i didnt quite enjoy this as much as the first book. however, its really only because of personal preferences. 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.

I will say I almost DNF this one multiple times. Maybe I’m just impatient (that’s clearly what it is there’s no “maybe” about it) because night swim was one of my favorite books ever. Should this be a series? I mean I’m sure I raved it should. But just because it can doesn’t mean it should.

It truly felt like a completely different author. Like do I need to re-read night swim and take it off a pedestal? I did love the audio in its format, so that could be the downplay.

I just felt like ole Rach was so savvy last go round, and now she’s just walking into danger all willy nilly like she forgot any type of common sense? She’s Whoopi Goldberg “you in danger girl” and just said “awesome! Thanks”

Whether or not you read the first Rachel Krall book, Megan Goldin's DARK CORNERS is the perfect escape. Set inside the world of social media influencers, Goldin nods to the realities of being an influencer -- what compromises must be made to make it look like you live a glamorous life. The audiobook does a great job at producing the podcast segments so you feel like you're tuning into your favorite show, not listening to part of a book.

This was exactly the sequel I was hoping it would be. It was great to be back with the protagonist again, moving another crime with nuance.

When influencer Maddison Logan disappears after visiting convicted criminal Terence Bailey, the FBI enlists Rachel Krall, the host of a popular true crime podcast, to help investigate. As Rachel delves into the case, she uncovers a web of online rivalry, dangerous secrets, and a chilling connection between Bailey and the influencers he obsesses over. The story takes readers through an intense search for Maddison while revealing the eerie underbelly of internet fame and the lengths some will go to for attention.

While Dark Corners explores dark themes and presents clever twists, it remains a quick, entertaining read that’s perfect for a summer beach novel. The suspense builds as Rachel works undercover at an influencer conference, navigating the cutthroat world where every relationship seems to have a hidden agenda. The novel works well as a standalone, though fans of The Night Swim will appreciate Rachel’s return.

Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up for goodreads.

Thank you for the book for review.

True Crime podcaster, Rachel Krall's story continues. A popular social media influencer has gone missing and Rachel is determined to figure out what happened. Could she still be alive? Rachel goes undercover as an influencer to figure out if someone in the victim's own circle is at fault.

I loved this book because I felt like it kept moving. I wanted to know what was happening at every twist and turn in the book. I literally sat down and read this in one sitting. Megan Goldin is an instabuy author for me and I will continue to buy her books going forward!

I loved The Night Swim, so I could not wait to get my hands on Goldin's follow-up, Dark Corners. The book did not disappoint, and Goldin has become a must-read author for me.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

this is the 3rd book i've read by this author and, i feel, the most memorable.

do i always need a romantic angle? i really don't & this book is no exception. why do authors feel like they need to do this?

that peeve aside, i really enjoyed the twisty (but not implausible) plot and it was written in a straightforward style that keeps the pace up.

it's a good popcorn read.

From start to finish, this mystery kept me on the edge of my seat. The writing was sharp, atmospheric, and perfectly paced—each chapter drawing me deeper into the web of intrigue the author wove. The author’s skillful use of suspense and detail made every scene feel crucial, and I found myself eagerly turning pages, desperate to uncover the truth.

The plot was full of unexpected twists, each one more clever than the last. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, a new revelation turned the story on its head. The way the author built tension, slowly dropping subtle clues while keeping a firm grip on the mystery, was masterful. It was clear that no detail was accidental, and every seemingly insignificant element played a part in the larger puzzle.

The whodunit reveal was absolutely brilliant. I can honestly say I didn’t see it coming—there were so many red herrings and misdirections that by the time the truth was revealed, it hit me like a punch to the gut. The reveal was perfectly timed, leaving me with that satisfying, yet stunned feeling that only a truly great mystery can provide. The way the author tied everything together was seamless, making the ending not just surprising, but wholly satisfying.

