Ok quick summary first — Jane Sharp is like any other college senior until she gets the call that pulls not only the rug but the entire floor out from underneath her. Her dad has died. She, well, spirals. Then — something pulls her in, a new thing to fixate on: true crime internet sleuthing. If Jane can’t make sense of her father’s death, she’ll help solve murders of other people. She finds friends through this process and pretty immediately gets way in over her head, ending up with notoriety she didn’t want and potentially too close to an active serial killer.

I have the esteemed privilege of getting to call Ashley my friend, and I know how much heart and soul she put into this book. Embedding the messy, gut wrenching, awful feelings of grief into this story was genius. It made it so raw and real — and as someone who, like Jane, lost their father in college, it hit so so so hard.

AND there’s a great twisty murder mystery that had me hanging on for every single chapter!!! There’s also a lot of Star Trek references lol

Ashley Winstead is a must-read author for me, so I was really grateful to get an ARC of This Book Will Bury Me.

This Book Will Bury Me focuses on Jane Sharp, who feels driftless following the sudden death of her father. She finds community in an online forum of web sleuths. She gets closer to four of the web sleuths as the work together to solve murders, and the five of them meet in person working an extremely high-profile case that's difficult to solve.

Despite this book being nearly 500 pages, I read through it quickly. Winstead's writing tends to hook me in and that was certainly the case here. It was particularly fascinating to read from Jane's perspective with the foreshadowing that her investigative skills go wrong somewhere along the way. In fact, I guessed the big twist less than halfway into the book, but I was still satisfied reading through to find out how it all worked out.

I read this book before realizing how closely it aligns with the Moscow, Idaho murders. After seeing the similarities between the two from simply reading the Wikipedia on the murder, I feel a bit icky with how much this book was inspired by that horrific crime. Reading the book, I felt like Winstead was saying something about our society's fascination with true crime (though I'd wanted her to be more critical), but now it seems she is someone fascinated by true crime.

I found this book a little hard to rate because I really liked it at some points and really disliked it at others. Overall, I felt it was too long and would have benefitted from some good editing.

For much of the book, I was pulled into the story, and overall I thought the author did a good job portraying the different characters, even if they were somewhat formulaic (grandmotherly woman who is also sharp as a tack, fatherly conflicted Black man who is a former police officer, etc.). As another reviewer said, Jane was an especially interesting protagonist who wasn't necessarily likeable and who made some very questionable choices, but who could also elicit empathy from both the people around her and the readers of this book. Strangely, the parts where I thought the author really got away from formula and stereotypes were where she described how Jane was dealing with her grief over the death of her father. Those parts felt very raw and believable.

While the storyline did keep me want to keep reading, I found too many parts of it a little too formulaic and too many parts where the reader had to suspend disbelief (amateur true crime sleuths being given consultant status by the FBI was a big one) to make this more than 3 stars for me.

The view into the internet true crime community was interesting. It did appear to be portrayed realistically, and the author raised some interesting questions about the whole concept of what crimes/victims get media attention and why. Other reviewers have said that it's a decently accurate glimpse into that world so I will take their word for it. The author also did a good job of raising questions about the motives of true crime groupies and the impacts they can have on victims' families. However, given that this story was clearly based on a real-life murder in Idaho, there is some undeniable hypocrisy in using that event as the basis of her own story.

Overall, I'd say this would actually make an excellent book for a book discussion. It's likely that many participants may not like it or at least may not love it, but there is a whole lot to talk about, and it would provide for an excellent book discussion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book is so similar to the Moscow Idaho murders that it totally read like a real-life, true-crime story, and when the story shifted to include something that was not a part of the Moscow murders, it felt both confusing and disturbing. I’ll definitely be thinking about this book for a long time.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is difficult to review for me because on the surface, I actually really loved it. The connection between the main character's personal grief and her obsession with true crime is one that really added emotional depth to the story. I cared about her as a protagonist, and it shed some light on some less than smart decisions on her part. I also really appreciated the look into the benefits and serious drawbacks of the true crime community - I come away reading it with further mixed feelings on the subject than I started, and it's led me to really consider how I participate in that community as an observer. I also thought that the mystery itself was well-written. The ending was predictable, but in a way that I was ok with. Rather than being upset that I guessed the ending, I was happy that the ending seemed thought out and well-executed.

The big dilemma for me with this book is the clear inspiration the author gained from the recent Idaho college murders. I didn't connect the dots until I'd finished reading, but once I did (and once I refreshed my memory on the details of the real case) I was shocked to see that so much of it was directly inspired by such a recent case. It feels a little insensitive, particularly given the fact that the book itself discusses the ethics and morals of true crime. I have seen the author's response on Instagram, and I think including it as a foreword or afterword would be immensely helpful because it does explain her reasoning and her own emotional connection to the case.

