This one was good but a lot of characters in the beginning and the vague ending didn’t do it for me. I liked the dual timeline and the podcast element

Jess, a blogger and true-crime podcaster takes on a fifty year old unsolved murder case with a family link. An engrossing story but the ending was a little weak, in my opinion. Still a decent read though.

I think it's a good thriller that kept me on the edge and turning pages. The dual timelines work well and the twists always surprised me.
It's the promising start of a new series and I hope the next story will be up to this one.
One note: people with dementia are very frail and I wasn't a fan of how the author description.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

When Jess Keeler finds her grandfather's notebook from 50 years ago, when he was working the murder of a young couple that was never solved, she decides to use the case as the basis of a true-crime podcast. Not only does Jess hope to do what nobody else has in 50 years and identify the killer, but she is also hoping to learn more about her grandfather, who she knows died in the line of duty but her mother won't talk about him at all. This is a dual timeline, multiple POV story that alternates between 1971-2 and the present, juxtaposing the original investigation with Jess's. I thought the characters could have had a bit more depth, but the story was well-paced and held my interest to the end.

Screenwriter, filmmaker and author, Eryk Pruitt’s Something Bad Wrong is the first of an intended murder mystery series. Jess Keeler never completed her journalism degree and so seeks the assistance of a former TV anchor-man, Dan Decker with her True-crime podcast. The murder of two high school sweethearts almost fifty years ago is personal for Jess as her grandfather, respected detective Big Jim Ballard investigated the crime. Her grandfather’s fall from grace, thanks to this case, is something no one wants to discuss, including Jess’s mother, Jim’s daughter. Set in Deeton County, North Carolina, the narrative flows seamlessly between dual timelines, as both investigations have their secrets, coverups and personal agendas. A truly enjoyable crime mystery tale with lots of surprises, yet the ending wasn’t quite the dynamic anticipated, so only three and a half stars read rating. With thanks to Thomas & Mercer and the author for an uncorrected proof copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.

When Jess Keeller approached canceled reporter Dan Decker to help her with her podcast and investigating the 1972 Christmas murders he had first tried to hit on her but soon throughout their investigation who will come to respect her and maybe just a little redeem himself. She was going on her grandpa‘s old Notebook when he was a detective Investigating the crime while also suffering from a form of dementia and it all makes for an awesome awesome very interesting story is told from duel timelines one current in one in the past from her grandfather’s point of view. This was a great read in the beginning of the new jess Keeler mysteries a series I am definitely going to continue reading. The story is sad, compelling, action packed and so very interesting. I honestly and thoroughly enjoyed this book. I received it from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

A dual time line mystery - Jesse is trying to solve a murder her grandfather was unable to in 1972. She's a podcaster and she's determined to make the most of what time her grandfather has before his dementia takes over completely, There are lots of secrets and lies about the two lovers who were killed in 1972. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Good atmospherics and storytelling but a little convoluted.

This was a really interesting story but it took awhile to get there. I enjoyed the multiple POVs and timelines - but the present day was my favorite. I found myself a little bored at times during the past timeline. I think the story was a little long and could benefit from editing out some parts to make it a little shorter. Jess sometimes read as a young age - not like a woman in her 40s. I also didn’t understand the dynamic with her son since he’s a grown adult and was portrayed like a helpless child. There were some surprises to keep things interesting too!

Something Bad Wrong by Eryk Pruitt, Personal entertainment value an XL 5⭐️!

Holy forking shirtballs! I’ve been a Pruitt fan since Dirtbags and I’ll go on record saying that this is my favorite EP book yet, and I would really like to persuade more peers in my circle to check his work out. His narrative threads are as tight as the come and his dialog hits like a 30 year whiskey. reading his work is truly a pleasure.

Synopsis: To catch the killer who eluded her detective grandfather fifty years ago, a true-crime podcaster must contend with outdated evidence, ulterior motives, and the dark family secrets that got in the way.

This is the book by which all 2023 reads will be judged against and you NEED it on your #TBR.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC.

