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A Long Dark Night: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 24 Feb 26A young chef returns home to find her small town caught in the snare of an oil company. Her brother witnesses a chilling crime at the drilling site, and their attempts to bring justice are met with fierce opposition in this engrossing thriller.
After her restaurant closes and she returns to her childhood home, deep in the Alaskan wilderness, Nina has one finding a way back out. Her family’s sled-dog business is struggling, and she is alarmed that her brother Grant is working at the nearby oil field. Grant comes home one day extremely unsettled by his involvement in disturbing events at work. The supervisor on duty orchestrated a suspiciously seamless coverup of a deadly accident, leading both siblings to wonder if the past disappearances of field workers are more than a coincidence.
Grant wants to forget the whole thing ever happened—the oil rig is the only source of employment that pays enough to keep their family afloat, and he doesn’t want to risk any jail time. But Nina can’t let this lie. The opportunity to uncover the truth about the disappearances and protect her family from increasing threats is too important. What starts as an attempt to unravel the mystery leads Nina, Grant, and their loved ones directly into the path of those determined to keep them silent no matter the cost.
Lilli Sutton returns with another atmospheric and captivating thriller in A Long Dark Night. Her debut novel, Running Out of Air, was called “an adventure worth taking,” “packed full of tension [and] heart.” Prepare to be left breathless again.
After her restaurant closes and she returns to her childhood home, deep in the Alaskan wilderness, Nina has one finding a way back out. Her family’s sled-dog business is struggling, and she is alarmed that her brother Grant is working at the nearby oil field. Grant comes home one day extremely unsettled by his involvement in disturbing events at work. The supervisor on duty orchestrated a suspiciously seamless coverup of a deadly accident, leading both siblings to wonder if the past disappearances of field workers are more than a coincidence.
Grant wants to forget the whole thing ever happened—the oil rig is the only source of employment that pays enough to keep their family afloat, and he doesn’t want to risk any jail time. But Nina can’t let this lie. The opportunity to uncover the truth about the disappearances and protect her family from increasing threats is too important. What starts as an attempt to unravel the mystery leads Nina, Grant, and their loved ones directly into the path of those determined to keep them silent no matter the cost.
Lilli Sutton returns with another atmospheric and captivating thriller in A Long Dark Night. Her debut novel, Running Out of Air, was called “an adventure worth taking,” “packed full of tension [and] heart.” Prepare to be left breathless again.
- GenresMystery ThrillerMystery
327 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 24, 2026
4 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Lilli Sutton
3 books21 followersLilli Sutton writes contemporary adult fiction. She holds a BA in English from Shepherd University. From Maryland, she now lives in Colorado. She draws inspiration for her writing from the natural world and the intricacies of human relationships.
When she's not writing, she's usually cooking, hiking, or trying to keep up with her ever-growing TBR list.
When she's not writing, she's usually cooking, hiking, or trying to keep up with her ever-growing TBR list.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 8, 2025
This is a fantastic murder mystery set in Alaska!
If you are one of those people who judge a book within the first few chapters and are most likely to set it aside if it isn’t a pacey read….hang on! You’ll be glad you enjoyed the journey because the author builds up the tension to a crescendo at chapter 27, leaving your heart galloping to the finish, nine chapters later. Two things kept me turning pages up to chapter 27; the attention to setting and the foreboding danger. The author expertly captures the essence of bush living in Alaska, and this setting is necessary to the plot.
Author Lilli Sutton examines:
✔️the paradox of a place being home, but not where we want to belong
✔️the burden of doing the right thing
✔️the danger of being blinded by fear
✔️the frustration of not getting to end a chapter in our life on our own terms
Sutton, a new-to-me author, ignited my curiosity, introduced me to interesting characters, and hooked me in with an unpredictable plot. I’ll be searching for another of this author’s books.
Fantastic cover!
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
If you are one of those people who judge a book within the first few chapters and are most likely to set it aside if it isn’t a pacey read….hang on! You’ll be glad you enjoyed the journey because the author builds up the tension to a crescendo at chapter 27, leaving your heart galloping to the finish, nine chapters later. Two things kept me turning pages up to chapter 27; the attention to setting and the foreboding danger. The author expertly captures the essence of bush living in Alaska, and this setting is necessary to the plot.
