. Perfectly played for this thriller lover, the well-plotted reveal had me shouting out loud with absolute glee. Could the conclusion have explored the ramifications for all that were involved just a little bit more? Well, maybe… But that’s also probably me just wanting even more pages in this dynamite novel. Clever, intense, and heavily doused in eerie foreboding, there was no chance of my putting it down once I started reading.

All said and done, from the intricately interwoven multiple POVs to the multiple layers of secrets and lies, Ms. Richell has just blown me away yet again. With plenty of plot-charging drama and complex friend and family dynamics, my eye was constantly roving among the many possible culprits. And when the real guilty party was finally revealed? Well, I was absolutely floored as I just didn’t see it coming. Both shocking and yet easy to wrap my head around, the arc of this novel showed the work of a master. After all, it set me up almost right from the start and had me second-guessing myself all the way to the end. It was a total *chef’s kiss* kind of a read. Rating of 5 stars.

Thank you to Hannah Richell, Atria Books, and NetGalley for my complimentary physical and digital copies. All opinions are my own.

I'm not sure how to write about this without sounding generic.

Halloween. A party gone wrong. A teenage ghost. Adults with their own issues.

This is exactly what you want in a thriller. Hannah Richell does a bang up job at building tension and suspense.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The setting of the prestigious school next to a forest, where teens can easily get into trouble, was perfect for this book. It gave the story an edge of creepiness, with characters walking alone in the fog and darkness, while a killer roamed free. I enjoyed the multiple POVs of parents Rachel and Ben, and their daughter Ellie, as they worked separately to unfold different, twisted layers of the mystery behind Sarah’s murder. This is a great read for lovers of mystery thrillers.

If you're into atmospheric thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat, One Dark Night by Hannah Richell is a must-read. Set in a small British town with a chilling urban legend, the story kicks off when a group of teens meets in the woods on Halloween night, only for one of them to end up dead by morning.

The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, including Rachel, the school counselor and mother to Ellie, one of the teens involved. As secrets unravel, the tension builds, and Richell masterfully weaves a tale of grief, teenage dynamics, and the haunting of past events. What stands out is Richell's ability to create a claustrophobic, eerie atmosphere that pulls you in. The characters are well-developed, and the plot twists are both surprising and satisfying. It's a blend of suspense and emotional depth that makes for an unforgettable read.

Whether you're reading it on a crisp fall evening or listening to the audiobook, One Dark Night will keep you hooked until the very last page.

A Hannah Richell novel is a vibe: dark, gritty, atmospheric. Her prose will wrap you in a blanket, tight and cozy, safe but for the words that will raise the hair on your arms and leave you with that feeling of being spied upon.

She’ll reel you in with the first words amping up the tension with each turn of the page as you question who did what and when and why. She’ll have you questioning the morality of all the characters while wanting to pull some in for a hug to keep safe with you shielding them from the harm that will surely come from the maligned soul who twists and turns the plot like a ghost flitting from tree to tree.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I’ll leave you with this: a ghost story, murder at the folly, Halloween spookiness, and a plethora of suspects, #onedarknight by @hannahrichell is a must read, perfect for thriller and suspense fans.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! 🌟

This book was okay! Slow at first but a fun read and I wasn’t super mad about how it ended. It did remind me of a few other books I have read. Overall, a decent book for spooky season!

One dark night is an old-fashioned whodunit/police procedural. On Halloween a group of teenagers meet by a local road that is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a girl who died there. By the end of the night, another local teen will be dead and an investigation into the residents of the small British town will commence.

Filled with red herring, While Richelle’s mystery follows the investigator Ben, his ex-wife, the hs counselor, Rachel, and their daughter, Ellie, the points of view do shift throughout the narrative.

This is a fun mystery that has a throw-back feel to it. I loved the atmosphere and the lore of the Sally in the Wood throughout and would have enjoyed it even more if we sat even more with that atmosphere.

I would recommend this one to readers of mysteries and thrillers!

Thanks to the publisher for providing this arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.