Such a great book!!
True crime lovers will devour this!
The suspense built up perfectly to a shocking twist!!

Winstead has become one of my favorite authors when she writes thrillers, so I knew I had to read this one. I love her story telling and her twists and this did not disappoint. When you are fully headed in one direction, she pulls the rug out from under you. I love it!



This book has an underlying theme of loss and grief. I lost my dad seven years ago, and while it was not sudden like in Jane’s story, I can appreciate the grief she felt and her longing for distraction. However, while I know there needed to be a reason for her to get into the true crime forums, this part didn’t completely work for me. It just seemed forced and out of place with the rest of the story.



That said, I did love the true crime element along with the friendships formed. Found family is one of my favorite themes, and I really appreciated how this one was executed. It was also interesting how they went about solving the crimes – though maybe not 100% believable. My advice is just to go with it and enjoy the ride.



The most unsettling part about this one (thanks or my bookstgram friends that helped me put a word to it) is the similarity to the 2022 University of Idaho murders. I continue to have mixed feelings about it, but I would still recommend it with caution. True Crime lovers please read it and let me know what you think!



This one is out this week, March 25, and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts. If you haven’t read Winstead before, be sure to check her out!



Thank you to @netgalley and @bookmarked for the eARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review. T

Okay, Ashley Winstead has done it again! I’m a huge fan of her work, and while this one wasn’t quite my favorite of hers, it *did not* disappoint!

This audiobook has all the good stuff: true crime, serial killers, suspense, and a gripping thriller that pulls you in from the start. After Jane suddenly loses her father, she takes up a new hobby to cope with her grief, and it leads her to an unlikely group of friends… and WAY more trouble than she ever expected. The character development? Top-notch, as always. Jane was such a complex and relatable character, and I loved the quirky, unique group of people she gets tangled up with—each one adding something special to the story.

It took me a little bit to really get pulled into the story, but once I did...... I was ALL IN. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, and there were definitely some emotional moments that tugged at my heartstrings.

Overall, I’d give this 4 stars! If you’re into crime thrillers with a solid emotional punch and fantastic narration, this one is definitely worth checking out! 🔍📖

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC of This Book Will Bury Me in exchange for an honest review.

Hats off to Ashley Winstead because this book is FIRE! I was immediately hooked and could not put it down (I learned how to do everything one handed just so I didn’t have to put it down). The true crime twist in this novel is top notch and the reader is kept continually guessing on next steps. I really enjoyed the sneak peek behind the curtain of what goes into being an internet armchair detective and the interesting perspective they bring to the game.

This Book Will Bury Me is written in an autobiographical nature from the viewpoint of an internet investigator named Jane, one year after the conclusion of a murder investigation. Jane writes this novel in hopes of clearing her name as well as her co-investigators after the case goes upside down and good guys become the villains.

Ashley’s character development is top notch and every moment of this book captured my undivided attention. The only part of the book that I felt that was maybe odd or forced was the tie in between Jane solving these murders and her personal discovery to connect with her recently deceased father in the process. Especially at the end of the book, she credits her father for the solving of the case…?? That struck me as odd and could really have been left out as it just came off as weird. That storyline wasn’t entirely necessary but the author explains she was dealing with the actual death of her own father while writing this book, so I could understand the parallel that came about while writing.

All in all, this book is incredibly interesting and keeps you guessing at every turn. Solid 4.5/5 read for my lovers of true crime internet sleuthing! Ushering in a new era of crime detectives and I’m here for it!

While the writing style was phenomenal, the characters were well developed, and the story was a page turner, the similarities and down right identical plot points ripped directly from headlines surrounding the Moscow Murders were way WAY too much for me. I’m sure that was partially the point. The book definitely speaks to the predatory nature of internet sleuths, even those with the best intentions. I’m sure deriving the plot from a very real, very recent case was attempting to use the Moscow Murders case to point that out. But because of that, I can’t give this book more than 3 stars. Also, the twist left a lot to be desired. I’m interested to see how the book is received when it drops on March 25, 2025! I’m sure the internet will have strong opinions on all sides.

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the digital ARC

Omg, I loved this. I was absolutely riveted from page one (actually, even earlier, because I loved the author’s note at the beginning before the story even started). I will caveat this review with the fact that I seem to have the opposite/unpopular opinion as most readers of Ashley Winstead’s books (In My Dreams was underwhelming for me, but I loved Midnight Is the Darkest Hour which I know didn’t work for a lot of people).

I immediately connected with this main character, who does read young, but her descent into the true crime rabbit hole felt realistic and was addicting to read. I also really enjoyed the direct-to-reader comments and footnotes, which again I can totally see other readers being annoyed by.

I am notably not a true crime person myself, which I think helped this feel really fresh and novel for me. I don’t have really any opinions on the true crime community when it comes to moral/ethical implications, but I think this book includes worthwhile commentary on the topic and I enjoyed seeing the many sides of the arguments.

Overall I’d recommend this to fans of Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll (another book that puts a fictional spin on the serial killer true crime phenomenon), Midnight is the Darkest Hour or The Last Housewife by this author, and of course anyone who thinks this premise sounds interesting and is ready for a wild ride. Thanks NetGalley for the eARC!

Dealing with the grief of the unexpected loss of her father, Jane finds herself immersed in the world of true crime amateur sleuths. As the shocking crime unfolds, she finds herself in the middle of a firestorm where she feels she needs to set the record straight.

Ashley Winstead can write a book in any genre. I have read so many different types of books by her and this one was hard. She includes an author's note at the beginning of the novel and for good reason - the focus on true crime in recent years has impacted the way detectives do their jobs - for better or worse. Despite the horrors in the book, the characters were well-written and Winstead captured the tone perfectly. Can't wait to see what she does next.

Thank you to SourceBooks and Macmillan Audio for the digital copy to review.

I have loved all of Winstead’s books and this was no different. It is centered around Jane Sharp, who has suddenly lost her father and finds the best way to deal with her grief is to channel it into an obsession with true crime, and she finds she is pretty good at it, and then the Idaho murders occur, so she sets out to Delphine, Idaho with other fellow sleuths that she has befriended.

This is a story of loss, grief, and coping, more so than a ‘thriller’ per se, and I think that is why I was drawn to this. I really felt for Jane, for all that she was going through, and for trying to understand her feelings, which were big feelings, and how to handle someone you are so close to being there one day and tomorrow they are not. Grief affects people in vastly different ways, and Winstead does a great job at capturing this in here. I had both ebook and audio, and the audio was wonderful. I listened in one sitting, I could not stop. This Book Will Bury Me is out this week, and I hope it is on your list.

This Book Will Bury Me
by Ashley Winstead
Release date: March 25th

Ashley Winstead is back, and this time she’s dragging us into the dark underbelly of internet sleuthing—a world where solving crimes from the comfort of your couch might just get you killed.

Jane Sharp, our grieving college student turned armchair detective, dives into the infamous Delphine, Idaho murders like a true crime podcast junkie on a caffeine bender. But when the case refuses to fit neatly into Reddit theories and YouTube deep dives, things get real in the most terrifying way.

Winstead masterfully blends psychological suspense with a biting critique of true crime obsession, keeping the pages turning faster than a viral Twitter thread. The pacing is razor-sharp, the twists land like a gut punch, and Jane’s voice is the perfect mix of sharp wit and unsettling paranoia. And let’s be real—half the fun is wondering if you’d make the same terrible life choices in her shoes (answer: probably).

Dark, compulsive, and dripping with tension, This Book Will Bury Me will keep you up all night—partly from reading, partly from paranoia. Five stars. Just… maybe clear your browser history after.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for this advance copy via NetGalley for an honest, voluntary review.

#ThisBookWillBuryMe #NetGalley #Sourcebooks #AshleyWinstead

Isn’t it such a wonderful feeling when you connect with people who have similar interests to you?

That’s exactly what this story is about. Our main character has just lost her father and, while dealing with her own grief, finds solace in becoming an armchair detective by participating in an online forum for true crime sleuths and then befriending some people online and eventually in person.

This was a little slower of pace, but read like a true crime doc/conversational piece. Each chapter ends making you want to turn the page.

It was pretty descriptive which made it easier to picture the events happening, the outfits worn and the places visited.

What was a nice main portion of the story that underlies the whole novel is the idea of everyone finding their own ways to deal with grief; everyone takes it in and relieves themselves differently.

This is only the second book I’ve read by Ashley Winstead, but it won’t be my last!

Thank you so much to the author, Ashley Winstead, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for the eARC of This Book Will Bury Me!

Jane Sharp just lost her father unexpectantly. To help distract herself from his death, Jane happens upon an internet forum with sleuths currently researching true crime cases. She finds herself sucked into their world forging friendships along the way. After helping to solve a few unsolved cases, news breaks about three college students that were found dead in their off campus apartment in Delphine, Idaho. This case is attracting media attention like they have never seen. Sleuths from all over are determined to be the first to solve the case. Jane and her sleuthing friends are on the case as well, but evidence from the case is not adding up and the police are being evasive. What are they missing and can Jane and her friends help solve the mystery?
Review:
I really enjoy Ashley Winstead's writing. I love a good true crime documentary and this felt very much like that. I do wish that it didn't mirror the Idaho college murders as much it did. I feel like it would have felt more authentic if it was in a different place and didn't follow that story as closely. I absolutely loved the online chat forum conversations. I wish there was more throughout the book instead of mainly in the beginning. I loved the characters of Jane and her friends; their personalities were fantastic! I also loved that there was a wide range of age/experience among them. I can honestly say that I did not predict the outcome of this book and was pleasantly surprised by it! I do think that it could have been shortened a little bit, it felt very long, but overall I really enjoyed my time with this one.
This Book Will Bury Me publishes on 3/25, and I highly suggest bumping this to the top of your TBR!
Thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Winstead, and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC of This Book Will Bury Me in exchange for an honest review!

📚: This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead
⭐️: 3/5

This is a tough one to review. Mostly because I typically love Ashley Winstead’s books and this one didn’t hit the mark for me.

Why? I’m so glad you asked.

*As many other reviews note, this rips heavily from the Idaho 4 case that hasn’t gone to trial yet. I loosely agree with the thoughts around this exploiting an ongoing case, although I counter it to question if we’re as offended by the Max documentary that’s out on the same case? What about ripped from the headlines SVU episodes? Are we in an uproar over those as well? (I tend to think not.) For me, this is an instance of where the first 1/3rd or so is such a copy & paste of the case that it feels like lazy plotting for a fictional thriller. Not surprisingly, when the story becomes less like real life at 50% in, the writing is stronger.

*This is predictable. I guessed the major twist without trying very early on (before the halfway point). I so hoped to be proven wrong, but I wasn’t.

*There’s a sub-point in the final reveal twist and ending that would have made for a far more interesting focus for the entire book (IYKYK).

With the predictability factor and what felt like lazy storytelling to start with it such a cookie cutter to true crime, this fell as just average for me - even without the exploitation of a real life ongoing case in mind.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This Book Will Bury Me is out on Tuesday 3/25.

🪦 This Book Will Bury Me - Ashley Winstead

3.25 ⭐️ - Man, I wanted to like this more. I struggled with this - If you’ve done any research or following along on Bookstagram, you know this one is “based on” the Idaho University murders. While I say based on, I really mean, very closely mirrored.

I liked the blog/reddit vibe of the amateur sleuthing online. I liked the audiobook. I struggled to read this once I knew what it was about but the audiobook felt easier to digest. Like someone was telling me a story about the murders and not a fictionalized mirrored account. I love Winstead and her dark academia books but this is at the bottom for me. That case isn’t closed yet and the families don’t have closure, so it feels a bit icky to already have a factionalized tale about it. If you’re interested in Winstead books, let me recommend one of her others for you!

Thank you Netgalley, Tantor Audio, and Sourcebooks Landmark for the early ARC and audio copy! This one is out 3/25.

💭: This book made me want to become an amateur sleuth trying to solve murders the police can’t! I loved the reddit comments part, and how the characters used their expertise to break down the cases! It gripped me start to finish and I love that it was about the main character writing her own book to get her side of the story out after a victim’s family member wrote a book about these amateur sleuths totally defamating them.

I generally like Winstead’s stories, but couldn’t help but be a little disappointed by just how similar this was to the inspiration. It felt a little tasteless, especially considering how recent the tragedy occurred.

I do like the stance this took on true crime and the internet sleuths. Love them or hate them, there’s something to be said for the info they can come up with when 100s of people are focused on finding it. But there is the other side of the coin where they have caused more harm than good to both families of the victim and innocent people caught in the crosshairs.

I just wish this had been a purely fictional case !!

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As this is a hard book to write feedback on my only comments are if fiction based, true-crime events are triggers for you then this may not be a great choice for your next read. I was aware of the subject matter/topic going in and I was prepared for what I was going to read.

While *This Book Will Bury Me* shares surface-level similarities with the Idaho murders, it quickly takes its own unique direction. Readers should go in with an open mind, as it veers away from the true details of the Idaho college murders. The banter between the group of characters adds a compelling dynamic, balancing the darker elements of the plot. Though the initial resemblance to real-life events made it a bit difficult to settle into, the novel ultimately stands on its own as an engaging and suspenseful read.

There is some controversy surrounding this book. I will touch on that in the review. I did finish the entire book because I was hooked and even when I tried reading something else, I wanted to finish this.

Jane feels unmoored after her father's death. In her grief, she ends up becoming obsessed with a local crime and joins a true crime forum. She ends up being instrumental in solving the case and this obsession blooms. In her forum, she becomes part of a group with a retired police detective, a retired librarian, a computer whiz (hacker), and a man in the Navy. After being highlighted by a national news program, they become famous and are made fun of a lot in the forum. When a horrific crime, the stabbing death of three sorority girls in Idaho breaks, the group decides to descend upon the college town to solve the crime. But what they bring maybe even worse.

Okay, the similarities between the case in the book and the real-life slaying in Idaho are uncomfortable, to say the least. The author could have easily changed more details and the location to make this less disconcerting for the reader. However, as the book goes on and another crime is committed, there are some major differences. Also, the role of the true-crime investigators in the happenings is the true subject of the book. I am taking a star because I found this crass.

Additionally, there are some parts of this that were incredibly predictable. Another star off for that.

If you can stomach the similarities to a murder case that still has not gone to trial, you may enjoy this book as there are differences.

Thank you to Net Galley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the DRC. All opinions are my own.

This Book Will Bury Me has easily secured itself as my favorite of Winstead’s to date.

While drawing inspiration from the tragic 2022 University of Idaho murders is an incredibly delicate and potentially controversial topic, Winstead’s author’s note is direct, graceful and vulnerable in addressing this, and gave me immense respect for her.

Beyond this, I don’t even know where to begin with where Ashley Winstead absolutely bodied this the most:

• I loved the parallel narrative of grief in the wake of suddenly losing a parent and searching for something to fill the void and the strange and painful shapes those journeys take us on.
• I loved that Jane’s first foray into crime solving was for a Nigerian-American woman who likely would’ve otherwise not received the justice she deserved.
• I loved Winstead’s Star Trek, I’ll Be Gone In the Dark, and Heathers references (that ending letter??? Unwell)
• I loved how Winstead incorporated a found family trope so beautifully into a thriller. Honestly how dare you do this so well??
• I guessed the big “plot twist” about 45% of the way through but I didn’t even care that I was right because it was so well executed.

I cried at the end of this. My advice to fellow readers is that if you like grief-driven introspection, found family, well-written thrillers and/or if you, like me, are an ex-true crime girlie who has come to see that that is maybe not the most ethical thing to be invested in: read this book and let it bury you.

Thank you Tantor Audio for the gifted ALC, and thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark from the gifted ARC!

Guaranteed, Ashley Winstead will write one of the buzziest books of the year any year she puts out a book. I knew This Book Will Bury Me would captivate me to the point of obsession.

I wanted to savor this book. Reading Winstead is a unique experience for me, because I often start her books, and then restart them at a random point because I don’t want them to be over. I’ll do anything to prolong spending time with her words. The depth and layers of this story made that an even more enjoyable experience. Which is weird to say about a book that pays homage to the Idaho murders. But she did the subject matter justice.

It’s true that solving murders has changed with “armchair sleuths.” I loved how this book highlighted the good and bad side of a community of amateur detectives being involved in solving high profile cases.

It goes without saying that I loved this book. It was layered, intelligent, engaging and completely captivating. Winstead gets better and better with each book, and I cannot wait to read what she writes next.