Terence Bailey is about to be released from prison even though he is suspected of murdering six women. Maddison Logan, a popular young influencer, visits him in prison, yet hours later she seemingly disappears without a trace. Investigators are left not only wondering what happened to Maddison, and why she even visited Terence in the first place. When the investigation hits a dead end Rachel Krall is asked by the FBI to help out by going undercover at BuzzCon, an influencer convention, to see what she can learn about Maddison, a girl lacking in friends and family. At BuzzCon Rachel learns just how cutthroat the influencer community can be as they strive for numbers and popularity, and these influencers will do almost anything to obtain that social media fame. It is a race against the clock to find out what happened to Maddison before Terence is released, and when a body is found with a distinctive tattoo of a snake eating its tail, also known as a ouroboros, the police begin to worry that Terrance has an accomplice on the outside, especially when they come across a number of urobori throughout the investigation. Can the truth be uncovered and Maddison be found before Terence is released?

Dark Corners is a fast-paced thriller with a few twists and turns. While this novel is the followup to Night Swim, I never found myself lost or confused due to not reading the previous novel, although after reading Dark Corners I might have to pick up Night Swim.There are a number of interesting characters that made the novel rather entertaining, and I think that the way in which the influencer community was portrayed was very realistic and honest. While there are some twists and turns in the novel, there are also a lot of parts that were rather predictable but that did not take away from my enjoyment of the narrative.

Oh my gawd I devoured this! I didn’t realize this was book #2 so that was a wonderful surprise because I loved the first one!! This book was a little slow to start for me but the moment I found myself hook I could not stop reading! Stayed up all night to finish this and it did not disappoint.

Sooo goood!! I love all the multi media aspects that were included especially the true crime podcast. I as definitely sucked into the story from the very beginning.

Madison Logan a social media influencer is found dead not long after visiting a murderer in jail.
Thanks you to St Martins Press and netgalley for an arc.

𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 (𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐆) 𝐆𝐄𝐀𝐑.

𝐓he Sunshine State sets the stage for this serial killer thriller penned by Megan Goldin. The curtain opens, and the cast members take their respective places and prepare to wow the reader.

As the scenes begin to roll, we travel to the grounds of a popular campsite: the Delta Springs State Forest in Daytona. Here is where a man named Bill Morrow is taking some time to relax with his family. Bill, with his wife and kids, is on a mini vacation. And the family is joined by Bill's two sisters, with their husbands and children. Bill Morrow believes he has planned the perfect getaway: the adults can enjoy the great outdoors together, and the teens can get a taste of life without video games and social media. Old school, that's the idea. After the adults pitch the tents and prepare the food, they get the volleyball fun going, and the kids soon forget about social media. The youngsters begin to relax and enjoy themselves.
Indeed, everything is calm and peaceful—until the camper van they passed on the way in becomes a problem.

The evening is pleasant but windy. And the aluminum door on that lone camper keeps opening and slamming shut. The racket has become so annoying that it's waking the kids and disturbing the adults—who are only trying to relax and enjoy their beers after a long day. When the door slamming becomes too much of a disturbance, Bill Morrow and his brothers-in-law go over to check it out. They announce themselves on arrival and call out to whoever may be inside the camper. And when the men don't get an answer, they enter the camper van. What they find inside sets off a horrifying chain of events that will shuffle in our leading lady, journalist, and famed true-crime podcast host, Rachel Krall – a woman with a sultry voice but an unknown face.

𝐊𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐁𝐄𝐃.

Rachel Krall, the host of the popular podcast, 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵𝘺, was exhausted after covering the lengthy rape trial of a notable swimmer in North Carolina. All she wanted to do was stay home and recuperate from the brain drain; she only wanted to sleep, sleep, sleep. And once she relaxed and settled her mind, a deep sleep arrived, whisking her away into the unconsciousness of the dream world. But before Rachel could even get a good snore in, her phone rang—jolting her up and back into the real world.
FBI Special Agent Mark Torreno was on the other end of the line waiting to take advantage of a unique opportunity: he knew that Rachel would be groggy at such an early hour. That was the whole idea: she wouldn't be thinking clearly. Special Agent Torreno spoke fast, insisting that Rachel fly down (on an all-expense paid flight, courtesy of the FBI) to Florida. And he wanted her there as soon as possible. No explanations, no nothing. The FBI didn't need to explain. When one of its agents issued a command, one did well to heed it. And before the sun rose over the City of Brotherly Love, Rachel Krall was out of bed and on a flight.

𝐊𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐊.

