I was lucky enough to win an ARC of Hannah Richell's ONE DARK NIGHT in a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Thank you for the early look, and try to stay safe, sane and happy out there.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this in return for an honest review*

One Dark Night follows several characters who live in a small town that is home to a prestigious boarding school. The town is also the home of an urban legend that attracts teens to the woods surrounding the school. Teens find themselves partying and trying to speak to Sally of the Woods. On the night of Halloween, a group of teens try to communicate with Sally while intoxicated, and one of those teens ends up dead.

Rachel is the school's counselor. Ellie is a student at the school and Rachel's daughter. Ben is the detective assigned to the murdered student's case and the ex-husband of Rachel and Ellie's dad. The story follows the investigation trying to figure out who killed the teen.

There are so many twists and turns in this book. I thought I had it figured out, but then the last twist at the end happened that I wasn't expecting. I thought the author did a great job of keeping me off of my toes. But with that being said, the book dragged a little bit after the 50% page mark. One of the twists kind of put me out of the story, but then around the 85% mark, I was back in and ready to find out who was the killer.

No one in this book is perfect, and the way the author portrayed parenting and teenagers was done well. I really enjoyed this book!

Overall 2.75 (rounded up for Goodreads)

This was an interesting book. However, the pacing struggled quite a bit throughout. Some parts dragged on far too long, while others were far too brief. I did enjoy the twists. Which is probably the sole reason I rated it a bit higher than my initial score. Not a particular bad read, but one I wouldn’t pick up again given if given the choice.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am grateful for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. Here are my thoughts.

First, the setting was great - Halloween in an eerie haunted forest. The Sally In the Wood story set up an unsettling vibe right from the start.

I liked the multiple points of view told in third person. Often, there is a revolving door of narrators in these stories. Though I don’t mind the first person voice, it’s nice when authors change things up a bit. Speaking of which, this story did not incorporate time jumps. That was honestly refreshing, as I feel that flashbacks in these types of books tend to slow down the momentum of the story more often than not. They can be great and can lend context, but can also be a pain to wade through. This was a more linear story, which I enjoyed.

There were many twists and turns in this book! It was not easy to predict the outcome. The author kept leading you down various paths right up to the very end. Well done!

I also appreciated how the ending left the slightest possibility of a future reconciliation between Ben and Rachel. I was kind of hoping they would find a way to get back together somehow!

If I just had to give a criticism, I would say it was a bit wordy at times. I didn’t move through this story at the pace I normally do with books like these. However, that is only a minor criticism.

This was a great story with good characters, lots of twists, and interesting subplots that don’t distract from the main storyline. I would definitely recommend this book and would read more from this author.

I read and loved Hannah Richelle’s the search party and was glad when NetGalley approved my arc request.

This one was also atmospheric and the little town, school and woods were so vividly described, you felt part of the scene. The mystery was interesting and I didn’t guess who dunnit. The only weakness to me was the characters who I found pretty unlikable. The dead girl was a horrid little creature. And our little main character broken up little family irritated and exasperated me in turns with their communications issues. Like can y’all just TALK to each other for a minute?! All in all, solid book. 3.5 stars rounded up.

This book starts with the plot straight away ! The author wrote Such a creepy and eerie woodsy atmosphere that you felt like you were there in those woods! This follows a cops perspective but didn’t feel like a legal thriller even though it was(I mean that in a good way) I felt connected to the characters and the twist took me for a loop!! This was a bit of a slow burn but still had sprinkles of excitement throughout which I love ! I would absolutely recommend this book to any thriller lovers out there.

Hannah Richell crafts a haunting and atmospheric story in One Dark Night. The novel masterfully weaves past and present, slowly revealing the secrets that bind the characters together. The writing is beautifully descriptive, making the setting feel almost like a character itself.

I loved the tension and emotional depth, as well as the way the story unfolded piece by piece. However, there were a few slow moments where I wished the pacing had been a bit tighter. That said, the payoff was worth it, and the characters stayed with me long after I finished reading.

Overall, a gripping and well-written novel with just the right mix of mystery and drama. Definitely a strong four-star read!

This was such an engaging plot and I loved it!

Bringing in folklore and a twisting murder mystery, Richell brings us the story of a girl murdered in the woods on Halloween. After a party in the woods, one girl doesn’t make it home…

We get this story told through multiple pov, though mainly through a guidance counselor at the prestigious school the kids all attend, and her ex husband, a detective on the investigation. The two share a daughter in the school, and it is becoming clearer and clearer that she is hiding something.

Richell took a simple story and spun it into this precarious web that was so fun getting tangled in!! I found the vast characters to be clever and interesting. The pace moved like perfection, too. This wasn’t anything just such a fun mystery.

This was so dark and twisty, not exactly what I was expecting. It took me a while to get into this book, but once it started rolling it was hard to put down. The writing is great and I enjoyed it.

