3/5 ⭐️

I was really looking forward to this book because I was a big fan of The Night Swim. And while this story had an interesting premise and was decently paced, it fell kind of flat for me.

I struggled to find much of a connection to the story or the case until about 70% of the way through the book. And at that point, we were just about at the twist and then it felt like the end was rushed in tying up loose ends.

If it didn’t have shorter chapters to keep things moving, I’m not sure how motivated I would have been to finish reading.

I still liked the story and think that it’s worth a read, but it lacked the punch that I look for from a thriller/suspense.

Thank you to #netgalley for the chance to read this!

I just finished reading "Dark Corners" by Megan Goldin. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, I didn't realize that this book was the second in a series featuring the main character Rachel Krall, who is a true crime podcaster. She tries to advocate for men and woman who have been unjustly put in prison for crimes that she did'nt commit. This time she is called to Florida to help solve the mystery of a soon to be released prisoner who is about to be released and who has talked about her to another young influences (Madison) who has disappeared. What follows is a series of events told in the past and in the present, includinng one section by a mystery character who is utterly evil and smells really bad (believe me when I say this is important)

Rachel decides to investigate Madison's disappearance at the same time as the FBI agent (Joe) and the two go through many hurdles and mysteries to uncover the truth which is very satisfying.

What I liked about this book was the grit and determination of Rachel Krall. She is a great character and i now wnat to read the first book in the series. I also liked the covergence of all the characters at the end. It was very well written and not confusing at all. The author did a great job of creating rootable characters who weren;t perfect but were intertesting and entertaining. I also liked the exposure of the world of influencers by the author. It was an interesting look into a world that I have no understanding of. I also loved how the main bad guy was
writen: methodically and deliberately as if the author was slowly pulling the reader into his madness.

Was there a part I didn't like? I feel like some of the questions I had while reading the story weren't answered. If I say anymore then I will ruin the story, So I will end with this...

A great book that I had a hard time putting down. It was filled with mysteries and revelations that kept coming until the very end. This is the second book that I have read by this author and it certainly won't be the last.

Happy Reading!

Megan Goldin is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!
Her writing keeps getting better and better! Although I did not think it was possible, I enjoyed Dark Corners even more than her last novel, Stay Awake. Goldin’s writing style pulls me into the world of her characters immediately and makes me want to continue reading until the very last page.

Her latest novel, Dark Corners, is a mystery/thriller set in Daytona Beach, Florida, during an influencer’s convention. I enjoyed learned about the life of an influencer as this is a world in which I am not familiar. Rachel Krall, a podcaster known for solving a cold case, is called to Florida by the FBI to meet with a prisoner set to be released within a couple days from prison. This book will keep you guessing as the story develops!

Admittedly, I did not realize this was a series before reading Dark Corners, and I did not read The Night Swim, the first book in this series.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are my own.

I really enjoyed The Night Swim & Stay Awake by Megan Goldin so I was very excited when I got the ARC for Dark Corners through NetGalley. Unfortunately I did not love this book as much.

It started off really good but then too much was happening and some of it felt unnecessary. The romance, the side characters, I eventually started losing interest.

Overall it was good thriller but compared to the other books by the author this was not my favorite.

Thank you Netgalley for thr ARC.

I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump. I was hoping that this book would grab me and I wouldn’t be able to put it down. I was definitely looking forward to and I’m sure it’s on many must-read lists for summer 2023. What are my thoughts? 🤔

Dark Corners brings us back to Rachel Krall - the Podcaster we met in The Night Swim (a book I really enjoyed). Rachel’s called by the FBI to come to Florida when a suspected serial killer randomly mentions her name in a prison visit. When the FBI bring her in, it is to try and get the inmate to confess. As Rachel learns more about what has happened in this city, it’s not as clear cut as the police would like to believe. As the inmate gets ready for his release, the race is on to find out what really happened.😳

This book has a lot going on other than the murder mystery. There is a social media influencer conference, podcast episodes and other side stories. This one took me a while to read - I was interested to get to the end but found the side stories and the characters to be unlikeable. This author is a must read for me - but it was just OK. This book will be published on August 8, 2023. I’m grateful for an advanced copy to review and provide my feedback. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dark Corners is a definite page turner. With great characters and a highly unpredictable plot I really had no idea how to put anything together until the last few pages when it was spelled out to me. I would recommend this book and would choose to read this author again!

