When 26-year-old artist Cassidy Jameson vanishes from the fogbound town of Harbor’s End, Maine, a pool of blood at the old boathouse is the only clue left behind. With no body and no answers, the story is ripe for speculation—and exploitation.
Enter Whispers in the Dark, a true-crime podcast desperate to build an audience. Host Amelia Walsh sees Cassidy’s case as her ticket to the big a missing girl, a picturesque town, and just enough darkness to go viral. But as Amelia leans into dramatization to boost downloads, the story starts to slip from her control.
Because someone is listening.
A serial killer name-dropped on the show emerges from the shadows, drawn to the spotlight. And with a taste for both headlines and blood, he may very well make Harbor’s End his new hunting ground.
It is possible that the price of fame may be more than anyone wants to pay.
Now, as the lines blur between storyteller and subject, the hunt for Cassidy collides with a new wave of terror. The podcast wanted a story. What they got was a nightmare.
3.25 I will come back to write my actual review once I organize my thoughts. I did an immersion read despite starting with the audio alone. However, I found the narration to be so off putting that I couldn’t focus on the plot. To be finished shortly…
I love podcast thrillers and stories with serial killers, so this book was everything I wanted. The mystery around Cassidy’s disappearance pulled me in right away, and the podcast angle made it even better.
Amelia starts a true crime show to cover the case, hoping it will help her career. But the more she talks, the more danger she invites. I loved how the story slowly got darker, especially when a real killer starts listening.
The small town setting, the missing girl, and the rising tension made this such a fast and fun read. If you enjoy podcast thrillers and creepy killers, this one is a must.
Something about a thriller/true crime book centering around podcasts will get me every time! (which is funny since I don't actually like podcasts) I think it makes it more realistic since true crime podcasts are such a big thing in real life these days.
I enjoyed all the POVs we get in this book. I found it really added a layer to the story having a POV from so many angles. A couple areas felt a little repetitive but otherwise the pacing worked well for me. I saw some of the twists coming but that didn't take from my enjoyment. I enjoyed the set up for future books at the end (I'm assuming) and would definitely read more from this author with these characters.
I think the ending (besides the one set up as mentioned above) was tied in a really nice bow which I always appreciate that. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick true crime read.
NARRATION: I thought the narrator did a good job, she tried to create distinct voices for each character for dialogue sections and some of the accents came off a little wonky to me, but it did help keep track of who was speaking. I actually found her style of narration to sometime come across like a reporter/podcaster, which fit the story really well for me and I enjoyed that.
I decided to give this book a shot when I passed by it on my FB timeline. I am glad I did.
This book is set in Harbors End, Maine and follows the story of a missing woman. The case brings in not only local attention but also that of an active serial killer who uses the hysteria as a cover and makes Harbors End his new hunting ground.
As a lover of true crimes, and podcasts this story and the twists and turns it provided kept my attention from start to finish.
OMG! I hated this book because I lost so much sleep because I loved it so much, It was impossible to put down. For his first mystery novel Mr Inman has surpassed any and all expectations. This is such a different genre than his futuristic apocalyptics and the city of reruns Middle Falls. The storyline and plot was tense from the first page. This mystery rivals anything else out there. To put himself into the mind of a serial killer was a little frightening, that’s when you remember, it is only a book. Mr Inmon has outdone himself and given himself given him a totally new series to continue. We can only hope the next saga involves the capture of the slayer of innocents. An absolute *****!
When 26 year old Cassidy goes missing in her small town of Harbour End, soon podcasters and amateur detectives and internet sleuths flood the town wanting a front row seat of the investigation.
As the town changes due to the flood of people, the police investigation becomes murky and they realise that Cassidy may have become the latest victim of the The Fluke Killer, a serial killer who leaves no trace behind.
This was a solid mystery however found it very repetitive, I think it would have worked better if some chapters were told as podcast episodes.
This story was just not doing it for me. There were too many characters to keep track of. I didn’t understand the “fluke” reference and podcasts aren’t my thing.
I still look forward to each new Middle Falls book. Love that series!
I enjoyed this book and thought the premise was really interesting - a woman goes missing and a true crime podcast sets up and the host Amelia is hoping to make it big off of this case…but what happens when she speculates and embellishes and mentions a serial killer…and that serial killer is listening…
I was hooked on this pretty quickly - I liked the small town setting and building tension. There are some good twists and turns and surprises! I enjoyed the overall mystery and whodunnit vibes. I personally enjoy podcasts so I really liked that part of the book and the use of multiple POVs.
The author did a good job showing that sometimes there is a fine line on how to report on something - embellishing vs sensational reporting, educated guesses vs wild theories solely for viewers.
I thought the narrator did a good job. This was my first book narrated by Caroline and she is very easy to listen to and did a distinct voice for character. It was pretty easy to tell the different characters apart - and there are quite a few characters - yes there are some accents (think north eastern coast, Boston, etc.) and I found they were easier to listen to at a slightly lower speed than usual for me!
