Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eArc in return for an honest review.

When influencer Maddison Logan goes missing, the FBI turns to podcaster Rachel Krall for help. Maddison disappeared after she went to visit Terrance Bailey, who mentioned Rachel's name to Maddison. Terrance is convicted for aggravated robbery. The FBI would never connect him to a string of murders and if he's connected to Maddison's disappearance, they may be able to keep him behind bars longer, hoping to connect him to those murders.

Rachel goes to Buzzcon, the social media's get-together for the biggest names in the industry all the way down to micro influencers.. This allows networking amongst peers and is an opening for Rachel to gather additional information on Maddison.

As the story begins to develop, we as readers realize that there is way more than meets the eye. This book has sections of Rachels podcast incorporated in to weave the plot together. The twist!!!! I didn't see the big one coming at all. I've read tons of postcast based thrillers, and Megan does it right!

I was so glad to see this. Ever since the Night Swim I have been hooked on podcasts and murder mystery books. Heck I even got started listening to podcasts after that. It had me hooked from the beginning and I think this was just as good if not better than the first.
I just reviewed Dark Corners by Megan Goldin. #NetGalley
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I love a book with short chapters. The characters draw the reader into this suspenseful mystery and it’s a joyride. Be ready for twists!

I wanted to love this but I didn't. I was a HUGE fan of The Night Swim and found it well written and unique in its presentation. This however seemed more of like a YA read. I didn't like the overexplaining of plot points or the frequent use of Rachel & Joe's full names. Their romance didn't feel natural to me and the climax at the end fell a bit flat for me. I will definitely be reading more RK books if the author reads them and hoping that this one gets love in the editing process.

This author always guarantees a good solid thriller.
Very contemporary and intriguing.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

What I loved about this book:

The podcasting. Those chapters were fantastic, you could almost hear her voice within them. Honestly, I wouldn't hate it if this author were to write an entire book via podcast a la Daisy Jones.

The plotting is top notch. This was clearly a very plot driven story vs. character driven story. The plot was fantastic and kept me intrigued even when some of the writing felt a teensy bit lacking.

[I loved the detail - the condition the killer had that linked everything together, the vinyl wrap on the car. (hide spoiler)] Top notch. TOP NOTCH.

I honestly really liked the influencer setting of this. Despite how vapid some of the characters were, the writing lent a certain depth and reality to them.

I did not expect all of the little plot points to tie up as cleanly as they did in the end. That was triumphant and hats off to you chica for making it happen because I honestly thought there was too much to make it all make sense.

What I didn't love about this book:

Some of the writing was a little repetitive. (Not exact quotes) There were kittens in the back. The kittens in the back were being weaned off their mother. THEN: He took clothes from the charity box. He wore the clothes the social worker gave him from the charity box.

Rachel felt a teensy bit flat to me in this book, which is fine since it's very much a plot driven story, but I could have done with just a little bit of personal detail.

Overall:

Solid read and I'm very much looking forward to the next one!

Thanks to St Martin's Press & Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Rachel Krall is back in Megan Goldin’s follow up to her 2021 best seller The Night Swim. When we catch up with Rachel, she has just finished the second season of her true-crime podcast, Guilty or Not Guilty, and she is summoned by the FBI to help with a case in Florida. Rachel meets with agents who tell her that an inmate in the Central Florida correctional facility, convicted felon Terence Bailey, nearly out of nowhere, receives a visit from a mega popular vlogger and social media influencer Maddison Logan. During this visit, Terence scribbles a cryptic message to Maddison telling her to bring Rachel to him. Then, within days of this visit, Maddison goes missing. In the course of their investigation into Maddison’s disappearance, they find that she literally does not exist outside of social media…the background stories she’s been telling her viewers are seemingly made up. Rachel gets completely wrapped up in investigating the disappearance of Maddison and even goes so far as to infiltrate the BuzzCon convention for social media influencers where Maddison was seen a few days ago. Throughout the book, there are 2 alternative POV’s, if you will. One of a creepy rideshare driver with an interesting medical condition and the other is what I can only assume will be the transcripts of Rachel’s next podcast season.

I enjoyed the overall storyline of Dark Corners a bit more than I did The Night Swim because it focused more heavily on the investigation and less on the courtroom aspect of the given case. Although I figured out some aspects of the mystery, the big “twist” still took me by surprise. What I didn’t love about this book, was the inclusion of a romantic relationship (just felt it was unnecessary) and the extraneous crimes/mysteries that came up along the way and had nothing to do with the central plot. Also, the podcast transcript felt a little disconnected and at times confusing. Perhaps would have translated better on audio. It was a 3.75 star read (rounded up to 4 stars) and I would pick up another installment of the Rachel Krall series, but most likely would try the audio format.

Thank you to the author, Net Galley and St. Martin’s press for the opportunity to advance read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Megan Goldin continues Rachel Kralls story however this can be read stand alone. What captivated me was the perfect balance of intertwining suspenseful twists. Despite liking reading from different perspectives, it didn't feel well executed in Dark Corners. It took a few paragraphs or even a full page to understand who I was reading it as. 2.5 stars.

I was able to get a sneak read of Dark Corners. I really loved Night Swim and was happy to see the main character back for another book. I devoured this book. It was quick to read and held my attention. There were a few things I figured out fairly early on, but that actually worked to keep me wanting to read to find out the who, what, where, how.

I absolutely loved reading The Night Swim, and this being book #2, I had high expectations for it. However, I did not love this one as much as I did book #1.

I found that there was a lot going on in this book and it felt confusing at times. I found it a little difficult to connect to the characters which made it difficult to keep my interest. I was intrigued by the mystery but felt as though it was overshadowed by the emphasis on social media.

