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Rachel Krall #2
Dark Corners: A Novel
Rachel Krall, the true crime podcaster star of Megan Goldin’s acclaimed Night Swim returns to search for a popular social media influencer who disappeared after visiting a suspected serial killer.
Terence Bailey is about to be released from prison for breaking and entering, though investigators have long suspected him in the murders of six women. As his freedom approaches, Bailey gets a surprise visit from Maddison Logan, a hot, young influencer with a huge social media following. Hours later, Maddison disappears, and police suspect she’s been kidnapped—or worse. Is Maddison’s disappearance connected to her visit to Bailey? Why was she visiting him in the first place?
When they hit a wall in the investigation, the FBI reluctantly asks for Rachel’s help in finding the missing influencer. Maddison seems only to exist on social media; she has no family, no friends, and other than in her posts, most people have never seen her. Who is she, really? Using a fake Instagram account, Rachel Krall goes undercover to BuzzCon, a popular influencer conference, where she discovers a world of fierce rivalry that may have turned lethal.
When police find the body of a woman with a tattoo of a snake eating its tail, the FBI must consider a chilling possibility: Bailey has an accomplice on the outside and a dangerous obsession with influencers, including Rachel Krell herself. Suddenly a target of a monster hiding in plain sight, Rachel is forced to confront the very real dangers that lurk in the dark corners of the internet.
Terence Bailey is about to be released from prison for breaking and entering, though investigators have long suspected him in the murders of six women. As his freedom approaches, Bailey gets a surprise visit from Maddison Logan, a hot, young influencer with a huge social media following. Hours later, Maddison disappears, and police suspect she’s been kidnapped—or worse. Is Maddison’s disappearance connected to her visit to Bailey? Why was she visiting him in the first place?
When they hit a wall in the investigation, the FBI reluctantly asks for Rachel’s help in finding the missing influencer. Maddison seems only to exist on social media; she has no family, no friends, and other than in her posts, most people have never seen her. Who is she, really? Using a fake Instagram account, Rachel Krall goes undercover to BuzzCon, a popular influencer conference, where she discovers a world of fierce rivalry that may have turned lethal.
When police find the body of a woman with a tattoo of a snake eating its tail, the FBI must consider a chilling possibility: Bailey has an accomplice on the outside and a dangerous obsession with influencers, including Rachel Krell herself. Suddenly a target of a monster hiding in plain sight, Rachel is forced to confront the very real dangers that lurk in the dark corners of the internet.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 8, 2023
559 people are currently reading
35067 people want to read
About the author
Megan Goldin
5 books4,879 followersMEGAN GOLDIN worked as a correspondent for Reuters and other media outlets where she covered war, peace, international terrorism and financial meltdowns in the Middle East and Asia. She is now based in Melbourne, Australia where she raises three sons and is a foster mum to Labrador puppies learning to be guide dogs. She is the author of The Escape Room, The Night Swim, and Stay Awake.
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August 8, 2023
Dark Corners by Megan Goldin
When did Rachel get so defensively rude? She seems to have woken up on the wrong side of the bed in Dark Corners. Maddison Logan, a very popular social media influencer has gone missing and the FBI has run out of leads. That's when they fly Rachel in to speak to a suspected serial killer, prisoner Terence Bailey, who was visited by Maddison right before she disappeared.
Rachel seems to knock heads with everyone for much of the book and she and FBI agent Joe Martinez can't seem to agree on anything. In fact, just about anything Joe suggests will set her off. Nobody tells Rachel what to do or not do. With Terence getting out of prison in two days, while making obvious threats on Rachel's life, Joe wants her gone almost as soon as she arrives. But no, Rachel's not going home, instead she is all over this case.
Rachel easily infiltrates BuzzCon, a popular influencer conference, despite the attendees being the most elite of the social media elite snobs. Not only does being a social media influencer appear to be a sure way to an ulcer and/or a nervous breakdown, it seems dangerous in other ways, too. It doesn't take long until Rachel and Joe are following leads separately and together.
A lot of people do a lot of unwise things and Rachel certainly does her share of risky behavior. She claims that she's safe from the big bad serial killer because he's locked up, seeming to ignore the fact that he won't be locked up anymore in a couple of days. For a woman who knows just how dangerous life is for women, Rachel seems impervious to the fact that anything could happen to her. Situational awareness isn't in her tool kit much of the time.
I don't remember Rachel being unlikeable in Night Swim although she does warm in more ways than one towards the end of the book. There is a lot going on here and it can be hard to sort out all the victims of deadly happenings because there are so many of them over a long time span. I'm hoping the next time we see Rachel she'll be in a better mood. Actually, I'm pretty sure she'll be in a better mood...wink wink.
I enjoyed this story with Jayme and DeAnn and we had some great discussions. There is a lot to talk about and mull over. Lots of guessing, getting things correct and incorrect. And I had the strange experience of listening to an audiobook that included a woman named Maddison, a serial killer, and a basement dungeon during the same time period that I was reading this book, which contained those same things. How did that happen? 😳
Pub: Aug 8, 2023
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
When did Rachel get so defensively rude? She seems to have woken up on the wrong side of the bed in Dark Corners. Maddison Logan, a very popular social media influencer has gone missing and the FBI has run out of leads. That's when they fly Rachel in to speak to a suspected serial killer, prisoner Terence Bailey, who was visited by Maddison right before she disappeared.
Rachel seems to knock heads with everyone for much of the book and she and FBI agent Joe Martinez can't seem to agree on anything. In fact, just about anything Joe suggests will set her off. Nobody tells Rachel what to do or not do. With Terence getting out of prison in two days, while making obvious threats on Rachel's life, Joe wants her gone almost as soon as she arrives. But no, Rachel's not going home, instead she is all over this case.
Rachel easily infiltrates BuzzCon, a popular influencer conference, despite the attendees being the most elite of the social media elite snobs. Not only does being a social media influencer appear to be a sure way to an ulcer and/or a nervous breakdown, it seems dangerous in other ways, too. It doesn't take long until Rachel and Joe are following leads separately and together.
A lot of people do a lot of unwise things and Rachel certainly does her share of risky behavior. She claims that she's safe from the big bad serial killer because he's locked up, seeming to ignore the fact that he won't be locked up anymore in a couple of days. For a woman who knows just how dangerous life is for women, Rachel seems impervious to the fact that anything could happen to her. Situational awareness isn't in her tool kit much of the time.
I don't remember Rachel being unlikeable in Night Swim although she does warm in more ways than one towards the end of the book. There is a lot going on here and it can be hard to sort out all the victims of deadly happenings because there are so many of them over a long time span. I'm hoping the next time we see Rachel she'll be in a better mood. Actually, I'm pretty sure she'll be in a better mood...wink wink.
I enjoyed this story with Jayme and DeAnn and we had some great discussions. There is a lot to talk about and mull over. Lots of guessing, getting things correct and incorrect. And I had the strange experience of listening to an audiobook that included a woman named Maddison, a serial killer, and a basement dungeon during the same time period that I was reading this book, which contained those same things. How did that happen? 😳
Pub: Aug 8, 2023
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
February 1, 2024
Megan Goldin is hell of an intelligent, brilliant author! I devoured her previous novels and gave each of time my shiny, well deserved five stars!
Night Swim was my favorite book and when I realize she brought back Rachel Krall - Night Swim’s badass, smart, magnetic, ex athlete / journalist, true crime podcaster, I high fived myself and went blind to read Rachel’s new adventure that she finds herself in the middle of BuzzCon: a convention for influencers to solve a case about a missing influencer Maddison Logan who may be connected to serial killer Terence Bailey is about to be released from prison!
This book is another riveting, twisty, unputdownable psychological thriller!
Rachel is back, sharpening her investigation skills, finding extra information the FBI or police officers couldn’t get from the witnesses. Her genuine approach and empathy always help her to crack the cold cases and dig out crucial information to reveal the ugly truth!
When she’s summoned by FBI to talk with the prisoner Terence Bailey: presumed to kill sex workers, about to be released from prison in 48 hours because there’s not enough evidence to convict him, she reluctantly gets involved in the case. A famous Maddison Logan is missing and last time she’s seen during her visit to Terence in prison. During their recorded visit: FBI agents found it Terence told Maddison bring Rachel Krall to the prison.
Rachel doesn’t meet with Madison before and she has no idea why Terence Bailey is obsessed to talk to him. But when she realizes Madison left a voice message for her help before she’s gone missing, she realizes she cannot return back to home without helping the FBI to find her whereabouts which drags her to BuzzCon convention where Madison lately attended.
Rachel has no idea to get involved in influencers’ voyeuristic lifestyle may put her life in danger. Her firsthand experience may turn her into target of a nasty serial killer!
Overall: I’m giving my another 5 thrilling stars! I also enjoyed Rachel’s romance escapade with Agent Martinez. I hope we see him at the upcoming sequels.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this brilliant digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
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Night Swim was my favorite book and when I realize she brought back Rachel Krall - Night Swim’s badass, smart, magnetic, ex athlete / journalist, true crime podcaster, I high fived myself and went blind to read Rachel’s new adventure that she finds herself in the middle of BuzzCon: a convention for influencers to solve a case about a missing influencer Maddison Logan who may be connected to serial killer Terence Bailey is about to be released from prison!
This book is another riveting, twisty, unputdownable psychological thriller!
Rachel is back, sharpening her investigation skills, finding extra information the FBI or police officers couldn’t get from the witnesses. Her genuine approach and empathy always help her to crack the cold cases and dig out crucial information to reveal the ugly truth!
When she’s summoned by FBI to talk with the prisoner Terence Bailey: presumed to kill sex workers, about to be released from prison in 48 hours because there’s not enough evidence to convict him, she reluctantly gets involved in the case. A famous Maddison Logan is missing and last time she’s seen during her visit to Terence in prison. During their recorded visit: FBI agents found it Terence told Maddison bring Rachel Krall to the prison.
