I can't believe how long I put this one off! This was a slow burn psychological thriller, full of dark and twisty turns!

Meg returns to the manor house where she lived the summer her mom went missing. It's now 15 years later and she wants answers, so she goes in disguise as a nanny under the name Margaret. Some buried secrets come to light that will change everything.

As soon as I picked this one up, all other books were forgotten until I finished! This story was utterly gripping and had me guessing right till the last page. It had everything I want in a psychological thriller!

One Dark Summer was a bit of a slow burner to begin with but once it got going it was a dark and atmospheric thriller which I really enjoyed. It had plenty of twists and turns, some of which were a little predictable but others I did not see coming at all.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

Saskia Sarginson's One Dark Summer is a gripping psychological thriller that masterfully weaves together past and present to unravel a deeply unsettling family mystery. When Meg returns to the sprawling, secrets-laden manor house of her childhood as a nanny, under a new identity, she's determined to unearth what truly happened the summer her mother vanished and a man died. A brilliant read!

Some writers have it. The talent to take words and put into something not only readable but also with a grip to it that takes hold of you as a reader. Sarginson have that talent and in this book, she shows it off. She makes writing seam easy because it's flawless and flowy and perfect. You have a new number one fan, Saskia Sarginson!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Beautifully written and full of atmosphere. One Dark Summer is a haunting story of secrets, love, and loss that kept me hooked. Saskia Sarginson delivers a gripping, emotional read that lingers long after the last page.

This was a slow burn but I definitely enjoyed it! I was pulled into the story from the very first page!! So good!!!

Gripping enough book, and immersed me in the various settings that exposed the story. A touch predictable but still worth a read.

Saskia Sarginson's 'One Dark Summer' is a masterclass in atmospheric psychological suspense. The novel drops readers into the disquieting world of Meg, who returns disguised as someone else to the imposing, secretive manor house where she lost her mother years previously. Eager for information, Meg becomes a nanny, gradually uncovering layers of repressed family secrets and dubious recollections.

The writer is particularly good at creating an unshakable sense of dread and claustrophobia. The house is itself a character, breathing tension, reverberating with what has happened before. With Meg getting further and further into it, the lines between truth and fantasy constantly blur, so that the reader is always left guessing at each discovery. Although the early pacing may feel like a slow build, the immersive writing and well-developed characters make it an absolutely riveting read. The dual timelines interweave perfectly past, present, culminating in a series of jaw-dropping, utterly surprising twists and turns. 'One Dark Summer' is a haunting, clever, and ultimately unforgettable thriller that will have you guessing until its explosive ending.

An eerie atmosphere is created by the author from the very beginning that propels the story forward. I was intrigued as to what Meg’s past story was. The author’s words brought the mansion alive with its vivid descriptions. Meg was here as a child, and she finds that the house is exactly the same, apart from some minor interior upgrades. The house grows on you, and you feel as if it is alive. Meg has returned to this house in the pretence of a job, but what she really wants is to find out what happened to her mother. Strange sounds and disappearances dot this book, which makes for an astounding read.

The story toggles between the past and the present, and the pace is good. The writing is the highlight as it breathes life into the story. The book is a full-on suspense story with twists and turns that are sure to entice the reader. Towards the end, everything begins to make sense, and I, for one, was absolutely surprised by the details. Overall, the story is a perfect, thrilling read with undercurrents of grief.

If you are a suspense/thriller lover, then you must read One Dark Summer.

Having previously read Saskia's books I could not wait to dive into this one. It did not disappoint. I couldnt put it down. I connected to the characters, and it was full of twists and turns. What more could you ask for !

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!

It’s been a while since I’ve read a Saskia Sarginson novel and I’d truly forgotten just how good the were.
This was suspenseful, engaging and twisty. The plot was well crafted and a great re ad.

Was not able to finish the book within the borrowed time frame. That being said, I had read about 70% of the book and was entirely engrossed in the story! It was atmospheric and suspenseful in all the best ways. I am eager to get my hands on my own copy when I can. Giving it a 3 as I have yet to read the ending. Hopeful it will become at minimum a 4 star read for me, meaning I genuinely enjoyed it and will recommend to others!

I wasn’t sure about this one at first. I could see where it was going and I didn’t think I would like it. I’m so glad I was intrigued enough to keep going though because it turned out to be fantastic!

If you love a good mystery, you'll love this book! The prologue reeled me in and didn't let loose. Meg the new live-in nanny is on a quest to find answers about what happened one summer 15 years ago. She's being watched, followed, and she keeps hearing noises coming from the attic. It was intriguing enough that I didn't want to put it down.

First a big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this arc! it did not disappoint!

I was drawn to the eerie looking cover which is absolutely beautiful with its colours and I knew it was something I had to read!

One Dark Summer is a haunting, well written psychological thriller that slowly unravels secrets from a long-ago summer. This author's evocative prose creates a strong sense of place, with a quietly unsettling atmosphere that lingers throughout the story.

I was particularly drawn to the dual-timeline narrative and the way it explores themes of memory, guilt, and the lasting impact of buried trauma. The characters felt authentic and complex to me and the gradual reveal of past events kept me engaged from the beginning to the end of the book! I was up long nights reading this one!

I would happily recommend this to readers who enjoy character-driven, atmospheric thrillers with strong emotional core and of course a beautiful cover is a nice bonus too!

Overall a very well written book and one I will be recommending to many others in the months and years to come!

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.

Margaret the nanny has arrived at her new job to look after two children. What nobody else knows is that this is also the place associated with an old trauma from Margaret's past.

A time when she was still a child, her name was Meg, and her mother went missing one dark summer. But that is not all that happened, and now Meg has returned for the long overdue reckoning with her past...

An atmospheric thriller with plenty of action, this story will appeal to most readers. It gets 3.5 stars.

i thoroughly enjoyed this one, it gripped my attention from the first chapter and i couldn't put it down! would highly recommend it to all my friends

This is my first read from this author but the blurb and the front cover pulled me in and I knew I had to read it.
Pulled me in quite quickly, and there were so many twists and turns, most of which I didn't see coming.
Great read - will look out for the authors other reads in the future going purely off this book alone.