The One Night Stand

by Carissa Ann Lynch

Eight friends. Eight secrets. One killer. FROM THE USA TODAY -BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF LIKE, FOLLOW, KILL AND WITHOUT A TRACE ! A night she won’t forget…    When single mum Ivy wakes up to a complete stranger lying next to her, she knows her one-night stand hook-ups have to stop. The encounters mean nothing to Ivy, but for just a short time, they make her forget her own terrible life. A murder she can’t remember But then Ivy discovers the stranger in her bed has been stabbed to death, and she is covered in his blood…except Ivy has no recollection of bringing this man home. Could she have killed him? As she tries to piece together what happened last night, Ivy’s own past returns to haunt her. And secrets can’t stay hidden forever…

Genres: Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Crime, Mystery

270 pages, Paperback

First published March 6, 2020

About the author

Besides my family, my greatest love in life is books. Reading them, writing them, holding them, smelling them…well, you get the idea. I’ve always loved to read, and some of my earliest childhood memories are me, tucked away in my room, lost in a good book. I received a five dollar allowance each week, and I always — always — spent it on books. My love affair with writing started early, but it mostly involved journaling and writing silly poems. Several years ago, I didn’t have a book to read so I decided on a whim to write my own story, something I’d like to read. It turned out to be harder than I thought, but from that point on I was hooked. My first and second books were released by Sarah Book Publishing: This Is Not About Love and Grayson’s Ridge. I’m a total genre-hopper. Basically, I like to write what I like to read: a little bit of everything! I reside in Floyds Knobs, Indiana with my husband, three children, and massive collection of books. I have a degree in psychology and worked as a counselor.

Reviews

[Kylie D · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable mystery that starts when Ivy wakes up with a strange man sharing her bed, a man she has no recollection of. To make matters worse the man has been stabbed to death. Ivy has no idea who he is or how he got there, let alone who killed him. It wasn't her, was it?

Set in three timelines, before the stabbing, after the stabbing, and back in her schoolgirl days, I did sometimes get a bit confused as to where I was, but it soon cleared itself up. We slowly learn what happened to the dead man, what happened to Ivy in the past, and what's actually going on now. A quick and easy read, I recommend this novel to all lovers of mysteries and psychological fiction.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars...

Well I was in the mood for a bit of a crazy read...so I reached for the latest Carissa Ann Lynch book because I knew she would bring it!

Ivy just started online dating, thanks to her besties Pam and Jerry that insisted she must. She got a little crazy had a couple one night stands..well okay Ivy reel it in girl! She got more than a little crazy, sloppy, drunk and woke up next to a dude she didn't even remember bringing home. Wait the dude is dead. Ummm..Houston we have a problem! 😳😳😳

As with her last book that I loved Like, Follow, Kill- this got really crazy, really fast. It was a quick, fast little thriller and kept my attention. I didn't feel like there was a whole lot of character development or much to the plot but it was a fun little read! 😊

Thank you so much to One More Chapter for this ARC!!! I am looking forward to what this author comes up with next!

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ivy has a 1 night stand
She wakes unaware of what she has done and only realises when she sees the man in bed next to her, how on earth did it happen and what could she have been thinking?, or drinking
Oh yes, she then looks and realises
He’s dead
As is the man under her bed!

And so the story tries to put together the piece’s that have led to this bizarre and awful situation for her

Ivy has, naturally, a past, a shocking one at that and little by little you get to learn more about it and how the people in her life now are related to it

Going from past events to the present and with an array of characters, some like her teenage daughter are unlikeable ( under statement ) but they play their roles well and as the story unfolds so does a grim and horrific secret that is set to ruin her

I enjoyed the story and the way it was told, a few parts were a bit OTT in the believable factor but hey ifs fiction afterall and it did all wind up to be a fascinating and well told story that you NEEDED to know just what was going to happen next

8/10
4 Stars

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having previously read Without a Trace by Carissa Ann Lynch, I jumped at the opportunity to read her latest novel, The One Night Stand. I am so pleased I did as there were no disappointments here!

Divorced mum Ivy is struggling with raising her teenage daughter, Delaney. Ivy's life completely changed after Delaney's dad found a younger, better-looking wife, called Sam. According to Delaney, Sam - her new step-mum - can do everything better than Ivy. And so Ivy, with Delaney frequently staying at her dad's house, and encouraged by her friends, decides to try online dating. When Ivy wakes up with a complete stranger lying next to her, she knows her one-night stands will have to stop. Ivy discovers the stranger in her bed has been stabbed to death, and she is covered in his blood, but Ivy has no recollection of bringing this man home. Did she kill him? As she tries to fill in the blanks as to exactly what happened, Ivy’s own past returns to torment her. And secrets can’t stay hidden forever...