Rachel doesn’t meet with Madison before and she has no idea why Terence Bailey is obsessed to talk to him. But when she realizes Madison left a voice message for her help before she’s gone missing, she realizes she cannot return back to home without helping the FBI to find her whereabouts which drags her to BuzzCon convention where Madison lately attended.
Rachel has no idea to get involved in influencers’ voyeuristic lifestyle may put her life in danger. Her firsthand experience may turn her into target of a nasty serial killer!
Overall: I’m giving my another 5 thrilling stars! I also enjoyed Rachel’s romance escapade with Agent Martinez. I hope we see him at the upcoming sequels.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this brilliant digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
August 8, 2023
3 ⭐️ Recommended for SOME readers…
In my review for “The Night Swim” (Rachel Krall #1) a Goodreads Choice nominee for best mystery/thriller 2020, I mentioned that I was hoping that we had not seen the last of Rachel and her podcast-“Guilty or Not Guilty”.
Review for “The Night Swim”: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
So when I was approved to read a very early copy of this upcoming SUMMER release, I moved it straight to the top of my toppling TBR stack , hoping to start the year with a 5 star thriller.
But that was not to be.
The FBI has lured Rachel Krall to Florida with the promise of exclusive access to an ACTIVE FBI case.
Maddison Logan (@JustMaddie) a popular Influencer on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, visited an inmate named Terrance Bailey, a suspected serial killer who could only be convicted for petty theft, two days before his release.
And, then she DISAPPEARED.
Rachel’s name came up during their visit, and the FBI is hoping that Rachel will agree to meet with him to find out why-and maybe get a lead on Maddison.
Rachel will insert herself into the INFLUENCER world at a BUZZCON conference, where she will discover dangerous rivalries, hoping to learn more about Maddison.
She and FBI agent Joe Martinez will also discover connections to at least two unsolved cases, of girls who also went missing just as Terrance Bailey was incarcerated.
Could Terrance Bailey still have an accomplice on the outside?
“The Night Swim” was told from the alternating perspectives of two characters, Rachel and Hannah (the sister of a Victim) along with the transcripts of Rachel Krall’s Season Three podcast, as she follows a LIVE TRIAL for the first time, while making her PODCAST.
But, the style of this book was different, and I feel like that worked against it.
This story used just Rachel’s POV.
There are a few chapters which sum up Rachel’s findings as she investigates, which (currently) are only distinguished by a change in FONT style. I assume that they are her dictations for a future podcast, though they are not clearly identified as such, as she isn’t creating episode four of her PODCAST during this case.
Instead of being an outsider who is conducting interviews for a PODCAST, after the fact, she is much more of an insider this time, right smack in the thick of things.
I am not at all enamored by INFLUENCERS and that lifestyle and this book spends A LOT of time in their world.
READ THIS-if you want a mystery with an insider’s look at how the INFLUENCER lifestyle works.
SKIP IT-if you don’t, and you were hoping for EPISODE 4 of Rachel’s “Guilty or Not Guilty” podcast. You won’t get that here.
A buddy read with MarilynW and DeAnn. Be sure to watch for their amazing reviews!
AVAILABLE NOW
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
In my review for “The Night Swim” (Rachel Krall #1) a Goodreads Choice nominee for best mystery/thriller 2020, I mentioned that I was hoping that we had not seen the last of Rachel and her podcast-“Guilty or Not Guilty”.
Review for “The Night Swim”: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
So when I was approved to read a very early copy of this upcoming SUMMER release, I moved it straight to the top of my toppling TBR stack , hoping to start the year with a 5 star thriller.
But that was not to be.
The FBI has lured Rachel Krall to Florida with the promise of exclusive access to an ACTIVE FBI case.
Maddison Logan (@JustMaddie) a popular Influencer on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, visited an inmate named Terrance Bailey, a suspected serial killer who could only be convicted for petty theft, two days before his release.
And, then she DISAPPEARED.
Rachel’s name came up during their visit, and the FBI is hoping that Rachel will agree to meet with him to find out why-and maybe get a lead on Maddison.
Rachel will insert herself into the INFLUENCER world at a BUZZCON conference, where she will discover dangerous rivalries, hoping to learn more about Maddison.
She and FBI agent Joe Martinez will also discover connections to at least two unsolved cases, of girls who also went missing just as Terrance Bailey was incarcerated.
Could Terrance Bailey still have an accomplice on the outside?
“The Night Swim” was told from the alternating perspectives of two characters, Rachel and Hannah (the sister of a Victim) along with the transcripts of Rachel Krall’s Season Three podcast, as she follows a LIVE TRIAL for the first time, while making her PODCAST.
But, the style of this book was different, and I feel like that worked against it.
This story used just Rachel’s POV.
There are a few chapters which sum up Rachel’s findings as she investigates, which (currently) are only distinguished by a change in FONT style. I assume that they are her dictations for a future podcast, though they are not clearly identified as such, as she isn’t creating episode four of her PODCAST during this case.
Instead of being an outsider who is conducting interviews for a PODCAST, after the fact, she is much more of an insider this time, right smack in the thick of things.
I am not at all enamored by INFLUENCERS and that lifestyle and this book spends A LOT of time in their world.
READ THIS-if you want a mystery with an insider’s look at how the INFLUENCER lifestyle works.
SKIP IT-if you don’t, and you were hoping for EPISODE 4 of Rachel’s “Guilty or Not Guilty” podcast. You won’t get that here.
A buddy read with MarilynW and DeAnn. Be sure to watch for their amazing reviews!
AVAILABLE NOW
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
July 24, 2023
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
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I had the same trouble with this book as I did with the first one in the series. The FBI just wasn't realistic enough and gave too much information away too easily. There were too many plot holes and Rachel got herself into some really ridiculously dangerous situations. When a book is so far over the top that the reader is shaking their head and rolling their eyes you know something is wrong. Some of these characters pull the stupidest of stunts.
The format of the book didn't work for me either because in the last book we had podcast episodes and even a Netflix series thrown in. That elevated the first book for me and I missed that in this one, I also missed the courtroom action. I was really bored with the influencer angle, it did not appeal to me at all (even in real life). The Buzzcon convention was not something that interested me. I don't use TikTok or Instagram and I use Twitter only for bookish accounts.
There was also a lot going on in this one and it felt a little watered down. It also made me feel a disconnect from the story and the characters. I didn't like Rachel as much this time around either, partially because of her behaviour and partially because she just did such stupid things. All in all this book disappointed me and wasn't nearly as good or as interesting as the first one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
I had the same trouble with this book as I did with the first one in the series. The FBI just wasn't realistic enough and gave too much information away too easily. There were too many plot holes and Rachel got herself into some really ridiculously dangerous situations. When a book is so far over the top that the reader is shaking their head and rolling their eyes you know something is wrong. Some of these characters pull the stupidest of stunts.
The format of the book didn't work for me either because in the last book we had podcast episodes and even a Netflix series thrown in. That elevated the first book for me and I missed that in this one, I also missed the courtroom action. I was really bored with the influencer angle, it did not appeal to me at all (even in real life). The Buzzcon convention was not something that interested me. I don't use TikTok or Instagram and I use Twitter only for bookish accounts.
There was also a lot going on in this one and it felt a little watered down. It also made me feel a disconnect from the story and the characters. I didn't like Rachel as much this time around either, partially because of her behaviour and partially because she just did such stupid things. All in all this book disappointed me and wasn't nearly as good or as interesting as the first one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
January 26, 2023
Hallelujah, not one single courtroom scene! 🙌🏼
I was nervous about starting this one as I wasn’t a fan of The Night Swim (Book 1). I was hesitant to pick this up thinking it was going to be another book where 90% of it takes place in a courtroom. I get that a lot of people like those books, but I realllllly have to be in the mood for one of those. I liked this one more than the first and am happy I read it!! ☺️
This can be read as a stand-alone as references to the first book are usually briefly explained.
This book was very very similar to Carol Wyer’s A Life for a Life. I rated that one about the same as this one which isn’t too shabby! So if you read and enjoyed that book you will probably enjoy this one too.
Although I mostly enjoyed it, my biggest criticism would be the unnecessary length as I felt there was a ton of filler as well as predictability. A few of the ‘twists’ weren’t twists at all to me since I spotted them a mile away and I feel most readers probably would too.
Overall, fun and entertaining enough read.
A big thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary advanced copy of this book. This book will be available on August 8th, 2023! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.5 ⭐️ rounding up!
I was nervous about starting this one as I wasn’t a fan of The Night Swim (Book 1). I was hesitant to pick this up thinking it was going to be another book where 90% of it takes place in a courtroom. I get that a lot of people like those books, but I realllllly have to be in the mood for one of those. I liked this one more than the first and am happy I read it!! ☺️
This can be read as a stand-alone as references to the first book are usually briefly explained.
This book was very very similar to Carol Wyer’s A Life for a Life. I rated that one about the same as this one which isn’t too shabby! So if you read and enjoyed that book you will probably enjoy this one too.
Although I mostly enjoyed it, my biggest criticism would be the unnecessary length as I felt there was a ton of filler as well as predictability. A few of the ‘twists’ weren’t twists at all to me since I spotted them a mile away and I feel most readers probably would too.
Overall, fun and entertaining enough read.
A big thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary advanced copy of this book. This book will be available on August 8th, 2023! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.5 ⭐️ rounding up!
August 8, 2023
“Always know what you’re walking into. Dark corners can be danger points.”
