By the end, I thought this was simply just another mystery/thriller book, but yet I appreciated the unique part about the MC being a writer for a popular TV show, though his career was fledging upon renewal. I also appreciated that the characters were likable and I wanted to see them through. This was done well, researched through, planned out, and the characters that were not fluff. I definitely enjoyed the adrenaline, the mystery, but somehow I couldn't place how I felt about the final reveal/ending. It wasn't the climax that I was hoping for, but somehow I wasn't too disappointed.

So bottom line: this was a fun read. If you love crime shows and thrillers, you'll love this. Ro was a character that I wasn't sure I would like, but she warmed up to me. I would love to read more about her. The audio narration was also done so well.

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio, and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

I loved this! Sidelined by the writer’s strike, a writer finds himself at his childhood home trying to write a plot line for the next season of his TV show. His old girlfriend (literally the girl next door—who’s now a cop) suggests they look into a cold case of their buddy who was murdered and justice never found.

I guessed the twist early (and for once I was right!!) but this was still a twisty, suspenseful read. It had a wildly good atmosphere (rural Minnesota and Wisconsin), tons of secondary characters with good stories, and what these two uncovered was shocking.

The narration was five stars!

This story was really good and I loved most of the characters. Ethan’s dad was probably my favorite, if I’m being honest! He was hilarious! The relationship between Ethan and Ro was so sweet (albeit disappointing considering they stayed in the friend zone despite the flirtations). I thought using a tv writer character was really unique, as was the idea behind his reasoning for the “research” he was doing. I remember the writer’s strike vividly, as does every other writer, so it was really neat to see it in action and to see the effects of it for those writers. The juxtaposition of drive and desperation in Ethan was really well-done. I had a feeling who was involved, and even though I was right, I was disappointed. I really hoped it wasn’t going that way. But for the most part, the story was great. The ending did fall a bit flat for me, but I would still recommend this book to any fans of mysteries!

Huge thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

I need to think about what did and didn't connect with me for a bit.

I wanted more from the whole "Murder Show" concept, but the show is on hiatus due to the writers' strike. Ethan, the showrunner, is home for a visit, trying to come up with a storyline for the next season. I couldn't fully wrap my mind around what the show is even about. Like fictionalized true crime maybe?

The head hopping in this narrative is really jarring. It's like we're third person omniscient for almost every character. It wouldn't be so bad if it switched with each chapter, but sometimes we get in multiple heads in one chapter. It was quite noticeable since I listened to the audiobook. Speaking of the audiobook, the narrator is male, but there are quite a few female parts (and heads that we're inhabiting) which might have played better and not been as over the top if they had been narrated by a female.

I was intrigued at the mystery at first, but I pretty much called the bad guy from the beginning. I thought it was a little too obvious.

Overall this is a decent read, but nothing spectacular. It is fast paced and I finished it fairly quickly, but I don't think I'm going to remember much about it.

The Murder Show written by Matt Goldman and narrated by Dan Bitner, is a fast exciting read about Eathan Harris who goes back to his hometown in Minnesota when the writers go on strike. to make matters worse his pitch for the fourth season of his popular show was denied and he is scrambling to come up with a new plot line. When he arrives home he reconnects with Roe greenmen, his teenage crush and backyard neighbor. she’s now a detective in their small town and tells Eathan they should investigate the accident that killed their high school friend Ricky because it’s something that still haunts her. At first he says no as he is only home to visit his parents and wait for the writer strike to be over but just like when they were kids she talks him into it. They will find out many strange things about the case but the first twist is that Ricky wasn’t the only Minnesota teenager to be struck down on side of the highway but it seems the closer they get to the answer the more people that are killed. Eathan knows he’s bitten off more than he can chew but every time he tries to bow out Roe comes up with a reason for him to stay just a little longer. I really enjoyed this book it was a fast awesome read but really thought it could’ve done without all the potential romantic things between Eathan and Roe, for some reason I just didn’t buy a romance between them I thought he was better suited to Anna but alas that wasn’t to be either. All in all this was a really great book and if you love good murder mysteries with very likable characters to root for then you will definitely love this book. I listened to the audio version and thought it was awesome the narrator Dan Bittner did such a great job with character distinction setting an awesome tone and just giving a great performance. #NetGalley, #McMillanAudio, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,#MattGoldman, #TheMurderShow, #DanBittner,

