Unfortunately, this is exactly what happens when seventeen-year-old Cassie’s on-again-off-again friend, Kiah, guilts her into attending a New Year’s Eve party at Johnny’s remote farm, where, among other things, there’s only limited internet coverage.
Before agreeing to go, Cassie elicits a promise from Kiah that they’ll leave by 11 pm. Kiah reluctantly agrees and says she’ll pick Cassie up at 7 pm.
From the outset, reluctance aside, things do not bode well.
Kiah’s an hour late for starters and then she crashes her car into an embankment just before they arrive at the farm. (Spoiler alert: they’re not hurt.)
Spin-the-bottle is the first ‘fun’ game of the night and results only in embarrassment.
Then, Cassie’s phone battery dies and she can’t call anyone to come and pick her up.
The party is rapidly turning into a semi-toxic flop with nobody particularly enjoying themselves. And it doesn’t help that there are only six of them there – until there are just five still alive.
Blame is being levelled in every direction and Johnny’s is crazily insisting that the police are not called, Cassie tries to piece everything together – but absolutely nothing makes sense.
With the key events taking place within 24 hours – New Year’s Eve into the first day of the new year – the story moves at a fast pace, with plenty of twists and red herrings to keep the reader guessing right until the end.
Six Take One is part of the groundbreaking Rhiza Shorts series – novellas designed to be accessible for any readers, from reluctant to prolific but time-poor. These books are complete stories, engaging and told well with fewer words than full-length novels.
R.A. Stephens has again crafted a gripping story with relatable characters and a situation that is completely plausible. Although in this case, we’d hope the events wouldn’t actually happen in real life, the novella also explores teen relationships, insecurities and the frustrations felt while navigating the not-quite-an-adult-yet world.
Highly recommended for readers who love suspense and crime, but don’t necessarily have the time to plough through the much longer novels in this genre – or those who have the time but just want a really good story that they can read in one sitting.
Title: Six Take One
Author: R.A. Stephens
Publisher: Wombat Rhiza Edge (Rhiza Shorts series), $14.99
Publication Date: 1 June 2026
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781761113598
For ages: 13+
Type: Young Adult Fiction
