I was a little leery of this once since I liked the first in the series (Night Swim) but didn’t think it was anything amazing. I liked the format, but the story didn’t really keep my attention. However, I read Dark Corners in two days because I just didn’t want to put it down!

First of all: serial killer. Anytime a book is about one, I’m going to toss anything else to the side to read it. Second: podcast. I really enjoy the format of regular chapters and then the special report podcasts thrown in.

I figured out what was going on pretty early in the story and couldn’t figure out why the people in the story were not following the clues. But… it’s a good story, and obviously it would have been a lot shorter if they had. 😂

It was difficult to read some parts because words/dialect, etc. didn’t match the setting. I later realized the author is from Australia, but the setting of the book is Florida - so it’s a little “off” at times. It didn’t take away from the overall story, it just made me pause sometimes.

Questions I still had after I was done reading (no spoilers):
1. Whatever happened to the ad the FBI was going to put out?
2. What happened to the kitten?!? 😱 (don’t worry - no animal cruelty here)

Megan Goldin is becoming one of my favorite authors! I requested an advanced copy of Dark Corners knowing nothing more about it than the fact it was written by Goldin. Since I went into reading it blind - I was so surprised to find that podcaster Rachel Krall from The Night Swim is back. I was reading and kept thinking - something seems so familiar to me about this girl. I loved The Night Swim - it has been a while since I read it so I really didn't remember much other than Rachel and a courtroom setting. This time Rachel is assisting an FBI agent in a case. So you could absolutely read Dark Corners if you haven't read The Night Swim. But I encourage you to read BOTH - because they are both so good! This book caught my attention right away and kept me engaged throughout - it got really good toward the end. I do seem to enjoy books that have a podcast element to them. This one also gave a glimpse into the world of influencers as well. Thank you so much St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for my advanced copy of Dark Corners.

I did not enjoy this quite as much as Night Swim, but it was still an entertaining thriller. I enjoy our podcaster, Rachel Krall, quite a lot.

In this installment, Rachel is called in by FBI agent Joe Martinez to help with a missing girl. She gets sucked into the world of influencers, and I admit that I don’t enjoy reading about influencers.

Overall the pacing was good, but I predicted the twists pretty early on. That said, I hope we get more books following Rachel Krall, because I’ll read them all.

Rachel Krall is back in another crime novel. This time there are lots of social media influencers and an inmate about to be released from prison. The FBI calls Rachel when the inmate’s last visitor, a #vanlife influencer, goes missing. Rachel’s name came up during their conversation, so the FBI offers Rachel exclusive access to the case if she talks to the inmate. Of course, Rachel becomes involved in the case as more than just a reporter, she may be victim. Readers get insight into many characters through third person perspective changes. Rachel is the main perspective, but readers also see an FBI agent and a shady ride-share driver. The story is very convoluted, but all of the pieces do tie together at the end. This can also be read as a standalone novel; readers do not need to read the first Rachel Krall book to understand this one. Ultimately, mystery readers should try this one.

Loved the podcast format! Rachel Krall is a famous podcaster who is randomly contacted by the FBI to assist on a case. The kicker? The man serving time in prison for murder has never met Rachel, and she has no idea why he would call on her for help. When she meets with him he won’t share very much info. While Terrance “Terry” is incarcerated, the murdered continue, and the FBI wants to know who his accomplice is. Lots of twists and turns, and this definitely stood out with the format. 5 star read! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed The Night Swim and went into this with pretty high expectations.
This was not what I hoped for.
The plot was not nearly as enticing and the characters were kind of detestable.
It just didn't have the same pull as the first book.
Also who the Fudge dyes their hair in a camp ground? Seriously WTF?!
Not only is it absolutely ridiculous, but abhorrent behaviour.
If you are going into this, I would suggest the audio, it was a lot smoother for the podcast transitions.
Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio & St. Martin's Press for my DRCs.

4/5 ⭐️

Book # 2 in the Rachel Krall series. I just want to preface this by saying that I did not read the Night Swim (first book) but this one works super well as a stand alone!

This is going to be the most ridiculous review you’ve ever read because I can’t seem to string together a coherent sentence lately. Have fun! 🙃

💭I really enjoyed this one! I love Rachel’s go-getter attitude and how she pieces together the puzzle with solid investigative and journalism skills. I loved that we even read chapters in the POV of the perpetrator and yet I was still on my toes!
I love how the story dives into the REAL lives of social media influencers & incorporates that into the mystery.(Although there were some parts including the influencers that seemed a bit unnecessary but they threw a wrench in what you thought you knew was going on so it still worked). You think the answers are obvious but they never are. And dare I say I loved the little bit of romance in this?!

The ending had just one little aspect of predictability but even at that, I was still cussing under my breath at the stress of it all.

I’m not sure if it’s because it was an e-book but there was no real distinction between when it was a podcast script or not besides realizing that there is repetition, and the first person writing.
I also find the podcast portion just kind of a recap of what we already know so it’s ALMOST pointless? But I still really liked that aspect?! I’m obviously confused in life LOL!

