I enjoyed the format of this book -- the trend of mysteries/thrillers being told as true crime books is kind of fun, but this story fell a bit flat for me overall. The pace was incredibly slow and repetitive, until the super rushed final reveal of what happened to Zoe Nolan, which was quite a letdown. I'd definitely read another book by this author because the idea behind this story was great.

So, there's a new category or type of book that is being written. This book by Joseph Knox and Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar are the two perfect examples. They take fiction and write it in such a way, mixing in real facts, blending in photos, real life locations, interviews, newspapers, real people...so many actual details that it's hard to know where the line is. It's hard to know what is real.

True Crime Story is the story of Zoe Nolan. It's also the story of Kim Nolan, of Andrew Flowers, of Joseph Knox, of Evelyn Mitchell. It's about desire and ambition, it's about friendship, sisters, relationships, music, sex, college, money, love, family, identity, growing up. It's secrets buried, it's secrets uncovered.

I loved this book and hope that this is just the beginning of book of this nature.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A fiction book that reads like fact, but with minimal success.

Zoe Nolan disappeared in the winter of 2011 from Manchester University, where she was a first year student. Years later, writer Evelyn Mitchell decides to write a book about the strange disappearance of the woman who was never seen again. She interviews friends and family, hoping to dig deeper into the life of Zoe, in hopes of finding out what happened to her.

Evelyn enlists the help of Joseph Knox, a well known crime author (and author of this book). She hopes that between the two of them, they can figure out the secrets surrounding Zoe’s disappearance. As Joseph reads more of what Evelyn has written so far and offers his theories, Evelyn starts to feel watched...and thinks someone close to the book may not want the story to be told.

True Crime Story is a work of fiction, written as a true crime novel. It’s told through interview transcripts and newspaper articles...along with email correspondence between Evelyn and Joseph. While I absolutely loved the format, the rest left much to be desired.

The characters were all obnoxious and terrible in their own ways, and I felt like there was way too much focus on them when the story should’ve focused more on Zoe. I understand that these folks were in her life, but it was too much insincerity.

While I applaud that the book made a point to focus on the victim as opposed to the suspect(s)/bad people, I never really cared for Zoe or what happened to her. She was too vapid.

It was a bit of a toll to get through this, as I found it slow and taking too long to get to the point. Every now and then, a suspenseful moment would occur. I kept chugging along in hopes that the ending would be worth my while. It wasn’t.

I see why some reviewers enjoyed this one, but while there were definitely intriguing and clever bits, it wasn’t enough for me. The crime and characters just weren’t compelling. If you’re looking for something similar (and stronger) in terms of reading like a true crime novel, I recommend Chasing The Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar.

2.5 stars.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 12/7/21.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

A very interesting fictional true crime story. A group of people together the night Zoe, a 19 year old girl, goes missing. I really enjoyed the writing style told in corresponding interviews of the Zoe's friends. There were lots of twists and turns in the books and it kept me guessing all the way through. The style of writing was magnificent and oh so clever.

I like a book with so many twists!!!!! It was exciting, the title alone is what excited me the most, anything true crime gets me all happy. The twists and turns were amazing, but I felt like the story at times was going in circles, and the author using Evelyn's notes or her emails?? Why didn't she just publish her own work??? I loved how the whole story was written, just needed it to get to the point, it was a little of a slow burn for me, I was BEASTING for the truth of what happened to Zoe.

Thanks Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

The format of this book made it a quick read for which I am thankful. I didn't find Zoe's disappearance that interesting nor the interviews very compelling. The only interesting part was the revelation at the end which was too little too late.

Wow. What a roller coaster read. Is it fact or fiction? I absolutely loved the format of each friend/family member/acquaintance of the victim giving their versions of what transpired. As you move through the book, you get more and more info from each one that starts to shock you. You think you know them then wham.

This is written so well that a little bit in I started googling to find the Zoe Nolan case. Generally, my research skills are excellent, but I couldn't find a thing. But then I found an article about the book that explained the truth and I had to laugh at myself.

I've read another book by Joseph Knox and he is an incredibly good writer. He writes like someone with much more experience than his age. Seeing his picture the first time blew my mind. He's such a seasoned author, I expected someone in his 40s at least. But I'm happy he's so young as that means we'll get so many more books out of him.

Excellent book. Excellent author.

You've GOT TO LOVE when a book makes you question if its true crime or fiction...this really, truly kept me guessing and wondering what the hell would happen next.

This was my first Joseph Knox read and will absolutely not be my last.

I love when an author sucks you into their world and doesn't let you go, long after the final page.

DNF: There is a story in this book somewhere. It may even be fascinating. However, the format and the completely disgusting whinny characters made me quickly move on to a better suited novel. I have no idea where this missing girl went, but this is a horrible way to format a true crime novel.

