What a great read!
This is my first from this author, and it will definitely not be my last.
It is a fast-paced, eerie, and atmospheric read with some great red herrings that will keep you guessing until the end.

Students stealing away at night for a Halloween party in the woods can only lead to one thing... tragedy.
A young girl is found dead at the foot of a stone folly, her body staged. Is this somehow connected to the folklore of Sally in the Wood?
It seems like more than one person is hiding secrets, but was this enough to kill for?

Highly recommend!

One Dark Night was, for me, quite a gripping and intense story. I read it in two sittings, quite absorbed in the story, the characters, and the atmosphere.

First of all, I loved that the story is told from different perspectives: from the teenager who never feels quite at ease in her new exclusive school and who is still dealing with her parents’ divorce; from the detective in charge of the murder investigation who finds himself questioning not only if his own daughter is involved, but also the life choices that brought him to his present situation; to the school counselor who is worried about her own daughter and her students and wonders if someone, in that beautiful school, is involved in the murder.

The plot is dark, suspenseful and full of twists. There are legends of haunted woods and ghosts, an Halloween party in the woods that ends with the school’s popular girl found murdered and covered in symbols the next morning, a complex murder investigation that turns personal for the detective in charge, two parents worried about their daughter, and teenagers keeping secrets. Also, I loved the dark atmosphere, the vivid descriptions, and the sense of dread that fills every page. I couldn’t put it down!

One Dark Night is my first novel by Hannah Richell, but she is definitely an author I will keep following. I loved her writing style and her complex characters and how she develops the story and keeps me on edge as I am reading. Highly recommended!

Thank you to netgalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. This was a great thriller read. Loved the writing style.

Hannah Richell's One Dark Night is a brooding, atmospheric thriller that plays with perspective, doubt, and deception. Set within the privileged walls of Folly View College, the novel hinges on three interconnected viewpoints—Ellie, a student at the school; Rachel, her mother and head of student welfare; and Ben, her father and one of the police officers investigating the tragic death of a pupil.
The narrative is scattered with red herrings, drawing the reader down several false trails before the truth begins to emerge. It's a book that asks you to stay patient; the beginning demands a little perseverance as you settle into the world and differentiate between its viewpoint characters. But once the puzzle starts clicking into place, Hannah Richell rewards the effort with a story full of suspense and tangled emotional dynamics.
Ellie, Rachel, and Ben anchor the novel's shifting lens, each bringing their own secrets, griefs, and motivations. The interplay between familial tension and professional obligation creates a compelling dynamic, especially as their roles in the investigation blur and clash.
While enjoyable, the story occasionally stretches plausibility. For those who like their thrillers tightly tethered to realism, certain twists might feel dramatic or convenient. But if you're willing to suspend disbelief, there's a captivating journey through guilt, memory, and the haunting echo of tragedy.
A satisfying, slow-burn mystery for readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with multiple layers and specifically for those who don’t mind taking the scenic route to uncover the truth. Rich in atmosphere and emotionally taut, One Dark Night will keep you guessing until the very end.

What a book, this was unputdownable. It was intense and the ending I really didn’t see coming. When a girl ends up dead the killer must be found. Living in a boarding school on Halloween, the pupils head up to the forest for a party, but one didn’t return. A gripping 5 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

I’m aware the majority of readers really enjoyed this novel but for me it just didn’t hit the mark. The premise was great but I found the book overly long and quite slow paced. I also couldn’t gel with any of the characters. Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster UK and the author for the chance to review.

The day after Halloween dawns with the discovery of the body of a young girl. A school nearby is about to learn they're missing a student. Rachel is the guidance counselor for the school and begins to worry her own daughter is involved. Her ex is investigating but what truly happened that night?

This was an interesting read but I didn't find myself gripped by the story until right at the very end. Its a bit of a slow burn and at times seems more focused on the personal lives of the characters than the main mystery. That being said the ending was really cleverly done with a brilliant twist. It was worth finishing. There's a lot going on beside the main murder and no character stood out to me as really likeable. I think its because we jump from person to person so you never get a true depth of a character but it does show you more of the other characters rather than one main focus. A good read though.

Whether Sally-in-the-woods is an urban myth or an embellished reality, its setting is the perfect place for an illicit teenage Halloween party. A taxi driver witnesses something strange as he drives home in the early hours, and something sinister occurs at the dead of night. When a young girl is found dead in suspicious circumstances, the incident threatens the reputation of a local private school, and the community worries if their teenagers are safe. Rachel's role as welfare advisor at the school draws her into the web of lies and secrets. The setting, with its woods and history, makes this an atmospheric psychological suspense. The school community is integral to the story, which balances elements of family drama, teenage angst and police investigation. The varied viewpoints provide the reader with a comprehensive view of events, making it an engaging read. The menacing ethos and the deepening suspense make this immersive. I think the teenage characterisation makes this authentic and relatable for the reader. The atmospheric setting, complex web of lies and secrets, intricate twists, and the underlying personal relationships all increase the story's tension, making this a compelling and satisfying read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I really thought I’d love this as the description sounds like my kind of read. Unfortunately, I found the main characters too unbelievable and annoying.

Sad this one wasn’t for me.

