One Dark Night

by Hannah Richell

One night in the woods
A party gone wrong
A body discovered at sunrise

He murdered her at the folly on their wedding day, left her body for the crows. They say she haunts the woods now, a girl in a white dress …
 
Everyone in the small town of Thorncombe knows the tales of the haunted woods where the birds don’t sing and a girl in a white dress roams, luring people to their deaths. But when a girl in white is found dead the morning after Halloween, her body carefully arranged at the bottom of an old stone folly, the community is thrown into turmoil.
 
With a teenage daughter of his own, police detective Ben Chase knows how high the stakes are. Was the girl the victim of a party prank gone wrong, or does her death represent something more sinister and ritualistic?

As the investigation unfolds and the noose tightens around Chase’s own family, the only thing anyone can be sure of is that no one is safe until this violent killer is caught.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Suspense, Fiction, Psychological Thriller

419 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 19, 2025

About the author

I wrote my debut novel, Secrets of the Tides, around the time my first child was born. Since then, I’ve written four novels, with my fifth, The Search Party, to be published by Simon & Schuster in 2024. My work is available in twenty-four territories and has been translated into nineteen languages. My books have been selected for the Richard & Judy Book Club, the Waterstones Book Club, WHSmith Book of the Week, shortlisted for two ABIAs and an Indie Book Award in Australia, as well as shortlisted for the Bonniers Bokklubb Book of the Year Award in Sweden.

While each of my novels is a stand-alone story, what connects them all is my fascination with families and secrets, my desire to dive below the surface and explore the darker recesses of the human experience, the weight of grief and the echoes of loss, the light and resilience that can be found in unexpected places, combined with my ambition to tell you a cracking story that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

I have written fiction and non-fiction pieces for various media outlets in both the UK and Australia and am a judge on the annual Richell Prize, established in 2014 by Hachette and the Emerging Writers’ Festival in memory of my late husband, Matt Richell. It’s an incredible privilege to be invited to read a writer’s first pages and to support new authors as they take the next steps in their career.

I am a dual citizen of Australia and the United Kingdom but currently live in the South West of England with my family.

Reviews

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, mysterious, and thrilling. What happened that dark night in the woods on Halloween Night???? First off, going into the woods where the ghost of a murdered girl is rumored to haunt on Halloween sounds spooky, eerie, and dangerous. For one young student, it will be deadly!

A party on Halloween turned deadly and the police are desperate to come up with a killer. Detective Ben Case is called in to investigate and quickly learns that his daughter, Ellie was one of the students at the party. His ex-wife, Rachel, a school guidance counselor, is worried about their daughter and the other teens at the school where she works.

The mystery of the teen's death swirls as the adults in this book are coping with their own issues. As the police being to form a suspect list, a sense of dread begins to seep from the pages. Old wounds will be opened, secrets will be exposed, as a hunt for killer is underway.

I loved the atmosphere in this book as well as the tension between many of the characters I also enjoyed how the author pulled the wool over my eyes. I thought that I had been so clever and figured out whodunit, to be left shocked when the culprit is revealed.

Dark, tense, atmospheric and eerie.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

[TheConnieFox · Rating 5 out of 5]

♥ Synopsis ♥

The night of Halloween, a group of teenagers meet in the woods, right by a road that is rumored to be haunted by a ghost of a murdered girl. The following day, a girl was found murdered. This is a small town British community, where everyone knows everyone and the city begins to panic. In this gripping thriller mystery, things begin to unfold on what happened that Halloween night!

♥ My Thoughts & Rating ♥

This book captured my attention in the epilogue! The setting of the novel is perfect. It’s autumn, Halloween night and is located out in the woods! It’s a great time for teenagers to get together and talk about a haunting that took place. I found this book to be dark, tense, engaging, mysterious, emotional, sad and adventurous! This came with multiple point of views and a diverse cast of characters! It is an easy medium paced read, that grabbed my attention and kept it throughout the entire book. It felt realistic, the setting fit the story and had vivid descriptions. It was twisty, suspenseful and unpredictable. It came with likable and unlikable characters, all having strong character developments! It had clever plotting and a strong ending! Overall, I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars!