Shawn Inmon is one of my favorite novelists. He knows how to tell a good story and is great at creating characters about whom we care. I've read dozens of his time-travel works, but this is his first mystery novel. How does he do it? No matter what genre he chooses, his books are winners that will keep you reading all day and night!
A small town in Maine is in trouble financially and its leaders come up with a scheme to save it. A young woman goes missing while unsolved serial killings come to light in New England. The town becomes a tourist attraction for crime buffs in the dead of winter and business is booming suddenly. Meanwhile, one of the visitors is the serial killer himself! How will the local and state police and FBI deal with this situation, while crime podcasters and the mainstream media speculate on what's going on?
Being that I live in a small town in Maine, I was interested in Inmon's depiction of Harbors End. He is spot on about the people and the town. So bonus points for this!
Inmon makes it clear that he would love to continue this detective series and I hope he does! This initial novel is a great first book in the series!
🎧 I got the opportunity to listen to this audiobook which was narrated by Caroline Hewitt. I thought she did a great job with the multiple POVs and brought the podcast to life.
A missing 26 year old, no body, lots of speculation and room for exploitation. Enter Whispers in the Dark, a true crime podcast desperate to build an audience.
As the host, Amelia, dives into the story she has no idea that she has gained the attention of a serial killer.
Can you tell the story and connect the dots that investigations weren’t able to. Could you solve the crime and go viral? Are you putting yourself in harms way by looking into the circumstances? Listening to the story unfold was really interesting and got increasingly more so as time went on. I was invested to find out more about the serial killer and the story behind the missing woman!
Thank you to the author, Shawn Inmon, and Podium Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book. I received a gifted copy and am leaving my review voluntarily.
Death by Podcast was a fun who-dunnit? mystery/thriller where true crime podcasting is front and center. As a big fan of true crime, this was a fun topic to weave through a narrative!
I enjoyed the storyline and I’m so proud of myself for figuring out the twist so early! I also really liked the way the author painted a picture of how exploitative the true crime podcasting/youtube/documentary world can be if done with bad intentions. It’s a slippery slope when dealing with real people and real tragedies. Adding the serial killer element was perfect to keep the thriller intrigue throughout the story.
It was a bit confusing at times because of the switching POVs mid-chapter. Because I listened on audio, it wasn’t super obvious when we swapped POVs and that bugged the hell out of me. The narrator was fine, but she didn’t make it super obvious when it was a different character.
Overall, a good mystery/thriller and a cool take on the true crime phenomenon.
Death by Podcast was an engaging thriller with a concept I really enjoyed, though the audiobook/ narrator tripped me up at times. There were moments when it was hard to tell who was speaking, which caused a bit of confusion, but the story itself kept me listening.
I’m a sucker for true-crime–inspired thrillers, especially ones centered around podcasts, and this one pulled me in quickly with the mystery of Cassidy’s disappearance. The podcast element added a realistic edge, making the story feel timely and unsettling as it gradually took a darker turn, especially once it became clear the wrong person was listening.
The multiple POVs added depth and tension, even if a few parts felt repetitive. Some twists were easy to guess, but they didn’t take away from the overall experience. The small-town setting and rising suspense made this a fast, addictive listen, and I’d definitely read more from this author.
I’ll read any book if the tropes are serial killer and podcast 🤭
Death by Podcast by Shawn Inmon was a fun and entertaining read that kept me interested from start to finish. The concept was creative and timely, and I really enjoyed how the story blended mystery with humor and a bit of suspense. The podcast angle gave a more modern day feel, and it was easy to get pulled into the twists along the way. I wondered the whole time if the killer was listening to podcast as Amelia updated her audience.
The narrator’s voice was perfect for the audio and brought the audio to life with her tone based on what was going on in the story. I could feel the suspense while she was narrating.
While some parts were a little predictable, the pacing stayed solid and the characters were engaging enough to keep me listening. Overall, this was an enjoyable read with a unique premise, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a light mystery with an interesting twist.
Death by Podcast had a unique premise that pulled me in right away—blending true crime, podcast culture, and a touch of mystery. Shawn Inmon clearly knows how to keep a reader turning the pages, and there were definitely moments of suspense that hit the mark.
That said, while the setup was intriguing, the pacing felt uneven at times, and I found myself wanting a bit more depth in the character development. Some plot twists were predictable, and others felt a little underexplored. It wasn’t a bad read—just one that didn’t fully deliver on the potential it started with.
Still, if you’re a fan of podcast-themed thrillers or like your mysteries with a modern twist, it’s worth checking out. A solid, middle-of-the-road read that had its moments.
I really love this book and I’m actually surprised because I don’t really rate mystery or thrillers high in the five star category but this one was really interesting and really different.
Small town taking over by true crime podcast news, media outlets, and a serial unaliver.
The book is told multiple POV is the unaliver, the detectives the podcast the media I love that we didn’t just get one point of view. We got all corners of the story. I really hope that the author writes another one of these because I would love to see where the podcasts went with their detective work.
