Cover Image: Dark Corners

Dark Corners

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Member Reviews

It’s pretty interesting how often I’ve been coming across thrillers whose MC is a podcaster, especially true crime podcaster. A sign of the times? Maybe it’s true that everyone and their mother has one. Small talk aside, I need to be upfront about how long it took me to realize why exactly Rachel Krall felt super familiar, and that is because she was the character from The Night Swim! Y’all, I swear I don’t live under a rock and maybe this is why people pay more attention to the book blurbs 😬

Anyway, you have a prison release, a stern FBI agent, and missing influencers! Rachel finds herself caught in a web of online intrigue and the question if a guilty seeming man was actually innocent. I enjoyed how much this book felt like an episode of Law & Order where you feel the conflict unfold in real time. Maybe it’s just me but I could’ve sworn there was the iconic ‘dun dun’ playing between scenes.

Once I realized I knew Rachel from The Night Swim, I had a refreshing moment where I remembered how much I loved her tenacity and quickness. She’s not a main character that shies away from the problem nor did it ever feel like she made a mistake for the sake of drama within the plot. She’s honest and questioning but on her toes more than other bookish leads who I feel like often make dumb choices to build a sense of urgency.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it was a nicely done procedural look at a crime. I liked how it felt episodic with the return of Rachel Krall and it didn’t rely on The Night Swim to give her credibility. A solid thriller that kept me hooked the whole time for sure and perfect for those Fall vibes.

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I really enjoyed this one! I always find it interesting when a thriller gives you the POV of the killer but there were still so many twists and turns that kept me guessing throughout the story.

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Dark Corners by Megan Goldin was very well done. The synopsis alone had me hooked, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this novel. I have read Ms. Goldin’s other books, and personally enjoyed this one more than both Stay Awake and Escape Room. I felt it was more polished. She shows a rare consistency in keeping her readers hooked. At times, reading Dark Corners made me feel like I was going down a very steep hill on a bike. You’re careening along, you know you can’t stop, and you just pray you won’t crash into anything on the way down.

I give this four out of five stars. I throughly enjoyed Dark Corners and will be eagerly awaiting her next novel.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Dark Corners by Megan Goldin in exchange for my honest review and opinion. Megan Goldin is the absolute best psychological thriller author I have ever read! She knows exactly how to keep you on the edge of your seat, gasping, wanting more! This book has so many twists and turns that you "think" you know what's going to happen than wham you are wrong. The ending will shock you! Do yourself a big favor and read this as soon as you can.

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Megan Goldin's "Dark Corners" brings back fan-favorite Rachel Krall, the tenacious true crime podcaster from "The Night Swim." This time, Rachel is pulled into a chilling case involving a suspected serial killer, a missing influencer, and the ruthless world of social media.

The story opens with Rachel visiting Terence Bailey, a convict about to be released despite being a prime suspect in several murders. The visit takes a shocking turn when it's revealed that Bailey's last visitor was Maddison Logan, a popular influencer who has now vanished.

Rachel, ever the investigator, dives headfirst into the mystery. She uses a fake identity to infiltrate BuzzCon, a massive influencer conference, where she uncovers a tangled web of jealousies, hidden agendas, and dark secrets. As the body count rises, Rachel finds herself targeted by a killer who seems to be obsessed with her.

Comparison to "The Night Swim": Some readers might find "Dark Corners" less suspenseful compared to Goldin's debut novel.
Multiple points of view: While the different perspectives offer a broader view of the story, they can also slow down the pacing for some readers.

"Dark Corners" is a thrilling and suspenseful read that will appeal to fans of mysteries and those interested in the dark side of social media. With its well-crafted plot, believable characters, and chilling exploration of the online world, this novel is sure to keep you guessing until the very end.

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Readers are reintroduced to Rachel Krall and her true crime podcast in Dark Corners. If you can get your hands on it, I recommend listening to the audiobook as it is really well done (kudos to the narrators) and brings the podcast element of the story to life. I did not enjoy this title as much as its predecessor, Night Swim, as I thought the romance storyline was unnecessary. With that being said, if there is another book in this series, I will be reading it!

