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One Dark Summer
The BRAND NEW psychological thriller from Richard and Judy bestselling author of The Twins, Saskia Sarginson. Perfect for fans of Shari Lapena, Freida McFadden and Girl on the Train! 📚 It was the summer that changed everything… 👀 With trembling hands, Meg knocks on the door of the large manor house. Behind her, the view down to the river is spectacular. She’s here to be the nanny to two young children.
It’s not the job Meg is anxious about, though. It’s the house itself that scares her, and the secrets lurking inside. Not only that, but will her new employer recognise her?
The door opens. A beautiful, smiling woman greets her and ushers her inside.
As she walks in, Meg realizes the house is exactly as she remembers. Her employer hasn’t changed much, either, unlike Meg. The last time they met was fifteen years ago, when Meg was a child.
Because this is where Meg lived the summer her mother went missing. The summer her life changed. The summer Meg believes she killed a man.
Now she’s back, in disguise as Margaret the nanny, and determined to find out what really happened. But some secrets are best left buried. Because someone knows exactly who Meg is, and they will do whatever it takes to keep her quiet…
A completely gripping, powerfully-written, nailbitingly-twisty thriller, guaranteed to keep readers up all night, from bestselling Richard & Judy Bookclub author, Saskia Sarginson.
Readers love Saskia ‘Utterly engrossing… I was compulsively turning the pages until late into the night… The ending was mind-blowing. A marvellous read and a haunting story that will stay with me.’ Bestselling author, Rona Halsall
‘A beautifully crafted story with a sting in its tail. Did I see that coming? No, I did not.’ Bestselling author, Diane Saxon
‘Brilliantly written. A clever engaging book that had me hooked from the first page.’ Bestselling author, JA Baker
‘Haunting, clever and captivating, with a jaw-dropping ending which floored me…’ Bestselling author, Natasha Boydell
‘This took over my entire life until I had finished it! Such an original premise and it’s brought to life so vividly… The twists and turns had my head spinning and just when I thought I knew what was going on, I was completely blindsided again! Amazing. A perfect thriller!’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Had my head in a complete spin… I loved everything about this book… A must read for psychological thriller fans.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I was completely blindsided by the twist in the end.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Brilliant!… Had me turning the pages at an alarming rate right up to the shocking end.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I was hooked… Packed with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end
It’s not the job Meg is anxious about, though. It’s the house itself that scares her, and the secrets lurking inside. Not only that, but will her new employer recognise her?
The door opens. A beautiful, smiling woman greets her and ushers her inside.
As she walks in, Meg realizes the house is exactly as she remembers. Her employer hasn’t changed much, either, unlike Meg. The last time they met was fifteen years ago, when Meg was a child.
Because this is where Meg lived the summer her mother went missing. The summer her life changed. The summer Meg believes she killed a man.
Now she’s back, in disguise as Margaret the nanny, and determined to find out what really happened. But some secrets are best left buried. Because someone knows exactly who Meg is, and they will do whatever it takes to keep her quiet…
A completely gripping, powerfully-written, nailbitingly-twisty thriller, guaranteed to keep readers up all night, from bestselling Richard & Judy Bookclub author, Saskia Sarginson.
Readers love Saskia ‘Utterly engrossing… I was compulsively turning the pages until late into the night… The ending was mind-blowing. A marvellous read and a haunting story that will stay with me.’ Bestselling author, Rona Halsall
‘A beautifully crafted story with a sting in its tail. Did I see that coming? No, I did not.’ Bestselling author, Diane Saxon
‘Brilliantly written. A clever engaging book that had me hooked from the first page.’ Bestselling author, JA Baker
‘Haunting, clever and captivating, with a jaw-dropping ending which floored me…’ Bestselling author, Natasha Boydell
‘This took over my entire life until I had finished it! Such an original premise and it’s brought to life so vividly… The twists and turns had my head spinning and just when I thought I knew what was going on, I was completely blindsided again! Amazing. A perfect thriller!’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Had my head in a complete spin… I loved everything about this book… A must read for psychological thriller fans.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I was completely blindsided by the twist in the end.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Brilliant!… Had me turning the pages at an alarming rate right up to the shocking end.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I was hooked… Packed with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 13, 2025
2228 people are currently reading
916 people want to read
About the author
Saskia Sarginson
15 books220 followersSaskia grew up in Suffolk and now lives in London. She is the mother of four children, including identical twin girls. She has a B.A hons in English Literature from Cambridge and an M.A in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway. She's worked as a Health & Beauty Editor,freelance journalist, ghost-writer and script reader. As well as writing and reading, she loves tango dancing and dog walking,
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
April 8, 2025
If you love your thrillers slow-burning, emotionally rich, and set in moody old houses full of secrets, One Dark Summer might be exactly your vibe.
The atmosphere in this book is incredible. Saskia Sarginson paints the setting so vividly, you can almost hear the creak of floorboards and smell the lingering cigar smoke. The house practically breathes with tension. Add in unreliable memories, family secrets, and a growing sense of dread, and you’ve got a compelling psychological mystery that really sticks with you.
The book moves between past and present, slowly revealing what happened all those years ago. While the first half is definitely a slower build—and the time jumps can be a bit jarring—it’s worth sticking with. The payoff is satisfying, especially if you’re into character-driven stories with an undercurrent of suspense.
What I loved most were the characters. Meg is flawed and vulnerable, and her emotional journey is compelling. Her cousins and her mother are also layered and nuanced, and I enjoyed seeing how their stories unfolded over time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.
