One Night

A dysfunctional family confronts old wounds in this slack psychological thriller from Cross (Nanny Needed). Ten years ago, Meghan, the beloved oldest daughter of Maureen and Paul Chisholm, was murdered days before her high school prom. Her boyfriend at the time, Cal Hereford, was convicted of the crime, though he’s maintained his innocence. Now, Cal has been released from prison and Maureen and Paul have divorced. Paul has a new wife, while Maureen continues to obsess about her late daughter, who—even in death—overshadows her sisters Alice and Samantha. One afternoon, each member of the family receives a mysterious invitation to a secluded house on the Oregon coast: “Don’t tell anyone you’re coming,” it reads. “In one night, you’ll find out what happened to Meg.” The guests arrive to find the dining table set with place cards before a raging storm knocks out cellphone service and traps everyone inside. Allegiances crumble and accusations fly as the guests try to figure out who summoned them in the first place. Unfortunately, Cross fails to follow through on the promising setup, and instead serves up cardboard characters and predictable plot twists. Readers seeking a spine-tingling locked-room mystery will be dissatisfied. Agent: Rachel Beck, Liza Dawson Assoc. (Aug.)