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The Night of the Crash
IT CAN ALL CHANGE IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.
Steppy Corner, voice of hit true crime podcast series All the Dark Corners, wakes in hospital with no memory of what brought her to Heartsick - the small Colorado town where her estranged family live - no memory of why she was racing up the mountainside to her parents' house late at night... or why she didn't make that bend.
All she knows is her mother has been brutally murdered and her brother is the prime suspect.
As Steppy begins to piece together events in the run-up to the accident, she discovers her brother's connection to another ongoing case, that of a missing girl last seen with him on Halloween.
Steppy knows better than anyone that the truth often hides in the darkest of corners, but as she races to untangle the web of secrets and lies, will it ultimately prove too close to home?
A twisting, claustrophobic and masterfully plotted thriller, with a breath-taking conclusion. Perfect for fans of Gillian McAllister, Claire Douglas and Lisa Jewell.
Steppy Corner, voice of hit true crime podcast series All the Dark Corners, wakes in hospital with no memory of what brought her to Heartsick - the small Colorado town where her estranged family live - no memory of why she was racing up the mountainside to her parents' house late at night... or why she didn't make that bend.
All she knows is her mother has been brutally murdered and her brother is the prime suspect.
As Steppy begins to piece together events in the run-up to the accident, she discovers her brother's connection to another ongoing case, that of a missing girl last seen with him on Halloween.
Steppy knows better than anyone that the truth often hides in the darkest of corners, but as she races to untangle the web of secrets and lies, will it ultimately prove too close to home?
A twisting, claustrophobic and masterfully plotted thriller, with a breath-taking conclusion. Perfect for fans of Gillian McAllister, Claire Douglas and Lisa Jewell.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2024
3610 people are currently reading
2255 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Irena Smith
2 books35 followersJessica has a BA in Glass & Ceramics and an MA in Glass, both from the University of Sunderland, based at the National Glass Centre. She’s a glass artist by trade, and has been selling online and through galleries since 2009, when she also began writing. Jessica’s writing is inspired by many things, but she loves podcasts, especially true crime, which she listens to while cutting glass and loading kilns.
Newcastle upon Tyne born and bred, Jessica now lives in County Durham, North East England, with her cat and epileptic rescue chihuahua. The Summer She Vanished is her debut novel.
Newcastle upon Tyne born and bred, Jessica now lives in County Durham, North East England, with her cat and epileptic rescue chihuahua. The Summer She Vanished is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 262 reviews
September 1, 2025
DNF at page 104 :,-(
I really wanted to enjoy this book. I really did, especially after seeing the glowing goodreads reviews (seriously, an average of over four stars?!)
Unfortunately, this book failed to captivate me.
PROBLEMS:
The constant switching from past to present events was jarring. Since the switch was every single chapter, it was hard to get used to what point in time you were in. The chapters being quite short only amplified this problem.
Similarly, our main character has amnesia, leading to a lot of repetition between past and present chapters. This makes sense story-wise, but was extremely boring.
Not to mention the complete lack of stakes?
My main problem, however, was (im going to be honest here) the writing style as a whole. Full stops felt nonexistent. Each sentence had to be complex, include at-least one type of parentheses, and oh! no word could end in ‘ly’.
EXTRACT AHEAD CONTAINS NO SPOILERS! FEEL FREE TO READ!
I think this sentence demonstrates my point.
“When we break the journey at a road-side diner, we both order food, though neither of us eats, and as we nurse our coffees, staring out the window at the highway, Dad clears his throat, slides something across the table to me.”
Using the occasional sentence like this would be great for showing panic or building suspense, but almost every single sentence was like this. Some were so convoluted that I had to read them twice. ALSO, this sentence describes Steppy sitting in a diner. No suspense there.
I can tell that this sentence is meant to increase the pace of the story. Many reviews call the story fast-paced, but for me, the overuse of long sentences caused the effect to wear off.
LAST THING:
I highlighted the word ‘slides’ because I felt like it didn’t quite make sense in the context of that sentence? I think ‘sliding’ would make it easier to read. Or the word ‘and’ before slides.
maybe like this:
‘Dad clears his throat, and slides something across the table to me’
‘Dad clears his throat, sliding something across the table to me’
thank you for reading! Sorry if this review sounded a bit harsh but I didn’t see any properly explained 1 star reviews. I wanted to write this to help others figure out if this book isn’t (or is) for them.
