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!

I was so excited to get the next Rachel Krall book! I enjoyed the first book in this series, even though I did have serious qualms with how heavily it relied on a real-life case. I was glad this one didn't remind me of any actual case.

First, I loved the focus on influencers and the toxicity social media can creep into our lives. Different scenes definitely made me laugh because I could imagine people being so ridiculous in the name of being their "authentic selves" online.

With the overall plot, I enjoyed this one. The multiple perspectives kept it exciting and fast-paced.

My one issue was the romance felt a bit forced; I'm not sure it added much to the overall story.

Dark Corners by Megan Goldin is a page-turning thriller that I didn't want to put down! I absolutely loved Stay Awake and couldn't wait to read Dark Corners, and although I didn't love it quite as much as Stay Awake, it did not disappoint. (Note: this book features podcaster Rachel Krall, and is the second book of Goldin's to feature this character. I had not read the first one, Night Swim, and certainly don't think it's necessary to read it first, but those who prefer to read things "in order" may prefer to read Night Swim first and Dark Corners second.) One of the things that I love about Goldin's books is that I always learn something new. This book features a lot of social media influencers and what their lives are really like, as well as a strange disease that causes one to have terrible body odor that I'd never heard of before. The alternating viewpoints create a nice tension and set a good pace for this mystery/thriller. If you are a fan of Ruth Ware and haven't yet discovered Megan Goldin, now is the time to start reading her!

Megan is a must read for me. I loved The Night Swim so I was very excited to get my hands on this one and it didn’t disappoint. It’s an engaging thriller that you won’t be able to put it down. Filled with unexpected twists. This one is even better the first one. I truly hope there’s more books in the series. I can see this as tv show easily. So well written.

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it now in your local and online bookstores and libraries.

Rachel Krall is back! You might remember her from The Night Swim. She hosts a very successful true crime podcast, and it’s landed her in the middle of another investigation.

Set just a few weeks after the conclusion of The Night Swim, Rachel is hoping to enjoy some time off, but she quickly finds herself on a plane bound for Florida after the FBI calls and asks for her help with a missing persons case.

There is a lot going on in this book. There’s the missing persons case, several murders, a serial killer, an influencer convention, and more. Even with all that is happening, I thought it took a while to really get going. However, once it got going, it was unputdownable. I’ll be crossing my fingers for another Rachel Krall book!

I was a huge fan of the first novel (the night swim and I felt like this one disappointed a little. I still enjoyed the plot because of the interesting backdrop of influencers and how social media portrays things but the main character felt different. A 3.5 rounded to a 4!

3.5 stars. I really liked Rachel Krall in book one and found the story of her true crime podcast so unique, very much giving “Serial” vibes. This book continued with her coverage of a new case in Daytona, with peculiar circumstances and odd subjects. I was worried there would be some loose ends with some of the characters but everything was wrapped up nicely in a bow. While the story isn’t super likely, it’s totally different than the average mystery and kept me curious throughout.

I was so excited about this based on the author and didn’t realize it was a sequel nor that it was amateur detective. I just found the story was very “blah blah blah” and nothing happened. Also: our main character knew EVERYTHING not even the police knew. Lastly, in making it multiple POVs the story would first rewind and then catch up and then add to - which felt like a broken childhood game we used to play. It just didn’t work for me and I DNF’d at 30%

I was excited to receive the second installment in the Rachel Krall true crime series and it did not disappoint. This was a well thought out psychological twisted roller coaster of who is really behind what is happening. Other than an FBI Agent with questionable judgment and tactics and a few hard to believe why would you do that Rachel Krall moments I really enjoyed this book.

So, are we going to see Agent Martinez in Rachel’s future? Is Rachel going to continue walking the line and risk her safety to report on True Crime? Is there going to be a third and fourth installment soon? I am staying tuned and hopeful. Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy.

This one was just okay for me. Although I liked the concept of the podcast element, I didn't feel as though it was executed well and at times felt like an afterthought. I did enjoy the short, cliff-hanger chapters. It was interesting how the book spotlights the lives of social media influencers and the lengths they’ll go to for fame. However, I felt like that aspect of the book was not necessary and felt forced in some parts. The twists were a bit predictable and some parts of the book felt repetitive. If fans enjoyed The Night Swim, then this one is still worth reading.

Thank you Megan Goldin, Net Galley and St Martin's Press for providing me an ARC of this novel. This is her 2nd book featuring Podcaster Rachel Krall. In this story the FBI request Rachel's presence in Florida to assist them in working on a case because her name came up during a prisoner visitation meeting with prisoner Terence Bailey who is getting out on parole shortly. The police were never able to pin a bunch of serial murders on Terence and they are still trying to solve the case. Rachel's visit puts her right in the middle of a present day missing persons case that might have ties to the serial murders. Rachel's own investigation in to these crimes really puts her in danger, but she just can't help herself, she want to help solve these crimes. An enjoyable read if you like a good mystery, with a little bit of romance.

Megan Goldin does it again! I didn't think she could surpass her previous books that I've read -The Escape Room and The Night Swim - but she has managed to write a book that is at once dark, provocative, and engages all of our senses (IYKYK).