& lastly: without spoiling, I loved the end because it reminded me of the best parts of “Notes on an Execution.”

Thank you NetGalley, st Martin’s press and Megan Goldin for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I vacillated between audio and digital on this one. For my last book, the narrator made appreciation of the book a challenge so I was extra aware that this narrator did a great job with intonation and differentiation of characters. There were references to the podcaster/main character having a sultry voice and the narrator did. It didn’t always fit what I envisioned and sometimes was slower than i would have liked. In terms of the story,
+ I love a good podcast incorporated into a book
+ excerpts from the podcast along with music were fun to break things up and move the plot along
+ the setting of the influencer conference was unique, fun, interesting, and informative!
+ the characters were, on a whole, likable
- typically not a fan of detectives as book leads
- without giving a spoiler, there was one big gap in wrapping up the storyline and connecting characters. Maybe it was addressed so briefly that I missed it???
Ultimately, I enjoyed this more than I expected. I rated it 3 stars when I have given other books by the same author 4 but I think that’s a me thing and not a her thing; the bar has been raised.

fast paced thriller that i couldn't put down

thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the copy for review

If I enjoyed Night Swim, Rachel Krall’s first adventure, I liked this second volume even more. The chapters are short and end in cliffhangers that pushed me into the “one more chapter” rabbit hole that made this a very quick read. This time, Rachel is called by the FBI to interview a prisoner and suspected serial killer who is about to be released. There are historical murders and new victims, one of which is an influencer who’s gone missing. Rachel will have to infiltrate a “content creator” convention to try to find out more. Incredibly, even if in real life I think that influencers are a sign of everything that’s wrong with the world, the author made them all complex enough to be interesting, so that I was not only rooting for Rachel but invested in the missing blogger’s fate, as well as the side stories. The chapters transcribing Rachel’s podcast are written in a different style, so it’s fun to see how the tone changes from the novel to the fictional podcast. The plot is tight, suspenseful and, as mentioned before, super-addictive. Most of the twists were unpredictable and the loose ends are all tied up in a way that made sense. I hope that there will be more books, I like this series and these characters.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#St. Martin's Press!

*****Publishing August 8, 2033*****

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Rachel Krall, a popular crime podcaster, is back, but this time she is trying to figure out why a popular social media influencer, Maddison Logan, goes missing.

Just one phone call changed Rachel Krall’s life. When the FBI called to ask Rachel to fly to Florida to help out with an investigation involving Terrence Bailey, who is about to get released from jail for breaking and entering. But in fact, he is thought to be connected to 6 women’s deaths, but nothing has been proven. Maddison Logan goes missing after visiting Terrence Bailey. Will Rachel be able to help or will she take it too far and end up with her life on the line?

Definitely a page turner, with an unexpected plot twist that will keep you guessing until all is revealed! A highly entertaining book, so perfect for any vacation!

Even though this book is number 2 in the Rachel Krall series, it can easily be read as a stand alone.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, I was provided an ARC of Dark Corners by Megan Goldin via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

After reading The Night Swim and Stay Awake by Megan Goldin and loving them, I was excited to get an advance copy of Dark Corners. Dark Corners reunites readers with Rachel Krall, the podcaster from Night Swim. This time Rachel dives into the world of influencers and the idea that people aren’t always what they seem. I enjoyed this book from start to finish especially the emphasis on remembering the victims rather than glorifying the killer. There were several twists I wasn’t expecting and the book was made even creepier by the idea that all of the events in the book can and do happen to women every day. I enjoyed getting to revisit Rachel and I hope Goldin writes more books featuring her in the future.

Rachel Krall is flown to Florida to assist with a prisoner questioning and ends up staying in town to do her own investigation. You find some twists which can be a bit expected with the multiple perspectives used in Dark Corners but overall the book was paced really well. I would reach another book in the Rachel Krall series!

Dark Corners
By: Megan Goldin

Maddison Logan is a social media influencer and she wants to interview a newly paroled Terrance Bailey. He was suspected of killing several woman. After they met and he is paroled she comes up missing.

Did Bailey kidnap her? The FBI hire Rachel to locate her but she seems to not have any connections other than online.

Rachel goes undercover online. Things really heat up and there is more than meets the eye. Did Bailey have an accomplice?

This is the 2nd in the series of Rachel Krall. I highly recommend Night Swim as well.

Thank you St. Martins Press, MacMillion audio and Netgalley for this advance copy o our August 8, 2023.
#darkcorners, #megangoldin, #stmaetinspress, #netgalley,#bookreview, #booksconnectus, #stamperlady50

I read this book on audio and I found it to be a compelling reading of the story.

This is the second book in the Rachel Krall series, but you don't need to read the first book to read this one. It's a standalone and doesn't contain spoilers. I loved the first Rachel Krall story, The Night Swim, so I was super excited for this one. While I enjoyed this one, it didn't quite compare to the first one for me.