4.5 stars. I thought this was a really good mystery. An on-strike TV show writer has returned home to Minnesota to visit his parents. He immediately runs into an old (almost) flame who is now on the police force. When they were in high school, a friend of theirs died. It was ruled as an accident, but Ro isn't convinced and offers it up to Ethan as a possible story line for his show. The two start investigating and find nothing but trouble.

I listened to the audio version narrated by Dan Bittner and really enjoyed the narration. The voices were good (I loved Ethan's parents!). It was a fast moving story that had me finishing it in two days.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audio. All thoughts are my own.

NOT YET PUBLISHED!!
Release date is : 4/15/25!!

I believe this is the first I've read of this author, but, hoping not the last!!

Ethan Harris is a writer for the crime show "The Murder Show". He now finds that he has some time on his hands, as a strike paralyzes production on the show. So, he decides to return home to see his Mom and Dad in Michigan.

First person he sees (other than Mom and Dad) was his HS crush, Ro. And she's right outside of his window. He goes to speak with her/catch up, and they feel like no time has passed.. although it is well over 20 years now.

And then they start talking about what happened all those years ago... when their friend died! All these years Ethan thought it was just a cruel accident, but Ro has other ideas. And being as she is now a Police Officer, she thinks maybe it's time to loop Ethan in on what she thinks... and get his opinion... and help, as she's never given up on finding out what really happened that night.

But, weird things keep happening. And Ro has found some connections to their friend's death all those years ago. And... people keep dying. People that they know.

So, although Ethan thinks he might be able to use some of what they are finding out as episodes in his upcoming crime shows (once the strike is over!), Ro just wants to get to the bottom of it and close up that chapter of her life once and for all.

This one had a bunch of twists, and will keep you guessing right up until the end!

4 big, bright, Hollywood ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!!

#TheMurderShow by #MattGoldman and narrated beautifully by #DanBittner.

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.
*** Release date is next week on... 4/15/25, so look 👀 for it on then !! ***

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There was nothing wrong with this book, but I found my attention being pulled away quite often. While it was def a shock just what happened back then and the role they all played, it just got kind of draining. I really liked his previous book series.

I really enjoyed the plot and setting of this book and was hooked from start to finish. I enjoyed the narrators voice but I didn’t not feel like he brought the characters to life for me and I don’t know if it was him or the writing but I felt 0 chemistry between any of the characters and a lot of the lines they said to each other felt fake. Other than that I loved everything else and would still recommend this book.

The Murder Show

By Matt Goldman

From Forge Books & Macmillan Audio
304 pages in hardcover
7 hours, 47 minutes in audio, performed by Dan Bittner
Releases April 15, 2025

A TV writer and his old high school friend — now a cop — start digging into a death from their past.

Ethan Harris grew up moving constantly until his family settled in Minneapolis. There, he found his people. The summer after graduation, their friend Rickey was killed in a hit-and-run.

Twenty-two years later, Ethan, now a TV writer, and Ro, a police officer, begin to suspect Rickey’s death wasn’t an accident. Drug cartels, the FBI, Baltic hitmen, crooked cops, paranoia, and danger swirl as the two uncover far more than they expected.

The flashbacks to their teenage years are warm and relatable, with a cast that feels real and familiar. Ethan’s experience as a kid always on the move makes him easy to root for, and his insights as a TV writer are sharp and entertaining.

The law enforcement side of the story, though, often feels like TV cop drama filler rather than authentic detail. And for a metro area of 4 million, these characters bump into people they know a lot.

The set-up works, the pacing is solid, but the final act falls apart — descending from complex mystery to soap opera nonsense. It’s trite, overstuffed, and unrealistic.