A strong 4 stars from me!
The atmosphere in this book is incredible. Saskia Sarginson paints the setting so vividly, you can almost hear the creak of floorboards and smell the lingering cigar smoke. The house practically breathes with tension. Add in unreliable memories, family secrets, and a growing sense of dread, and you’ve got a compelling psychological mystery that really sticks with you.
The book moves between past and present, slowly revealing what happened all those years ago. While the first half is definitely a slower build—and the time jumps can be a bit jarring—it’s worth sticking with. The payoff is satisfying, especially if you’re into character-driven stories with an undercurrent of suspense.
What I loved most were the characters. Meg is flawed and vulnerable, and her emotional journey is compelling. Her cousins and her mother are also layered and nuanced, and I enjoyed seeing how their stories unfolded over time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.
A strong 4 stars from me!
June 11, 2025
Strong first half. But (and I can't believe I'm staying this) too many twists and I couldn't keep up. 2.5 stars.
May 4, 2025
One Dark Summer by Saskia Sarginson, when Meg a.k.a. Margaret shows up to be the nanny for Ophelia‘s two children the mom has no idea that one the nanny has been there before two they’re related and three she’s there to solve a mystery. Meg stayed with Ophelia and her two sisters this summer Meg’s mom went missing and just like that then the sisters are as close as ever there will be many things she revisits from that summer including the attic she wasn’t allowed to go in, the summer house and her relationship with the three girls she envied so much. this book has three timelines the summer Meg stayed at the mansion her mom‘s POV with the man she left her dad for and the current day with her trying to solve the mystery. I found each POV to be more interesting than the last and couldn’t wait to see how they all tied together but trust me when I say I did not expect the ending that came I mean yes some of that I did but not the absolute ending that happened with Meg because if that’s not an OMG moment then I don’t know what is. I wish I could write a great review about how awesome this book is but for anyone who likes well done thrillers will absolutely enjoy this book there’s more than one finale in the book as a stories do not all tie up and current day per se. I mean it does but there’s different parts to the ending and all of them were awesome. #NetGalley,#TheBlindReview#BoldwoodBooks, er, #MyHonestReview, #SaskiaSarginson, #OneDarkSummer,
July 10, 2025
It was pretty good but sometimes repetitive.
April 11, 2025
★★★ 3.5 stars
A missing mother...a forgotten child...a house full of deadly secrets...
I'm not sure what I expected when I dived into this one but it wasn't what was delivered. It is a dark, twisted and atmospheric with a real claustrophobic tension throughout. Though a slow burn (not usually my favoured type), that tension is palpable from the first page as we, the reader, try to unravel the mess left behind at Deben Manor. The mystery that Meg has come looking to uncover.
Meg was just a child when she first came to Deben Manor after her mother disappeared, her father depositing her there with her cousins while he tried to get his life back together again after his wife, Irene's, departure. Meg missed her mother terribly and her three cousins - Orphelia (17), Thea (15) and Clementine (12) - were not entirely nice to her. Her uncle Lucian came and went as she saw fit whilst her aunt, the girls' mother, Calista floated about in her own little world. Neither parent did any parenting and the three sisters pretty much brought themselves up. And Meg? No one really cared about her or what happened to her. When she disappeared one morning and then reappeared after a boating accident, the sisters were glad to see the back of her.
Now fifteen years later, Meg's back at Deben Manor. This time under the guise of nanny Margaret Danby (her mother's maiden name) to Orphelia's two children >b>Artemis (5) and Kit (3). Her primary goal is to find out what really happened to her mother all those years ago, believing she had been to Deben Manor at some point though she didn't know why. Or what the connection was. She has done her best to disguise herself, fearing that one of the sisters will recognise her and end her mission. So every chance she gets, she sifts through Orphelia's study, searches her room and even tries to gain access to the forbidden attic...where strange sounds emanate from there at night. Footsteps on the floorboards, whispers behind the walls, cigar smoke filtering through the floors. But the attic has been locked up tight since Lucian's time. And no one has been up there since. Calista forbids it. Although she's in France where she's remained ever since Lucian's boating accident fifteen years ago, for which Meg was blamed. The problem is, Meg has trouble recalling what really happened that day...and why.
But someone knows what Meg is up to. They know her real identity and have been watching her, logging her movements and following her when she goes into the village, spying on her in the summerhouse. The question is who? And why? Meg isn't sure who she can trust and when she finds a pair of Orphelia's diamond earrings in her belongings, she knows someone is trying to set her up. Then she begins to receives notes warning her to leave...or else. But how can she? When she's this close to finding out what really happened to her mother fifteen years ago during that one dark summer. When she left for school one day only to return home to find her mother had gone for good.
The scene is set for an atmospheric and chilling thriller that will keep you guessing...even when you think you have it all worked out. The book takes on a gothic air of melancholy reminiscent of those that have gone before such as "Jane Eyre" or "Wuthering Heights". Though the air of romance in those takes on something else entirely in this one as the years peel away the trauma, the abuse, the cruelty and harm at the hands of those in a place of trust.
When I started this book, I found it slow moving and dragged on a little but I stuck it out and it did get better and yet it still felt lacking in something though I'm not sure what. I was definitely intrigued enough to continue reading and did so in one evening.
I would like to thank #SaskiaSarginson, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #OneDarkSummer in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
A missing mother...a forgotten child...a house full of deadly secrets...
