I was excited to read this. I really enjoyed The Night Swim and the style of the book - it alternated between letters to Rachel, her podcast, a live trial and Rachel's perspective. I gave it 5 stars and was hoping for the same this time. This was different and a lot was told from Rachel's perspective, including notes that she took for a future podcast. I felt like there was a lot of repetition. Some things would happen in a chapter and then the next chapter would recap that same thing that just happened almost word for word. I mean I don't forget THAT FAST. It was very slow paced for me and also some things that I would classify as mistakes or didn't quite align for continuity. However, it was a good mystery and did keep me guessing how everything connected. I just didn't feel that connected to the story or the character. I would recommend if you want a slow paced mystery that involves social media influencers.

Thank you to the following: to the author Megan Goldin, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this novel.
While not a direct sequel to The night swim, it was fun to visit the main character and have her solve another mystery with good twists thats I have come to expect from Megan Goldin. This gave what I would have liked for it to give. Really enjoyed it.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of The Night Swim (Rachel Krall, #1) but loved Stay Awake, so I was excited to get my hands on this eARC… to find out that Dark Corners is Rachel Krall #2, sequel to The Night Swim.

As a true crime podcast fan, I love the concept of a true crime podcast as part of the plot! I also liked the idea of incorporating influencers but quickly bored of the it’s-so-hard-to-be-an-influencer sob story.

I’m not gonna lie, I just didn’t love Rachel’s character. I’m also not a fan of enemies to lovers, so that side story didn’t help the cause.

A fast-paced thriller for fans of The Night Swim who want more of famous true crime podcaster, Rachel Krall.

Classic Megan Goldin read.

On par with "The night swim" and "stay awake".

I enjoyed the layering of this book and the multiple points of views; Rachel, Joe, and Thomas. It was an ending that I wasn't able to guess and kept me up reading late into the night. I felt like the brief romance side story wasn't 100% needed in the story but it did make for a good distraction from the mounting tension and provide a plausible way for the Rachel to get caught in a trap.

I felt like this was a story that the reader didn't know the ending before the characters which made for a good story. Along with the brief look at vapid Instagram influencer success and the pressure to stay on top added to the story.

I absolutely loved The Night Swim by Megan Goldin, so I was extremely excited when I received a copy of Dark Corners and saw that Rachel Krall was back! I love the way the book was written, in the present time, but also as if we are listening to her podcast. This book was such a fast read, I finished it in about 12 hours because I could not put it down! Rachel is called to Florida by FBI agent, Joe Martinez. She's not sure why she's there, until she arrives at the prison where Joe waits. He then asks her to speak to a man who is in prison who has specifically asked for her. She does, and it does not go well, but it also sends her on a mission to figure out what happened to a famous Instagram influencer. This book was so good! I really hope we see more of Rachel Krall and Joe Martinez!

#fivestars #myfavoritebookof2023 #stopwhatyouredoingandreadthisimmediately

Rachel Krall, the woman behind the successful podcast "Guilty or Not Guilty," is back at it after receiving a cryptic call from the FBI to help them with an active case in Florida involving a missing popular social media influencer named Maddison Logan. The FBI asks her to speak with a currently incarcerated inmate named Terence Bailey in hopes she can take a crack at him to help them find her, as Maddison's last known whereabouts may have been at the prison visiting him. Rachel hits a wall with Bailey and the Feds don't give her much info to go on, so Rachel being the sleuth of reporter that she is, immerses herself in the case and and uses her "#superpowers" to dig deep to uncover the truth. Instead of going home after the unsuccessful prison chat per the direction of the Feds, she goes under the guise of a lesser known social media influencer to BuzzCon which is being held close by. Also the same conference where Maddison was supposed to be attending. (And yes, this was the reasoning behind my corny usage of the hashtags above). Throughout the rest of the novel we are on a fast paced ride to find Maddison and uncover old truths with things that are often hidden in plain sight.

This was an amazing novel from start to finish! I was hooked the entire way though and am already waiting for a third book (#hinthint)! I did feel that Rachel's character was a bit more cold or standoff-ish than the first book, but I also think I would attribute that to the popularity and celebrity that she gained between when the first book ended and now the start of this book. I think that type of overnight sensation would definitely change someone, and if Megan Goldin planned that for Rachel's character then she is an ever better writer than I already thought!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced ARC!