After a brief meeting with an inmate in a correctional facility in Florida, famous influencer Maddison Logan disappears without a trace. The name Rachel Krall (true crime podcast host who we met in The Night Swim) had come up during their conversation- a fact that prompts the FBI to fly Rachel in, not quite revealing all the relevant details. The soon-to-be-released inmate, Terence Bailey, though incarcerated for B&E, is a suspect in the murders of six women, though the FBI is yet to prove their case. When a meeting between Bailey and Rachel ends with Bailey’s veiled threats directed towards Rachel, the FBI, sensing that Bailey might target Rachel requests her to fly back home.
“The scariest monster is the one that hides in plain sight.”
Rachel decides to do some investigating of her own and joins the social influencer conference being held nearby, which Maddison was supposed to be attending. As an insider, she is privy to a lot more information on the attendees as compared to the investigators in charge of the case. As the narrative progresses, we find Rachel doggedly pursuing every lead possible in unearthing the truth behind Maddison's disappearance and her connection to Terence Bailey, while also gathering more information about the other victims of the serial killer. Will Rachel be able to help the FBI find Maddison before she becomes the next victim?
I was intrigued from the very beginning and enjoyed how the mystery unfolded as the story progressed. The author’s depiction of the world of social media influencers - narcissism, cliques, rivalries and politics – was quite detailed. I won’t say that I enjoyed reading those parts much, but I do understand that those segments were vital to the story, though I wish they had been shorter. We see Rachel evolving both as a professional and as a person. She is depicted as more gritty, stubborn and outspoken as compared to The Night Swim. Though this case does not feature as a series on her podcast unlike in the previous book , we do get to read the transcript for her Special Report on the case in chapters interspersed throughout the narrative. With its suspenseful and engaging narrative and multiple twists and red herrings that lead to a satisfying ending, I quite enjoyed Dark Corners by Megan Goldin.
Many thanks to the author Megan Goldin, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the much-appreciated digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
After a brief meeting with an inmate in a correctional facility in Florida, famous influencer Maddison Logan disappears without a trace. The name Rachel Krall (true crime podcast host who we met in The Night Swim) had come up during their conversation- a fact that prompts the FBI to fly Rachel in, not quite revealing all the relevant details. The soon-to-be-released inmate, Terence Bailey, though incarcerated for B&E, is a suspect in the murders of six women, though the FBI is yet to prove their case. When a meeting between Bailey and Rachel ends with Bailey’s veiled threats directed towards Rachel, the FBI, sensing that Bailey might target Rachel requests her to fly back home.
“The scariest monster is the one that hides in plain sight.”
Rachel decides to do some investigating of her own and joins the social influencer conference being held nearby, which Maddison was supposed to be attending. As an insider, she is privy to a lot more information on the attendees as compared to the investigators in charge of the case. As the narrative progresses, we find Rachel doggedly pursuing every lead possible in unearthing the truth behind Maddison's disappearance and her connection to Terence Bailey, while also gathering more information about the other victims of the serial killer. Will Rachel be able to help the FBI find Maddison before she becomes the next victim?
I was intrigued from the very beginning and enjoyed how the mystery unfolded as the story progressed. The author’s depiction of the world of social media influencers - narcissism, cliques, rivalries and politics – was quite detailed. I won’t say that I enjoyed reading those parts much, but I do understand that those segments were vital to the story, though I wish they had been shorter. We see Rachel evolving both as a professional and as a person. She is depicted as more gritty, stubborn and outspoken as compared to The Night Swim. Though this case does not feature as a series on her podcast unlike in the previous book , we do get to read the transcript for her Special Report on the case in chapters interspersed throughout the narrative. With its suspenseful and engaging narrative and multiple twists and red herrings that lead to a satisfying ending, I quite enjoyed Dark Corners by Megan Goldin.
Many thanks to the author Megan Goldin, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the much-appreciated digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
June 11, 2025
Dark Corners is the second novel Megan Goldin has written featuring True Crime Podcaster, Rachel Krall. Even though this is the second book with Rachel as a main character, in my opinion, this can be enjoyed as a standalone.
I would recommend the first novel though, The Night Swim, because it is such a great story. Additionally, I would recommend the audiobooks for both of these titles, as the podcasting elements translate so well to that format.
This story begins shortly after Rachel finishes up her investigation that was covered in the first book. She has just returned home and is ready for a little R&R. It's at that time, of course, that she receives an intriguing call from an FBI Agent located in Florida.
He's working an active missing person case. It's a bit of an odd case and he is seeking Rachel's help. Unable to resist temptation to learn more about the case, Rachel agrees to meet with him. She packs her bag and heads out.
The missing person in question is Maddison Logan, a young influencer with a huge social media following. She had recently been to visit a man, Terence Bailey, imprisoned on a B&E charge, but long suspected of actually having been responsible for the deaths of six women.
Shortly after leaving the prison, Maddison disappears. The FBI have hit a dead end. Maddison's life is a complete mystery. She doesn't even use her real name. How are they ever going to find out more about her?
Thus, Rachel gets shoved into the world of high-profile influencers. Creating a fake Instagram account, Rachel is able to infiltrate BuzzCon, a popular influence conference, which happens to be underway in the local area.
There Rachel learns more about the influencer culture, Maddison and the people she associates with online. Per usual, Rachel is like a dog with a bone when it comes to investigating crimes. She won't give up until she gets answers. The FBI definitely called on the right girl.
I really enjoyed this one. I was a bit nervous going in, because I had read some less than stellar early reviews, but luckily, for me, this was a hit rather than a miss.
I became invested in the mystery early and felt the audiobook was an incredible way to experience it. I liked the examination of influencer culture and the convention was a great way for Rachel to immerse herself in that community.
I also found the mystery involving Terence Bailey and Maddison's disappearance so interesting. There were a lot of moving pieces and it wasn't always as easy to make out who was who, but I feel like it had a way of working itself out.
There were moments where I would start to get confused amongst the characters, but overall, I feel like Goldin pulled it together as the reveals were starting to happen.
There was a romance subplot, which I'm on the fence about. I could have taken it, or left it far behind. I ended up really liking the love interest, so I'm ultimately okay with it and actually hope they are in future books.
With this being said, at no time during The Night Swim did I ever think, you know what would make this better? If Rachel had a man? Never once.
Of course, if that is my biggest meh-moment with this story, I would say that's pretty good. I'm not sure what the plans are for Rachel Krall. If there are going to be more books in this series, or not. I certainly hope so.
I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys taut and compelling mysteries, with a True Crime podcast element. I think these mysteries are well plotted and there are exciting twists and turns along the way.
Thank you so much to the publisher, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I look forward to more from Megan Goldin!
I would recommend the first novel though, The Night Swim, because it is such a great story. Additionally, I would recommend the audiobooks for both of these titles, as the podcasting elements translate so well to that format.
This story begins shortly after Rachel finishes up her investigation that was covered in the first book. She has just returned home and is ready for a little R&R. It's at that time, of course, that she receives an intriguing call from an FBI Agent located in Florida.
He's working an active missing person case. It's a bit of an odd case and he is seeking Rachel's help. Unable to resist temptation to learn more about the case, Rachel agrees to meet with him. She packs her bag and heads out.
The missing person in question is Maddison Logan, a young influencer with a huge social media following. She had recently been to visit a man, Terence Bailey, imprisoned on a B&E charge, but long suspected of actually having been responsible for the deaths of six women.
Shortly after leaving the prison, Maddison disappears. The FBI have hit a dead end. Maddison's life is a complete mystery. She doesn't even use her real name. How are they ever going to find out more about her?
Thus, Rachel gets shoved into the world of high-profile influencers. Creating a fake Instagram account, Rachel is able to infiltrate BuzzCon, a popular influence conference, which happens to be underway in the local area.
There Rachel learns more about the influencer culture, Maddison and the people she associates with online. Per usual, Rachel is like a dog with a bone when it comes to investigating crimes. She won't give up until she gets answers. The FBI definitely called on the right girl.
I really enjoyed this one. I was a bit nervous going in, because I had read some less than stellar early reviews, but luckily, for me, this was a hit rather than a miss.
I became invested in the mystery early and felt the audiobook was an incredible way to experience it. I liked the examination of influencer culture and the convention was a great way for Rachel to immerse herself in that community.
I also found the mystery involving Terence Bailey and Maddison's disappearance so interesting. There were a lot of moving pieces and it wasn't always as easy to make out who was who, but I feel like it had a way of working itself out.
There were moments where I would start to get confused amongst the characters, but overall, I feel like Goldin pulled it together as the reveals were starting to happen.
There was a romance subplot, which I'm on the fence about. I could have taken it, or left it far behind. I ended up really liking the love interest, so I'm ultimately okay with it and actually hope they are in future books.
With this being said, at no time during The Night Swim did I ever think, you know what would make this better? If Rachel had a man? Never once.
Of course, if that is my biggest meh-moment with this story, I would say that's pretty good. I'm not sure what the plans are for Rachel Krall. If there are going to be more books in this series, or not. I certainly hope so.
I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys taut and compelling mysteries, with a True Crime podcast element. I think these mysteries are well plotted and there are exciting twists and turns along the way.
Thank you so much to the publisher, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I look forward to more from Megan Goldin!
February 14, 2023
i love the decision to turn this into a series. i enjoyed rachel kralls investigatory skills in ‘the night swim,’ so i was excited to see what case she would crack open next!
but i didnt quite enjoy this as much as the first book. however, its really only because of personal preferences. i dont really understand the hype around social media influencers, so i didnt find the core content of this story that engaging. i thought the courtroom scenes and drama in ‘the night swim’ were super strong, so i was bummed that didnt occur in this sequel. and this particular mystery begins with telling the reader the identity of who is behind the murders, so the only thing the reader gets to discover is how that person is connected to other characters, and thats not the kind of narrative i like in my thrillers. i prefer a bit more unknown and reveals.
all that aside, the pacing is fast and there are a lot of little tricks thrown in along the way to distract the reader, which i thought was fun. so anyone looking for a relevant true crime mystery novel that is quick to read can look forward to this one!
thanks for the ARC, st. martins press.
