Megan Goldin has become a must-read author for me, and this is the much-anticipated sequel to the fabulous The Night Swim. This time around, Rachel is a rockstar podcaster, and she's the go-to person for the wrongfully convicted. Megan is an expert of crafting a clear mystery, and I'd recommend this to anyone new to the mystery/thriller genre. However, the obvious climax and reliance on by-the-number tropes keeps this from five stars.

True-crime podcaster Rachel Krall, has been called in by the FBI to aide in the case of missing social media influencer, Maddison Logan, who disappeared after visiting inmate Terence Bailey. Bailey was convicted of breaking & entering but investigators believe he is connected to the several brutal murders and is about to be released. The FBI can’t prove that he is a murderer or that he had anything to do with Maddison’s disappearance but Rachel is hot on the case!

This was an exciting, fast-paced thriller full of red herrings and side plots that kept me guessing. I loved the Florida setting in this book which made for an atmospheric read. This is the 4th book I’ve read by Megan Goldin including Night Swim which is the first book in this series. Rachel’s character seems a little edgier in this book now that she’s older and has lived a little since book one.

(Spoilers Ahead)

This book was good but not great. It felt superficial, even for a genre novel. There was not enough character development and some of the situations felt very contrived. Why wouldn’t Rachel have shown Grace a picture of Maddison? That seemed like it would have connected some dots faster. And why was Terry such an ominous presence? It didn’t align with how the book ended. I liked the plot but thought there were a lot of areas for improvement.

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Dark corners can be danger points."

Rachel Krall is drug into an FBI situation involving a missing influencer and a suspected killer behind bars. Rachel is a true crime podcaster whose recent fame has enhanced her reputation as an investigative reporter. She flies to Daytona Beach to visit the convict who's about to be released after an incarceration for breaking and entering -- they couldn't make a murder charge stick. But, Maddison Logan, the young woman who has disappeared, had visited him right before she vanished.

The first thing the reader must do is accept that the FBI would ask Rachel Krall to be involved in this case and provide her with all the pertinent details. I found that aspect a bit hard to swallow and so i did not like this second installment as much as I did the first as it just seemed too outlandish. Rachel was far removed from her podcast role.

The plot was OK, the weirdness that was trimethlylaminuria was quite interesting (it's a rare condition that makes someone smell horrible, and is sometimes called fish odor syndrome). I did not find this to be much of a suspense thriller, more a mystery that sort of hopped and skipped all over the place. Not a fan of the instant romance either. Was never satisfied with the information finally revealed about the killer.

Frankly, I was really bored by the influencer angle. I am sure others might disagree, but I am so over this constant self-obsession and the competition for followers and viral posts. What I think is really meant is that there is danger in the dark corners of social media.

Will I read another installment in this series? Probably, but I sure hope that the author returns to the writing style and format with the podcasts, scripts, etc. that made the first better for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read and review.

The Night Swim is one of my all time favourite thrillers that I’m constantly recommending so when I found out it was getting turned into a series, I was so excited!

This one takes a bit of a different approach than the first as instead of the podcast angle, we dive into the social media world and get an influencer trope. While I did find this element quite intriguing and really liked the BuzzCon idea, I did find myself missing the podcast and therefore it felt like a little of the magic from the first one was lost.

Goldin continued with a dark and sinister theme and provided us with an abundance of compelling red herrings and misdirections! Rachel continued to be the strong and determined protagonist that we originally met and I enjoyed following along with her journey and investigation.

While the plot was quite complex at times, I liked that I didn’t get confused and I applaud Goldin’s stellar writing for this!

While this can certainly be read as a standalone, by no means do I recommend passing up on reading The Night Swim first!!

Thank you to Netgalley, Megan Goldin, and St. Martin's Press for this ARC of Dark Corners in exchange for an honest review!
Description:
Dark Corners follows Rachel Krall, the true crime podcaster that we all came to love in the Night Swim. This time, Rachel is called to help the FBI when her name is brought up by a prisoner, Terence Bailey, who is soon being released from prison after serving time for breaking and entering. Although that isn't the worst crime that the FBI believes he has committed. Terence is suspected of killing six women and the FBI want to make sure he isn't released from prison and able to harm any other women. When famous influencers from the BuzzCon event that Rachel is partaking in keep going missing or are found dead, the FBI and Rachel begin to suspect that Terence is not working alone.
Review:
I have read all of Megan Goldin's books and have absoutely loved them all. Dark Corners was a highly anticipated read for me. First, I loved getting to know Rachel even more in this book after the Night Swim. I had some issues with the pacing of this one compared to the Night Swim. I felt it was a lot slower paced and slower to capture my attention, but it finally picked up around the 60-70% range which is when I truly became invested in the story. I loved that we actually knew the perpetrator very quickly on and were able to get into his disturbing head. We also got to find out the tricky ways he was able to disguise himself which was fascinating. I would have liked to have an epilogue; I felt like the book abruptly ended.
All in all, I would recommend to others and cannot wait to read Megan's future releases.
3.5 star rounded up to 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and. St. Martin’s Press for this ARC of Dark Corners by Megan Goldin. This book is a twisty story about a Podcaster and the dark side of being a social influencer. Rachel Karll gets pulled into an investigation that she can’t resist. While digging deeper into this case, she learns more about the world of being a social influencer and what it takes to make it in this career. Is this world so cut throat that the cost is your life?