♥ Content Warnings & Who I think would enjoy this book ♥

Content warnings include death, murder and fear. I think people that like watching the series “Yellowjackets” would enjoy this book!

♥ Thank You ♥

Thank you to NetGalley, author Hannah Richell and Atria Books for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

♥ Release Date ♥

This book is expected to be published on August 19, 2025!

♥ Quick Review ♥

🎃 Thriller / Mystery
✔️ Murder on Halloween Night
🎃 Multiple POV’s
✔️ Out in the Woods eerie location
🎃 Small Town British Community
✔️ Twisty / Suspenseful
🎃 Very Dark & Emotional
✔️ The series “Yellowjackets” Vibes

》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ * 。° 。 • ˚《

❥ ୨⎯ Connie ⎯୧ ❥

ツ౨ৎ

[Lisa B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a dark compelling read which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Halloween night a body is found a murder investigation starts so who is the girl in the woods, she haunts the woods as she was killed on her wedding day is it a myth or is it real?


I enjoyed this a lot compelling, dark creepy don’t read with the lights out!
4 scary 😱 stars 🌟 🌟🌟🌟

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sally in the wood. A ghost story? Folk-lore? Or was it real but no one wants to acknowledge it.😬

The students at a nearby private school don’t believe in the tale, (well. not that they’d admit out loud anyway) but they like to scare each-other. And tonight on Halloween, in the flickering light of the bonfire, tempers will flare, students will scatter, and ole’ wives tales will come to be.

You see, it’s all fun and games until one of them is killed!😱

Detective Ben Case is on the case! (Sorry, couldn’t resist).😂
Just so happens his ex-wife Rachel is the head of student welfare and their daughter also attends the school.

Can Detective Case solve the girl’s death before his ex-wife and daughter come into the killer’s crosshairs?

I enjoyed Hannah Richell’s vivid description and development of her main characters. Not only do we have a murder to solve, but Ben, Rachel and their daughter all provided a glimpse into their lives post- divorce. A great balance of police work and private lives. (My favorite kind of book).

This book definitely delivered on being mysterious and creepy, but also with a bit of a YA feel to it. (Well, it does take place in a school).

✍️Hannah Richell
📆 Publication date August 19 2025
📈 4/5🌟
👉read if you enjoy: police procedural, murder mystery, light YA, family drama subplots

Thank you to Edelweiss and Atria Books

[Sandysbookaday (taking a midwinter break) · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXCERPT: Saturday, 10 p.m.
They crowd beside the bonfire, faces cast in flickering orange light, backs turned to the card unknown.
'It's not true. Sally wasn't real.'
'It is true,' insists the boy. 'Sally was here. Her name's scratched on the walls of the old hunting lodge.'
They lean into the story, his words holding them captive.
'She was a local girl. Engaged to be married, until her fiancé caught her cheating. He murdered her at the folly on their wedding day, left her body for the crows. They say she haunts the woods now, a girl in a white dress, luring people to their deaths.'
'Like I said, just a stupid story.'
'There's one way to find out . . .'
They circle the board, hands reaching for the glass jar. The boy waits until the only sounds are the crackle of the fire and the soft breeze whispering through the trees.
'Is there anyone out there?'

ABOUT 'ONE DARK NIGHT': One night in the woods
A party gone wrong
A body discovered at sunrise

He murdered her at the folly on their wedding day, left her body for the crows. They say she haunts the woods now, a girl in a white dress …

Everyone in the small town of Thorncombe knows the tales of the haunted woods where the birds don’t sing and a girl in a white dress roams, luring people to their deaths. But when a girl in white is found dead the morning after Halloween, her body carefully arranged at the bottom of an old stone folly, the community is thrown into turmoil.