I did not read “The Night Swim” by Megan Goldin, as I didn’t realize “Dark Corners” is the sequel to that. That being said, in my opinion, “Dark Corners“ can stand alone without feeling like I needed background into any of the characters or any seemingly missing information that I wish I knew about.

Rachel Krall is a true crime podcaster who is summoned by the FBI after her name turns up in a murder investigation, though the FBI wasn’t forthcoming with her about what they wanted her to do. When the murder suspect, Terence Bailey, is visited in prison by Maddison Logan, a social media influencer, Rachel’s name came up in their discussion. The FBI needed Rachel to explain how she was involved. Rachel knows neither Terence nor Maddison but now she’s intrigued enough to insert herself into the investigation.

This is a solid thriller with enough twists to keep the entertainment level high. I’ll have to read “The Night Swim” now and hope it’s as good as this one. I rate this four stars and highly recommend. Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

A suspenseful mystert that incorporated police procedural with investigative journalism. I learned a lot about influencers and social media.

Although this book was a sequel to The Night Swim, it can be read as a stand alone. I actually preferred this one and thought the mystery flowed much better.

The plot involves a suspected serial killer Terrence Bailey who is being released from prison in a few days and the recent disappearance of a famous influencer, Maddison. The FBI are trying to figure out the connection between the two and call in Rachel Krall, who hosts a successful true crime podcast, for help. Thank you Netgalley!

In Megan Goldin’s latest novel, Dark Corners, readers are once again immersed in the world of true crime podcaster Rachel Krall. This time, Rachel goes undercover to help the FBI investigate the disappearance of a social media influencer, Madison Logan, and the potential connection to a suspected serial killer, Terence Bailey.

Goldin’s writing style is engaging and pulls readers in from the very first chapter. The plot is well thought out, and the pacing is spot on. As the investigation unfolds, readers are introduced to a world of cutthroat competition, betrayal, and dark secrets lurking behind the facade of the influencer lifestyle.

Rachel Krall is a strong protagonist who is both smart and intuitive. Her interactions with other characters are well-crafted, and her ability to get people to open up to her adds an extra layer of intrigue to the story. The addition of FBI agent Joe Martinez as a supporting character adds an interesting dynamic and a touch of romance.

While there are a few minor critiques, such as repetitive descriptions of a character’s appearance, they do not detract from the overall quality of the novel. Goldin’s ability to keep readers on the edge of their seats and her talent for crafting complex, multi-dimensional characters make Dark Corners a must-read for fans of true crime fiction.

Overall, Dark Corners is another great addition to Megan Goldin’s body of work. The novel is suspenseful, engaging, and keeps readers guessing until the very end. If you’re a fan of true crime or suspenseful thrillers, Dark Corners is definitely worth adding to your reading list

Another great read in the world of Rachel Krall. While the style was slightly different, the twists and suspense kept me hooked through the end! I enjoy the mix of current events and those from the past. It kept me guessing on how everything tied together - or didn’t. Definitely a great follow up and would recommend to anyone!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

This is the second book in the Rachel Krall series. Maddison Logan, a popular influencer on social media visited an inmate suspected of being a serial killer Terrance Bailey, and then she disappears. Rachel comes in to see if she can get any information from Terrnace that would lead to finding Maddison. Rachel immerges herself in the influencer world to see if she gets any leads.

This story had me hooked from the beginning. The authors knowledge and depiction of social media and its culture was very interested and I really enjoyed that aspect of the book. I also enjoyed the evolution of Rachel in this book compared to night swim. This book was very suspenseful and twists that lead to an ending i was satisfied with. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to hopefully a third in the series!

Thank you netgalley and st martins press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After the first few pages, I knew this was a book I wasn’t going to be able to put down, until I got to The End. Compulsive and gripping! Suspenseful, addictive and complex! Will keep you swiping the pages furiously. If you like absolutely unpredictable, twisted suspense as much as I do, you can't go wrong with this book!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

I thought this book was relevant with the social media influencer/podcast angle. I love Megan Goldin so I might be a bit biased but this was another enjoyable read. Twisty and fun, although the romance felt a little cringy.

Dark corners is the second book in the Rachel Krall series. Rachel is a true crime podcaster who is requested by the FBI to speak with a notorious inmate. While there she is somewhat forced to go to an influencer conference in the area as there are no other hotel rooms. While there she digs up information on the case the fbi is working on. Joe the FBI agent isn’t please that she has stayed in Florida where she is in danger. However the information she is digging up is helping more than the other agents or the local police. Soon Rachel finds herself in deep trouble that she may not be able to get out of.

