I am so beyond grateful that I received an ARC of this. Unfortunately, I'm having such a hard time enjoying it. I've tried to get through it several times, but I guess I'm just not liking any of the characters and can't seem to get into the writing.

Overall, I’d give this book a 6/10. There are four plus different story lines, which make it pretty hard to follow in the beginning. I didn’t like how the headers were just chapter numbers. They didn’t give you any insight into the time, location or character. I’m assuming some of the chapters were podcast episodes, but that wasn’t specifically called out either. I do want to add that this is an advanced copy and very well could be fixed in the finished/published version. If so, this would definitely help reduce some of the confusion.

In regards to the actual plot, I was hooked by the end and definitely wanted to find out how all of the characters were tied together. There were some loose ends and far fetched parts of the story that I could have gone without, but overall I did enjoy the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you @netgalley for my ARC of Dark Corners by Megan Goldin.

Pub date August 8, 2023

I loved Stay Awake by Megan Goldin and read a bunch of her books after that. Dark Corners was good, but didn't quite measure up to that book. It is the second book in the Rachel Krall series, but can be read as a standalone. It was fast paced and entertaining, but It was also lacking in some details that made it seem rushed. I will keep reading books by this author and am looking forward to the next one.

I had such a good time with this book! It felt like I was watching a tv show and I was flying through it. I enjoyed the social media/ influencer aspect of this story and really enjoyed how it all played out. A great mystery and I can't wait to read more by Megan Goldin.

Goldin’s books are usually a hit or miss for me and this one was a miss.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Night Swim and was excited that I had the opportunity to read another book with Rachel casted as the MC. However, the Rachel in this book was rude, immature, snarky, arrogant, etc.. totally different than the Rachel I grew to love in The Night Swim.

I was also disappointed that her podcast “Guilty or Not Guilty” wasn’t featured in this book.

The book also heavily centers around “influencers” and I just wasn’t a fan of that. It felt like the author was just trying to keep up with the times and write about things that are relevant in social media nowadays.

I’m aware that this may also just be a preference thing. Overall, it was just an okay book.

DARK CORNERS
Megan Goldin
Pub Date: Aug 8, 2023

𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖: Terrance Bailey is about to be released from prison & the FBI is not happy that a serial killer will be back in the streets. But what does Terrance Bailey want to do with Rachel Krall?

𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒: I have come to really enjoy Megan Goldin's books. I loved the Night Swin and was so excited we got more of Rachel Krall in this one. While this is the second book in a series, it can absolutely be read as a standalone. Even though it was easy to know who the killer was in this one (only reason I am giving 4 stars instead of 5) it was still so full of twists and turns and new information that I was completely hooked! There are also some switches in POV as well as sections of a podcast explaining some things in more details to the reader. I definitely recommend.

𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: really liked it!

*Special thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and Megan Goldin for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Do you like true crime, tv, podcasts, or books?

I love a good true crime tv show, book and podcasts. I’m all for it!

Terence is about to be released from prison for breaking and entering but authorities have always thought he was a murder. When he gets a visit from a social media influencer, and she soon goes missing, police suspect shes been kidnapped. When the FBI hits a wall they call Rachel Krall for help finding the influencer. As Rachel digs in, she finds the social media community is not as welcoming as it would appear. When evidence surfaces potentially tying Terence to a death, police begin to wonder if he has connections on the outside. Will the FBI and Rachel figure things out before more people go missing or turn up dead?

I loved The Night Swim, so when I heard that there was going to be a second book following true crime podcaster Rachel Krall, I knew I had to read it.

This story is told from three storylines. In the beginning it was difficult to keep track, but they did come together. I enjoy reading stories that focus on the negative side of social media. It makes me happy the book community is so great, and I have personally made some great friends here.

I didn’t quite enjoy this one as much as I did The Night Swim, but it was still a fun story. There were some parts that I felt were included but didn’t really add to the story. I did enjoy the further development of Rachel’s character, and the romance sub plot was fun for me. If there is a third book in this installment I will for sure read it as I’m a huge Megan Goldin fan. Her books are always great reads for me.

Check out this amazing thriller on August 8th.

Thank you to the publisher St Martin’s Press, @stmartinspress, and Netgalley @netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.25/5 I was super excited to start Dark Corners after loving The Night Swim a few years ago. This time, Rachel Krall is lured into a multi-faceted investigation in Florida by FBI agent Joe Martinez, but no one really knows how Rachel fits into the puzzle. At first, I did have a bit of a hard time getting into the story, because it seemed like the chapters were a bit jumpy and all over the place. That being said, once I got a little farther into it, I was hooked. Megan Goldin has a way of drawing me in, even if I have some of the pieces figured out. I did find that the influencer bits at the center of the story did become a bit mundane, and while the writing was a bit repetitive at times, I really enjoyed this story and was drawn into it. I recommend picking this one up if you enjoy an interwoven story that preys on your fear of other people, because after all, “the scariest monster is the one that hides in plain sight.”