This was a good book, just not as great as the first.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Megan Goldin is an automatic read for me. I was excited when I found out there was a second book coming out starring true crime podcaster Rachel Krall from The Night Swim.

Rachel Krall has been invited by the FBI to Florida to help in the investigation of Maddison, a missing social media influencer. Terence Bailey was jailed for breaking and entering and thought to be a serial killer although the evidence was never able to prove so. Maddison visited Terence Bailey while he was in prison and went missing hours later.

Rachel goes undercover to BuzzCon which is a popular social media influencer conference to try to get answers, despite the FBI's insistence that she is in danger and should return home. She doesn't seem to give up until she finds answers...maybe they are hidden in dark corners.

This book is a little bit all over the place and at times can be hard to follow the storyline. It will all tie in at the end and make sense so thankfully the author does not leave any loose endings. I am not a huge fan of the social media influencer world and the author does delve into the details of that type of lifestyle. In addition, this book turns Rachel into more of a detective rather than a true crime podcaster. Overall a good read with twists and turns, but may not be as enjoyable if you are not into social media.

Special thanks to Netgalley and publisher for a digital ARC.

Ooh, this book does not disappoint! Fast paced, and twists and turns galore. This is the second book following Rachel , but you can enjoy this book even if you haven't read the first. With an ending that I didn't see coming, definitely read this if you enjoy smart thrillers.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

This was full of twists like the first. It was really great. My only issue was Rachel’s attitude toward the police/investigators was really off putting. The plot line was still good.

OKAY. This has alllllll the hallmarks I look for in a good thriller. I mean come on, The Night Swim was great and The Escape Room is an all time fav thriller but dare I say this one might be my favourite Goldin?

Rachel is back and in such a good way. We have serial killers, unsolved murders, kidnapping, influencer conferences, DRAMA, maybe a little 💕✨ as well. Word is depending how this one sells there will be a third in the true crime podcast series!!!

I couldn’t focus on anything except finishing this book. I LOVED that Rachel’s character gained a bit more teeth in this one. The combination of the podcast giving us insight along the way of how the crime actually happened, the chapters following the supposed perpetrator and the chapters following Rachel and the FBI this one was never short on maintaining my interest.

The ONLY thing I have to say about this is that there’s one murder that just really does not need to happen and doesn’t contribute anything to the story BUT overall loved it and am really hoping for #3!

Woo wee!!!!! What a intense, hold your breath, thrill ride this book is!! I think this book is going to be a big 2023 hit!! I never expected the ending at all!!!! This book is definitely one of the best thrillers I've read in awhile!!!!

Rachel Krall, a famous true crime podcaster (we last saw her in [book:The Night Swim|51169341]) is back and helping the FBI in the search for Maddison Logan, a popular social media influencer who went missing after visiting Terence Bailey, a suspected serial killer in prison. Terence Baily is about to be released from prison for breaking and entering but has long been suspected as being a serial killer. Why would Maddison visit Bailey? Why would he tell Maddison to bring Rachel Krall to him?

The FBI called upon Rachel who seems to find clues where others do not, to help find Maddison. Maddison is a mystery as there is no background on her. Using an old Instagram account, Rachel attends BuzzCon, a popular influencer conference, that Maddison was supposed to attend. There Rachel meets a group of people who are more interested in posting the perfect content and pictures than in having deep personal relationships with others.

When a body is found, the police and FBI begin to wonder if Bailey had an accomplice on the outside. Rachel and FBI agent Joe Martinez have an interesting relationship. He insists that she leave town for her own safety, while she has every intention of staying and conducting her own investigation. When not individually scratching their heads trying to get to the bottom of things, they are busy making eyes at each other.

This is a book which grew on me. In the beginning, I was not that I liked it and kept finding other books to pick up and read. When I got around the 35-40% mark, I was fully invested, and it became a riveting page turner for me! This book won me over and left me impressed.

I enjoyed how everything came together and fell into place. This was an interesting one. The social media influencer angle was interesting but man most of them were vapid, arrogant, and so unlikeable.

If there is another book in the series, I will happily read it. Once I got over the hump in the beginning, I couldn't put this book down.

Terence Bailey is about to be released from prison when he gets an unexpected visit. Maddison Logan, a young and very successful influencer, came to visit Bailey for unknown reasons. Hours later, Maddison has disappeared without a trace. The FBI gets involved and calls in popular true crime podcaster, Rachel Krall, to help with the investigation. Was Bailey somehow involved? Will Maddison ever be found?

DARK CORNERS was another winner by Megan Goldin. I absolutely loved this story! It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The fact that it took place in Daytona Beach, a place I am very familiar with, made it even more interesting. I love any book that involves CSI detective work, so this story really checked all the boxes for me! DARK CORNERS is book two in the Rachel Krall series, but it can be read as a stand alone. I would recommend reading book one as well, THE NIGHT SWIM, just because it is also an incredible story. All the stars for DARK CORNERS!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

MEGAN GOLDIN RULES!!!!!!! Rachel Kroll is back in the awesome sequel, "Dark Corners" and I NEED MORE!!!

Megan Goldin is quickly rising to he top of my favorite authors’ list. Her plots are complex and, what I like, not easy to predict. Dark Corners is a page-turner that kept my interest throughout. Not only does the author provide a good murder mystery, she gives insight into the world of media influencers. I highly recommended.

Whenever anyone asks me what my favorite thriller is I always say The Night Swim by Megan Goldin. So of course I requested this one without knowing anything about it. And then I found out it's a sequel to The Night Swim and I got more excited than I care to express! WOW! This is another increible thriller from the queen herself and everyone just needs to stop and read it! Any of her books will do but this series in particular is top notch!