Thank you to #NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A slow-burning domestic drama with a strong sense of atmosphere. The dual timeline and secrets kept me curious, but the pacing felt uneven, especially early on. Well-written, but I didn’t fully connect with the characters. A decent read for fans of emotional, character-driven suspense.

One Dark Night is a gripping psychological thriller with three main characters.
- Ellie, who is grappling with guilt and fear. She knows more about what happened on that Halloween night than she lets on, but her silence is tangled in loyalty, trauma, and a desperate need to protect someone.
- Rachel, who as both a mother and school counsellor, is torn between her professional duty and maternal instinct. She suspects her daughter is hiding something, but confronting it means facing her own past choices.
- Ben, the detective and Ellie’s father, who finds himself investigating a murder that may involve his own child. He’s walking a tightrope between justice and family, and he’s not being entirely honest with himself—or others—about what he’s willing to do to keep Ellie safe.
The novel draws eerie inspiration from a real English legend. “Sally in the Wood” which refers to a stretch of road near Bath, said to be haunted by the ghost of a girl named Sally. According to local lore, she was imprisoned in a tower in the 18th century and left to die. Her spirit is said to roam the woods at night, causing accidents and unsettling those who pass through.
In One Dark Night, this legend becomes more than just a ghost story—it’s a chilling metaphor for the secrets that refuse to stay buried.
A well paced thriller with lots of red herrings and twists and turns to keep you guessing. I doubt many readers correctly predict the ending.

This read like a YA for me and it was somehow longer than it should. Unfortunately I ended up DNFing.

A beautifully written and hauntingly atmospheric novel that had me completely absorbed.

Set over the course of a stormy night in the Blue Mountains, the story unfolds through layered perspectives and slowly reveals the hidden fractures within a seemingly perfect family. The author masterfully balances suspense with emotional depth, crafting characters that feel so real in their pain, secrets, and longing for connection.

I loved how the setting became almost a character itself—wild, unforgiving, and charged with tension. This book is a slow-burn psychological drama that lingers long after the final page.

A group of teenagers meet one Halloween night in the woods, which are well known locally for tales of folklore. At the end of the night one ends up killed and the locals panic. Ben is a police officer investigating and his ex wife Rachel is trying to keep a handle on their daughter Ellie who was one the teenagers class mates. Only Ellie is keeping secrets from her parents. What really happened that night?

This is the first book I’ve read by this author but I wanted to read it as it sounded like an interesting premise. This ended up being a well written, creepy mystery with lots of red herrings to misdirect the reader. The story is told in multiple points of views which helped keep the story compelling, however I wasn’t overly enamoured with any of the characters and struggled to form a connection with them.

The story is a slow burn and the pacing a bit uneven, sometimes to the point of dragging. Although the ending wasn’t a complete surprise it was satisfying and tied up nicely. Even though I had a few issues, this was a good story overall and an atmospheric, easy read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

First time reading this author and I really enjoyed #OneDarkNight. I was captivated from the first page. It’s gripping, atmospheric with emotional depth.
It’s well written, as the story twists and turns building the suspense and keeps you guessing until the ending. The clever storyline and well drawn believable characters that draw you in adds mystery and tension. Told from different characters POV’s it’s easy to follow. Family secrets and tension unravels as the story unfolds. I couldn’t put this book down.
A dark and twisty thriller. Definitely recommend for murder mystery fans. It’s well worth a read.
With thanks to #NetGallery #simonandscusteruk @hannahrichell for an arc of #OneDarkNight in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 3 July 2025.

4.5⭐

When teenager Ellie attends a Halloween party in the woods near her private school, lying to her newly divorced parents about her whereabouts becomes the least of her worries. As the following morning, a body of a classmate is found in the woods, arranged in a ritualistic pose, and Ellie has every reason to be afraid.

Especially as her father, Ben, is the detective investigating the murder, and her mother, Rachel, who is the school counsellor, knows Ellie is hiding something. But Ellie isn't the only one with secrets and is she really capable of murder?

And with a story told in real time, filled with red herrings, intriguing characters, and plenty of twists and turns. Not to mention final chapters that left me breathless. One Dark Night is a compelling, tension-filled, atmospheric thriller that delivered much more than I expected. Which is why I would happily recommend it to others.

Tense,gritty thriller,set in the countryside featuring a private school. Plenty of twists and turns,multiple red herrings and surprises.

I really enjoyed this book, it was thrilling, kept my interest and at times I felt it was a bit creepy, in a good way.
I haven't read anything by this author before but I wouldn't hestiate in reading more.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, what a page turner. When the kids from a prestigious school attend a party at a local quarry none of them knew one of them would end up dead. A place renowned as a haunting area, where a girl was murdered at the folly on her wedding day. This is a tragic story of love, betrayal, jealousy, friendship.
The characters are all believable and the story takes the reader on a rollercoaster of a ride. Hannah Richell has produced another hauntingly gripping page turner.
I would highly recommend this book it is full of suspense with a twisted ending the reader does not see coming.

I enjoyed the multiple points of view writing style and pace.
I did end up guessing who did it and I also felt there were parts of the story that were left as loose ends.
With thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc ebook.