Dark Corners was a twisty thriller that pulled me in from the beginning. Rachel Krall, true crime podcaster and journalist, is back and helping to investigate the disappearance of Madison Logan, famous influencer.

There were multiple layers to this story that were expertly woven together. The chapters alternated from different points of view which gives the reader a glimpse into everything that was happening.

Rachel ends up at an influencer conference to find some clues into Madison’s disappearance and I found the descriptions of the influencers humorous but so accurate.

I felt a little disappointed with the ending. All the loose ends seemed to be quickly tied up rather conveniently and the book just seemed to end. I would’ve liked to see a little bit more or maybe an epilogue.

Overall, a decent, enjoyable thriller.

Thank you to Megan Goldin, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an ebook copy of Dark Corners for me to read and review. This story was full of so many twists and turns and little details that I was kept engrossed from cover to cover. This is the second book in the series following the main character, true crime Podcaster, Rachel Krall. I read Dark Corners directly following book one and I already am wishing for book 3. That's how much the characters and the storytelling and the plot style have truly hooked me. I love that along the way we gradually find out more and more details about the main character and her personality. This story was filled with so many interwoven pieces of the puzzle that I was kept guessing how they all would fit together. There were a few details that I had figured out or strongly suspected along the way, but the suspense of the story kept me intrigued right to the very end. I am anxiously awaiting book 3.

This second book in the Rachel Krall series was another winner. I think if I HAD to compare, I liked the first one SLIGHTLY more than Dark Corners, but they were both solid 4-star reads for me. I enjoyed the plot being around the world of social media influencers and how followers' perception of who those influencers are differs so much from the reality.

Something I find as a common complaint for me when reading series is that character growth is not demonstrated like I would hope to see if they were real people....which makes me seem a little crazy, but that's ok. Rachel is not a character I really relate with in many ways, so maybe that is why she seems less emotionally intelligent to me than she would to someone who better relates with her. She just seems a little petulant and impulsive for her stage of life, which results in me not loving the book as much as I would if I really liked Rachel more. Again, that's a "me" issue, and I still think 4 stars is a great rating overall.

I got an advanced ecopy of this book and still went out and bought the hardback so I could influence friends to read it. I am looking forward to whatever Megan Goldin publishes next, and definitely will be adding it to my TBR list.

I had no idea this was a sequel of sorts to The Night Swim. I was happy to see podcaster Rachel Krall back in action to investigate a whole new mystery.

When an influencer (not a huge fan of influencer stories, but okay) goes missing after visiting a criminal about to be let out of prison, Rachel wonders what happened. She infiltrates an influencer conference in Florida and starts nosing around.

This was a lot less dark than Night Swim and it was great to see Rachel back in action, complete with a romance. Is this a series now? I'm excited if so!

This is a terrific summer mystery/thriller - a great storyline with likeable protagonists with twists that make you turn the pages. My reading life has been heavy on literary fiction, but I love when I can refresh it with a smart mystery/thriller and this new novel fit the bill.
Rachel Krall is a true-crime podcaster who was introduced in Goldin's previous novel Night Swim. I have not read Night Swim yet, but did not feel like it was absolutely necessary to enjoy Dark Corners. I liked Rachel, a smart woman whose podcast about a different case has made her well-known. She is brought in by the FBI investigator to speak with a soon-to-be-released prisoner who wanted to meet with her and who may also be tied to a missing person.
I appreciated that Rachel isn't written as the woman who makes stupid decision and ends up putting herself in stupid dangerous situations. I enjoyed the commentary on social media influencers as a storyline too.
And of course, I plan to read Night Swim as soon as I can.
Many thanks to #Netgalley and #StMartinsPress for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Novels about true crime podcasts can be so hit and miss. I think that this one was a hit in part because of the fact that I both read and listened to the book back and forth. I found myself especially enjoying the way the audiobook handled the podcast portions of the story. They were very well done. Without the narration, these were still my favorite part of the book. You are listening to the main characters take on what she experiences and it was interesting to see how she put together what she discovered.

