Petra Kovach is a young reporter who fears she'll be laid off from her third newspaper job, this time at the Boston Clarion. But Petra pitches the launch of a true crime podcast focusing on an unsolved murder case to save her career. Alt-right YouTuber Olivia was killed in her Harvard dorm room 2 years ago. Petra has a personal connection to Olivia, she was her camp counselor and considered her like a little sister.

At first, Petra’s investigation and early podcast episodes get increasing interest, online clicks and revenue for the newspaper. As her podcast star rises, Petra wonders if can fend off her main rival Natalie, get the fame she deserves & justice for Olivia. Petra is willing to make unethical decisions and crucify her sources and possible murder suspects online and in the ensuing national media coverage. But when her tactics start to backfire, Petra takes one final desperate move to fix everything and save her career at any cost. A disturbing view of the addictive quest for clicks and questionable tactics used by some journalists.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing. All opinions are my own.

A thriller that explores a person’s role on social media and the lengths a journalist will go to find a killer and to get her story. This one is short but packs a punch. I drawn in immediately by the epilogue where the author really sets the scene and draws you in. I was keen to find out why Livvy changed so much and what happened to her. It keeps up at a decent pace the whole way through. I was lured in by all the red herrings along the way and taken by surprise by the ending. I was fascinated by behind the scenes of a true crime blog, the rivalries and how cutthroat the journalism industry can be.

I have never had such mixed feelings about a main character before. On one hand I admired Petra’s drive and determination and the way she cared for Livvy. However, the way she treated people, distorted the truth in the name of a good story and some her questionable decisions and actions made her very unlikeable. I was so frustrated by her but I still needed to keep reading to find out what was next! A solid thriller.

4.5 ⭐️‘s
Petra Kovach met Olivia Anderson when Olivia was just fourteen and Petra was a twenty-one year old college senior working as a counselor at a journalism boot camp. All Olivia wanted was to do good in the world and be famous. The two became close and bonded even more over similar family tragedies. Years later when Olivia starts college at Harvard, she’s a totally different person, she’s morphed into a wild extremist creating YouTube videos full of hate. Videos that caught fire as her followers grew exponentially. Soon after Olivia announces big news of a new video dropping, she is found dead in her college dorm. Two and a half years later, Petra is working as an investigative reporter for the Boston Clarion. She’s not had the best luck with jobs and when her back is to the wall once again, she claims she has new information on Olivia’s death and wants a chance to do a podcast. Determined to save and make her career, Petra doesn’t always make the most ethical choices determined to get the scoop before another ambitious young journalist assigned to help with her podcast gets there first. While the world thinks they know who killed Olivia, Petra comes up with a host of new suspects, crossing lines and not caring if people get hurt in the process, Petra is determined to get the justice Olivia deserves, but will she come up with the answers she is so hard pressed for or will she sell her soul for the outcome she is is desperate for. With a plot that could be ripped right out of today’s headlines, Witten once again has a winner of a book. One that grips you fast and holds on tight until the final twist. Well done!! Thank you to Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

What a tangled web! It’s a twisted story for sure. I can’t say I really liked any of the characters. Petra and Natalie both annoyed me. The story did keep my attention. I mainly kept reading to find out who the killer really was.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Fantastic story that brings you into the mind and drama on how journalist see things and work. Maybe not as crazy as in this story but then again you never know.
Well written that makes you want to pick it up and read it and get lost in the story.
I truly enjoyed this book.

Thanks to the author,the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

I started Matt Witten's KILLER STORY, put it down. Started it again and read through, aching for someone to like, something to grasp onto in a convoluted, poorly constructed story about Petra, a journalist who is supposedly going to solve a cold case because she is passionate about justice for a person she once knew and also because it will resuscitate a floundering career in publication. Cardboard characters, predictable twists and turns overwhelmed a fascinating premise that needed a powerful, believable protagonist driven by more than the feel good and save herself impulses that characterized this book. Given this experience, I was shocked to discover that earlier work, specifically THE NECKLACE, are tight, interesting, well-written stories. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

