I was really stressed out when I started reading this book, because I had not read the first Rachel Krall book. I didn't know if I would miss a lot of the story even though everything told me it could be read as a stand alone. Let me put your minds at ease, this can indeed be read as a stand alone. I liked that we jumped in kind of assuming you knew a little bit about Rachel's world but still giving a refresher in case you did not. So world building didn't take up a lot of the beginning of the book. The book eluded to events that occurred in book #1 but mostly in vague events that were not too relevant in this book, but it explained that Rachel was a very popular podcaster. After reading the second book will I go back and read #1? Yes ,absolutely.

Rachel is contacted by the FBI to look into a presumed serial killer that is behind bars asking for her by name. He gets out of jail in a few days and the FBI want to tie him to some murders. Terence, amongst other prisoners, want her to clear their names. Then the only person who has visited Terence in jail goes missing. Madison is a popular vlogger who happens to be in town for BuzzCon. Rachel will infiltrate BuzzCon to discover more information on Madison and if anyone knows what happened to her. In all of this a budding romance occurs, secrets are uncovered, and mysteries are solved.

The narration was great, I loved that they had different actors coming in to be interviewed in Rachel's podcast segments. It gave it so much more depth, and all of the actors did fantastic jobs! I loved the little intro music to her segments as well as we are given a clue that we have something different happening in the story.

With the two POVs everything was pretty interesting. It gave the reader more knowledge than the characters in the story, which can take out some of the shocking elements of a suspense or thriller. Mostly because we know who the bad guy is and when they are going down the wrong rabbit holes. I loved the health conditions of our bad guy, you don't see that everyday and gave the story a bit of a unique twist. I also loved the red herrings that were thrown in, because it gave some interesting information and threw a few wrenches into everyone's mindset. Overall, everything was really enjoyable, I didn't want to stop listening because I wanted to see how everything was tied together. I think that true crime is so popular as entertainment right now that Megan Goldin was able to put a fresh spin on a trend that you see quite often. Definitely worth the read.

This second book in the Rachel Krall series was another winner. I think if I HAD to compare, I liked the first one SLIGHTLY more than Dark Corners, but they were both solid 4-star reads for me. I enjoyed the plot being around the world of social media influencers and how followers' perception of who those influencers are differs so much from the reality.

Something I find as a common complaint for me when reading series is that character growth is not demonstrated like I would hope to see if they were real people....which makes me seem a little crazy, but that's ok. Rachel is not a character I really relate with in many ways, so maybe that is why she seems less emotionally intelligent to me than she would to someone who better relates with her. She just seems a little petulant and impulsive for her stage of life, which results in me not loving the book as much as I would if I really liked Rachel more. Again, that's a "me" issue, and I still think 4 stars is a great rating overall.

I got an advanced ecopy of this book and still went out and bought the hardback so I could influence friends to read it. I am looking forward to whatever Megan Goldin publishes next, and definitely will be adding it to my TBR list.

Novels about true crime podcasts can be so hit and miss. I think that this one was a hit in part because of the fact that I both read and listened to the book back and forth. I found myself especially enjoying the way the audiobook handled the podcast portions of the story. They were very well done. Without the narration, these were still my favorite part of the book. You are listening to the main characters take on what she experiences and it was interesting to see how she put together what she discovered.

Novels about influencers are also a hit and miss with me. I liked the balance of ridiculous and serious amongst the different podcasters. That's not to say there were equal amounts of each, just that there was a view of them that offered some variety.

The story itself took a lot of twists and turns and I was pretty satisfied by the outcome. The action was pretty evenly paced throughout. The only thing that made me slightly cringe was the love affair. It felt forced and unnecessary.

This book is a follow-up to the night swim, which absolutely blew me away. This one, while still good, was not as amazing.

The world that Rachel inhabits this time is the world of influencers. While Goldin last time showed us multiple perspectives and gave us multiple opinions to chose from, the narrative in this book did not reflect that same unbiased opinion. Goldin tells us how influencers are all fake, they are vain and self-absorbed, and incredibly willing to stab their friends in the back. Rachel is supposed to be a journalist- unbiased and reporting only the truth, but Goldin certainly does not write her like that this time.

Started this one over at least 4 times and each time I’ve made it to almost 12% still don’t have a clue what’s happening. This makes me sad because i loved the first one but i am dnfing.