With a teenage daughter of his own, police detective Ben Chase knows how high the stakes are. Was the girl the victim of a party prank gone wrong, or does her death represent something more sinister and ritualistic?

As the investigation unfolds and the noose tightens around Chase’s own family, the only thing anyone can be sure of is that no one is safe until this violent killer is caught.

MY THOUGHTS: Save this one for Halloween! The final chapters had my heart racing and my pulse pounding. Talk about thrilling . . .

The plot is a good one - one I could easily believe and could envisage happening. There's no need to suspend belief here. The characters are also believable and relatable. Teenagers are renowned for doing dumb things - I was an expert at them! - and these teens from a posh school are no exception.

Carefully (or not) mix a bunch of teenagers with raging hormones, Halloween, a ghost story, and a manipulative catfisher with alcohol and drugs and watch what happens. It may not be pretty, but it makes darned good reading.

I have been a firm fan of Hannah Richell from the first book I read by her - The Secrets of the Tides - which remains firmly on my 'forever' shelf. She is a very versatile writer. I love her vivid imagination, and her creativity. My head whipped back and forth with each twist and turn as I attempted to solve the mystery of who was behind the killing. I was not successful, but I was more than satisfied with the outcome.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

#OneDarkNight #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: Hello.

I’m Hannah, writer of suspenseful novels about families and friends tangled in secrets and lies. I’m drawn to buildings that creak with stories, to landscapes that shape the characters moving through them, and to the rich and often complex relationships between mothers, daughters and sisters.

While each of my novels is a stand-alone story, what connects them is my fascination with families and secrets, my desire to dive below the surface and explore the darker recesses of the human experience, the weight of grief and the echoes of loss, the light and resilience that can be found in unexpected places, combined with my ambition to tell you a story that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

I am a dual citizen of the UK and Australia and currently live just outside Bath in England with my two children, my partner, three step-children, a fluffy cat and a crazy Cocker Spaniel. (Source: hannahrichell.com)

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of One Dark Night by Hannah Richell for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spooky crime novel set around Halloween when a teenage party ends with the death of a girl from the local school. This brings separated parents Rachel, as the school counsellor, and Ben, a local DCI, into contact with each other as their daughter Ellie had attended the party.

It was a good story, well told with lots of suspects and a very surprising ending. I must admit to being occasionally cranky when Ben did not reply at once to Rachel's phone calls. I realise the author was using this as a strategy to prolong the story but I felt she overused it.

Still a good read and one I recommend especially if you like your crime with a touch of spookiness.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deliciously dark, oh so very twisty, and downright addictive, One Dark Night followed through on all of the promises from the synopsis. From the sinister atmosphere loaded with urban legends to the realistic family drama that grew worse at every turn, this book delivered everything I wanted and more. You see, on top of all of that, there was the dark academia vibe. Giving a convincing feel to the private school setting, I could see my own upbringing in many of the true-to-life scenes. Although, I do have to say that my experience lacked the shocking murder mysteries and intriguing scandals like there were in this unputdownable novel, of course.

On top of a plot that was as fast-paced as it was enthralling, the compelling characters ran the gamut from genuinely affable to thoroughly suspicious. Each step of the way, though, the plausible red herrings kept me miles away from the jaw-dropping final revelation. Perfectly played for this thriller lover, the well-plotted reveal had me shouting out loud with absolute glee. Could the conclusion have explored the ramifications for all that were involved just a little bit more? Well, maybe… But that’s also probably me just wanting even more pages in this dynamite novel. Clever, intense, and heavily doused in eerie foreboding, there was no chance of my putting it down once I started reading.

