Dark Corners by Megan Goldin

When did Rachel get so defensively rude? She seems to have woken up on the wrong side of the bed in Dark Corners. Maddison Logan, a very popular social media influencer has gone missing and the FBI has run out of leads. That's when they fly Rachel in to speak to a suspected serial killer, prisoner Terence Bailey, who was visited by Maddison right before she disappeared.

Rachel seems to knock heads with everyone for much of the book and she and FBI agent Joe Martinez can't seem to agree on anything. In fact, just about anything Joe suggests will set her off. Nobody tells Rachel what to do or not do. With Terence getting out of prison in two days, while making obvious threats on Rachel's life, Joe wants her gone almost as soon as she arrives. But no, Rachel's not going home, instead she is all over this case.

Rachel easily infiltrates BuzzCon, a popular influencer conference, despite the attendees being the most elite of the social media elite snobs. Not only does being a social media influencer appear to be a sure way to an ulcer and/or a nervous breakdown, it seems dangerous in other ways, too. It doesn't take long until Rachel and Joe are following leads separately and together.

A lot of people do a lot of unwise things and Rachel certainly does her share of risky behavior. She claims that she's safe from the big bad serial killer because he's locked up, seeming to ignore the fact that he won't be locked up anymore in a couple of days. For a woman who knows just how dangerous life is for women, Rachel seems impervious to the fact that anything could happen to her. Situational awareness isn't in her tool kit much of the time.

I don't remember Rachel being unlikeable in Night Swim although she does warm in more ways than one towards the end of the book. There is a lot going on here and it can be hard to sort out all the victims of deadly happenings because there are so many of them over a long time span. I'm hoping the next time we see Rachel she'll be in a better mood. Actually, I'm pretty sure she'll be in a better mood...wink wink.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed The Night Swim and was happy to see Rachel Krall back for another adventure. Shes suffering from the success of her podcast, having to live a life under the radar and is sought out by prisoner who needs/wants her help.

Rachel's travels through the world vapid, soul sucking social media influencers is hilarious as she needs to be accepted by them for her investigation and is simultaneously repulsed by them. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the pace at which the plot is rolled out - plenty of twists and turns that make the ending a pleasant surprise.

Definitely recommend and I hope to see more of Rachel Krall (and Megan Goldin) in the future.

3 ⭐️ Recommended for SOME readers…

In my review for “The Night Swim” (Rachel Krall #1) a Goodreads Choice nominee for best mystery/thriller 2020,
I mentioned that I was hoping that we had not seen the last of Rachel and her podcast-“Guilty or Not Guilty”.
Review for “The Night Swim”: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3125537862

So when I was approved to read a very early copy of this upcoming SUMMER release, I moved it straight to the top of my toppling TBR stack , hoping to start the year with a 5 star thriller.

But that was not to be.

The FBI has lured Rachel Krall to Florida with the promise of exclusive access to an ACTIVE FBI case.

Maddison Logan (@JustMaddie) a popular Influencer on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, visited an inmate named Terrance Bailey, a suspected serial killer who could only be convicted for petty theft, two days before his release.
And, then she DISAPPEARED.

Rachel’s name came up during their visit, and the FBI is hoping that Rachel will agree to meet with him to find out why-and maybe get a lead on Maddison.

Rachel will inserts herself into the INFLUENCER world at a BUZZCON conference, where she will discover dangerous rivalries, hoping to learn more about Maddison. She and FBI agent Joe Martinez will also discover connections to at least two unsolved cases, of girls who also went missing just as Terrance Bailey was incarcerated.

Could Terrance Bailey still have an accomplice on the outside?

“The Night Swim” was told from the alternating perspectives of two characters, Rachel and Hannah (the sister of a Victim) along with the transcripts of Rachel Krall’s Season Three podcast, as she follows a LIVE TRIAL for the first time, while making her PODCAST.

But, the style of this book was different, and I feel like that worked against it.

This story used just Rachel’s POV.

There are a few chapters which sum up Rachel’s findings as she investigates, which (currently) are only distinguished by a change in FONT style. I assume that they are her dictations for a future podcast, though they are not identified as such, as she isn’t creating episode four of her PODCAST during this case.

Instead of being an outsider who is conducting interviews, for a PODCAST, after the fact, she is much more of an insider this time, right smack in the thick of things.

I am not at all enamored by INFLUENCERS and that lifestyle and this book spends A LOT of time in their world.

READ THIS-if you want a mystery with an insider’s look at how the INFLUENCER lifestyle works
SKIP IT-if you don’t, and you were hoping for EPISODE 4 of Rachel’s “Guilty or Not Guilty” podcast. You won’t get that here.

Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

THIS WAS THE PERFECT THRILLER THAT I ABSOLUTELY NEEDED TO END MY YEAR ON!!!!!!

