3.25⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Series ~ Rachel Krall #2
Others in the series ~ The Night Swim
Publication date ~ August 8, 2023
Page Count ~ 347
Audio length ~ 10 hours 45 minutes
Narrators ~ André Santana, January LaVoy, Samantha Desz
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ podcast, social media influencer, serial killer, police procedural

Rachel is a true crime podcaster asked to assist the FBI in the disappearance of a social media influencer, Maddison.

Rachel, doesn't follow the rules very well and she doesn't come across as particularly likable. The bad guy isn't a mystery as there are chapters told from his perspective, as well as some from Joe the FBI agent.

Overall, this was fine, with some nice twists, but blah with the influencer angle...not a fan.

Series notes:
I read The Night Swim quite a while ago, so I can't say I remember it enough to confirm, but I believe this would be fine as a standalone because there's a new set of side characters.

I was lucky enough to receive a kindle and an audio copy, but I primarily listened.
Narration notes: All narrators did a lovely job. I especially liked that there were sometimes 2 different narrators within the podcast chapters, and there were nice sound effects as well.

(I might come back and write more, but I wanted to get something out on pub day)

This is a story about perspective.

Megan Goldin never lets me down! I hope she writes a dozen books in this series, I will read them all. The suspense was expertly created, and the characters were compelling. This is also one of the few books I’ve really liked that focused in on influencer culture & explored the hope interwoven in the desperation for success.

Thank you so much @netgalley @macmillan.audio & @stmartinspress for the e & audio arcs!!

4.5 ⭐️ rounded to 5!

I really enjoyed “Dark Corners”. You are introduced to shady characters and a missing young woman at the outset and trying to figure out how they are all connected to our protagonist and favorite fictional podcaster, Rachel. This book, like all of them that I’ve read by Megan Goldin, kept my interest throughout. This is a suspenseful and entertaining read (without being too gory, which I very much appreciate)-one of my favorite thrillers of the year. I hope this series continues because I am really liking these books. 4 stars ⭐️. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy for review.

Thank you @StMartinsPress and @MacMillan.Audio for the #gifted ALC/ARC of DARK CORNERS!

I really enjoyed Megan Goldin’s first book in the Rachel Krall series (THE NIGHT SWIM) so I was so excited to hear that she was bringing Rachel’s character back and creating a series. And while I enjoyed DARK CORNERS, it lacked that emotional gut punch that THE NIGHT SWIM left me with.

Maybe because DARK CORNERS felt more like a traditional thriller and less a commentary on the darker parts of society. While THE NIGHT SWIM still haunts me, I don’t think DARK CORNERS will stick with me. I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing, but part of me was expecting more from this book.

DARK CORNERS is out today!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5733595786
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CvsRGKdxpAe/

This one was too good!!!! I loved book 1, and I had this feeling book 2 was going to be a winner. We have Rachel tapping into the Influencer world, and a felon who is personally asking for her. This opens up a whole can of worms, LITERALLY… The FBI ask for her and she’s intrigued by everything that’s going on around her, a suspected killer, a famous social media influencer gone missing, w web of secrets, everything unravels in the end in the most AMAZING way possible because I couldn’t stop reading. It was too good, Happy Pub day to Megan Goldin.

I loved the first book in this series, The Night Swim and was excited to read more about Rachel. Overall I did feel this sequel lacked what the first book brought. A great setting & two different mysteries to solve.
With this big mystery I didn't care much for the side characters and I did feel like the plot twists were very obvious.
I didn't dislike it by any means, it just didn't have the same oomph as the first book did in my opinion. That being said if Goldin wants to continue on with this series I would still read them as they are enjoyable and well written thrillers.