I'm not sure what I expected when I dived into this one but it wasn't what was delivered. It is a dark, twisted and atmospheric with a real claustrophobic tension throughout. Though a slow burn (not usually my favoured type), that tension is palpable from the first page as we, the reader, try to unravel the mess left behind at Deben Manor. The mystery that Meg has come looking to uncover.
Meg was just a child when she first came to Deben Manor after her mother disappeared, her father depositing her there with her cousins while he tried to get his life back together again after his wife, Irene's, departure. Meg missed her mother terribly and her three cousins - Orphelia (17), Thea (15) and Clementine (12) - were not entirely nice to her. Her uncle Lucian came and went as she saw fit whilst her aunt, the girls' mother, Calista floated about in her own little world. Neither parent did any parenting and the three sisters pretty much brought themselves up. And Meg? No one really cared about her or what happened to her. When she disappeared one morning and then reappeared after a boating accident, the sisters were glad to see the back of her.
Now fifteen years later, Meg's back at Deben Manor. This time under the guise of nanny Margaret Danby (her mother's maiden name) to Orphelia's two children >b>Artemis (5) and Kit (3). Her primary goal is to find out what really happened to her mother all those years ago, believing she had been to Deben Manor at some point though she didn't know why. Or what the connection was. She has done her best to disguise herself, fearing that one of the sisters will recognise her and end her mission. So every chance she gets, she sifts through Orphelia's study, searches her room and even tries to gain access to the forbidden attic...where strange sounds emanate from there at night. Footsteps on the floorboards, whispers behind the walls, cigar smoke filtering through the floors. But the attic has been locked up tight since Lucian's time. And no one has been up there since. Calista forbids it. Although she's in France where she's remained ever since Lucian's boating accident fifteen years ago, for which Meg was blamed. The problem is, Meg has trouble recalling what really happened that day...and why.
But someone knows what Meg is up to. They know her real identity and have been watching her, logging her movements and following her when she goes into the village, spying on her in the summerhouse. The question is who? And why? Meg isn't sure who she can trust and when she finds a pair of Orphelia's diamond earrings in her belongings, she knows someone is trying to set her up. Then she begins to receives notes warning her to leave...or else. But how can she? When she's this close to finding out what really happened to her mother fifteen years ago during that one dark summer. When she left for school one day only to return home to find her mother had gone for good.
The scene is set for an atmospheric and chilling thriller that will keep you guessing...even when you think you have it all worked out. The book takes on a gothic air of melancholy reminiscent of those that have gone before such as "Jane Eyre" or "Wuthering Heights". Though the air of romance in those takes on something else entirely in this one as the years peel away the trauma, the abuse, the cruelty and harm at the hands of those in a place of trust.
When I started this book, I found it slow moving and dragged on a little but I stuck it out and it did get better and yet it still felt lacking in something though I'm not sure what. I was definitely intrigued enough to continue reading and did so in one evening.
I would like to thank #SaskiaSarginson, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #OneDarkSummer in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
July 21, 2025
BOOOOOOO! thrillers are not supposed to have happy ending. this was a waste of my time.
September 23, 2025
I loved the all the twists, honestly I didn’t expect most of them! But it dragged on a bit too much, I guess that was to build anticipation but I’m just impatient so I didn’t like the feeling and frustration that it invoked in me. I did have to put it down a few times cause it got scaryyyyy 🫣
April 14, 2025
This book will pull you in immediately! I could not put it down, read it in one night and then couldn’t sleep! Definitely recommend if you like a good suspense novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat!
April 12, 2025
Ok so if you have never read a psychological thriller before then start with this.
It has all the twists and turns thriller should have but more. I could not work out what was going to happen and more than once I sat mouth open like I was catching flys. Gobsmacked at what I had just read. It was absolutely brilliant. One I will always recommend.
It has all the twists and turns thriller should have but more. I could not work out what was going to happen and more than once I sat mouth open like I was catching flys. Gobsmacked at what I had just read. It was absolutely brilliant. One I will always recommend.
April 14, 2025
Meg has returned to the manor house as a nanny. She also hopes to get some answers to what happened to her mother all those years ago.
This book was a slow build for me. There’s lots of twists and turns. Also some surprises I didn’t see coming. It has a bit of a creepy factor to it too. You might want to stay up late to finish this one
This book was a slow build for me. There’s lots of twists and turns. Also some surprises I didn’t see coming. It has a bit of a creepy factor to it too. You might want to stay up late to finish this one
June 21, 2025
Dark, twisty, and atmospheric, One Dark Summer delivers a slow-burn suspense well! It wasn’t quite what I expected, but I thoroughly enjoyed it!
November 12, 2025
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this.
This book follows Meg, a woman about to start a nannying job for a woman she knows from her past, but this woman doesn’t recognize Meg. Meg is looking for answers after something traumatic happens 15 years prior in the same house she is now staying in. This story changes between past and present, we learn exactly what happened back then through those chapters. There were a lot of twists in this book, some I felt weren’t needed, but some I really liked. I liked Meg as a character, I think she showed a lot of vulnerability and emotion.
I enjoyed this.
This book follows Meg, a woman about to start a nannying job for a woman she knows from her past, but this woman doesn’t recognize Meg. Meg is looking for answers after something traumatic happens 15 years prior in the same house she is now staying in. This story changes between past and present, we learn exactly what happened back then through those chapters. There were a lot of twists in this book, some I felt weren’t needed, but some I really liked. I liked Meg as a character, I think she showed a lot of vulnerability and emotion.