All said and done, from the intricately interwoven multiple POVs to the multiple layers of secrets and lies, Ms. Richell has just blown me away yet again. With plenty of plot-charging drama and complex friend and family dynamics, my eye was constantly roving among the many possible culprits. And when the real guilty party was finally revealed? Well, I was absolutely floored as I just didn’t see it coming. Both shocking and yet easy to wrap my head around, the arc of this novel showed the work of a master. After all, it set me up almost right from the start and had me second-guessing myself all the way to the end. It was a total *chef’s kiss* kind of a read. Rating of 5 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

On Halloween, a group of teenage students meet in the woods near Sally in the Wood, a road steeped in local lore and rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a murdered girl. By the end of the night, one student will be dead.

Rachel, the school guidance counselor, is trying to keep a handle on her increasingly distant teenaged daughter, Ellie, while students and parents panic and mourn. Her ex-husband and detective Ben, dealing with a personal crisis of his own, has concerns about his daughter’s safety as he investigates the death. Meanwhile, Ellie is keeping secrets from both her parents, including one about where she was that night.

Thank you to Hannah Richell, Atria Books, and NetGalley for my complimentary physical and digital copies. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: August 19, 2025

Content warning: divorce, grief, knife violence, gaslighting, suicide, mention of: murder, fatal car accident, miscarriage

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

Sally in the Wood - urban legend or something real and menacing?

The day after Halloween a young, female body, dressed in a long white dress, is found at the base of a folly. As if that’s not disturbing enough, half of her face is covered with a grotesque mask with a black beak and raven feather with Punish. Destroy. Repent. repeatedly covers her skin. DS Ben Chase and DCI Hassan Khan are in charge of the investigation and they have their work cut out interpreting what all this means as well as who carries out the heinous crime. The crime scene represents a huge challenge too, with woods, caves and an old quarry to search. However, that’s not the only challenge Ben faces as he and his ex-wife Rachel have many concerns about their daughter Ellie, a student at the prestigious Folly View College where Rachel is ac counsellor. Ellie’s recent behaviour has given them many sleepless nights.

The most impressive aspect of this slow burner psychological thriller is the atmosphere created, the area allowing plenty of scope for a novel of this kind with its gothic undertones. I can picture the gloomy, forbidding folly which seems to loom over the surroundings, the legends attached to it, the claustrophobic woods and the ghostly road that runs alongside it about which numerous folk tales have arisen. Of course, Halloween adds to the spooky atmosphere and as if that’s not enough, there are some characters that raise a hair or two on the back of the neck.

The novel has multiple layers (perhaps one too many???) and is told from several perspectives which I enjoy as it already deepens the already strange mystery, it builds the tension and suspense and has me asking many questions, giving plenty to think about as a picture of what might have happened on Halloween emerges piecemeal. There’s menace in places, it’s certainly unsettling partly as it’s unclear who can be trusted. There are moments of high tension along with many twists and turns as it progresses to a good ending.

However, I feel it’s rather overlong and drawn out which slows the pace, one character doesn’t bring true, seeming to be a stereotype and one off shoot aspect of the conclusion appears to be rose tinted to me.

Overall though, there’s no question this is good and well worth reading. It’s well written and I like the authors style.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Simon and Schuster for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read from Hannah Richell. Last year I read and loved The Search Party so that is now 2 from 2 with this author. I did think that I had this one all worked out so I was really surprised by the ending. I was close but not quite.

A teenage Halloween party in the woods ends in tragedy. The kids are all keeping their secrets and police are desperate to find the killer. There were plenty of twists and unlikeable characters to keep you entertained and guessing.

There are quite a few characters and complex relationships to keep track of but I found it quite easy to do. For a longer book this was a quick, page turning read. I loved the Sally in the Woods stories as well,added to the creepiness of the woods.

Thanks so much to Simon and Schuster Australia for my early copy of this book to read. Publishes on New Years Day, 2025.

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a small English village and where your teenage friends enjoy talking about old spooky tales from the past and scare you and this is happening in Thorncombe, on the border of Somerset and Wiltshire. The woods near the tall stone folly and old mining sight are said to be haunted by the ghost of a young woman dressed in a white dress, and she lures people to their deaths and there’s been a few fatal car accidents on the stretch of road and it's adds fodder to the eerie myth.