If it weren't for the audiobook, I would have DNF this. It was disappointing to me after reading and loving The Night Swim. I think part of why I was so disappointed was there was too much going on and also I felt like it was kind of cheesy? I'm also not terribly interested in social media influencers so that was hard for me to connect with. I had to kind of force myself to finish it. The last thing that was challenging to overcome was the lack of revealing who the killer was at the end. You kind of were given that information from the beginning and that sort of stole a lot of the suspense for me.

I thought the audiobook production was very good. I enjoyed each narrator and the addition of "podcast" episodes. I'm not sure I will try a next book in this series. Rachel the character and the romance aspect of the book made me think that if I didn't like this book then I probably won't like the next one.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan audio for the gifted audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: 08/08/2023
Review Date: 08/16/2023

Rating: 4/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Rachel Krall is back! This time she is in Florida, helping the FBI search for a missing person while simultaneously help keep a man behind bars all while doing a bit of her own investigation on her own for her podcast.
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Once again, this was a fun read. This was once again in the format where we are reading the story through Rachel’s podcast but also through the present as to what Rachel was doing with the FBI and her own investigation. I liked how one piece of the puzzle always led to something more significant.
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There was definitely a bunch of filler in this one in my opinion, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book. I liked the aspect of Rachel doing her own thing, I liked the “undercover” aspect if you will and I found the ending satisfying. I definitely figured out part of the major twist, which basically means I am certified detective now… or just that it’s moreso eluded to throughout the novel. Either way, I did figure out part of it.
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I was able to listen to this one and read via ebook. The narrators were incredible, the podcast parts were superb. Andre Santana, January LaVoy and Samantha Desz were incredible making this one such a fun listen. I highly highly highly recommend the audiobook if you’re looking into this one!
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This was a solid sequel to The Night Swim, and I would love to see if we get another installment to the Rachel Krall series. I would definitely like to see where life takes her next.
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Dark Corners released yesterday 8/8, be sure to check it out! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, St Martins Press and Megan Goldin for the ALC and eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Title: A Mediocre Thriller

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

"Dark Corners" by Megan Goldin had all the makings of a gripping thriller, but it fell short of my expectations. The premise was intriguing, promising a tangled web of secrets and suspense. The author's writing style was decent, allowing for easy reading, and the pacing kept me engaged throughout.

However, where the book faltered was in its character development and plot execution. The characters lacked depth, often coming across as one-dimensional and predictable. I struggled to connect with their motivations, which hindered my investment in their fates. The plot had potential, but it often veered into clichés and convenient resolutions, robbing the story of genuine surprises.

Despite these shortcomings, I can't deny that the book did manage to maintain a certain level of tension that kept me flipping the pages. There were moments of genuine intrigue that hinted at the author's ability to craft a compelling narrative.

In the end, "Dark Corners" is a book that offers a moderate level of entertainment for readers looking for a quick thriller fix. However, if you're seeking a more immersive and thought-provoking mystery, you might find yourself slightly disappointed by this book's lack of depth and originality.

Dark Corners
Megan Goldin
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This was a Total page turner for me. I was hooked from the very beginning. I enjoyed the characters, story, suspense, & how it all came together.
It was interesting with different twists that you don't read time after time.
I hope there will be another book in the series. This was my first book with the Author. I can't wait to read The Night Swim next month.
I didn't want to put Dark Corners down. I hope Agent Martinez returns in the next book.
Thank you Netgallery for the opportunity to read this great book.
Thank you Megan Goldin. I will catch up on your other books.

2.5 ⭐️ I want to give this 3 stars, but I can’t. As a rule of thumb, I have to be able to recommend a book (even if I don’t love it) to bump it up to a 3.

The story starts out interesting enough: Rachel Krall, a true crime podcaster, dives into unsolved murders to bring justice to the victims or to the wrongly accused. As a result, she gains popularity among prisoners. When her name is brought up in conversation between a soon-to-be released prisoner and his visitor, she’s flown in to help the FBI.

The most recent mystery involves a missing travel vlogger, and Rachel turns into the key investigator of the case. She inserts herself into BuzzCon, an influencer’s dream conference and starts gaining intel from all its attendees. It felt unconvincing to me that the FBI would allow a podcaster to take such a lead in a missing person’s investigation.

There were no big reveals, there were some loopholes in the story line, and an unnecessary romance was forced in.. I know Goldin has been highly praised for her other works, but I don’t plan to find out..

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an ARC for my honest review.

Dark Corners is the second in the Rachel Krall series. This time Rachel Krall is sucked into the world of social media influencers after one of them (Maddison) goes missing. To complicate issues more a prisoner Terrance Bailey is getting released from prison and asks for Rachel after having met with Maddison… Dark Corners is a cat-and-mouse game. Evil lurks, but the truth will be pieced together in time to stop more harm. Rachel ends up working with the FBI and even has a little fun. While I still don’t know Rachel and why she ticks, I enjoy seeing her in action. This is a highly entertaining and bingeable story.