September 25, 2025
This complex tale is fascinating! There is so much to unpack with its mysteries spanning many years. I just loved it! Everything wraps up in a satisfying way! There are many secrets and they unravel in shocking detail. Meg is a sympathetic character, and I enjoyed reading her incredible journey to find out what really happened during that pivotal moment in her past. I have never heard of this author, and I will certainly read more by her.
August 28, 2025
Held my attention but at times I felt like it just went on and on. I feel like the twist and turns were great & really caught you off guard! But I felt like it just needed something more to really "wow" you.
September 28, 2025
Fantastic
I cannot say enough good words about this book. The writing is impeccable, the plot wonderful. All I will say is you need to set a few days aside and get curled up ready to be engrossed by this stunning story.
I cannot say enough good words about this book. The writing is impeccable, the plot wonderful. All I will say is you need to set a few days aside and get curled up ready to be engrossed by this stunning story.
September 2, 2025
The way this story had a hold on me. Highly recommend for a quick, suspenseful read. There are a few typos but nothing major.
March 23, 2025
This is one of those crazy books that has you off-balance the entire way through! It begins with Meg returning to the estate where she grew up and will now be the nanny to young children. But there's something "off" about the house and its creepy hallways, attic where she hears noises, and her young charges who seem innocent enough but the adults seem to be hiding things. You may not want to read this late at night as you may hear voices from your own attic or have nightmares about family members who are keeping secrets!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
July 9, 2025
Overall, this is a good read! To me the slow burn was a little too slow at times, but it is still plenty suspenseful with lots of twists(some I saw coming a mile away but others I was truly shocked by).
March 7, 2025
Meg takes on a new identity and becomes a nanny in a household she believes holds clues to her mother’s mysterious disappearance when she was a child. Throughout the book, long-buried family secrets come to light, and unexpected twists keep the suspense alive.
While the story was engaging, I occasionally found the timeline shifts confusing. However, the mystery and intrigue kept me hooked, and I enjoyed unraveling the secrets alongside Meg. Overall, I felt this was an entertaining and compelling read.
While the story was engaging, I occasionally found the timeline shifts confusing. However, the mystery and intrigue kept me hooked, and I enjoyed unraveling the secrets alongside Meg. Overall, I felt this was an entertaining and compelling read.
August 6, 2025
This book had potential, but I just couldn't get into it. There are a few things that weren't wrapped up and left me with unanswered questions. There were some parts that I got excited about, but they were short-lived. The transitions between scenes were awkward. One minute, someone is talking to someone, and in the next paragraph, they are in their bedroom. No end to the conversation or mention of them leaving to go to their room. It was just strange and stilted writing. It didn't flow well. I also had a hard time keeping up with the characters and the timelines. It was longer than I'd like at 370 pages, and it was too slow for my liking. There were a few unexpected twists, but they weren't that exciting. Not one I would recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this eARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this eARC.
August 10, 2025
⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ ✨ (3.75/5)
— Trust no one, question everything 🔍💔🪢
From the first page, this book throws you into a world where trust is a dangerous luxury. Every smile feels loaded, every conversation feels like a test, and you’re left wondering 🤔 — is this kindness… or a setup? The tension isn’t just in the “whodunnit” moments; it’s in the quiet pauses, the secrets half-spilled, and the subtle power plays that tell you someone is holding more cards than they’re showing. 🃏
The big reveals in the last stretch hit hard. The septic scar 🩹, casually dropped in conversation, isn’t just a backstory detail — it’s a crack in the armor, a glimpse into years of injury (physical and emotional) that never fully healed. Then Clem’s truth detonates 💥 — Alison Greenwood’s missing baby, stolen right from outside her caravan. This isn’t just a plot twist; it’s an earthquake that shakes the foundation of every relationship in the book.
The puppet-master theme pulled me in most. 🎭 The way control is shown here is terrifyingly accurate: predators don’t pick randomly. They go for the vulnerable — those already bent by life, carrying low self-esteem, craving connection. The “charismatic destroyer” here is chilling because he doesn’t storm in with rage; he seduces first, then dismantles you piece by piece until you’re dependent. That line about being drawn in and destroyed? 🔪 Yeah… that one’s going to stick.
And then there’s Ophelia — rage bubbling over, calling out her mother for lying and abandoning them. Her fury is justified 🔥, but the reminder that Calista is also a victim is where this book’s emotional intelligence really shines. Abuse isn’t a single line of cause and effect; it’s a web 🕸️ — messy, entangling, and impossible to escape without getting caught in strands of it yourself.
Atmosphere? Top-tier. Mrs. Kerry’s Viking-like, axe-wielding moment ⚔️ had me gripping the page. The haunted-house energy 👻 lingers in the background like another character in the room. Every setting feels tight, heavy, almost like the walls themselves are pressing in on the characters… and on you.
