Thank you St. Martins Press for my Netgalley copy of DARK CORNERS by Megan Goldin, out 8/8/2023.

I loved the Rachel Krall novel #1, The Night Swim, and I SUPER loved this follow-up to it!! Give me all the Rachel Krall books!!! I want 17,482 books with this character. Make Megan Goldin the new James Patterson, please please please. After recently reading PEOPLE TO FOLLOW, I love the inclusion of influencers in thrillers! It makes for fun and dramatic reading, and the twist in this is shockingly gripping.

Compared to the first book, I loved the addition of romance. I was so nervous of this inclusion (I hate when women sleep with a man and then find out he’s a killer after having such enticing intuition the rest of the novel) so I’m glad they didn’t go that route.

I also liked how spicy Rachel was in this book compared to the first. She takes no ones shit and is incredibly sassy at times. I feel like we go to know her more as a character instead of just a bystander to the crime. She’s a whole piece to the puzzle as we uncover the story.

This book is EXTREMELY readable - I read it in less than 2 days! I’ve said it a hundred times, but I will read anything Megan Goldin reads. Big thanks to the publisher for giving me early access to one of my fave authors!

Highly recommend checking this one out after you read The Night Swim (but it can also be read as a standalone!).

3.5/5 stars.

DARK CORNERS is the sequel to THE NIGHT SWIM but can be read as a standalone without any issue.

Maddison Logan, a young social media influencer, disappears after visiting Terence Bailey in prison where he is set to be released in the next few days. The FBI are stuck at a dead end in their investigation and request Rachel Krall's help, famous true crime podcaster of Guilty or Not Guilty, to find the missing influencer. Rachel attends BuzzCon, a popular influencer event, using a fake instagram account to dig up some leads, uncovering information that she never would have expected.

I really enjoyed that DARK CORNERS allowed us to revisit Rachel after getting to know her in THE NIGHT SWIM. Rachel is a journalist/reporter who has her own true crime podcast, Guilty or Not Guilty, which she has used as a platform to have trials revisited. DARK CORNERS has what I believe to be podcast snippets interspersed throughout which I thought was interesting. I liked the podcast angle in THE NIGHT SWIM so was curious how Megan Goldin would include it here. I would have enjoyed more of the podcast angle than what was provided though.

The pacing of DARK CORNERS is what really missed the mark for me here. I felt like there was a lot of things happening while simultaneously nothing was happening between the 25 to 75% mark. There were disappearances, deaths, and discoveries going on, but nothing that really moved the needle so to speak. It was becoming monotonous and I was starting to wonder if anything would ever spark up. The last 15-20% is where all the suspense really builds up and had me waiting with anticipation to find out what would happen next.

I enjoyed the many subplots, particularly that of the influencers. The backstage view into a the cutthroat world of an influencer convention was unique and added a little something extra to the story that I've not encountered in other thrillers of late.

I did not particularly enjoy the romantic subplot, feeling that it was forced and lacked believability. This addition felt like it was thrown in to add more depth to the characters and their working relationship, but it ultimately didn't really work for me.

I was disappointed in how neatly tied up the ending was without much detail really being shared with the reader. The reader is kept at a distance and is told what happened rather than seeing it first-hand which I thought broke the connection the reader has with Rachel throughout the rest of the story.

Pacing issues aside, I will still pick up the next book Megan writes!

<i>I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions shared are my own.</i>

3⭐️

Rachel Krall had never heard of Terence Bailey or Madison Logan before the FBI reached out to her a few days before Bailey was set to be released from prison. While he was only in prison for breaking and entering with an extended sentence after an assault, Bailey was suspected of killing several girls prior to his arrest. In the six years he had been in prison, influencer Madison Logan was his only visitor and during that visit, Rachel's name was brought up. Madison went missing shortly after the visit.

Rachel arrived in Florida with the thought that she would have an exclusive to a FBI investigation that she could use on her podcast. When Agent Martinez attempted to send her home, Rachel decided to investigate on her own. Which is how she found herself in the middle of Buzzcon, an influencer convention, attempting to find out what happened to Madison Logan before Bailey is released.

I absolutely loved The Night Swim last year and so I was excited to see a new Rachel Krall book being released. Unfortunately, Dark Corners did not live up to my expectations. I was able to predict most of the twists very early on and I was never pulled into the story as much as I was with The Night Swim.