We follow a convoluted story with growing perspectives, suspicions and deaths as we watch two authors try to puzzle out who kidnapped and probably killed Zoe Nolan.

The story reads as notes, emails and complied interviews and twist and turn introducing us to possible suspects, all of which are assumed to be from the 7 or so closest to her.

Zoe and Kim begin classes at the University of Manchester after fulfilling the desires of the parents and not, respectively. The girls are there to spread their wings and learn how to be their own people, but things go south three months later when Zoe goes missing and their lives are changed forever.

As the tensions escalate between their friends and loved ones, some truths will be difficult to swallow and some lies will be too well told.

🌱 Was I surprised at the one responsible? Nope. Too many crime shows. Very Solid read though.

For fans of true crime documentaries and stories, or someone who likes stories of missing persons and who-dunnits. A great escape that sucked me in!

As a fan of true crime I was excited to get this book. It sucked me in from page 1 and I read it quickly. It kept me entertained the whole way through.

I will not be fully reviewing this book. I started it, but was not in the right mindset to finish it. I was definitely appreciative of the content, and will surely pick it up again soon. I will then fully review.

19 year old Zoe Nolan disappears one night from a college party that’s attended by her twin sister and all of their friends. 7 years later there is still no answer as to what happened to Zoe but an author has started researching the story to try to get an answer through the form of true crime interviews. Originally I was disappointed by the lack of true resolution to the tale, but that may have been the point. You don’t always get an answer with true crime…

A wild ride of a true crime book. The story is told in an unique style using interviews to provide the details of the story. The interaction of all the individuals is outstanding and the plot will hold your attention. If you enjoy true crime novels, this is a must read!

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wildly original and page-turning, this story is one that will make readers forget that it's fiction, and it's a must read for those who follow true crime and those who are hesitant about the genre alike. There are plenty of moments to keep readers guessing and- if they are anything like me- gasping with the cleverly plotted details and reveals. It's always fascinating when authors effectively write themselves into their fictional stories (such as with Anthony Horowitz's Hawthorne and Horowitz books), and I think Joseph Knox handled this brilliantly. With true crime having been having such a major and impactful moment over the last 5ish years, it's interesting to see all the different ways this is being used in fiction, and this story is one of the more effective uses I've seen.

While I was super excited to dive into this book, I have to give an unpopular opinion and say the style just didn’t work for me. I know others raved about it’s uniqueness, which it was, I guess I just prefer my books a bit more traditional in their presentation. Thank you for the opportunity to give this one a try!

I'm a big fan of Joseph - the Aiden Waits books are really enjoyable. His world is dark and gritty and full of very engaging writing. So when I saw the latest Knox book, claiming to blend fact and fiction, I was immediately intrigued.

Unlike a lot of people, I like when authors write themselves into their stories. I find it a fascinating and twisty way to enhance a story - at least, in the hands of a talented writer. And Joseph Knox is a talented writer. I found myself Googling to see what was real and what wasn't and figure out what was going on in this one from the opening gambit.

It was a thoroughly engaging story and while I don't usually like epistolary novels or a lot of shift in (unreliable) narrators, I found this one to be a heck of a ride from start to finish!

In the vein of Daisy Jones and the Six, True Crime Story utilizes an interview compilation style to tell the story of the disappearance of Zoe Nolan, who was a 19-year-old college student in Manchester. We hear from Zoe's friends, family, and acquaintances; including her twin sister, Kimberly; her ex-boyfriend, Andrew, and her friends, Liu, Fintan, and Jai. Joseph Knox, the author, is part of the story as he corresponds with Evelyn, an author friend using the interviews for her new book about Zoe.

I'll admit, this took me quite a while to finish, because I really struggled to get into the story initially. Even now, I really think that this story is going to be even better as an audiobook. I had a similar issue with Daisy Jones, which lead to me switching to its audio version. I think audiobooks lend themselves really well to books in interview formats, because hearing different voices for the different interviewees can help distinguish and humanize their characters.

Initial struggles aside, this ended up being a 5-star read for me. It has been a long time since I've read a mystery/thriller whose 'big reveal' has genuinely shocked me, but True Crime Story did just that. I sat in bed repeatedly saying "what the h*ll" , as everything fell into place. It being the first novel in a while where I didn't predict at least part of the reveal means it's a big win in my book (no pun intended). Also, many aspects of the story were very atmospheric and left me feeling creeped out, which I really enjoyed.

I highly recommend this, especially for those who are fans of podcasts/true crime, or for anyone who wants to be left saying "what just happened" by the last page. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a chance to read this!

I admit it; I had to Google whether the Zoe Nolan case was an actual case. It's the first time I have ever been duped in this way. The manner in which the author inserts himself into the narrative is sort of brilliant. The structure of the novel as a series of interviews also blurs the line somewhat between fiction and reality. The twists and turns definitely held my interest right up to the end. I will definitely recommend this book to patrons who want a unique mystery.