My Readers Guide for One Dark Night will have Jen’s Quick Take and Spoilers for the ending. I really enjoyed this Halloween themed story of a costume party gone tragically wrong. Let’s discuss it and see if it could be right for you!
Readers Guide for One Dark Night by Hannah Richell
Jen’s Quick Take on One Dark Night
- I really enjoyed The Search Party so I was excited to try this new title by Hannah Richell
- Like The Search Party, One Dark Night had a multi-generational cast of characters
- It’s a procedural but told from multiple points of view
- The murder in the story is based around the students at Folly View College and takes place on Halloween.
- But there are plenty of adult characters as well and this doesn’t feel like a teen book
- What’s a “folly?” It’s a name for small building that appears to have no practical purpose. In this book, it’s a tower with a spiral staircase and a platform at the top. The Folly in the book is inspired by Browne’s Folly, described here on the website of the Bradford and Avon museum.
- Publication date: August 19, 2025 by Atria Books
Spoilers for The Ending of One Dark Night
Who killed Sarah Lawson on Halloween?
Her cousin Olivia Easton.
Olivia had been thrilled when handsome, motorcycle-riding art teacher Edward Morgan asked her to model for him.
But then Olivia’s cousin Sarah decided to catfish her as a prank. Sarah, pretending to be Edward, sent texts to Olivia suggesting that Edward was madly in love with her, and that she was his muse.
When Olivia discovered what Sarah did, she and Sarah fought on the top of the folly after the Halloween party. Olivia pushed Sarah, who fell to the ground. Olivia then panicked and left.
After that, Jamie McIvor, the man who killed Ben’s sister when he was driving impaired, came across Olivia’s body. Jamie had mental health issues and had been living rough in a cave. He moved the body, combed Sarah’s hair, and painted words on her body.
What Happened at the End of One Dark Night?
Olivia also sent threatening messages to Ellie, who had fought with Olivia the night Sarah died about the fact that Ellie was protesting Olivia’s father’s new development.
At the end of the book, Edward takes Ellie to the folly. Olivia sees them leave on Edwards’s motorcycle, is jealous, and tells Ellie’s mother Rachel.
Rachel and Olivia rush to the folly. Olivia pushes Edward, who falls to the ground.
Olivia is distraught that she might have killed Edward and she steps off the folly platform, but Ben is able to rescue her. Edward has severe injuries but survives.
Questions? Comments? Think I Missed Something or Got Something Wrong? Leave a comment and I will answer it!