Thanks!
I really wanted to enjoy this book. I really did, especially after seeing the glowing goodreads reviews (seriously, an average of over four stars?!)
Unfortunately, this book failed to captivate me.
PROBLEMS:
The constant switching from past to present events was jarring. Since the switch was every single chapter, it was hard to get used to what point in time you were in. The chapters being quite short only amplified this problem.
Similarly, our main character has amnesia, leading to a lot of repetition between past and present chapters. This makes sense story-wise, but was extremely boring.
Not to mention the complete lack of stakes?
My main problem, however, was (im going to be honest here) the writing style as a whole. Full stops felt nonexistent. Each sentence had to be complex, include at-least one type of parentheses, and oh! no word could end in ‘ly’.
EXTRACT AHEAD CONTAINS NO SPOILERS! FEEL FREE TO READ!
I think this sentence demonstrates my point.
“When we break the journey at a road-side diner, we both order food, though neither of us eats, and as we nurse our coffees, staring out the window at the highway, Dad clears his throat, slides something across the table to me.”
Using the occasional sentence like this would be great for showing panic or building suspense, but almost every single sentence was like this. Some were so convoluted that I had to read them twice. ALSO, this sentence describes Steppy sitting in a diner. No suspense there.
I can tell that this sentence is meant to increase the pace of the story. Many reviews call the story fast-paced, but for me, the overuse of long sentences caused the effect to wear off.
LAST THING:
I highlighted the word ‘slides’ because I felt like it didn’t quite make sense in the context of that sentence? I think ‘sliding’ would make it easier to read. Or the word ‘and’ before slides.
maybe like this:
‘Dad clears his throat, and slides something across the table to me’
‘Dad clears his throat, sliding something across the table to me’
thank you for reading! Sorry if this review sounded a bit harsh but I didn’t see any properly explained 1 star reviews. I wanted to write this to help others figure out if this book isn’t (or is) for them.
Thanks!
September 27, 2024
Dang! I loved this one. Super fast paced & suspense that did not stop! I was super surprised and impressed by how off/wrong I was when it came to the twists in this fun read.
I read a lot of suspense/mystery/thriller books and this is one that I will be excited to read again in the future and recommend to others!
If you want to be absolutely addicted to a story and have to know what happens- absolutely read this book!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the fun read in exchange for my honest review.
I read a lot of suspense/mystery/thriller books and this is one that I will be excited to read again in the future and recommend to others!
If you want to be absolutely addicted to a story and have to know what happens- absolutely read this book!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the fun read in exchange for my honest review.
October 25, 2024
Steppy Corner has a successful true crime podcast and helped to solve a decades old cold case. So when she hears of a missing girl in her hometown of Heartsick she makes the journey home to see what the story is, but it becomes far more complicated than she could ever have expected.
I loved this so much and tore through it in 2 days, Steppy is a brilliant protagonist and her relationship with her slightly dysfunctional family had me hooked from the beginning.
I loved the way the story jumped from the past to the present and how pieces of the puzzle slotted in really slowly. The ending had me shocked, genuinely didn’t see it coming.
Highly recommended if you like an edge of your seat read that keeps you guessing
I loved this so much and tore through it in 2 days, Steppy is a brilliant protagonist and her relationship with her slightly dysfunctional family had me hooked from the beginning.
I loved the way the story jumped from the past to the present and how pieces of the puzzle slotted in really slowly. The ending had me shocked, genuinely didn’t see it coming.
Highly recommended if you like an edge of your seat read that keeps you guessing
April 29, 2025
3.75*
An enjoyable, easy thriller to read.
Slightly predictable. Really enjoyed the switching from before and after the accident.
An enjoyable, easy thriller to read.
Slightly predictable. Really enjoyed the switching from before and after the accident.
July 26, 2025
A great who done it.
June 20, 2025
I’m not sure why I often dislike books so many others love. This is slow, plodding, monotonous, and a bit boring. I wasn’t blown away by the ending - but only because I didn’t really care. I just wanted to be done.
