I’m not really sure how to start this review. I can’t tell you the last time I gave a book a 1 star review. My main issues with this book are matters of how much a person follows true crime and how it’s handled as inspiration for fiction. I know there will be a lot of people reading this book who don’t follow true crime and I hope the similarities will be taken into account when people reading this book.

I’ve enjoyed other books by Ashley Winstead, and in all honesty I was sure I was going to enjoy this one until around the 30% mark. Before then, I was really into the commentary on true crime culture, web sleuthing, television personalities like Nancy Grace, and victim’s families. There were nods to famous true crime cases like Kitty Genovese, Gabby Petito, and the Golden State Killer. These mentions are small and don’t have much bearing on the overall story. It felt like we were going to get this social commentary around true crime and how deeply people can get sucked into it, but that’s not at all what happened. This book absolutely goes off the rails before the halfway point.

Jane, consumed by grief over her father’s death, falls deep into the world of true crime and web sleuthing. The first of the main cases we see Jane and her group try to solve is local to her. it’s based on a real Florida case, with minimal inspiration from the real case it’s based on, just using a winning lottery ticket as motive. But through her investigation, she feels this sense of accomplishment and it sends her deeper in the web sleuthing world. Her grief propels her into a place that feels dark while it’s happening, which is relatable as far as how we deal with grief and loss. However, it’s weird that she’s so focused on her father’s legacy when her crime solving has nothing to do with that. It feels disingenuous and it’s so out of place with the overarching narrative. Too much is happening between losing her father, her contentions with her mother, her amateur crime solving, and the weird romance she develops with one of her other sleuths. This book could have been 10-15% shorter, and for me that’s not even the worst issue.

My biggest problem with this book is how much information was taken from the real murders at the University of Idaho. This is not just used as an inspiration for the crime in the book; the similarities are truly jarring, down the shoes worn by the perpetrator among a laundry list of other things. I’m honestly appalled that this is being passed off as inspired by true crime when the details in the book are exactly like the real case. Because it’s one thing to use true crime as inspiration, but it’s another to use the actual details and disregard the victims. And this case hasn’t even gone to trial. I received my eARC so early it doesn’t even have the author’s note and I had to find it on her Instagram page, and in all honesty doesn’t do Winstead any favors. (This is also concerning because to me it seems like she was writing this as the Idaho case was dominating the news and it feels like she added in details as she learned about them in real time). Because not only does she rewrite the ending, she tries to garner sympathy for Jane and by the end I had none. I felt an incredible sense of rage when it’s revealed that a victim’s sister writes a book about the crime and Jane is offended by how she’s portrayed, but she truly deserves it considering the way she acts in this book. There is zero regard for the victim’s families in the book or for the real murder victim’s these details are taken from.

This was incredibly disappointing, considering how much I was enjoying it at the beginning. As someone who consumes a lot of true crime in various forms, I always feel that it’s imperative that we never forget the victims and treat them with dignity and respect. For me it’s about the curiosity of why these things happen and wanting justice for victims. The real case is too recent and too unresolved to be used in fiction to begin with, let along taking true details from the those murders. And if the person who was arrested for the real crimes is found guilty and committed the murders, this book will have done the victims an incredible injustice by rewriting the ending.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Ashley Winstead for the e-arc! I really enjoyed the ride of this book and the writing style. I could not get enough at the 40% mark and would have finished the rest in one sitting if I didn't need sleep. However, the ending did disappoint me and I had wished it went a different way. Overall, I did enjoy the book and this one definitely takes the cake of my favorite by Winstead.

3.5 stars. This Book Will Bury Me is a mystery that takes a deep dive into the role online sleuths play in true crime, as well as what makes them turn to obsessive sleuthing in the first place. The story is told as a purported tell-all memoir of the main character, Jane Sharp, who we can tell from her introduction has somehow become infamous and wants to set the record straight. Jane turns to online sleuthing after the death of her father and becomes part of a close-knit group of five friends who get intimately involved with a case that closely parallels the murders of four college students in Moscow, Idaho. The group meets up in Idaho and as they close in on the killer, Jane finds herself in danger.

I enjoyed the twisty mystery and look at a how online bonds can form after real life tragedies. This book also brings up a lot of questions about ethics in the true crime community, the way it can lead to false accusations, and the impact it has on the communities and families impacted by the crimes. I wouldn't say that it pins down any answers to any of those questions, and ultimately the whole story is told through the lens of someone trying to tell her story in a way that puts her in the best light and to justify many actions that blur or cross ethical lines. First and foremost it's entertaining, but also gives readers a lot to chew on. Judging from some other early reviews, there are a fair number of people who disapprove of the author using the details of the Moscow murders in this way, so some of those questions may apply as much to the book as to the fictional story within it.

When Jane's father unexpectedly passes away, Jane finds a true crime forum as a way to distract herself from the grief. Along with four amateur sleuths, their group hunts for killers from their computers. Their group has gathered fame with recent cases, but they will soon investigate their toughest case yet. Three girls have been murdered in their home in Delphine, Idaho without a single clue left by the killer. The case has received nation-wide media attention and amateur sleuths from everywhere are determined to solve the case. Jane's group is determined to solve the case first but with every answer comes more questions. The group never could imagine how this case would end. Now a year later, Jane has decided to break her silence and give the true story of the Delphine Massacres.