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Dark Corners
By Megan Goldin
Review and Rating 3.5 ⭐️

It has been a while since I read The Night Swim, but I remember I loved it, so when I got the chance to continue reading about Rachel Krall, I jumped!
In this standalone of the series, Rachel is a true crime podcaster investigating the mysterious disappearance of a popular social media influencer after she visits a suspected serial killer. It has all the things I’m interested in and more!
Goldin manages to handle the podcast angle, which feels like it has been done a time or two now, well, and her writing is great. The story is thrilling and kept me wanting to turn those pages to get to the end. 3.5 ⭐️

I want to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Book Rating Key
⭐️ Not Recommended
⭐️⭐️ Readable Book
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Good Book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Excellent Book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Near Perfect Book
***Note*** I seldom give ⭐️or ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ratings. If I feel a book is a ⭐️sometimes I just prefer to not finish reading it and not rate it. As for 5 ⭐️books, I think of those as books I would want to take with me to a deserted island 🏝️, and this means I read a whole lot of ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️star books. Happy Reading!

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3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4

I really enjoyed the Night Swim so I was glad to continue with Rachel’s podcast in this one! I loved the influencer aspect of it, the serial killer/whodunnit aspect, and that it focused more on the police/FBI side of the investigation. It was just a bit too slow for me?

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The first book I read by Megan Goldin was THE NIGHT SWIM, which introduced Rachel Krall and her true crime podcast and I was excited to revisit Rachel, again. DARK CORNERS is the second book in the series and it’s another twisting thriller that will keep you guessing as you turn pages.
Rachel’s investigations lead her deep into the world of influencers, which was interesting and disturbing, while searching for answers. There were some twists that surprised me, and I had to keep reading to see how Goldin wrapped it up. I hope that we will see Rachel Krall again, soon.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.

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Dark Corners was an enjoyable read. I did however, find this slow and lacking the pop twists Megan Goldin is known for! I would still recommend this to my thriller friends! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

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A great sequel that did not feel like a sequel. Having a main character be a true crime podcaster definitely lends itself to unique storylines from a unique angle. Mixing with influencers thanks to her celebrity status from her podcast season from the last book made it easy to follow the character development without making it an absolute requirement to have read the first book or remember too many details from it.

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I really love the author's books, especially Stay Awake, but Night Swim was just okay to me. When I had the chance to read Dark Corners, I wasn't sure how much I'd like it. I'm glad I put aside my reservations because I ended up really enjoying Dark Corners. I think the series has hit its stride and I liked the romantic subplot that found its way in this book. The influencer culture was interesting too and a good backdrop to the central mystery. I really enjoyed how the book ended and I"m hoping the series continues.

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This was an average thriller/suspense. Id give it a solid 3. It was not bad by any means, but nothing about it truly stood out to me. Id definitely read future books by the author though.

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Dark Corners is a wonderful addition to Goldin’s first installment of this series, The Night Swim. By including modern aspects and shining a light into to dark side of influencing, Goldin was able to keep me entertained until the last second.

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As a lover of true crime podcast, I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book from NetGalley. I had no idea this book was a part of a series, even though it can be read as a standalone book, I can't wait to go back and read the first one. Rachel is a true crime podcaster who has been asked by the FBI to help assist with a case. This book was fast paced with several twist. There was a romance subplot that really didn't have much to do with the whole book but was fine. I also really recommend this book on audio as some chapters are from the podcast and transfer nicely.

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This is somewhat of a connected stand-alone to "The Night Swim". It involves podcaster Rachel Krall, but it is an entirely new case. This time, a man named Terrence Bailey is about to get out of jail for breaking and entering. But the cops don't want him to get out because they suspect him of murdering six women. So, when a popular social media star visits him in prison and then immediately goes missing, it raises some red flags and Rachel is called in to check it out.

I found it kind of strange that the FBI would call in a podcaster to try to help them solve a case that they're having trouble solving, but I suppose it worked out. I didn't like this one as much as I liked The Night Swim and it didn't hold my attention quite as well. Overall, it was a pretty good book and I would recommend it. Just go into it knowing that.

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I kept putting off reading this book and I should not have. It was interesting and well thought out. I’m a fan now!

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This one was an okay read. I loved Stay Awake by this author, but I wasn’t crazy about this one. The influencer lifestyle is just not something I’m in to, but others may like this book if they are.

Thank you Saint Martin’s press and NetGalley for providing me with a complementary advanced copy of this book.

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I was so happy to return to this protagonist as she investigates another murder/ missing person. The way the author writes this pulls me in immediately and makes me feel like I am an actual part of the investigation. Very enjoyable!!

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"Dark Corners" by Megan Goldin is a masterclass in suspense, keeping me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Goldin's narrative is tight, the plot twists are unexpected, and the tension is relentless. Her skillful storytelling and complex characters make this thriller not just a read, but an experience. It's a riveting journey through the shadows of human nature, and I couldn't put it down. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a good heart-pounding story.

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