Solid "Locked In" Mystery Asks Serious Questions. This is one of those "everyone is trapped in the house, and everyone has secrets" kind of mysteries that classic mystery lovers will love, and newer mystery lovers that are all about the shock value/ twist... eh, your mileage may vary. I personally thought the ending was particularly well done and while not *overly* shocking in *who* was involved, was brilliantly executed in *why* they were involved. Which gets to the whole "asks serious questions" bit, as the "questions" indicated in the description... are *NOT* the only questions raised. This book has a lot of meat there for those who *want* a deeper psychological dive, particularly in probing their own consciences - but it also offers enough directly in the text that if all you want is a few hours of classic mystery escapism... that is all you have to take from this particular tale. Which is usually a sign of a particularly strong storyteller, when they can give both readers what they want in the same story. This was my first book from Cross, and most likely will not be my last. Very much recommended.

3.5 stars

Ten years ago, Meghan was killed by her boyfriend Cal. Now, Cal is out of prison. He has always stated that he didn't kill Meghan, though.

A mysterious invitation arrives to Meghan's family stating: "In one night, you'll find out what happened to Meg."

The invite is to a remote home by an unknown host. Meghan's mother, Maureen, thinks it is Cal who has sent the invitation. But, when an unconscious Cal shows up to the home, that might not be correct.

I loved the locked room feel to this mystery/thriller. My favorite. The storm raging outside added just the perfect creepiness to the story, too. Is someone else in the house? Is it one of them? No one knows for sure.

The story deals with a family broken up by a huge loss of their daughter/sister. Secrets are shared through various POVs, including some from ten years ago when seventeen-year-old Meghan was alive. The action is, at times, tense and creepy. I enjoyed it and was surprised by the ending.

Thank you to the author and Thriller Book Lovers Promotions for the advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love a good family drama and a locked room mystery and this one gave both!

Many of the characters were not particularly likeable but I'm okay with that. The location added such a creepy atmosphere as well.

The Chisholms lost their daughter, Meghan, ten years ago. Her boyfriend Cal was the suspect and spent time in prison for the crime. They have now been invited a house on a cliff and are told they will learn the truth about that night.

The parents, stepmom, both sisters, an "uncle" (Dad's best friend), and even Cal show up there. But who invited them?

I swear at some point I suspected everyone and was shocked by the twist!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House - Ballantine for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love Georgina's style of writing! Her thrillers are fast-paced page-turners that keep me up way past my bedtime.

I did feel like I had read the story before in another book which helped me figure out the "whodunnit," but it didn't take away from the suspense and need to know if my suspicions were correct. The eerie setting in the middle of a crazy storm was perfect and I enjoyed that there were so many threads, but without being overwhelming to the narrative.

The story line itself was sad, and at first I really related being a middle child with two sisters, but I disliked every character 😂 since I still loved the book, that just goes to show how well written it is that part of what made it great were the characters that I would not want in my family!

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮:
🌊 enjoy domestic thrillers
🌊 love a closed room mystery
🌊 like a story around the bonds of sisterhood

"And Then There Were None" but with a modern look at grief, family and what you would do if you were drawn to a place to learn the truth, but what you suspected isn't what you find .

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

Ten years ago Meghan never returned from a party by the park. She was found dead in the water. Hit with a rock.

For ten years they have all believed a different truth about that night. Every. One. of. Them. The relationship between the mother, Maureen, and the girls was odd from the start. And you could feel an underlying tension in each of them.

The cause for Maureen of course is losing her favorite daughter. She is still full of rage and wanting revenge. The other two daughters have some issues but we aren’t sure why.

Cal went to prison for the murder of his girlfriend and has maintained his innocence. And now, he is up for release and Maureen wants him dead. In her mind he destroyed her daughter and her family. Her husband is now married to another woman and Maureen hates her. Well, to be honest I think she hates everyone.

Now they have all received invitations to a mansion on the Pacific coast near where they spent their last family vacation. Why this place? Who is sending the invitations. Promising them all the answers they need about that night.