The audio version had excellent production value just like the first book with the podcast snippets interspersed in the story. Megan Goldin is becoming a favorite.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I quickly read book 1 of the Rachel Krall series so I was excited to receive this audiobook from NetGalley!

I loved January LaVoy’s narration as always. I found the main character to be unlikable in this book than in the previous one. I liked the story as a whole but it sort of fell flat more often than not.

Rating: 3

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

Megan Goldin has done it again! I fast paced thriller that keeps a reader hooked throughout. Rachel Krall is back! This time she is brought into an investigation because a convicted inmate wants to see her. Seemingly unconnected to the story, Rachel finds herself caught in the web of missing influencers, murder, and FBI investigations all while still using her podcast to share what she discovers as the truth.

This novel is twisty and fun, and kept me wanting to know how it would turn out in the end!

I also had the opportunity to listen to the audio version of this novel, which I was happy that I did. This is more than a simple audio, it is a listening experience! Definitely worth the listen!

I was excited to see Dark Corners by Megan Goldin as I really enjoyed Night Swim. I do recommend the audiobook as the narrators do an awesome job and I love to listen when there’s a podcast element involved. This was a solid mystery and a great audiobook.

I would love to read more in this series and hope FBI Agent Joe Martinez shows up!

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publishers for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I usually love murder mysteries, but this one was super obvious. I honestly did not like it, and it took everything in me to finish it.

3.5 but rounding up

In many areas, this book is a much stronger addition to the Rachel Krall series than the first book, The Night Swim. The characters were more fully fleshed out, the plot had a higher degree of urgency from the start, and the podcast segments further developed the story. I enjoyed the complex multi-layered plot filled with mystery, intrigue, and suspense. That being said, there were elements that fell flat for me. A few of the reveals felt overly convenient or rushed. One plot element was very briefly tied up at the very end and ultimately had little to no impact to the story at large. While the touch of romance seemed a little out of place at times, it did add depth and humanity to the MC, Rachel Krall. Overall, it was an enjoyable listen, highly recommend the audio for this one!

Thank you to Megan Goldin, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!

This is the second book in the Rachel Krall series. Just coming off Rachel's 3rd big podcast, she is invited to visit Florida via the FBI. They want her to talk to an inmate about to be released. Now she is in another investigation of a cold case and a new one. The narrators were all great. This thriller is a great read. I did read the 1st book in the series. However, I do believe you don't have to read the first book to read this one.

Things I enjoyed:
📖 Different/unusual plot
🩺 Shines light on a rare disorder
💪Strong Female Main Character
🔦 Highlights the potential harm of Social Media

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars

There were so many wonderful and deeper aspects of this novel that I didn't expect! All the while, it was a completely fresh and entertaining plot. First, I love how the author brought our attention to a rare disorder and highlighted how treatment of someone who is different can have such harmful repercussions. This part was done brilliantly! Second, I loved how Goldwin dived head first into social media culture and the potential damage it can cause. It can be such a toxic environment and cause more harm than good if used the wrong way. This was also such a brilliant piece of this book! Third, we had a strong female main character who was smart and led the investigation. It was so refreshing to see! Overall, a very entertaining journey!

CW: Fade to black. Some graphic and disturbing material.

*Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, author, and narrator for an advanced copy for this audiobook. All opinions are my own. #darkcorners #NetGalley

Wow. I just discovered this author. I grabbed the first in the series when I received this. I’m a stickler for book order.

I absolutely love how the author weaves a story. And this character was unique. I also loved how she pulls the whole thing together. It was not what I thought at all. I really hope there is more with Rachel Krall. I wasn’t sure she could top book 1, I was wrong. Both are very different and equally fantastic.

5 stars. I discovered Megan Goldin's books last August when i read Stay Awake. Which was my number one read of the year. Since then, i have wanted to read every single book that she's written. She is a phenomenal author and writer. Im addicted to this series. It has everything i love in a book. It centers around a podcast. True crime and the search of the true. The character rachel gets a call from the fbi and flies down to Florida, and talks to a man named terry in prison. And the fbi is trying to find out if he killed multiple girls without any evidence, so that's where rachel comes in. After she gets out of the interview with terry, the fbi discovers a body, and she's trying to find out if it's the girl that she was trying to find out if he killed or not. I liked the fact that this book is easy to follow and is worth the read