Really more a 2.5

I loved the thrilling start to this story! Talk about wishing you just let something go... after that though... eh. It wasn’t a bad story but it was pretty far fetched in places. The writing was good but the characters had so little development that I wasn’t too invested in their plight. The conclusion wrapped things up but wasn’t exceptionally satisfying.

Like I said, I liked the writing and that being said would try more by this author. I see a lot of his other books have been rated higher than this so perhaps this one was the wrong one for me to start off with.

Thanks NetGalley, the author and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for a review.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview ONE DARK NIGHT by Tom Bale.
A family is driving along the road after enjoying a great day together. Adam, his wife, Katy and their two kids are tired and on the way home when a car almost hits them. The husband, Adam, gets angry and follows the car to confront the driver. But all hell breaks lose when they stop - the husband hears a cry for help from the car from a woman in the back seat. Adam tries to make a quick getaway, but the men in the car overtake them and kidnap the family.
They are taken to a farmhouse where they are put in the basement with the woman in the car. How can this happen - they have just enjoyed a wonderful day, they were on their way home, and now they sit in a dark basement - prisoners.
Adam and Katy soon find out that the woman in the car, Carole, was taken from her home. Her husband was killed by these men. She claims to not know why she was taken, but soon they all discover that these men are dangerous. Adam and Katy's young children are frightened and cannot understand what is going on. While trying to make things somewhat normal for them, it is impossible to fathom that they are in this situation.
Adam and Katy meet with their captors - four men and an older woman who tell them they must go along with them because they have a plan that involves Carole and a ransome. They are told they will be released in a day or two, but Adam and Katy know that they have seen their faces.
Can they escape? Will they be released? Can they get out of this nightmare?
This is a rollercoaster ride and a good one. An ordinary family on an ordinary day wind up in a nightmare -= I loved this book.
Good writing and solid plot - Recommend.

A story of 2 halves both told from various points of view . Brilliantly twisted and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout . Fantastic and believable characters

As in ‘See How They Run’ and ‘All Fall Down ‘ author Tom Bale manages to place an ordinary everyday family in a most EXTRA ordinary and terrifying situation and that’s why this author is so darn readable!

A seemingly ordinary case of road rage spirals into a truly terrifying situation for Adam, his wife Katy, and their two children. After being cut up by another driver, causing slight damage to his car, Adam decides to take the driver to task, but as he approaches the other car, he realises that a woman is being held hostage by two men in the rear of the car. The woman calls to him for help, but he and his family will have reason to wish he’d just ignored the minor damage caused to his car, as they are abducted and pulled unwillingly into a very dark and dangerous world!

I really enjoy Tom Bale’s style of writing, and as ever, the narrative was exciting - a feeling of ‘how could such a minor incident lead to such a terrifying chain of events’? I’ll admit there were times when I had to suspend disbelief, and I also felt that the characters could have had a little more depth to them, but all in all another enjoyable read from this very able author!

* My thanks to Bookouture for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *

One Dark Night is the first book I have read by Tom Bale, but I would recommend this author as a thrilling writer. The book is riveting and jars the reader from page one. If you are a fan of mysteries, thrillers, and suspense, consider Tom Bale as a voice to check out. His use of characterization and description builds atmosphere and keeps us on the edge of our seats.

My first Tom Bale novel its always so good to find a new author.

The book bolts out the stable from the off with a simple case of road rage turning into a complete nightmare for all parties involved.

Unfortunately that's the books problem the first half of the book is so exciting and gripping that it just cant sustain that intensity and splutters towards the end.

With that being said the writing is first class and the plot is good the characters are well written and Bale creates a very real and scary atmosphere.
All in all this is a good summer read.
Well worth your time and hard earned money.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy

Welcome back Tom Bale, oh how I’ve missed you, just in case you haven’t already guessed I love this author’s books and his style of writing. One Dark Night the latest offering from the author is a heart racing thriller, the definition of a “thriller” it’s a fast paced plot, fuelled by tension, with plenty of action. Adam, Katy and their children, Freya and Dylan have spent and enjoyable and perfectly normal day out, but on the journey home they are involved in a car accident which sparks a train of events that place the family’s life’s in jeopardy.


The authors trade mark of putting ordinary folk into extraordinary situations, works really well, as you can’t help thinking “what would I do in a similar situation?” Some readers may consider the plot to be far fetched, but at the end of the day it is a work of fiction and personally I was happy to buckle up and enjoy a very bumpy ride. You can’t help feeling some sympathy for the families terrifying ordeal but there was a small part of me that struggled to connect with any of the characters, and I’m not really sure why, although I did think some of Adam’s and Katy’s decisions were reckless to say the least,

The pace slows about mid way but this time is used to explore the motivation behind the situation the family find themselves in, I know this sounds very vague but I really don’t want to enter spoiler territory. There are some unsavoury characters in this thriller that certainly don’t get the reader’s sympathy, but they do add a dark and dangerous tone to the overall plot. Tom Bale manages to throw in a few surprises along the way which leads to a constant niggling feeing of unease. One Dark Night is action packed, with murder at its heart, with plenty of suspense and mystery to keep any thriller lover reading into the small hours. In my humble opinion this thriller is a very worthy addition to the author’s ever growing list of books

This review maybe altered slightly and edited prior to publication on my blog

I have read this author in a while but his style hasn’t changed. The story is full of suspense, twist and turns you don’t see coming. Plenty of people in the book that you will despise but also a few that you will root for.