I enjoyed this book and it was a very quick read. It had a totally different feel from the first book and the main character seemed different as well. That being said, I enjoyed both books and look forward to reading more from this author.

“Always know what you’re walking into. Dark corners can be danger points.”

This book brings us back into the world of true crime podcaster Rachel Krall. Instead of taking place in a court room like the previous Rachel Krall book ‘Night Swim’, this one has us following Rachel as she goes undercover to assist the FBI on a case.

Terence Bailey was arrested for breaking and entering. However, police also suspect him of multiple murders even though they have never been able to dig up enough evidence to charge him. These suspicions become stronger after a prominent social media influencer, Madison Logan, goes missing right after visiting Bailey in prison. Now Terence Bailey is set to be released in just a few days, Maddison Logan is still missing and since Maddison is a ghost outside of her social media persona, the FBI is lacking leads. The FBI doesn’t want to see Bailey released so they reluctantly call in Rachel Krall to help with the investigation. Now it’s a race against the clock to find Maddison and to also try to find proof that Bailey was connected to the murders that took place prior to his jail sentence. One more thing the investigators need to find out: who is working with Bailey because he definitely isn’t working alone.

Rachel uses an old Instagram account to imbed herself in the heart of an influencer conference to learn more about Maddison Logan’s world and the people who had contact with her last. Things are definitely darker when the cameras aren’t on. Rachel discovers rivalry, betrayal and secrets lurk in this world of influencers. Who is telling the truth? Who can she trust?

Rachels acuity, attention to detail and keen sense of intuition her helps her uncover truths and facts that many others were unable to discover. The fact that she has this uncanny ability to engage people in conversation and make them want to spill their guts to her certainly doesn’t hurt her investigation.

Rachel seems to be a bit spicier in this one, often having clipped answers when someone puts her in a position that makes her uncomfortable. Even with that, I still found her to be a lovable character. Her overall kind nature and want to help is endearing and her inquisitiveness and demeaner just makes her likeable. She is smart and sees things that most others don’t. And she is very brave-maybe to a fault in this one!

I liked the addition of the FBI agent Joe Martinez. He was a great supporting character and I really enjoyed what he brought to the story. The chemistry between him and Rachel was great. I hope to see Joe in future Rachel Krall stories!

Critiques- I don’t really have many!

There were some duplicative statements throughout the book that I felt was unnecessary. One example of that is Fringe… ‘a man with a floppy fringe and horn-rimmed glasses’; a few pages later ‘her boyfriend with the floppy fringe and eyeglasses’; one page later ‘her boyfriend, sporting a floppy fringe and Clark Kent style glasses’; and yet again a handful of pages later the fringe is mentioned once again. Very repetitive and definitely not needed on back-to-back pages. We get it…. He has floppy fringe and glasses! =]

There was a spot where it appears the wrong pronoun was used. ‘Another had photographed herself sipping a whiskey in a snifter glass as he floated in the lagoon-sized pool’. I would think it should be himself/he or herself/she or themself/they.

Praise- Overall-another great book by Megan Goldin.

I was hooked from chapter one. “I’ve been looking for a predator. It turns out that a predator has also been looking for me”. Powerful statement and really drew me into the story. I just wanted to know what happened next. I am not super big into influencers personally, but even with that said I found the world of influencers in the book a great location for betrayal and deadly competition.

I loved night swim. I thought being in the court room was a fun way to amplify the drama. But I also loved the new perspective of Dark corners. Having Rachel involved in the investigation was a different approach that added excitement in totally different way! Megan has a way of making you want to keep reading to find out what happens next.
“The scariest monster is the one that hides in plain sight.” If you truly think about this statement and what it means- it’s truly horrifying. Monsters can be anywhere. They can be anyone. You might cross paths with them and not even know how close you were to danger. A brilliant depiction of how ‘unseen’ monsters can be-at first glance.
Rating

5 stars-I absolutely would recommend Dark Corners. It’s a great, fast read that keeps you engaged from the first chapter. Hope we get the privilege of more Rachel Krall books in the future!

~Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this fantastic book!~

3.5 stars, rounded down.