Killer Story by Matt Witten is an edgy thriller focused on a journalist investigating a young woman’s murder. But it is so much more, as the story unfolds under a larger umbrella of the quest for personal integrity balanced with journalistic license.
The protagonist, Petra, is a print journalist who is caught in the imploding newspaper industry. When her younger mentee, Olivia, is found savagely murdered, Petra decides to solve the murder and, in desperation to retain her job, peddles a podcast to her newspaper editor. Along the way, Petra deals with the need for popularity/”clicks” in the social media arena, unscrupulous competitive co-workers, and her fiancée Jonah’s concerns about her obsession with her true-crime podcast.
I very much like the way Matt Witten tells a story, with short, staccato chapters infusing energy into the narrative, and a compulsively readable storyline. The characters are well-drawn—Petra is suitably self-absorbed in her career ups and downs, while unfortunately lacking a solid moral compass. Her fiancée Jonah provides the compass, but she rarely takes the high road in her decisions. It is sometimes uncomfortable to read, as Petra espouses the pursuit of the truth but also destroys reputations with little basis or regard for the consequences. It certainly captures real life in the current world of blogs, vlogs, and sensational digital journalism. This story does expose the dilemma of honest journalists who seek the truth but may not be heard over the clamor of the hungry tabloid media.
The strength of Witten’s story-telling kept me reading intently to the end. Rather than like Petra, though, I was happy to be free of this complicated character, who professes commitment to the truth as she spreads untruths on a larger digital platform. Read this as a well-told cautionary tale for those aspiring to journalistic integrity amid the challenges of the 21st century communications industry.
Witten is an accomplished writer. I recommend this novel, as well as his previous excellent work “The Necklace.”

Thank you to OceanView and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Killer Story is my first novel by Matt Witten. I picked it up because it features a true crime podcast at its center and that's like catnip for me. Petra is a reporter who is about to lose her job, one of many such losses that she's experienced in recent years. Determined to not be fired she comes up with the idea of doing a podcast on a local murder. Her editor gives her the go-ahead but Petra doesn't really have any information to jumpstart her podcast. Suddenly, she finds herself in over her head trying to solve the murder of the century. Read and enjoy!

The main character of this fast-paced mystery is Petra Kovach, a struggling reporter with a past connection to the victim in the "Murder of the Century", Olivia Anderson, a social media star with very polarizing opinions. Petra is willing to cross the line to get justice for her old friend and save her career, no matter who is hurt in the process. Petra is an interesting character even though she is sometimes hard to like.

Petra feels so much pressure from her boss, who is also worried about his job and a competitive, back-stabbing colleague, that she often makes questionable decisions in the effort to be successful. Petra continues to race against deadlines and the need to increase her podcast's audience, rumors and under-researched theories are presented as facts, and if they're proven wrong, it's on to the next theory! I have actually seen this method in some true crime shows I've watched!

Even when I was frustrated by Petra, I was completely engaged with the story - both the case she was investigating and what would happen with the podcast and in Petra's personal life. With all of the things that occur, it's clear that not all the characters will get a "happily ever after", but the unique ending makes sense and I like it. I really enjoyed this compelling story and fans of true crime books, tv shows, or podcasts will also like it. I rated it 4.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the advance copy of this ebook. It was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Petra Kovach has high hopes for a successful career in journalism. But after a steady stream of terminations, she needs a new gameplan. To keep her latest job working for a Boston newspaper, she pitches a true crime podcast series about the unsolved murder of Olivia "Livvy" Anderson, an alt-right blogger brutally killed in her Harvard dorm several years before. Petra has an inside track as she was a former camp counselor of Livvy's and the two had once been very close. Petra disagreed with Livvy's extreme political views but still felt that the case needed to be reopened. The accused killer was acquitted, and the police simply felt the jury got it wrong, not them. Petra starts her own investigation and throws all journalistic ethics out the window, pushed by her boss who is also worried about losing his job. Petra presents a slew of possible and legitimate suspects - but has total disregard for the impact these accusations might have on each of them. Will the crime ever be solved and if so, at what cost?