“Dark corners can be danger points.” So says FBI Agent Joe Martinez, and he’s right. Very dangerous indeed. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Megan Goldin’s books, but Night Swim was my favorite until this talented author’s latest release: Dark Corners. Podcaster Rachel Krall is such an interesting character and she’s back! Serious, but knows how to have a good time. Values her privacy but can make herself fit in anywhere. Dedicated to bringing out the truth through her podcasts. An excellent investigative report, clever and able to solve mysteries, able to connect with people to get answers to her questions.

Dark Corners is fast-paced, thrilling and just plain scary at times. Rachel agrees to help the FBI and by doing so puts herself in danger. What to make of Terence Bailey, scheduled to be released from prison in a couple of days, suspected to be but never proven as a serial killer. Claims he has never killed anyone, but he can be cold and frightening all the same. What about the rideshare driver, Thomas? Creepy, but does anything connect him to the disappearance of influencer Maddison Logan and disappearances of young women in the past? And murders? He has a distinctive body odor that people keep mentioning, but just what does that mean? Rachel is determined to find answers, to find Maddison if it’s not already too late. Her search takes her to dangerous places she should not be.

In addition to the non-stop action author Goldin treats us to an inside view of the life of an influencer. Glitzy and glamourous on the outside, cutthroat and competitive on the inside. Rachel goes undercover to see what she can find out, but they all wear phony faces for the public so how to tell who is who and what is what?

There is also a nice little simmering attraction between Joe and Rachel. He immediately regrets bringing her into the investigation when he realizes just how dangerous it is and how much he doesn’t know – and how stubborn she is and how hard it will be to convince her to go home. The slow build to a what-if relationship is sweet and leaves a tantalizing opening for another book in this wonderful series. Thanks to St. Martin's Publishing Group for providing an advance copy of Dark Corners via NetGalley for my reading pleasure and honest opinion. I hope there is another book in this series and many more Megan Goldin books to come. I leave this review voluntarily; all opinions are my own.

I was super excited to start this book. I Loved Night Swim. The beginning of this was really great and I was super intrigued around 40% is where it kind of lost me. I still look forward to reading her next books!!

I really enjoyed the style and format of the Night Swim, so hearing that there was a follow up, I was very excited. Overall, I did have a fun time reading this one. I liked the general idea of this story, and following the twists to see what happened. In some spots things felt a bit obvious or silly for me. I am not a fan of romance in my thrillers, so that was a bit of a negative for me. It was good to check back in with Rachel and see where she was at with her podcast and sleuthing.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy of this novel.

I just finished reading DARK CORNERS by MEGAN GOLDIN and had to chat about it.

This is the second book following Rachel Krall, a journalist & the host of the true crime podcast Guilty or Not Guilty. After only a few seasons her podcast has blown up, making Rachel a household name (think Serial). And while Rachel’s on the never-ending quest for truth and justice, she’s also happy to fly under the radar.

I absolutely loved THE NIGHT SWIM (aka Rachel Krall #1) and fell in love with Rachel's character. She's strong, determined, curious and intent on finding the truth. She also expresses empathy and a passion for solving the mysterious, while remaining impartial. Her mission is to remember the victims and be to be sure their stories are heard.

The book opens with Rachel getting a call from the FBI, who hope she can shed light on a missing person’s case in Florida. Rachel isn’t familiar with the victim, the super popular content creator/influencer Maddison Logan whose #vanlife Instagram has made her a star.

For reasons the FBI cannot figure out, Maddison paid a visit to inmate Terence Bailey, who was arrested six years earlier on a breaking and entering charge. She’s the first and only person to visit Terence and the FBI cannot find any connection between the two.

Terence is scheduled to get out of jail in a few days. But before he does, Maddison vanishes. The FBI is convinced her visit + disappearance are no coincidence. Rachel being Rachel, is committed to finding out the truth, as Maddison going missing is only the beginning in a series of unsolved cases and the catalyst for the next season of Rachel’s podcast.

The book explores the sometimes dark, and not altogether authentic side, of Influencer culture, as Rachel finds herself leveraging her podcast celebrity to help find out what happened to Maddison.

