Even though engaging and easy to get into, This Book Will Bury Me has some underutilized potential. Presented in the style of a true crime memoir (think I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara), it’s a “tell-all” documenting the protagonist’s involvement in solving an ongoing murder case (alongside other online amateur sleuths), paralleled with her grief over the passing of her father.

Despite its daunting page count, This Book Will Bury Me is a page-turner, thanks to long inserts of Reddit/chat sequences and the consistent revelation of new information. The last 20–30% especially amps up the adrenaline with some worthwhile (if not wholly unexpected) payoff.

For me, its genre-blending, meta approach does impact my reading experience, landing it somewhere in 'uncanny valley' territory. While I appreciate that in the Foreword, Ashley Winstead plainly states the fictionalized case is based on a real-life, still-ongoing investigation, I found that information pulled me out of the story. My curiosity kept getting distracted by trying to figure out what was real vs. fictional—which turned out to be irrelevant, as by the end the author had altered so many details that I wished she had simply fictionalized everything, instead of leaving behind traces of half-truths. It opens the door to criticism that she’s potentially monetizing others’ tragedy (which, in my opinion, she really isn’t in the novel's current form).

I also appreciated the secondary storyline revolving around the protagonist’s quest to learn more about her father, and how that ties back to her obsession with crime-solving. But the way the story is told is very action-oriented, and not optimized for deep, character-building moments. As a result, I found the cast overall pretty one-dimensional, and I wasn’t emotionally engaged with anyone in particular. There are also some clunky storytelling choices that clearly exist to fit the mystery-thriller mold (we need reveals along the way) but don’t make sense within the framework of this being written as a memoir.

This being the third book I’ve read from Ashley Winstead, I think my opinion remains the same—she’s excellent at coming up with bespoke fusions of genre and theme (I came around to enjoying the Twilight-coded Midnight Is the Darkest Hour more than most people), but her execution is never quite as polished as I’d like. Same with This Book Will Bury Me—in hindsight, I appreciate the exploration of personal grief and crime-solving as a coping mechanism, but I feel like the novel, while objectively extremely readable, doesn’t quite manage to weave its ambition into a cohesive whole.

I love Ashley Winstead and will always read whatever she writes.

This Book Will Bury Me read slowly for me. I was intrigued in the idea a group of amateur sleuths solving crimes - and better yet being recruited by the FBI - but it didn’t hold my attention as much as I had hoped for. I kind of disliked our main character, she wasn’t badly written, I think she just felt too immature to have been able to fall into the position she was in. I did however love some of her fellow sleuths and I was excited about finding out who the killer was - which surprised me! So, because of the plot twist, I still gave it a decent rating but it wasn’t my favorite of hers. I also think that maybe the fact that it hit wayyyy too close to the University of Idaho Massacre really made me feel ick, and I think that it also affected my feelings about it. It’s too soon and felt in poor taste but again that’s my opinion. I’ll definitely continue to read her work, and I still think fellow Winstead fans would enjoy this. Thanks to Sourcebooks for my copy!

Okay I know people's feelings on this book was iffy so far. But putting the real life case to the side and remembering this is a fictional book, I liked this a lot. I am a true crime girly through and through.

Basically Jane loses her dad, doesn't know what to do with her life and becomes an amateur sleuth. Her and her friends decide be the first to figure out the shocking deaths of 3 college girls. Details don't add up, the police are cagey, and there seems to be more media hype and internet theorizing than actual evidence.

I truly liked the true crime aspect and I love Ashley's writing. If you like true crime, you should read this.

As long as there have been murder mysteries, there have been armchair sleuths. The internet makes this easier with chat rooms and messaging. Meet Janeway Sharp who narrates this book as one she herself is writing. Janeway dives into this world after the death of her father taking the username Searcher24 and after helping to solve one murder, is draw into an inner circle of honed sleuths who them take on a multiple murder case in Idaho (taken from the actual murders that occurred in 2022). From there the case takes many twists and turns that will ultimate test the group and their loyalties and motives.

I'll start off with the good points: taking readers on a tour of internet sleuthing and methods is very unique. How many of us can remember Unsolved Mysteries and their pleas to the public or America's Most Wanted? Now, how many of us took it seriously to find the killers or even knew where to start? A good portion of the beginning dialogue is chatroom style, trading ideas, and deciding how best to approach a case and that was entertaining. It also showed the darker side when false claims are made, people turn on the police, or flood the murder site. Janeway is a believable character and I think her cohorts were a perfect assortment of those you would expect to find doing this kind of work - retired cop, Navy guy, lonely Internet addict, nice old lady. Each of the characters is well flushed out and important to the whole narrative.