For whatever reason, the writing felt more stilted to me. The influencer convention could have been interesting but instead came across as a stereotype of what people think influncers are. The conversations between characters didn't feel natural; no one says the other persons name EVERY sentence. My biggest complaint was the number of times a persons first and last name was used. The number of times something like "Rachel Krall said to Joe Martinez" or "Rachel Krall did xyz" was said was absurd. It was like every few paragraphs we needed to be reminded what each characters full name was.

This is also more of Kindle book/ARC complaint, but for the chapters that were exerts from Rachel's podcast, their was nothing to designate that. After a few I just made the educated guess that that was what the chapters from a different POV were. In the finished book, or at least the BOTM copy, there is something at the beginning of these chapters to show that they are podcast exerts.

Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this ARC to me!

I was very excited when I learned I was approved for an ARC of Dark Corners (Rachel Krall, #2) by Megan Goldin. Once I started reading the story I had hopes that it just had a slow start and would eventually pick up. But alas, it never did (at least for me). I found the characters to be very flat and unlikable. I found I had no interest in the "influencer" world as detailed in this story. The story had no edge, or tension like the author's previous books, nothing that kept me on the edge of my seat, it was just bland. I tried to like it, but I guess this book just wasn't a good fit for me.

I wish to expend a thank you to St. Martin’s Press, the author and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary advanced copy of this book.

The expected publication date is August 8th, 2023, it will be available in all formats.

For me this was a 2 out of 5 star read. All opinions are my own.

Rachel Krall, true crime podcaster, returns to help find a popular influencer after she goes missing after visiting a suspected serial killer. Days before Terence Bailey is set to be released for. Prison, Maddison Logan visits hi, and then goes missing. When Rachel is called in by the FBI to help, a female body is discovered deal. Unwilling to go home, Rachel goes undercover to help find answers at BuzzCon, an influencer conference. As Rachel starts to find links, she uncovers more questions and and another body.

Great read. Was hooked early on trying to piece everything together. Highly recommended!

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for my honest review

Such a fan of Goldin and her writing. She creates strong, resilient female characters and I can’t get enough. I really enjoyed Dark Corners and the twists it provided. I’ll be eager to read what Goldin produces in the future and she remains one of my top authors.

Synopsis:

Terrence Bailey, the primary suspect in a string of abductions and murders, is about to be released from his six-year prison sentence. As he approaches his release date, he receives a surprise visit from the famous influencer, Maddison Logan. After leaving the prison, Maddison disappears. The FBI calls upon Rachel Krall to infiltrate the world of influencers at the annual BuzzCon conference. When a body appears with the same tattoo that Maddison has, the FBI and Rachel consider an unnerving possibility: Terrence has an accomplice on the outside. As Rachel dives deeper into the case and the true horrors of the influencing world, she finds herself the target of a monster hiding in plain sight. Rachel must crack the case before she falls into the hands of a disturbing monster.


Review:

As always, let's start with the positives.

Megan Goldin's writing is compelling and holds your attention from the first page. With short chapters and action throughout, Goldin's novel is a quick read that is near impossible to put down. When I wasn't reading, I wished I was, or I was thinking about the book. Megan does a great job with the police procedural aspects of the novel and creates a dark crime involving young sex workers and drug addicts. As these young women begin disappearing, the police first doubt the parents and shrug them off as simple runaway cases. Much like the police's reception of Bob Bordello's victims, the police didn't consider the crimes significant due to the victims' jobs. I believe this is an accurate portrayal of society's perception of sex workers. Regarding this idea, Rachel Krall (and by extension Megan Goldin) focuses on the lives of the victims for her podcast. I'll admit, I'm a sucker for true crime and enjoy reading about serial killers and cults. However, this is the point Goldin makes - we don't focus on the victims of crimes nearly as much as the crime itself. I enjoyed this commentary and felt a kinship with Rachel as she fought for the victims and their families.

Regarding the previous element, I did find the crime interesting and was invested in the investigation. The idea of a copycat or accomplice, while a suspect is in prison, adds a high-stakes element. Typically, with abduction cases, the police must think and act quickly. After 72 hours, the likelihood of finding the missing person alive is significantly decreased. Therefore, as the police race to find Maddison, the reader is caught up in the high-octane chase and investigation.