December 13, 2024
Solid audiobook! Enjoyed the narration too much it didn’t give my mind time to wander and the end actually took me by surprise !
August 14, 2025
A good, solid whodunnit murder mystery. An enjoyable beach read, although I didn’t read it on a beach. I read it in Birmingham. We don’t have beaches.
April 28, 2025
Found this book very easy to read and finished it in 2 days! I liked how the story flipped between then and now and seeing the same thing from 2 different perspectives. Was surprised at how things unfolded and hadn’t seen the final twist coming! Overall an enjoyable read.
October 18, 2025
3.75 ⭐️ Really enjoyed but do feel like it was drawn out unnecessarily
April 18, 2025
Thought I’d struggle with the back and forth timeline but actually easy to keep up with. The short chapters were filled with suspense so found myself getting through it quick. Some predictability, but that’s difficult to avoid in a thriller and the ending still had a twist for me.
April 16, 2025
This was a very enjoyable read, full of suspense, and ended with a very unexpected twist.
3.5*
3.5*
May 28, 2025
I tried really hard to become interested in this book. I just couldn’t do it. I skipped multiple chapters just to move along. Don’t think I missed anything by skipping. Read the last two chapters and it was not surprising.
July 30, 2025
Not an easy to read book.
Written in a very choppy manner. Could be intentional but not my type. I like something more cohesive easier to follow.
Written in a very choppy manner. Could be intentional but not my type. I like something more cohesive easier to follow.
October 21, 2024
Steppy Corner is the woman behind the hit podcast ‘Dark Corners’ and she successfully managed to solve a cold case resulting in the murderer being put behind bars. She is actively looking for something for season two when a story seemingly lands at her feet in her hometown, the disappearance of Casey Carter.
Told on now and then timelines, which are before and after the car crash that leaves Steppy with no memories of everything she researched before she was hospitalised following the crash. She also discovers her mother was murdered the night of her crash and the main suspect in Caseys disappearance and her mother’s murder is her own brother Garrett, which leaves Steppy in a strange predicament.
This was a good read, although I found it difficult to follow at times with the jumping back and forth, and I think our main character would have benefited from some character development especially in her relationships with those around her.
Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for my eARC.
Told on now and then timelines, which are before and after the car crash that leaves Steppy with no memories of everything she researched before she was hospitalised following the crash. She also discovers her mother was murdered the night of her crash and the main suspect in Caseys disappearance and her mother’s murder is her own brother Garrett, which leaves Steppy in a strange predicament.
This was a good read, although I found it difficult to follow at times with the jumping back and forth, and I think our main character would have benefited from some character development especially in her relationships with those around her.
Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for my eARC.
February 18, 2025
Steppy is the host of a hit true crime podcast “Dark Corners,” who wakes up in the hospital after a car accident to find herself at the epicenter of an investigation as she is told her mother was murdered the same night as her car accident. She has no recollection of the crash or weeks leading up to her mother’s murder. Her brother is the main suspect and is also suspected in the disappearance of a local woman.
This book had interesting moments, but the alternating then/now chapters were hard to follow at times. I had difficulty keeping track of when events occurred, and also her finding out the same information in both the then and now chapters, due to her amnesia, got repetitive. Overall, I enjoyed it—I always appreciate a mystery/thriller with a podcast element. Thank you to NetGalley and Headline books for the ARC!
This book had interesting moments, but the alternating then/now chapters were hard to follow at times. I had difficulty keeping track of when events occurred, and also her finding out the same information in both the then and now chapters, due to her amnesia, got repetitive. Overall, I enjoyed it—I always appreciate a mystery/thriller with a podcast element. Thank you to NetGalley and Headline books for the ARC!
September 26, 2024
The Night of the Crash is a fast paced thriller that keeps readers guessing with each chapter.
This book follows Steppy, a true crime podcaster, who wakes up in a hospital with no recollection of a car accident and days prior. All she knows is her mother was murdered and her brother is the prime suspect. But why was she in this town to begin with?
