This one wasn’t for me, I got through it but I didn’t enjoy it and couldn’t make a connection to these characters. Petra was intense and not in a good way, She and her journalism made it difficult for me.

This was definitely an interesting story and I have some conflicting emotions about it. I enjoy stories with “true crime/podcast/journalist” themes. While I did like this overall, some aspects of this book just fell flat for me.

The book was fast paced and twisty. I did find the FMC and most of the supporting characters to be incredibly annoying (don’t even get me started on Jonah & Natalie). Certain parts of the story began to get a bit repetitive and the investigation seemed way too far fetched. I know it’s fiction, but when you write “podcast/true crime” themed stories they should have a certain amount of believability….. if that makes sense.

This was my first read by Matt Witten and I would probably check out another one of his books. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this eArc of Killer Story.

“Killer Story” by Matt Witten had an interesting concept—a journalist chasing a true crime scoop but it didn’t quite live up to its potential. The pacing felt uneven, and the protagonist’s questionable decisions made it hard to root for her. While the ethical dilemmas presented were intriguing, the plot twists were predictable, and the suspense never fully built up. It’s a decent read for fans of journalism-based thrillers, but it left me wanting more depth and complexity.

Everyone loves a "whodunit story" and Killer Story pushes that envelope even further. How far will she go to catch the killer? Will catching the killer not only benefit others, but her own PODCAST too???

This is the story of a woman who wanted nothing more than to be known, exploring the underworlds of an unsolved crime of a girl she knew, Petra launches herself into the unknown. Not only to find her friend's killer and for justice for her, but to know everything about this case and hunt down it's killer. But will she lose everything to avenge her friend?

There are SO MANY true crime podcast themed books that it's hard to stand out. While this one was enjoyable, nothing stood out for me. A quick read though!

This turned out to be an unexpectedly wonderful thriller about an investigative journalist. I was completely invested in the story from the start and it had many clever twists. I finished it in just two days.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Killer Story by Matt Whitten is about a journalist Petra Kovach uncovering who killed her friend Olivia Anderson two years ago.

With its gripping story, several suspects and many twists I quite enjoyed this book. I wasn’t overly keen on Petra and some of her choices she made. In light of that I think it shows what some journalists do and how they can get a story wrong.

My only small let down were the missing text messages. I know this was mentioned before in the story as it’s an ARC, but it made me wonder if there were any insight into who the killer was.

Thanks to Netgalley and OceanView Publishing for the digital copy of Killer Story for reviewing purposes.

I enjoyed Matt Witten’s debut novel, The Necklace, so I was excited for his second book, Killer Story. Witten is a TV writer so he knows how to build drama and keep an audience guessing. But his second book had me conflicted.

Killer Story is about Petra Kovach, a young journalist full of ambition and on a mission to find out who killed her friend. In a bid to save her job at a newspaper, she makes a desperate pitch to her boss for a podcast with a fresh angle on her friend’s highly-publicised murder case. The only problem is that she doesn’t actually have a fresh angle and is now on a deadline to find one. And so begins her crazy pursuit of the truth, which sees her pushing all kinds of boundaries and breaking all the rules.

As a former newspaper journalist and crime reporter myself, I found this book hard to stomach because it shines a great big spotlight on the problem with news reporting in today’s digital age. Back in my day (honestly, I’m not as old as that makes me sound 😅), we didn’t face the same pressures over how many eyeballs our stories were getting, which in turn determines advertising revenue - the lifeblood of most news organisations. It’s a very different landscape now and as someone who has media experience and is an avid consumer of news, it infuriates me when a sensationalised headline is used as clickbait to lure readers into a story that does not deliver what the headline promised.

The lengths the journalist in this story goes to disgusted me, but sadly I suspect her actions aren’t too different to a few real-life journos who feel compelled to compromise their integrity for job security, promotion or praise.

It was interesting to read in the author’s note that he identifies with Petra and forgives all her flaws. I didn’t and couldn’t. But don’t let this put you off of reading it. If you like a story with twists, turns, tension and an unexpected ending, Killer Story delivers!

I'm fascinated with crime podcasting so really loved that being part of this book. I loved the twists and turns and was happily along for the ride! Was a really fast read, perfect companion for a road trip! Can't wait to see what the author writes next.

I love stories with true crime podcasts in them. There is so much gray area there - with morals and lines that I'm not sure when it's okay to cross. The question is always, is the cost worth it? To possibly get to the truth, can you bring up the heartache? Blame someone else for the crime? All of it, there are so many things to juggle and wonder and I love it!

And this one does a great job of really pushing that line! I liked the mystery and the twists. But oh the main character was hard to like. It really made me wonder if we do more harm, sometimes, than good. But to someone who has a missing and/or murdered loved one, is there ever a "too far"? Probably not.