Lastly, the best part of the novel rests in the characters, especially Rachel Krall. Because this is a sequel, we already have a relationship with Rachel and understand her motivations. The series just expands upon Rachel's character and introduces special agent Joe Martinez. While we only get some of Joe's background, we are rooting for him to fit the case together and find Maddison.

Now, the parts I didn't enjoy. Slight spoilers ahead.

I'm no stranger to police procedural novels. Karin Slaughter's Grant County series consumed my life earlier this year. My issue with this novel lies in the ending. Just as the killer is about to act again, Joe Martinez solves the case and rescues the abductees. I do not like this trope at all. It feels so unbelievable. Karin Slaughter's series excels in discussing the terrible crimes that happen and solving them slowly and meticulously. I"m not a cop or detective, but I know that crime cases do not always end tidily with a neat, little bow. As such, the ending of Dark Corners feels rushed.

My next problem is small and did not affect my rating; however, it may turn some readers away from the book. Dark Corners is branded as a thriller. Going back to Ms. Slaughter, her books revolve around crimes, but they are dark and action-packed; therefore, they make sense being branded as thrillers. Because Dark Corners focuses so much on police investigation and investigative reporting, I think labeling the novel as a crime thriller would be more accurate. Where Night Swim is certainly a thriller, its sequel does not follow the same formula and plot structure. If you read this book and are expecting a dark thriller in the vein of Jennifer Hillier or Karin Slaughter, you might be disappointed. However, if you are looking for a crime thriller, this is the perfect novel.

Overall, I had a fun time with this novel. While I didn't like it as much as its predecessor, I enjoyed my time. If you are looking for a fun read with a crime investigation, you will enjoy Goldin's book. I give this sequel a solid four out of five and would recommend it.

4-4.5 stars

This was a great thriller! Highly recommend if you’re looking for a fast-paced, thriller for your beach read (we don’t all love romance at the beach, sometimes we need something suspenseful!).

Technically, this is book #2 in the Rachel Krall Podcast series (follow up to The Night Swim). I actually enjoyed this one more! (Also, could be read as a standalone, if necessary).

(Thank you @netgalley & publisher for my early e-arc - out 8/8!)

Thanks NetGalley, St. martin's Press and Megan Goldin for a copy of this book for my honest review.

This book was not for me. I DNF after 33%. In the little bit I read, I found the main character Rachel Krall to be very annoying and a brat. Rachel is a true crime podcaster. She is called by the FBI to speak to inmate Terence Bailey in a Florida prison. Terence had recently met with a social media influence Maddison Logan and now it appears Maddison is missing. Terence mentioned Rachel's name during his conversation with Maddison so the FBI wants Rachel to talk to Terence to get information about what might have happened to Maddison.

After Rachel met with Terence, the FBI is informed of a women's body that has been found. Rachel is extremely pushy and rude stating that she needs to go to the crime scene and wants more information about what is going on. I was just thinking why would the FBI give her confidential information. She is not an agent. I also didn't have the desire to read about another social media influencer. Maybe I am too old but I am tired of hearing about influencers.

I was very disappointed that I couldn't finish this book. I did not read the first book of this series so I cannot compare my thoughts of this book with the previous book.

I am just tearing through all the Megan Goldin books!! Rachel crall is such a great main character! She’s smart and likable and I can’t wait for you to read the next book in her series!!

This one me up in the middle of the night turning pages, each chapter left me wanting to read the next!

3.5/5⭐️

Second in the Rachel Krall series (previous was The Night Swim which was a 5⭐️ for me).

Rachel (a true crime podcaster) journeys to FL when her name comes up in an FBI investigation involving a missing popular influencer. There are twists and turns, a little romance and a glimpse into the lives of social media celebrities.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get the sense of suspense that I had hoped for in this one and also felt that some extra drama was thrown in that really had no bearing on the main plot. Also, Rachel’s investigation was conveniently easy to conduct while the FBI seemed to mostly be playing catch up.