Killer Story by Matt Witten is a well-developed mystery thriller that raises many questions about the current state of journalism. The book is often an uncomfortable read. Petra's tactics are despicable, and she defends her decision to continually cross the lines of journalistic integrity because she is seeking "justice for Olivia'' yet she seems to be thoroughly enjoying her newfound adoration and fame as podcast click-throughs keep increasing. The mystery of who killed Olivia took some interesting twists and turns and kept me guessing. I generally like to root for the main character but found that near impossible with Petra, yet her characterization made complete sense given the theme of the story. It's a timely book worth a look.

Killer Story definitely kept me reading, from one train wreck decision made by Petra to the next and the next and the next. Witten does not hold back. At first I found Petra a likeable, sympathetic character, but the more I read the more I disliked every single person in the book except for Petra's boyfriend Jonah - who mainly shows up to express disapproval at Petra's latest scheme to keep her job. As despicable as all the people in this book are it was still a fun read, and though I'm sure it's an exaggerated view of how the media can twist things to suit their narratives it is a great reminder to take things you read in the news with a grain of salt. Read this if you are looking for a snarky take on true crime podcasting.

Petra has always dreamed of being a journalist, but is having difficulty finding steady work. When her job hunt finds her on the verge of a layoff in Boston, she makes a last ditch effort to her boss to start a podcast involving a murder of someone she met years ago. Even though she’s convinced the police got the wrong guy, she must now bring to light new suspects in a whirlwind goose chase. As she uncovers secrets and lies she must decide what’s true, what’s not, and who she has to hurt in the process in order to get the truth. And she hopes the truth will truly set her free.

Killer Story by Matt Witten is a highly recommended mystery about a journalist searching for the truth behind a murder.

Petra Kovach, is a young reporter who has been laid off several times and is about to be let go again when she pitches a story to her editor. She claims to have sensational inside undisclosed information about the murder of Olivia (Livvy) Anderson. Petra was a counselor at a journalism camp Olivia attended when she was 14 and the two kept in touch. Olivia became a successful podcaster while at Harvard and was killed. The professor tried for the crime was acquitted, so the real killer was never found. When Petra ran into Olivia's brother, Eric, one night he intimated that he had knowledge that the police didn't know.

Although Petra didn't have any new information, she claims she does in order to keep her job. Her bravado over the claim of new material concerning the unsolved murder is now to be a series presented as both a podcast and in print. She desperately searches for new clues and ends up betraying confidences and her integrity. This lack of principles is rampant among the journalists. Is Petra really looking for justice for Olivia or is she more interested in advancing her career?

It is clear that Petra so desperately wants to succeed as a journalist that she will quickly set aside any professional ethics. It may present itself as a story about searching for justice, but it is really a story about how low Petra will go to get the next sensational story. This is what makes the story compelling, but it isn't really shocking. Despite journalist claiming they have standards, it is obvious that many would do the same thing Petra did, set principles and legalities aside to get a sensational story out that will result in more clicks, views, and downloads.

Due to her actions, Petra is an unlikable, flawed character. As the narrative unfolds, Petra actions reflect her mindset. She becomes more concerned with each sensational new revelation and the clicks it will get as she increasingly sets aside ethics while framing it all as "justice for Olivia" rather than the more truthful "career for Petra."

The twists and the direction of the investigation aren't surprising. What kept me immersed in the story was following Petra's increasingly competitive and the-ends-justify-the-means attitude. I kept wondering just how low she would go before she realized what she was doing, and how the ethics of all the journalists seemed to be tossed out the window for the clicks. And then, yeah, solving the murder mystery and learning who really killed Olivia.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Oceanview Publishing via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, Edelweiss, and Amazon.

Petra Kovach thinks she's about to be commended when she's called into her editor's office and will be able to pitch the story she's been waiting for two years to suggest, when she's told she's about to be laid off yet again due to budget cuts. In desperation, she claims to have a new lead in the case of the "Murder of the Century," in which a young college student was killed in her dorm room. The student happened to be a controversial YouTuber and like a little sister to Petra. With only a couple weeks to prove her worth in the form of a podcast, Petra must now get people to talk to her and come up with something new, no matter what it takes.