The narration for this one was very good, highly highly highly recommend the audiobook for this one.
I've read quite a few of Shawns books, and 99% of them I've given 5 stars. I have a problem with this one because I can't give it more than 5 when it's a 10 in my book. It seems Mr Inmon has the gift of not only writing time travel but can turn his hand at writing anything and doing a great job, no matter what it's about. This one's a murder mystery, and mysterious it really is. We have a serial killer on the loose and he's stopping for no one. The small town of Harbors End, Maine, becomes famous and enjoying every minute of it as half closed shops re-open and money (Much needed) pours into the coffers saving the town from grace, as it fills up with tourists and podcasters and yes, a serial killer. All in all, a great book and completely "unputdownable". Thank you, Shawn, for once again keeping me up all night (I'm an ex-Brit in Australia and can be sarcastic in a nice way, because I can, lol.) Please keep tapping away at the keyboard, I love your work.
A number of observations: There is clearly going to be a Down East Detective Series, which will probably have"david Reed" in the background but cetre on Billie Munroe and I think this overly influenced this story. The plot idea is good but the book drags and needed editing down. I have a poor memory for names and tend to write down the names of people that appear in a book as I go on. I stopped at 65 in this book. A lot turn out to be only mentioned a couple of times but it is too may and unnecessery.
When a local artist goes missing and a true-crime podcast brings in the infamous serial killer. This small town had no idea what is about to unfold. There are twists and turns I didn't see coming. I liked and felt the story picked up quickly, keeping me on the edge of my seat. The ending is set up nicely to hopefully bring us book 2.
Carolinea Hewitt did a fantastic job narrating amd bringing the characters of Harbor's End, Maine to life!
If your into murder mystery and a true crime podcast lover. Then this book is a must!
A disappearance of a young woman brings out the worst of dying small towns and how people will take advantage of the situation, even a serial killer.
I don’t generally gravitate toward true crime stories but this did have a certain way of pulling me in. I was looking forward to the ending to see how the author would pull it all together.
I appreciate that this wasn’t a complete happy ending but showed that some crimes do have consequences and while also leaving the author the leeway to write more stories.
I love Shawn Inmon & am happy he shifts genres, but this wasn’t my favorite book of his. I liked the premise, & I love his writing style & I definitely still enjoyed it, but middle falls time travel series has my heart.
The reason I’m rating this lower is because I listened to this book via audible & the narration was horrendous in my opinion. I kept thinking the setting was somewhere in Britain & had to keep reminding myself that it was in Maine. I couldn’t take the story as seriously as I usually do, because it was so off putting.
This book managed to create a fresh take on the missing girl AND serial killer tropes. I enjoyed how frustratingly clever our killer was. That being said, it harped on responsible and "local color" journalism a little too much for my taste. There were parts that felt like fluff just to pad the page count and plenty of times it got downright repetitive. At the end of it all, I enjoyed that the story lines were neatly wrapped up, but the door was left open for a continuation of a series. I certainly wouldn't mind another trip to Harbor's End.
The author, Shawn Inmon, did a fabulous job with this story. Kept me involved and not knowing what would happen next. Shawn, I hope you read it a series ! I love your Middle Falls series, and I think you should continue it forever! I think we learn a little bit about ourselves and others through your books.A an artist myself I totally understand the need to explore different genres. I loved this book!
really enjoy "mixed media" type of books. This one adds bits of a podcaster (Amelia Walsh) that is in Harbor's End Maine investigating a missing person. Cassidy Jameson has gone missing, leaving a bloody scene at her last known location. All of the clues are leading to a potential serial killer. Bodies are piling up, the authorities have little to go on. This was a very enjoyable, well paced suspense thriller.
Author, Shawn Inmon did an awesome job writing in this new Mystery genre. My husband reads his books and said here's a book I would really enjoy as a mystery lover. He really kept me enthralled and grabbed me in right from the start!! Hope there will be more to come by Mr. In on in this Mystery genre, as he did a great job for his first mystery book!!
One of the many things I like about Shawn Inmon's books is they all have a life lesson or two woven into the fabric of the story. With this being his first book in the crime fiction genre, I didn't know what to expect but I loved it. He's proven he can succeed in any genre he so chooses.
Thanks to Podium, I was able to do the alc for this one and I loved it. The narrator did a great job bringing the story to life. I was intrigued the entire time and did not guess “the who done it.” I love thrillers that bring podcast elements into the story. It combines my two favorite things and always keeps me intrigued. This one did not disappoint!
Shawn Inmon has written a very compellingly thriller with many twists and turns. Who's the killer, what's the real story with the town politicians and are podcasters good or only looking for followers at any cost?
I have read every single Middle Falls book & love Shawn Inmon’s writing - always a great story every time & I was not disappointed in this book either. Great storyline, brilliant characters & a good ending, I will definitely be reading the follow up if there is one.
I didn’t expect this from Shawn Inmon, and I loved it!!! There is no genre he can’t do. I enjoyed this book so much. I saw the twist coming, but I still enjoyed every minute of it.