By the time I closed the book, I wasn’t searching for the “answer” anymore — I was sitting with the truth that the most dangerous betrayals don’t come from strangers, but from those who know exactly how to love you and break you at the same time. 🖤
📚 Perfect for readers who:
• Love psychological thrillers with real emotional stakes 🧠
• Want morally complex characters you can’t neatly love or hate
• Appreciate a slow burn that explodes in the last act 💣
— Trust no one, question everything 🔍💔🪢
From the first page, this book throws you into a world where trust is a dangerous luxury. Every smile feels loaded, every conversation feels like a test, and you’re left wondering 🤔 — is this kindness… or a setup? The tension isn’t just in the “whodunnit” moments; it’s in the quiet pauses, the secrets half-spilled, and the subtle power plays that tell you someone is holding more cards than they’re showing. 🃏
The big reveals in the last stretch hit hard. The septic scar 🩹, casually dropped in conversation, isn’t just a backstory detail — it’s a crack in the armor, a glimpse into years of injury (physical and emotional) that never fully healed. Then Clem’s truth detonates 💥 — Alison Greenwood’s missing baby, stolen right from outside her caravan. This isn’t just a plot twist; it’s an earthquake that shakes the foundation of every relationship in the book.
The puppet-master theme pulled me in most. 🎭 The way control is shown here is terrifyingly accurate: predators don’t pick randomly. They go for the vulnerable — those already bent by life, carrying low self-esteem, craving connection. The “charismatic destroyer” here is chilling because he doesn’t storm in with rage; he seduces first, then dismantles you piece by piece until you’re dependent. That line about being drawn in and destroyed? 🔪 Yeah… that one’s going to stick.
And then there’s Ophelia — rage bubbling over, calling out her mother for lying and abandoning them. Her fury is justified 🔥, but the reminder that Calista is also a victim is where this book’s emotional intelligence really shines. Abuse isn’t a single line of cause and effect; it’s a web 🕸️ — messy, entangling, and impossible to escape without getting caught in strands of it yourself.
Atmosphere? Top-tier. Mrs. Kerry’s Viking-like, axe-wielding moment ⚔️ had me gripping the page. The haunted-house energy 👻 lingers in the background like another character in the room. Every setting feels tight, heavy, almost like the walls themselves are pressing in on the characters… and on you.
By the time I closed the book, I wasn’t searching for the “answer” anymore — I was sitting with the truth that the most dangerous betrayals don’t come from strangers, but from those who know exactly how to love you and break you at the same time. 🖤
📚 Perfect for readers who:
• Love psychological thrillers with real emotional stakes 🧠
• Want morally complex characters you can’t neatly love or hate
• Appreciate a slow burn that explodes in the last act 💣
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2025
Thoughts 🧠
One Dark Summer is a dark, twisty psychological thriller that lingers long after the last page. Saskia Sarginson masterfully blends suspense, dual timelines, and family secrets into a story that is both haunting and deeply emotional. From the very first chapter, I was pulled into Meg’s world—a world shaped by the summer her mother vanished and a tragedy that changed her life forever.
Summary 📝
Now an adult, Meg returns to the house of her childhood under the guise of Margaret, a nanny, determined to uncover the truth about her mother’s disappearance and her uncle’s mysterious death. As she navigates the present-day household, Meg revisits memories she has long repressed. The novel also shifts to her mother Irene’s perspective, revealing hidden motives and long-buried family secrets.
The house itself becomes a character, full of dark corners, locked rooms, and secrets that make every creak of the floorboards feel sinister. Meg’s investigation is as much about confronting her own past as it is about solving the mysteries surrounding her family. With each revelation, the tension rises, the atmosphere tightens, and the stakes become terrifyingly real.
What I Loved
The multi-timeline structure is executed brilliantly, keeping me guessing and constantly re-evaluating the truth. Sarginson’s writing is immersive, creating a palpable sense of dread while still capturing the emotional weight of Meg’s personal journey. The characters feel real, complex, and flawed, which made the suspense all the more compelling. The ending delivers multiple shocks that I genuinely did not see coming, and yet everything felt earned and satisfying.
Overall Thoughts
One Dark Summer is a gripping, atmospheric thriller that combines psychological tension with family drama and dark secrets. Fans of character-driven suspense, dual timelines, and shocking twists will find this novel impossible to put down. Saskia Sarginson has crafted a story that is both chilling and deeply moving—a book I will be recommending to everyone who enjoys a truly compelling mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
One Dark Summer is a dark, twisty psychological thriller that lingers long after the last page. Saskia Sarginson masterfully blends suspense, dual timelines, and family secrets into a story that is both haunting and deeply emotional. From the very first chapter, I was pulled into Meg’s world—a world shaped by the summer her mother vanished and a tragedy that changed her life forever.
Summary 📝
Now an adult, Meg returns to the house of her childhood under the guise of Margaret, a nanny, determined to uncover the truth about her mother’s disappearance and her uncle’s mysterious death. As she navigates the present-day household, Meg revisits memories she has long repressed. The novel also shifts to her mother Irene’s perspective, revealing hidden motives and long-buried family secrets.
The house itself becomes a character, full of dark corners, locked rooms, and secrets that make every creak of the floorboards feel sinister. Meg’s investigation is as much about confronting her own past as it is about solving the mysteries surrounding her family. With each revelation, the tension rises, the atmosphere tightens, and the stakes become terrifyingly real.
What I Loved
The multi-timeline structure is executed brilliantly, keeping me guessing and constantly re-evaluating the truth. Sarginson’s writing is immersive, creating a palpable sense of dread while still capturing the emotional weight of Meg’s personal journey. The characters feel real, complex, and flawed, which made the suspense all the more compelling. The ending delivers multiple shocks that I genuinely did not see coming, and yet everything felt earned and satisfying.