This was my first book by this author and I have to say that I will have to look up her other books. I was surprised by how quickly everything jumped right in.
There were a lot of characters with a lot of information to retain to keep up with the suspenseful mystery of the story. It was definitely a book that was hard to put down because you wanted to know how each person was involved and I did not see the end coming. If you like a quick read, but a book that still has a decent amount of length to it, this is your book!

Dark and twisty in all the right places. Took a bit to get into but the couldn’t put it down.
While I’m not religious, it kept me hooked the whole time.

One Dark Night by Hannah Richell
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On Halloween night a group of teens meet for a party in the woods and joke about the local legend that a murdered girl haunts those woods. By morning one of those kids are dead.
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What I liked:
-This mystery was fast paced and had me flying through chapters.
-The story immediately sucked me in with wondering who killed this teen, and what are all these secrets everyone is keeping.
-I loved all the different POVs, they gave us great sides to the story.
-The ending was really good and I didn’t guess it.
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A compulsive mystery that had me hooked from the start! If mystery/thrillers are your jam then definitely add this book to your TBR.

I fear I judged the beginning of the book too soon and was almost not going to finish it. It started off a tad slow but I ended up thoroughly enjoying it!! It was a bit repetitive in some areas but it was a solid plot, touched on a few different themes, and included both a twist and a happy ending. The POVs often ended in a cliffhanger and then moved on to another person so I kept reading to get back to that initial point and the pattern would continue. I couldn’t wait to find out who had murdered Sarah and why. Solid 4/5! Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

This book had me at a Halloween murder. I really loved this book. For me it was different because it kept a good steady pace, but was still highly entertaining. I could not put this book down and I was rooting for Ben and Rachel, which I rarely get invested in characters. When it came time to reveal the murderer, I was thrown off and wrong about my previous guesses. I can’t wait for this book to be released and read by others..

Expected publication August 19, 2025. Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the ARC.

"When a body is found the day after Halloween, a small British community must reckon with its past and the dangers lurking in its present in this spine-tingling novel from “not to be missed” (Hayley Scrivener, author of Dirt Creek) author Hannah Richell."

I am a huge fan of Richell's "The Search Party" and requested and ARC based on how much I enjoyed that book. This did not disappoint!

The twist at the end was WILD! An excellent murder mystery with some subplots intertwined but the stories are easy to follow. A fast-paced page-turner with so many potential suspects it keeps you on your toes! Drama, suspense, plot twists - it's got it all!

I recently read One Dark Night by Hannah Richell and found it to be an engaging and atmospheric thriller. The narrative unfolds in the small British village of Thorncombe, where a group of teenagers gathers in the haunted woods on Halloween night. The following morning, a student's body is discovered, setting off an investigation that uncovers deep-seated secrets within the community. ​

Richell masterfully crafts a suspenseful plot that kept me guessing until the very end. The characters are well-developed and relatable, reflecting the complexities of human nature and relationships. The setting is vividly described, immersing the reader in the eerie ambiance of the haunted woods. ​

If you appreciate thrillers that delve into the darker aspects of small-town life, One Dark Night is a compelling read worth exploring.​

#BookReview #OneDarkNight #HannahRichell #Thriller #Mystery #Bookstagram #AmReading #BookRecommendations

I received this advance copy via NetGalley and Atria Books. Had I not received this ARC in exchange for my unbiased recover, I likely wouldn't have finished the book.

I had a hard time getting into this mystery/physiological thriller. The chapters provide timestamps for the investigation, but doesn't name the character.. Thankfully after the first paragraph, you could decipher whose perspective we were reading.

The book provided several twists throughout the 2nd half of the book. By the end, I had discovered the suspect. I felt the book could have been consolidated considerably without missing anything.

Hannah Richell does it again. The queen of thrillers is back. This book did not disappoint, you need to pick it up!

This was a good one! I loved the premise and knew I had to read this book and it did not disappoint. Such creepy vibes and a good mystery.

It’s Halloween night and the kids of Folly View College celebrate with a bonfire by the woods. But legend claims a woman haunts these woods. Sally. The road adjacent to the woods is famously known as “Sally in the Wood” and people have claimed she causes accidents and deaths. Creepy.

The next morning, one girl is missing and the cops are cordoning off the area by the folly. This isn’t any regular homicide though. Something is off about this body. What happened last night and who is responsible?

I loved the locked-room feel of the college community. It heightened the suspense for me and made it feel claustrophobic. I also enjoyed all the different parts of this book that added to the overall story. We slowly got all the moving pieces of the puzzle. From all the different characters’ perspective.

This is an atmospheric thriller and you will see the college town in your mind as you read. Richell does a phenomenal job of detailing the community.

My review:
This book was such an adventure! It had just the perfect amount of spookiness (is that a word?) and suspense. I just KNEW I had it figure out... several times. I kept second guessing myself right up until the very end! This thing had me talking out loud to myself more than a couple of times and staying up way past my bedtime! This one was so much fun! I give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! It is available for pre-order now! RUN and grab it!

Publish date: August 19, 2025