Eryk Pruitt's true crime/podcast novel overall had a great premise. I will revisit this novel again later because at the time I picked it up I had really gone through a lot of similar concepts and this one just didn't stick out to me. However, I think it would if I tried again.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of Something Bad Wrong by Eryk Pruitt. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC.

I can't decide if I like or dislike how flawed this book's characters became. On one hand, it provided an intriguing narrative that often zigged when I expected it to zag. But then I constantly wanted to yell at the characters to make different decisions. All said it was an engaging story, and I would recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind being upset now and then. I give this book 3.5/5 stars.

Something Bad Wrong by Eryk Pruitt is a highly recommended investigative thriller/police procedural.

Jess Keeler, a podcaster, is determined to solve the 1972 murder of Linda Harris and Steven Hicks. The couple from Lake Castor, Virginia, disappeared on Christmas Eve in 1971. Their bodies were found a couple weeks later just over the border in North Carolina. Jess's grandfather, Big Jim Ballard was a detective in Deeton County, North Carolina and was put in charge of the investigation by Sheriff Red Carter. Jim, however, was keeping the fact he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease a secret.

Jess recruits disgraced news caster Dan Decker to help her with the investigation in hopes of solving the crime in a true crime podcast. Jess has found an old notebook from her grandfather and is using the notes he made to assist them in the direction their research should take. As they begin looking into the case and background information, it becomes clear that the notes may not have all the answers and that there were several problems and conflicts in the original investigation.

The narrative unfolds through two timelines, Jess and Dan in the present day and all those involved in the official investigation in 1972. There are also several different points-of-view from a variety of characters. The complexities of the original case are presented along with the conflicts between characters and psychological motives. The first investigation was plagued by dueling egos, corruption, and secrets.

The depiction of Big Jim and his struggle with Alzheimer’s disease is well executed and heartbreaking, however all of the characters are not quite fully realized. There is some devolving into using caricatures of a type of person, Sheriff Red Carter, for example, but generally the male characters are better written than Jess. Jess isn't as compelling of a characters and seems to be much younger than her age, almost 40.

Both timelines are interesting as they both lead to the eventual answers, although the present day investigation is slower-paced. The dual timelines work well in the novel, while the ending felt rushed.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, Edelweiss, and Amazon.

Enjoyable read! Full Murder in Common review here:
https://murderincommon.com/2023/03/12/eryk-pruitt-something-bad-wrong/

True-crime podcaster Jess Keeler has returned to Deeton County, North Carolina, to pick up where her grandfather left off. Sheriff’s Deputy Big Jim Ballard, her grandfather, was a respected detective—until it all came crashing down during a 1972 murder investigation.

For Jim, solving the murders of two teens should have been the highlight of his already storied career. Instead, he battled his own mind, unsure where his hunches ended and the truth began.

Working from her grandfather’s disjointed notes, Jess is sure that she can finally put the cold case—and her family’s shame—to rest. Enlisting the help of disgraced reporter Dan Decker, Jess soon discovers ugly truths about the first investigation, which was shaped by corruption, egos, and a family secret that may be the key to the crime.

Told in a dual timeline that covers both investigations, Something Bad Wrong explores human folly, hubris, and how sometimes, to solve a crime, you have to find out who’s covering it up.

Only Murders on the State Line... or something like that,

Jess Keeler wants to start a podcast about a local murder case for which her grandfather was one of the lead investigators and drafts in disgraced anchor man Dan Decker in an attempt to spruce things up. Jess and Dan are however, pretty one dimensional and it takes some time for things to actually get going on their side of the story as the principals surrounding the case don't want to talk except when they have a quick plot progress point to impart.

Running concurrently to this we delve into the aftermath of the murders in 1972 getting the view from there with the characters of Big Jim and Red being a little cliche, but more coloured in than the present date duo. The two timelines has a habit of stretching things out rather than bringing any thrust to the story.

Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for this one as it is not altogether unenjoyable, but just not as well formed as other novels of this type, which I've read.

On Christmas Eve 1971, two young lovers disappear, their bodies discovered weeks later, across the North Carolina state line, creating a conflict between Virginia’s Lake Castor investigators, where the couple went missing from, and the Deeton County Sheriff’s Department who found them. Ultimately, the investigation was headed by “Big Jim” Ballard, a trusted lawman in the community, but hiding a terrible secret. The case was never solved. 50 years later, Ballard’s granddaughter, Jess, a J-School dropout finds her grandfather’s personal notes and decides she wants to tackle the cold case once and for all. She decides to approach it as a podcast and enlist the help of disgraced former big-time broadcaster Dan Decker to help her. Despite being stonewalled at every turn, the pair begin putting pieces together. Because secrets in small towns never stay secret for long.

This book is told along two timelines: 1971/2, and the present day; and from multiple POVs.

The concept of this book grabbed me right me right away. I love a good podcast cold case revival. Add in the family connection and I was definitely in! And it really pays off in this story - Jess is determined to interpret her grandfather’s notes and finish this case, but she goes about it the wrong way at many times. Dan, on the other hand, is very jaded and cynical, but he knows what to do story wise, and how journalism works. Put the two of them together and it’s just great reading.

Plus the 1972 storyline is no sleeper either. I won’t give anything away, but, yeah, there’s a lot going on there that just at times made me stop and say, “Whoa.” Trust me, this author knows how to throw in a twist. In both timelines, there were plenty, and they were realistic enough that you could imagine them happening, which gave them that spark. That “holy crap” moment when you realize what just happened and you can totally see it happening in the context of the story. It was great.

The ending was also quite a stunner. Just read this one and trust me. It was satisfying in the context of the book and that’s really all I can say about it.

Overall, this was a well crafted book with some intense characters and scenes that really kept my attention and interest. It’s a very interesting book and great mystery/thriller for any fan of the genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

After discovering her grandfather Big Jim's notebook about an unsolved murder of a young couple in 1972, Jess sets out to make a podcast about the case. She pulls in disgraced news anchor Dan Decker to help. Honestly, that's about as far as I got because I DNF'd at about 39% in.

Why? I didn't like any of the characters. Not only did they feel one-dimensional and stereotypical (not just the characters in the ''70s but those in the present day as well) but the men were written in a way that made them seem as though the author felt men are superior to women. Dan hits on every woman he sees, and is a casualty (in his mind) to the Me Too movement (maybe he's actually just a pervert who shouldn't have harassed women, I don't know). Jess exploits that in their very first meeting. Plus, the author makes it out like Jess can't do this podcast on her own, but instead HAS to have this older man help her. It's bad storytelling and a weak concept. It's something that I couldn't get past and so I decided to stop reading.

True-crime podcaster Jess Keeler has returned to Deeton County, North Carolina, to pick up where her grandfather left off. Sheriff’s Deputy Big Jim Ballard, her grandfather, was a respected detective—until it all came crashing down during a 1972 murder investigation.

For Jim, solving the murders of two teens should have been the highlight of his already storied career. Instead, he battled his own mind, unsure where his hunches ended and the truth began.

Working from her grandfather’s disjointed notes, Jess is sure that she can finally put the cold case—and her family’s shame—to rest. Enlisting the help of disgraced reporter Dan Decker, Jess soon discovers ugly truths about the first investigation, which was shaped by corruption, egos, and a family secret that may be the key to the crime.

Told in a dual timeline that covers both investigations, Something Bad Wrong explores human folly, hubris, and how sometimes, to solve a crime, you have to find out who’s covering it up.

The writing was top notch and the characters were very real.

I have never read a book by this author before, but I definitely can not wait to read more! I loved this book so much. It was an interesting and quick read. I would recommend to anyone that loves mystery/thriller novels.

This was a crazy ride that I thoroughly enjoyed. It had a little bit of everything. Family secrets, cold case and hopes of redemption. Great book...go get it!!