This Tangled Web: A Podcaster Sleuth Mystery

by Roxie Cohen

Jude Amarante covers crime on her podcast. She doesn't investigate it.

But when the family of a missing man reaches out to her begging for coverage on her podcast, how can she say no?

Jude soon discovers that covering crime and being in the thick of it, are two completely different things.

When her heart becomes involved, the stakes rise higher than ever.

In a town full of people pretending to be someone else, she has to ask: Can you really ever know someone?

This Tangled Web is the first book in a new series about a crime podcaster turned amateur sleuth. If you are a fan of mystery series with strong female leads, romantic subplots, and new mysteries in each book... the Jude Amarante Casefiles will be perfect for you.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 23, 2024

About the author

Roxie lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two dogs. Most nights, she can be found on Tiktok with her writing group, Distracted Inklings. When she's not writing, Roxie likes to go on long walks, ride as many rollercoasters as she can in one day, and obsess over the depravity of orcas. Roxie is the author of Through a Mirror Darkly, which is set in The Great Smoky Mountains where she grew up. Upcoming releases include This Tangled Web, the first novel in the Jude Amarante Casefiles, Gemma Stone and the Missing Dragon Egg, the first novella in the Magic Defense Series, as well as Kiss Me in the Dark, a standalone romantic suspense.

Reviews

[Gnome Patronus · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️Overall 5/5
🌶️ Spice 2/5
🔎 Complexitity 2/5

Move over Jessica Fletcher and Nancy Drew there is a new amateur sleuth in town!!!

What an absolutely refreshing book!! The writing style and story progression is very reminiscence of Nancy Drew blended with Murder She Wrote. This book was a perfect read that balanced an easy to follow storyline, lovable characters with great development, and enough twists to keep you guessing till the end.

This book is the first case in a series but can be read as a stand alone. The main female character is recently divorced and a true crime podcaster. When during a broadcast a family member of a missing person reaches out and begs for help, Jude takes the leap from behind the micophone to in the field.

We get to see the story from Judes point of view, and the question’s you want to ask as a reader, Jude ASKS (even if you think,,,girl, HUSH, she will ask.) We get a bit of romance that starts to bud, and we get to see the struggle of Jude keeping the case and her heart separate (well, if she is successful or not, you can be the judge of that)

The ending….I mean…THE ENDING!! I want to say more, but can’t! This book is GREAT, and I can’t WAIT to read more case files of Jude.

[Kristens_korner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew immediately I wanted to read this book when she said a mix of murder she wrote and Nancy Drew. This story unraveled so well with just the right amount of details of the case without oversaturating or overwhelming the readers and leaving us with just the right amount of mystery and suspense. I love the MFC with her sense of drive and determination yet also her vulnerabilities she shows, and the ending was one I did not see coming! I can't wait to see where she takes this series with the character!

[Shelby Powles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jude, Jude, Jude... You have some balls girly.

I really wanted something to happen with Brooks. And honestly I was a little suspicious of the mom Nora lol.

Quick read that will reel you in and you'll only be asking for more 😵‍💫

Now I need book 2!

I updated my review to A 5 star vs the 4 star I originally had, and I'll tell you why.

I had my suspicions, I even suspected someone who was not suspicious at all, so due to that it really deserves a 5 star ⭐❤️

[Brandi clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY CRAP!!! This book is absolutely unputdownable!! I started it last night, literally fell asleep reading and have read it every second of free time I have had today!! The twists and turns are so shocking! I can’t express how much I love this book and did not want it to end! If you like mystery, suspense, murder, and a small down twist this book is for you!!! I sure hope there are more books to come!

[Amanda Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When I first came to Northbury, it seemed like a sweet little sleepy town. Now, I’m afraid, it seems to be anything but that.”

My only critique is there wasn't enough of brooks lol seriously though this was an amazing book that sucked me in from the very first page. I look forward to reading more from this author

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Just wow.
This is the second novel from Roxie and I loved every second of it. Thankyou for blessing me with the opportunity to ARC Read for you prior to release!

This first in a series novel follows Jude, an avid true crime cold case junkie, who is invited to a small town to investigate a current missing persons case that the police force are ignoring.

What follows is a 'look here, but wait! Over here' story with so many twists and turns and small town secrets that had me staying up until all hours to devour.

This gives ALL the crime/thriller vibes with some slight romance thrown in that I am here for. The character development of our FMC is top notch, and the mixed media approach with elements of text, email, and LIVE interactions are fantastic to break up the monotony of a traditionally written book.

Im thrilled to be able to witness Roxie cement her place as an author and explore this space further and cannot WAIT for book 2 in the adventures of Jude!

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roxie has a captivating gift of story telling. From the first page to the last I couldn’t put this book down.

Jude, recently divorced, spends her time hosting live podcasts covering crimes. During one of her live sessions she gets wind of a missing person case that the local authorities are doing nothing about. Jude is asked for her help by one of her viewers to give the case live coverage to help find a man named Matt.

Unable to refuse, Jude leave her home in Florida to travel to Vermont to aide in search efforts.

