This was a good one! I'm not a podcast listener but true crime stories would be my genre!

Publisher's summary
Second in the Jess Keeler Thrillers series, this moody installment follows the podcaster’s investigation of one brutal, bloody summer in a former mill town and the shocking truths brought to light.
Hot on the heels of her podcast debut, Jess Keeler looks for another unsolved crime to investigate—this time with a documentary crew in tow. But she can’t seem to find the right case…until a handsome stranger approaches her in a bar in Lake Castor, Virginia, with an incredible story about wrongful conviction.
The Lake Castor sniper struck in 1984. Terrorizing the historically Black part of the old mill town, the killer claimed five lives. No one seemed worried about the first four victims. But when journalist Hal Broadstreet was killed, the police were suddenly interested. They arrested a suspect two days later.
But did they get the right man?
As evidence emerges pointing to a false confession and a murky connection to three bootleggers’ murders, Jess closes in on the truth—and risks landing in the sights of the true sniper.

Thanks to NetGalley & Brilliance Audio for this ALC!

Blood Red Summer
By: Eryk Pruitt
Narrated by: Khristine Hvam, JD Jackson, Stephen Graybill, Aaron Shedlock
Series: Jess Keeler Thrillers, Book 2
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Release date: 05-14-24

Book 2 in the Jess Keeler series. Should actually work as a stand alone. You will get some book one spoilers. Reading book one will also introduce you to a few characters in this book, but overall, not reading book one shouldn't leave you lost.

After Jess's successful podcast, she teams up with a TV crew for a documentary. Immediately she is frustrated because she is no longer in full control. The investors want one story, but Jess wants another. As she investigates, she begins to realize the two may just be connected. Hopefully she can safely figure it out, since everyone who ever tried seems to be dead.

I listened to the audiobook versions of both books one and two. Book one felt erratic and hard to follow- there were a lot of different POVs, a lot of characters, and multiple timelines. I find that this can be harder to keep track of in an audiobook. However, I did not feel the same way with this book. Maybe because you know some of the characters, so everyone isn't new. While I am not going back and counting, I feel that there are less POVs. We still have multiple timelines.

As for the plot- it was OK. Motorcycles and motorcycle clubs do not interest me in the slightest, so I often wished those parts over. I liked the storyline with the sniper and Rickie Lee Patience in the Back Back much better. I wish it had focused more on that and less on the MCs.

The present day storyline had a very unsatisfactory ending. I enjoyed this much more than book one, but it did leave me disappointed due to the ending.

As mentioned, this book is told by many POVs. A different narrator was used for each POV, which I greatly appreciate. I think if makes audiobooks more interesting and complete. It also makes it easier to keep track of characters.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Podcasts are America's latest obsession, and this book centers on a podcaster eager to start a new podcast, this time with a film crew. Buried secrets, unexplained deaths and more make this a fun listen

This is book 2 in the Jess Keeler, but I didn’t read the first one and I didn’t feel lost (although there were some spoilers for the first one in this one). I listened to the audiobook of this one and while I thought the number of narrators was a bit much at times, I thought the people reading each voice did a wonderful job bringing their characters to life. The story takes place in two timelines during the summer of 1984, the blood red summer and the present time. In the present day podcaster Jess Keeler has joined with a television crew who wants her to investigate another crime but on tv instead of her podcast. When Jess finds out there had been a sniper killer who killed 6 people that was barely investigated and she’s asked to investigate by the family of the man who was convicted of the crimes, despite his family’s doubts of his guilt. The more Jess digs into the case the more roadblocks she hits and people who refuse to talk about the crimes or the convicted man. In the past we follow two police officers/deputies and a reporter determined to find the truth despite the apathy law enforcement has for crimes against criminals or African American people. I really enjoyed this book and despite the couple of spoilers I will read the first and despite the ending I hope there is more to come.

Blood Red Summer
Eryk Pruitt
This is the second book in the Jess Keeler Thrillers Series. Jess has a podcast where she investigates unsolved mysteries. A documentary crew and Jess are searching for an unsolved murder she can investigate and do a documentary on. A stranger approaches Jess and after sweet talking her asks her to investigate a crime from 1984, The Lake Castor Sniper. Five people were murdered. A black man was arrested and later admitted his guilt but was he really guilty?
This book falls into the genre of police procedural crime tales. There are several topics gently addressed in this book including racism. I wanted to like this book, but it did not hold my attention.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a review copy.

I hadn’t read the first book in this series but didn’t find that I needed to, although I’m now intrigued enough to go back and listen/ read it!
The story jumps around time lines and characters quite a bit but was made clear enough who and when they were speaking so once I knew this was going to happen it was fine.
I found the plot interesting and certainly kept me engaged but I was never gripped by a ‘who done it, what’s going to happen next, someone’s in peril’ kind of way.
The characters were all well written and I’d happily read something else by the author or the next book in the series, if there is another.
All of the narrators were 10/10 and I’d actively look for something they are in again.