I’d call this an average read with some over-the-top moments.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing the free early arc of Dark Corners for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Wow, wow, wow.. where do I even begin? I devoured Goldin's book, " The Night Swim", and had high expectationsfor her sophomore book, "Dark Corners"...boy did she deliver! Once again, Rachel Krall is our main character and she is ready for some rest and relaxation after finishing up another true crime podcast. However, when she is awoken in the middle of the night by an FBI agent requesting her help to find a missing influencer, all relaxation is put on hold, Every time I was convinced I knew what was going to happen in this book, Goldin threw in twist after twist leaving the reader to feel dizzy with anticipation. The ending was astounding and very surprising, and I know readers will keep coming back for more!

This was another great book from Megan Goldin following true crime podcaster, Rachel Krall as she investigates the disappearance of a young influencer. Rachel is also drawn into a situation with an inmate who is about to be released from prison and suspected of murdering young women. This inmate and the young social media influencer may be linked, and it is her job to find answers. I was hooked from the first chapter and I couldn’t put this one down. I highly recommend this series and hope to read more about Rachel Krall.

NetGalley Review -- my rating 4/5

"Dark Corners" by Megan Goldin tells famous crime podcaster, Rachel Crandall's second story. Rachel is called down to Daytona Beach by the FBI to speak to a felon who's due to be released in just days about a missing influencer that he spoke to just days before. This twisty page turner takes off from there as Rachel finds herself stuck right in the middle of a crime spree spanning years.

I really enjoyed this one! It kept me hooked the entire time. I almost gave it a 5 but I was really missing the element that Rachel Crandall's first story had....her podcast! I understand why it wasn't added in but I still really wished that element had been included. I didn't guess any of the twists...love it when that happens!

Big thanks to St. Martin's Press for this ARC! Be sure to snag your copy on August 8!

#netgalley #darkcorners #megangoldin #rachelcrandall #guiltyornotguilty

I really enjoyed this story and it was a page turner. I liked that there were multiple perspectives. Rachel is a likeable main character. This book can definitely be read as a stand-alone.

Dark Corners though the 2nd book in the Rachel Krall Series definitely works as a stand alone. I loved The Night Swim and eagerly awaited this the sequel. For me this was a different Rachel verses the one I met in book 1.

Rachel is called to Florida by the FBI after her name is mentioned by a convict long suspected of murder. Lacking evidence for a conviction or even charges, can Rachel uncover clues to the unsolved murders of young women.

Told from a couple view points made this an addicting read. I was lucky to get both the audio and digital arc. A road trip had me binge listen, I was am to finish in a 24 hour period. So worth it!

This was a wonderfully mysterious, suspenseful story. It showcased influencers in their glory (or rather addiction to social media). It was intricately woven with twists I didn't see coming and an ending that I liked.

The audio narrator was spot on, a pleasure to listen to. Both versions are available for preorder now with an August 8th release date.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press and Macmillian Audio for advanced copies in exchange for a honest review.

Dark Corners is the follow up to The Night Swim, Goldin's first book about podcaster Rachel Krall. In this book, Terrence Bailey is about to be released from prison. Rachel is sent in to visit with Bailey after an influence goes missing after visiting Bailey. Rachel then goes undercover at a popular influencer conference to uncover information.

This book had a lot of twists and turns and I'm not sure I had it all figured out until it unraveled. I preferred The Night Swim, but I did enjoy this book. There was an element of romance, which I think was a welcome addition to the book. I hope to read more novels with Rachel as the lead.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is EVERYTHING I love in a book - twists and turns, influencers and fun characters! This is my first introduction into the Rachel Krall universe, but I've been a fan of Meg's for some time now. What a fun ride - can't wait for this to hit shelves!

Though this is the second book in the series, it can stand on its own without having to read the first one. I really enjoyed the story of this book. There were surprising twists I wasn’t expecting and surprises along the way that kept this book interesting. Just when I thought I had figured something out, this story would take me in a completely different direction. I think for those looking for another Night Swim, this is not the same and I am glad. I liked how Rachel felt like a character that had grown from the first book and came into her own with this second installment. Without riveting away too much, I will say that this book is worth checking out even if you haven’t read the first one.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for this ARC

3.75ish stars

This one was just okay for me. I didn’t initially realize that it was the second in a series, so I went back and read the previous book first; because I read them back-to-back, though, I found myself comparing the two stories quite a bit. I definitely liked the first one better and felt that this sequel didn’t quite live up to its predecessor. It wasn’t bad, but it just wasn’t as interesting to me. If there’s a third to the series, I’ll probably still want to check it out.