I want to start off by saying I really liked this book. I just wish the storyline wouldn’t have mirrored the real ID murders. Why not take the story and put it somewhere else and spin it differently. I know it wasn’t exact, but it was too close and it happened too recent.

***Content Warning: this fictional book is closely inspired or shares similarities to the 2022 Moscow, Idaho murders of 4 college students.***

I received the digital and audio ARC for Winstead’s newest release and started reading ‘blindly’ before reading the synopsis. This Book Will Bury Me is told from the perspective of Janeway Sharpe, a 24 year old college student at UCF, who moved back home after her dad passes away. Amidst her grief, she stumbled into the world of true crime sub-reddits and community boards. Essentially finding a new ‘home,’ Jane forms a close relationship with 4 other members who work together to solve cases. Eventually, a shocking set of murders in Idaho, push the team’s skills to the limits, and they agree to meet in-person to ‘assist’ the authorities in solving the case.

Readers can expect:
*Mixed media content; a lot of chat boards, text threads, and some podcast interviews (which makes the nearly 500 page book move quickly)
*Narration that breaks the 4th wall; Jane frequently speaks to the reader directly via footnotes, as she interjects her version of events since she is writing the book a year after the case.
*Graphic descriptions of murder victims; as the team combs through case files and evidence, the crime scenes and victims are described with detail.
*Morally grey characters; some members of the team are willing to bend traditional morality (hacking, falsifying identities, accessing vistims’ families) in order to solve their cases- Winstead calls this ‘light situational madness’.
*Exploration (condemnation?) of the ‘true-crime’ community at-large. From ‘armchair sleuths’, ‘murder tourists’, TikTok crime girlies, and the way social media has increasingly blurred the lines between reality and truth, even botching investigations and ruining lives of innocent suspects.

I found Jane to be a compelling character, and the connection built with her co-investigators to be full of found family energy. The pacing starts slow, and builds nicely in the back half to the book with increasing twists, suspicions, and higher stakes. This was a story I found difficult to set aside due to its captivating plot and intricate characters. Specifically, audiobook narrator, Leslie Howard, was phenomenal at distinguishing between each character, and adding emotional depth to the story. I think readers with interest in complex characters and true crime will enjoy this new release.

4.5 stars rounded up!

Woooooweeeeee Ashley did it again! I was absolutely captivated by This Book Will Bury Me!

I will admit, it took me a little bit to settle in but once the story got going it didn’t stop. I was so intrigued by Jane and her motivations for joining The Network (and ultimately her small gang of friends) and also her search into her father’s lives. Sometimes these two plot points felt a little disjointed but in other moments they were so perfectly connected; I really appreciated that’s by the end.

As for the flow of the story, this felt like a high speed train that never let off the gas. I was FERAL to find out what was going to happen next and I would say, had life allowed, I would’ve binged the last half of the book because it pained me everytime I had to stop.

All in all - this was immaculate and a must read for the mystery/thriller/true crime fans out there!

Another win by Winstead. I absolutely loved the characters and the plot of this one (although there area a couple of moments where you need to suspend belief just a bit). I loved the true crime backdrop, and I thought it was such a great way to add more depth to the plot and the way it unfolded. Winstead is such a master at developing "morally gray" characters, and I find myself so drawn to her character arcs. I also loved so much the relationship between the 5 sleuths and the bonds they developed among one another while investigating cases. I cannot wait to see what Winstead writes next!

This is the second book I’ve read from Ashley Winstead. I read Midnight is the Darkest Hour and kind of hated it, but this book was much better than the one I previously read. Jane joins a group of amateur sleuths who are trying to solve the mystery of three sorority sisters. Jane is currently grieving the loss of a loved one and is looking for any way to distract herself from her reality.

I liked this book better than the one I previously read, I fully connected with the characters. The premise was great, and it was a lot of fun. The twists in the book were decent, but somewhat predictable. I couldn't guess all the twists and the ending was satisfying.

I would recommend this for people who like true-crime style books. It wasn’t for me, but I bet many people will like this book. Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

I love all of Ashley Winstead's books, and This Book Will Bury Me was no exception. In this story, we follow Jane, who is coping with the sudden loss of her father to a heart attack. While she was dealing with her grief, she became obsessed with true crime. I really enjoy Ashley Winstead’s writing; it truly draws you into the story. However, I highly recommend reading the trigger warnings before reading this book. I think this book is by far her most intense book at least for me. If you like true crime stories, you should definitely pick this one up. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the early copy. All opinions are my own.