The less good points: The author didn't need to use a real murder, ultimately the similarities didn't add anything to the story and will probably anger people more than anything. Additionally, I know it today's day and age authors have to twist themselves in knots to keep their readers guessing until the end but ultimately it led to a very messy, yet somehow handily tied up conclusion. Additionally, it included one of the hated tropes of a character texting/telling someone "I have big news! Meet me" but not telling the character what it is and then they are intercepted by the villain. Finally, Janeway starts down the sleuthing path after her father dies. No, he isn't murdered nor does he die of suspicious circumstances but his end pushes Janeway into this world so that he'll matter? It's a bit of a stretch but I wouldn't have minded so much if it didn't keep popping up in random ways and at random times. It seemed out of place. I also don't think how she finally comes to peace with his loss makes much sense.

Overall I would recommend this book for the unique plot angle alone but just be ready for it to get a little boilerplate at the end.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an eARC

College student Jane Sharp’s father passed away suddenly and has left her feeling lost in grief. One day, she stumbles into an online forum discussing a recent murder. She encounters a group of online sleuths who have successfully solved prior cases and are trying to be the first to solve this current crime. After several weeks in the forum, Jane begins to find some purpose again when she’s made a member of the elusive group, which is now working towards solving the murder of three college girls in Idaho. The book is a look back on Jane’s account of what happened while trying to help solve the murders.

This story is perfect for anyone who enjoys watching true crime documentaries and wishes they were involved in the investigation process. I liked the discussions in the online forum and the personalities of the fellow sleuths that Jane befriends. There were a lot of tense moments throughout the book that made you want to keep reading it. Typically, I’m pretty good at guessing the ending of books like this, but this surprised me. I think that being caught in Jane’s grief for her father throughout the story clouded my ability to see it fully. She really cared for him, and it was nice to see her get a deeper understanding of who he was as the story progressed. This was my second Ashley Winstead book, and I look forward to picking up more.

Thank you to author Ashley Winstead, publisher Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for an eARC of This Book Will Bury Me in exchange for my review.

This Book Will Bury Me is the story of a young woman dealing with the loss of her dad who gets sucked into the online forums for true crime. And when a case like the Idaho murders occurs, she gets called upon to help solve the crime. This book was captivating. Portions of the book were taken right from the forums and I loved the mixed media epistolary nature of it. I really liked seeing the crime solving from their angle, seeing how the pieces fit together. A few yelling at the book moments for them doing really dangerous and dumb things but overall, I was sucked into it until the bitter end.

An interesting look and commentary on our true-crime obsessed culture. Well paced and sharp, the story centers on death and the ways in which we as a society grapple with the inevitable. Our narrator is young and gritty and trying her best, and reads like a complicated antihero. Because she is. Which step is a step too far?

Thank you so much for this ARC!

Ashley Winstead is a must read author for me. I was excited to request and receive this and did so blindly.

While I am an avid thriller reader, I am not a true crime junkie. I really did enjoy getting a sneak peek into the sleuthing world, SO interesting and really amazed by the smart people out there.

However, reading about the Idaho murders and knowing this story was inspired by a real tragedy, felt VERY yucky and exploitative. I listened to many podcasts that Ashley was on and how it was a glimpse into her own grief.

Jane's closure/grief about her dad felt very incomplete. It did not feel like it was a strong enough feature of the story to actually wrap up the ending.

Glad I read it, but it was not my favorite for quite a few reasons.

This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead was interesting, but is not my favorite of her books. In it we follow Jane who is struggling with the loss of her father. At the same time a murder happens in her town and she latches on to an amateur online sleuthing group to solve the murder and it leads to investigations of other cold cases. There didn't seem a lot of depth to the story. I would skp this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the earc in exchange for my honest review. These thoughts are my own.

In the wake of her father's death, Jane finds comfort in the true crime community. In this community she finds friendship, purpose, and eventual fame. After a killer hits an Idaho sorority and leaves 3 dead and 1 unscathed, the crime group starts digging in. Clues are not adding up, the police are cagey and there is no evidence from the scene. As Jane falls deeper and deeper into obsession with the case, she will learn she is closer to the killer than she ever imagined.

I enjoyed this story! I thought it was suspenseful, even though it was a bit predictable. I loved the build of the story, but I think it could have been about 50 pages shorter and without the forced romance element of it all.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, this one was not for me. I have loved all of Ashley Winestead's thrillers but for some reason, I wasn't able to get into the story. It was still a good book, I just felt that it was lacking those darker themes/tones her previous thrillers had.

This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead is a gripping thriller that delves into the world of online true crime communities and the complexities of personal grief. Winstead masterfully explores themes of obsession, the ethics of amateur sleuthing, and the impact of personal loss. The author also provides insightful commentary on society's fascination with true crime, highlighting the ethical boundaries of such obsessions.