A group of teenagers meet in the woods for Halloween, it’s the perfect place to tell ghost stories, and scare each other and the next day a girl’s body is found near the bottom of the folly, the local police are in charge of solving the case. Detective Ben Case is assigned to the possible murder investigation, he discovers three things, his teenage daughters the same age the victim and attends Folly View College a private school and where his ex-wife works as a counsellor.

Everyone in the girl’s family and the school are questioned, including the headmistress and her husband, teachers and staff, students and those who were in the woods that night and their alibis need to be followed up and verified. You assume teenagers wouldn’t sneak out at night, pull pranks each other and participate in odd dares and they would have more sense and some of the parents are in for a reality check and a big shock.

I received a copy of One Dark Night by Hannah Richell from NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia in exchange for an unbiased review. If you enjoy a thriller with lots of twists and turns, it keeps you guessing who the killer is, you think you have worked it out and find out you’re completely wrong and I highly recommend reading this novel.

Ms. Richell delivers a compelling read every time and I have been a big fan of hers since 2018, this one explores teenagers, their secrets, actions, feelings, fears, vulnerabilities, what’s happening at home and school, what they think of their peers and how no one wants to be the odd one out or even worse be a dobber and a sinister local legend that has been added to over time and has someone decided to use this as a basis to commit a crime and five stars from me.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, One Dark Night, by Hannah Richell, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Ellie has secrets, as most teenagers do, but our her secrets worse? Kids can be cruel to each other, even in high school, where they should have matured and moved past bullying. This was a good read.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW I never saw the twist coming at the end of this one, this is a fabulous mystery, suspense story that kept my brain working and me turning the pages, so many fabulous characters, what happens when it is Halloween and a group of high school students go to the haunted woods for a party and at the end of the night one girl is lying at the bottom of the folly, you will need to read this one to find out.

The small village of Thorcombe is in the woods and there is a private school there, there is also a very tall folly in the woods where apparently a young woman was murdered and left for the crows, her name was Sally is it a wives tale or truth if you listen to the drivers on the road it is true, when some of the students organize a Halloween party they dress up and the party is rife with games and dares but come morning there is a girl missing, one of the students and when her body is found arranged at the bottom of the folly the investigation starts.

Police Detective Ben Chase’s daughter Ellie is a student at the school and his ex-wife and Ellie’s mother, Rachel is the councilor at the school and they are immediately worried was the death a prank gone wrong or was it murder and if so what made someone do this to a young girl?

As more evidence is uncovered and questions answered by the students, Ben is taken off the case because of his closeness to the situation but he does not give up easily and is soon finding more evidence and Rachel, is also doing her best to find clues, because until this person is found no one is safe.

This is a twisty mystery, and one that I highly recommend, I loved it and I loved the characters, you need to read this one and find out what happened and why it, will shock you I am sure as it did me. A fabulous story, Thank you MS Richell for another keeper.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia and Netgalley for my copy to read and review

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5★s

Thorncombe was a small English village, nestled in the woods where a private school resided and nearby an old stone folly, dangerous for climbers or adventurous spirits. The night of Halloween saw many youngsters sneak away from their homes to attend the party in the woods, where costumes were worn and jokes were played on the unsuspecting. But it was a small group of girl guides the following day who came across the body of the girl in white, her body arranged to look as though she was sleeping. Who had laid her out to look like Sally, the ghost of the woods?

Detective Ben Chase was on the scene, along with his boss, DCI Khan and forensics. But when the girl was identified as a student at the school, where Ben's daughter Ellie went, along with his wife Rachel who was a councillor, suddenly things became too close to home. Ellie was taken to the police station for questioning - Ben was taken off the case as he was too close to it. Would they discover the killer? The students were frightened; too scared to move around outside - and there were those with secrets...