Former Marine and FBI Special Agent Joseph Martinez—Torreno's superior—chose Rachel because her name came up in an FBI investigation, or so they tell her. The truth is that the FBI deceived Rachel Krall. Agents Martinez and Torreno led the podcaster to believe that the agency was flying her out to Florida to work on a case, but, of course, that was a lie; the agents had other plans - plans that had to do with the goings-on behind the walls of the Central Florida Correctional Facility, where a man named Terence Bailey is serving six years. But it's anyone's guess who Terence Bailey is and what crimes landed him in federal prison. He could be a thief of the petty sort—or a cold, calculating murderer. The FBI has no clue. But Rachel Krall might know. And for this reason, the agency wants to use her.

In a slick effort to cut to the chase, Special Agent Martinez—who suspects Bailey of murder more so than a string of robberies—asks Rachel to meet with the prisoner in the hope of coercing him to confess. But why Rachel? That's simple. It's because Terence Bailey knows the legend of Rachel Krall. He's a fan, or so he claims. Complicating matters further, Bailey, only days before, slipped a hidden message to a woman named Maddison Logan: 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘙𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘭 𝘒𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦. 𝘋𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.

𝐀 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐀𝐍 𝐈𝐍𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄.

Rachel doesn't know Terence Bailey—or so she claims. She denies having any knowledge about the alleged murderer. But Special Agent Martinez doesn't believe her; he has his doubts. Special Agent Joseph Martinez is nothing if not good at reading people. And he wants to know what's going on. If Rachel doesn't know Terence Bailey personally, then how does she suppose Terence Bailey knows her? Bailey is guilty as sin; Martinez can feel it. But the only way to extract a confession from him is to send the ever-sought-after Rachel Krall in for a visit. And what Special Agent Martinez wants, Special Agent Martinez gets.

Before long, Rachel comes face-to-face with the convicted burglar—and alleged murderer. During her visit, Rachel will notice three things about the man, Terence Bailey: his cold, blue eyes, a disdainful countenance, and a distinctive tattoo on one of his hands: an infinity symbol formed by a snake eating its tail.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐖𝐀𝐘: 𝐀 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐀𝐍 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐋𝐔𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑.

According to the Instagram page belonging to Maddison Logan, the free-spirited nomad has been nearly everywhere: the Burning Man festival, five-star restaurants, fancy bars, ritzy nightclubs, etc. The social media macro-influencer spends much of her time traveling across the country and getting into all sorts of shenanigans—while selling the so-called dream life to her many followers. Her Instagram feed is chock-full of videos and photos documenting her every waking moment. And there has never been a dull one. Maddison Logan is wild, scot-free, and full of glee. Or it at least appears that way in her countless videos and photos, accented with nothing but fun-loving hashtags.

Yes, all is seemingly good in the life of this influencer as she puts on her perfect face with a dazzling smile for her myriad of followers. But that's the thing about life filtered through social media. It can be very deceptive—as Maddison herself had been when, on the pretext of working as a missionary who visited inmates in prisons, paid one to the number one suspect in a string of sex-worker murders: Terence Bailey. But Maddison Logan would disappear hours after her social call with Bailey. And her abandoned camper—at the Delta Springs State Forest in Daytona—would be laid waste to an infestation of rats and rattlesnakes.

𝐀 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐌𝐀𝐂𝐀𝐁𝐑𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐃.

The so-called travel influencer, Maddison Logan, has vanished into thin air, and a body found in a deep pool of mud not far from her camper has cracked open an urgent FBI investigation into her disappearance and possible murder. Many, including Rachel, believe the body found in the mud pit is the remains of the missing influencer; however, proving it will be impossible as the popular Instagrammer has no family history, nor was there any DNA found inside her abandoned camper. There was only a video of her violent abduction.

Incidentally, the abduction of Maddison Logan and the body found in the mud are not the only occurrences associated with the Delta Springs State Forest: legend has it that many people were murdered and buried there. Recently, a park ranger discovered another body tied to a tree and partially burned. The young woman was stabbed to death, apparently in an uncontrollable rage, judging by her wounds. Her name was Aysh Philips.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐆 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐘 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐖.