↠ 3.5 stars
but i didnt quite enjoy this as much as the first book. however, its really only because of personal preferences. i dont really understand the hype around social media influencers, so i didnt find the core content of this story that engaging. i thought the courtroom scenes and drama in ‘the night swim’ were super strong, so i was bummed that didnt occur in this sequel. and this particular mystery begins with telling the reader the identity of who is behind the murders, so the only thing the reader gets to discover is how that person is connected to other characters, and thats not the kind of narrative i like in my thrillers. i prefer a bit more unknown and reveals.
all that aside, the pacing is fast and there are a lot of little tricks thrown in along the way to distract the reader, which i thought was fun. so anyone looking for a relevant true crime mystery novel that is quick to read can look forward to this one!
thanks for the ARC, st. martins press.
↠ 3.5 stars
June 28, 2023
Rachel Krall Series #2
I was thrilled when I heard that Rachel Krall from The Night Swim would be back in book two.
This time she is on a mission to dig for information on a missing high profile influencer, Maddison. She visits Terence Bailey, who is in person and a suspected serial killer. He is also being released in a matter of days.
Rachel embarks on a risky little investigative journey on her own.
I was never fully engaged in the story and wasn't wanting to reach for it, which is a sign I couldn't connect or didn't care. I'm not a fan of the influencer vibes and this one was quite heavy on them. There were also a few turns that were overdone IMHO.
If you can suspend belief, enjoy police procedurals, interviews, and the social influencer angle, this may be one you would enjoy.
Thanks NG for my ARC/ OUT August 8, 2023
I was thrilled when I heard that Rachel Krall from The Night Swim would be back in book two.
This time she is on a mission to dig for information on a missing high profile influencer, Maddison. She visits Terence Bailey, who is in person and a suspected serial killer. He is also being released in a matter of days.
Rachel embarks on a risky little investigative journey on her own.
I was never fully engaged in the story and wasn't wanting to reach for it, which is a sign I couldn't connect or didn't care. I'm not a fan of the influencer vibes and this one was quite heavy on them. There were also a few turns that were overdone IMHO.
If you can suspend belief, enjoy police procedurals, interviews, and the social influencer angle, this may be one you would enjoy.
Thanks NG for my ARC/ OUT August 8, 2023
July 16, 2023
Rachel Krall, our favorite true-crime podcaster is back!
Once again, the FBI reaches out for her assistance. They’ve asked her to meet with Terence Bailey. Mr Bailey is an inmate in a Florida prison who’s the #1 suspect in a string of unsolved murders. On the verge of being released, the FBI is desperate for help to keep him behind bars. They’ve run out of options and hoping Rachel can get him talking.
A brilliant plan that went totally sideways. Now The FBI wants Rachel out of Florida stat! Not only did she get no answers, but now she has a target on her back and Terrance is about to come after her! (Thank-you, F.B.I.!)
Rachel is a great MC. Smart and strong, she likes to do things her way. But I always have a problem when our “average citizen” does the work of the police. (Maybe that's just me)😉
This was a great follow-up to book one, Night Swim. Hoping this series will continue.
I enjoyed both the digital and audio versions and recommend the audio!
Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio.
Once again, the FBI reaches out for her assistance. They’ve asked her to meet with Terence Bailey. Mr Bailey is an inmate in a Florida prison who’s the #1 suspect in a string of unsolved murders. On the verge of being released, the FBI is desperate for help to keep him behind bars. They’ve run out of options and hoping Rachel can get him talking.
A brilliant plan that went totally sideways. Now The FBI wants Rachel out of Florida stat! Not only did she get no answers, but now she has a target on her back and Terrance is about to come after her! (Thank-you, F.B.I.!)
Rachel is a great MC. Smart and strong, she likes to do things her way. But I always have a problem when our “average citizen” does the work of the police. (Maybe that's just me)😉
This was a great follow-up to book one, Night Swim. Hoping this series will continue.
I enjoyed both the digital and audio versions and recommend the audio!
Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio.
August 9, 2023
2.0 Stars
Favourite Quote
“Killers receive so much oxygen in the media. It’s time to give a voice to the victim.”
Maddison Logan a popular social media influencer, visits inmate Terence Bailey in a Central Florida Correctional Facility. Bailey is a suspected serial killer arrested aggravated burglary.
During their visit Bailey brings up Rachel Krall to Maddison then she disappears. Rachel is then lured to Florida by getting exclusive access to the case if she helps Special Agent Joe Martinez by meeting with Bailey.
After her meeting with Bailey doesn’t go well, FBI Special Agent Martinez asks her to leave Florida and return home. Rachel ignores him and is set to investigate Maddison’s disappearance on her own. Conveniently there is an event being held in Daytona for the world’s top social influencers called BUZZ CON. She calls Pete to help her get a hotel and an invite to the event under an alias @runningrach.com. She easily connects with a few of the influencers to get information on Maddison and other top players there.
I am going to stop there I don’t want to give up any spoilers.
My thoughts I hope this is an early draft and will be fixed in editing. I found the writing is choppy there is excessive repetition events from previous chapters are repeated verbatim. The spontaneous relationship between Rachel and agent Martinez late in the book felt forced and unnecessary. The very end was very abrupt. Also the continuous references in their full names repeatedly was annoying at times. I almost gave up and DNF, but I hung in till the end. I did want to see how everything played out in the end. The whole plot felt convoluted at times. One last thing to nitpick is the serial killer goes to change the license plates on his car and it states that he replaced them on both ends of the car. Florida only has license plates on the back , not the front. If she writes another book in the series I will read it, and her other titles in the future.
A special thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
Favourite Quote
“Killers receive so much oxygen in the media. It’s time to give a voice to the victim.”
Maddison Logan a popular social media influencer, visits inmate Terence Bailey in a Central Florida Correctional Facility. Bailey is a suspected serial killer arrested aggravated burglary.
During their visit Bailey brings up Rachel Krall to Maddison then she disappears. Rachel is then lured to Florida by getting exclusive access to the case if she helps Special Agent Joe Martinez by meeting with Bailey.
After her meeting with Bailey doesn’t go well, FBI Special Agent Martinez asks her to leave Florida and return home. Rachel ignores him and is set to investigate Maddison’s disappearance on her own. Conveniently there is an event being held in Daytona for the world’s top social influencers called BUZZ CON. She calls Pete to help her get a hotel and an invite to the event under an alias @runningrach.com. She easily connects with a few of the influencers to get information on Maddison and other top players there.
I am going to stop there I don’t want to give up any spoilers.
My thoughts I hope this is an early draft and will be fixed in editing. I found the writing is choppy there is excessive repetition events from previous chapters are repeated verbatim. The spontaneous relationship between Rachel and agent Martinez late in the book felt forced and unnecessary. The very end was very abrupt. Also the continuous references in their full names repeatedly was annoying at times. I almost gave up and DNF, but I hung in till the end. I did want to see how everything played out in the end. The whole plot felt convoluted at times. One last thing to nitpick is the serial killer goes to change the license plates on his car and it states that he replaced them on both ends of the car. Florida only has license plates on the back , not the front. If she writes another book in the series I will read it, and her other titles in the future.
A special thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
January 30, 2023
Rachel Krall, a famous true crime podcaster (we last saw her in The Night Swim) is back and helping the FBI in the search for Maddison Logan, a popular social media influencer who went missing after visiting Terence Bailey, a suspected serial killer in prison. Terence Baily is about to be released from prison for breaking and entering but has long been suspected as being a serial killer. Why would Maddison visit Bailey? Why would he tell Maddison to bring Rachel Krall to him?
The FBI called upon Rachel who seems to find clues where others do not, to help find Maddison. Maddison is a mystery as there is no background on her. Using an old Instagram account, Rachel attends BuzzCon, a popular influencer conference, that Maddison was supposed to attend. There Rachel meets a group of people who are more interested in posting the perfect content and pictures than in having deep personal relationships with others.
When a body is found, the police and FBI begin to wonder if Bailey had an accomplice on the outside. Rachel and FBI agent Joe Martinez have an interesting relationship. He insists that she leave town for her own safety, while she has every intention of staying and conducting her own investigation. When not individually scratching their heads trying to get to the bottom of things, they are busy making eyes at each other.
This is a book which grew on me. In the beginning, I was not that I liked it and kept finding other books to pick up and read. When I got around the 35-40% mark, I was fully invested, and it became a riveting page turner for me! This book won me over and left me impressed.
I enjoyed how everything came together and fell into place. This was an interesting one. The social media influencer angle was interesting but man most of them were vapid, arrogant, and so unlikeable.
If there is another book in the series, I will happily read it. Once I got over the hump in the beginning, I couldn't put this book down.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
The FBI called upon Rachel who seems to find clues where others do not, to help find Maddison. Maddison is a mystery as there is no background on her. Using an old Instagram account, Rachel attends BuzzCon, a popular influencer conference, that Maddison was supposed to attend. There Rachel meets a group of people who are more interested in posting the perfect content and pictures than in having deep personal relationships with others.
When a body is found, the police and FBI begin to wonder if Bailey had an accomplice on the outside. Rachel and FBI agent Joe Martinez have an interesting relationship. He insists that she leave town for her own safety, while she has every intention of staying and conducting her own investigation. When not individually scratching their heads trying to get to the bottom of things, they are busy making eyes at each other.
This is a book which grew on me. In the beginning, I was not that I liked it and kept finding other books to pick up and read. When I got around the 35-40% mark, I was fully invested, and it became a riveting page turner for me! This book won me over and left me impressed.
I enjoyed how everything came together and fell into place. This was an interesting one. The social media influencer angle was interesting but man most of them were vapid, arrogant, and so unlikeable.