Is it Cal? Maureen thinks so and she plans on killing him! Paul, her ex, doesn’t believe Cal did anything to Meghan.

As soon as they are all gathered, a huge storm moves in. And as it rages the front door crashes open and there is Uncle Geoff carrying an unconscious Cal. As strange things keep happening, Alice, the other sister is acting strange and making a lot of accusations.

Bottom line is they are all liars, it’s just to what degree. Everyone’s secrets will come pouring out when Cal comes around and it is no one we expected.

The only thing I did not care for was the ending. It wrapped up in a big hurry, and I had questions.

NetGalley/ RHPG/BANTAM August 01, 2023

The concept of this book was very interesting with some unexpected plot twists along the way. I did not see the ending coming, which is always a nice surprise. I would say it was a fairly quick read, although it took me a week because I was doing house projects and have all 4 of my kids home for the summer. I would be curious to read more by this author.

WE LOVE A GOOD THRILLER!
I am so thankful to Georgina Cross, Netgalley, and Random House Publishing Group/Bantam for granting me advanced digital access to this sick and twisted thriller that kept me intrigued from page one all the way to the end.

What a wild ride!

A decade after Meghan's murder, all the members of her family are invited to a cliffside home to supposedly find all the answers they've been searching for. They're sure her high school boyfriend did it, but when they find him unconscious on the side of the road, some of them start to wonder if he had anything to do with it at all. An incoming storm turns this into a locked room mystery, and as the family bunkers down in the seaside home, all secrets to Meghan's demise are revealed.

For me, the ending was a little over the top and required enough suspension of disbelief that I give this one 3 stars. But fans os suspenseful domestic mysteries and Agatha-Christie style locked rooms will devour this one.

A decade has passed since Meghan was murdered and although her boyfriend Cal served time for the crime, there have always been lingering questions. Now, each of Meg’s family members have received an anonymous invitation beckoning them to an isolated cliffside home, promising them that in the span of a single night, the truth of what really happened to Meg will finally be revealed.

One Night is suspenseful and super atmospheric, taking place in a deserted house in the middle of a severe storm with the access road blocked and no way for anyone to get in or out. I love a good locked-room mystery – is Meg’s real killer someone in the house? There are plenty of red herrings to throw you off balance; I think I suspected every character at least once throughout the book! The ending is foreshadowed so although the twist wasn’t totally surprising, the reveal was still satisfying.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me an advance copy of this book.

No family is perfect—but lots of families will happily cling desperately to the idea that they are. Especially if a member if that family was taken from them. As much as everyone may want to know the truth, these moments in a family history may become strangely comforting: a way to place blame and find one's own peace, no matter who that hurts along the way.

Georgina Cross's One Night turns this idea into a sort of locked-room mystery... except the mystery being solved on this one night is a decade old.

A family has been gathered in a beautiful holiday home in the Pacific Northwest, summoned by a series of red envelopes. Red, like the color of the dress the family's late daughter Meg would have worn to homecoming. And, appropriately enough, the invitations promise the truth of what happened the night Meg died.

Now, the family largely believes they know this already. Or at least, Meg's mother does. Meg's ex-boyfriend Cal has served his time for the crime. But the dining table set for the family—Meg's parents, sisters, "uncle" (a family friend), and posthumous stepmother—has a place for Cal, too. And when Cal arrives half-dead with Uncle Geoff in the midst of a raging storm, the clock is ticking. Was this Cal's doing? Is he worth saving? Or is there a story about to be uncovered?

One Night is somehow simultaneously tense and slow-burn, tossing the narrative back and forth between family members and between past and present. Character profiles for our cast are built through each other's eyes, and years of misunderstanding begin to take shape. By the end of the night, and the end of the book, all will be answered.

As a narrative, One Night is solidly written. All the pieces are in place, there are no stray threads left untucked, and every character's actions and reactions are believable. Considering how many moving parts this book has, this is no small feat.

