'One Night' by Georgina Cross
Publisher: Random House - Ballantine
Publication: August 1st, 2023
Special thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine for the Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

Solid 4 Star read for me. I enjoyed the novel (my first but not last by Cross) and found the story easy to follow, but ultimately guessed the ending, so not a 5 Star personally.
One night follows the Chisholm family as they are on a quest to discover the truth about the murder of eldest daughter, Megan. All of the family members receive mysterious letters inviting them to a dinner party at a cabin in the PNW. Megan's convicted killer (and ex) was just paroled from prison so naturally the family figures the letters are from him, but as the stormy night progresses they become less sure of this. It is clear that all members of our dinner party have secrets they are hiding and throughout the night the truth surrounding Megan's death will be revealed.
Cross builds the setting, a dark and stormy cabin in the PNW, beautifully and you can feel the suspense and tension building throughout the novel. Overall, beautifully written and I recommend to anyone looking for a quick suspenseful read.

A family lived by the Pacific coast of Oregon. There were three sisters, Meghan, Alice and Samantha. Ten years earlier Meg died and her high school boyfriend was convicted of her death. Since this time the marriage fell apart and the father has remarried. The entire extended family has been invited to spend one night at a beach house, apparently to learn what really happened. Everyone is hiding something and the interrelationships are more than dysfunctional. It is remarkably well written and each chapter tells the story from a different viewpoint or a different time period. This is not a book to pickup when you have other plans. I finished it in an afternoon. Thanks to Net Galley and Random House for an ARC for an honest review.

One Night is a tense, locked room thriller that kept me reading late into the night! It’s been ten years since Meghan, the oldest daughter was found dead and her boyfriend convicted of her murder. The splintered family has been invited to a rented beach house with the promise that everyone will finally know what happened to Meghan. The book has some great creepy elements and while I thought I knew what had happened, I was only partially right in the end. There is a great twist and I always like hearing the POV of the victim as we find out what really happened. This was an entertaining thriller and makes me want to look at what other books the author Georgina Cross has written!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

They were all invited to the secluded house on the Oregon Coast-and when they arrived they found a table, set for an elegant dinner-place cards indicating where each family member should sit. Paul. Alice. Geoff. Rebecca. Maureen. Samantha.

But, at the head of the table, the place card is missing, the host’s identity kept a secret for now.

The rain is pelting outside and the wind is howling as they await the person who enticed them all there with the promise of revealing what really happened 10 years ago-the night Meghan died, and her boyfriend, Cal was arrested for a murder he would serve jail time for, despite protesting his innocence.

I loved the atmospheric beginning, and I couldn’t wait for this dinner party to get started, but it was not to be.

Geoff would arrive, with an injured Cal in tow, so he wouldn’t be speaking. All we could learn from him was what he wrote in his journal entries which, didn’t sound authentic to me.

The book stalled as Meghan’s family debated on whether or not to save him so they could finally learn the truth or whether they should let him die, to exact their revenge.

Each had been hiding a secret from the night in question, but as a seasoned reader of thrillers, it all seemed predictable to me, and the strong beginning fizzled fast.

Perhaps the story will be more surprising and satisfying for readers who only read the genre occasionally?

Available August 1, 2023.

Thank You to Ballantine for inviting me to read a gifted ARC provided through NetGalley, in exchange for a candid review.

Although I love, love, love Georgina, this book is getting 3 stars and I hate myself for it!!! The book was slow for me, I felt like I kept reading the same thing over and over again which made it feel unnecessarily repetitive. The end was good and I did not figure it out entirely so I will still recommend this book to friends! Thank you NetGalley for the arc!!

“One Night” is by Georgina Cross in the “locked secluded” cabin/location trope. This wasn’t a bad book - after all it started with a gripping beginning, but it took me a while to keep track of who was who. There are a lot of twists, red herrings, and false trails. Did I figure out who had done it - thought I did and the final twist confirmed that I was correct (thanks for making me doubt myself Ms. Cross). No one can be trusted in this book - which always makes trying to be an armchair detective difficult. A quick read that once it started building up steam held my attention. I think my hopes for the book were higher than what was delivered, but the concept was pretty solid. Pacing was a bit off - between the back-story filling in and setting the stage - but, again, at the end things rolled solidly along. This was an okay-ish read for me, though I do now want to read her first book. 3.5 stars.

One Night exceeded my expectations. The setup is perfect- the grieving mother, the stepmother that was never accepted, the distant sisters… the invitation to a perfect house, a dinner party to find out the truth of what happened to Meghan 10 years ago.