Thank you to Megan Goldin, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This book is due to be published on August 8, 2023.

Thank you for the ARC (Netgalley)

I struggled with this one, a lot. I read Night Swim when it came out and enjoyed it. I was excited to receive this ARC. However, this one felt off for some reason.

Let's start with Rachel. She came across as unlikeable, reckless, and irritable. She kept acting like an amateur sleuth and had a total disregard for FBI procedures. At one point, she walked into a crime scene and refused to leave, wanting to be involved in the investigation, never mind her possible contamination of the scene. I found the banter between her and Martinez to be so ridiculous. The way the FBI brought her in, she refused to listen to them, then they just wanted her to leave was unrealistic. It felt like a very bad cop show written by someone that didn't take the time to research police procedure.

The social media influencer aspect wasn't for me either, but I know this is a personal preference. I understand that being an influencer is an actual job, but I couldn't take it serious in this story. Not really a spoiler, but in the end, Maddison won some influencer award because of everything that happened to her, that made her viral and blow up. The woman was hunted down and tormented by a deranged serial killer and everyone was like, "oh she's such a good influencer".

I don't know what else to say, I really didn't enjoy this book and it felt like the writing was rushed and the author didn't take the time to research, lay out plot points, and make the story believable.

I did enjoy the ending in regard to Terrence Bailey. That was a bit of a redeeming factor for me.

This book is sooooo good! This is my fourth read by Megan Goldin and she consistently wows me with her twisty, mystery thrillers. Her first three books dealt with cutthroat back stabbing in the world of finance (The Escape Room), an investigative true crime podcaster unraveling a murder/rape in a college town (The Night Swim/Rachel Krall #1), and, a woman who tortures herself trying to stay awake because every time she wakes after nodding off, she finds she is being hunted and remembers nothing that has happened to her for the past two years (Stay Awake) – all three were brilliant, twisty, and exciting page flippers.

Goldin’s newest title, Dark Corners, is her second book featuring Rachel Krall, the creator of a popular investigative true crime podcast. Krall is contacted by the FBI, out of the blue, “instructing” her to fly out to Daytona, Florida at their behest and expense – no explanation provided. It turns out that her name has come up in connection with a dangerous prison inmate and the disappearance of a well-known social media influencer, Maddison Logan. As the story develops, she is swept up into the investigation of the murder and disappearance of several young women, and the hunt for a serial killer. Along the way she delves into the world of social media influencers, where the characters adopt flamboyant alias personas (the only humor in the book). Krall proves a valuable ally to the primary FBI Officer handling the case, while at the same time exposing herself to considerable danger.

I learned a new word/medical term for the genetic disease Trimethylaminuria, a rare disorder in which the body emits an unpleasant smell as of rotting fish (thank you wiki)…One of the main characters suffered from the disease which predictably triggered behavioral issues.

All of Goldin’s books are page flippers but this one nearly gave me whiplash and kept me up half the night reading. The book was unputdownable! Her first book was an instant hit with me; I loved the dark humor. Her last three books, including Dark Corners, are original, mostly bereft of humor, and kept me guessing throughout. Her resolutions are complete, for those readers who like tidy endings.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an ARC of this novel due out on August 23rd…I loved it so much and I can hardly wait to see what Goldin comes up with next!

This book was amazing! I couldn’t put it down. Absolutely terrifying and thrilling at the same time. One of my favorite books!!

A true crime podcaster,Rachel Krall, has been asked by the FBI to interview an inmate,Terence Bailey who is about to be released from prison for breaking and entering. Police suspect that Bailey has been involved in the murders of several women, but have no definite evidence.
Maddison who is an online iinfluencer visits Bailey two days before his release and then disappears. The police are sure that her disappearance has something to do with Bailey and want Rachel Krall to try and get the evidence they need.
Krall sees a tattoo on Bailey's arm. It is a snake eating its own tail and this same tattoo was also seen on a murdered girl.
I don't usually read any series as i like my books tp be varied, but I did enjoy Megan Goldin's books Stay Awake and The Escape Room, so I thought I would give this series a go, but it was not for me.
I do thank the author, publisher and Netgally for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was able to get an early copy of this book via Netgalley! Thank you!

A true crime podcaster who became insta famous because she helped an innocent coach get a new trial and out of prison, gets herself into a current situation where an inmate is getting ready to be free from prison and there are a lot of circumstances surrounding his release. This book ties current events and people like social media influencers and current technology into events from the past while solving a crime that is 6 plus years old. I am a true crime junkie so this caught and kept my attention.