From here, the strength of the book hinges entirely on what the book is setting out to be. As a case study, it is extremely successful. It chronicles, with painful accuracy, the human tendency to create our own narratives and cling to them, even in the face of irrefutable proof. It shines a spotlight on the parental hesitation to ever believe one's own child could do something bad, coupled with the parental drive to do just about anything to protect that view of one's own children. And it plays with concepts of loyalty, trust and justice.

In that respect, the book is extremely strong. However, it is for this exact reason that the book doesn't make for a compelling mystery: everything makes so much sense, and every character is so well defined, that an astute reader can likely pick out at least some degree of "whodunnit" and "whydunnit" by the time the entire cast is gathered. There is one small surprise at the end, but it's less in terms of motive and more in terms of gutsiness.

Does that make for a "bad book"? Not at all. It just depends on what you're in the mood for. If you're reaching for a read that is cutting and psychological, One Night will satisfy you. If you're specifically looking for something that will keep you guessing 'til the final page, this is not it... ironically, because of the strength of its characterization.

One Night is deeply atmospheric, dark, treacherous, and sometimes painfully real. It's one of those rare books where the changing narrator structure is handled with real care and depth, besides being essential to the story. While the mystery itself may unfold for you midway through the action, the family's drama rolls on clear to the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this advanced copy. This was kind of slow for me but also intriguing. I couldn’t wait to find out who was really responsible for Megan dying. Definitely a surprise twist at the end.

The Chisholm family received mysterious invitations to a vacation home off the coast of Oregon. This would enable the family to find out what happened to their oldest daughter, Meghan, 10 years ago. Her boyfriend, Cal, has spent 10 years in prison for her death. He has written letters pleading for his innocence. When the family arrives, they encounter a storm that secures them with no escape from their decision. Name place cards are at the table setting with their dad, Paul, and his new wife, Rebecca, their mom, Maureen, sisters, Sammy & Alice, Uncle Geoff and Cal, who has finished his time in prison....and one of Meghan's dance dresses she was supposed to wear.
Eerie enough, a storm is brewing when Uncle Geoff shows up carrying Cal's injured body. Apparently, Uncle Geoff ran into Cal's vehicle while it was parked alongside the road. He is critical and passed out unable to answer for himself.

The story is creepy with the storm brewing and this locked room mystery becomes a whodunit and accusations fly in all directions. The mother is hard to contain and tolerate. I'm not sure what shape I would be in when the killer of her daughter is laying passed out in the room, but she was conspiring against all of them and could not be reasoned with. It is a fast-paced story and can be read in one sitting.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Quite the locked room mystery, this was my first read by Georgina Cross and I will be going back and reading her backlist. I loved this fast paced thriller that starts off quick and does not stop until it is over. This messed up family is ripe with unresolved grief which only adds to the tension and suspense that is building throughout. I saw some of the ending coming but not all of it and it was a shocker. The audio for this was great, I don’t think you can go wrong reading or listening to this one. I absolutely loved it and it needs to be on your list when it comes out this Tuesday!

Thank you to PRH Audio, Random House, and NetGalley for the copies to review.

This is one family that I definitely don't want to a part of! When Maureen, her ex-husband Paul with his second wife Rebecca, best friend Geoff, and Maureen's daughters Alice and Sam come together at the house on a cliff, they don't know who invited them, or what exactly they are getting into. What they do know is that their host will be giving them information about Maureen and Paul's oldest daughter's murder, 10 years previously.

What transpires is one of the more tense thrillers I have ever read, grabbing you from the first chapter and not letting up. Everyone in the house is suspect, no one has told the complete truth about events a decade previous, and no one seems to know who sent the invitations. Add a fierce storm that blocks the road and knocks the power out, and then Geoff shows up carrying the near-dead body of the man who spent ten years in prison for the murder. Oh boy, can it get any crazier?!?

One Night is a total page-turner, and my only criticism is that, if I'm being honest, the tension became a bit tedious. Nothing really happens over the course of the book, and there is enough foreshadowing that the reveal was not a big surprise (though a little twist to it was a shocker). There were a few loose ends that were not explained (who ducked behind the tree?), but overall it was a fun, mystery/thriller that I enjoyed.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House-Ballantine for the digital ARC of One Night by Georgina Cross. The opinions in this review are my own.