Carissa Ann Lynch delivers an unrestrained story with a compelling blend of foreboding, harboured secrets, suspense and long-buried memories. The One Night Stand is beautifully plotted, a cracking story and a book I revelled in all the way through. The author did a brilliant job of drawing me into the plot, capturing and commanding my attention with her superbly drawn characters and their secrets, while adding in clever twists. It brought no let-downs and everything was wrapped up in the satisfying finale.

A riveting, stellar and exemplary novel that I'm delighted to recommend to all thriller lovers.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from One More Chapter via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ivy wakes up when her daughter yells at her wanting to know who the man is in her mother's bed. Problem is ... Ivy has never seen this man before .. and he refuses to wake up. Throwing the covers off she notices the man is lying in a pool of blood .. and it's evident he was stabbed to death.

She was drinking the night before, but surely she would remember if she had done this. And where's the knife? Looking around and then under the bed, she finds something much, much worse....

There's another dead man under her bed ... and this one is someone she knows.

This is a well written mystery/crime fiction which is set in three different times ... before the stabbing, after the stabbing, and when she takes us back to her schoolgirl days. Ivy has dangerous secrets ... and someone has discovered what those secrets are. The characters are deftly drawn, and I have to admit my favorite is Fran, the elderly neighbor lady.

The plot is nicely paced, suspense is high from the very first, and the ending was surprising and unpredictable.

Many thanks to the author / One More Chapter / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction/mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Anna lost in stories *A* · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am slowly learning what I like in my mystery / thriller stories and this was (sort of) it :) this was one wild ride and even though I thoroughly enjoyed myself while reading it, I cannot give it more than 3,5 stars… ;) the writing style was very entertaining, but you definitely have to suspend your disbelief about certain things, especially going into the second half of the book, when the reveals start to happen :) BUT, that being said, I flew through the story and had a blast doing it :) it keeps you on your toes, in a constant state of tension and then throws at you some twists and turns to make things even more interesting :) I do feel that the ending specifically was a bit abrupt and felt rushed, like we had to very suddenly wrap everything up and then the epilogue, although appreciated to show us the characters after some time has passed, felt disjointed from the rest of the story… I think if it would have been longer and got into some more details it would have been better, but it is what it is :) all in all I’m glad that I read it and will definitely check out some other books by this author in the future :)

XOXO

A

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Buckle up and suspend your disbelief for this wild, totally bonkers ride! When Ivy wakes up with a dead stranger in her bed and no memory of how she got there, she panics. From there it's a very twisty tale, more focused on how Ivy got into this position rather than what she does next. The flashback portions alternate between the months and weeks before the present day and 1993, and the story in 1993 is especially wild. Teenage girls get mad at their friends over boys all the time! Believing that they're willing to plan a murder over it is pretty extraordinary. The plan to blame the uncle was kind of brilliant, but wouldn't the time of death evaluation show he couldn't have done it? But not so unbelievable they didn't investigate so closely, I guess. Ultimately this is probably a forgettable thriller, but it's hugely entertaining, and lots of fun.

*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Joy Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Incredibly entertaining from the first to the last page! This book was fast paced and very easy to read. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Great mystery and suspense without a lot of extra mumbo jumbo! This book was right on time. A solid 4 star⭐ read! I highly recommend this title and look forward to more from this author!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley, #HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and #Carissa Ann Lynch for a advanced review copy in exchange for my honest opinion!!!

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The One Night Stand begins with divorced mom Ivy waking up in her bed at home with a man she does not know. She has no memory of him or of inviting him to her home. When Ivy tries to get him out of the house, she realizes he's not asleep but dead. After that engaging chapter, the story is told in Before and After segments interspersed throughout the novel, as we learn how Ivy got to this point, what she does after finding him, and how he got there in the first place. Is Ivy as innocent as she seems? 

The book reads quickly as we follow Ivy as she tries to deal with family issues related to her teenage daughter and her ex-husbands new family, jumping back into the dating scene, and of course the dead man in her bed. Recommended for fans of psychological suspense. 

Content Warnings SPOILERS biphobia; homophobia; misogyny; bullying; sexual harassment; sexual assault (not on page) END SPOILERS 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own. 

[Bayan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book have many twists and it keeps you on the edge of your seat! I did not empathize with the characters but I enjoyed reading it and I look forward to reading more of Lynch's books!