I really enjoyed "The Necklace," so when I saw Matt Witten had a new book coming, I lunged at the chance to review it and I'm so glad I did!

I finished this book in a day. A day. I was just that sucked in. Which is unusual for me in journalist-lead stories because, as a journalist, I tend to find them unrealistic and tedious. I just don't relate. But this one? It was fun! Sure, Petra broke about every major ethical rule in journalism, but the need to find something, anything to jazz up yet another zoning meeting? Nailed it. The hunger to get something, anything by trawling message boards, Facebook, Twitter? Been there. The thrill of finding that one lead you need? I could feel it through the pages! Of course I did cringe when she did certain things, but that was kind of the point - to feel the highs and lows, the desperation and the cringe.

Be warned, you're not going to love Petra, but I think there's an important character study in trauma and the cycle of needing to prove yourself that could be done here. You'll see what I mean when you read about Petra's own backstory and her connection to the case.

And of course, there were plenty of amazing twists and turns that just kept me glued to the story. I almost couldn't believe that ending! I won't say anything else, but yeah. It's the payoff is great; Just like a good longform piece of podcast should have!

Overall, I highly recommend picking this one up if you're looking for a good story with plenty of action and some killer twists.

Writing this review really sums up everything that's hardest about being a book reviewer. (And no, I'm not talking about my 5-month-old puppy who thinks I should be playing with her rather than sat down at the laptop.)

It's so much easier when you're writing a review of, say, a car. Or perhaps a large hotel that's part of a chain. Because there's no personal connection. You won't end up talking to the manufacturers, or owners, and they won't talk to you. And that's fine, because it means you can offer your opinion - even if your opinion is "that was terrible" - without any feeling of guilt.

But with books, it's not like that. Even if the author is someone I have never heard of, I know that the book is the work of a single person who has devoted months, and sometimes years to the writing. I know that their livelihood often depends on sales, which reviews - yes, even mine - might influence. And if my review is negative, it tends to be written with a sense of 'imposter syndrome' because I know full well that I couldn't write a book. So who am I to criticise those that can, and have done?

Worst of all, though, is when you've loved a book so much that you want to find out more about the author. Perhaps you'll contact them - and with social media, that's very easy to do. Better still, the author might actually read your review and actually contact you - yes, little, insignificant you - to acknowledge it. It may even be that a friendship develops.

And that's wonderful. But what if they then write another book, and you don't like it as much?

Obviously, as a reviewer, I know I should be objective and impartial, and say just that. But emotionally, how can I? It's like telling my friend that their baby is ugly. In front of an audience.

As you may have realised, I'm procrastinating. But I can put it off no longer. This problem is exemplified, more for me than ever before, in the case of 'Killer Story' by Matt Witten.

I loved his previous novel, 'The Necklace' so much that I cursed my own limitations as a relatively newly-established reviewer. Because not only did I want to put the author on a pedastal, I wanted to climb onto it with him and tell the whole world how much they should read it. So when the author messaged me - me! - to gift me a copy of his next book, it felt, as I said at the time, as though my day, my week and even my year had been made.

So I started the book with a huge sense of excitement and anticipation. Which probably has something to do with why, upon reaching the end, I actually felt a bit gutted. Not because 'Killer Story' is a bad book - I hasten to say that this isn't the case. But because it really didn't work for me in the same way that 'The Necklace' did.

'Killer Story' tells the story of Petra Kovach, a young journalist who is fighting for her career in what is a declining industry. Recently, the man on trial for the murder of a far-right 'YouTube' influencer has been found not guilty by a jury. Petra used to share a room with the victim and loved her like a sister, despite their political differences. So what better way to save your career than to embark on an investigation to find the real killer, and to document any new revelations in a series of articles and podcasts?