Listen. The Night Swim is one of my all time favorite thrillers & when I saw that Megan Goldin was bringing Rachel Krall back for another book I SCREAMED. I will forever read every book she ever writes!!! Megan Goldin is the crème de la creme of thriller authors for me 🫶

Rachel (THE Rachel) gets a call from the FBI about a potential murder/missing person. The main suspect is getting released from jail in a couple days & they think he’s involved with the case of a missing influencer, but they need her help. Little does she know…this may be wayyyyy more than what she signs up for.

I couldn’t put it down, YALL. I really couldn’t. I was immediately engulfed in the storyline & I HAD TO KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN!!!! So good. Seriously. All twisty & turny & GREAT. ALL THE SNAPS FOR MEGAN!!! And I had to look up some words so thank you for this learning journey as well heh

Thank you to St. Martin’s press for this outstanding ARC!!!

I absolutely loved The Night Swim so hearing there was a second book with the same character had me pumped!!

This had a completely different flow tho. The podcast parts weren’t clear they were the podcast. It kind of confused me a bit.

I also thought some parts were repetitive in the first half when it would switch between characters. And i wasn’t really a fan of the influencer aspect. It felt like too much was going on in this story.

I think if some of that was toned down and more focused on the mystery and missing person, i would have enjoyed it more. Rachel also didn’t have the same personality i felt as the first. This wasn’t my fav but enjoyable.

In this second installment to author Megan Goldin’s Rachel Krall series, “Dark Corners,” the feisty and driven true crime podcaster becomes embroiled in an FBI investigation centering on a missing influencer whose disappearance is linked to a soon-to-be-released prison inmate who has long been suspected of being a serial killer.

While this follow-up story to “The Night Swim” was enjoyable overall, it fell a bit short of the 5-start read that I was anticipating at the start. That said, fans of Megan Goldin and her Rachel Krall series, such as myself, will likely find this to be a quick, suspenseful read with an intriguing and socially relevant storyline.

I look forward to reading future installments to this series!

Definitely going to find book1 in this series! (Night Swim)

Rachel Krall, podcaster, finds herself investigating Terence Bailey, convicted serial killer who is about to be released on a technicality. Another influencer, Maddison Logan, goes missing after visiting Terry in prison. Going undercover at an influencers' convention, Rachel is on dangerous grounds. Who is Maddison Logan,< Has Terry got an accomplice? Is Terry even involved?

This nail-biter had me reading all night learning about the new world of social influencers.

Damn, I liked this one! I remember really enjoying Night Swim and this book was no exception. I liked how the story alternated between Rachel’s podcast and her actual experiences. As always, I love a good thriller told from multiple perspectives. I have to admit, I did not see the twist coming at the end.

Only reason it wasn’t 5 stars is that the romance felt a bit unnecessary, along with the heavy distrust of influencers. I get it, influencers are weird!

It isn't often that a sequel is as good as the first book in the series. As much as I loved The Night Swim, I enjoyed Dark Corners even more. I felt that I got to know Rachel much better in this story. The commentary on social influencers was spot on and the investigation kept me invested until the very end. Loved this one!

Rachel Krall is back at it again! I’m a huge podcast fan so I really had fun reading The Night Swim and now Dark Corners. Megan Goldin can write a thriller!

Twists and turns everywhere you looked which makes for an EXCELLENT thriller in my opinion. I also loved the characters which is always a huge plus.

I LOVED Escape Room and I could not put down Night Swim. I gave the latter one of my most enthusiastic reviews of all time. It was simply brilliant.

So it was with a mixture of excitement and trepidation that I dove once agin into Rachel's life and thoughts...

....and I am "5 giddy stars" glad that I did.

Goldin continues to write with such depth, her characters are so real and her dialogue is so realistic.

What a pleasure it was to read this book. THANK YOU!

Really enjoyed this! Fast paced. Interesting. Loved that it brought back Rachel from Night Swim. One of my fav books to recommend this felt like a worthy continuation.

Another Megan Goldin book, another fantastic read! I really enjoyed following Rachel Krall this time around because she is a fascinating character. She doesn't let anything stop her from finding the truth, even if it puts her in danger. She travels to Florida in Dark Corners at the request of the FBI, who need her help with a missing person case. An influencer named Maddison disappears shortly after visiting a prisoner named Terence Bailey. Rachel talks to Terence but he doesn't give her anything that points to Maddison's whereabouts. She decides (against FBI advice) to go undercover at a Florida influencer conference to talk to people who might know more about Maddison and her online persona. Once she does it kickstarts a sequence of events that leads her right into the crosshairs of a very dangerous person. Goldin does a great job of misdirecting the reader for most of the book, which makes the reveal surprising and satisfying. Her books are always a puzzle to fit together piece by piece. I would recommend this book to fellow readers. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The biggest thank you ever to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Rachel Krall is BACK with another investigation - this time, the search for a missing influencer who just so happened to visit an accused serial killer in jail the day before she disappeared. When the FBI investigation stalls, they reluctantly bring in Rachel to see if she can get answers. Soon, she finds herself undercover at an influencer conference to see what she can learn about Maddison in hopes she can still be found. "Suddenly a target of a monster hiding in plain sight, Rachel is forced to confront the very real dangers that lurk in the dark corners of the internet."

