I think my students will like this one, the world of influencers explored by a true crime podcasters, two topics that are big with young people Interesting mystery with a little romance

This book was fantastic - Megan Goldin does it again! This was the second Rachel Krall book ( the first was The Night Swim - also a fantastic and highly recommended book) and I was riveted from start to finish! I could not figure out the connections from character to character until right up to the very end. Highly recommended for a read!

In “Dark Corners,” true crime podcaster Rachel Krall is taking a break from talking about the action to becoming part of the action when she finds herself in Florida at the request of the FBI. In this slow-burn follow-up to “The Night Swim,” Rachel helps aid in the search for Maddison Logan, a social influencer who has gone missing after visiting a soon-to-be-released prisoner, Terrence Bailey. Instead of courtrooms, Rachel steps into the world of influencers, pretending to be one herself, at the BuzzCon conference. When she discovers another influencer is missing, Rachel races to discover if — and how — the cases are related and, in the process, becomes a target herself.
I enjoyed this second installment in the Rachel Krall series, although it did read differently than the first book. Fans who loved the courtroom and podcast scenes in “The Night Swim” will not find any of that in “Dark Corners.“ The influencer world scenes were breezy and fun, and there is a little bit of romance, but sometimes the secondary mysteries bogged down the main plot line. It does all come together in a neat conclusion; stick with it.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advance reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Megan Goldin does it again!!! I was SO excited for this book because The Night Swim was a fave of mine and sentimentally, it was my first review I ever posted on bookstagram. When I saw Rachel Krall was getting another story I swooped on it!

This book takes popular and common tropes and flips them on its head. She tackles difficult topics and writes them in a digestible matter all readers can read and enjoy. I feel like one of my critiques with thriller books that center around investigations is that they sometimes give unrealistic portrayals of police officers and the justice system. Working in public defense, I know that the way some books describe both subjects are vastly incorrect, but I thought Dark Corners did so well regarding both police officers and the justice system. Goldin discussed the difference of media coverage when a young white woman goes missing vs sex workers, Black or brown women or even boys. She also included tensions in the PD dept and how ego gets in the way of important investigations, and how easy it is for someone to be wrongly incarcerated.

Besides the fact that it was accurately representative, this was a thrilling and heart stopping book! I wasn't able to put it down and read it in only 2 days. I literally couldn't stop thinking about it, and I thought the different POVs were engaging and didn't confuse me at all.

4 stars!
I have read Night Swim first before starting this book and I would recommend reading the Night Swim first before this because this book has the same mc Rachel. I would recommend to listen to the audiobook of the Night Swim instead of reading the physical copy because the style of writing works better through the audiobook. I enjoyed this book specifically due to its twisty psychological thriller and the pacing was pretty good. Plot line well written and the characters in this book were interesting and kept me hooked!

I could not put this down!! The different povs confused me for the first few chapters, but once I sorted it out I really enjoyed it. I felt the romance aspect was a little unnecessary in my opinion which is why I’m not giving it 5 stars. Definitely 4.5 stars though! I didn’t read The Night Swim so this was my introduction Rachel Krall, but I had read The Escape Room. Will definitely recommend!!

I loved night swim and Rachel Krall and dark corners did not disappoint. I devoured this book. I enjoy the parts that were podcasts that followed along the story as if everythings happening at once. I truly hope there’s a third story that picks up where this leaves off.

Another great story by Goldin. I was happy that she revisited this character and this world but it was a little slower for me than her first book, which I really adored. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Megan Goldin is one of my favorite authors, i do admit i had to read The Night Swim before i started Dark Corners, I do think that Rachel Krall is one of my new favorite series to read, she just fits right in with everyone and is able to find things out that the police cant.

This story had everything needed to make it great and i really enjoyed how it played out, the big reveals and how all the questions were answered, even throw in a little romance as well. I really thought i had it figured out but was so wrong, the ending also leaves us waiting to see what is next for Rachel Krall.

Megan Goldin really knows how to tell an intriguing story that keeps you guessing. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

This book started out so good! The entire book I was thinking “this is Megan Goldin’s best work yet!“ And, it really was, until the last couple of chapters. Don’t get me wrong, I did like the ending, it was just that the way she wrote it made it seem so rushed. There was so much happening and then just a quick couple of chapters to tie up all of the storylines. It left me a little bit unsatisfied. Especially the storyline between Rachel and the FBI agent. I just really felt like the stories all could have been wrapped up better.

My other suggestion for the publisher would be this: the chapters which are Rachel’s podcast need to have something setting them apart from the others. It was a little confusing at first, realizing this was her podcast after the rest of the story. So either a different font, or a chapter heading letting the reader know they are reading something different than the rest of the story.