But the trouble is that in 'The Necklace', the crime stays at the forefront throughout and every single one of the main character's actions is driven by a mother's love for her child and her desperate need to find closure. In 'Killer Story', it doesn't. It becomes all about Petra, her infighting with a colleague at the newspaper, her increasingly underhand and ruthless methods to find the truth - actually no, not the truth, just something that will pass for it - and a resulting whole host of broken promises, and consequences that range from unpleasant to tragic.

Of course, I wanted to keep on reading the book until the finish. The writing is too strong for anything else to be possible. But by the end, I had come to despise Petra so much that I didn't particularly care, or even want to know what the outcome would be for her.

I can see how 'Killer Story' would be a good read for a book club. It even includes a series of questions that could be used as discussion points. And I appreciated the author's note at the end of the book, which gives an explanation for why, and how, he wrote it. But I still can't help but compare it to 'The Necklace', in which none of this is necessary, because the book works so wonderfully that none of these points even need to be discussed.

Look at it this way. If Rolls Royce were to launch a motorbike, motoring journalists and drivers alike would have a lot to discuss. Perhaps it could be argued, with some justification, that their attempt to do something different should be applauded. But ultimately, it wouldn't be a patch on the exclusive and luxury car that so many of those same people quietly dream of owning one day.

To sum up, then. 'Killer Story' isn't bad. But if you haven't read 'The Necklace', then read it. If you have read 'The Necklace', remember it. And, whilst I'm sure that this isn't the review that the author was hoping for, I hope he appreciates that, unlike his character Petra, everything I've written has been honest and without any wish for personal gain.

Petra Kovach is about to be laid off from her third newspaper. In a last-ditch effort to save her job, she pitches her boss the idea of a true crime podcast. Not just any crime - but to solve the murder of a young girl she used to know. Petra jumps in full speed ahead. But as her leads begin to dry up, she burns some bridges in attempts to find more information. With only a few weeks to crack the case, Petra will stop at nothing - including breaking the law and putting her own life at risk.

Whew. I felt like I had a lot to digest after finishing this story. Although Petra’s heart was in the right place, she did some questionable things to say the least. At what point does one stop saying “the ends justify the means”? I can’t remember the last book I read with such a morally gray main character. On one hand, she made me so angry but on the other, I was rooting for her to get to the truth. And the final twist really got me good! I also loved the journalist point of view - I could never do that life but greatly am amazed by those who do! All in a all, this was a fun, thought-provoking and twisty read. It was the first I read by Matt Witten but I look forward to checking out more of his work! Thank you to Netgalley, Oceanview Publishing and Matt Witten for the ARC. “Killer Story” releases January 17th!

This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly 😊

A highly original and exciting read!

What an aptly named book this is! If there is one person who can write a Killer Story, then it’s Matt! After loving his previous book – The Necklace, I couldn’t wait to dive into this one, and I was not disappointed!

We follow Petra in this story as she tries to make it as a successful reporter after being repeatedly fired from her previous jobs. Sensing that history is about to repeat itself in her current job, Petra pleads with her boss to give her a chance and let her launch a true crime podcast. She’ll need a killer story for it to be a success. Well, isn’t that lucky that she has one!

A few years ago, Petra’s close friend Livvy was murdered in her dorm room. Everyone thought it was the professor boyfriend even when he was exonerated, but what if it wasn’t?

As Petra inserts herself into Livvy’s world, she begins to open can after can of worms, creating multiple suspects along the way. The girls got ambition, and it seems at times that she doesn’t care who she squashes on her journey to making the podcast a success, but there is more to it than that! Petra genuinely wants justice for Livvy and whilst a lot of what she says and does is rather unorthodox she feels in her heart of hearts that she is doing the right thing!

As characters go, I can see that Petra might be a bit of a marmite one! You’ll either love her or hate her. Whilst I didn’t like a lot of the things she did, I did really like her! Just like Susan in The Necklace, Matt has created another main character that takes you on a journey and with some great twists and turns along the way this story is a real page-turner.

Matt is a hugely talented writer, who writes authentically. Whilst I know there are a few books around that feature podcasts, I found this one very different and unique. I had no idea who the killer was as I changed my mind multiple times throughout the book. It is a great who dunnit mystery and I was shocked and surprised by the outcome.