Without the above knowledge, I would have rated this a 4/4.5. I really enjoyed the read, and I honestly stayed up way too late reading this because I just couldn't wait to see how it ended. While I am torn about the real-life connections, I do still feel as if the book deserves a good rating, and I think that the author's response helped (I really do hope they include it in the book). That said, I would give this 4/5 stars.

Thanks to Sourcebooks, NetGalley, and Ashley Winstead for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book did, in fact, bury me. I went in blind, having forgotten the synopsis and not having read anything by Ashley Winstead before. I wish I'd known not to start it before I went to bed because I could not put it down.

I can't recall another book I've read like this - where the book is a response to another (fictional) book and the main character is the author (but not the actual author) directly addressing the reader. It was almost like a tell-all, but in thriller form. It certainly kept me engaged!

It's quite long (almost 500 pages) and could maybe be a little shorter, but I quite liked the various plot points and how they were woven together. I flew through the last quarter of the book and never saw the major twist at the end coming. This is definitely a great book for those interested in true crime, research/investigations, and unlikely friendships/found family. Trigger warning for loss of a parent and the trauma following an event of that nature.

I love Ashley Winsteads thrillers. I couldnt wait to read this one, was so excited to receive it! I had no idea going into this one how large of a book this was. I do wish it was a little shorter. I flew through the first 75% but once I figured out what was going on I was less eager to finish it. I think a shortened version of this would have made for a better reading experience. Overall, a really good read and I look forward to reading the authors next book ASAP. Thanks to Sourcebooks for my copy.

This book was fantastic!! Could not put it down... told in the first person a year after the events that made Jane Sharp notorious, it's fast paced and full of twist and turns. What a unique storyline, good from beginning to end. Highly recommend.

4.5 ⭐️

I am a fan of this!!! Was it slightly insensitive considering the crimes discussed? Yes. However, there are some really strong themes surrounding grief and crime sleuths in general. I thought this was absolutely fascinating and Ashley Winstead’s storytelling was so addicting. Her writing has definitely gotten even stronger. Every time I had to put this book down I kept thinking about it.

The narration is very unique and kept me hooked - especially the footnotes. These characters are deeply flawed and we get to really dive deep into their motives and backgrounds. There’s also a touch of found family which I wasn’t expecting. If you live thrillers, I definitely recommend this!

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced copy!

This book left me speechless, with my jaw hanging open. It was so unputdownable.

I was a little familiar with the real case in Idaho, and wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. A look into the true crime / amateur sleuth community was just fascinating and just so terrifying at the same time.

I was not expecting the twist of all twists and the wild ride. Go into this one blind is highly recommended and it will give you the best reading experience.

Ashley Winstead has a hit with her latest book. You might need to sleep with the lights on like I did. ;)

This book had me completely hooked. I have never read a book so fast. If you’re into true crime this is definitely a great read. I will say though I can see how this will cause mixed reviews due to what this book is about and the real life Idaho murders.

Ashley Winstead is an automatic read for me, and so I found myself going into this book totally blindly because I requested it without reading the blurb. I can’t say I’ve ever given much thought to amateur sleuths, other than listening to the first season of Serial more than a decade ago. None of that matters, though, because this crew of misfits trying to solve a murder (then many murders) sucked me right in. I found myself reading late into the night to just get a little bit further, but then unable to fall asleep because I stopped at a particularly tense encounter with a suspect. I believe the author wants us to be suspicious of the true suspect very early on so we are seeing the signs while they go over the main characters’ heads. Really enjoyable to read.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

TL;DR: Winstead returns with a dark and emotional thriller in the vein of DON'T F*CK WITH CATS, about a group of amateur sleuths investigating a string of murders on a college campus. I especially liked the emotional father/daughter thruline in this one, gave the book some depth. Ending is pretty dark.

My opinion of “This Book Will Bury Me” is my opinion and Readers should read this and not base it on the opinion of others. I found this story difficult to rate. There were parts which were enjoyable. I can appreciate short chapters and it was fairly easy to get into it. Then on the other hand, feeling some parts were lacking.

I will not go into detail. I strongly advise others to read it for themselves.

I have been struggling with how I wanted to rate this book or if I wanted to continue it. I blind requested after a friend wanted to buddy read. I didn't realize that the book is imagining a TRUE murder story from another perspective. While creative and while the book was well-written, it just feels yucky for the author to profit off the stories of real people who died in such a grisly way. There was no disclaimer or anything, in fact, there was the presence of the frequent blurb that it's a work of fiction and any resemblance to real people was not intentional blah blah blah. I don't really feel that that's true and it left a sour taste in my mouth.