The story was more generic than the last book - this made it less traumatic and dark, but it also made it less compelling. The characters weren't as well fleshed out as the last book, which made it harder to feel strongly about their fates. I found the lack of character development especially frustrating since many sections of the book are from the killer's perspective. That being said, I was definitely engaged with the story and didn't want it to end. I had to know what happened next!

This was a solid thriller and it kept me reading which was exactly what I needed on a long road trip. I think I would have loved it more if I hadn't read The Night Swim first.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Dark Corners had an interesting premise, but the journey was too long and uneventful to make it worthwhile. I felt the same way about the first book in the series, The Night Swim, but loved her other books, so I was hoping for a winner. This thriller did not deliver the pulse-pounding suspense that was promised.

Truthfully, books involving podcasters and influencers aren't on the top of my reading list so this title had a lot of convincing to do to persuade me. I enjoyed the book despite my reluctance. I haven't read the first in this series, but I feel inspired to give it a try.

Rachel Krall hosts the popular true crime podcast, Guilty or Not Guilty. Based on her success in finding new evidence in other criminal cases, the FBI reaches out to Rachel for help in finding Maddison Logan, a missing social media influencer who disappeared shortly after visiting a soon-to-be released prison inmate. Rachel infiltrates the BuzzCon social media convention in an effort to get closer to other influencers who may have known Maddison and help find a girl who doesn’t seem to exist anywhere except Instagram.

Megan Goldin sure knows how to capture my attention with her twisty thrillers! I’m loving social media thrillers at the moment, and this novel really delivers on that angle, giving the reader a glimpse at the cutthroat underbelly of a vapid industry where image is everything. I enjoyed the heck out of this dual POV story that gives us Rachel’s perspective along with insight into a potential serial killer with a very distinctive personal characteristic. As a true crime lover, I really liked how episodes of the podcast were woven into the story. Although Rachel has a bit of an abrasive exterior in her real life, the episodes show her compassion and commitment to getting justice for crime victims.

This is Megan Goldin’s second book about Rachel Krall, but they are basically stand-alones and you don’t need to read The Night Swim in order to enjoy Dark Corners. That said, The Night Swim is amazing and you absolutely should read it! Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me an advance copy of this book.

This sequel to The Night Swim was absolutely fantastic! Megan Goldin brilliantly crafted a unique storyline that didn't rely on replicating the success of the first book. The buzz of an influencer-centric plot combined with the exciting disappearance/murder mystery made this an excellent read.

The sections exploring the world of influencers were incredibly entertaining and were realistic (and a bit over-the-top which was fun). Additionally, the chilling perspective from the serial killer added a creepy and distinct element.

While there was a touch of romance, it was tastefully integrated, and personally, I found it enjoyable. Despite some complaints about Rachel's snarky personality, I adored her sass, which felt necessary in many scenes. I would have been sassy too!

The unexpected twists in this book truly caught me off guard, and the fast-paced narratives made it a captivating and engrossing read. It felt like solving a thrilling puzzle, and the inclusion of criminal procedure added another layer of excitement.

I must mention that the podcast element in both books is simply the best, especially as audiobooks. I highly recommend giving them a listen! The pacing, flow, and extra sound effects make these audiobooks so fantastic.

Overall, the pace of the story was excellent, and from the very first page, I was hooked. This true crime psychological thriller was an absolute delight to read!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Megan Goldin for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

4.5 stars, actually.

After having read and enjoyed "The Night Swim," the first book in this series, I was delighted to snag a pre-release copy of this, the next installment. And if anything, I enjoyed it more.

In part, I suppose, that's because the focus is on social media influencers - a "job" that's fascinated me pretty much from the first time I learned that it not only existed, but can be quite financially lucrative. But as a writer and former journalist, I identified with - and liked - the star of the show, true crime podcaster Rachel Krall. As this one begins, she's called by the FBI to visit prisoner Terence Bailey, a suspect in the disappearance and presumed murders of six women, in hopes that she can get him to reveal something meaningful before he's released in a couple of days (he's incarcerated as a result of a different crime). Specifically, a popular influencer named Maddison Logan visited Bailey recently, only to go missing a few hours later.

Alas, Rachel's visit raises more questions than answers, so now the FBI, led by hunky agent Joe Martinez, turns to Plan B - which doesn't include Rachel. Now intrigued by the circumstances, though, Rachel refuses to go quietly; instead, she signs up - under a fake identity - for Daytona Beach's BuzzCon, a big convention for influencers. Figuring Maddison would have been there had she not disappeared, Rachel hopes she can get some scoops that will beef up her planned podcast (and perhaps help the FBI in the process).

All does not go well with that plan, though, and Martinez worries not only that Bailey may be in cahoots with a partner on the "outside" but that Rachel may become a target as well. Then, another body turns up with a mysterious snake tattoo - one that may provide the link they need. Through interspersed chapters, readers begin to see what's really going on - and begin to understand why Martinez may be spot on with his concerns for Rachel's life. From that point on, there's never a dull moment (and I learned enough about the life of an influencer that I decided to give up any notion of doing it myself). Very entertaining book with some possible carryovers to the next one, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review it.