Maddison Logan was in Daytona for one specific reason: BuzzCon. BuzzCon is the annual convention held for the top influencers on social media, particularly Instagram. They come from far and wide to be seen by others and treated like Internet royalty. These are members of the general public who suddenly became social media "famous." At BuzzCon, fame is god. And mere obscurity? Well, whatever. There is nothing wrong with someone being an everyday person, but can one tell these people that? Of course not. These are those who covet fame—for doing nothing but posting photos of themselves doing outrageous things on social media platforms. At BuzzCon, the so-called influencers (or content creators, if you please) and members of their so-called pods bask in the spotlight of no shame. Using all manner of made-up jargon, they come in a variety of brand tags: travel influencers, wellness influencers, fitness influencers, fitness vloggers, and so forth.
Soon, Rachel Krall finds herself at BuzzCon, posing as an aspiring influencer, but this is another deception. The actual reason for Rachel's infiltration is to learn more about Maddison Logan and the ruthless circles in which these influencers move.

Now equipped with a fake Instagram page and many fake followers, Rachel Krall, working in a league of her own under an assumed name, dives into the saltwater with the barracudas, eels, and great white sharks, swimming a few elegant laps among them and gathering as much feed as possible.
In truth, Rachel should have packed up and gone home, as Special Agent Joe Martinez advised. But Rachel Krall cannot do that. She has to know what happened to Maddison—because, as she later learned—the missing influencer had called her for help. And Rachel Krall, being Rachel Krall, does not intend to vacate the Sunshine State without some answers.

If it is an answer Rachel Krall wants, it is an answer Rachel Krall will get. However, she may not like what she hears.

𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒.

Every fictional villain has an ailment or a disfigurement of some sort. For instance, in the legendary James Bond: 007 spy film series, there is what is known as the disfigurement-villainy trope. To name a few, "Le Chiffre" (𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘰 𝘙𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭𝘦) has a nasty scar over one eye that leaks blood, "Lyutsifer Safin" (𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘳𝘢) has a body covered in scars, "Raoul Silva" (𝘚𝘬𝘺𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭) has a distorted jaw. And the towering character "Jaws" (𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘺 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘔𝘦, 𝘔𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘳𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳) has metal teeth. Even the fictional city of Gotham has its disfigured villains: the "Joker," the "Penguin," the "Ventriloquist," Harvey "Two-Face" Dent, and the "Riddler" (with his BPD), among others.
These physical deformities expose one thing: the true spirit of evil within the human hosts – and they are terrifyingly wicked. On the pages of this complex and twisted psychological thriller, the deformity of its adversarial villain is a decaying soul that emits a body odor as repulsive as that of the murdered corpses he leaves in his wake: a stench likened to that of rotting garbage.

Our leading lady, Rachel Krall, doesn't back down from anyone, nor does she scare easily. That is until she comes to make 𝘩𝘪𝘴 acquaintance.

𝐕𝐈𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐃.

Coiled in an infinity symbol, the snake eats its tail. There is a name for it: Ouroboros. And it is no coincidence that it keeps appearing: suspected serial killer Terence Bailey had the image tattooed on his hand, and the body extracted from the mud pit wore it. Ironically, Terence Bailey sketched a mysterious girl wearing the symbol on her pendant. And it is also on the bodies of several influencers at BuzzCon. But what do these people all have in common? And who is it that wants them all dead?

𝐑𝐈𝐏𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: 𝐀 𝐖𝐀𝐑 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐔𝐍𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐘.

Dark corners. They are the areas where otherworldly spirits like to hide—to go undetected by their human foes—as they hate to be exposed. And when they strike, the target never sees it coming. Because the spiritual can see the physical, but the physical can't see the spiritual: for this is the advantage spiritual beings have over physical beings. And here, they are ripe to do severe damage.

Co-starring on the pages of this mind-boggling script, the characters who add another pinch of depth to an already compounded storyline include the following:

• Pete stars as Rachel Krall's producer. Pete and Rachell are like cheese and crackers: they work well together. Passionate in his craft, Pete never misses a beat as a second set of eyes and ears for Krall.

• Owen "Doc" Bragg plays a very helpful and attentive National Park Service ranger at the Delta Springs State Forest.