This isn’t the edgy thriller it wants to be. But it’s still an easy read (or listen), great for a road trip. Dan Bittner’s narration is excellent, and Goldman’s writing style is engaging.

The Murder Show is a mixed bag. Grade: B-

But I’ll absolutely give Matt Goldman another shot.

*3.5 rounded down*
I LOVE me some Matt Goldman books. I really do. I couldn't wait to read this one. I wanted so badly to rate this book even one star higher, but it wouldn't be my honest opinion. The premise of The Murder Show was great. The beginning had me immediately drawn in & I never lost interest.

As usual, Goldman did an amazing job building his characters. I never have trouble picturing any of his characters, which is one of the main reasons I'll read anything the man writes. This wasn't bad, by any means, but it was my least favorite of all his books so far. My main issues were:

1. It felt very "cat and mouse," not in the "detective is trying to uncover a killer" way that I love, but more like "characters are constantly running from someone & it's going to end how this always ends."
2. Ending/reveal was underwhelming. I'm not sure if it's that it was too obvious or just my least favorite of the available options.
3. It was a little irritating hearing the words "The Murder Show" so many times.

I was thrilled to get a small dose of one of my favorite characters ever - Nils Shapiro, although I hope the new Nils (stay-at-home dad) isn't a hint that the series is over! That would be majorly depressing. Overall, I think the book was good, just not as good as all the others. I will still scream with excitement if I hear that Matt Goldman has another book, and I will be antsy until I get my hands on it...triple that reaction if it's a Nils Shapiro book! Thank you for the opportunity to enjoy this ARC!

Ethan Harris is the producer of a hit true crime TV show, The Murder Show. He is searching for inspiration for the new season of the TV show, he returns to his hometown hoping for a spark. He reunites with a high school friend, Ro, who is now a police detective that may have uncovered new information regarding a classmate that died under mysterious circumstances. The two embark on a game of cat and mouse search for the person responsible for the death. A very fast paced and highly enjoyable suspense thriller.

4 stars

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Forge Books for the ALC / ARC. The narrator Dan Bittner does an awesome job.

The Murder Show is some great new crime fiction from Matt Goldman.

"Ethan Harris is the writer and showrunner of The Murder Show - a TV show with a private detective that solves cases that the police can't. His pitch for Season 4 has been declined and the writers are on strike so he heads home to Minnesota looking for inspiration. His childhood neighbor and friend (and crush) is now a police detective and wants Ethan's help in solving a cold case of the death of their friend Ricky. She's uncovered some interesting information about the case. But they soon learn that someone is unhappy they are looking into the old case and will go to murderous lengths to stop them."

Dan Bittner is fabulous on this audio. I can picture Ethan in my head as he talks. There are many wild moments in this story and Bittner nails the emotion of all of them.

Goldman gives us a fresh story. Just when you think you know the way he's heading he changes it up. There are several red herrings and you're left to wonder if maybe a couple of charcters are still on the fence of being corrupt. Ethan is put in a lot of situations for a TV guy but he seems to bluff his way through. I guessed the bad guy but it was just a guess. You'll be surprised a little.

Take this great crime-fiction story to the beach with you this year. And I'm hoping the ending means we'll see Ethan in future books.

💥 Pub Date: 4/15/2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

• fast paced mystery
• secrets & old friends
• mysterious characters

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! I love a good "solving a mystery in his hometown" premise. The light humor sprinkled throughout was great as well. The author is a screenwriter, and his real life experiences really brought the story to life. The narrator was super engaging - embodying each character in a unique way.

🗣 Thank you to macmillan.audio for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted audio! All opinions are honest and my own.

I've read all of Matt Goldman's books and have been chasing the feeling I got from the Nils Shapiro series—so I nearly squealed when this one crossed into Nils' world! I absolutely love the Minneapolis setting; it feels like home on the page. It was also fun to see Goldman's experience in TV writing woven into his crime storytelling. While the pace was a bit slower, the plot skillfully connected a long-ago tragedy with recent deaths in a believable and compelling way.