Overall Thoughts
One Dark Summer is a gripping, atmospheric thriller that combines psychological tension with family drama and dark secrets. Fans of character-driven suspense, dual timelines, and shocking twists will find this novel impossible to put down. Saskia Sarginson has crafted a story that is both chilling and deeply moving—a book I will be recommending to everyone who enjoys a truly compelling mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 13, 2025
Saskia Sarginson’s One Dark Summer is a slow-burning, atmospheric psychological thriller that pulls readers into a tangle of memory, guilt, and long-buried secrets. With a hauntingly beautiful setting and a protagonist on the edge of unraveling, this novel blends suspense with emotional depth in a way that keeps you turning pages late into the night.
The story centers on Meg, who returns under an alias to the very house where her life splintered fifteen years ago—the summer her mother vanished, and she believes she killed a man. Now, posing as a nanny to the same family, she’s determined to uncover the truth about that pivotal summer. But the house hasn’t changed. Nor has her former employer. It’s Meg who’s different—and not just in name.
Sarginson excels at creating a sense of creeping dread. The house itself feels like a character, holding its breath, guarding its secrets. The tension builds slowly, with flashbacks and present-day clues revealing just enough to keep readers guessing. Meg’s internal conflict—torn between the need to remember and the fear of what she might uncover—is deeply compelling.
The novel also explores themes of identity, trauma, and the fragility of memory. Meg’s disguise isn’t just physical—it’s psychological. As she slips back into a world that shaped her, she must confront not just the events of the past, but who she was, and who she’s become.
While the pacing may feel deliberate at times, it mirrors Meg’s own hesitation, her tentative steps back into the darkness. And when the revelations come, they’re both satisfying and chilling, with a twist that lingers long after the final page.
One Dark Summer is perfect for fans of domestic suspense and psychological thrillers, especially those who enjoy stories where the past never truly stays buried. It’s a gripping, emotional ride that asks: What if the worst summer of your life wasn’t what it seemed?
The story centers on Meg, who returns under an alias to the very house where her life splintered fifteen years ago—the summer her mother vanished, and she believes she killed a man. Now, posing as a nanny to the same family, she’s determined to uncover the truth about that pivotal summer. But the house hasn’t changed. Nor has her former employer. It’s Meg who’s different—and not just in name.
Sarginson excels at creating a sense of creeping dread. The house itself feels like a character, holding its breath, guarding its secrets. The tension builds slowly, with flashbacks and present-day clues revealing just enough to keep readers guessing. Meg’s internal conflict—torn between the need to remember and the fear of what she might uncover—is deeply compelling.
The novel also explores themes of identity, trauma, and the fragility of memory. Meg’s disguise isn’t just physical—it’s psychological. As she slips back into a world that shaped her, she must confront not just the events of the past, but who she was, and who she’s become.
While the pacing may feel deliberate at times, it mirrors Meg’s own hesitation, her tentative steps back into the darkness. And when the revelations come, they’re both satisfying and chilling, with a twist that lingers long after the final page.
One Dark Summer is perfect for fans of domestic suspense and psychological thrillers, especially those who enjoy stories where the past never truly stays buried. It’s a gripping, emotional ride that asks: What if the worst summer of your life wasn’t what it seemed?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2025
Absolutely loved this book which delves deep across 2 timelines, into generational trauma.
The story travels through the perspective of Margaret Danby (Meg) who applies for, and is given the job of Nanny to 2 small children , in the estate of Deben Manor, a place where they go through nannies like a knife through butter.
But Margaret has a hidden agenda... she wants to know exactly what happened to her mother, the summer she disappeared and Margaret's world imploded..
Her father had a breakdown following Irene's disappearance and left her in the care of her uncle and aunt and 3 cousins at....Deben Manor.
What happened that summer is pieced together from the fragments of Margaret's memories, but as she gets closer to the truth, things start appearing disappearing in a manner which cannot be explained-there are footsteps heard over head Margaret's room, in the attic, which is locked and no is seen going into or out of. Jewellery is found in her drawer as if to frame her for thieving , and a beloved, hidden phot of Margaret's mum, Irene, disappears.
Is Margaret getting too close to the truth of what happened the summer her mother vanished, her uncle died and her family broke apart?
How far will someone too close to her go to keep the secrets which have been buried for so long?
As Irene takes the narrative in between Margaret's investigation into her employers' past, the sense of overwhelming trauma, abuse and harm done by those who say that they love you, is cruelly exposed.
This is a novel with gothic traits and an air of melancholy over the way generations will pass harm down the years, tainting the children with events and secrets they are actually quite far removed from.
Atmospheric and gorgeously twisty I really loved this novel.
The story travels through the perspective of Margaret Danby (Meg) who applies for, and is given the job of Nanny to 2 small children , in the estate of Deben Manor, a place where they go through nannies like a knife through butter.
But Margaret has a hidden agenda... she wants to know exactly what happened to her mother, the summer she disappeared and Margaret's world imploded..
Her father had a breakdown following Irene's disappearance and left her in the care of her uncle and aunt and 3 cousins at....Deben Manor.
What happened that summer is pieced together from the fragments of Margaret's memories, but as she gets closer to the truth, things start appearing disappearing in a manner which cannot be explained-there are footsteps heard over head Margaret's room, in the attic, which is locked and no is seen going into or out of. Jewellery is found in her drawer as if to frame her for thieving , and a beloved, hidden phot of Margaret's mum, Irene, disappears.
Is Margaret getting too close to the truth of what happened the summer her mother vanished, her uncle died and her family broke apart?
How far will someone too close to her go to keep the secrets which have been buried for so long?
