Oh this is a good book! Love the narrator! There are so many twists and turns with this story. I really enjoyed every minute of it. Now to find more by the same author and narrator. Highly recommend.

The allusion to Beartown in the blurb hooked me right away. While it didn’t live up to that hype, I was entertained. My main issue is that there was a little too much going on. An interesting premise got lost for me in all the excess. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse audiobooks for the ARC!

I found this to be a very interesting story with a lot of potential, reminding me of Fredrik Backman's storytelling structure, and the atmosphere leaning toward shows like Bloodline or Ozark. It could have been a five star read for me, but it didn't quite get there.

My biggest issue was the large amount of characters without clear descriptions or information to make me understand and remember who was who. I had no clue who was old or young, or what kind of person a character was. All I got was a name and sometimes a bit of backstory, but nothing that told me what they looked like or what their behavior or values were, which made for a confusing reading experience, and it also meant that I didn't really care about any of them.

There are also a lot of plotlines. I think they are all interesting and adding to the story, and they all come together nicely. However, it wasn't always clear which one I was supposed to care the most about, or pay the most attention to. I had expected the murder case to play a bigger part in the story. There was also the odd side story, which usually added some clarifying piece of information, but often in a vague kind of way. With the confustion about all the characters, and the different plotlines, I didn't always get what the piece of information meant for the story. Maybe that's a me problem, but it's in alignment with what I've mentioned already, with things not being explained clearly enough for me as a reader. I don't need or want hand-holding, but I do need enough information to get what's being said.

My final comment is that I think the scene when the choir girls are found should come earlier in the book, to create more tension and suspense from the start, and to validate the premise and make it clear to the reader that they're getting what they're expecting.

Overall, I think this could be such a fantastic book, but it didn't feel quite finished to me.

This is an intricate mystery and history of a small town and what happens when secrets are buried.
The audiobook is well done and the story is anything but predictable. I want to say more but NO SPOILERS!

I appreciate the opportunity to receive an ARC Of Tell Me Something Good.

I want to start off by saying that there are quite a few characters in this book. I found it somewhat difficult to keep up with all of them. I would have loved to have a bit more character development .

The story is a bit slow in the beginning of the book but does eventually start to pick up. I loved Court Steven’s writing style one this one. I think it is worth the read (or listen!)

Engaging and entertaining. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

I just finished this book, and wow—it's twisty AF. It had major thriller vibes but also threw in romance, mystery, and small-town hunting/fishing culture. Honestly, it was a lot. There were so many characters, all with their backstories and drama, that it got kind of hard to keep up. It felt super literary at times, which was cool, but I really think it needed to be told from just one POV. The third person with all those storylines made it messy.

That said… I probably wouldn’t have switched if it weren’t an audiobook. The narration was well done and interesting to hear.

Loved this story and the characters. I was hooked from the beginning of the book and loved the weaving of the characters lives throughout the book. The narration of the book was amazing and such a great read. 5 stars!! A favorite read for me so far in 2025.

Tell Me Something Good is gritty, bold, and really well-written. The world feels raw and real, and the author doesn’t hold back, which I really appreciate. The reason I’m giving it 3 stars instead of 4 is that it just tries to do too much. There are so many characters and plot lines, that it starts to get a little overwhelming. This could’ve been a killer duology or even a trilogy giving everything more space to breathe. That said, there’s still a lot to like. The writing is strong, and the ambition behind the story is clear. It’s definitely a book that sticks with you.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the chance to listen to this title in exchange for my opinion.

This one’s a tangled web of murder, secrets, and small-town Southern history that refuses to stay buried. Set between Bent Tree and Luxor—two places that felt like characters themselves—it’s a slow-burn mystery that’s equal parts gritty and emotional.

The writing has that Southern charm I love, the characters are messy in the best way, and the audiobook even includes a gut-punch of a voice journal from a father to his son. The themes around love, loss, and legacy really landed—and for a debut, this was impressively sharp and layered.

That said, it’s packed. So many characters and timelines, I was constantly rewinding like, “Wait, who’s this again?” Definitely one I wish I had in print to keep track. But if you’re into moody, character-driven mysteries with depth, this is one to check out.

A river separates very poor Luxor, Illinois from very rich Bent Tree, Kentucky. Murder, lies, and the past keep them connected. Anna, from Luxor, has grown up believing that there is nothing good for her in Bent Tree. But now her mother is sick and Anna needs a job to pay for the treatments that will keep her mother alive. After she gets a job at The Lodges, a hunting camp for the ultra-wealthy in Bent Tree, Anna discovers that all is not what it seems at the camp, and more than one person will do anything to keep long-buried secrets hidden.

I listened to the audio version of this book. Narrator Marin Ireland is excellent, but the large cast of characters, and their relationships to each other, sometimes made this novel confusing.

Tell Me Something Good by Court Stevens was a solid thriller for me. I am glad I had the ALC instead of a physical copy because switching from pov and 1st and 3rd writing is one of my pet peeves. I prefer either 1st or 3rd even with multiple povs.