I loved the Night Swim so I was super excited to read the second book in the series! Which side note, I'm super pumped Rachel Krall has a series and I hope there are more books to come for her!

With this said though, I was kind of let down by this installment of the series. Please note though, this is due to the personal preference that I don't understand the whole point of influencers and am honestly turned off by the whole idea. As this mystery was set around influencers, that was kind of a downer for me. Especially as Rachel spends a good portion of the book exploring the world of influencers. With that said though, if you are a fan of thrillers and influencers, this is probably the book for you! It just wasn't for me.

Excluding the influencer aspect, the mystery was good! I wasn't expecting the ending at all which is always a plus! Megan Goldin does twists and surprise endings like no other.

I will always, ALWAYS recommend anything by Megan Goldin because she's amazing. Even if I wasn't a fan of the storyline surrounding the mystery, that doesn't meant that someone who doesn't dislike influencers won't like it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

I was a huge fan of Megan Goldin's first book in the Rachel Krall series, The Night Swim. This one was even better! Influencers are such a huge thing in the world right now and Megan killed it with this thriller.
Giving an inside look into their world and what they will do for fame. If you are a fan of any of the true crime podcasts out there you will instantly love this book!

'5 stars from me and will be recommending this book (and The Night Swim) to everyone!

Your favorite little chatter box went silent for a bit . I was still reading but if it’s not a 4 or better, I won’t post it (no room for negativity up in here) I had 5 back to back stinkers.

All good, they might not be for me but they might be for you, heck, maybe it was my mood and my mood has been quite sour.

Any who, I put off one of most favorite authors. I did this on purpose for this exact moment . I needed to get out of this slump and back to the magical land of words that steal my ever loving murderous soul.

Dark Corners

Megan Goldin, does it again! She sweeped me right off my feet and threw me into a mischievous tale of murder, mystery and buried secrets.

The whole podcast thing gets me going. I lovedddd The Night Swim and seeing Rachel back at it again in Dark Corners was just the icing on this book cake.

Megan Goldin sets the bar high with this banger. You don’t want to miss it!

Teaser :

Terence Bailey is about to be released from prison for breaking and entering, though investigators have long suspected him in the murders of six women. As his release date approaches, Bailey gets a surprise visit from Maddison Logan, a hot, young influencer with a huge social media following. Hours later, Maddison disappears, and police suspect she’s been kidnapped―or worse. Is Maddison’s disappearance connected to her visit to Bailey? And why was she visiting him in the first place?

When they hit a wall in the investigation, the FBI reluctantly asks for Rachel Krall’s help in finding the missing influencer. Maddison seems to only exist on social media; she has no family, no friends, and other than in her posts, most people have never seen her. Who is she, really? Using a fake Instagram account, Rachel goes undercover to BuzzCon, a popular influencer conference, where she discovers a world of fierce rivalry that may have turned lethal.

When police find the body of a woman with a tattoo of a snake eating its tail―identical to a tattoo Rachel had seen on Bailey’s hand―the FBI must consider a chilling possibility: Bailey has an accomplice on the outside and a dangerous obsession with influencers, including Rachel Krall herself. Suddenly the target of a monster hiding in plain sight, Rachel is forced to confront the very real dangers that lurk in the dark corners of the internet.

Megan Goldin has outdone herself! I have enjoyed all of her books, but this may be my favorite of her work so far.

Rachel Krall, the crime podcaster introduced in The Night Swim, returns in Dark Corners, called in by the FBI after a popular influencer goes missing after visiting a suspected serial killer in prison. Terrence Bailey was convicted of breaking and entering, and many on the force believe that he is also responsible for a string of murders. Maddison Logan, a popular influencer with what seems like a non-exisitent past, visits him and goes missing immediately after. Rachel goes undercover at BuzzCon, a conference where social media influencers are vying for a big money prize, searching for any information about Maddison and her ties to Terrence. The police find a new victim with a tattoo similar to one on Terrence's hand, leading them to believe that he is working with someone on the outside.

Joe Martinez is the lead detective on the case, and he struggles with needing Rachel's help and not wanting to put her directly in harm's way. I really liked his character and the way that he and Rachel worked together. I hope to see the two of them team up on other cases!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for giving me the ability to read #DarkCorners by#MeganGoldin. This book was astonishing and very intense to read. I now have another favorite author. I need to go back and read #TheNightSwim.