Who knew being a writer for a TV show could be so dangerous?

I really enjoyed this one. There was so much betrayal, bloodshed, and entangled emotions. I was really hoping something would happen between the two main characters, but there was so much going on and I understand you can't exactly get it on when someone's actively trying to kill you for trying to uncover the truth about a childhood friends murder.

⛧A huge thank you to @forgereads and the author for sending this book my way and to @storygramtours for hosting! Even though the book was gifted, all thoughts are my own. Also, thank you to @netgalley for the ALC.

I really liked the idea behind The Murder Show. The story following a TV crime drama creator investigating a real cold case has so much potential, especially with the twist of possibly turning it into part of his show. The small-town setting, the rekindled connection between Ethan and Ro, and digging into Ricky’s mysterious death all worked well for me.

The audiobook narration was very easy to follow, but where it fell a bit flat for me was in actually bringing the “show” aspect to life. I wanted more behind-the-scenes drama or a seamless blending of fiction and reality, but it never fully delivered on that angle. It did have some really good twisted thrown in though!

Thank you to NetGalley, Matt Goldman, and Macmillan Audio for an advance listening copy of The Murder Show in exchange for an honest review. This was a very fun story where our main character (Ethan) returns back home to Minnesota to try to solve a crime from the past. One of my favorite parts of the story was all the characters Goldman created that helped keep me engaged when listening and trying to figure out whodunnit! The narrator did an excellent job keeping the listener engaged with voices that pulled in the listener from start to finish, I loved listening to all the little MN Easter eggs too as someone who was born and still lives in Minnesota! I enjoyed the ending of the book and I look forward to seeing what Goldman does in the future! This one is out now!!

When Ethan, a crime writer for a TV series called The Murder Show, goes on hiatus during a writers' strike, he decides to go back home. We learn of Ethan’s past and the mysterious disappearance of his friend Ricky, who vanished after leaving Ethan and Ro to find help. This was a fun mystery with a bit of a cat-and-mouse chase that turned deadly. It kept me guessing, and the sense of not knowing who to trust added to the suspense. Dan Bittner did a great job narrating Ethan, but I did find it tricky to follow the timeline jumps between past and present. I had to pay close attention when the switches happened, but overall, it was a solid listen. I look forward to reading more by this author.

This is a solid mystery - Ethan returns home and his friend Ro convinces him to help look into the death of their high school friend. Pick this one up if you enjoy cold cases.

This was a disappointing, middling murder mystery that was bogged down with uninteresting characters and an unimpressive mystery.

4 out of 5 Stars! Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audiobook of The Murder Show by Matt Goldman and marrated by Dan Bittner.

Wow, I don't know what took me so long to finally listen to this audiobook. The narrative is one of my fav and he was perfect for this novel! This is actually my first book by this author and he did not disappoint! It was narrated just perfectly and delivered the thrill, plot, and unexpected ending.

Pretty interesting characters (Especially the parents). It was another podcast and show scenerio - it is amazing how popular this podcast thrillers are becoming. I really enjoyed the pace of this novel and will be checking out more books by this author. Thanks!

Matt Goldman hits it out of the park with this thriller--well-paced and interesting characters kept me intrigued throughout. The audiobook narration is well done.

Ethan returns home during a writer strike. He ends up teaming up with his friend, Ro, now a police officer, to investigate the death of their high school friend Ricky.

The more the dig, the more it's apparent someone doesn't want them looking into this.

I figured out some parts. But it was still very entertaining. Dan Bittner did a great job on audio.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an ALC.

I love true crime podcasts and shows, so when a novel is built on that idea, I quickly grab it. Ethan is a showrunner looking for his next unsolved case to target so his show doesn't get cancelled. He ends up in his hometown looking into the hit-and-run death of a childhood friend. As he reconnects with all of his friends, he sees some things he may have missed at the time.

I really enjoyed the progression and pace of this novel. Ethan was a character I could root for because I felt he was genuine in trying to solve Ricky's case. I had a harder time figuring out the motives of the supporting cast, which led to the suspense, but also led to frustration. I will definitely read more from this author.

Note about the narration: Dan Bittner did a great job bringing to life the angst Ethan felt at times. Great job!

Goldman's ability to build and maintain suspense makes this novel a captivating read for fans of psychological thrillers.

Matt Goldman's *The Murder Show* is a compelling blend of suspense, nostalgia, and sharp storytelling that will captivate fans of character-driven thrillers. Set against the backdrop of Minneapolis, the novel follows Ethan Harris, a television showrunner whose hit crime series faces cancellation. Seeking inspiration, Ethan returns to his hometown and reconnects with Ro Greeman, a former classmate turned police officer. Together, they delve into the unresolved hit-and-run death of their friend Ricky O'Shea from two decades earlier, uncovering a web of secrets that someone is determined to keep buried.

Goldman's experience as a television writer shines through in his crisp dialogue and well-paced narrative. The interplay between Ethan and Ro adds depth to the story, blending professional intrigue with personal history. As someone who lives in a suburb of the Twin Cities, I enjoyed the setting- it was richly depicted and offered readers a vivid sense of the place. The suspense builds steadily, leading to a satisfying and unexpected conclusion.

*The Murder Show* is a standout addition to Goldman's repertoire, showcasing his ability to craft a gripping tale that resonates on both an emotional and intellectual level.