The audiobook narrators did a great job and contributed to me giving this book a higher rating because even at the repetitive, and mundane parts of the book the voice actors kept me interested.

I did like these characters, and the ending of the ending was extremely unexpected.

I wish I had the book with the audio. There are a ton of characters which I do not mind but it would be nice to switch back and forth. This book had a lot going on. There was a mass murder years ago and then a murder in the present. There are poor and wealthy people and the intertwining of it all. I had no clue what was going to happen so I just went along for the ride.

Court Stevens’s ‘Tell Me Something Good’ has a big cast and a lot going on! The story spans generations and is filled with unexpected plot twists and turns. Fans of Chris Whitaker will likely enjoy this book. I very much enjoyed Marin Ireland’s spirited narration of the audiobook.

Tell me something good keeps you guessing every step of the way. The audio even makes it better, Marin Ireland immerses you, truly bringing in the drama. I received a complementary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Court Stevens's Tell Me Something Good audiobook, narrated by the exceptional Marin Ireland, is a captivating and atmospheric debut that lives up to the comparisons to Beartown and the Southern storytelling of Flannery O'Connor. Ireland's narration beautifully captures the nuances of the rural Kentucky setting and the complex emotional landscape of the characters.

Stevens weaves a compelling narrative that intertwines past and present tragedies. The unsettling opening, hinting at a long-ago mass murder that the community has tried to bury, immediately draws the listener in. The subsequent accidental death decades later acts as a catalyst, dredging up long-dormant secrets and forcing the small town to confront its hidden history.

The story masterfully balances the darkness of the past crimes with the present-day struggles of its characters, particularly the woman desperate to save her mother. Stevens explores themes of poverty, community, and the enduring power of love and loyalty in the face of deep-seated secrets and lies. The illegal auction mentioned in the description adds another layer of intrigue and potential danger to the tightly knit community.

Tell Me Something Good is a richly layered and emotionally resonant audiobook. Marin Ireland's narration elevates Stevens's evocative prose, creating a truly immersive experience. This is a story that lingers long after the final words, prompting reflection on the interconnectedness of lives and the lengths people will go to protect those they love, even in the face of devastating truths.

Tell Me Something Good is a story of the have and the have nots. There's love, an unsolved crime, and class disparity all in one. I would definitely make note, if possible, of the trigger warning of cancer for future readers. There were times that I found the story a bit hard to organize in my mind between the different characters and timelines, but sometimes that tends to happen a bit more with audiobooks. I liked the narrator!

This was a fast paced and entertaining crime thriller about a very poor town that is home to a few very rich people that own the “lodges”, areas of land that are rented and used by the richest and best hunters in the country. But there’s also some illegal activities occurring at the lodges, not to mention a horrific crime that occurred many years before and is still as yet unsolved. All of these pieces come together in a series of events that leaves a lot of people dead and some old and heating finally answered. Definitely a recommend for crime fans, this was a fast and fun read.

Tell Me Something Good by Court Stevens is one of those books that feels like a quiet but powerful punch to the heart. It’s a coming-of-age story that weaves together themes of love, loss, and the weight of our past choices in a way that felt deeply relatable and emotionally resonant.

The narrative is beautifully crafted, with a raw honesty that makes the characters’ struggles and triumphs feel all the more real. The story centers around two protagonists whose paths cross in unexpected and meaningful ways, and watching their relationship unfold was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. It’s one of those books that doesn’t shy away from the complexity of human emotion, and it was refreshing to read a story that deals with the messiness of life in such a genuine way.

What really stands out to me is how Stevens captures the vulnerability of being young and trying to figure out who you are while grappling with the weight of others’ expectations. The characters’ internal struggles felt so authentic, and I found myself invested in their growth every step of the way.

The pacing of the book is perfect—slow enough to allow the characters to breathe and develop, but fast enough to keep me hooked. There are moments of joy, pain, and everything in between, and Stevens balances them with a deft touch. The dialogue, too, is spot-on—sharp, witty, and full of heart.

By the time I reached the end, I was left feeling a mixture of sadness and hope, the kind of bittersweet feeling that sticks with you long after you close the book. Tell Me Something Good is a deeply moving, beautifully written story about the complexities of relationships and the journey of self-discovery. If you’re into books that make you think and feel, this one is definitely worth picking up.

When I first starter this book, I almost put it down….. TRIGGER WARNING— parent has cancer. I just recently lost a parent to cancer so I almost did not continue but the blurb sounded so good I kept going.

While the beginning was hard to keep up with just because there are so many characters, it was so hard to keep up with who was who. I felt like I was reading a fantasy novel with how many characters were thrown at me. I did realize by the end that they were all pretty necessary to the story line and every one fit in well. By the end of the book I was hooked and wanted to know what happened. I do feel the ending was a bit rushed but overall I did enjoy the story. It kept my attention and I kept asking questions throughout. So many lies, murder, and heartbreak.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audio for an advance copy in exchange for a honest review.