Highly recommend this must read thriller! I couldn't put it down until I knew how it ended (read as: another late night staying up to finish a book). I've never read this author before, but I can promise, I will be purchasing more of Tom Bale's thrillers.

Thank you #netgalley and #bookouture for the eARC.

As usual from Tom Bale this book launches us at 100 miles an hour into another nightmare scenario for a seemingly normal family . Great pacey writing that I have come to expect when reading Toms books , with villains so evil they are almost pantomime . Stretches your belief at times but that's one of the reasons I love it . Spent an entertaining few hours with a cuppa rooting for Adam and his family . Another 5 star read from me

For Adam Parr and his family, one hot-headed moment would turn their world upside down and put them all in terrible danger and in fear for their lives.

One Dark Night is a quick and pacy read with plenty of action and many nail biting and heart stopping moments. Great characters, some good and some most definitely bad this is another super read from Tom Bale and one I would recommend.

Many Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Might make you think twice about getting out your car after an accident! A fast paced crime suspense thriller, I enjoyed the main part of the book but actually found the last third a bit too ar fetched. Having said that it was thoroughly enjoyable and made me want to shout at Adam for being so stupid!

A quick and punchy thriller. A major case of wrong place at the wrong time, Adam, Katy, and their kids get thrown into a scenario they hadn't planned for. Fast-moving and suspenseful, One Dark Night was a great read.

This tense crime thriller bears the signature and all the hallmarks of a Tom Bale novel. It is a non-stop tension fuelled, fast paced story with plenty of action and the requisite villains. After a family day out, Adam, Katy and their children, Freya and Dylan are returning home only to be caught up in a car accident that flares up into a shocking situation that spirals way out of control. A woman in the car, Carole, is trying to escape and demands attention when she asks for help after her husband has been murdered. The family are abducted and facing heart pumping danger. Adam tries to do everything to ensure his family are saved as we begin to get closer to the truth of what is happening. This is an atmospheric thriller, full of suspense, twists and surprises in true Tom Bale style. I found this a good read with an occasionally uneven narrative and perhaps a plot that strains credulity at times. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.

An interesting book and I really want sure what I was reading. This is a book that really makes you think.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

unfortunately this book wasnt for me...the premise sounded good but i couldnt stick the husband...someone who put his children in danger constantly...so very annoying that it put me off this book and i got more than halfway through before i decided to call it a day...i tried...but was beginning to find other things to do rather than sit down and enjoy some escapism...

I am a fan of psychological thrillers and I really enjoyed this book. It starts at a gripping heart stopping read and it got me gripped straight away.

I love the way Tom Bale writes, he gets you involved with all the characters and the book moves you along very quickly.

I can thoroughly recommend this if you are looking for a book full of twists and turns and very hard to put down.

Another Tom Bale tall tale of a normal family being thrown into an unbelievable situation. Fast paced, twisted and just a little bit gory.

I have to say, I always enjoy Tom Bale’s books and this one was no different, he has a way of gripping you from the getgo and you don’t want to let go until the end!!!

What started as a simple case of road rage having been nearly run off the road, spirals a sequence of events that you couldn’t even imagine if your wildest dreams, I mean lets face it, we’ve all been there right, road rage. What if this time, it left you and your family in danger for their lives which is what happened when Adam chases down a car in those circumstances with his wife Katy and their two children in the back seat, what unfolds thereafter will have you clinging onto the back of your seat. Having being taken hostage by the driver of the other car and locked in a cellar, can Adam save his family?

Loved this book, a very dark chilling psychological book. This author has a way of turning ordinary everyday things into something else entirely…… Hold onto your hats, you’re in for one hell of a ride.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Adam, his wife, Katy, and his two children; Freya (9 yr) and Dylan (7yr) have a nice day trip. Another car whizzes by them and Adam decides that he is angry enough to follow the car. His mistake: there is really minimal damage to his car and he and his family end up being prisoners of a gang. Along with them is Carole (who tells them that she had just witnessed her husband's murder). Nice group of captors, we see...

The ringleader of the captors is middle-aged Maggie; her sidekicks are Roger and Jay. Dale and Gary also run with them but are only hired for this caper.

Carole admits that she has been having an affair with uber rich Russian oligarch Alexander Barinov aka Voronov. And speaking of affairs, although Adam broke up with Holly a long time ago (before he married Katy), Holly still is in pursuit of him.

We soon find out that Alex is quite the dangerous man...and that Holly enters the picture once again...

In the meantime, Adam has completed the uncovering of a tunnel that may be the only means of escape from the cellar they are imprisoned in. It turns out that the cellar door is open and the smell of petrol is in the air. The family runs out and talks with the police who keep in close contact.

Holly meets with Jay and manages to lure Adam into Jay's debacle. Jay happens to be Maggie's son and wants to save Roger and Maggie who have been captured by Alexander & company. Adam works with Jay because as long as Alexander is in "power" his family will never be safe. However, Adam does not tell Katy this until he is already deeply involved with Jay's plot. Katy is upset due to Holly's involvement.

As the reader wonders if Adam and Holly may be double-crossed - that perhaps while Adam is away,that Jay maybe will "exchange" his mother for Adam's family. ???

The rest of the story is quite interesting and ties up the loose ends. Because we can't be sure who to trust in the book, it becomes quite the suspenseful story !

A Recommended Must Read!!!

Many Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a super read!