[Simone Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me guessing from start to finish and took me a few days to read. If I had more spare time, I would’ve sped through it in less time. It starts with the main character Ivy, who wakes up to a stranger in her bed. Her daughter walks in and upon noticing, expresses disgust towards Ivy and storms out. After pulling herself out of bed, she inspects then man lying in the bed because he doesn’t respond to her requests to leave. She then realizes the man is dead and begins to panic, wondering how on earth is she going to deal with this without getting in trouble with the law. As the story progresses, it switches between recent past (before) and present (now). Then halfway through, it switches back into 1993 with POV from a girl named Andrea then back to the before and now POV from Ivy. At first I wondered how it was relevant, but as I kept reading it made more sense. I did not want to reveal any spoilers. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. I was pulling for Ivy to get through the story safely and some of the characters were annoying at times, like her daughter and her best friend (who isn’t all that she appears to be). It was also interesting reading about Ivy’s dating life and I liked how the author infused some humor into what was a dark story for most part. I received an advanced copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[April Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

The One Night Stand by Carissa Ann Lynch is a thrilling mystery novel that I finished in one day because I couldn’t put this book down, it was that riveting! From the opening pages I was hooked.

Ivy is such a likable character; I saw myself in her and found her to be utterly relatable. Best part: Ivy turns 40, just like I did this month, and had inner-thoughts similar to my own. The story is written in first person POV, which I prefer because I can easily slip myself into the story and live vicariously through the character. Reading this novel was such a great escape. Thank you, Carissa Ann Lynch, for writing this story; it was just what I needed.

Like any good mystery, the story is peppered with red herrings and just when you think you’ve figured it out, the author hits you with a curve-ball. Without revealing too much, I still can’t believe who the villain ended up being and the true dynamics of Ivy’s relationship with this person. My jaw dropped; I didn’t see that coming at all, and I consider myself to be pretty good at sleuthing!

I’d recommend this sexy, edgy mystery novel to adult readers with a little more than murder on their minds, if you catch my drift. Both your heart, and your adrenaline will soar.

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted a book which was fun and fast with some thrills and suspense thrown in. This book clicked the requirements. My first book by author Carisssa Ann Lynch, the story held my interest until the end.

Ivy woke up next to a strange man and he was dead. She found another dead body under the bed. The premise of two dead bodies was so bizarre that I had to read the book at one go.

Told in triple timelines, and boy was it confusing at times. My mind got tired going back and forth. But it was the presence of two dead bodies in the bedroom with Ivy having no recollection of it which caught my attention and kept me going.

There was family drama to lay down the foundation of her life. Ivy was not very likable. I was sure she had a lot of enemies. The plot line was stretched, the characters were right there in the frame without much of a development, but I couldn’t escape my inner curiosity to know who the DB under the bed was. I had heard of monsters under the bed. This was just of a different kind.

I couldn’t guess the motive or the killer; they were buried deep until the last few pages dug it out. I wouldn’t say it was the most engrossing of reads, but I was quite curious to get to the final reveal.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story opens with Ivy waking up next to a mystery man in her bed with no fogging idea who he is or how he got there! 🤷🏼‍♀️ And as if that wasn’t bad enough… He’d been stabbed to death 🫣🔪

Ivy had been drinking the night before… but surely she’d remember if she killed the guy, right? 😳 And where was the weapon that murdered him?

As she starts to investigate, things get even worse. There’s another dead body under her bed 😱 How did the second guy get there in the first place?! 🤔

I absolutely loved this book, and the ending had my jaw on the floor! 😮 I did not see that coming!! 🤯

New author obsession unlocked… definitely buying more of her books 📚

Thank youuuuu to my girlie Emmy for gifting me this book! 🎁 I loved our buddy read together so much! 🫶🏼😘 xx

[Ellie Midwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I’ve read all of Ms. Lynch’s books but this one is perhaps my favorite one, and that says a lot since I absolutely loved all of them! I think the non-linear timeline was a perfect choice for this story, which revealed not only the truth behind the protagonist’s - Ivy’s - past but explained a lot about her personality and present-day situation. And what a way to begin! I don’t know about you, but I can’t imagine starting with something more gripping than waking up and discovering a dead body in your bed and another one under it. From that point on, I couldn’t turn pages fast enough to find out what exactly was going on and how much Ivy had to do with any of that.
What I also always enjoy about Ms. Lynch’s books is how intensely she presents the parent/child relationship and the difficulties mothers have to face in their everyday life. Ivy’s protectiveness of her teenage daughter Delaney was truly admirable, just like her determination to sacrifice herself if needed in order to keep her girl safe. The ending was also absolutely perfect impo. No spoilers, but Fran rocks!
Five huge stars for this winner! Brilliant work!

[Paul Grubb · Rating 1 out of 5]

This review contains no spoilers.

Despite the racy title and cover, this book is neither a pornographic novel nor a chest-heaving bodice-ripper. Rather, it is a psychological thriller with a slightly unlikable narrator. That's not to say this isn't an adult novel because it definitely is. With a good deal of violence, strong language, and sexual situations, I wouldn't read this book aloud to a class of elementary schoolers.