Novels about influencers are also a hit and miss with me. I liked the balance of ridiculous and serious amongst the different podcasters. That's not to say there were equal amounts of each, just that there was a view of them that offered some variety.

The story itself took a lot of twists and turns and I was pretty satisfied by the outcome. The action was pretty evenly paced throughout. The only thing that made me slightly cringe was the love affair. It felt forced and unnecessary.

This reads as sort of a popcorn, movie theater, easily consumable thriller novel. In this case, I didn't see it as a negative but I find this didn't necessarily fit in the "Rachel Krall" narrative. This was vastly different from her previous Night Swim, which was miles better. It was better developed, had much more literary elements, and had better characterization.

This was a late-night, kindle read that I scrolled through in the wee hours before I went to sleep. The first few chapters had those dun, dun, duhhhhhhh!!!!!! sort of...over the top "cliffhangers" that kept you flipping pages. Then it sort of fizzled out. The characterization was surface-level...at best. Rachel Krall was an uber-fit, uber-skinny, uber-successful podcaster who weasels her way onto crime scenes because the detective finds her sexy and compelling. I sort of personally HATE those types of thrillers because in what world would this podcaster be given access to FBI crime scenes? But, all that to say, I found the characterization extremely one-dimensional and wasn't a huge draw for me for the novel.


Anyways, this review is coming off a lot more critical than I intended, but I actually did enjoy this book and was compelled to read long into the night when I should have been sleeping...which is what you want in the dead of summer with no responsibilities and no school the next day.

For a super fun, quick, easy read...this book definitely fits the bill. Anything more and you're better off picking something else up.

Y’all. Megan Goldin is an absolute GEM! I will read anything she writes and enjoy all of it!

And I think this might be my favorite yet??? I FLEW through this (but also read this while I was reading a much heavier true crime book so this was a nice ~break from that, even though this has a similar theme.)

I love Rachel Krall and I hope there are more books featuring her! Especially with how this one played out. It felt like it could open the doors for a future, longer series. Which I would totally be on board with!

I absolutely loved the Night Swim but I loved this one even more!! The setting was so fun! (Loved the influencers conference!) The characters are excellent (more Joe, please!) and I just absolutely loved this one!

This is also such a fun format for a thriller and I love the podcast bits that are woven into the story. This was set up so nicely and made for a fun, exciting thriller!! Could not recommend it more highly!!

Thank you to NetGalley & St Martin's Press for allowing me to read this!

Title: A Mediocre Thriller

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

"Dark Corners" by Megan Goldin had all the makings of a gripping thriller, but it fell short of my expectations. The premise was intriguing, promising a tangled web of secrets and suspense. The author's writing style was decent, allowing for easy reading, and the pacing kept me engaged throughout.

However, where the book faltered was in its character development and plot execution. The characters lacked depth, often coming across as one-dimensional and predictable. I struggled to connect with their motivations, which hindered my investment in their fates. The plot had potential, but it often veered into clichés and convenient resolutions, robbing the story of genuine surprises.

Despite these shortcomings, I can't deny that the book did manage to maintain a certain level of tension that kept me flipping the pages. There were moments of genuine intrigue that hinted at the author's ability to craft a compelling narrative.

In the end, "Dark Corners" is a book that offers a moderate level of entertainment for readers looking for a quick thriller fix. However, if you're seeking a more immersive and thought-provoking mystery, you might find yourself slightly disappointed by this book's lack of depth and originality.

DNF at 25% Rachel has lost all her spunk from the first book. Also we get it she has a sexy voice. It was just repetitive and dull.

Shortly before being released from a six-year prison sentence, suspected serial killer Terrence Bailey receives a visit from a popular social media influencer, Maddison Logan. Immediately after that visit, Maddison goes missing and the FBI is unable to locate her. The FBI reaches out to Rachel Krall, a popular true crime podcaster, for help for two reasons: 1) her name came up in their investigation and 2) she has been able to solve cases in the past that the police could not.

