Challenge Corner discussion

She gets people to confess their crimes for a living. He knows she's hiding a terrible secret. It's time for the truth to come out…

Poe Webb, host of a popular true crime podcast, invites people to anonymously confess crimes they've committed to her audience. She can't guarantee the police won't come after her "guests," but her show grants simultaneous anonymity and instant fame—a potent combination that's proven difficult to resist. After an episode recording, Poe usually erases both criminal and crime from her mind.

But when a strange and oddly familiar man appears on her show, Poe is forced to take a second look. Not only because he claims to be her mother's murderer from years ago, but because Poe knows something no one else does. Her mother's murderer is dead.

Poe killed him.

From the USA Today bestselling author of The Dead Girl in 2A and The New Neighbor comes a chilling new thriller that forces the question: are murderers always the bad guys?

**This BOTM thread will be open until October 5th @ Midnight (in your time zone)**

Just got this from Hoopla. I was hoping for the audio with the podcast aspect but hopefully it reads well

Ch.1-13 how can so much happen and yet nothing has really happened but we are 13 chapters. Maybe I’m just used to these long a** chapters from fantasy books haha

I started this today, since I saw the audiobook was available. Have to say it's been phenomenal so far. Loved the Cuckoo's Nest reference. Going to continue here from part 3.

CH 53 - 66(view spoiler)[
Hindley constantly feels to be one step ahead of Poe. Im starting to have a love/hate relationship with our FMC. I mean the man is using ant killer to poison your pet... he means business and he is done with you stalling. Absolutely love the level of paranoia, which is what Hindley wants, Poe is starting to experience. The game of cat and mouse continues. (hide spoiler)]

CH 66 - 75 (view spoiler)[
Feel as if we have gone full circle. Her dad admitting that he wanted to kill Hindley when he hits his car. He went from the utter anger and disappointment when she confessed her killing in New York to fully accepting it now. (hide spoiler)]

CH 76 - Finished (view spoiler)[
Honestly very conflicted. She didn't need to kill him. Im unsure if this is just the authors way of showing how they are two in the same? Overall I enjoyed the audiobook. I do not think I would have gotten through it otherwise. The writing style isn't the best even with very short chapters. (hide spoiler)]

Ch.14-27, end of part 1 (view spoiler)[ I’m curious how his dad takes the news but I’m glad she also reached out to Kip. It also make me wonder who the “he” is in the alternating 10/31 chapters. I’m enjoying the dual timeline (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 1 - 25 (view spoiler)[I am suck in immediately at the TRUE crime podcast and how the interviewee become the interviewer (hide spoiler)]

Kim wrote: "Ch.1-13 how can so much happen and yet nothing has really happened but we are 13 chapters. Maybe I’m just used to these long a** chapters from fantasy books haha"

I completely agree. We don't really have much characterization or anything else. Only thing we know is that she killed who she thinks is the murderer. That much is written in the book summary :(

BabyLunLun wrote: "Chapter 1 - 25 [spoilers removed]"

She has to be pretty freaked out sometimes with the killers she interviews. It became very uncomfortable for her for sure.

Kim wrote: "Ch.14-27, end of part 1 [spoilers removed]"

I like the dual timelines also. I have to try to not get confused of when and who is talking. I need to pay closer attention to my reading with this one for sure.

Kim wrote: "Ch.1-13 how can so much happen and yet nothing has really happened but we are 13 chapters. Maybe I’m just used to these long a** chapters from fantasy books haha"

I've made it to Chapter 17 and I feel the same way! This book is my favorite genre but this one just isn't keeping my attention, granted I'm not that far in. I'm hoping it picks up!

Finished-(view spoiler)[it wasn’t a bad book but I wouldn’t call it good either. It was all kinda underwhelming. It would build up a bit in suspense but then fell short each time. (hide spoiler)]

@kayla don’t want to ruin anything for you but don’t hold your breath for pick up lol

Ch.28-43 (view spoiler)[ her dad’s reaction is so wonderfully raw and human. I was afraid he was going to be unrealistically accepting. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 25-50 (view spoiler)[Is Ian Hindley an imposter?? I CANNOT TELL (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 51-75 (view spoiler)[ why hindley able to track them whenever they go (hide spoiler)]

55% “I’m a master-level pacer, and I’m going to pace the sh** out of this room.” Idk why this quote made me giggle but I’m sticking with it.

Chapter 75 - End (view spoiler)[ It seems only logical that Poe do time for her murder but it still is a sad ending (hide spoiler)]

60% “The key is to reframe loneliness as solitude. Solitude is introspective and comforting, if you set your mind right.”

Also not sure if anyone else read the ebook but it has hyperlinks to clips of Poe and it’s presented as evidence. Idk if I like it but I do like the concept

ch 1-27

(view spoiler)[ I feel like the relationship between Poe and Kip is superficial. Their break up felt like there was no emotion involved, and the kiss after she opened up slightly felt disingenuous after the cold shoulder he was giving her.

I am interested in who she killed in New York and how they tie in with the man who commandeered the interview.

Also curious what's going to happen with the majority of the book we have left since we are given so much in the beginning. (hide spoiler)]

81% (view spoiler)[ can fully resonate with the alcohol weakness lifestyle. Our culture makes it very easy to(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 28-52

(view spoiler)[ I'm worried that the man he is torturing is her father, and not Kip like I originally thought. I do like the father's reaction being more raw.

Overall I'm not a fan of Poe, she has moments of defiance, and then will immediately backs off. It feels like she only cares about the man being tortured when she's reminded he exists.

Hindley didn't know the safe word in the first live stream. But it also doesn't feel like the guy in New York was a murder. Too naive when he found out she was the daughter of the woman he supposably murdered. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 53-end

(view spoiler)[Overall the story felt uneventful. You knew what she did and the Hinley was crazy within the first 5 minutes. Yes, then they went into detail about how/why but it all felt underwhelming.

And the guy eating the rat poison, a man who knows this person used her mother's picture to lure him at and that she was the daughter, felt very unrealistic. We are talking about a man that's gotten away with 6 murders, to then die by ingesting rat poison.

I did like how she keep podcasting in prison to donate money to charities. But that's about the only part of the story I enjoyed.
(hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ i was expecting slightly more dramatic ending but better than it could've dribbled into. solid wrap up even if anti-climactic (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Kala wrote: "Ch 53-end

Overall the story felt uneventful. You knew what she did and the Hinley was crazy within the first 5 minutes. Yes, then they went into detail about how/why but it all felt underwhelming...."

1000% agreed