One Dark Night is another exceptional thriller by Aussie author Hannah Richell which I really enjoyed. Eerie and spooky, the woods and Halloween were a good mix. The old tale of the ghost of the woods blended through to scare everyone more, while in my mind, there were suspects everywhere!! I didn't solve the mystery though... Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Simon & Schuster AU for my digital ARC to read and review.

[Damo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secrets, lies, rich developers and young eco-warriors all play a crucial part in One Dark Night, an atmospheric thriller set in your quintessentially spooky English wood. Hannah Richell has created a richly provocative murder mystery that quickly draws you in through relatable characters and some very unusual circumstances.

The small English town of Thorncombe is home to a tragic legend surrounding the death of a young girl named Sally. It’s said that she continues to haunt the woods outside of town, seen fleetingly running in her white gown through the bushes and is responsible for numerous car accidents on the treacherous roads. Students from the local private school like to party in these woods and a favourite pastime is to scare each other with stories of Sally In the Wood.

After one such party, a Halloween Party, the body of a girl is found at the base of a stone folly. She’s dressed to look like Sally and she has been posed as if sleeping. But her face is covered by a mask and her body has been covered in shocking words. It’s clear her death is no accident.

Local police detective Ben Chase is on the scene to assist in the investigation, but it soon becomes apparent that the girl is a student at his daughter’s school. It also happens to be the school where his ex-wife works as a student counsellor. His challenge is to try not to let emotion cloud his judgement. But this will prove to be increasingly difficult as the investigation unfolds.

One Dark Night is a well conceived murder mystery that combines a tangled domestic drama with a perplexing mystery. The teenage angst displayed by the privileged students is a very relatable aspect of the story that reflects quite accurately many of the issues being faced today.

Throw in a bit of urban legend to add some spooky atmosphere and you’ve got a tense thriller that offers quite a diverse storyline. There’s plenty going on with a number of credible suspects which ensured I was still guessing who the killer was right up until the final chapter.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC, allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book.

[sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

This was a decent mysterious and eerie thriller. A little predictable at times but I did have a good time reading it. This had multiple POVs which is always a plus in my opinion! I didn't think the urban legend really added anything to the story. My main issue with the book was the pacing, it did drag on at times which is why the twist didn't land as well as I thought it would.

After a party on halloween night, a body of one of the students is found the next morning. Multiple people are considered suspects and many of them have secrets 👀

Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada and Hanah Richell for the arc!

✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok ⋆☾✩⁺₊✩

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this is the book I was reading at the same time as A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and there are some eerie similarities!

This one tells the story of school counsellor, Rachel, DCI Ben, and their daughter Ellie, as they each deal with the murder of Ellie's classmate. The circumstances around the death are unusual, and remind many of the old legend of 'Sally in the Wood' - a woman said to have been murdered at the same place, many years ago.

I thought this was a great crime novel, and the alternating points of view contributed to a well-rounded story. I liked each of the three main protagonists and their decisions throughout the book. The pace was fantastic, and there was enough progression in the case that I was satisfied while still hanging out for the truth.

The 'Sally in the Wood' folktale seemed a bit like a gimmick to add something extra, and it didn't really work for me. I think this could have been just as good a story without it. Which is quite interesting, in hindsight - apparently the entire premise of the story came about from the author's wanting to use the very real location in a story.

All in all, I did rather enjoy this one. I saw a few things coming but ultimately was surprised and captivated by the way things unfolded.

I'd highly recommend this for crime fans.

With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC

[kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

“People always want to find a reason why bad things happen.”

There is rumor that Sally, a young woman, haunts the woods by the local folly, luring unsuspecting victims to their death. One Halloween night a group of students arrange a meet there but when they come back one short, the small community must reckon with its past as secrets come to light. Ominous and suspenseful with characters and atmosphere that feel so real you can touch them. I greatly enjoyed the writing; so many thrillers now-a-days feel cheesy and cheap to me but not this one. Told through multiple perspectives, One Dark Night offers up the perfect murder mystery, revealing twists at just the right time.