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I am loving this series and would love to see it continue. Social media influencers and podcasters are a dime a dozen these days but this story felt fresh and unique. I love when an author not only tells us about the crime but takes us along the journey of digging to the bottom of the story and revealing the truth! With twists (and Wei by guesses by the reader) along the way. 4 stars.

The Night Swim was one of the top books that stuck with me in 2020 and I had the pleasure of interviewing Megan Goldin about it for the Bad Bitch Book Club's thriller discussion group. All that to say, I suspected this would be another home run for me and it sure was. Rachel Krall is such a dynamic character and I was so excited to see there would be more to her story. I loved watching Rachel investigate a new case, this time involving a bunch of a influencers. If you like solving a case through reading alongside a main character I think you would absolutely enjoy this. Happy to say, Megan has done it again!

I am a big fan of Megan Goldin and her coming back to her series about the podcaster Rachel Krall was an excellent decision. Podcasters and influencer characters are all the rage right now and this one is very well done.

I mainly listened to the audiobook for this one and this is definitely the way to go. This audiobook is so engaging and brings this podcast and story to life. I loved seeing Rachel back in action. I loved The Night Swim and was excited to see Rachel dig into another muder.

I love the short chapters and fast paced storyline. A fun page turner but I liked The Night Swim better.

4 Stars

Another winner from Megan Goldin. After reading "Stay Awake" last year, this author was immediately added to my must read list, and, once again, she did not disappoint!

Rachel Krall shot to internet fame with her podcast "Guilty or Not Guilty," so when she was contacted by the FBI requesting that she come to the Central Florida Correctional Facility, her interest was piqued. As it turns out, her presence was requested by Terence Bailey, a hulking prisoner with a temper to match, who was scheduled for release in two days.

The FBI believes that Terence had something to do with the disappearance of Maddison Logan, a popular influencer on IG. They are racing against the clock to not only locate Maddison, but keep Terence in prison,

After a tense meeting with Bailey, Rachel decides to spend a few days in FL and investigate on her own. She infiltrates an influencer convention, where she finds more than she bargained for.

This book was full of twists, with an ending that I wasn't expecting.

Just remember, the scariest monster is the one that hides in plain sight.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and the author for this ARC.

As a huge fan of Night Swim, I was excited to read this one that features Rachel Krall (podcaster) attempting to solve another string of murders. This one didn’t disappoint…. It had it all! I felt like I was solving the crimes and looking for clues right alongside Rachel and Special Agent Martinez.

I also really enjoyed learning about the fascinating dark underworld of social influencers. Who knew? Then throw in badass FBI agents and even a little touch of romance - it's a recipe for success. Everything tied together nicely by the end as well.

I also listened to the audio version and loved the real-world podcast recordings as well.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of Megan Goldin's, 'Dark Corners'. I really enjoyed this book, it was quick paced and kept me guessing the entire time. It even had a few twists that I did not anticipate which I typically look for in books.

I am a big Megan Goldin fan, so of course I liked this book. The podcast angle is fun and I enjoyed reading more about Rachel Krall. The book can be read standalone, however it might be a good idea to read the first to familiarize yourself with the MC (I've heard it's boring if you don't). I loved the short chapters and how each one left you in suspense and wanting to read more.

This book was an easy 5 stars for me. It was full of twists I never saw coming and I would recommend it to anyone. I was sure that there was going to be things left hanging at the end, but the wrap up was perfect. If this was a real podcast 10/10 I would be addicted.

Rachel Krall, the podcaster from. Night Swim, returns in Dark Corners, a story that kept me reading well into the night. Rachel receives a request from the FBI to visit Terrence Bailey, currently in prison for breaking and entering charges. He had been visited by influencer Maddison Logan shortly before she disappeared. During their visit Rachel’s name had come up and they are hoping that her visit might provide information that will lead them to Maddison. When her trailer had been found there were signs of an attack and they fear the worst. Bailey is suspected of being a serial killer, but there is insufficient evidence to confirm this. When her visit yields little new information she is dismissed and told she can return home, They don’t know how determined Rachel is when she becomes involved in a story.

Agent Joe Martinez’s investigation has hit a wall. Maddison is not her real name and there is no background on her. Rachel attends a conference of influencers hoping to learn more about her.. There is an attraction between Rachel and Martinez as they cooperate on the case. The more Rachel learns, the more danger she is in. Bailey is scheduled to be released in two days so pressure is mounting to find evidence. Authorities suspected that Bailey may have been working with someone else. Thomas McCoy, a rideshare driver with a distinctive medical condition, is looking forward to Bailey’s release. He is pure evil, but is he Bailey’s partner and how are they tied to Maddison? Before the truth is revealed, Megan Goldin takes you through a number of twists to keep you guessing. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for my review.