I’m such a huge fan of MEGAN GOLDIN’s writing and was so excited to jump into her latest. The book is told in alternating POVs with the podcast mixed in. I enjoyed the look at influencer culture and the found this to be a quick, page-turning read. For me Rachel did read as a slightly different character than the first book and while her mission remained the same, I did feel there were moments where she was a bit careless which felt out of character for her. In THE NIGHT SWIM she seemed to rely heavily on her gut and her instincts and those elements felt a little off in this book. That said, still a very enjoyable read and I hope to see more Rachel in the future.

DARK CORNERS picks up a few weeks after the conclusion of THE NIGHT SWIM, but for those asking, you can absolutely read this as a standalone. That said, if you haven’t already read THE NIGHT SWIM I highly recommend it as it’s one of my faves. I’ve read it twice!

Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book that features podcaster Rachel Krall is dark and delightfully sinister. Rachel is called in by the FBI to help find a missing social media influencer, Maddison Logan who disappeared after her visit with convicted felon Terence Bailey. When Rachel herself visits Bailey, she is thrown into a nightmare circle of murder involving influencers and those who stalk them. The action is fast paced and the story is chilling and compelling. I enjoyed that the author kept me guessing about who the bad guy was as well as the motivation behind their crimes. I especially enjoyed all of the research that went into the book, especially the insight into the dark web and how influencing works on social media. The characters were well-developed and dynamic, and the author did a superb job of presenting fascinating and believable characters. The story was well-crafted and multi-layered and ended up, in my opinion, being a brilliantly written and clever thriller. With some head-spinning twists and some deliberate misdirection, too, this may be my favorite thriller this year so far. I just could not put it down!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Convicted serial killer, cutthroat influencers, and a true crime podcast, oh my!

Wow, what a ride! My first read from Megan Goldin and I'm very impressed. It was just enough thriller/suspense that it kept me on my toes, but not so much that I was scared out of my mind. Dark Corners is the second book in the true crime podcaster series, but can absolutely be read as a stand-alone.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC, I really enjoyed this book!

I read The Night Swim back in 2020 and was not a fan. However, I have read most of Megan Goldin’s books and enjoyed more than I’ve disliked. I’m not sure if I just don’t like the characters in this series but this one was just fine. I did enjoy it more than the first book. Also, I feel like you could read this one without reading the first and still enjoy it.

Oh. My. Gosh.
Every once in whole a book comes along that makes you lie in bed and refuse to get up until you have read the very last page. This is one such book. I could not get enough of this book. Rachel Krall is back and better than ever. She was a little spicy in the beginning,
I don’t want to give too much away, but if you are looking for a twisty thriller, READ this book!
I have read ALL of Megan Gold in’s books and like fine wine, just just gets better and better.
Many thanks to the author, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

3.5 stars

I did not realize this was a follow-up to The Night Swim with the same main character, but it has me excited to go back and read. Rachel Krall was a smart and fun character. As a true crime podcast listener myself, I enjoyed following her story as she delves into the mystery. I liked the mix of POV from Rachel, the main detective Joe, and the villain. The villain was definitely creepy, but not as sinister as other bad characters I've read.

Terence Bailey has spent six years in prison for breaking and entering, though police believe he may be responsible for the murder of six women. Right before he is due to be released, Bailey gets a visit from Maddison Logan, a lifestyle influencer. Hours later, Maddison disappears, and police suspect it's all connected to Bailey. The FBI reluctantly asks for Rachel Krall’s help when her name becomes connected to the case. Rachel goes undercover to BuzzCon, a popular influencer conference, to delve into the world of social media stars and influencers. Here she discovers intense rivalries and exclusive clubs. After the body of a women is found with a peculiar tattoo, the danger increases and the stakes are higher to find not only where Maddison is, but who she is.