If there is another book in the series, I will happily read it. Once I got over the hump in the beginning, I couldn't put this book down.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
February 21, 2023
After having loved The Night Swim (Rachel Krall #1), I was super excited to get my hands on this book! Unfortunately, if I’m being honest, I didn’t love this book as much as I did The Night Swim.
In Dark Corners, Rachel Krall comes back to work looking for a serial killer for her podcast. This is after she receives a phone call from the FBI wanting her help. With that being said, the storyline seemed to be a little far fetched and Rachel’s character was very pompous and arrogant in this book- nothing like in The Night Swim.
There was quite a bit going on in this book, and this story will definitely appeal to social media influencers. I know social media is all the rage right now, but it just didn’t appeal to me in this book.
I did however, love the short chapters (that’s always a huge bonus for me). But for some reason, I just could not get into this book like I had wanted to. Maybe it was the timing, maybe it was me, but I just didn’t quite connect to any of the characters or storyline.
Although this book was not my favorite by Megan Goldin, I still look forward to reading future reads from her as I usually love her books!
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: August 8, 2023.
In Dark Corners, Rachel Krall comes back to work looking for a serial killer for her podcast. This is after she receives a phone call from the FBI wanting her help. With that being said, the storyline seemed to be a little far fetched and Rachel’s character was very pompous and arrogant in this book- nothing like in The Night Swim.
There was quite a bit going on in this book, and this story will definitely appeal to social media influencers. I know social media is all the rage right now, but it just didn’t appeal to me in this book.
I did however, love the short chapters (that’s always a huge bonus for me). But for some reason, I just could not get into this book like I had wanted to. Maybe it was the timing, maybe it was me, but I just didn’t quite connect to any of the characters or storyline.
Although this book was not my favorite by Megan Goldin, I still look forward to reading future reads from her as I usually love her books!
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: August 8, 2023.
August 8, 2023
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
“The scariest monster is the one that hides in plain sight.”
Dark Corners is the second book in the Rachel Krall series, but can easily be read as a stand alone. Rachel is a popular true crime podcaster who just finished helping the police solve a high profile rape case. In Daytona beach, the FBI has been carefully watching prisoner Terence Bailey, as they believe he might be the accomplice of a serial killer and his due to be released in a few days. When his first visitor in six years, Maddison Logan disappears, The FBI fly Rachel in to help with the case. Not frightened easily, Rachel meets with Terence in prison and stays in town for a social media influencer’s conference so that she can help with the investigation. When a young woman is found dead with the same tattoo as Bailey, the investigation intensifies and Rachel finds herself a target of the serial killer.
I really enjoy Megan Goldin’s thrillers and have read all of them, including The Night Swim. Although it has been three years, I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t struggle to get back into Rachel’s world again. It is fast paced, does a good job of shedding light on the profession of a social media influencer, and the mystery is very clever.
However, the romance comes off as cheesy, cringe worthy, and unnecessary. This part of the plot didn’t work for me. I also found the alternating chapters voiced by the FBI agent and killer more compelling than Rachel’s chapters. While she was a very intelligent leading lady, I didn’t connect with her as much as I had hoped.
Overall, I enjoyed this thriller and will continue to read more books in this series.
3.5/5 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 8/8/23
Thank you to Edelweiss and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of Dark Corners in exchange for an honest review.
“The scariest monster is the one that hides in plain sight.”
Dark Corners is the second book in the Rachel Krall series, but can easily be read as a stand alone. Rachel is a popular true crime podcaster who just finished helping the police solve a high profile rape case. In Daytona beach, the FBI has been carefully watching prisoner Terence Bailey, as they believe he might be the accomplice of a serial killer and his due to be released in a few days. When his first visitor in six years, Maddison Logan disappears, The FBI fly Rachel in to help with the case. Not frightened easily, Rachel meets with Terence in prison and stays in town for a social media influencer’s conference so that she can help with the investigation. When a young woman is found dead with the same tattoo as Bailey, the investigation intensifies and Rachel finds herself a target of the serial killer.
I really enjoy Megan Goldin’s thrillers and have read all of them, including The Night Swim. Although it has been three years, I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t struggle to get back into Rachel’s world again. It is fast paced, does a good job of shedding light on the profession of a social media influencer, and the mystery is very clever.
However, the romance comes off as cheesy, cringe worthy, and unnecessary. This part of the plot didn’t work for me. I also found the alternating chapters voiced by the FBI agent and killer more compelling than Rachel’s chapters. While she was a very intelligent leading lady, I didn’t connect with her as much as I had hoped.
Overall, I enjoyed this thriller and will continue to read more books in this series.
3.5/5 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 8/8/23
Thank you to Edelweiss and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of Dark Corners in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2024
I enjoyed this a lot. Rachel was an interesting character, one to remember. That she was intelligent and snarky was just to my liking and she made the plot more engaging overall. A great, suspenseful read!
August 3, 2023
First of all, although this is the second of Goldin's books that features podcaster Rachel Krall, you definitely don't need to have read The Night Swim before reading this one as it completely stands alone.
This is a decent read, don't let my 3-stars sway you. It means that I liked it, I just didn't love it and want to gush about it. I listened to the audiobook and January LaVoy does an amazing job with her narration as usual. She kept me invested in the story more than I probably would have been otherwise.
This is a full cast audiobook with other narrators, but LaVoy was the prominent and best one. The podcast segments, while there weren't very many of them, were enhanced by listening to the audio version.
The main premise of this story is that Rachel is flown to Florida by the FBI because they want her to interview a prisoner about a missing woman who had come to visit him shortly before her disappearance. She is a social media influencer involved with a huge event called BuzzCon. Rachel decides to attend (she's really famous you know, they wanted her to come to the conference but until now she has refused) so she can investigate the disappearance and try to figure out what is going on.
Overall this book turned out to be okay, but there's nothing very surprising about what happens. The reader knows the identity of the villain throughout, we get his POV and backstory revealed as the tale progresses. I honestly didn't really like Rachel very much either. She comes across as a know-it-all daredevil who feels way above everyone else.
While I thought the parts about social media influencers (ahem, I mean content creators) was interesting and enlightening, it got old after a while. I don't think the general fans who fawn over these people will get the sarcasm and snark and eye rolling the author is trying to convey when talking about them, those of us who are reading the book already know what she's saying.
I'm glad I read this one, but I probably won't remember much about it after a while.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This is a decent read, don't let my 3-stars sway you. It means that I liked it, I just didn't love it and want to gush about it. I listened to the audiobook and January LaVoy does an amazing job with her narration as usual. She kept me invested in the story more than I probably would have been otherwise.
This is a full cast audiobook with other narrators, but LaVoy was the prominent and best one. The podcast segments, while there weren't very many of them, were enhanced by listening to the audio version.
The main premise of this story is that Rachel is flown to Florida by the FBI because they want her to interview a prisoner about a missing woman who had come to visit him shortly before her disappearance. She is a social media influencer involved with a huge event called BuzzCon. Rachel decides to attend (she's really famous you know, they wanted her to come to the conference but until now she has refused) so she can investigate the disappearance and try to figure out what is going on.
Overall this book turned out to be okay, but there's nothing very surprising about what happens. The reader knows the identity of the villain throughout, we get his POV and backstory revealed as the tale progresses. I honestly didn't really like Rachel very much either. She comes across as a know-it-all daredevil who feels way above everyone else.
While I thought the parts about social media influencers (ahem, I mean content creators) was interesting and enlightening, it got old after a while. I don't think the general fans who fawn over these people will get the sarcasm and snark and eye rolling the author is trying to convey when talking about them, those of us who are reading the book already know what she's saying.
I'm glad I read this one, but I probably won't remember much about it after a while.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
August 8, 2023
3.25⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Series ~ Rachel Krall #2
Others in the series ~ The Night Swim
Publication date ~ August 8, 2023
Page Count ~ 347
Audio length ~ 10 hours 45 minutes
Narrators ~ André Santana, January LaVoy, Samantha Desz
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ podcast, social media influencer, serial killer, police procedural
Rachel is a true crime podcaster asked to assist the FBI in the disappearance of a social media influencer, Maddison.
Rachel, doesn't follow the rules very well and she doesn't come across as particularly likable. The bad guy isn't a mystery as there are chapters told from his perspective, as well as some from Joe the FBI agent.
Overall, this was fine, with some nice twists, but blah with the influencer angle...not a fan.
Series notes:
I read The Night Swim quite a while ago, so I can't say I remember it enough to confirm, but I believe this would be fine as a standalone because there's a new set of side characters.
I was lucky enough to receive a kindle and an audio copy, but I primarily listened.
Narration notes: All narrators did a lovely job. I especially liked that there were sometimes 2 different narrators within the podcast chapters, and there were nice sound effects as well.
(I might come back and write more, but I wanted to get something out on pub day)
*Thanks to the author, St Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC and audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Series ~ Rachel Krall #2
Others in the series ~ The Night Swim
Publication date ~ August 8, 2023
Page Count ~ 347
Audio length ~ 10 hours 45 minutes
Narrators ~ André Santana, January LaVoy, Samantha Desz
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ podcast, social media influencer, serial killer, police procedural
Rachel is a true crime podcaster asked to assist the FBI in the disappearance of a social media influencer, Maddison.
Rachel, doesn't follow the rules very well and she doesn't come across as particularly likable. The bad guy isn't a mystery as there are chapters told from his perspective, as well as some from Joe the FBI agent.
Overall, this was fine, with some nice twists, but blah with the influencer angle...not a fan.
Series notes:
I read The Night Swim quite a while ago, so I can't say I remember it enough to confirm, but I believe this would be fine as a standalone because there's a new set of side characters.
I was lucky enough to receive a kindle and an audio copy, but I primarily listened.
Narration notes: All narrators did a lovely job. I especially liked that there were sometimes 2 different narrators within the podcast chapters, and there were nice sound effects as well.