As Irene takes the narrative in between Margaret's investigation into her employers' past, the sense of overwhelming trauma, abuse and harm done by those who say that they love you, is cruelly exposed.
This is a novel with gothic traits and an air of melancholy over the way generations will pass harm down the years, tainting the children with events and secrets they are actually quite far removed from.
Atmospheric and gorgeously twisty I really loved this novel.
April 21, 2025
This book starts off a little slow, but builds into a story that is hard to put down. It centers on Meg, who is trying to figure out what happened to her mother, who disappeared when she was a young teen. Her cousin now owns the mansion that she believes conceals those secrets, so she poses as a nanny in order to get close to the family-- hoping she won't be recognized-- while she digs deeper. You also get some chapters told but other characters, which work to help the reader understand the big picture.
The author does a great job of weaving the storylines together in a way that makes each one stronger, while also supplying many surprises and twists. It was not hard to root for Meg, but I was constantly on the edge of my seat that she was going to get found out as she gets deeper into the mystery. There are a couple huge twists that I absolutely did not see coming, though after I knew them I saw that the author had expertly laid the right bread crumbs. With the possible exception of Meg's mother, I felt like the characters were believable and made decisions that people would really make- I was more on the fence with her mother's decision-making, though. I really liked the way the book ended- it might have been verging on unrealistic but I thought it was the right ending for this particular set of characters.
Overall, I found this to be an engaging read with a lot of great surprises. It does start off a tad slow but is definitely worth the slow burn. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The author does a great job of weaving the storylines together in a way that makes each one stronger, while also supplying many surprises and twists. It was not hard to root for Meg, but I was constantly on the edge of my seat that she was going to get found out as she gets deeper into the mystery. There are a couple huge twists that I absolutely did not see coming, though after I knew them I saw that the author had expertly laid the right bread crumbs. With the possible exception of Meg's mother, I felt like the characters were believable and made decisions that people would really make- I was more on the fence with her mother's decision-making, though. I really liked the way the book ended- it might have been verging on unrealistic but I thought it was the right ending for this particular set of characters.
Overall, I found this to be an engaging read with a lot of great surprises. It does start off a tad slow but is definitely worth the slow burn. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
"One Dark Summer" is a gripping and emotionally layered thriller that pulls you in from the very first page. Meg, a professional au pair, accepts a job at Deben Manor under the false identity of “Margaret”, but she has a hidden agenda. The manor is owned by her three cousins, and returning gives her the chance to uncover long-buried secrets from fifteen years ago: the summer her mother disappeared...
The pacing is tight and packed with twists. Just when I thought I had things figured out, Sarginson expertly pulled the rug out from under me. The story keeps you second-guessing all the way through.
As readers, we’re given more pieces of the puzzle than Meg’s family has, and it’s fascinating (and tense!) watching her edge closer to the truth. While there are moments where better communication could have unraveled the mystery faster, the emotional weight behind the characters' choices makes their silence believable.
The final twist is powerful, and the ending ties everything together with all questions answered, something I always appreciate in a thriller.
A twisty, suspenseful read that kept me hooked late into the night. Perfect for fans of family secrets, unreliable memories, and slow-revealing truths.
"One Dark Summer" is a gripping and emotionally layered thriller that pulls you in from the very first page. Meg, a professional au pair, accepts a job at Deben Manor under the false identity of “Margaret”, but she has a hidden agenda. The manor is owned by her three cousins, and returning gives her the chance to uncover long-buried secrets from fifteen years ago: the summer her mother disappeared...
The pacing is tight and packed with twists. Just when I thought I had things figured out, Sarginson expertly pulled the rug out from under me. The story keeps you second-guessing all the way through.
As readers, we’re given more pieces of the puzzle than Meg’s family has, and it’s fascinating (and tense!) watching her edge closer to the truth. While there are moments where better communication could have unraveled the mystery faster, the emotional weight behind the characters' choices makes their silence believable.
The final twist is powerful, and the ending ties everything together with all questions answered, something I always appreciate in a thriller.
A twisty, suspenseful read that kept me hooked late into the night. Perfect for fans of family secrets, unreliable memories, and slow-revealing truths.
March 19, 2025
In One Dark Summer by Saskia Sarginson, Meg was 11 when she was sent to live with her cousins over summer break because her father was struggling after her mother/his wife suddenly left one recent day, never to return. During that summer of getting to know her cousins and uncle, she tries to fit in but is left out more often than in. Then tragedy strikes the family one day and their lives are shattered. Several years later, Meg returns but goes by Margaret when she is hired by the oldest cousin as a nanny. Margaret is determined to piece together what happened in the walls of the manor that fateful summer.
Positives: The transformation of the characters - Meg, the sisters, even Meg’s mother. The sisters were an unknown on how they’d end up being as I read the book.
Struggles: Meg/Margaret’s first part was a bit slow, but then part 2 turned to her mother’s story and twist one happens. I don’t know that this is a hard core suspense/thriller. I would say more light suspense/mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on April 13, 2025. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #OneDarkSummer #SaskiaSarginson #BoldwoodBooks
Positives: The transformation of the characters - Meg, the sisters, even Meg’s mother. The sisters were an unknown on how they’d end up being as I read the book.