I really loved the premise of this book. I love all things murdery and mystery. When you add some true crime elements into the main characters life, it's just better for me.

I did enjoy this book. It was as thrilling as I was hoping it would be but the mystery for sure there. They main complaints I had for this book is that it was a little slow and I found bits of the book a little confusing.

I wasn't able to really connect with the characters, but I did love the story and seeing it unravel.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

While I guessed what was happening pretty early on, I still enjoyed this and thought it was an easy ready overall. Decent characters and plot line, could have been a bit more suspenseful but still good.

This was my first Matt Goldman novel. I was intrigued by the premise but the writing/execution didn’t grab me. The audiobook struggled to hold my attention. The narration is a bit choppy and I didn’t care for the voice portrayals. For me, this one just missed the mark.
Thank You to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook version of this ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5 stars rounded up)

The Murder Show by Matt Goldman is a fast-paced and suspenseful thriller centered around Ethan Harris, a successful TV writer who returns home to Minnesota during a Hollywood writer’s strike. Seeking inspiration for the next season of his hit crime show, Ethan unexpectedly becomes entangled in a real-life murder investigation.

The storyline is compelling, with sharp dialogue and short, punchy scenes that keep the tension high throughout. I found the characters to be well developed and believable, and the pace of the book made it easy to stay engaged. It had just the right balance of action, suspense, and entertainment to keep me listening.

However, there were moments where the writing style wasn’t quite for me. Some plot points were left vague or implied, only to be confirmed later. While this might appeal to readers who enjoy piecing things together themselves, I found myself having to rewind certain parts for clarity, which pulled me out of the experience a bit.

The audiobook, narrated by Dan Bittner, was a strong addition to the story. His delivery was clear and easy to follow, with well-paced narration and distinct character voices that made it easy to stay immersed.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance listening copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Murder Show is now the third thriller I've read by Matt Goldman, and I was again reminded just how cinematic his stories are!

Ethan Harris returns to his hometown after his season four pitch of The Murder Show is rejected and becomes re-united with his former classmate, Ro Greeman. Now, a local police officer, Ro, is investigating an unsolved crime, and Ethan hopes that by helping her, he will get some inspiration for his next TV script. As both Ethan and Ro were on the outskirts of their friend Ricky's death, they're seeking justice to find out if he was actually murdered or if his death was just a horrible accident.

Always succinct and never letting his descriptions overpower the story, Goldman captures readers' attention and instantly pulls them in. Goldman has a way of writing that paints such vivid imagery, creating scenes that would translate well to the big screen (which is his background). Managing again to write a little "will they, won't they" action within this story adds another real-life aspect of two high school flames reuniting. Goldman throws in a couple morally gray characters, although this time they're not as front and center as in his other books.

Dan Bittner was a fantastic choice to narrate this audiobook! His voice translated well throughout the many characters with this third-person omniscient viewpoint that Goldman does so well. Bittner is never once dramatic, which truly lets the story unfold as intended.

I can see this book being a hit with crime show TV watchers!

Thank you NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, Forge Books and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

The Murder Show sounded like it would be a hit for me! A television show with someone who solves murder that detectives can’t?? Matt Goldman is usually someone I rush to download when a new book is released.

This one unfortunately did not work for me in audio format. I was unable to connect to the characters and was getting extremely lost in the story. I’m not sure if it was the story itself or the narration but I made the decision to dnf around 20%.

Thank you for the opportunity!

Ethan Harris is on strike. Not by choice, but as a television writer, he has to strike with the rest of the his fellows. So, Ethan returns home to Minneapolis to visit his parents. Learning his high school friend and neighbor Ro Greeman is now a police officer in town, the two of them get together and talk about the hit and run death of another high school friend, Ricky, that happened just after graduation. The two of them had been with him and reported him missing. They never forgot seeing his gory remains.

Ethan decides that might be an interesting plot for his TV show, The Murder Show, especially after Ro tells him she's uncovered more hit and run deaths to teenage boys in the area that cover years. The two of them decide to investigate, with Ethan thinking it might be a good plot for his tv show, though he doesn't really expect anything to come of it. But, as their lives are endangered, they discover their theories are not so far-fetched. The two of them track down the investigating officers with whom they spoke at the time of Ricky's death. One is newly dead and the other living undercover. As the danger ramps up and it becomes obvious someone is trying to stop their investigation, the two of them persist, to a thrilling conclusion.

Dan Bittner delivers a captivating narration, bringing the story to life.

I was originally drawn to the concept of "The Murder Show" and liked the idea of real life crossing over into entertainment, but it wasn't for me. Respectfully, it was a bit of a slog for me, and I barely finished it.

The main characters (Ethan and Ro) have zero chemistry, whether romantic or platonic; they don't vibe together. Additionally, I thought the TV show and real life would intersect more, but the action occurs while the TV show is on hiatus during a strike. So the TV show feels mildly irrelevant at times, and it's more about discovering what happened to a kid they went to high school with than anything else.

Also, this is a feeling more than anything, and I don't know how to describe it further, but the story felt dated. I wish I could elaborate further but that's all I got.

In terms of the audio version, that may have been part of the problem for me personally. It was grating to hear the narrator attempt female voices, and his standard voice felt mismatched with the content and tone of the story.

Unfortunately, I did not connect with the characters or the story but I bet it would resonate with someone else!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my authentic review.