Especially if you're a Minnesota - go get this one!

Matt Goldman you have a fan!

I am so excited for what I hope was an introduction to Ro and Ethan! This was in no small part due to the excellent narrator who captured each character in a very distinctive way that really brought them to life. The pacing , the inflection and warmth and humor were all performed amazingly well.

I was thoroughly hooked and entertained from the start to the end. The idea of "revisiting" an old high school love and solving a mystery while doing it was a great premise. I also felt like I really understood a small town life and the feeling of returning there after being away. There was such a great balance of action, detective work and relationship building.


I felt as if most if not all of the characters were fully flushed out. I also felt there was some questions left unanswered but its not clear if that is because this will be a series or the author ran out of pages. All the emotions from both perspectives were explored and we even got a chance to know the minor character.s.

All in all this is a really great read/listen.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen and offer my opinion.

Thank you to @macmillan.audio and Netgalley for my #gifted alc. All opinions are my own.

Ethan Harris has come home from New York to sit out some writer's union dispute while spending time with his folks in small town Minnesota. Author Goldman had me chuckling pretty quickly with the relationships between Harris and his elderly parents. Definitely the comic relief to the case at hand.
While visiting his parents, Ethan is attempting to write something the studio will film as his current project, The Murder Show, is on the bubble.Enter high school crush, Ro Greeman, who is now local police. She tries to sell the idea of researching the death of their friend decades earlier as more than a hit & run. It takes off from there and I found the plot and characters highly entertaining.

Not over long at coming in under 8 hours, this is a great starter for someone wanting to try out an audiobook.
Dan Bittner did a great job of voicing Ethan. He was believable and came across as patient with the parents and not overly dominating when interacting with Ro.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Murder Show starts off strong and pulls you in right away. The story follows Ethan, a TV showrunner looking for inspiration after his hit series gets shut down. He returns to his hometown and gets pulled into a real-life mystery involving an old friend’s death, which brings up secrets from the past.

As the story unfolds, more characters are introduced, which can get a little confusing at times, but it keeps the plot moving. One unique element was Ethan’s relationship with his parents — they’re quirky, even bizarre at times, but also refreshingly supportive, which added an interesting layer to the story.

The behind-the-scenes look at TV writing and production was a cool angle, especially for anyone curious about how shows like Law & Order come together. It also touches briefly on the writers' strike, which felt timely and relevant.

At its core, the book is about friendship, loss, and how choices made as teens can echo into adulthood. There’s some romance, family tension, and a sense of nostalgia throughout, with a satisfying ending that ties everything together.

Overall, it’s a solid mystery with emotional depth and some interesting commentary on storytelling itself.

3.5
This was entertaining and I liked the murder show aspect. I didn't guess how it was all going to play out. I read a lot of thrillers and overall this one didn't have anything super memorable or jaw dropping about it, but it was still good. Thank you MacMillan Audio for the chance to listen in exchange for a review!

I am a fan of the Nils Shapiro series by Matt Goldman so I was looking forward to starting this one on audio and thought both the cover and title were solid. Another sans-synopsis book for me which is always fun to just let the chapters unfurl. I was hoping for another book set in or near Minnesota which is one of my favorite places to visit so no disappointment there.

I don’t feel that I really liked any of the characters in this book. The majority were bold and not very trustworthy for me. Whether the author meant for that to be the case, I commend him for making me feel that way about nearly all of them for the majority of the book. I felt one character played a little too much hero for their vocation but hey it was fiction.

For me, the story was somewhat slower paced for more than half the book but I really felt it went someplace in the back half that provided a lot of listening enjoyment to get to the end which I pretty much had pegged which I guess was a win for me.

From a pet peeve standpoint, I didn’t like the voice of the character that appears in this book from his other books and the name pronunciation was totally different from what I recall. Different narrators probably causing it but I preferred the former books than this one on that point. This narrator was good but I liked the primary one from the other books a little bit more.

Overall impressed with this one and could totally see it becoming a streaming show with a lot of potential.