The dynamics within the online sleuthing group add complexity, showcasing a range of motivations and personalities.

Overall, This Book Will Bury Me, offers a thought-provoking and thrilling experience, blending suspense with a critical examination of true crime culture. It's a compelling read for those interested in the ethical dilemmas of online investigations and the intricate nature of human connections forged in the pursuit of justice.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

• Internet sleuth thriller
• short chapters
• found family

To me, this wasn't so much an edge-of-your-seat thriller as it was a study on grief and loss. This is probably my favorite book of this author's that I've read.

🗣 Thank you to netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted eARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

I started this one without even glancing at the synopsis, I have really enjoyed Winstead’s writing in the past. I think my favorite part of this one was how well the deep dive of the MC into the true crime rabbit hole was done. It started out gradual and I liked the forum post/chat structure for those parts. I did like the mystery parts of this one, I tend to try not to solve the crime but I had some guesses here. I also did find this one to be a bit different than Winstead’s previous books, while there is definitely a commentary on cultural obsession with true crime and couch detectives, the commentary alone didn’t feel strong enough for me to really like it (which had been different for her previous novels). I still thought this was a good slow burn mystery. Winstead’s brand of playfulness does still show up here, as the novel delivering a commentary on true crime is inspired by a true crime.

I find Ashley Winstead's writing to be SO effortless and enjoyable in this book! LOVED the premise of this book and loved the twist at the end. I am so grateful to have received an advanced copy of this book. Thank you, NetGalley!

Struggled with the beginning did pick up midway but the ending was rushed or just odd.

Enjoyed the mystery sleuth online plot. But adding in all the other pieces just underwhelmed me.

The murderer, so yeah this was a shocker, so much that it just didn’t fit or feel right.

My first by this author and will try another.

Thanks to netgalley for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I have to say that this book was a disappointment to me. I generally enjoy the author’s books and don’t mind a book that draws from current events. Unfortunately for me, this seemed to start out well then drag in the middle and then wrap up too quickly in the end. If I was not reading this one to review, I may have DNF’d it. I think the problem was too many storylines.
This one focused on our protagonist, Jane, whose father dies suddenly, causing her to leave university and return home. She becomes lost in her grief and becomes enamored with a True Crime forum that consists of amateur sleuths trying to solve a homicide that occurred close to Jane’s home. Her camaraderie with others in the forum is a lifeline to her. Over time, they all become quite close. This case alone could have been a single novel but then we are introduced to other cases and this is where the plot lagged and veered too far off course for me.
A lot of the story centered around the crimes and then a separate aspect was Jane’s grief and her attempt to find out more about her father. In the end, I am not sure that I really understood why this was so much of the story. This plot line may have explained Jane’s attraction to the members of the group or why she went so far into it, but I don’t feel as though the depth that we explored her backstory with her family offered anything to the overall storyline.
This was a miss for me.
#ThisBookWIllBuryMe #NetGalley #SourcebookLandmark

As a true crime lover and one who has occasionally visited true crime forums such as WebSleuths, I was initially intrigued by the plot of This Book Will Bury Me. I thought that the first 25% was interesting - Julie has recently lost her father to a heart attack and wasn't able to save him. In her grief she ends up sleuthing with five other "armchair detectives" on a site called TheRealCrimeNetwork.com in hopes that helping to solve other crimes will help her avenge his death. However, when the main case comes into play I realized that the information was practiacally copy/paste from a current murder case that is about to go to trial. Some college kids in Idaho are murdered. The similarities are eerie, from the name of the road the murders took place to the descriptions of the girls, to the fact that they were at a food truck, that they were stabbed, that there were quotes from press conferences thrown in there as well. It all felt a little too similar to the actual case, which is going to trial soon. I think that's exploitative and lazy for the author to do this (and it's not the first time she's copy/pasted a real case into her book and just changed slight details...). Don't get me wrong, if this was a non-fiction true crime retelling of the case, that would be one thing, but for the author to say it was loosly inspired by a true case when it clearly was HEAVILY influenced by the case, makes me not like it very much.

I stopped reading and will rate this a 2.5 based on the fact that I enjoyed the first 25% enough, but chose to stop reading because I don't feel like we should support an author who chooses to copy/paste instead of using her own brain to write an original story.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

After her father dies suddenly, Jane leaves college and distracts herself with online true crime forums. She becomes friends with a group of armchair detectives and ends up getting a little too involved in an investigation.

I loved the true crime sleuthing. And I loved how this book was written - from Jane's point of view, defending herself against a tell all book written about the crime she and her internet friends investigated.

Winstead has long been a must-read author for me and this book was a "can't put down" for me! I loved the narration, the characters, the story all around. She continues to surprise & delight with her mysteries (and her romance!) and I will continue to read whatever she does next.