#OneDarkNight #NetGalley
Brilliant.
Hannah Richell delivers an atmospheric and deeply layered thriller in One Dark Night, a tale of haunting secrets, fractured families, and the reverberations of a tragic Halloween night in a small British town.
What I liked :-
1 Multi-layered Narration: The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, offering a well-rounded view of the mystery. Rachel, the overburdened school counselor; Ellie, her secretive daughter; and Ben, her ex-husband and the lead detective, each bring unique insights that add depth and complexity.
2 Eerie Setting: The local lore surrounding “Sally in the Wood” creates an unsettling atmosphere. The ghostly legend provides a chilling backdrop, blending supernatural undertones with the novel’s grounded psychological tension.
3 Strong Themes: Richell tackles themes of privilege, teenage rebellion, and parental guilt with sensitivity. The story also explores how urban legends can shape collective fears and obscure deeper truths.
4 Suspenseful Pacing: The narrative builds tension steadily, interweaving the mystery of the Halloween night with the characters’ personal struggles. Every chapter ends with a sense of foreboding, keeping readers engaged.
What I disliked :-
None.
Overall :- One Dark Night is an engaging and atmospheric thriller that combines the eerie allure of ghost stories with a gripping, character-driven mystery. Hannah Richell masterfully portrays the complexities of familial relationships and the lingering influence of the past on the present. While some elements may feel familiar to seasoned thriller readers, the well-crafted suspense and nuanced exploration of its themes make this a compelling read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for giving me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

A party in the woods gone out of control in is the main plot-line in this creepy whodunnit, One Dark Night by Hannah Richelles.

Police are called to a crime scene in the thick brambles of trees: the body of a young woman has been found. Her lifeless form was clad in a white dress. A bird mask was placed over her face and disturbing words were scrawled across her slender frame. Placed near a local folly, she is soon realized to be a student in the tony local boarding school. As these woods are said to be haunted by a woman in white was this just a joke gone bad, or something much more sinister?

I was unfamiliar with Hannah Richelle’s work before picking up this book, and i just may pick another for my TBR after this fun and easy to read thriller. The action shifts between Detective Chase, his ex-wife Rebecca and their stubborn, talented daughter Ellie. My main criticism of the book is that while the three characters I just mentioned were well drawn and thought through, many of the other characters feel one-dimensional. As a result, I’m subtracting 1.25 stars and rating this twisty thriller as 3.75 stars.

Sally Says, pick up this book if you dare.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

A Halloween party held in the woods leaves a teenager dead. Rachel works at the school this student attended. Her ex-husband Ben is the detective trying to solve the case. Their daughter Ellie, well I’ll just say that she is concealing more than one secret.
So many potential suspects, and while I was certain, my final guess was correct, alas, I was wrong. Every time another secret was revealed, it opened another door that the potential killer was behind.
Told by Rachel, Ellie, and Ben, everything comes together in a surprising conclusion. I should have guessed whodunnit and why, but I suppose I was too busy flipping pages. I read this on a very cold Saturday, but since it doesn’t publish until August, I could definitely see myself doing a reread on the beach. 4.5 stars.

This is a chilling and creepy novel that will keep you out of the woods forever! It involves multiple families and Folly View College which is an exclusive institution for higher learning. One morning after a party in the woods, Sarah's dead body is discovered--beautifully posed with a mask covering her face. There have long been rumors of "Sally in the Woods" who was said to have died there and now haunts it. Of course these are unsubstantiated so they couldn't possibly be true...or could they? The kids are scared, the detectives are flummoxed, and rumors abound. Who could be responsible and why? To add to the confusion, there are caves discovered and the homeless often camp there. It's a crazy plot that invites superstition and rumors but I flew through it as it was so good!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.