My only critique (and this may be solved when the final copy hits the shelves) is that when the book chapters switch to the podcast notes I wish the chapter was titled differently or there was a little more difference in the fonts when the book switches back and forth. That kept catching me off guard.

Also, I would like to note that this book leaves an open ending for possible more and/or a series! Love it!

Eye opening story about the world of social influencers with murder, missing women, wrongly accused and a murderer on the loose mixed in! Rachel Krall is a podcaster who is known for solving crimes and freeing innocent people convicted of crimes. While she is taking a break after the conclusion of a recent podcast, she is contacted by the FBI and meets them along with a prisoner in a Florida penitentiary. A cryptic conversion with the prisoner, Terry Bailey, leads Rachel on a journey to find answers about a missing girl who was Terry’s only visitor during his incarceration. FBI agent, Joe Martinez, realizes he’s put Rachel in harms way when he learns of the veiled threats Terry made against Rachel and given the fact that he is being releases from prison in just a few days. When Rachel decides to stay despite Joe’s encouragement to return home, they begin to work together to find the missing influencer who is leaving a trail of bodies in her wake. Can Rachel and Joe find who is orchestrating the murders before it is too late? Excellent novel for those interested in crime mysteries, suspense, social media, and cold cases. This review is based on the ARC provided by #St. Martin’s Publishing and #NetGalley.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read before pub day on August 8th! This book, the second in the Rachel Krall series, feels very different from book one (The Night Swim). It definitely felt like the stakes were higher and the characters were in more danger, which I enjoyed. I figured out the main twist, but there were a ton of red herrings to throw you off the scent and confuse you, and it was fun trying to piece everything together. At first I thought it switched POV too much and it was a bit jarring, but once I got to know the characters, it didn’t bother me. I liked the ending, and I’m hoping to see more of Joe Martinez in future books! This will be a great summer thriller from Megan Goldin!

Loved this one much more than the first one in the series! In comparison, this book has several different points of view, and you don’t know how everyone fits into the story. This was better than the multiple timelines of the first book. It’s also a mystery/ serial killer happening in real time with Rachel in the center of it all. Definitely some interesting twists, some I expected but some that surprised me! Didn’t love the romance aspect and didn’t need it. I was also missing Rachel’s producer who was a more frequent element in the first book! I’ll still definitely read more from this author!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book is about Rachel Krall, a true crime podcaster, who gets recruited by the FBI to help them try and solve a case of a missing influencer.

I was so excited to read this book since I really liked “The Night Swim”, which is the first book. I enjoy Megan Goldin’s writing style and I also was excited to read about Rachel Krall and her podcast again. This book takes place right after the first book, but it could be read as a standalone.
I found the mystery aspect to be very interesting at the beginning of the book. I kind of guessed the ending so it was predictable in my opinion. I would have rated this book higher, but I did feel that it was too long and dragged on in some parts. I was starting to not be as invested in the mystery towards middle of the book.

I did really enjoy Rachel’s character development and the ‘romance’ that we saw towards the end!

Podcaster Rachel Krall is back in “Dark Corners” by Megan Goldin. Terrance Bailey is about to be released from prison, but the police suspect that he’s actually a serial killer. Before his release date, he gets a visit from lifestyle influencer Maddison Logan, who then goes missing. During their conversation, Terrance tells Maddison to try to get in touch with Rachel, so without any other leads the FBI pulls Rachel into their active investigation.

I absolutely love Rachel Krall and was so excited to see her in another story (can we please keep this series going?!). This book definitely felt different from “Night Swim,” but I didn’t mind the shift. Also, I really liked the dynamic between Rachel and Joe Martinez, the FBI agent. I’m always here for an undercurrent of love.

This book was an interesting deep dive into the world of social media influencers- it didn’t necessarily add to the plot, but I do think it made Rachel a more interesting character. She tends to avoid being the face of her podcast and seeing this side of online presence allows us to understand why (besides the obvious safety issues of her podcast subject matter).

In the end, this book was a solid 4 star read for me. I really enjoyed it and felt engaged the whole time. I can’t wait to read more about Rachel Krall and truly hope the series keeps going!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review! This book comes out August 8th!

I’m a big fan of Megan Goldin and I really liked this book. This is a police procedural set in Daytona Beach, Florida. Rachel Krall is the primary character, and she was introduced in a previous book (The Night Swim). Rachel is the host of a popular true crime podcast, and has been called on to help investigate a case of a missing woman. This book has twists and turns and interesting characters. Hope we see Rachel Krall in future books.
Recommended!

I am addicted to the Rachel Krall series!! This book was just a as good as Night Swim if not better. I rate this book five out of five stars and highly recommend it to anyone to read!!