Rachel Krall has established a successful true crime podcast, Guilty or Not Guilty, with her first season resulting in the exoneration of a man wrongfully convicted of killing his wife and her second season solving a cold case. However, the next season may end up being unexpectedly personal. FBI Agent Joe Martinez has arranged for Rachel to come to a prison in the Florida swamps. She believes the FBI is giving her exclusive access to an active case. In reality, the FBI is hoping she can provide them with information or help them obtain the information from a prisoner.

Terence Bailey has spent six years in prison and is due to be released soon, something the authorities hope to prevent, as Bailey is suspected in a string of unsolved murders in Daytona Beach, possibly with the aid of an accomplice. Only a few days before his release, Terence Bailey receives his first visitor in six years, influencer Maddison Logan, and gives her a message to bring Rachel Krall to him, whatever it takes. However, Rachel has never heard of Terence or Maddison and does not know why they are seeking her out. The FBI is particularly confused, because there is no apparent connection between Terence and Maddison, and Maddison seems to have appeared out of nowhere a few years ago, with a carefully curated social media presence but nothing before her social media accounts were launched. Maddison has since disappeared, presumed kidnapped by Bailey's accomplice.

In chapter 3, the author introduces Thomas McCoy, a rideshare driver with an unpleasant medical condition that causes him to give off a smell like rotting garbage, that is difficult to mask and becomes worse if he is nervous or sweaty. It is obvious that he is not a nice person (though he can temporarily maintain a good facade), and when he eventually comes to the attention of the authorities it is because he is assumed to be Bailey's accomplice, though how they are connected is unclear.

Bailey appears to be a threat to Rachel, and so Agent Martinez wants her to return home, but Rachel is hooked by the story, especially the disappearance of Maddison, and refuses to cooperate. Although she has a successful podcast, she relies on her producer, Pete, to manage the social media aspects, which do not interest her. However, to solve this mystery, she has to enmesh herself in the social media influencer community, which is holding a high-profile conference in Daytona Beach. That proves to be a very enlightening experience. Rachel also looks into the incident that got Bailey sent to prison, as well as some of the unsolved murders. She will manage to undercover some rather significant secrets, including the rather unexpected connections between Bailey, Rachel, and Thomas.

What I loved about this second story of Rachel Krall!
1. Great mystery that kept me turning the pages!
2. Lots of insights into the Influencer world - you may or may not like the view!


What I wished was different:
1. Better editing - could have been shorter - seemed like lots of filler.
2. Rachel was not the same Rachel from "The Night Swim" - she was darker ...didn't like the change.

Still love Megan Goldin as an author and will continue to read everything she publishes!!

Expected publication date: August 8, 2023.

Thank You to St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for the chance to read.

I thoroughly enjoy Megan Goldin’s writing. This book is no exception. Her ability to weave a tale is top notch. Her characters have a depth not often found in mysteries or thrillers. She paints a picture as well as I’d imagine Bailey does.

When I began reading this book, I didn’t realize it was a second in the Rachel Krall series. I immediately felt a familiarity and quickly googled. Delighted to see Rachel again, I dove in.

What I love about a good thriller is the build. Goldin does this beautifully in Dark Corners. I also love knowing a bad guy/gal in the beginning but not knowing how s/he plays into the story. I like the guessing and contemplating but not fully getting it until the end when the author wants you to. That’s the fun in a thriller.

The whole influencer world is one I’m not at all familiar with. I’ve certainly seen influencers on social media but never a behind the scenes peek. This aspect of the novel was quite interesting to me. I found myself becoming annoyed with the influencers when Rachel and Joe discussed their distaste for the profession.

I’d definitely recommend this to folks who don’t want a lot of gore with their thriller but do want a double helping of suspense. I found myself, on more than one occasion, saying “just one more chapter” before bookmarking and putting it down.

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital reviewer copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

After serving time for breaking and entering, suspected serial killer Terence Bailey is about to be released from prison. Days before his release, popular influencer Maddison Logan visits him in jail. During their short conversation, they mention true crime podcaster Rachel Krall. Hours later, Madison goes missing.