A locked room mystery on a beach in a storm?

I absolutely love Georgina Cross's writing style, the way she brings me right into the story. I can smell the briny ocean surf and hear the roar of the wind. Then add in the mystery of who really killed Meghan and who is taunting them all by bringing her possessions to the secluded beach house, and One Night is the perfect summer read. Actually, it's the perfect anytime read! I wouldn't change a thing!

Thank you to Netgalley, Georgina Cross and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam for this ARC.

This story centers around one night on the Oregon coast 10 years after Meghan has died. Her family and ex boyfriend who went down for her murder are invited to come and hear the truth about what happened that night... This is a suspenseful locked room mystery told from six POV’s. While the plot was a bit predictable and a few characters were beyond unlikable (looking at your Maureen) this was still an enjoyable read. Cross knows how to set the tone and atmosphere to make this story a quick thrilling read.

It’s been 10 years since Meghan was murdered during a high school party. And now that Cal, the convicted killer, has just been released from prison, her family receive anonymous letters inviting them to a cliffside home on the Oregon coast to get answers about that night. As the family members arrive, tensions increase at the anticipation of receiving answers and the arrival of Cal. But things aren’t as they seem – everyone has their secrets, and it’s only a matter of time before they’re revealed.

This mystery is an easy and entertaining read. The setting was well chosen as was the inclusion of a dangerous storm. These things added a fun element of tension and gave it the “locked room” feel, which is a trope that I quite enjoy. Not to mention that unexpected things kept happening and everyone seems to be acting suspicious, so the characters are constantly questioning each other’s intentions.

We get to read multiple POVs from the people who are in this house as well as jumping between different timelines. This worked well and was a good way to reveal the background and history of everyone involved. However, having so many characters with mixed feelings about the same thing led to a slump in the middle portion of the book as they continued to debate over and over about certain things. The ending was a little predictable, but I was still interested in seeing exactly how it would all play out, so it didn’t ruin the book.

This work is good if you don’t think about it too much. It’s a quick and easy read that I found enjoyable overall. My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for allowing me to read this work, which will be published August 1st, 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Ten years ago teenaged Meghan was killed and her boyfriend was convicted of her murder. After Meghan’s death, the family dynamics changes and relationships were altered. Not everyone in the family believed that her boyfriend, Cal, was responsible or that justice was served. At the ten-year mark, each family member received an anonymous letter inviting them to a cliffside home in Oregon stating that the truth concerning Meghan’s death will be revealed including recently released boyfriend, Cal. The only problem is that Cal is found unconscious on the way to the house. The family must determine if they should help him so they can find out what happened to Meghan or end his life to put the past behind them.

This was a fast-paced and truly thrilling locked room mystery. It was beautifully atmospheric with the author introducing many red herrings and twists throughout. I thought I had it figured out early on and enjoyed the read to find out if I was on the right path. (I was 🎉)

Could have been so good, but wasn’t.

“One night. That’s all the time a family has to decide what to do with the man they believe murdered their daughter: Do they forgive him, or do they take justice into their own hands?” - that description is very deceptive. I would say, “One night. To figure out what everyone is lying about while the man they believe killed their daughter is in a coma for 12 hours then miraculously wakes up and starts walking around.” One Night has all the components of good mystery thriller: opens with a murder, family tension, re-marriage, obsessive parent, ambiguous “uncle”, but it falls so short. The idea is fantastic but portly executed. The book teases you with characters baiting eachother like, “you know what you said about Megan.” Then it isn’t revealed until chapters later in the most anti climactic way. The characters just do not behave normally. Their motives are neither complex or realistic and there is not nearly enough dialogue. The dead sister’s homecoming gown shows up at their vacation house (that someone mysteriously invited them to) and nobody says anything for pages.

If I had a dollar for every time I heard “I would never hurt her”, I would never have to work again. The best part of the book were the last three chapters.

This honest review is in exchange for an ARC from Random House Publishing, thank you.