I really liked this one! Podcasts have become very popular in books and I don't mind it one bit - I liked the podcast aspect in this one but I do wish some of the transcripts would have been included to really add to that element of the book. This book was a really quick read and had a creepy feel to the whole thing, which I really liked. I also appreciated the very short chapters and though there were a lot of moving parts in this one, I was never confused or bored. I was very unsure how it would all come together in the end and I was very satisfied with how it all worked out. If you're looking for a fast paced, twisty thriller then this is definitely a good one to pick up!

I read The Night Swim back in 2020 when it was first released and though I know I loved it, I don't remember the details so I honestly can't fairly compare the two books. If you're wondering if you need to read The Night Swim before reading this one my answer is no, this book can stand on its own. Try it!

"Dark Corners" by Megan Goldin is an electrifying thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. With its well-crafted plot and intricate character development, the book takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of suspense and mystery. Goldin's writing style is engaging and immersive, making it difficult to put the book down. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers with unexpected twists, "Dark Corners" is a must-read. However, be prepared for some intense and chilling moments that will leave you thinking long after you've turned the last page.

Dark, ominous, and unnerving!

Dark Corners is an intense, well-crafted tale that takes us back into the life of podcaster Rachel Krall as she heads to Florida to help the FBI with a case involving a missing influencer with ties to a convicted killer that will see her using her talents to infiltrate BuzzCon, a cutthroat convention of influencers, where everyone is willing to do anything they have to in order to be the next big thing.

The writing is sharp and crisp. The characters are sly, self-obsessed, and competitive. And the plot is an intricate, gripping tall full of twists, turns, secrets, deception, manipulation, obsession, greed, jealousy, gossip-mongering, red herrings, malicious intentions, and murder.

Overall, Dark Corners is an unpredictable, eerie, entertaining tale by Goldin that didn’t have as much of that podcast feel as the first novel in the series, The Night Swim, but was nevertheless still an intricate, creepy, fantastic thrill ride.

Megan Goldin has done it again! I fast paced thriller that keeps a reader hooked throughout. Rachel Krall is back! This time she is brought into an investigation because a convicted inmate wants to see her. Seemingly unconnected to the story, Rachel finds herself caught in the web of missing influencers, murder, and FBI investigations all while still using her podcast to share what she discovers as the truth.

This novel is twisty and fun, and kept me wanting to know how it would turn out in the end!

I was excited to see Dark Corners by Megan Goldin as I really enjoyed Night Swim. This was a solid mystery and I liked the character of Rachel. I would love to read more in this series and hope FBI Agent Joe Martinez shows up again.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publishers for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Rachel Krall is back! This time she is in Florida, helping the FBI search for a missing person while simultaneously help keep a man behind bars all while doing a bit of her own investigation on her own for her podcast.
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Once again, this was a fun read. This was once again in the format where we are reading the story through Rachel’s podcast but also through the present as to what Rachel was doing with the FBI and her own investigation. I liked how one piece of the puzzle always led to something more significant.
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There was definitely a bunch of filler in this one in my opinion, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book. I liked the aspect of Rachel doing her own thing, I liked the “undercover” aspect if you will and I found the ending satisfying. I definitely figured out part of the major twist, which basically means I am certified detective now… or just that it’s moreso eluded to throughout the novel. Either way, I did figure out part of it.
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I was able to listen to this one and read via ebook. The narrators were incredible, the podcast parts were superb. Andre Santana, January LaVoy and Samantha Desz were incredible making this one such a fun listen. I highly highly highly recommend the audiobook if you’re looking into this one!
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This was a solid sequel to The Night Swim, and I would love to see if we get another installment to the Rachel Krall series. I would definitely like to see where life takes her next.
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Dark Corners released yesterday 8/8, be sure to check it out! Huge thank you to NetGalley, St. Martins Press, Macmillan Audio and Megan Goldin for the ALC and eARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 but rounding up

In many areas, this book is a much stronger addition to the Rachel Krall series than the first book, The Night Swim. The characters were more fully fleshed out, the plot had a higher degree of urgency from the start, and the podcast segments further developed the story. I enjoyed the complex multi-layered plot filled with mystery, intrigue, and suspense. That being said, there were elements that fell flat for me. A few of the reveals felt overly convenient or rushed. One plot element was very briefly tied up at the very end and ultimately had little to no impact to the story at large. While the touch of romance seemed a little out of place at times, it did add depth and humanity to the MC, Rachel Krall. Overall, it was an enjoyable listen, highly recommend the audio for this one!