✨ARC Review✨

“What do you do when you’re alone in the dark, with enemies closing in on every side? When your back is to the wall and there are no rescue ships—even worse, when you’ve realized there are no rules whatsoever, no promises or waiting heaven, just you and the things you hold dear against the bleakness of death?”

I am just going to go ahead and say straight out that I was not impressed with this. Yes, it was a page turner, and I liked the footnotes within the book. However, the “twist” and the ending were very lackluster. The book ultimately details a group of amateur sleuths who hunt a serial killer.
Jane is processing the death of her father and as part of her grieving process, she becomes obsessed with true crime. She joins hands with other internet sleuths, and their small group puts themselves in danger while attempting to solve a group of interconnected cases. It seems as though they are walking into a trap. The book is split into three parts, and at the end I just felt like I was missing something perhaps, questioning that was it?

I know that those who love her books will pick this one up, and maybe they will love it. However, I felt this one just wasn’t for me.

What’s On The Pages:
-amateur sleuths
-a serial killer on the loose
-true crime junkies
-a twisty thriller

✨Rating✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

A special thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this eARC! This Book Will Bury Me is out March 25th!

For me, I found this story to be creepy, emotional, and full of twists I didn’t see coming.

The story follows Jane, a 24-year-old still reeling from her dad’s sudden death. She finds comfort in true crime communities online and ends up joining a small group of amateur sleuths. When college students in Idaho are killed, they decide to investigate themselves, and things get messy fast.

As a true crime junkie, I loved all the Reddit threads, TikTok theories, and podcast vibes—it just felt…. real. Jane’s grief and connection with the group really hit hard. That said, the fictional murders were eerily similar to a real case, which threw me off a little.

It starts a bit slow, but once it gets going, it’s wild. If you’re into true crime and thrillers, you’ll love this one.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for letting me read early!

Really enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I was iffy with starting such a long book, but I really loved it so much that I just flew through it. Love the authors writing in that it’s so easy to follow, even through such a long list of characters. Add this to the list of books from Ashley Winstead that I’ve loved! Thank you so much for the ARC!

This Book Will Bury Me follows a group of mismatched internet sleuths that help solve crimes. Janeway Sharp has just lost her father and has dropped out of college to some how cope with her loss. Jane stumbles across an online chat for amature sleuths. Jane along with a few others solve a murder that takes place near Jane lives. Now five of them Mistress, Goku, Citizen, Lightly, and Searcher (their handles) are diving into the crime of the century wehn 3 college girls are brutily murdered. The police are dumbfounded by the events and when the 5 sleuths start to hack into the police's computer system to get copies of the case file it all goes down hill fast. The ex boyfriend of one of the murdered girls is now being harrassed, a prfessor loses his job and his family all because of what has been leaked online. Now the 5 are going to Delphine, Idaho when another 3 girls gets murdered a week later. Will they find the killer in time? This was a fast read and I have to say one of Ashley Winstead's best book yet (I still love and recommendIn My Dreams I Hold a Knife) . I was hooked from the very first page and had a hard time putting this one down. I would like to thank both NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for letting me read an advanced copy of this book.

This is now the second book in a row that I have not liked or DNF’d from Ms. Winstead, which is a shame because I loved In My Dreams I Hold a Knife. Let me start off by saying that her writing style is easy to get into. There is a multimedia aspect to this, as there are forum posts. I enjoyed those, and it made my book go by rather quickly (or, the parts I read). The chapters are also short.

Now for the negatives. *sigh* I do sometimes like a narrator who talks directly to the audience, but the way it was done in the book was over the top. It was so annoying how the narrator kept referring to the case that made her famous and The Person Who Shall Not Be Named or something like that. It was fine the first few times but got old real quick. Something else the main character did a lot that bugged me was analyze herself. I personally hate when characters do that because it leaves no room for the reader to do the analysis and therefore insults the reader’s intelligence. This was one of the aspects of the book that made it feel less serious and gave it a bit more of a juvenile tone.

In terms of plot, this book seems like it’s way too long. It’s over 400 pages, and I felt that I had read quite a bit, but really I had barely made a dent. Another thing that kind of irked me was that the author apparently used an ongoing true crime case in this book, and used other cases as inspiration. Maybe this book is trying to comment on people’s obsession with true crime, but there are other books that do it better and don’t exploit ongoing cases for entertainment. Seems kind of contradictory if you ask me.

This Book Will Bury Me comes out on March 25, 2025. Thank you so much to Ashley Winstead (who was so sweet to DM me on instagram to thank me for reading), Sourcebooks, and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!