The ending legitimately surprised me, and it was then followed by a little extra twist. The best part of this book, in my opinion, was the fact that Meghan was so incredibly unlikeable that it was hard to feel empathy about her murder (not saying that murdering someone you don’t like is ever acceptable- it’s just really good storytelling & character development).

A family is still reeling over their daughters death years before, at supposedly the hands of her high school boyfriend, who is recently paroled. While dealing with the stress of him being released they all receive an anonymous invitation asking them to spend the weekend at a beach home they all used to visit. Who sent the invitation? We do not know! But it promises answers to her murder/death.

This is more of a secluded beach cabin/locked room trope where everyone is questioning everyone else. I do think once it got going it moved fast but there have been so many books tackling the locked room genre that I may be a bit worn out on it. I did figure out the end game, but did like the POV and time line switches as it gave a little bit more depth into it, but I wasn't super enthralled.

Nanny Needed by this author was by far my favorite and was hoping this lived up to that, but fell a bit flat. I will still read more by this author for sure. I think many will enjoy this and encourage others to read,

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my honest review in exchange for an advanced copy

4 stars- This was jam packed! So many curveballs that I was constantly left guessing 'who did it?' Thanks netgalley.& the publisher for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good locked-room mystery. One Night was a fresh take on this trope. Characters weren't dropping off one by one like they typically would in this type of mystery. The murder was actually many years ago, but the family of the victim were pulled together to this beautiful sea side mansion during a storm to find out the truth about the night their beloved daughter/sister died. Everyone has secrets and even though I guessed the 'who' fairly early, I was still pleased with how the story played out. Very atmospheric and intense.

Ten years after their eldest teen daughter Meghan was killed by her boyfriend, The Winslow family receives strange invitations to a remote house perched on the cliffs above the beach where she almost drowned as a young girl. Her parents, her "uncle" , step-mother and her two sisters as well as boyfriend Cal (who has maintained his innocence even while in prison) are told that they will learn the truth about the night Meg died by attending a dinner party at the house. The remote house above the tossing sea, an endless storm with high winds, a blocked road and no phone signals and a gathering of possible suspects follows in the vein of a modern day gothic mystery. Enough false leads are offered to readers who want to figure out the truth before the ending but who will be surprised at the final reveal. A quick read for fans of who-dunits.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam for the copy of One Night by Georgina Cross. I’m not sure why I have never read any other books by this author because her writing is really good and drew me right into the story. The past timeline was more difficult to get involved in because it didn’t feel connected to the mystery of who invited everyone to the house. The book slowed down in the middle, maybe because of the attempt to make everyone seem guilty, but it picked up again near the end. I loved how this book had a surprising reveal and also a twist because so many books today have a reveal and think it’s a twist! If you’re looking for a well-written book that will surprise you, this is it! 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Imagine if you will there's a dead body and 10 yrs. later you're receiving letters to meet in one night to discuss the circumstances.
Could someone so close be so far?
A high school sweetheart gone astray?
A one night stand?
The killer -a high school boyfriend- has been found-in his car-unconscious after striking a tree. Was this foul play?
WTH?
So, now we wait and ponder why? Is he the one who contacted them to meet on the Oregon coast?
To help or to hurt-that's the question.
Or, is the killer someone with closer ties to the family?
YIKES!
Thank you to Georgina Cross, the publisher, Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a great thriller!!
4.5⭐️

Maureen lost her daughter 10 years ago. Now someone has invited her family to the Oregon coast and they think it was Cal. Cal was Meghan’s boyfriend who was accused of killing, now out free.

This is a great who done it thriller. I was skeptical about this book since the whole book is literally about one night they are spending on the coast.

There was never a dull moment in this book. They whole time you were on the end of your seat trying to figure out who invited the family here. It never slows end until the very last page.

The ending was 🤯. I did not except where this book was going and how it ended. This books really shows that you can’t trust anyone. Not even your own family…

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for letting me review this book.

Oh my goodness…….

One Night by Georgina Cross is an extremely well written psychological thriller that puts you right in the middle because the whole time YOU the reader wonder not only what is the family going to do, but what would you do..

Meg was murdered allegedly by her high school boyfriend Cal who only served 10 yrs for the crime and is now out of prison walking the streets. Meg’s family, after dealing with the aftermath and trying to move forward, begin to get letters in the mail saying that if they want answers, they need to come to this address. The night they show up they find Cal, who had been in an accident, unconscious behind the wheel of his car. They get him to the home that they are to finally find out what happens and all hell breaks out. Some of Meg’s family decide that vigilante justice is the best thing to do. Others are not so sure. But as the night wears on certain things happen to keep the family guessing. The power is lost and with no wary to return home, they must decide if they want to help Cal or kill him. But they soon find out things are not always as they seem. Did Cal kill their precious Meg? Will they kill Cal and go on as if nothing happened, because no one would know that they did.