• Adam Derwent is the semi-retired defense attorney representing the incarcerated Terence Bailey on a string of burglary charges. Attorney Derwent is adamant that his client is innocent of murder.

• Kyle McFein stars as a retired NASCAR driver, the owner of an auto shop, and Terence Bailey's former boss. Kyle McFein loved Terence Bailey like a son until a murder charge came down the pike.

• Jonny Macon is a fitness influencer—and a cocaine-addicted hypocrite—supposedly "famous" for doing shirtless push-ups and planks and posting the videos and images to his Instagram page.

• Reni is a wellness influencer and Jonny Macon's girlfriend. While juggling her brand-new successful wellness app, Reni also finds time to mingle in a love triangle with Jonny and Maddison Logan and, according to one of her most aggrieved rivals, go in for financial fraud.

• Chad—just Chad—is a marketing executive in the cutthroat influencer business. A gossiper by design, Chad forms a communication bond with Rachel at BuzzCon and advises her concerning the pretentious influencer game.

• Zoe is a desperate fitness influencer who will do anything to succeed. Chasing fame and fortune—like she chases Jonny Macon—Zoe wants to win the coveted Influencer Awards with its five-million-dollar contract and streaming deal. And the wispy blonde with the Ouroboros tattoo will do whatever it takes to do so. Whatever it takes.

• Eric is a photographer and lapdog for the demanding Zoe, his girlfriend. Eric is wise enough to realize one thing: how will he ever be happy if Zoe never is?

• Shaz—a bit player with a minor speaking part—is a travel influencer and a blessing no one would have ever seen coming.

• Alvin Rice is the chief of the Daytona Police Department and a social-climbing bully. One of the biggest threats to the ego of the double-minded police chief is the FBI, particularly a special agent named Joseph Martinez.

• Detective Castel in homicide likes to cut corners, for the record. Rather than detecting every clue, Castel is too quick to pin criminal acts on the innocent for appearance's sake.

• Grace Milroy stars as a recovering addict and a heartbroken mother missing her only daughter, Hailey, who is feared dead.

• Mary Philips is convincing as a hotel housekeeper and a heartbroken mother missing her only daughter, Aysh, who was found dead.

• Thomas McCoy plays his part well as a friendly rideshare driver who becomes entangled with a number of his castmates and soon has to swerve around one pothole after another on the road of guile and mayhem.

𝐈𝐓'𝐒—𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐀𝐍 𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐌𝐀.

Several people stood to gain—and hugely—with Maddison Logan being out of the way: competitive fellow influencers, obsessed fans, and vindictive enemies. But who abducted her? And where is she? Is she dead or alive? What connection had there been between Maddison Logan and Aysh Philips? Over one dozen people, including some prostitutes (found with their throats slashed), are deceased—the victims of a terrifying serial killer. But who is the perpetrator of such violence? And what is the motive behind their rampage?

There are many questions but few answers. That, however, doesn't deter our starring lead, Rachel Krall, from joining forces with FBI Special Agent Joseph Martinez to piece together this perplexing puzzle. Flaming sparks have been flying—like lightning bugs—between them since the first day they met. And when Rachel finds herself in the clench of murderous hands, it's either kill or be killed.

For Special Agent Joseph, er Joe, Martinez, the former would sooner suffice—because there is no way Joe Martinez will ever allow anyone to pull out one auburn-hued strand of Rachel Krall's hair from a secretory cavity in her scalp.

𝐈𝐓... 𝐈𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐒 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐀 𝐌𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐄.

With 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴, I didn't read a book; I watched a movie—an absorbing psychological thriller spanning 78 highly intricate chapters. Rachel Krall and Joseph Martinez are sublime on these pages! And I fell in love with them as they fell head-over-heels for each other.

𝐌𝐘 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍.

Although I considered some parts of the storyline of 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 to be too tedious, too character-driven (in several instances), and bloated with too much information that the title could have done without, the plot, carried by a praiseworthy leading lady, still clasped my attention until its dynamic end.