Thank you Atria Books for the early copy in exchange for an honest review! Available Aug 19 2025

[Jannelies (living between hope and fear) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is it really possible that a group of 17-year-olds believe in ghosts? So much, that they think a ghost murdered one of their own? In One Dark Night, it seems so. A group of teenagers gathers in the woods with food and drinks and even some drugs and then wind each other up about a girl, Sally, who was supposedly murdered near an abandoned folly.
The next morning one of the girls has disappeared and yes, she’s found at the foot of the folly, dead. Murdered, so it seems.

The police, in person of detective Ben Grace, wants to find the killer. Some of his colleagues have different ideas. The head of the school the girl was attending only thinks of the reputation of the school. Several of her friends are so shocked and frightened it influences their whole life and they are hardly functioning anymore. Ben Chase has his own problems with his recent divorce and his even more recent new relationship.

The story is neatly written with a balanced pace and some interesting characters and events. I didn’t think it very dark or intense, there was too much of a ‘teenagers’ vibe to it for me. Despite that, I gave it three stars because I wanted to see how it ended.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for this review copy.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. What a great atmospheric + spooky tale that put my nerves on edge! Small town secrets surround a students death on Halloween that seemingly ties in with a creepy local legend of “Sally in the Wood.” And that jaw dropping revelation at the end, who would have guessed, tied all the pieces together brilliantly! I recommend to anyone who enjoys a DARK psychological thriller with a mystery that has you second guessing yourself to its very end. Pub. 8/19/25

Much thanks to Atria Books via NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kimberly R · Rating 5 out of 5]

A group of teenagers have a party near Sally in the Wood, a haunted road where a girl was allegedly murdered years ago. By the next morning one is dead.
Rachel is a counselor at the school and her ex Ben is a detective. They find out that their daughter was also there.
Ben investigates the case and things begin to unravel.
This was a creepy kinda gothic thriller that had me glued to the pages from start to finish. I can’t wait to read more by this author.
Thanks NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC that will be released August 19, 2025!

[Kurryreads (Kerry) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

Video review - sorry about the audio: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6H6Foae/

[Heathers_readss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read if you like:
🎃 Local Lore
🎃 Haunted roads in the woods
🎃 Halloween
🎃 Teen parties that end in murderrr
🎃 Messy grown ups
🎃 Small towns

This book has been on my radar for the longest time and I finally gave in and read it 😆😆 The premise always intrigued me, a group of school kids decide to throw a Halloween party in the woods close to where a girl was mysteriously murdered not so long ago, so of course the party ends with another unsolved murder.

The police in charge is dismayed to learn his daughter was at the party, her mother is a guidance councellor and this family find themselves in the middle of the investigation. The adults in this book have a lot of their own problems going on so they are a bit distracted and useless when it comes to solving the murder 😆

This book is tense, dark, atmospheric and definitely has surprise twists in store for you by the end.

If you enjoy Halloween adjacent books and murder mysteries I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try :)

Thank you to Atria books for the #gifted copy!!

Publish date: August 19th

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fantastic read. It pulled me in and held my attention the whole way through! On Halloween, a group of teens meet up at Sally in the Wood, a road that's said to be haunted by a murdered girl. The next morning, a body is found. The small town is in panic mode, and detective Ben is investigating the case with the local police, and begins to piece things together to find a suspect. As old secrets begin to come to light, anyone could be a suspect. I loved the fall, small town setting . It is a steady paced, atmospheric, creepy crime fiction that had some nice twists and kept me guessing. 

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fantastic read. It pulled me in and held my attention the whole way through! On Halloween, a group of teens meet up at Sally in the Wood, a road that's said to be haunted by a murdered girl. The next morning, a body is found. The small town is in panic mode, and detective Ben is investigating the case with the local police, and begins to piece things together to find a suspect. As old secrets begin to come to light, anyone could be a suspect. I loved the fall, small town setting . It is a steady paced, atmospheric, creepy crime fiction that had some nice twists and kept me guessing.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[bookswithpaulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone in small town Thorncombe knows about the haunted woods. Where the birds don't sing and a murdered girl in a White dress roams the woods looking for lost souls.