Struggles: Meg/Margaret’s first part was a bit slow, but then part 2 turned to her mother’s story and twist one happens. I don’t know that this is a hard core suspense/thriller. I would say more light suspense/mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on April 13, 2025. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #OneDarkSummer #SaskiaSarginson #BoldwoodBooks
March 25, 2025
Written in multiple timelines and POV’s this is an easy read psychological thriller/ family drama. The book opens with a short prologue where an unnamed person is trapped in a metal box, if that doesn’t hook you I don’t know what will. The book then moves into the first of three parts.
Briefly, Meg goes back to Deben Manor where she was part of some terrible event when she was just 11 years old. She returns 15 years later, hiding her identity, as Margaret, a nanny to Ophelia’s two children, determined to fine out what happened to her mother. Ophelia is the eldest of her three cousins, the others are Clem and Thea. Meg’s mother just walked out on Meg and her father leaving her father struggling to cope which is when Meg went to stay at the manor. However, after the tragedy she returned to live with her father but she has never seen or heard from her mother since she left.
I thought this was a compulsive read and I finished it in one sitting. There were some good twists and turns, some of which I had guessed, but some I got totally wrong! There is a bit of a gothic feel to the book which I enjoyed and I thought the character development was good. All in all an enjoyable and entertaining read.
Briefly, Meg goes back to Deben Manor where she was part of some terrible event when she was just 11 years old. She returns 15 years later, hiding her identity, as Margaret, a nanny to Ophelia’s two children, determined to fine out what happened to her mother. Ophelia is the eldest of her three cousins, the others are Clem and Thea. Meg’s mother just walked out on Meg and her father leaving her father struggling to cope which is when Meg went to stay at the manor. However, after the tragedy she returned to live with her father but she has never seen or heard from her mother since she left.
I thought this was a compulsive read and I finished it in one sitting. There were some good twists and turns, some of which I had guessed, but some I got totally wrong! There is a bit of a gothic feel to the book which I enjoyed and I thought the character development was good. All in all an enjoyable and entertaining read.
March 29, 2025
I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"One Dark Summer" follows Meg, a professional au pair who takes a job at Deben Manor in the English countryside. But not everything is as it seems: the manor is owned by her three cousins, and she is undercover as Margaret, the nanny, using this unique opportunity to uncover what really happened fifteen years ago. That was the summer she stayed at the house after her mother disappeared- the summer she killed a man.
The story is fast-paced and packed with twists and turns. I thought I had it figured out at 20%, then at 40, then at 60... and I was wrong every time. Of course, this is one of those cases where, if only people sat down and talked instead of being secretive and sneaky, things would get resolved much faster- but that’s not how it works in real life either.
As readers, we know what happened to Meg’s mom (not the full story, of course, but most of it), while nobody else does, and we eagerly wait for her to uncover the truth. When the last twist is revealed and everything is laid out, there isn’t a single loose thread.
Definitely a page-turner from Sarginson that had me hooked and reading well into the night.
"One Dark Summer" follows Meg, a professional au pair who takes a job at Deben Manor in the English countryside. But not everything is as it seems: the manor is owned by her three cousins, and she is undercover as Margaret, the nanny, using this unique opportunity to uncover what really happened fifteen years ago. That was the summer she stayed at the house after her mother disappeared- the summer she killed a man.
The story is fast-paced and packed with twists and turns. I thought I had it figured out at 20%, then at 40, then at 60... and I was wrong every time. Of course, this is one of those cases where, if only people sat down and talked instead of being secretive and sneaky, things would get resolved much faster- but that’s not how it works in real life either.
As readers, we know what happened to Meg’s mom (not the full story, of course, but most of it), while nobody else does, and we eagerly wait for her to uncover the truth. When the last twist is revealed and everything is laid out, there isn’t a single loose thread.
Definitely a page-turner from Sarginson that had me hooked and reading well into the night.
May 25, 2025
Meg was only a child when her mum vanished. That same summer, Meg went to stay with her cousins, and her uncle died in a boating accident with her as the only witness...
One Dark Summer is a psychological thriller full of mystery.
Margaret arrives to start a new job as a nanny. But she has been to this house before as a child and now wants to find out the truth about her mother leaving and the accident that killed her uncle but which she has blanked from her memory
The book is written from Margaret's (Meg's) perspective in the present day as she hunts for clues and tries to remember the past. Other parts are written from her mother Irene's viewpoint to show the circumstances of her disappearance.
I really liked the development of Meg's character as we see how that summer has impacted her life. Her need for answers is quite raw at times and I wanted her to find closure so that she can move forward with her life.
There is a wonderfully sinister atmosphere maintained throughout the book. This also extends to threatening as danger looms. The mysteries surrounding the past are gradually revealed and I was kept guessing. I found the plot a little slow at times as I was impatient for the next twist.
One Dark Summer is an intriguing mystery and thriller.
One Dark Summer is a psychological thriller full of mystery.
Margaret arrives to start a new job as a nanny. But she has been to this house before as a child and now wants to find out the truth about her mother leaving and the accident that killed her uncle but which she has blanked from her memory
The book is written from Margaret's (Meg's) perspective in the present day as she hunts for clues and tries to remember the past. Other parts are written from her mother Irene's viewpoint to show the circumstances of her disappearance.
I really liked the development of Meg's character as we see how that summer has impacted her life. Her need for answers is quite raw at times and I wanted her to find closure so that she can move forward with her life.
There is a wonderfully sinister atmosphere maintained throughout the book. This also extends to threatening as danger looms. The mysteries surrounding the past are gradually revealed and I was kept guessing. I found the plot a little slow at times as I was impatient for the next twist.
One Dark Summer is an intriguing mystery and thriller.
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