This novel kept me on my toes for the entire ride. Every time I thought I had solved a murder, new evidence was presented and I was back to the drawing board. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy suspenseful thrillers and mysteries.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows Steppy, a true crime podcaster, who wakes up in a hospital with no recollection of a car accident and days prior. All she knows is her mother was murdered and her brother is the prime suspect. But why was she in this town to begin with?
This novel kept me on my toes for the entire ride. Every time I thought I had solved a murder, new evidence was presented and I was back to the drawing board. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy suspenseful thrillers and mysteries.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 30, 2026
I enjoyed the book. I didn’t enjoy the jumping around from now to then but I soon got used to it. I did query why the police just took the cell phone evidence as proof of alibi when anyone can just leave a phone somewhere to create an alibi in that case. The necklace thing was a bit drawn out. This is the first book I’ve read where the killer is actually the sibling so that was interesting. The plot twist at the end was good too. I did kind of guess it would turn out to be Steppy who killed her mother but it took a while for me to work that out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2025
great mystery
This author keeps you spellbound with the characters and the plot of this book. Deaths surrounding young women hang on the brother of the family, but a surprise revelation at the end will have you scratching your head!
This author keeps you spellbound with the characters and the plot of this book. Deaths surrounding young women hang on the brother of the family, but a surprise revelation at the end will have you scratching your head!
March 8, 2025
Very good! But it's a book that goes back and forth in time so if that makes you a little crazy, beware.
October 16, 2025
This was good and quick! Sometimes the Then and Now chapters did seem to blend together but this was a good thriller read!
August 7, 2025
3.75! I read this bc it was free on Kindle but ended up liking it bc it’s a mystery from the beginning. Has a kinda crazy twist at the end
October 16, 2025
Read this on my kindle in less than two weeks. Some red herrings were convincing and some not so much. Overall, the story worked even with the Dark Corners twist at the end. I just found a few things difficult to believe and the fact that there were UK English terms, spellings (S instead of a Z) and single quotes for speech, while the story was set in Colorado and NY was kind of annoying, too.
December 28, 2025
Muy entretenido, creo q el plot twist es un poco evidente pero incluso asi me ha gustado, bastante realista todo que se agradece leer un thriller con una historia real. Me ha gustado!!
November 5, 2024
The Night of the Crash by Jessica Irena Smith
It can all change in the blink of an eye. That phrase perfectly encapsulates the suspenseful ride The Night of the Crash takes its readers on. When Steppy Corner, the voice behind the true crime podcast All the Dark Corners, wakes up in a hospital, she has no memory of what led her to Heartsick, the small Colorado town where her estranged family resides. Even more haunting is her mother’s brutal murder and her brother Garrett's role as the prime suspect. As Steppy pieces together her fractured memories, she discovers her brother's connection to a missing girl last seen with him on Halloween. Racing to solve the puzzle, Steppy soon learns that the truth might be closer than she could ever have imagined.
While the podcast angle feels like a current trope in thrillers, it serves Steppy’s role as a civilian investigator well. The dual timeline, reflecting Steppy’s memories before and after the accident, adds depth and complexity. The layers of suspense build as Steppy tries to retrace her steps, revealing tense family dynamics and unsettling connections between her brother and the missing girl’s case. Each chapter uncovers new clues, and just when you think you've cracked the case, Smith skillfully throws in unexpected twists that kept me second-guessing all the way to the end.
However, the novel's character development left me wanting more, particularly in Steppy’s relationships. Her lack of emotional reaction to her best friend’s betrayal and her oddly passive response felt frustrating and inconsistent with the stakes of the story. I also found myself distracted by the name "Steppy," wondering if it was meant to be "Sephy." And while I appreciated the intriguing plot, I wished Smith had expanded on the potential of Steppy’s relationships, especially with her ex-boyfriend and best friend.
This book is a gripping read for those who enjoy suspenseful mysteries with unexpected twists. Although the plot delivers on tension and intrigue, a little more depth in character emotions would have truly rounded out the story.
Thank you to the publisher (Headline), NetGalley, and the author for this ARC.