She brings us into the world of podcasts and influencers, combining the two to tell us the story of Rachel Krall Her reputation as a podcaster who has helped turn around a conviction has her in the sights of both a man imprisoned for a minor crime, but suspected of more, and the FBI, who tricks her into assisting with an investigation. (This is technically Book 2 in the Rachel Krall series, but can definitely be read as a standalone). She unwittingly becomes both a prime suspect in a murder, and a target of a predator.

I enjoyed the way the author interspersed bits of Rachel's podcast as the story progresses. There's also a dynamic between Rachel and the FBI agent Joseph Martinez that gives the story a spark. Goldin weaves a complicated and interlocking story that you won't want to end!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance reader's copy.

After reading The Night Swim and absolutely loving it, I knew that I needed to read this one too! Although I didn’t love it quite as much as the first one, I still really enjoyed it and thought it was a great crime thriller.

I love Megan Goldin’s writing. I always find that I zoom through her books because she tells stories in a way that keeps drawing me in. This one was no exception. I read it quickly and enjoyed uncovering the various puzzle pieces involved in the plot.

My main complaint is the romance between Rachel and Joe. I’m very finicky when there’s any type of romantic storyline in a thriller because it often feels tacky and out of place. Their fling or whatever it was definitely fit into that category.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy!

Megan Goldin has another hit in her newest book, Dark Corners, the 2nd Rachel Krall book. Rachel, who hosts a crime pod-cast, has been invited to the Central Florida Correctional Facility to visit a soon-to-be released prisoner Terrence Bailey. She has been invited by the FBI because Bailey had written her name down to a previous visitor, social media influencer Maddison Logan- who is now missing..... and they need to discover the connection. Rachel and Special Agent Martinez get off to a rocky start as he is very suspicious of her after she claims no knowledge of either Bailey or Logan, and she ignores his directives and sets off to investigate the disappearance of Maddison herself. As she inserts herself into the world of influencers at the BuzzCon convention and digs into their lives, she discovers there is so much more to the story of both Bailey and Logan. The back stories and twists that accompany the investigation keep the reader guessing and invested in finding out the truth in a series of missing and presumed dead young women. Will they find out Maddison is one more statistic? And what part does Bailey play in her disappearance and that of the other young women? I look forward to future Rachel Krall books and am selfishly hoping to see a return of Agent Martinez as the chemistry between he and Rachel is awesome!! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #DarkCorners

Rachel Krall is a true crime podcaster who is asked by the FBI to come to Florida to help them with a case involving an inmate who will be released in three days but may be a serial killer, and a social influencer who seems to have gone missing from a very important conference. The character of Rachel is strong and interesting. I was happy to learn that she appears in an earlier book by this author that I plan to read next. The author's writing style is smooth and easy to follow. I did not solve the mystery before the big reveal. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC.

I loved The Night Swim when I read it a few years back and was so happy to see that Megan Goldin was writing another book in Rachel Krall's universe.

Dark Corners hooked me from the very beginning and may have just done the trick of pulling me out of my thriller funk. I've read a lot this year and this is the first one I've read in awhile that wasn't completely predictable and actually had a twist or two I didn't see coming. While I don't think you need to read The Night Swim first to enjoy Dark Corners I think you definitely should. You get to know Rachel a bit more and by the time you begin Dark Corners you'll feel like you know her a bit more. She's easy to root for.

I loved how the author included snippets from Rachel's podcast throughout the novel. I love when books have mixed media and this helped me follow along with the case as Rachel put the pieces together. There were a decent amount of characters here, but none of them felt unnecessary to the story. It was fun getting a glimpse into the messy and toxic world of influencers.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a review copy.

I wasn't crazy about this one. I really enjoyed The Night Swim by this author, but Dark Corners fell a bit flat for me.

I was interested in the storyline, but I think the way it all connected and was tied up was a bit choppy. It felt like the author was grasping at straws to make sure everything came full circle; so much so that I actually rolled my eyes at a few parts at the end.

Overall, I'm disappointed.

This book in one sentence… True crime podcaster, Rachel Krall, is back to investigate a new crime— a well known social media influencer has gone missing!

We first met Rachel in Megan Goldin’s 2020 hit novel, The Night Swim. Dark Corners is the second book in the Rachel Krall series. Although this one could be read as a standalone, you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you skipped the first. I really enjoyed The Night Swim and the reviews indicate that I’m not alone, so it’s a great place to start!

Although I felt The Night Swim had more twists and turns and jaw dropping moments, Dark Corners was anything but predictable and keep me questioning the meaning of all the clues Goldin drops throughout. My brain was exploring a myriad of possibilities until the last couple chapters. The short chapters kept the story moving along at a steady pace; I felt especially hooked in the last half of the book. I read and enjoyed this book in all three formats and they are all fantastic. I read on my Kindle at night, listened to the audiobook while on the go, and cozied up with the hardcover when I had time to sit and read. This is a great audiobook because of all the podcast segments. The ebook and print formats are still great but the audio captures the essence of Rachel’s podcasts. I also love the narrator, January LaVoy.

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
🎧 Podcasts
📱 Social Media
🧩 Solving a puzzle
🏃‍♀️ Short chapters
🔪 True Crime
🤷🏻‍♀️ Whodunnits

I gave Dark Corners four stars and feel there are a ton of readers out there who will enjoy all the mystery and suspense this novel has to offer. Be sure to pick up your copy today!

Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book before its publication date. The thoughts and opinions above are my own.