As Jude becomes more and more involved in the mystery of Matt’s disappearance she quickly learns this small town has more secrets and ties to this case than she could have ever anticipated.

This Tangled Web had such a unique storyline. There wasn’t any place in the book that I lost interest. The twists and turns will keep you wondering just how deep deception can go.

[Miia Salomäki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Tangled Web is the first book in a new series featuring a podcaster turned into an investigator. Jude Amaranthe who hosts a popular true crime podcast gets contacted by one of her followers about a missing person the police refuse to look into. Recently divorced and having quit her corporate job, she travels to Vermont to investigate the disappearance of Matt Henley.
This book is a perfect mixture of Murder She Wrote, a grown up version of Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and a bit of romance. Roxie Cohen writes very well. The book kept me in its grip from start to finish, and I devoured it in two days. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone who loves good mystery and amateur invest8gators.

[Rebekah Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a definite must-read for any mystery loving crime solvers.

Tropes:
- First in the series
- Small town mystery
- Who-dun-it
- Red herring / misdirection
- Love triangle
- Surprise Ally

Jude Amarante covers crime on her podcast, she doesn’t investigate it. Until a family begs for her help amid small-town politics that are getting in the way of searching for a missing man.

Jude fears she may have gotten in over her head but as she follows the last-known trail of the missing man, she discovers the towns history of secrets and cover-ups.

In a small town where every one knows everyone, suspects are around every corner.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Tangled Web was provided to me as an ARC by Roxie Cohen. Jude Amarante is a sharp, quick witted, and relatable True Crime Podcaster. In this first outing, Jude is contacted to investigate her first, in the flesh, active missing persons case. What follows is a fast paced few days with twists, turns, revelations, and discoveries. The local authorities don’t think there is anything amiss, locals are cold toward the outsider, and the missing person doesn’t seem to be the most standup guy. Jude manages to win people over and insert herself into the fray to learn the gritty details of small town Vermont.

I am absolutely thrilled to see where this series takes Jude next! Great work, Roxie!

[Sarah Havener · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a different type of mystery than I'm used to reading, as it was character driven instead of plot driven. For that reason, it took a little getting used to it. However, the premise was really interesting and relatable, especially since the main character was my age (mid 30s), which I feel I don't see often enough. The plot was very current, as she's a podcaster and does live streams. And as the title suggests, it really is a tangled web, because while reading I kinda wished I had a murder board to keep track of the connections. The ending was really good and very sneaky! This is the first in a series of interconnected stand-alones, and I certainly plan on reading the next!

[Joaquin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read!!

It was an easy to follow murder mystery story with a lot of characters yet didn’t make it super complicated to remember everyone.

Following a crime podcasted taking on her first disappearing persons case made it feel like as a reader you too were on your first mission to uncover who did it.

I felt like a little detective and I absolutely loved it.

[Yadira · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

this is the first book i read in 2024 and was really looking forward to reading it. i will say that although i enjoyed the book, it did take me some time to really get into it. with that said i would still encourage people to read it!

[Brandy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jude is a character I could read about everyday! She has a true crime podcast and is asked for help by a family of a currently missing man. She steps out of her comfort zone and there are so many twists of what happens next. I love not figuring out the ending ahead of time and Roxie always comes through with an awesome twist. I can’t wait to see what happens next for Jude!

[Mollie Hardman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roxie Cohen has done it again! Her story captivates and enthralls as the mystery unfolds. Whether you figure out who done it or are surprised at the end, this story pulls you in so that you feel like you're apart of it. I cannot wait for the rest of this series!

[Samantha Amstutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Tangled Web dives into a small town disappearance where local authories aren’t taking the missing person seriously. Jude, a podcaster that covers crime cases, is approached by locals during a LIVE to help investigate with the hopes of generating awareness with her online presence to give the case the attention it deserves.

Jude is thrown head first into a whirlwind of town drama and must pick apart all of the connections everyone has in a small community.

Roxie’s storytelling is compelling and she feeds the readers enough bread crumbs that’ll have you turning the pages as you’re trying to figure out alongside with Jude what really happened.

[Charlotte R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jude is just a podcaster who does LIVE streaming about old crimes/murders, when a viewer contacts her about a friend who is missing, but the local authorities want nothing to do with the case.

Jude travels to this small town and begins digging into "This Tangled Web" of people, of which many of them aren't forthcoming about details that are needed in finding Matthew Hensley.

The twists and turns will keep you guessing until the end, and even then, you may be surprised at what happened to Matthew.

Thanks for the great read and I can't wait to read more of them.

[Cheryl Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely wonderful I have been sitting on the edge of my seat this entire time trying to figure out who did what why and how but I absolutely loved it I can't wait to read more by this amazing author 🥰🥰😀

[Cassie Acosta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Author I discovered thanks to TikTok and another to add to my Auto-buy list..

A true crime podcaster finds herself in the middle of a case full of twists and turns after a listener reaches out for her help to find an old friend.

When Jude arrives however, she discovers that there is more than meets the eye in this small town and every single person has something to hide or someone to protect.

This book was hard to put down and I was finished in 3 sittings!!! I loved every minute of it!!

Highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of the crime/mystery genres.

[Kylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The basics:
Jude Amarante hosts a wildly successful cold case true crime podcast. However, after an episode, a family reaches out begging for help. Their brother has gone missing and the local police are of no help. Jude agrees to investigate the case and quickly finds herself in a web of small town deceit.

This novel is part of a larger series, but can be read as a standalone.

My thoughts:
I read this novel in one sitting. It was an engaging and quick page turner. I genuinely loved Jude— she’s in her mid-thirties (something that’s rarely seen in thrillers), genuine, and very quirky. There were bits of romance throughout the story, but it wasn’t overpowering towards the larger thriller plot. I think, most of all, I really loved that the victim was just a truly bad person. It brought up a lot of interesting questions regarding morality, and I loved walking away from the book to think through it on my own.

I cannot wait for the second book in this series to come out— I highly recommend reading this novel!

[Morgan Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a WILD ride, in the best way. It is the perfect take on a true crime podcaster getting her hands dirty in the real world!

Jude is a true crime podcast host, with the social media following to match. When she receives a message during her live show about a missing man in a small town in Vermont she can’t help but bite. It doesn’t take long before Jude realizes everyone in this small town has something to hide and a string of unfortunate deaths may be much more than that.

When I tell you I could not put this book down…every SECOND of my free time was devoted to figuring out who the hell did it. This is the perfect mystery - everyone is suspicious, everyone has motive, everyone has opportunity. The best part about this is you as the reader feel like you’re on this journey with Jude, you’re finding things out with her and learning how to investigate together. If at any point you’re thinking “omg she has to ask xyz” just you wait and she probably does!! Every time I thought of a new angle or new question Jude was asking it within pages. Just wow. I can’t wait for more of these books in the future!

Thank you so much to the author for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review ✨

[Evelyn Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: This Tangled Web by Roxie Cohen
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This Tangled Web is a twisty, emotionally charged mystery that kept me flipping pages late into the night. Roxie Cohen introduces us to Jude Amarante, a crime podcaster who’s comfortable behind the mic, but not so much in the middle of a real investigation. That all changes when the desperate family of a missing man reaches out, and Jude finds herself pulled into a case that hits closer to home than she ever expected.

What I loved most about this book is how grounded and relatable Jude feels. She’s not a detective, and Cohen doesn’t pretend she is. She makes mistakes, second-guesses herself, and questions her ability to handle the emotional weight of what she’s getting into. But that’s what makes her so compelling. As her heart gets involved and the mystery deepens, you can feel her struggle, both with the case and her vulnerability.

The story unfolds in a small town where almost everyone seems to be hiding something, and Cohen does a great job creating a sense of unease. The question that drives the plot, “Can you ever really know someone?” echoes through every interaction, every clue, every revelation. The pacing is tight, with just the right balance of suspense, character development, and romantic tension.

Speaking of romance, the subplot is just enough to add emotional stakes without distracting from the mystery. It felt organic and added depth to Jude’s arc rather than just being tacked on.

If you enjoy mysteries with a strong, flawed, but determined female lead, this Tangled Web is a perfect start to what promises to be an addictive series. I can’t wait to follow Jude into her next case.

[Chelle Cypress · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced, fun mystery read.

Mystery novels are my go to when I’m in need of fantasy palate cleanse and this one didn’t disappoint. I really enjoyed the authors writing style which kept me wholly immersed in the story. There were so many twist and turns that when I thought I’d figured out the who done it, new information was unveiled completely making me reevaluate the evidence.

If you’re looking for a quick read, that will keep you entertained and engaged then this is the book for you.

Looking forward to seeing what happens to Jude in book 2

[Amber Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is ADDICTIVE. If I didn't get a migraine, I would have read it all in one day. Roxie created the perfect web and made us question every motive until the end. When I finished the book, I missed the world and story. I kept thinking to myself, "What was I watching again? I need to continue it." And it was THIS BOOK! It was a movie in my head, and I need more!

This is your genre, Roxie! Keep it up!

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that this book had a podcast element to it! It made it so fun to follow and easy to keep up with! It also was the first podcast mystery I’ve read since a Good Girl’s Guide to Murder so I loved that!

I really liked Jude in this story and I loved that the author had me questioning EVERYONE in this story.

I love how short and quick it was and I would definitely recommend this!

[Ron Weasley · Rating 5 out of 5]

what an amazing mystery!

The first half of the book I was suspecting everyone and hanging on to every detail. The second half of the book I was accusing every one of murder and wrong every time!

This is a thrilling small town missing person mystery with too much gossip to uncover the truth easily.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way Roxie writes. It's extremely real and believeable. The podcast angle is super cool and really brings you into the story. Can't wait for the next one!

[Katee Stromberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a couple editing mistakes that were kind of annoying sometimes but the main story is very enthralling. I enjoyed the mystery a lot. I do feel like the ending felt a little rushed though.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were some times I felt Jude rushed in to things before getting all the information, or not asking a question, but overall it was a good read.

[Kelly Dl-dc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. I'm looking forward to starting the next one.