(I might come back and write more, but I wanted to get something out on pub day)
*Thanks to the author, St Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC and audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
December 15, 2023
3.5 stars
I’m glad I finally read this one! I was a big fan of The Night Swim, so I was really looking forward to this sequel where we follow the same podcaster, Rachel. This one was especially interesting to me because it follows the story of an influencer getting kidnapped and abducted, and Rachel dives deep into the world of social media influencers and social climbers. As someone who is a full time content creator myself, I thought the observations she would make about influencers to be pretty hilarious and spot on. I actually also found some of it relatable, like when they said: “What people don’t realize is that being an influencer is like feeding a monster. An insatiable monster. Nothing is ever enough. No matter how much you give, there’s always someone giving more.”
I liked the podcast elements of this book, the audiobook was fantastic and it sounded like a real podcast which was cool! The ending was a little underwhelming and predictable for me, I wasn’t super shocked by any of the twists, and I could’ve done without the hint of romance happening in the second half of this book, but otherwise I had a fun time and it was a super quick read! 👏
I’m glad I finally read this one! I was a big fan of The Night Swim, so I was really looking forward to this sequel where we follow the same podcaster, Rachel. This one was especially interesting to me because it follows the story of an influencer getting kidnapped and abducted, and Rachel dives deep into the world of social media influencers and social climbers. As someone who is a full time content creator myself, I thought the observations she would make about influencers to be pretty hilarious and spot on. I actually also found some of it relatable, like when they said: “What people don’t realize is that being an influencer is like feeding a monster. An insatiable monster. Nothing is ever enough. No matter how much you give, there’s always someone giving more.”
I liked the podcast elements of this book, the audiobook was fantastic and it sounded like a real podcast which was cool! The ending was a little underwhelming and predictable for me, I wasn’t super shocked by any of the twists, and I could’ve done without the hint of romance happening in the second half of this book, but otherwise I had a fun time and it was a super quick read! 👏
August 8, 2023
Update 8/8/23: Reposting my review to celebrate that today is publication day!
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for sending me an ARC of Dark Corners in exchange for an honest review.
An Instagram influencer named Maddison Logan lied to gain access to Terence Bailey, an inmate in a Florida prison. He’s days from release even though the police have long suspected him of abducting and murdering several young women. At the end of their brief conversation, Bailey wrote “Bring Rachel Krall to me. Do whatever it takes to find her. It’s time. . . .” But within hours of leaving the prison, Maddison disappears, and the FBI’s investigation is going nowhere as Maddison seems to have no past. Out of desperation, the FBI asks Rachel—who’s essentially Sarah Koenig from the Serial podcast—to come to Florida, talk to Bailey, and see if she can get a lead on what happened to Maddison. Soon, Rachel is conducting her own, parallel investigation of what happened to Maddison, which includes going undercover at an influencer convention called BuzzCon, even as she is being targeted by the murderer….
Dark Corners marks the return of Rachel Krall, heroine of The Night Swim. That’s good news indeed, as Rachel is a clever, engaging character. There are multiple mysteries at work in this novel. Who is Maddison Logan? Was she really abducted, or is this all just some ploy for greater online fame? Does Maddison’s disappearance have anything to do with a death at BuzzCon? Is Terence Bailey really a serial killer about to be freed, or did someone else murder the women he’s suspected of killing? There are also several red herrings, making it unlikely you’ll figure everything out before the reveals.
Ms. Goldin sets Dark Corners within the world of Instagram influencers. I can only assume that was a deliberate choice so that she could explore—perhaps expose would be a more accurate word—that community. Most of the influencers are portrayed as cutthroat and/or phony, creating utterly false presentations of their lives and using their so-called friends for nothing more than their own promotion:
It’s an interesting portrayal, but certainly not a flattering one.
Dark Corners is a solid, entertaining mystery/thriller. It’s well plotted, and builds to solid climax. I look forward to the next novel starring Rachel Krall (and co-starring FBI Special Agent Joe Martinez, I suspect). Recommended.
P.S. You know that meme that says “when I was a kid I thought quicksand was going to be a much bigger problem than it is”? Well, this book has quicksand, and it’s a problem. Another selling point for this book. 😁
Maddison’s social media feed was a way to generate income by creating the fantasy of a glamorous influencer enjoying life to the fullest, while hiding her trauma and papering over the day-to-day challenges that life threw at her.
…
“The scariest monster is the one that hides in plain sight.”
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for sending me an ARC of Dark Corners in exchange for an honest review.
An Instagram influencer named Maddison Logan lied to gain access to Terence Bailey, an inmate in a Florida prison. He’s days from release even though the police have long suspected him of abducting and murdering several young women. At the end of their brief conversation, Bailey wrote “Bring Rachel Krall to me. Do whatever it takes to find her. It’s time. . . .” But within hours of leaving the prison, Maddison disappears, and the FBI’s investigation is going nowhere as Maddison seems to have no past. Out of desperation, the FBI asks Rachel—who’s essentially Sarah Koenig from the Serial podcast—to come to Florida, talk to Bailey, and see if she can get a lead on what happened to Maddison. Soon, Rachel is conducting her own, parallel investigation of what happened to Maddison, which includes going undercover at an influencer convention called BuzzCon, even as she is being targeted by the murderer….
Dark Corners marks the return of Rachel Krall, heroine of The Night Swim. That’s good news indeed, as Rachel is a clever, engaging character. There are multiple mysteries at work in this novel. Who is Maddison Logan? Was she really abducted, or is this all just some ploy for greater online fame? Does Maddison’s disappearance have anything to do with a death at BuzzCon? Is Terence Bailey really a serial killer about to be freed, or did someone else murder the women he’s suspected of killing? There are also several red herrings, making it unlikely you’ll figure everything out before the reveals.
Ms. Goldin sets Dark Corners within the world of Instagram influencers. I can only assume that was a deliberate choice so that she could explore—perhaps expose would be a more accurate word—that community. Most of the influencers are portrayed as cutthroat and/or phony, creating utterly false presentations of their lives and using their so-called friends for nothing more than their own promotion:
“I knew deep down in my heart that Aliza didn’t want a boyfriend; she wanted a mirror.”
…
The influencer world was hyper-competitive. Everyone seemed to be “frenemies.” They hugged and kissed each other’s cheeks in person. They all gushed about each other online. But Rachel suspected that they’d happily stick a knife in each other’s back if they thought they could get away with it.
…
“The world could be burning down and all they’d care about would be whether they should airbrush their selfie.”
It’s an interesting portrayal, but certainly not a flattering one.
Dark Corners is a solid, entertaining mystery/thriller. It’s well plotted, and builds to solid climax. I look forward to the next novel starring Rachel Krall (and co-starring FBI Special Agent Joe Martinez, I suspect). Recommended.
P.S. You know that meme that says “when I was a kid I thought quicksand was going to be a much bigger problem than it is”? Well, this book has quicksand, and it’s a problem. Another selling point for this book. 😁
August 2, 2023
Dark Corners grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go. I was hooked immediately. The first chapter ends with these sentences, "I've been looking for a predator. It turns out that a predator has been looking for me."
Rachel Krall is the main character. She has a podcast called Guilty or Not Guilty and she has helped prove that innocent men are behind bars. Her success on overturning convictions has made her a fan of those incarcerated for life in super-max prisons.
The roller coaster ride of this un-put-down-able book is incredible! I definitely want to read Megan Goldin's other books, The Escape Room and Stay Awake. I read The Night Swim by Goldin and also rated it five stars.
This thriller ends with an insightful observation and suggestion, "Killers receive so much oxygen in the media. It's time to give a voice to the victims."
Goldin's one page Acknowledgments is the best one I have ever read, particularly the last paragraph where she thanks her readers and their words of encouragement.
Highly, highly recommend!! 5+++ stars!
Rachel Krall is the main character. She has a podcast called Guilty or Not Guilty and she has helped prove that innocent men are behind bars. Her success on overturning convictions has made her a fan of those incarcerated for life in super-max prisons.
The roller coaster ride of this un-put-down-able book is incredible! I definitely want to read Megan Goldin's other books, The Escape Room and Stay Awake. I read The Night Swim by Goldin and also rated it five stars.
This thriller ends with an insightful observation and suggestion, "Killers receive so much oxygen in the media. It's time to give a voice to the victims."
Goldin's one page Acknowledgments is the best one I have ever read, particularly the last paragraph where she thanks her readers and their words of encouragement.
Highly, highly recommend!! 5+++ stars!
August 7, 2023
Terence Bailey is about to be released from prison for breaking and entering, though investigators have long suspected him in the murders of six women. As his release date approaches, Bailey gets a surprise visit from Maddison Logan, a hot, young influencer with a huge social media following. Hours later, Maddison disappears, and police suspect she’s been kidnapped—or worse. Is Maddison’s disappearance connected to her visit to Bailey? And why was she visiting him in the first place?
When they hit a wall in the investigation, the FBI reluctantly asks for Rachel Krall’s help in finding the missing influencer. Maddison seems to only exist on social media; she has no family, no friends, and other than in her posts, most people have never seen her. Who is she, really? Using a fake Instagram account, Rachel goes undercover to BuzzCon, a popular influencer conference, where she discovers a world of fierce rivalry that may have turned lethal.
When police find the body of a woman with a tattoo of a snake eating its tail—identical to a tattoo Rachel had seen on Bailey’s hand—the FBI must consider a chilling possibility: Bailey has an accomplice on the outside and a dangerous obsession with influencers, including Rachel Krall herself. Suddenly the target of a monster hiding in plain sight, Rachel is forced to confront the very real dangers that lurk in the dark corners of the internet.
I wasn’t sure if Megan Goldin would manage to follow up The Night Swim with a sequel that could match it in suspense or outright brilliant writing, but somehow, Dark Corners did just that.