There were probably a couple of ways this book could have ended, and I think Matt chose the perfect one. I’d say there’s even a lesson to be learned in this book if you are as ambitious as Petra was!

Shocking, intense and full of suspense! Be sure to check out Killer Story which will be published on January 17th.

Thank you so much to Matt Witten and Oceanview Publishing for my copy of this book in exchange for an open and review.

Are you into crime podcasts, in particular true crime podcasts? This lures you into this world, in a fictional way of course, but where there’s fiction, there’s often an element of realism too… This book is sure to excite fans of crime fiction and podcasts and You Tube alike.
It is a hard-hitting, riveting novel at the height of true crime podcasts. 

She was a normal teenage girl who liked Taylor Swift and bootcamps… and then, this girl, Olivia or Livvy for short, is murdered and 2 years later, her killer is still at large. Killer Story is chilling to the bone and a look into the modern times we live in. Witten gives readers a glimpse into social media, especially YouTube and how seemingly little innocent videos, some about life in general, some about political views can turn into the end of your life.

Petra Kovach has much more than a passing interest in this unsolved murder case. Readers see her embark on her own investigation and she takes it seriously, pouring over the evidence, the life threads she’s left behind, the past suspects. It is of course much more complicated that this. Her stepdad was involved in politics and the circles surrounding them, the people targeting Olivia weren’t for putting political differences aside as Petra was. It’s deeply dark and twisty with what gets uncovered about Olivia’s life as she pours over YouTube videos she made. Petra finds herself in rather deep water as the book becomes increasingly tense as she starts to act on her hunches.
She also has her personal issues left with her from losing jobs and almost being fired  from her current one. Then along comes an opportunity to do a podcast. This provides an interesting look into the collision of the world of journalism and podcasts.
It is also the job of Detective O’Keefe to hear Petra out about what she thinks happened. This doesn’t stop Petra from investigating further. There are many twists and turns in not just what is uncovered with the murder, but also about podcasts and her own desire to do anything she can, no matter what the cost and whose feet she treads on or what she discloses in her podcast. 

It’s a riveting read from start to finish in a tightly written story, making it very tense as it delves into some of the most modern forms of media. It is, at times enlightening as well as gripping and a book I highly recommend.
Rated 4.5/5 stars on my blog - Bookmarks and Stages

Killer Story introduces us to Petra Kovach, an idealistic journalist. She finds herself drawn to her mentee, another young and idealistic aspiring journalist, Livvy. Years after meeting Livvy, Petra finds out that she's killed in her dorm room, and Petra feels like Livvy wasn't given the justice that she deserves. In her desperation not to be fired again, Petra pitches to turn Livvy's story into a podcast, convincing her boss that she thinks there's a different killer than who the police caught. What ensues is a problematic and chaotic journey for listens, clicks, money, and justice.

Honestly, this book drew me in because of its blurb. I think stories centered on a podcast are interesting, and so I dove into this book expecting so much, but although there was a lot of shock factor (because of all the controversial topics), it just wasn't it. Actually, so many of the controversial topics seemed like it was inserted just for the shock value. Okay, no problem with that.

There were so many unnecessary things happening. And although I don't usually shy away from problematic books, I didn't appreciate how Petra doing unlawful and immoral things made her some kind of hero. I'm giving this 2 stars instead of 1 because I liked that it ended up with her in jail. But I don't like that she seemed to still be put on a pedestal.

And what really was the point of this book? Was it really that if you care truly about someone, you're willing to go through everything? Or was it that people care more about clicks and likes these days? Or was it that journalists are filled with lies? Is that really the message that we want to go through with? It's fine, though. I think there's so much to think about with this book, but it was a really stressful ride that I was always wishing would just end.

I would recommend this, still, especially to people who enjoy reading books that have good twists!

Wow. Petra may be one of the most unlikable protagonists I've ever read. And I normally like unlikable protagonists! But it became next to impossible to root for Petra and her crew to solve the mystery when what I really wanted was for her to fail.