This book rocks you deform the first page to the last. I love psychological thrillers and I love the way Cross writes. She is a very talented author that has a way to grip the reader and not let go. Everything about this book is perfect including the characters who are very well developed and flawed and mesh very well with each other as well as the easer.

I could not put this one down and would live to see it made into a movie.


5+++stars out of 5


Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. The plot of the story seemed intriguing. A man recently released from prison after serving time for the murder of his ex girlfriend. But something was off immediately with the characters and it didn’t involve the recently released Cal. I think 75% of the story took place while a Cal was incapacitated. I did not like any of the characters- in terms of themselves as people. The author did a great job of creating these arguments that were so mean, you couldn’t help but dislike the sisters. They were an unkind group of sisters and it made me sad to see that.

Book Title: One Night
Author: Georgina Cross
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Bantam
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: August 1, 2023
My Rating: 4+ Stars!
Pages: 320

I have read only one other Georgina Cross mystery - The Niece".
That story involved a fire and the only survivor was –the niece – hence the title. .
I love stories with twists that keep me guessing. In that story Ms. Cross did not disappoint!

Meghan Chisholm was seventeen years old when she was murdered 10 years ago. Her boyfriend Cal Hereford was convicted of the crime and has spent the last 10 years in prison and is out now!
Story starts when an invitation in a red envelope is sent to each member of the family: Mom- Maureen, sisters - Alice and Sam, Dad-Paul and stepmom Rebecca, plus Uncle Geoff Billings (not a relative but a close friend the girls think of as an uncle).
The invite is to a home on the Oregon coast with the following message~.

Don’t tell anyone you are coming.
In one night you will find out what happened to Meg.

Everyone immediately notices the name ‘Meg’ as Meghan only allowed a few people call her Meg - Cal was one of them

Ten years ago, youngest sister Sam was only fourteen and Alice sixteen. Sam snuck her way to where Meghan and her friends were partying. Sam saw Cal and Meghan arguing on a cliff overlooking the creek. Sam didn’t want to get in the middle of things so left and never saw Cal push her but her testimony was enough for the jury to believe he did.

Maureen wants to know what really happened that night she does not want to go but Sam does and Maureen certainly isn’t going to let Sam go alone.

They do go to the Oregon mansion where secrets are revealed.

As a fan of thrillers ~ what’s not to like about a Family Drama Thriller in a Gothic Victorian Mansion during a dark and stormy night?
I truly could not put this down. I did have my suspicions but certainly did not know the secrets nor the details.

I always love reading the ‘Author’s Notes’ and/or ‘Acknowledgements’ as in most cases the author will tells us the motivation for the story.’
In this case, Georgina tells us before she and her husband David were married; they rented a large three-story home on the Oregon coast where the family could gather to meet her. They had a wonderful time.
She got thinking that this would be an amazing setting for a thriller - a family trapped with a terrible storm blowing. As the family reveals secrets, they need to decide what to do with the man they believe murdered their daughter; would they or should they take revenge or forgive.

Hmm sound familiar? Yep. Her author imagination took over and the idea for this story was born.

Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Groups – Ballantine Bantam for granting me this page-turning thriller. Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 1, 2023.

The synopsis gave me high school horror movie kinda vibes like last house on the left, cabin fever, etc. you know the kind of movies I mean. This was a perfect thriller while still maintaining just some overall literary fiction with the form of the main characters conscience and the decisions they have to make throughout the plot

Whoa so much can happen in just one night.... both in the past and in the present in One Night by Georgina Cross. The family lost their beloved Meg and now they have this one night to find out what really happened. Such a suspense novel wrapped up in family drama and who actually killed Meg. I really liked the layers in this read, complex characters and a plot that moves swiftly toward a dramatic ending! Definitely the setting was interesting, weaving the storyline between past and present was seamless, and the characters were astonishing in how developed they are!

Cross has a way of allowing the character to unravel so that the reader sees under the surface and into the heart and mind of a killer.

Thanks to #netgalley and Random House for giving me the opportunity to read "One Night" by Georgina Cross.

This is the first book by the author I've read. Great thriller when I thought I knew what was going on, it changed. The ending was WOW.
The story and characters are well created. There are a few times in the story that it was slow but it didn't stop me from reading it.

So if you like a thriller of family secrets, then check out "One Night".