It can all change in the blink of an eye. That phrase perfectly encapsulates the suspenseful ride The Night of the Crash takes its readers on. When Steppy Corner, the voice behind the true crime podcast All the Dark Corners, wakes up in a hospital, she has no memory of what led her to Heartsick, the small Colorado town where her estranged family resides. Even more haunting is her mother’s brutal murder and her brother Garrett's role as the prime suspect. As Steppy pieces together her fractured memories, she discovers her brother's connection to a missing girl last seen with him on Halloween. Racing to solve the puzzle, Steppy soon learns that the truth might be closer than she could ever have imagined.
While the podcast angle feels like a current trope in thrillers, it serves Steppy’s role as a civilian investigator well. The dual timeline, reflecting Steppy’s memories before and after the accident, adds depth and complexity. The layers of suspense build as Steppy tries to retrace her steps, revealing tense family dynamics and unsettling connections between her brother and the missing girl’s case. Each chapter uncovers new clues, and just when you think you've cracked the case, Smith skillfully throws in unexpected twists that kept me second-guessing all the way to the end.
However, the novel's character development left me wanting more, particularly in Steppy’s relationships. Her lack of emotional reaction to her best friend’s betrayal and her oddly passive response felt frustrating and inconsistent with the stakes of the story. I also found myself distracted by the name "Steppy," wondering if it was meant to be "Sephy." And while I appreciated the intriguing plot, I wished Smith had expanded on the potential of Steppy’s relationships, especially with her ex-boyfriend and best friend.
This book is a gripping read for those who enjoy suspenseful mysteries with unexpected twists. Although the plot delivers on tension and intrigue, a little more depth in character emotions would have truly rounded out the story.
Thank you to the publisher (Headline), NetGalley, and the author for this ARC.
October 6, 2024
2.5-3⭐
When Stephanie, a true crime podcaster, is reeled into investigating a story in her small town, she doesn't expect the dark secrets she'll find. She begins investigating the disappearance of a young girl, one in which her brother is a prime suspect. However, as she is investigating she is in a car accident. One that causes her to lose her memories of her last few days in town. She wakes up to discover another horrific crime has taken place, with her brother yet again as a lead suspect. Stephanie begins to try to piece together what happened between the two cases, all the while discovering everyone has a dark side.
I am unsure how I feel about this book. It felt very confusing at times because you had a "now and then" storyline basing before and after her accident. I felt like I was reading some things over and over again to where I was confused as to what story point we were in. The story, in my opinion, was dragging for a while and didn't necessarily pick up until the last 20% of the book. There was a surprising twist, but that was explained in the very last chapter of the book which made it kind of underwhelming. I wouldn't say this was a fantastic book, but I wouldn't say it was horrible. It just was over all underwhelming for me.
When Stephanie, a true crime podcaster, is reeled into investigating a story in her small town, she doesn't expect the dark secrets she'll find. She begins investigating the disappearance of a young girl, one in which her brother is a prime suspect. However, as she is investigating she is in a car accident. One that causes her to lose her memories of her last few days in town. She wakes up to discover another horrific crime has taken place, with her brother yet again as a lead suspect. Stephanie begins to try to piece together what happened between the two cases, all the while discovering everyone has a dark side.
I am unsure how I feel about this book. It felt very confusing at times because you had a "now and then" storyline basing before and after her accident. I felt like I was reading some things over and over again to where I was confused as to what story point we were in. The story, in my opinion, was dragging for a while and didn't necessarily pick up until the last 20% of the book. There was a surprising twist, but that was explained in the very last chapter of the book which made it kind of underwhelming. I wouldn't say this was a fantastic book, but I wouldn't say it was horrible. It just was over all underwhelming for me.
October 3, 2025
Odd and quite unbelievable story. The dialogue between people doesn’t seem relatable or real. Even with the overuse of ‘cos throughout the book. An internet sleuth piecing together pretty basic info the police missed? Families all willingly talking to a random internet detective and letting her grill them? It wasn’t realistic. The ending wasn’t a surprise and the “twist” was pretty easy to figure out towards the middle of the book. Pretty meh.
June 23, 2025
Could not finish this book. Stopped about half way thru. One of the worst story lines I have ever encountered. Pure nonsense and maddeningly repetitious. Jumping between the and now was very unsettling. Do not recommend this book whatsoever.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 262 reviews