Rachel is about to take a break from her podcast when the FBI requests her help. In exchange for a podcast exclusive, she agrees to fly to Florida to meet with Terence Bailey. Rachel quickly finds herself thrown in the middle of the case, whether she likes it or not.

I liked The Night Swim and was excited to receive an ARC of this book, as it’s the second in the series. I enjoy reading the story through podcast transcripts mixed between chapters. It’s an easy read and I was interested to see what would happen next. However, there were some turnoffs in this book. Specifically, I didn’t like that the killer had that smelly issue, it was weird. I also didn’t like the excessive use of names in the book as it’s so repetitive.

Overall, I’m glad I read this one, but it didn’t pack as much of a punch as The Night Swim.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

WOW, this was an unexpected DELIGHT! I loved this book, I have read others by Megan , this might be a new fave! Additctive, and left me wanting MORE!

I was so excited for another Rachel Krall novel!! This one did not disappoint. I loved the combinations of being IN the investigation, romance and suspense. Beautifully written.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy for my opinion.
Let me say that I really liked this alot. I don't understand the influencer world, but it sounds exhausting! This was a good mystery where you thought it was going to go one way, but ended up another. I like Rachel and Joe, would really like to see them again. Read it, I think you will enjoy it

I absolutely devoured this one. I loved Goldin’s previous books and had high hopes for this new release. My hopes were rewarded because this was so good. I even loved the romance thrown in there which I don’t always like with mystery/thrillers.

An incredible story that I loved every single page of. An intense and thought-out storyline that keeps the reader engaged throughout the story. This will become a fan favorite of Megan Goldin and it's a sequel to Night Swim. I loved both Night Swim and Dark Corners. You do not need to read Night Swim to read Dark Corners, however, I would encourage you to read both as they are both incredible reads.

A great summer thriller. You won't want to miss this one. Thank you to Netgalley for my advanced copy. I truly enjoyed it.

DARK CORNERS By Megan Goldin

Thank you to St Martin's Press & NetGalley for the e-arc! I loved STAY AWAKE and THE NIGHT SWIM, so I knew I'd love this book too!

SUMMARY:
Rachel is about to take a break from her true-crime podcast, but the FBI persuades her to fly to Florida to discuss a current investigation, in exchange for a podcast exclusive once the case is closed. A suspected serial-killer is about to be released from prison and the FBI want to know why he and an Instagram-famous influencer met and why they mentioned her name. Rachel is thrown into a social-media convention and the middle of a case, whether or not she wanted to be.

MY THOUGHTS:
I know I've said I'm over the podcasts in thrillers, but I think this book gets a pass because THE NIGHT SWIM was one of the first podcast books I read and this is a sequel. (You could read this as a stand alone, you don't need to read the first one before!)

I thought this book was super fun and I loved the insta-famous plot line! It was particularly appropriate as I read this book while on vacation and took photos for my not so insta-famous bookstagram. 🤗

It was easy to follow and I loved how everything came together! I'm 100% team Rachel and Joe! I hope there will be more from them.

Megan Goldwin has quickly become one of my favorite authors. She knows how to draw the reader in right from the first page. Although this one was not my favorite it is still a very compelling read and one I will be recommending. A huge thank you to St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved this! I loved the mystery, and the influencer storyline. Rachel is such a great character, and I love her investigative personality. There are so many twists in this one, and it all comes together in a great way at the end. I really hope this author brings Rachel back for a 3rd book. Either way, I can’t wait to read this author again!

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 5 stars for DNF as I cannot comment on the overall quality of this book. Is Rachel ok? She needs a Snickers. She's so damn angry and rude for what??

True Crime podcaster Rachel Krall is back. This time she gets involved in the case of a missing influencer named Maddison and a soon to be released prisoner named Terrence Bailey. Bailey is believed to have murdered several women but the police did not have the evidence to convict him, so he was in prison for a lesser charge. The FBI gets Rachel involved in the case as both Maddison and Terry have mentioned her and they want to find out what her connection is to the case. Soon Rachel is masquerading as an influencer at BuzzCon to find out who these two really are and who is really responsible for the missing and murdered women in this area.