Listen to a sample
One Dark Summer
- Author
- Sarah Hornsley
- Narrator
- Daphne Kouma
- Publisher
- Hodder & Stoughton
- Publish Date
- 9 July 2026
- Run Time
- 8 hours 21 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
Not available in your country
We don't have the rights to sell this audiobook where you are. If it's already in your library you can still listen to it in My Books.
What to expect
Angela Marsons, #1 million-copy bestseller
'A deeply absorbing novel with a wonderfully atmospheric setting. Beautifully written and thrillingly plotted, this is a terrific summer read'
B P Walter, bestselling author of The Dinner Guest
'The impact of extreme domestic abuse is at the heart of this unsparing novel, which brilliantly evokes the recent past'
The Times
Lily has spent her whole life not knowing the truth.
Now, one island will change everything.
When she was four years old, Lily's mother, Penny, walked out the family home and never returned. Growing up, Lily tried to block out the pain of betrayal. But years later, when Lily learns her mum's family used to own a holiday home on Osea Island, she can't resist booking a last-minute trip, hoping to finally find a connection to her mother.
But Osea is no ordinary place. Tidal and remote, it keeps its secrets close.
As Lily begins to peel back layers of the past, she uncovers a web of silence, betrayal, and pain stretching back twenty-five years. The island holds the truth of what really happened to Penny and why she never made it back home.
But some secrets aren't buried in the past. Nor are they still on the island. Some are closer than Lily ever imagined.
Readers are absolutely hooked on One Dark Summer
'A stormy setting, and equally stormy ending makes all the pieces of this book fall into place. Totally absorbing' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This psychological thriller blossoms like a flower as the petals bloom' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I really really enjoyed this read. It felt deeper than a thriller' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I could not put this down, a one sitting read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Wow. This was a stormy read, literally and metaphorically!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Praise for Sarah's Hornsley's thrillers
'Suspenseful, addictive, twisty' Fionnuala Kearney
'Unsettling in the best way' Roxie Cooper
'satisfyingly complex, twisty and twisted' James Oswald
'A fresh take on a legal thriller' Amy McCullough
'Atmospheric with a killer twist' Catherine Cooper
'A tangled, twisty thrill-ride' Cressida McLaughlin
'A first-rate psychological thriller' Guy Morpuss
Critics Review
-
PRAISE FOR BAD BLOOD
-
Incredibly gripping. A triumph
Claire Douglas, bestselling author of THE COUPLE AT NO 9
-
A tangled, twisty, thrill-ride of a book with a protagonist you won't forget and layers upon layers of secrets and lies
Cressida McLaughlin
-
A beautifully written, atmospheric thriller with a killer twist - I loved it
Catherine Cooper, Sunday Times bestselling author of THE CHALET
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
Flawless structure. Taut, intelligent, and shockingly gripping
Will Dean, author of THE CHAMBER
-
An intricate, clever thriller that delves beautifully into family dynamics and small-town politics. I loved it
Jennie Godfrey, Sunday Times bestselling author of THE LIST OF SUSPICIOUS THINGS
-
A twisty, gripping, fresh take on a legal thriller . . . Criminally good!
Amy McCulloch, author of BREATHLESS
-
A satisfyingly complex, twisty and twisted thriller . . . A plot that delights in defying expectations at every turn
James Oswald, author of the Inspector McLean series
-
Claustrophobic and unsettling in the best way
Roxie Cooper, author of THE DAY WE MET
-
Suspenseful, addictive, twisty, and yes, it delivers that sucker-punch ending too! I loved it
Fionnuala Kearney, author of THE BOOK OF LOVE
-
A first-rate psychological thriller!
Guy Morpuss, author of FIVE MINDS
-
A dark, twisted thriller from a compelling new voice
Russ Thomas, bestselling author of SLEEPING DOGS
-
Sarah Hornsley's artful writing and lightning-fast plot will leave you breathless and craving more!
Elizabeth McCullough Keenan and Greg Wands, authors of TRUST ISSUES
-
The head-snapping reveals, jaw-dropping twists, and stunning conclusion make this a masterfully sensational thriller
Samantha M. Bailey, bestselling author of HELLO, JULIET
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Sarah Hornsley
- Narrator
- Daphne Kouma
- Duration
- 8 hours 21 minutes
- Release Date
- 9 July 2026
- ISBN
- 9781399725941
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Hodder & Stoughton
- Genre
- Crime and mystery: private investigator / amateur detectives, Crime and mystery: women sleuths / detectives, Psychological thriller
Synopsis
'I absolutely devoured One Dark Summer. It had me gripped from the very first page and didn't let me go until the end . . . totally captivating'Angela Marsons, #1 million-copy bestseller'A deeply absorbing novel with a wonderfully atmospheric setting. Beautifully written and thrillingly plotted, this is a terrific summer read'B P Walter, bestselling author of The Dinner Guest'The impact of extreme domestic abuse is at the heart of this unsparing novel, which brilliantly evokes the recent past'The TimesLily has spent her whole life not knowing the truth.Now, one island will change everything.When she was four years old, Lily's mother, Penny, walked out the family home and never returned. Growing up, Lily tried to block out the pain of betrayal. But years later, when Lily learns her mum's family used to own a holiday home on Osea Island, she can't resist booking a last-minute trip, hoping to finally find a connection to her mother.But Osea is no ordinary place. Tidal and remote, it keeps its secrets close.As Lily begins to peel back layers of the past, she uncovers a web of silence, betrayal, and pain stretching back twenty-five years. The island holds the truth of what really happened to Penny and why she never made it back home.But some secrets aren't buried in the past. Nor are they still on the island. Some are closer than Lily ever imagined.Readers are absolutely hooked on One Dark Summer'A stormy setting, and equally stormy ending makes all the pieces of this book fall into place. Totally absorbing' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This psychological thriller blossoms like a flower as the petals bloom' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I really really enjoyed this read. It felt deeper than a thriller' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I could not put this down, a one sitting read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Wow. This was a stormy read, literally and metaphorically!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Praise for Sarah's Hornsley's thrillers'Suspenseful, addictive, twisty' Fionnuala Kearney'Unsettling in the best way' Roxie Cooper'satisfyingly complex, twisty and twisted' James Oswald'A fresh take on a legal thriller' Amy McCullough'Atmospheric with a killer twist' Catherine Cooper'A tangled, twisty thrill-ride' Cressida McLaughlin'A first-rate psychological thriller' Guy Morpuss
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.