The second in the Rachel Krall series, I was excited to read another story focused around her. Between Rachel’s fearlessness and her strong, independent vibe, she was a character I grew to love in the first installment of this series. This time around, she was even more determined, a fact that the wily Special Agent Joe Martinez perhaps grew to regret. We also got to see behind the curtain a tad bit more of who Rachel really is as her gritty, in-your-face tenacity was on full display.
The absolute best part of this one, however, was easily the complex, yet easy to follow plot. Delivered via multiple POVs (including one decidedly evil man) plus a handful of podcast transcripts told after the fact, it kept me on the edge of my seat. A stunning example of crime fiction, it also held plenty of thrills for this thriller loving gal. The climax, in particular, was both realistic yet also pulse-pounding, a detail that would easily translate beautifully onto the silver screen.
Truly unputdownable, I was delighted by the many twists (one that had me gasping out loud), red herrings, and unmitigated foreboding. And as the facts were slowly revealed, I was, quite candidly, unable to guess where they were headed. Just as mind-boggling as the suspense-driven plot was, though, it also delivered a heartwarming potential love match. And I, for one, can’t wait to see where it might go in the next novel.
All in all, this was yet another example of how brilliant the masterful Megan Goldin is. Without a doubt, I’m already eagerly awaiting another addition to her collection. From the riveting storyline to the perfect, little bow of a conclusion, I was left desperate for more. Now I’m just going to have to wait for waaay too long to get another fix by this author. So if it isn’t already obvious, I strongly recommend pre-ordering this one now. Or, if you haven’t already read The Night Swim, pick up a copy today! Rating of 5 stars.
Trigger warning: abduction of a young woman, forced captivity, drugging, mention of: prostitution, spousal abuse, drowning, strangulation, stabbing, death of a spouse, financial crimes, drug use
PUB DATE: August 8, 2023
*Synopsis provided by the publisher.
**Thank you to Megan Goldin, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
I wasn’t sure if Megan Goldin would manage to follow up The Night Swim with a sequel that could match it in suspense or outright brilliant writing, but somehow, Dark Corners did just that.
The second in the Rachel Krall series, I was excited to read another story focused around her. Between Rachel’s fearlessness and her strong, independent vibe, she was a character I grew to love in the first installment of this series. This time around, she was even more determined, a fact that the wily Special Agent Joe Martinez perhaps grew to regret. We also got to see behind the curtain a tad bit more of who Rachel really is as her gritty, in-your-face tenacity was on full display.
The absolute best part of this one, however, was easily the complex, yet easy to follow plot. Delivered via multiple POVs (including one decidedly evil man) plus a handful of podcast transcripts told after the fact, it kept me on the edge of my seat. A stunning example of crime fiction, it also held plenty of thrills for this thriller loving gal. The climax, in particular, was both realistic yet also pulse-pounding, a detail that would easily translate beautifully onto the silver screen.
Truly unputdownable, I was delighted by the many twists (one that had me gasping out loud), red herrings, and unmitigated foreboding. And as the facts were slowly revealed, I was, quite candidly, unable to guess where they were headed. Just as mind-boggling as the suspense-driven plot was, though, it also delivered a heartwarming potential love match. And I, for one, can’t wait to see where it might go in the next novel.
All in all, this was yet another example of how brilliant the masterful Megan Goldin is. Without a doubt, I’m already eagerly awaiting another addition to her collection. From the riveting storyline to the perfect, little bow of a conclusion, I was left desperate for more. Now I’m just going to have to wait for waaay too long to get another fix by this author. So if it isn’t already obvious, I strongly recommend pre-ordering this one now. Or, if you haven’t already read The Night Swim, pick up a copy today! Rating of 5 stars.
Trigger warning: abduction of a young woman, forced captivity, drugging, mention of: prostitution, spousal abuse, drowning, strangulation, stabbing, death of a spouse, financial crimes, drug use
PUB DATE: August 8, 2023
*Synopsis provided by the publisher.
**Thank you to Megan Goldin, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
February 22, 2023
Thanks NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC that will be released August 8, 2023!
Podcaster Rachel Krall is back again in this second book in the series. She is helping FBI agent Joe Martinez investigate the disappearance of influencer
Maddison Logan who disappears from her van in the middle of the woods after meeting with prisoner Terrence Bailey. Many secrets and lies are revealed as she goes undercover at a BuzzCon influencer conference.
This book had many twists and turns and was just as exciting as her first book The Night Swim.
Podcaster Rachel Krall is back again in this second book in the series. She is helping FBI agent Joe Martinez investigate the disappearance of influencer
Maddison Logan who disappears from her van in the middle of the woods after meeting with prisoner Terrence Bailey. Many secrets and lies are revealed as she goes undercover at a BuzzCon influencer conference.
This book had many twists and turns and was just as exciting as her first book The Night Swim.
February 1, 2023
Rachel Krall, the true crime podcaster from Night Swim, returns to search for a famous social media influencer who disappeared after visiting a jailed serial killer. The FBI asks Rachel for help after she is linked to the serial killer putting her in danger. The story explores the world of influencers as Rachel searches for clues to the disappearance, which made for some good eye-rolling moments.
Megan Goldin led us down a few red herring paths while creating suspense and tension, and I clicked the pages as fast as possible. Plenty of twists and turns kept me on my toes, trying to figure out who was involved and with whom. At times it felt like a few too many red herrings, and I wasn't a bit fan of that; however, Megan pulls it all together with a satisfying ending that wraps up well.
Traveling Friends read
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
Megan Goldin led us down a few red herring paths while creating suspense and tension, and I clicked the pages as fast as possible. Plenty of twists and turns kept me on my toes, trying to figure out who was involved and with whom. At times it felt like a few too many red herrings, and I wasn't a bit fan of that; however, Megan pulls it all together with a satisfying ending that wraps up well.
Traveling Friends read
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
September 12, 2023
Rachel Krall is a famous true crime podcaster in the world of anyone who loves to listen to mystery podcasts and happens to be working on a new case when she unexpectedly is contacted by the FBI to come to Florida on official business unrelated to any work she had previously tackled. A hardened criminal named Terrence Bailey has just served six extra long years for attacking another inmate and is scheduled to be released in forty-eight hours. Through Bailey's entire sentence he never received any visitors until a week ago when a young, beautiful and popular travel influencer came to visit him under an assumed name and the only link the FBI have was Bailey told this woman that he wanted to see Rachel Krall immediately. Rachel had become very popular with many inmates all over the country due to her helping free a couple of innocent men that had been convicted of horrible crimes and never would have stood a chance of another trial without her help with her crime podcast work. The feds can't figure out the connection between the previous visitor and Bailey so they need Rachel's help immediately since the young woman has mysteriously disappeared from her camper and signs of violence were left all over the scene. Unbeknownst to Rachel, Bailey had been a major suspect in several horrific murders which occurred over eight years ago but the police never came up with any tangible hard evidence in which to arrest him for these crimes although they thought maybe he had worked with an accomplice at the time. Now, with this missing woman and Bailey's release in two days the FBI are hoping to find relevant information to keep the guy locked up until they find this woman hoping that she will still be alive.
Rachel doesn't like being strong armed or played by the cops but she is intrigued by this case and of course wants the young woman to be found alive but she has no knowledge or information that could be helpful to police but when they inform her that her safety is at risk she knows trouble and danger have found her once again and she will never run away or hide when innocent lives are on the line. Meanwhile over in the Daytona Beach area which Rachel was staying at a five star hotel where a week long influencer conference was being held another influencer appears to be missing. Is it a possibility that the cases are connected in any way? Especially when Rachel heard some rumors that both missing people had more in common than a business relationship.
As Rachel digs deeper she finds herself at a false bottom where she can't seem to climb out by herself and since she let her independence and self righteousness get carried away she now finds her own life is on the line and she might not live long enough to host any more podcasts and her own story just might become the new subject for another true crime podcast of one of her own competitors!
Another great mystery/thriller from author "Megan Goldin" whose extremely suspenseful novels never fail to pull me in each and every time I begin reading from the very first chapter. This book had a little bit of everything including a possible romance that was subtle yet promising but didn't get in the way of the hard core crimes that powered through the different storylines. The Florida atmosphere was spot-on and I felt as if I was right there with the characters experiencing the oppressive heat along with the beauty of the state itself. This was an intriguing and complex storyline with quite a few main characters yet their stories weren't difficult to follow since the writing was so good and entertaining. A fast page-turner to be sure and very enjoyable with the current trend of social media being a main focus and priority so that the book will have an appeal to a youthful as well as an older audience since the author's writing style was clever and captivating throughout the book. I highly recommend this novel for any reader who enjoys current topics along with plenty of crime drama. I can't wait to find out what new thriller "Megan Goldin" will once again write in the near future!
I want to thank the publisher "St. Martin's Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have give a rating of 4 CLEVER AND ENTERTAINING 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
Rachel doesn't like being strong armed or played by the cops but she is intrigued by this case and of course wants the young woman to be found alive but she has no knowledge or information that could be helpful to police but when they inform her that her safety is at risk she knows trouble and danger have found her once again and she will never run away or hide when innocent lives are on the line. Meanwhile over in the Daytona Beach area which Rachel was staying at a five star hotel where a week long influencer conference was being held another influencer appears to be missing. Is it a possibility that the cases are connected in any way? Especially when Rachel heard some rumors that both missing people had more in common than a business relationship.
As Rachel digs deeper she finds herself at a false bottom where she can't seem to climb out by herself and since she let her independence and self righteousness get carried away she now finds her own life is on the line and she might not live long enough to host any more podcasts and her own story just might become the new subject for another true crime podcast of one of her own competitors!