Overall, a very intriguing thriller. I did find the ending a bit lackluster but it was an enjoyable reads. Answers were given by the end of the book, but it all came together so quickly.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I received both print and audio ARCs of this book via Netgalley. I mainly listened to the audiobook because I listened to The Night Swim prior to diving into this book and loved the narration. This follows a similar narrative but adds a male narrator in addition to the 2 female narrators. Rachel does a special report in this book versus a podcast.

You do not have to read Night Swim prior to reading this book. They are unrelated in content, but the style of the storytelling is similar. If you didn't like the way Night Swim was told, you probably won't like this as it has the same style with the special report mixed in with development of the plot. This does not feature a court room trial, so if you enjoyed that aspect it is missing here. I however really enjoyed the way the story was told, and looked forward to the special report segments. They delivered information that you didn't get from the regular chapters while summarizing information we already knew about the crime.

This installment follows Rachel as she is called in by the FBI to speak with an inmate who is about to be released from prison. Terrence Bailey is long suspected of murdering 6 women, but police were never able to prove it. They were able to get him on breaking and entering. As his release from prison looms, he receives a surprise visit from a popular influencer who then suspiciously diappears. People who know her don't think much about it as she is known to go off the grid periodically. Rachel's name popped up in their conversation, and the FBI want her to find out how she is connected to Terrence and the missing girl. Rachel's conversation with Terrence doesn't go well, prompting the FBI to think she may be in danger when he leaves prison in a few days.

Ever the investigative journalist, Rachel finds herself in the middle of the investigation for the missing girl, Maddison. In an attempt to find out more information about the missing girl, Rachel attends BuzzCon, a post influence conference that Maddison was supposed to attend. Rachel doesn't find Maddison at the conference, but she does uncover information that lead her and FBI Agent Joe to clues that they missed early on in the investigation. I don't want to spoil things, but I really enjoyed how the story unfolded. As with the previous book, I thought Goldin did a good job capturing the life of an influencer accurately in the "Instagram vs reality" conversations as well as the conversations about how cut throat and callous some influencers can be. The personas you see on the internet aren't always the real person.

This was just as entertaining as the first book, though not quite as suspenseful. I never really felt that Rachel was in real danger. I did think that the police and FBI made it way to easy for Rachel to gain access to case information. The plot is a bit predictable at times and I had some things figured out early on. Despite that, I still enjoyed the experience.

This is the second book that follows podcaster Rachel. In this book, Rachel is called in by the FBI when an inmate scrawls her name in a message to one of his visitors. That visitor has gone missing and the FBI is hoping Rachel can get some answers.

While this is the second book with Rachel, it can easily be read without reading Night Swim first.

Rachel made some stupid choices for the sake of her podcast. Like in a horror movie where you know someone shouldn’t walk into the woods but they do it anyway. But it was still another great summer thriller option that kept me turning the pages.

Dark Corners was unfortunately just okay for me. After loving the Night Swim I was very excited to jump in to this thriller. While it ended up being more of a police procedural it was still an interesting mystery. I felt like we knew very early on what the ending would be and it was just the journey of learning all the details. Rachel as a character kind of back slid and became weirdly grumpy?? She also gets a random romance sub plot that felt so forced and odd. Overall, I had wanted different things from this book than we got but I will still read anything this author puts out!

After reading/listening to The Night Swim and loving it, I knew I needed more of Rachel Krall! Podcast themed books are one of my favorites. At times I was hooked to the book and other times I just wanted a little more.

Krall is amazing sleuth detective and is always one step ahead of law enforcement. I loved that there was minor spice throughout and really enjoyed that relationship build. The ending really made the entire book and it was completely worth the read/listen!

All in all, I really enjoyed this book but it’s hard to beat The Night Swim!

***Many thanks to St Martins Press, Megan Goldin, and NetGalley for the ALC/ARC copies in turn for my honest review.

This book was great! The Night Swim was one of my favorite books I read in 2021 and this one was just as good as the first. This is the second in the Rachel Krall series about a true crime podcaster. I love the main character and the mystery is engaging and twisty!