Thank you to the author, St Martin’s press, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review. Publication date, August 7, 2023.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Category: Mystery Thriller

Overall: Gripping, Psychological, Immersive

Pros: This was a riveting psychological thriller with well-crafted characters, a haunting setting and relentless tension. The characters are complex and multi-faceted, each harboring their own secrets and motivations. The protagonist, Rachel, is determined to get to the truth, driven, intelligent and fiercely independent. Megan Goldin skillfully explores her internal struggles, which made her a relatable and empathetic character. The suspense in the plot builds masterfully with twists and turns layered throughout. The entire plot is tightly woven, with no loose ends, and every piece of the puzzle fits together seamlessly. In addition to the suspenseful narrative, this book explores themes of deception, trust and the dark side of the internet. It was so interesting to see the behind the scenes world of influencers and everything that comes with it. I also loved the romance escapade between Rachel and the FBI agent. I hope he becomes a recurring character in future books in the series!

Cons: Certain aspects of the plot were slightly predictable. The twists and turns, though well-executed, occasionally rely on familiar traps and conventions seen in mystery-thriller novels.

Special thanks to NetGally and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copy!

An interesting mystery which delves into the world of influencers. Not really my cup of tea but the mystery was good and current for the state of social media.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a great book! The mystery was great, I liked having everyones point of view & I just over all really enjoyed it and will highly recommend!

This was a great follow up to the first twisty book. It was hard to put down and I loved the podcast aspect to it

I read this book in two days. It was great. The characters were captivating, and the plot line was fresh. Even the minor characters were written in a very just way. Although, I think Joe and Rachel's connection was very awkward and not what the author meant for it to be. However, what was written amazingly is the social aspects of today's life of influencers and the social justice that was given back to the minority and the poor. Not enough is written about the victim, mostly focusing on the killer. This story did not make me wonder why the killer was the way he was or even his motive (which was missing from the story). I did learn something new, which was the medical condition that was written in the story. It's a must read.


Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for letting me read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good, but a little slow story. It pings all of the tags of what a lot of people are looking for: crime podcast star, influencers, cute FBI agent, and a beach. It has a deranged serial killer who conveniently has a rare metabolic disorder that makes him smell and so he is conveniently identifiable.

Rachel Krall is asked to go to a prison to see a man who is due to be released for killing a young woman. Another woman went missing around the same time as the first was killed. And an influencer, who unexpectedly visited the man is also missing.

The story is good, but a little too pat. The ending was very strange. It just stopped. I thought my download was corrupt. But it adds a few sentences after the story is all tied up, not enough to be a cliff hanger and not enough to make much sense.

Stories centered on true crime podcasts are having a moment now, and it’s often challenging to find a unique premise. Look no further! I loved this book, devouring it in a matter of hours, staying up into the wee hours, flipping pages. This story had me hooked from the first chapter and kept hold until the very end. I loved the opportunity to don my detective cap. This is a fun whodunit, and possibly even more fun - figuring out the why. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this story, in return for my honest opinion.

I was hoping we had not seen the ending of Rachel Krall and was glad I was right. Rachel gets convinced by the FBI to go to Florida in return for exclusive access to a case. At the same time as her arrival, a famous influencer at convention nearby goes missing. The only question left is did the FBI bring Rachel out in relation to this and the fact that Terrance Bailey is soon to be released from prison? Rachel dives head first into the case and in her nature, danger as well.
This story was a slow burn for me, I didn't get really invested into it until about halfway through. I did also feel that It was a bit longer than it needed to be which led to some filler conversations, and plot lines. Looking past that, I think the author did a wonderful job with creating many twists and turns in the book. The development of Rachel from the Night Swim to now was also great to see. Overall, I give this book 3.5 stars and once again, hope this is not the last we see of Rachel Krall and maybe Joe Martinez too? ;)

PUBLICATION DAY: August 8, 2023

Rachel Krall is having great success with her podcast. Known for setting the wrongly accused free, Rachel is intrigued when she gets a call from Agent Martinez in the FBI, asking her to come to Florida to speak with a prisoner who may know more than he’s saying. But what will Rachel find when she looks more deeply into Terence’s life? Will she and Agent Martinez solve the mystery of the missing women, before it’s too late?

PROS and CONS:
Rachel is a good main character, one who follows clues, looks intelligently for more information, and puts things together. Perhaps there was just one too many missing women with not enough clues provided along the way? I found myself reading to see the ending, with no real hope of figuring anything out along the way. I did enjoy one twist that I didn’t see coming!

READ IT?
If you’re looking for…an intriguing mystery with a timely true crime angle, then this one’s for you!

4 Stars

Dark Corners is my favorite book by Megan Goldin so far. I love the continuation of the storyline from The Night Swim. Goldin has a way to make me care so deeply for the characters and storyline.