Author Lilli Sutton examines:
✔️the paradox of a place being home, but not where we want to belong
✔️the burden of doing the right thing
✔️the danger of being blinded by fear
✔️the frustration of not getting to end a chapter in our life on our own terms
Sutton, a new-to-me author, ignited my curiosity, introduced me to interesting characters, and hooked me in with an unpredictable plot. I’ll be searching for another of this author’s books.
Fantastic cover!
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
September 20, 2025
Out February 24th, 2026
After her dream of running a restaurant collapses, Nina returns to her childhood home deep in the Alaskan wilderness, hoping only to regroup and find a way out again. But the town she left behind is no longer the same. Her family’s sled-dog business is barely surviving, and the looming presence of a powerful oil company has cast a long shadow over the community. The drilling site promises jobs and stability, but it also carries whispers of danger that no one dares to speak aloud.
Her brother Grant, working at the oil field, comes home one night shaken to his core. He’s witnessed a deadly accident—one that should have been reported but instead was swiftly and seamlessly covered up by his supervisor. The incident stirs old rumors about workers who vanished without explanation, and suddenly the family is staring down the possibility that these disappearances weren’t accidents at all. Grant wants to bury the truth, terrified of losing the only job that keeps them afloat, but Nina can’t ignore what’s festering beneath the surface.
Determined to uncover what really happened, Nina begins to dig into the company’s secrets, even as the threats against her family grow sharper. The deeper she goes, the more dangerous the game becomes. Every step forward feels like walking across thin ice, with the weight of corporate power pressing down and the cold silence of the wilderness closing in. The truth is out there but so are those willing to do anything to keep it hidden.
What begins as a fight for justice quickly turns into a battle for survival. Nina and Grant are forced to confront not only the corruption that grips their town but also the fragile bonds of family loyalty under pressure. In a place where the nights are long and the cold is merciless, they must decide how much they’re willing to risk protecting each other—and whether exposing the truth is worth the cost of their lives.
Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row for the ARC!
After her dream of running a restaurant collapses, Nina returns to her childhood home deep in the Alaskan wilderness, hoping only to regroup and find a way out again. But the town she left behind is no longer the same. Her family’s sled-dog business is barely surviving, and the looming presence of a powerful oil company has cast a long shadow over the community. The drilling site promises jobs and stability, but it also carries whispers of danger that no one dares to speak aloud.
Her brother Grant, working at the oil field, comes home one night shaken to his core. He’s witnessed a deadly accident—one that should have been reported but instead was swiftly and seamlessly covered up by his supervisor. The incident stirs old rumors about workers who vanished without explanation, and suddenly the family is staring down the possibility that these disappearances weren’t accidents at all. Grant wants to bury the truth, terrified of losing the only job that keeps them afloat, but Nina can’t ignore what’s festering beneath the surface.
Determined to uncover what really happened, Nina begins to dig into the company’s secrets, even as the threats against her family grow sharper. The deeper she goes, the more dangerous the game becomes. Every step forward feels like walking across thin ice, with the weight of corporate power pressing down and the cold silence of the wilderness closing in. The truth is out there but so are those willing to do anything to keep it hidden.
What begins as a fight for justice quickly turns into a battle for survival. Nina and Grant are forced to confront not only the corruption that grips their town but also the fragile bonds of family loyalty under pressure. In a place where the nights are long and the cold is merciless, they must decide how much they’re willing to risk protecting each other—and whether exposing the truth is worth the cost of their lives.
Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row for the ARC!
December 6, 2025
I think this is the first thriller/mystery I’ve read that takes place in Alaska… which is surprising to me because I love an isolated/snowy/small town setting! Now, I typically prefer my thrillers to be fast-paced, hook me from the very beginning, and it be a complete whirlwind of activity and reveals until the very end. This is not that book, but in this specific case, I was more than okay with it.