Ashley Winstead’s This Book Will Bury Me is a gripping thriller that dives into the world of internet sleuths and true crime obsession. The story follows Jane Sharp, a college student who, after losing her father, finds solace in an online community of amateur detectives. When a shocking murder case grips the nation, Jane and her friends try to solve it—but their investigation takes a dangerous turn.
Winstead does a great job capturing the excitement and dangers of armchair detective culture. The book explores how online speculation can both help and harm real cases. While the mystery kept me engaged, I found the story a bit too long, and its similarities to real-life crimes made me uncomfortable. Still, the writing was strong, and the twists kept me hooked. If you enjoy true crime and psychological thrillers, this one is worth checking out—but with some reservations.
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy, opinions are my own

Y'all. This. Book.

I wasn't sure what to expect and was blown away.

Winstead takes the evergrowing internet culture of armchair detectives and forces them into the forefront of a crime that's rocked the nation. The reader is along for the journey and all its twists and turns.

"It's the most famous crime in modern history. But only she knows the true story.

After the unexpected death of her father, college student Jane Sharp longs for a distraction from her grief. She becomes obsessed with true crime, befriending armchair detectives who teach her how to hunt killers from afar. In this morbid internet underground, Jane finds friendship, purpose, and even glory..."

The book examines the drawbacks and advantages of the growing interest in true crime as well as how the public opinion can sway and burn people on a dime.

It's a great read. (I did guess the killer but getting to the end still kept me enthralled.)

This book definitely pulls you in, and I really enjoyed it. I had some slight concerns about how closely it mirrors the current Idaho case, which I didn’t love, but the story itself was very good.

Thank you for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Another fantastic Ashley Winstead book! Once the story got going, I was on the edge of my seat until the last page. I love this author's writing and will continue to pick up anything she writes.

This was such a uniquely written story and I really enjoyed it!
It took a little bit of time for me to get into the writing style and I wasn't sure if I liked how the narrator broke the fourth wall so much. But once I got used to it, I liked how distinct the voice was. The plot moved quickly and the short chapters kept me turning the pages. The characters were interesting and even though I didn't totally relate to Searcher, she did come across as real. There were twists and turns the kept me guessing and the ending moved quickly but with sufficient explanation.
Overall, the plot and voice may not be for everyone but it kept me engrossed and I flew through it!

I was really excited to read the newest book by Ashley Winstead, being a fan of her books, but unfortunately, this one did not work for me. The premise was intriguing, since I really enjoy true crime, but the story was such a slow burn and almost felt too long for me to fully enjoy. The story follows Jane, who after the death of her father, finds an online group dedicated to solving real life crimes. The work together to investigate the murder of 3 young college students.
As always, the writing was superb, and the author's does a great job writing her characters. I will continue to read her future books, and I hope others really love this story.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead releases on 3/25 and is already buzzing!!

When I started to read the premise - I was like *ugh* another book about true crime junkies and podcasters. DON'T GET ME WRONG - I do love those when they're done right, but the market is just fillilled with these books right now. BUT I thought there were many redeeming aspects of this plot that made this book stand out from the many mixed media true crime junkie books available right now.

This book follows five "amateur" internet crime sleuths, who band together to hunt for a killer on the loose. Jane Sharp, who just lost her dad and begins to spiral, finds solace in the research in helping to find who is killing college girls in Delphine, Idaho. Jane, her gang, and the rest of the online crime junkie world are racing to find the murderer, working with and without the police.

But the more they dig, the stranger these acts become, and the smaller their world, online and in real life.

This book takes place after the fact, with Jane deciding to "tell all" about what actually happened and break her silence after the media portrayed her.

The combination of embracing the online true crime community and also tearing it apart was what made this book different from so many out there right now. It was refreshing to see the damage that can be done by having "couch detectives" work on an investigation, but also the benefit that there is to having someone who's on the outside. I thought this book was more focused on the people working online to solve it than the actual murderer itself, which set this book apart from many 'whodunits' out there.

I will say that I did think it was a *wee* bit too long (480 pages). I also felt cringey about the fact that Winstead didn't really even pretend to change some of the very real facts of the Idaho murders, especially since that case is still pending. I think it would've been easy to use the concept and change the details - a lot of people have stronggggg feelings on that in the reviews & I think that's going to be a bit hurdle for a lot of people to want to get behind this book (& justifiably so).

Thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Winstead, and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Releases 3/25!