Another great mystery/thriller from author "Megan Goldin" whose extremely suspenseful novels never fail to pull me in each and every time I begin reading from the very first chapter. This book had a little bit of everything including a possible romance that was subtle yet promising but didn't get in the way of the hard core crimes that powered through the different storylines. The Florida atmosphere was spot-on and I felt as if I was right there with the characters experiencing the oppressive heat along with the beauty of the state itself. This was an intriguing and complex storyline with quite a few main characters yet their stories weren't difficult to follow since the writing was so good and entertaining. A fast page-turner to be sure and very enjoyable with the current trend of social media being a main focus and priority so that the book will have an appeal to a youthful as well as an older audience since the author's writing style was clever and captivating throughout the book. I highly recommend this novel for any reader who enjoys current topics along with plenty of crime drama. I can't wait to find out what new thriller "Megan Goldin" will once again write in the near future!
I want to thank the publisher "St. Martin's Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have give a rating of 4 CLEVER AND ENTERTAINING 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
November 11, 2024
3.5 Stars
This was my second Megan Goldin book, the first being The Night Swim (which I thoroughly enjoyed). I liked this one well enough. I liked the tone and the way the story unfolded. I thought the vapid underbelly of the social media influencer was mildly interesting and very apt.
Some of the twists seemed a little trite and far-reaching...But overall, although I didn't love it, I did enjoy it. I will continue to read this author.
This was my second Megan Goldin book, the first being The Night Swim (which I thoroughly enjoyed). I liked this one well enough. I liked the tone and the way the story unfolded. I thought the vapid underbelly of the social media influencer was mildly interesting and very apt.
Some of the twists seemed a little trite and far-reaching...But overall, although I didn't love it, I did enjoy it. I will continue to read this author.
June 25, 2023
I cannot get enough of Rachel Krall, the character at the center of The Night Swim and now Dark Corners. She is a tough as nails MC who always carries her own against her male law enforcement/FBI counterparts. While she is not in fact a detective, these books feel very much like a detective series in nature. I was enthralled as the case took many different twists and turns, and Rachel became the target herself. I never knew what to expect from moment to moment and could not put the book down. Literally.
The influencer life as a subplot is always fun to read and I love the way Goldin uses it here. The behind-the-scenes aspect of the convention added both to the story, and to the series, as Rachel is in fact an influencer herself. And the FBI agent in charge of the case? This was a subplot I did not know I wanted and it was perfection. I hope we have not seen the last of Joe Martinez, nor Rachel.
Dark Corners is formatted into a true podcast format during certain sections (complete with intro music if you listen to the audiobook), which gets lost on the printed page. Further, these sections do not really make sense, nor seem to fit, until you understand they are in fact, part of her podcast. I would recommend reading this book either as an immersive read, using both the physical/ebook and the audiobook or just listening to the audiobook.
Read if you like:
•podcast style books
•strong MCs
•romantic suspense
•serial killer plot lines
•the influencer life
Thank you {partners} St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for my gifted copies.
The influencer life as a subplot is always fun to read and I love the way Goldin uses it here. The behind-the-scenes aspect of the convention added both to the story, and to the series, as Rachel is in fact an influencer herself. And the FBI agent in charge of the case? This was a subplot I did not know I wanted and it was perfection. I hope we have not seen the last of Joe Martinez, nor Rachel.
Dark Corners is formatted into a true podcast format during certain sections (complete with intro music if you listen to the audiobook), which gets lost on the printed page. Further, these sections do not really make sense, nor seem to fit, until you understand they are in fact, part of her podcast. I would recommend reading this book either as an immersive read, using both the physical/ebook and the audiobook or just listening to the audiobook.
Read if you like:
•podcast style books
•strong MCs
•romantic suspense
•serial killer plot lines
•the influencer life
Thank you {partners} St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for my gifted copies.
August 1, 2023
4 stars!
The second book in the Rachel Krall series, this installment follows podcast host Rachel as she is called to Florida to help the FBI with a missing persons case. An influencer, Madison has disappeared after visiting an inmate in prison, not convicted of murder, but a suspect in several cases. But the more Rachel and the FBI look into Madison the less they seem to know.
I was excited and apprehensive to read this book, The Night Swim is one of my favorite mystery novels and any book after has a tough act to follow. That plus lower starred arc reviews left me worried, but I shouldn't have because I enjoyed this book very much. It's very different from The Night Swim, but not in a bad way. Instead of just investigating for journalism, Rachel is joining law enforcement on the case and has more access to information than she normally would have. I thought this was a solid mystery and a very interesting book, my only complaint was there was too much influencer content.
I received an ALC through libro.fm as a part of their librarian ALC program. This did not affect my rating or review of this book
The second book in the Rachel Krall series, this installment follows podcast host Rachel as she is called to Florida to help the FBI with a missing persons case. An influencer, Madison has disappeared after visiting an inmate in prison, not convicted of murder, but a suspect in several cases. But the more Rachel and the FBI look into Madison the less they seem to know.
I was excited and apprehensive to read this book, The Night Swim is one of my favorite mystery novels and any book after has a tough act to follow. That plus lower starred arc reviews left me worried, but I shouldn't have because I enjoyed this book very much. It's very different from The Night Swim, but not in a bad way. Instead of just investigating for journalism, Rachel is joining law enforcement on the case and has more access to information than she normally would have. I thought this was a solid mystery and a very interesting book, my only complaint was there was too much influencer content.
I received an ALC through libro.fm as a part of their librarian ALC program. This did not affect my rating or review of this book
August 22, 2023
4.0 Stars
Video: https://youtu.be/fZRV-5G4pTI
This was a solid thriller with some good twists and turns. I like that the book followed the same podcast host as Night Swim while providing a complete fresh mystery. With the podcast aspect, I would highly recommend this one on audio. While Night Swim read more like a piece of contemporary fiction, this one had a solid thriller plot. As a content creator, I loved the influencer angles
Video: https://youtu.be/fZRV-5G4pTI
This was a solid thriller with some good twists and turns. I like that the book followed the same podcast host as Night Swim while providing a complete fresh mystery. With the podcast aspect, I would highly recommend this one on audio. While Night Swim read more like a piece of contemporary fiction, this one had a solid thriller plot. As a content creator, I loved the influencer angles
October 20, 2023
Rachel Krall #2
Podcaster Rachel’s day goes awry following a phone call from the FBI which has her on a plane to Florida and then to a central Florida prison. Why is she there? It seems that two days earlier influencer Maddison Logan (@JustMaddie) visits inmate Terence Bailey who wants her to bring Rachel to see him. What is going on? Why would an influencer visit Terence and why does he want Rachel? Even more mysteriously, it seems that Maddison has now disappeared and so SA Joe Martinez asks for Rachel’s help in tracking her down. Using a lapsed Instagram account, Rachel goes undercover to BuzzCon, an influencer conference at Daytona. What Rachel discovers there demonstrates that the scariest monsters frequently hide in plain sight whilst further danger lurks in dark corners.
What do I think of Rachel? I can’t decide if she’s gutsy and brave or simply headstrong as her risky behaviour suggests. There are definitely times when you want to ask her what on earth she’s doing as she ploughs into a hornets nest! However, maybe Agent Martinez can rein her in a bit!
Rachel enters the orbit of the influencer (yawn) in this follow up to The Night Swim. What a toxic and narcissistic world we have portrayed here, probably no huge surprise as oodles of money can be made. As Rachel delves into Maddison’s world it becomes apparent there is great danger with the potential of a serial killer in operation. Everywhere she looks the symbol of the Ouroboros (snake/infinity) is present- what does this signify in terms of the investigation?? I really like this part of the storytelling as it lends a real air of the mysterious.
Whilst I think this is a good novel and it does keep me invested and engaged, it seems a bit messy and confusing at the start as the various plot strands are connected. That settles down and the book picks up and becomes a page turner. I don’t think this follow up is as exciting as the first in the series as parts of it are not especially difficult to work out. There is tension and suspense especially as the conclusion of the novel nears and one aspect that makes me happy for Rachel!
Overall, despite a few niggles, I do enjoy the book and I’m looking forward to reading what happens to Rachel next.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Canelo for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Podcaster Rachel’s day goes awry following a phone call from the FBI which has her on a plane to Florida and then to a central Florida prison. Why is she there? It seems that two days earlier influencer Maddison Logan (@JustMaddie) visits inmate Terence Bailey who wants her to bring Rachel to see him. What is going on? Why would an influencer visit Terence and why does he want Rachel? Even more mysteriously, it seems that Maddison has now disappeared and so SA Joe Martinez asks for Rachel’s help in tracking her down. Using a lapsed Instagram account, Rachel goes undercover to BuzzCon, an influencer conference at Daytona. What Rachel discovers there demonstrates that the scariest monsters frequently hide in plain sight whilst further danger lurks in dark corners.
What do I think of Rachel? I can’t decide if she’s gutsy and brave or simply headstrong as her risky behaviour suggests. There are definitely times when you want to ask her what on earth she’s doing as she ploughs into a hornets nest! However, maybe Agent Martinez can rein her in a bit!
Rachel enters the orbit of the influencer (yawn) in this follow up to The Night Swim. What a toxic and narcissistic world we have portrayed here, probably no huge surprise as oodles of money can be made. As Rachel delves into Maddison’s world it becomes apparent there is great danger with the potential of a serial killer in operation. Everywhere she looks the symbol of the Ouroboros (snake/infinity) is present- what does this signify in terms of the investigation?? I really like this part of the storytelling as it lends a real air of the mysterious.
Whilst I think this is a good novel and it does keep me invested and engaged, it seems a bit messy and confusing at the start as the various plot strands are connected. That settles down and the book picks up and becomes a page turner. I don’t think this follow up is as exciting as the first in the series as parts of it are not especially difficult to work out. There is tension and suspense especially as the conclusion of the novel nears and one aspect that makes me happy for Rachel!
Overall, despite a few niggles, I do enjoy the book and I’m looking forward to reading what happens to Rachel next.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Canelo for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
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