I recommend this one for the great mystery and interesting deep dive into true crime podcasts, especially when the podcaster is struggling to stay employed and relevant. But go in knowing you will wonder what is right and wrong when searching for the truth!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

"Killer Story" races through a maze of twists and turns, following newspaper journalist Petra Kovach as she pursues a case close to her heart in a dying industry. Fired but determined, Petra pitches her boss with new evidence on the unsolved murder of her mentee, leveraging her job to launch a podcast dedicated to cracking the case. Yet, beneath the surface of this politically charged thriller lies a protagonist driven not just by justice, but by ambition and fame. Petra's relentless pursuit of leads sees her sacrificing journalistic integrity, manipulating facts, and destroying lives for the sake of her podcast, blurring the lines between truth and sensationalism.

As Petra's lies compound, her character elicits mixed feelings from readers, evolving from mild dislike to outright contempt. Her lack of empathy and self-serving actions strain credibility, prompting frustration and a desire for her downfall. Despite this, the book's gripping pace and compelling narrative style keep readers hooked, eager to see how Petra's house of cards will collapse around her. "Killer Story" offers a plot-driven thrill akin to a fast-paced TV show, yet its morally ambiguous protagonist leaves a bitter aftertaste, challenging readers to reconcile their enjoyment with the character's reprehensible choices.

Thank you to NetGalley, Matt Witten and Oceanview publishing for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

DNF. I really wanted to be interested in this one and I read over 65% but I was bored and the story just felt like it was having a lot of hate. So much round and round about how she feels. Not for me.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review*

Fantastic - I would recommend it!

I have mixed feelings about the story of "Killer Story." Not about the book. The book is a gripping examination of the pressures of media and social media. The story centers on Petra Kovach, the victim of ruthless cutbacks at two newspapers. She's in a good place with her boyfriend, and - so she thinks - in her latest job. When she finds herself suddenly on the precipice of a another layoff, she thinks fast and promises more than she can deliver. Then she has to make good.

That's where my mixed feelings start coming in. Petra throws good journalism to the wind and starts looking out for number one. It doesn't help that the story she pitched, the one she's counting on to save her career, hits close to home. Petra's sort-of protégé Olivia Anderson was murdered, and she thinks she has a good lead on the killer. Each time she points the finger, new clues come to light that lead to a different suspect. In a way, it's almost comical the number of times she's convinced she's solved the crime only to change her mind in the next chapter. Her boss, the editor who's trying to save his own career, makes equally poor choices.

The victim doesn't inspire a lot of sympathy, either. When we meet Livvy, she's a somewhat idealistic wannabe reporter. By the time she was violently murdered, she had become a YouTube star and darling of the ultra right. She had plenty of enemies.

I will recommend "Killer Story" because it does offer insights into the cutthroat nature of media today, and it's not too far from the truth of what some people have done to try to keep their jobs. It usually doesn't end well for them. It also provides a glimpse into circumstances that might push someone to political extremism. I think older readers like myself will probably have a bigger problem with Petra's actions through the story than readers Petra's own age; I see a lot of what I would term questionable decisions being a generational thing.

The author provided me with a free review copy. Opinions are all my own.

I enjoyed this story. It was a great concept and very relevant to what’s hot right now. This my favorite genre

This is one of those books where you can enjoy the story even when you don't like the main character or many of the others. Petra is a journalist who wants to solve the murder of someone she mentored when she was younger. The problem is that Petra has been fired from multiple jobs, so talks her boss into letting her do a podcast instead of firing her again. In trying to save herself, she accuses multiple people of the crime without doing adequate research. All of the characters are more interested in themselves than finding the truth.

I devoured this book. It was such an easy read, very fast-paced and I enjoyed every last minute of it.

It was an interesting book that I felt touched on today's journalism and the ever-evolving world of podcasts and journalism.

However, I felt like there were a lot of questionable decisions made by the main character and the poor way she tried to justify them, I just couldn't get out of my head. However, she is a fictional person, and we can't all be perfect.

Thank you to netgalley for the chance to read this advanced copy.

That said, it was an advanced copy, so I'm hoping someone went through and cleaned it up before publishing it. It was rather difficult to read with missing letters everywhere. I'm pretty certain missing words (the texts) and who knows what else.
The story was ok, I made it through the book....the protagonist was horrible! I think I hated her from chapter 1.
I would have liked to have seen a cleaned up copy of this book, maybe my stars would have went up.

I was super interested in the storyline based on the summary, but I just could not finish this one! I made it until around 45% and then gave up. It was very repetitive. The main character Petra was beyond annoying! I really did not like her, which contributed to this being an impossible read for me. I know books can often have unbelievable plot lines but this one was just way beyond overboard!

Petra is a journalist trying to keep her job. To avoid being fired, she asks for time to do a true crime podcast about a murder. Petra knew the victim, and wants justice for her friend.

Killer Story is told from Petra’s point of view. Petra is an unlikable character that makes poor, hasty decisions throughout the book. While I wasn’t a fan of Petra, the story really pulled me in.

A fast-paced, gripping mystery. Recommended for readers who enjoy crime fiction and podcasts.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.