“There’s an old rule of thumb in prisons,” Martinez said as he rang an intercom buzzer for a guard to let them through. “Actually, it’s more of a life lesson. Always know what you’re walking into. Dark corners can be danger points.”

Dark Corners is a solidly entertaining thriller. Procedurals aren’t usually my favorite, but this one worked for me. It had the right amount of suspense, a brutally honest portrayal of influencers, and a podcast element that cleverly acted as a recap of the previous chapters. There were clever red herrings and satisfying twists, and the story was propelled by its strong, fast pacing.

I haven’t read Night Swim yet but it didn’t feel like I was missing anything. I really enjoyed Dark Corners and I’m looking forward to reading more from Megan Goldin in the future.

Thank you to St. Martins Press for the arc!

This is the second book in the Rachel Krull series. Rachel is a journalist with a famous podcast. She’s called by the FBI to speak to a prisoner who may know something about the disappearance of a popular influencer. When told to go home, Rachel decides to stay and go undercover at Buzz Con a convention for influencers.

I really enjoyed this book and this character. I haven’t read the first book (but I will), but I don’t think too much was revealed. I really enjoyed her foray into the influencer world. It took a heavy story and offered a little comic relief. The main story had me guessing on most things, but everything was neatly wrapped up. The book left me with one nagging question, but in hindsight perhaps I’m glad I don’t have the answer!

I liked Dark Corners but I didn’t r joy it as much as the first Rachel Krall book. Something was missing for me. It wasn’t as thrilling and Rachel wasn’t as interesting of a character in this book.

Last year I had the pleasure of reading Megan Goldin’s Stay Awake, which kept me guessing all throughout its twisty (occasionally absurd) plot, making for a chilling, compulsively readable thriller. So when I saw Dark Corners pop up (her latest release, out this August), I decided to take a chance on it, despite not having read the first book in her Rachel Krall series, Night Swim . . . which I definitely didn’t realize until I was already a few chapters in, oops. Fortunately it’s very much a standalone so I didn’t find myself floundering.

Red herrings, creepy killers, the world’s most annoying influencers, and shocking amounts of B.O. abound in this murder mystery, which sees investigative journalist and true crime podcaster Rachel Krall called to Daytona Beach, FL, to (somewhat reluctantly) aid the FBI in their latest case: popular travel vlogger and #vanlife influencer Maddison Logan has disappeared following a visit to prisoner Terence Bailey. He was locked up on a breaking and entering charge half a decade earlier, though the local police strongly suspected he had a hand in murdering six women (despite barely a shred of proof), and is due for release in a matter of days. A few hours after her conversation with him — during which he instructs her to reach out to Rachel Krall, which is why the FBI hauls her down to Florida in the first place — Maddison is kidnapped from her van at a deserted state park and everyone fears the worst.

This leads Rachel to BuzzCon, an influencer convention downtown, where she poses as a ‘fitfluencer’ herself in order to gain insight into Maddison’s circle of online friends and narrow down potential motives. Is this simply a case of fierce digital rivalry gone wrong? Or is Maddison’s mysterious past a factor? And how, exactly, does Terence fit into all this? Well, when a woman’s body turns up not far from Maddison’s campsite, Rachel — with the help of a hot FBI agent, because of course — is up against the clock to discover the truth.

I have to be honest: this wasn’t my favorite thriller in the world. But I did enjoy a lot of it! The pace moves quickly, the twists are fun (if not entirely unexpected), and a certain character is especially creepy. Yeeeesh. Just thinking about him makes my skin crawl. Not to mention, my paranoia about using Uber and Lyft has returned with a vengeance. Thank you, Dark Corners!!!!!!

What I wasn’t crazy about was everything to do with the BuzzCon plotline, which I found a smidge grating. From the unbelievably convenient run-ins Rachel repeatedly has with chatty guests at the hotel — all these dudes are just begging to tell her the exact clues she needs? Really? — to the multiple attempts at sprinkling in social media jargon, it had a very “how do you do, fellow kids” vibe.

I also think we’ve reached critical mass with basic commentary about how influencers are vacuous and narcissistic. There’s obviously truth behind the stereotype, but unless you’re going to dig deeper or put a new spin on it, acting like it’s some big, new critique about the state of social media, kinda feels *snobby YouTuber voice* so 2015, y’know? At this point, we’re painfully well aware of all the deranged, self-obsessed egomaniacs who have deep roots on the internet — one scroll through just about anyone’s TikTok FYP proves it. Not exploring that further felt a bit like a missed opportunity to me, that’s all.

TL;DR: Dark Corners is undeniably entertaining, and fans of Goldin’s work should absolutely put it on their TBR lists. Also it serves as a great reminder that nothing good ever happens in Florida and it should be avoided at all costs 🙃

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! Dark Corners by Megan Goldin is out now.