I would highly recommend this book for fans of True Crime. Although this book is slow to start, the story quickly picks up with the Delphine Massacres and I was completely hooked with the investigation. This book makes you debate if True Crime podcasts and amateur sleuths do more harm in an investigation than help. As the group digs further into the investigation, it seems that they were willing to do almost anything to solve the case. The conclusion of the investigation was wild, and I was completely surprised with the ending. Overall, I couldn't get enough of this mystery tell-all.

This Book Will Bury Me comes out March 25th.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Audio and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to review This Book Will Bury Me. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

How far can you go when you take “inspiration” from real-life tragedies?

Even if that's not the point of Ashley Winstead’s “This Book Will Bury Me”, the detailed murders and massacres copied from reality overshadowed the story and its message when you found out how similar they are to still-open cases.
I mean, I was shocked and terrified of what I was reading, but that's not even close to how sick I felt when I discovered where those bits were taken from — and that's why I also understand the people who cannot overlook this aspect.

That said, the book can be divided into two sections that go hand in hand: Jane’s dad's sudden passing and her new obsession with the need to find justice for people who will be otherwise ignored, who will easily evolve in doing what she does to stay connected with her “online family”.
Now, there's something I'm dying to say about that part, but I can't or I’ll just spoil the whole thing but… I loved the whole mystery-true crime portion of the story (a bit ruined by what I said before, but still so addictive).

I believe there are different angles to this story but what I really appreciated was the deep dive into sleuth culture and how south things can go when a bunch of obsessed people with too much free time decide to become their own vigilantes, ruining people's lives for “necessity” without thinking twice and completely ignoring the consequences of their actions.
The format of the story and AW’s narration are the most addicting aspects of all, and the remainder of how easily is to become what you despise.

Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Janeway Sharp is grieving. Her dad died and she can't face the reality of it. She quits college, moves in with mom and takes a job at a coffee shop. Life is overwhelming.
The internet becomes her salvation, specifically true crime and amateur sleuthing. It's here she meets a small cast of captivating characters with skills and interests that call to her and eventually is accepted into the fold : Jane has a skill as well.
The sleuths then become Janeway's new family and support group through her grieving process and of her resolve to discover things about her dad she never knew.
Sleuthing is certainly an art and it was fascinating how one little clue could lead you into a new direction; how within a group, each person with a set of different expertness could meld into functioning and successful solvers of crimes.
The case that is focused on by the group should be fictional but is really presently in the courts. It seems inappropriate and unnecessary for an author this talented.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the free e-book in exchange for my honest review.

Jane Sharp, struggling from her father's sudden death, drops out of college and moves home with her mom as they both process their grief. At the time of her father's death, a woman goes missing and Jane becomes engrossed in the mystery with an online group dedicated to solving real life crimes. Jane even becomes sort of famous because she is very good at it and is driven by her father’s memory.

This is a well written, character driven story about family, love, loss, grief and of course murder. The plot really works and I loved the characters. They are an odd mix of people but they meshed well together with each bringing special crime solving skills to the table. I powered through this book in 2 days as I found it entertaining and completely engrossing! Highly recommend!!

Ashley Winstead is one of my favorite authors. I will read anything she writes and this was no exception. This book is dark and based on the Idaho murder case. Ashley writes about this in the author’s note at the beginning of the book so you know that going into the story. You either love it or you hate it, and in this case, I loved it! There were a lot of differences between the two cases that it did not bother me too much. Also a content warning that there are scenes in this book that are gory, so if you are not into that, it may be a good idea to skip this one! I can’t wait to read more from Ashley Winstead!

won't lie - this book was rough to review. So, I will approach it from two different points of view.

I usually dive into thrillers completely blind. I had no idea what this story was about. For the first 25%, I was thoroughly hooked. The writing grabbed me, particularly the narrative structure. Told through a mix of texts, interviews, and chat room conversations, the story moves quickly and honestly, making it hard to put down.

I'm a sucker for an amateur sleuth plotline, and I found the exploration of mob mentality, as well as the impact of internet sleuths, both positive and negative, fascinating. The characters were compelling, and the found family vibes were fantastic. I did guess the ending easily, which always annoys me.

Overall, people's enjoyment of this book will likely depend on their knowledge of the Idaho 4 murders. Had it not been for the author's inspiration behind the story, this likely would have been a four-star read.

I went to college in a town just eight miles from Moscow, Idaho, where the Idaho 4 murders occurred. I went to this town often. My parents worked in Moscow before moving. I have friends who live there. So, I was shocked when I realized what this story was about. In my opinion, it is too soon. The trial hasn't even occurred yet. The families haven't even got justice. Currently set for August 2025. Also, the details are way too close to the actual evidence. It was too much for me. I found it to be in poor taste.

I read this digitally in tandem with the audiobook. Leslie Howard was a fantastic narrator. Each character is easily distinguishable from the other, and she made the fast-paced dialogue easy to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Tantor Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was hooked from the start in this book! It was like I was part of the true crime sleuths as they dove into murders. I enjoyed how the story was told as sort of a tell all from Jane's perspective. Her found family were the best supportive characters. There were a few theories for the Delphine murders and I like the way things played out, especially with the storyline of Jane's dad. Highly recommend!

I'm newer to mystery and this was so reminiscent of Holly Jackson to me, I was OBSESSED. I love the idea of amateur sleuths because I love solving puzzles myself and feeling like one, and this books pulls you in like you're part of the ensemble. I had so much fun reading this, and I can't wait to pick it up again!

Me thinks a reading of Ashley Winstead's backlog is in my near future!

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.