I stole that last line right from the official synopsis, because it's just so good. You guys know I absolutely loved THE NIGHT SWIM, and I was so excited to learn there was going to be another installment in the life of Rachel Krall. One of my favorite aspects of TNS was how incredible the audio version was, so when I received an advanced digital copy of the book, I considered waiting for the audio to be released. Ultimately, I just couldn't wait, so I dove on in, and I'm so glad I did! I actually think I enjoyed the plot of DARK CORNERS more than that of TNS. There was one scene in DC that I just didn't care for - I won't mention it here, it's very much a side plot, so not a spoiler, but still, still! I know a lot of people like to go in fresh. Also, there seemed to be *less* of the podcast itself in this storyline - I'm not 100% sure if that's actually the case, but that's how it read to me. With all that said, I am fully convinced the audio version will be another amazing 6-star experience. Here's hoping for a RK#3 in our future!

Since I have been introduced to this author, I have read and enjoyed many of her stories! While I did not remember the first book in this series, it was ok because it was not needed to read the second book. This story was unique in its plot, and it was a thrill to read. There weren't any shocking twists but it was still entertaining.

Another great story from Megan Goldin. This timely, twisty thriller explores the dark side of social media. The twists and turns keep the reader guessing until the very end.

My kids’ school has a part of the day they dub “Drop Everything and Read” and “Dark Corners” is a book that epitomizes this phrase. I was hooked immediately and couldn’t put it down until I had read the final line. I loved “The Night Swim” so I was excited to reconnect with Rachel Krall and the second installment didn’t disappoint, although you don’t need to have read The Night Swim to understand/enjoy this thriller.

Krall is summoned to Daytona Beach by an FBI agent investigating the disappearance of an influencer who, just days before being abducted, visited an about to be released inmate who has long been suspected (but not convicted) in a series of murders in the area and whose final correspondence to the now missing influencer was “Bring me Rachel Krall.”

I’ve read several novels lately that explore the world of influencers but I liked how Goldin looked at influencers through different lenses; not just superficial affirmation seekers but also slaves to their own toxic industry, actors intentionally creating a persona, and desperate individuals craving a complete transformation from their troubled reality.

The narrative switches from the transcript of Krall’s podcast to the real-time actions, offering Goldin a chance to humanize the convicted as well as crime victims in a way that is thoughtful but not saccharine. She weaves commentary about law enforcement’s perceptions and the media’s preference to cover certain stories in a manner that isn’t forced or preachy. The action is fast paced but not unrealistic and I didn’t want to put the novel down. Highly recommend!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press to review but all thoughts are entirely my own.

I have been a fan of Megan Goldin for years now and find myself wishing I could actually listen to Rachel Krall's seductive sounding podcast. This Florida set thriller also made me want to permanently log off of social media.

So fast paced with such likable characters, a chilling villain- the scariest monsters really do hide in plain site!, and twists I never saw coming.

Be prepared to set aside time to finish this in one sitting, because you won't want to put it down!

I’m excited that Megan Goldin decided to write another Rachel Krall story, and I hope she continues and makes it a long series.

Interesting plot, and I learned a lot about influencers on social media. I liked the bit of romance that developed in the story. The Daytona police department was a bit over the top in my opinion, but it didn’t disrupt the story. The ending was awesome and not what I saw coming.

Ms. Goldin is an excellent writer, and I highly recommend any reader check out all her books.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are
my own.

The second installment of the Rachel Krall series is coming soon and I’m thrilled to say that it is even better than the first!! I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump lately but I flew through this one in less than a day.

As the star of a huge podcast, Rachel has gained so much fame that even the FBI is calling her in for help. This call leaves her flying to Florida to speak with a soon-to-released prisoner linked to the disappearance of a well known social media influencer. Against the wishes of the FBI, Rachel chooses to investigate by going undercover at Buzzcon, a glamorous content creator convention, but she quickly finds herself under the watchful eye of a serial killer.

This story was brilliantly plotted and it really kept me on my toes; however, Rachel’s character is the true star of the show. I absolutely love her confidence, wit, and, above all else, her big heart. This book also introduces some wonderful supporting characters, who add extra complexity and a touch of romance. Mystery/thriller lovers, be sure to pre-order or pick up this book on August, 8th 2023!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an e-galley of this engrossing book!