Thank you to Megan Goldin, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!

Dark Corners
Megan Goldin
Rachel Krall #2



Megan Goldin’s latest thriller, Dark Corners, is creeptastic- disturbing and frightening, full of unexpected twists, dangerous turns and rollercoaster emotions that will keep readers/listeners interest from page one until the jaw dropping end and featuring Rachel Krall, the star of Night Swim.
Rachel is back and better than ever helping to solve another crime(s). However, in this read Rachel is more defensive than she seemed in Night Swim, now she’s got plenty of good reasons to be put-out, and one big reason is the cryptic fed Joe Martinez. As the story progresses the audience will once again see the kinder gentler Rachel and even experience some sparks flying between Rachel and the FBI agent. As usual Megan gifts her audience with one heck of an edgy and spellbinding tale this one is told from two POVs, Rachel’s and a rideshare driver named Thomas McCoy that is interspersed with a haunting Rachel Krall podcast of murder and mayhem. Megan will make her audience wait a long time until she leaves enough clues for readers to reach that ah-ha moment that will finally make every monstrous piece fall into place. Fans of Lisa Gardner, JT Ellison and this fabulous author will find it impossible to put this novel down.

Narration:
Samantha Desz and January LaVoy take this novel to new heights by giving a realistic voice to every emotion and scene. Brava!

When, Terence Bailey, a suspected serial killer is due to get out of prison and his only visitor in six years is a social media influencer who then turns up missing the feds are up against a wall and out of ideas, but FBI special Agent Joe Martinez has one trick up his sleeve and her name is Rachel Krall the star of the popular true crime podcast, Guilty or Not Guilty. But Joe isn’t aware of the Pandora’s Box he’s about to open.
Rachel Krall had plans for a short break between projects, that was until she was literally woken up by the FBI who had a small favor to ask. With little explanation Rachel is asked to fly to Florida and interview an inmate who’s about to be released. And oh by the way she’ll need to sign a non-disclosure before they’ll talk to her; now her interest is really piqued so Rachel agrees to the terms and learns that while Terence Bailey is in prison for robbery he’s always been suspected for a string of serial killings and that a few days ago social media influencer Madison Logan visited Bailey and then disappeared without a trace. And they need Rachel to try and get Bailey to spill some beans.

However, when the interview doesn’t get agent Martinez the answers he wants, he simply thanks Rachel and tells her to go home and forget the whole thing.

There are a few things that get Rachel’s craw and one of them is to pique her curiosity then shut her down. And it seems luck is on her side because Rachel’s been invited to the same influencer conference that the missing influencer came to Florida for. So, win-win she can investigate Madison’s disappearance and look into why the cops seem to think that Terence Bailey is a killer. And oh another win is that agent Joe Martinez is NOT happy.

This is a follow-up to Night Swim, featuring the same main character, but it can be read as a stand-alone. The book is very well written, and the character development is excellent. Lots of moving parts, but the author handles all of them well. Fast paced with some good twists.

"Dark corners can be danger points."

3.5 Stars rounded up.

When I read the night swim in 2020, I enjoyed the take on the thriller genre that Megan Goldin took and when I saw that there was going to be a second Rachel Krall book, I was excited to see where the story went next. Rachel, a true crime podcast host, is called down to Florida to assist in a case after an influencer goes missing shortly after visiting a serial killer in prison. I loved that this book still has the special episode transcript for Rachel's podcast alongside the story since I found that unique in the first book. One thing I enjoyed about The Night Swim was the use of courtroom drama and I found myself missing it when it wasn't in the sequel. This story really focuses on influencer culture and unraveling the connections between the characters. Like The Night Swim, this is a really fast-paced thriller with good twists and turns and I'm interested to see if we'll get more of Rachel Krall's story!

Thank you to St. Martin's and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!