Set on Halloween a group of teenagers throw a party in the woods, the next day the body of a girl in a white dress is discovered at the bottom of an old stone folly. She is positioned eerily similar to the tale of the murdered woman years ago.

The town is on edge, as the investigation ensues, students, families and friends are questioned. Secrets and lies are uncovered with lots of twists and unlikable characters this one will keep you guessing. When you think you have figured it out, just wait til the end!

I love a small town mystery, haunted woods, eerie atmosphere combined with alternating points of view on what happened this one kept me entertained.

Highly recommend, thanks so much to the lovely team at Simon & Schuster AU and Hannah Richell for my ARC.

[Natalie M · Rating 5 out of 5]

So clever!

Wow, what a plot and all its twists! This is definitely a five-star crime read. The privileged school setting and the subtle intertwining of the community issues with the characters were captivating.

The protagonists, Hannah, Ben, and Ellie, were easy to relate to. Although it was a little creepy (and probably unethical) that Hannah is the School Counsellor where her daughter is a student, it worked for the story.

Strong writing, that was so enthralling I was able to read it in a day.

I would love to see this as a series!

[Bethanys_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

If you’re looking for your next spooky season thriller, this is the one for you! It’s set on Halloween night, following a group of teenagers who meet in the woods, very close to a road that’s seeped with local lore about a girl who died there years ago. One of the teenagers is found dead, and this book kicks off as we try to uncover what happened. It’s a super fun whodunnit, with expertly written characters that will make you think you have it figured out. I never would have guessed the ending, but it was done in a way that made complete sense and looking back tied into the story in many ways. Absolutely loved this thriller and will be reading her previous book now!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid, exciting thriller. Very well written, and great characters. I seriously thought I had it all figured out, but there's a twist at the end that is a little jaw dropping. A lesson that just because something looks perfect from the outside can look very different from the inside.

Thank you to Net Galley and Atria Books for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[desiree(slump era) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book surprised me in all the right ways. Though it started off a bit slow, the pace picked up steadily and kept me engaged through every chapter. I was constantly guessing, rethinking, and second-guessing—exactly what I want from this kind of genre. The reveal wasn’t jaw-dropping, but it still managed to outmaneuver me, which I appreciated.

The writing style stood out to me—smooth, atmospheric, and easy to fall into. Some scenes did drag, while others flew by too fast, but overall, the prose had a rhythm that carried the story well. The use of multiple POVs added interesting layers, though at times it felt like the book tried to juggle too many threads at once. A bit more focus on the core storyline might have made a bigger impact.

The characters were hit or miss—some moments I connected with them, other times they felt just out of reach—but they were never dull. The abundance of red herrings definitely kept things lively, though a few too many made it hard to take any single clue seriously after a while.

One missed opportunity was the ghost legend. It had great potential to elevate the tension and atmosphere, but it felt underused—almost like an afterthought rather than a true backbone to the plot.

Still, this was an enjoyable read with strong moments and clever misdirection. It may not be one I’ll return to, but I’m glad I read it—and I’m curious to see what the author does next.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.💐

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Halloween party turns deadly when one of the students from the local exclusive school turns up missing then is found bloody and murdered.

What happened to Sarah?

The police run a very thorough investigation and question everyone from the school and those at the party.

They have no suspects, but a lot of things hint at what went wrong and no one is talking.

I thought it was this one person because there were hints dropped, but find out what really happened.

ONE DARK NIGHT is my first book by this author. Her writing is very descriptive and keeps you guessing, but it was a bit long.

A very tense ending that fans of psychological thrillers and a bit of horror will enjoy. 4/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.