The main character, Nina, escaped her small town Alaskan life to work as a chef in bigger cities. Due to Covid, she is forced to move back home due to the closing of her restaurant. When she arrives back in Alaska, several years have passed since she left, and while technically she’s home, nothing quite feels the same as when she left. She’s met with bitterness due to her absence, the unfortunate failing of her family’s business, and her brother confides that his job at the oil field isn’t quite what it seems, but it’s the only thing keeping him and their family afloat. Conflicted about what to do after her brother confides in her about a crime that took place at the oil field, Nina is left with choosing between her family and doing the right thing. And because this is a thriller/mystery novel, obviously there are outside forces that will do just about anything to keep her and everyone else quiet.
This was a slooooooow burn, and the story takes the majority of its chapters to reach the height of conflict, but when you get there, it’s definitely satisfying. Another new one for me was an oil field setting, but surprisingly (for me at least), it really worked for this book!
Lilli Sutton is a new-to-me author, but after finishing this, I will definitely check out books released in the future.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Park Row/HTP for this eARC!
The main character, Nina, escaped her small town Alaskan life to work as a chef in bigger cities. Due to Covid, she is forced to move back home due to the closing of her restaurant. When she arrives back in Alaska, several years have passed since she left, and while technically she’s home, nothing quite feels the same as when she left. She’s met with bitterness due to her absence, the unfortunate failing of her family’s business, and her brother confides that his job at the oil field isn’t quite what it seems, but it’s the only thing keeping him and their family afloat. Conflicted about what to do after her brother confides in her about a crime that took place at the oil field, Nina is left with choosing between her family and doing the right thing. And because this is a thriller/mystery novel, obviously there are outside forces that will do just about anything to keep her and everyone else quiet.
This was a slooooooow burn, and the story takes the majority of its chapters to reach the height of conflict, but when you get there, it’s definitely satisfying. Another new one for me was an oil field setting, but surprisingly (for me at least), it really worked for this book!
Lilli Sutton is a new-to-me author, but after finishing this, I will definitely check out books released in the future.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Park Row/HTP for this eARC!
December 9, 2025
Rating: 5 ☆
Pub date: February 24, 2026
Thank you @htp_hive & @harlequinbooks for this ARC!
I’d like to start off by saying, I was CRYING HEAVY TEARS by the end of this book.
This story swept me straight into the heart of the Alaskan wilderness, where the cold bites, the snow settles thick and quiet, and family loyalty runs even deeper than the frozen rivers. It had me googling things about Alaska 😂. Nina’s return home after losing her restaurant feels raw, and the contrast between her soft memories of childhood and the harsh reality her family now faces made the story so believable.
The struggling sled-dog business adds such a homey touch—dogs, crackling wood stoves, long nights—but it’s paired with a creeping tension that keeps the pages turning. When her brother Grant comes home shaken from a “too-neatly-handled” accident at the oil field, the story shifts into an addictive mystery. SO MUCH is going on, but it’s not so much that you lose focus.
Nina’s determination to protect her family, even when Grant wants to pretend nothing happened, gives the book its heart. Their sibling bond is messy, real, and endearing. And as the threats close in, you really feel how much they’re willing to risk for one another. It was nice to see a sibling fighting for justice, and not allow things to be swept under the rug.
This is a spooky story that I will think about always. ♾️
Pub date: February 24, 2026
Thank you @htp_hive & @harlequinbooks for this ARC!
I’d like to start off by saying, I was CRYING HEAVY TEARS by the end of this book.
This story swept me straight into the heart of the Alaskan wilderness, where the cold bites, the snow settles thick and quiet, and family loyalty runs even deeper than the frozen rivers. It had me googling things about Alaska 😂. Nina’s return home after losing her restaurant feels raw, and the contrast between her soft memories of childhood and the harsh reality her family now faces made the story so believable.
The struggling sled-dog business adds such a homey touch—dogs, crackling wood stoves, long nights—but it’s paired with a creeping tension that keeps the pages turning. When her brother Grant comes home shaken from a “too-neatly-handled” accident at the oil field, the story shifts into an addictive mystery. SO MUCH is going on, but it’s not so much that you lose focus.