Okay, so I understand that some folks don't like this book or didn't finish this book because it uses the real-life Idaho university murders as part of the plot; however, I think it was clever to write a FICTION book with true details that are found all over the internet. It's not like Winstead is giving away police secrets. This is in the same vein as Jessica Knoll's BRIGHT YOUNG WOMEN, and it makes the book even better.

There is a group of true crime aficionados who get together on a website and try to solve the murders of three young women in Idaho, again very Michelle McNamara I'LL BE GONE IN THE DARK vibes. Soon after, another group of 3 women are killed in the same town, which means there is a serial killer on the loose. The group of sleuths begin to uncover things that the police didn't find, and they are determined to figure out the killer. This story is about the fine line of being gross and looky-loo as many true crime fans can be, and being dogged and determined about uncovering things that the police can't. I loved every second of it and it will probably be in my top 10 this year.

I always have a blast reading Ashley Winfield’s novels. Between In My Dreams I Have A Knife , Fool Me Once, etc. she’s never short on excellent story telling and riveting characters .
I was excited to dive into this one especially it being thriller/mystery. This Book Will Bury Me is begins with our protagonist, Jane Sharp, grieving her late father. Looking for something to fill the void, she joins an online group chat where these people are investigating murders. Jane quickly gets pulled into a recent case of these sorority girls being murdered.
The story was fine and even the various side characters were great. I just couldn’t get into this book. I tried my very best. I feel it dragged on at some point and it took away from the whole “who-dun-it” mystery . I think if a few pages were taken out, this would have been a better read for me. The ending just lost me.
I will continue reading AW especially since she’s quickly become one of my favorite authors . Maybe it was just an off one for me.

I rated the book 4.5 stars because it was so well written and it kept me on my toes from the beginning. I wouldn’t consider myself a true crime enthusiast, so I can’t speak to this book in relation to real ongoing cases, but it does shed light and poses thought provoking questions on the ways humanity reacts to cases such as these. There are some triggering topics and graphic discussions in this book, so please check the warnings before you dive in.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Winstead and Sourcebooks Landmark for the eARC copy of This Book Will Bury Me 🤗

This book follows Jane and her internet sleuthing friends on an investigation to catch a brutal serial killer.
I really enjoyed the depth the author gave the story, it wasn’t just chasing the clues and finding the hints, it had meaningful storylines it followed that kept me guessing if it had anything to do with the main plot-line. I enjoyed her relationships with each character, there was depth to each one, and I didn’t see the end coming.
I’ll avoid spoilers, but the ending was a little emotional and made me sad/happy for my little fictional Janeway.
The last 25% had me on a journey 😭

If I was reading this strictly for funzies, with no outside knowledge of the case that this so strongly pulls from, I would still have trouble recommending this book. Oof, this was disappointing and that pains me so, considering I adore this author so much. Her writing and the engagement you get with the characters is always there, strong on the page. Unfortunately, there were so many takes I couldn't get past, even with the enjoyable writing.

We are going to scoot right past the fact that this fictional story is clearly based on a pretty recent and very real murder case... and on to a couple other issues I had. Just because you are acknowledging that there is a disparity between the air time that murders or disappearances of Black and white women get in the media doesn't then mean you should continue to embolden that statistic by an "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" attitude. I think the topic of obesity is handled the same way in this book. Also, I didn't understand the coloration between our protagonist's father dying and her turning to true crime as an outlet. Perhaps, if the manner of his death was different.

I don't enjoy leaving critical reviews, particularly. This was just a big ol' bummer from an author whom I really enjoy. I will absolutely be on board for her next book, though!!

Winstead has done it again! This fast paced thriller, full of complex characters and even more complex plotting ticked all of my boxes! In This Book Will Bury Me, we follow a College Student; Janeway, yes after the Star Trek Captain, is whisked home from her Florida College life, to deal with the sudden loss of her father. While helping her mother take care of funeral services, and the home she deals with her own grief in a unique way. She falls down a True Crime rabbit hole, and when a murder happens in her own backyard, she decides to take a stab at it, Turns out that she's pretty good at it.
She joins a ragtag crew of mystery solvers all anonymous on the web and together they tackle the Delphine Three Massacre. The bodies continue to stack up and they're neck deep in trouble trying to solve it. Everyone is suspicious and time is running out, Will her team be able to solve it? and will you be ready for the twists and turns that await you?

DNF. I did not realize this so closely follow the real, current ID murders case. Total ick factor for me. I should not have requested. I wish there had been a clearer disclaimer.