Megan Goldin, an admirable writer, by the way, had a lot to say here. And understandably so, considering the premise: a psychological thriller set around a serial killer, interlaced with a hefty helping of mystery. Such a premise warrants a fair amount of detail because understanding the human psyche—and spiritual warfare—is imperative. Nonetheless, some of the body text here grated on my patience, and I felt that the narrative would have still made its point had Goldin trimmed off all of the extra fat that slowed it down.

With that, I must express my undying love for writers in general. I do believe that storytellers paint great depictions of human life. And on the pages of 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴, Megan Goldin illustrates an enthralling world brimming with excitement, collusion, duplicity, havoc, hatred, and grisly murder. The author's words are well-written, and her creative imagination leaves a lasting impression. And that in itself commands respect.

Although 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 (𝘙𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘭 𝘒𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭, #2) was my introduction to the series starring the heroine, I also intend to view 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘚𝘸𝘪𝘮 (𝘙𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘭 𝘒𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭, #1), the acclaimed mystery thriller that started it all.
In the meantime, dear reader, trust that 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 is a respectably fulfilling read despite its minor cons. And I highly recommend it.

Happy reading, all.


𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖𝐄𝐑’𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: It is a pleasure to thank St. Martin's Press—and NetGalley—for the advanced review copy (ARC) of 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 in exchange for my honest review.
Analysis of 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 by Megan Goldin is courtesy of Literary Criticism by Cat Ellington for The Arts©.

©2023 Quill Pen Ink Publishing. Literary Criticism by Cat Ellington for The Arts. The Cat Ellington Literary Collection. All rights reserved.

I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as The Night Swim, but it was still twisty and entertaining! After a social media influencer goes missing Rachel Krall gets involved to help figure out what happened. She attends BuzzCon, a conference for influencers, to get some intel and along the way reveals a little about the life of an Influencer - it sounds exhausting!

There were several twists and enough of an interesting backstory to keep me reading. I fully expect another Rachel Krall book and I am looking forward to it.

Rachel Krall returns, but doesn’t seem to be focused on her podcast and is somehow considered an important investigator in the case of a missing influencer. Overall, this felt like it was trying hard to capture the influencer zeitgeist, but was maybe a few years late. The amount of information the investigators provided Krall, as well as how easily she was catfishing influencers made the whole story seem like it was in a different reality. I will continue to recommended THE NIGHT SWIM, but would probably skip this one.

I was super stoked to read this after having devoured The Night Swim in a day. That book was a solid 5 stars. But this? This was sadly not a 5 star read. I was not immediately sucked in and found my attention drifting off, which is strange for a Megan Goldin book. It did not read like any other book of hers I had read. Normally she is masterful at dropping clues and misdirects but I suspected who the killer was right from the get go. In true Megan Goldin fashion she had tried to cast doubt on a few of the characters trying to misdirect you and suspect everyone but this book just did not have the same vibes and did not do it for me. The whole book felt kinda clunky and unnatural. Also. the Rachel in this book is not the same Rachel that was in The Night Swim, she had a completely different attitude and personality in Dark Corners. The plot was a little too far fetched and convoluted for me, the tension was never really there. If a guy kidnapped me and my friend and then I saw him murder my friend and he was now after me, I certainly would not become a social media influencer while in hiding. Why would you not go to the police and report what happened? Maybe there was some sort of like social commentary that I missed while reading this but I was disappointed. The book just felt lazy, like it was just phoned in with little to no effort. I will however continue to read Megan Goldin after this.

Excellent mystery. I loved the premise and the surprises throughout. Great character building and plot development.

This book was very well written! Plenty of twists and engaging enough to keep me reading. She depicted the influencer character how we all tend to stereotype them- full of themselves and selfish but she does have good character development throughout the story which was nice to see. The ending was really great and worth the read

I enjoyed this psychological thriller by Megan Goldin. The podcast element made it relatable and the fast paced story had me wanting more. Quickly becoming a big fan of Megan Goldin.

Rachael Krall may be my favorite book character.

This novel falls down the deep dark path of social media and influencers.

I really enjoyed this novel, it was a quick read that I couldn't put down. I needed to know what happened to Madison? Is she who she says she is? Or does this story flip into another story.

I really enjoyed this and Megan Goldin is a auto purchase for me. I don't even read the synopsis anymore. She can do no wrong in my eyes.

10/10 would absolutely recommend.