Nina’s determination to protect her family, even when Grant wants to pretend nothing happened, gives the book its heart. Their sibling bond is messy, real, and endearing. And as the threats close in, you really feel how much they’re willing to risk for one another. It was nice to see a sibling fighting for justice, and not allow things to be swept under the rug.
This is a spooky story that I will think about always. ♾️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
hank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a digital copy of this book. The opinions are my own and freely given.
Nina moves back home to the small town in Alaska after COVID hit and her restaurant business just can't recover. There she tries to reconnect with her parents and siblings. Her older sister is an addict and has been banned from the family home. Her younger brother, Grant is having a hard time accepting her return because he was left behind to help his parents.
The oil drilling has taken off and that is a sore spot for some of the locals that want to preserve nature. Grant gets a job working in this industry and things escalate from there. While on a run with their family's sled dogs, an "accident" happens and Nina and Grant are fighting for their lives in the cold, without food (for themselves or the dogs), battling an injury and running for their lives.
Although I really didn't get what was going on with the drilling aspect of the story, them being stranded was enough to keep me reading and I did enjoy this book.
Nina moves back home to the small town in Alaska after COVID hit and her restaurant business just can't recover. There she tries to reconnect with her parents and siblings. Her older sister is an addict and has been banned from the family home. Her younger brother, Grant is having a hard time accepting her return because he was left behind to help his parents.
The oil drilling has taken off and that is a sore spot for some of the locals that want to preserve nature. Grant gets a job working in this industry and things escalate from there. While on a run with their family's sled dogs, an "accident" happens and Nina and Grant are fighting for their lives in the cold, without food (for themselves or the dogs), battling an injury and running for their lives.
Although I really didn't get what was going on with the drilling aspect of the story, them being stranded was enough to keep me reading and I did enjoy this book.
October 24, 2025
Putting my author hat on to share my official blurb: "Gripping yet tender, relentless yet heartfelt, A Long Dark Night will leave you with bruises the way only the best books can. When it comes to the environmental thriller, Lilli Sutton is in a league of her own."
Taking my author hat off to shout my unofficial thoughts: What do you mean there's no way to inject this incredible book straight into my veins??? WHAT DO YOU MEAN???????
Taking my author hat off to shout my unofficial thoughts: What do you mean there's no way to inject this incredible book straight into my veins??? WHAT DO YOU MEAN???????
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Long Dark Night is an atmospheric thriller set in remote Alaska. It's a bit of a slow burn, but definitely kept me interested and picked up quite a bit in tension towards the end of the book. Nina's relationship with her family was interesting to explore, and the themes of returning home in times of uncertainty felt real and lived.
Tropes
* Small Town
* Moral Dilemmas
* Familial Drama
* MC returns home
4.5 stars
Tropes
* Small Town
* Moral Dilemmas
* Familial Drama
* MC returns home
4.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoyed this story. It had strong a sibling bond that is rekindled after years of having a strained relationship. Very intense moments that involved them being targets of crime. Their fight for survival was very chilling. Emotional ending.
I loved the Alaska setting.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the Alaska setting.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2025
fun and unique thriller with some great vibes and unique plotting. the oil field setting is surprising but works well. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.
November 4, 2025
After leaving small town life in Alaska behind for a career as a chef in New York City and Maine, Nina must return home due to Covid and the close of her restaurant. Nine years have passed and her family is bitter about her absence. While trying to reconnect with her family and help with their dog sled business she finds that her brother and many of the local men now work for a nearby oil field. Her brother needs to job to help support his aging parents but confides in Nina that an accidental death at work was covered up and the body hidden in nearby woods. Nina is pulled between her family and the entire towns dependence on the oil field and doing the right thing by reporting the death to the police. Needless to say there are dark forces who will stop at nothing to keep her quiet.
Great story and a beautifully described setting in the wilds of Alaska!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Park Row for this ARC.
Great story and a beautifully described setting in the wilds of Alaska!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Park Row for this ARC.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews