5 STARS

Murder mystery, tell-all memoir narrative, sleuthing, found family, twists and turns, secret identity

Janeway Sharp is a 24 year old college student who has just been through an unimaginable ordeal, she lost her best friend and father. In the midst of her grief, she receives a calling and is thrust into the world of true-crime. Along with four other sleuths she meets online, she helped solve a huge high-profile case. Shortly after riding the wave of fame, she and her group of friends find themselves tracking down an elusive serial killer.

This story was so unique and unlike anything I’ve ever read. The main character is walking us through her story as an Internet sleuth/detective. It’s written in the form of a tell-all memoir after a huge, high-profile serial killer case. There were footnotes on the pages, which made it very unique. They contributed well to the story. There are so many mysteries for the reader laid out. The format and structure was entertaining and told the story well! I loved the characters, and I resonated deeply with Jane as she tried to cope with her loss. The found family between these characters was heart warming in the middle of the book. I loved Ashley Winstead’s writing style. I learned a lot about true-crime forums and internet sleuths. Although I was able to predict part of the ending, my jaw still dropped during that last 2%. There are still many parts of this book that surprised me. The twists and turns were great. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys true-crime thrillers and mysteries.

There is an author note in the beginning regarding the events, cases, killers, and murders referenced in this book that details Winstead’s inspiration for the storyline. I highly recommend you read this and look into the trigger warnings as well.

This is an HONEST review, and all opinions are my own. Thank you NetGalley and Ashley Winstead for the opportunity to read this book prior to its release date. This was my first book by this author, and I fully intend on reading more after this one.

I have kind of a love-hate relationship with true crime….while I enjoy listening to podcasts while I walk I don’t read it, normally choosing mysteries and police procedurals. This fictional story based on a college student who becomes obsessed with true crime as a way to distract herself after her father’s unexpected death was a great way for me to bridge the two, especially since this echos a current actual criminal case. Jane Sharp’s character is well written, I could feel her heartbreak and was drawn in as her obsession with solving murders grows, her new found family taking her in. The twists and turns that are revealed as Jane decides to tell all a year after the crime kept me on the edge of my seat. I did take one star off as I had a small part of my brain telling me this story is ‘too soon’, but it certainly didn’t stop me from reading.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC, true crime fans will be swept up into the story.

Alright first thing’s first. Yes, this book is long. Too long for a thriller, in my opinion. And I absolutely think it could’ve been at least 100 pages shorter. But I would read it anyway.

Heavy on the true crime, this thriller involves amateur sleuths, crime podcasts, subthreads and conversations, and the justice system itself. I enjoyed this aspect so much. Clues are provided so subtly, and little foreshadowing at the end of some chapters keeps you invested to keep reading. I loved the way the book was written, telling the story one year after the events, so you get both a retelling as well as the narrator’s benefit of hindsight.

I did guess the twist just before it happened, but that didn’t make it any less shocking or immersing.

I also loved the found family aspect of this book, the glimmers of faith in humanity, and the insightful prose interlaced into the book.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book, and it’s my favorite of hers so far.

[There are several TWs, so be sure to check those if you need to]

Thank you Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC!

“I’ve come to think fate is a trap we set for ourselves…”

Ironically, this book found me as my family was processing the decline in my mother-in-law’s health. Since I finished reading, she has passed and that has made this book that much more poignant for me. I can fully relate to Jane, our FMC, in how she immersed herself in something as she processed the death of her father. Grief can be all-consuming, and I can understand the allure of something that completely distracts you. In Jane’s case, it was a serial killer. I also related to her becoming close to people she “met” online, as I have made some dear friends here in the bookish corner of the world.

Told in a multimedia format, and in dual timelines, Jane is writing a book about her past experience, and chatting with her new sleuth pals online. It also had a work backwards approach, where at the beginning of the story, things had already happened, but the story took us through the events to get to that point. When the truth of the serial killer came to light, I thought I should have seen it coming but I didn’t! It did not end how I was expecting at all, and was very cleverly executed.

With true-crime vibes, Ashley Winstead has once again written a unique story, with lovable, relatable characters. “This Book Will Bury Me” was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and I am so grateful for the early read!

”This Book Will Bury Me” is out NOW! This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

I loved this bingeable thriller! I’ve been an Ashley fan since The Last Housewife, and this book did not disappoint. I love how she tackled the Internet sleuth vs real detectives debate and even managed to sprinkle multiple murder mysteries at the same time. Loved it!

4.25/5 rounded down

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced reading copy!

Ashley Winstead can really hook me on a book from the start, and this was no different. I was super entertained from start to finish, though things did start to feel just a little draggy in the middle. I think this book could have been a bit trimmed down and been better, but still was great. The benefit of the length was that I had a few suspicions early on that I promptly forgot about by the time the truth was revealed later, and that left me feeling shocked!

While I did enjoy this book a lot, it is not without its flaws. I have read a lot of complaints from other reviewers about the exploitive nature of using actual cases for a fictional "true crime" book, and can totally see where those come from. The ARC does not have an author's note, but Ashley Winstead did post a note on socials explaining this, which I think makes a big difference in how this is perceived.

In the Author's Note, Winstead also talks about grieving the loss of her Dad while hearing about the University of Idaho case, and that adds even more depth to the story. Throughout the book, you can tell that the grief is real and, and presented in a very well-written and powerful way. The grief adds a lot to Jane's character, and I really felt for our character and author as I was reading this.

Overall, this was a very entertaining and interesting book by a fantastic writer. It's different than her previous work, as seems to be the Ashley Winstead way, but just as well-written. I can't wait to see what her beautifully twisted mind comes up with next!

Wow! What a book! This book sucked me right in and I just couldn't put it down. This is the perfect book for fans of true crime. The author makes it clear in the author's note that she pulled from current news stories so if things like that upset you, this book may not be for you. This book takes a deep dive into the world of internet sleuths working to solve crimes, their work with police, and the things that can go wrong. I would definitely recommend this book. 5/5 Stars! I would like to thank the author and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book!

Started out strong but then quickly got boring about 30% of the way through. Seemed to be rather long as well and the chat was hard to follow at first with usernames

This book left me conflicted, especially with how closely it mirrors the real-life Idaho 4 murders. As someone who has followed the case, I found it hard to ignore the parallels, and I’m still unsure if I support turning such a tragedy into fiction. While I appreciate Ashley Winstead’s ability to make me think and feel deeply about her work, I also wonder where the ethical line should be drawn when using real-life pain for storytelling. It’s a powerful, thought-provoking read, but I think it’s one that requires careful consideration before diving in.

Thank you to Ashley Winstead, NetGalley, and the publisher for the opportunity.

💻🔍This Book Will Bury Me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This Book Will Bury Me is about a team of web sleuths so deep into an investigation that they themselves are in danger. After her father’s death, Jane finds distraction and purpose in true crime. She stumbles upon a group of armchair detectives and little does she know how close she will become with the group, and how dangerous sleuthing can be.

I. Loved. This. Book. As someone who is also obsessed and intrigued by true crime, This Book Will Bury Me felt like it was written for me. The thorough research and all of the true crime “Easter eggs” tucked away in the pages of the story made it feel so real. Based on the still open case of the Idaho Murders*, this book shows how dangerous sleuthing can be - not only to the individuals, but also to the integrity of the case itself. Theorizing has moved away from online chatter to something that’s impacting and affecting people’s lives. Jane’s story doesn’t stretch far from the truth of what individuals are willing to do with the intent to help solve crimes. Aside from the true crime narrative, I really appreciated how grief, depression, and loss are handled. Jane doesn’t understand her father’s death and hyper-fixates as a way to cope. Her emotions are genuine and heartbreaking. When lost, she finds comfort in a group of strangers that quickly become the most important people in her life. The found family aspect of the story shows how in a world where we are constantly online, internet friends become real friends. I LOVED the dynamic of this group. There is more I could say, but can’t because ~spoilers~. You should head to your fave indie bookstore, local library, or bookshop.org and get this book now! |brit|

*While this book is fiction, it is based on the very real 2022 murders of four college students at the University of Idaho. The families of the students continue to seek justice as we await a trial. While it can be enjoyable and fascinating to read about and study true crime, we can’t forget that behind every single case there are real people who are impacted. RIP Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin.

This book is hard for me to rate.

I loved the plot, characters, and story line. The writing is simply amazing, and I love the attention to detail. The ending I did guess, but the journey and the formatting to get there made this a compulsive read. If I were to base my star rating on this information I would give it a 4 star.

However, this book is based off a real true crime: The Idaho Murders. This case hasn’t even gone to trial yet. That part leaves a bad taste in my mouth and makes me question how much an author should base their fictional stories around real life crimes especially ones that are still active. Even though the author left a note in the beginning of the book (which I appreciate), it does feel insensitive to me and almost like the author is trying to cash out on the sensationalism surrounding the case. I am not sure if this honors the real-life victims. I wish the author would have changed some of the details, like location, demographics, etc., or based this book off a case that has already been closed, and more time has passed.

This story drops the reader right into the true crime, murderino craze that's swept the world since the "Serial" podcast. True crime isn't supposed to be cozy, it's not a hobby, and it should never be entertainment. But it is. And this story is all those things, too, but with the moral bonus of self reflection. I love how the author drew inspiration from famous true crimes and true crime journalists. I felt as if I was following along with a real case. The ease with which Jane gets immersed in her sleuthing is realistic and relatable. Her observations on grief are poignant. Well done social commentary, well done crime backdrop, well done character introductions. This book did bury me.

A moody, twisty ride that pulls you deeeeeep into its dark academia vibes. The main character’s obsession with a dead author slowly unravels into something way more intense than she ever expected. It’s got mystery, ambition, and just the right amount of eerie tension to keep you hooked. If you love books about books, with a side of secrets and danger, this one’s for you. It was for me!

Oh gosh, it pains me to write this review. I've never rated anything by Ashley Winstead lower than 4 stars. I am ride or die for her mystery/thriller titles, but this one missed the mark for me. Don't get me wrong, Ashley's writing is incredible and that's honestly what kept me reading this book. She just has a way of drawing you in.

The premise of following true crime addicts/armature sleuths was really interesting to me. As someone who really likes true crime, it's wild to think that there are people that actually spend their time like this. The ending was a surprise, and that's always a good thing for thrillers for me! I really liked the diversity of the group of characters! It was interesting to see the process of trying to solve crimes through each of their perspectives.

I liked the storyline... HOWEVER. What I didn't like was that it was eerily similar to the actual Idaho murders (criminal justice major, roommate being left alive, girls visiting the food truck before going home from the bar). It just felt very unoriginal - all the work was done for her. Like even the location was identical, that is an easy change that could have been made. The timing of the release and the similarities felt really insensitive to me since the actual case hasn't even gone to trial yet.

The narrator did an excellent job! She made it enjoyable and her voices for each character were good.

Anyway... this does not deter me from reading Ashley Winstead books! I still bought it. It will still be a part of my collection. And honestly, if you're not a true crime lover and didn't know about or actually follow the Idaho murder case, you'll probably love this book. I know I would have!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark, Ashley Winstead and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I screamed when I got approved for this book. Ashley Winstead is the queen of the thrillers and this one was SO good. I couldn't put it down.

4/5 Stars
Ashley Winstead delivers another emotionally charged, thought-provoking story with This Book Would Bury Me. It’s equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful, with writing that pulls you in and characters that linger long after the last page. Winstead explores themes of grief, love, and identity with her signature sharp prose and raw honesty. The protagonist’s journey is messy and real—at times uncomfortable, but always compelling.

What held this back from a full five stars for me was the pacing in the middle; a few scenes felt repetitive and slightly slowed the momentum. Still, the emotional payoff in the final chapters made it worth it. If you’re a fan of introspective fiction with a literary edge and don’t mind feeling a little gutted by the end, this one is for you.

This is a true crime lover’s thriller, and I for one couldn’t put it down. Although the characters are largely forgettable and I guessed the twist a little early on, I didn’t mind that as the story itself was so captivating. The case itself is based off of the University of Idaho murders which I didn’t know a ton about going into this one. But I researched while I read and really enjoyed how she took the real life case and kept some elements but changed enough to make the story feel new and not just a rehash of events.

This book also felt very personal for the author as a lot of it deals with the main character’s loss of her father which happens at the beginning of the story. The author very clearly wrote her own experiences into this character as she grapples with all she never got to know about her father and falls down the true crime rabbit hole that many of us turn to when we are struggling with our personal lives. Using this trauma as a setting off point for the story really worked for me as it added an extra element that made this story really stand out to me.

The highlight of this book is really its take on web sleuths or those that try to solve crimes online from the comfort of their homes. I think Winstead did a really great job of showing both the negatives and positives of this new trend as she showed our main group of five discovering things in pictures and evidence that the police missed or having tidbits of information that ultimately really helped the case while also showing the downsides particularly with those online sleuths jumping to conclusions and ruining innocent lives when they suspect them in the case. This was done really well with the one boyfriend in the case who ends up being a victim of a crime himself because of the main character painting him as a prime suspect. Winstead also shows the gross aspect of these sleuths deceiving those close to the case, particularly family and friends, in order to garner information about the case but ultimately retraumatizing these people in the process - I do wish this aspect had been explored a little more particularly with the sister of one victim that wrote a book about how vile the web sleuths were after our main character uses and lies to her family for insider information. This aspect of the novel really made me think about the place of these web sleuths and the podcasts that say they aim to help investigators and the families but can often do more harm than good.

Overall, I highly recommend this one to thriller readers particularly those like me who have come to rely on Ashley Winstead as a reliable thriller author!

This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead
Publication date: March 25, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Can I just say how much I love true crime? I especially love books written about true crime. Even fictional books that allude to what *might* have happened in a real cold case. I really enjoyed this story. Ashley Winstead grabs the readers attention from the start and keeps it with her short chapters unraveling truth bomb after truth bomb, little by little. Thank you to the author, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy.

After the death of her father, Jane Sharp seeks solace in a true crime community of amateur internet sleuths. The found family in this book is endearing and I loved it. All the characters are really likable. Lightly is my favorite. The way parts of the story are told through internet chats was done really well. It was fast paced, gripping, easy to follow, and I liked how it all came together at the end. I didn't guess the plot twist at all.

Thank you to NetGalley and SourceBooks Landmark for the e-arc.

Since I received the ARC of this book, I didn’t get to read the author’s conversation or acknowledgements, so I’m glad there was an author’s note at the beginning explaining the concept of this book. This is a fictional book, loosely based on true crime stories, mainly the University of Idaho murders. This is also the story of a grieving daughter, a group of friends, and how the internet guides so much of what happens in this world.

Jane is a student at a Florida university, and while at a party, she gets a call from her mom. Jane’s dad just had a heart attack and her mom was driving behind the ambulance, but it didn’t look good. By the time Jane makes it home, her father is gone, and she’s obsessed with the feeling that she didn’t get enough time with her military father, that she didn’t know him as well as she should. She shuts herself into a hole of depression, and a rabbit hole of online searches.

When you go down the rabbit hole, you never know what you’ll find, but she found The Real Crime Network, a true crime forum full of armchair detectives hoping to solve cold cases. Soon, she’s hooked, and is also invited into a private group of people who have been doing this a long time. These four people - Mistress, Citizen, Lightly and Goku - soon become her world. They are always online together, researching and working to solve as many cases as they can. They were even invited to appear on television, and police have to grudgingly admit that these five are good at what they do.

Then, a huge case breaks: three students at Northern Idaho University are brutally murdered in their home. The group knows they can solve this, and eventually all meet in Idaho and begin working with the FBI. The more they dig, they discover these murders are connected to all kinds of things, turning this book into a whodunnit, though I hesitate to use that word for this novel.

To me, a whodunnit is your basic murder mystery story, and this book was anything but basic. This is one of the more suspenseful mysteries I’ve read, and if the murders aren’t enough to keep you interested, Jane’s relationship with her father will. There are footnotes sprinkled throughout the book (which is actually written as Jane’s book) that will keep you intrigued, and plenty of shocks, especially at the end. I did figure out who the killer was right away, but that was a fluke…don’t take anything for granted with this one! 4.5 stars, rounded up.

(Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark, Ashley Winstead and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)