I give credit to the author for devising an interesting and page-turning plot and for unfolding the story in a creative "out of sequence" manner. I was definitely curious about what would happen next. I struggled, though, with believing everything I read. Characters didn't quite ring true, their actions felt artificial, and I even doubted the mechanics of how the legal system might address some of the crimes that were described. In short, there was a distinct credibility shortfall that ultimately undermined my ability to connect with the action.

I think this book aspires to be a peer of Gillian Flynn's similarly-themed books (like Gone Girl or Sharp Objects), but it certainly does not rise to that level. A dark tale like this needs to feel 100% authentic and believable in order to be on a par with the kinds of books that Gillian Flynn excels at writing. It's not easy to do that, though, and other books I've read that have attempted to attain that level of plausibility and engagement have fallen short in my estimation, as well. Even highly-regarded ones like Ruth Ware's The Woman in Cabin 10 haven't cut it for me. It's a real challenge to pull off a book like this, honestly, and it just didn't work here. Not recommended.

[Wendi Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a mind trip!

Once you start, you'll refuse to put it down! With twists and turns, mysteries and misdirection, The One Night Stand will keep you gripping the edge of your seat. Lynch has a way with suspenseful storytelling, a flawed characters, and big surprises, and this book does not disappoint.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this was a very enjoyable, fun read right from the first page! I loved how the story jumped in right away and the tension didn't let up throughout.
I loved how fast paced this was and it was packed full of twists, so much so that by the end my head was spinning a bit!
An easy read that I had a great time reading!

[kizreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

i have mixed feelings about this one. the ending was great and very unexpected. but when i was reading i was getting bored about hearing about her daughter although all the information given was tied together to make the ending i just felt myself scimming over pages when it was about the daughter coz i was bored honestly. apart from that great book!

[Angie Stimson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow this was a really great book. Didn't expect the end at all. Very good. Xxx 😁💖📚

[Juliet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy listen (borrow box) that I didn’t predict the end of.

[nabilahhh · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5/5⭐️

Enjoyable and fun. I really like a good underrated book🙌

[Linda Leone · Rating 4 out of 5]

The One Night Stand by Carissa Ann Lynch starts with Ivy waking up to a stranger in her bed. She can't remember anything from the night before. Then...she discovers he's dead. This book alternates between before and after she discovers the body. What are Ivy's secrets from the past? What is she hiding now? It all comes together in the end of course.
Thanks to netgalley, the author and One More Chapter for the advance copy.

[Barbara Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real page turner

[Sharon Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @netgalley for this copy.
This book is different in the action starts right away instead of having a slow build up.
We start with ivy who is woken by her teenage daughter coming into her room and asking who the man is that is asleep in the bed next to her. Ivy tells her to go back to bed and the man will.be gone in the morning by the time she wakes up. Only question for ivy is who is this man ????
Ivy honestley has no recollection of asking anyone back to her place. As she goes to wake him she realises he is dead!!!
Who is this man ???
How did he end up dead???

This story is told by going between now and the past and lists of secrets are revealed along the way.

A really good read and I didn't get who the killer was which is always a bonus.

Would recommend.

[ShanLouVicxo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished in a day! Smug cause I thought I had worked it out in the first few pages only to be smacked with a massive twist in the last few!
I really enjoyed the 3 separate time lines, very well written so didn't make the plot confusing.

[Leanna Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ivy is awakened by her teenage daughter because there is a strange man in her mom’s bed. Only, Ivy doesn’t have a clue as to who he is, how he got there, or most of all, why he’s DEAD...

This thriller navigates between three POVS: now, right before now, and some many years ago, and although they all come together somewhat slowly at first, they hit with a bang when the pieces all begin to fit together! I found this to be a fast read with multiple guessing games as to why there are dead men, (yes, MEN).. in Ivy’s bedroom.

This was a quick read with interesting twists! Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for an eARC!

[Donna Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG Carissa Lynch ROCKS ❤ and this book blew my mind it was sssooo freaking amazing This authors writing pulls you in and holds you till the very last page A definite must read ❤❤❤

[Hannah stressedreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really enjoyable quick read. Really fast paced and kept you wondering what the hell was going on. Maybe not the most believable ending but certainly entertaining.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review 🙂

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man the twist!! I never saw it coming I seriously expected the past to come and bite Ivy in the butt! I really enjoyed the realism of the whole split house aspect, like it shows some of the real emotions of a teenager in that situation. This one was like a slow burn, like building up to the twist and i seriously predicted what was going to happen but once that twist happened OMG! The killer was the last person i expected!!! Definitely one i recommend!!!