Thank you St. Martins for providing me with an early readers copy of Dark Corners by Megan Goldin. Unfortunately, this story was a miss for me. I didn't really like our protagonist Rachel Krall, even though I didn't have any issue with her in Night Swim (which was excellent). She felt a little out of place in this novel.

Anyway, Rachel, a true crime podcaster, is tasked by the FBI to speak to a criminal who is about to be released from prison. A popular social influencer has gone missing and he was the last person who spoke with her. After Rachel speaks with him, she attends an influencer conference nearby to go kind of undercover and learn more.

The story felt convoluted and full of tropes. I would skip this one if you're a Megan Goldin fan.

I really enjoyed this due to its fast pace! I was disappointed that everything was tied off very quickly and I would have enjoyed more suspense near the end. I felt the romance storyline was unnecessary.

Dark Corners is the second in the Rachel Krall series. Rachel is a podcaster who focuses on true crime. I really enjoyed the first book, The Night Swim. But this one was much less believable and therefore, less enjoyable.
The book is all about people making bad decisions. The book starts with an unbelievable premise - that the FBI would knowingly risk the life of a civilian. Oh, this suspected serial killer is in prison, so she’s safe. The fact that he’s getting out in two days doesn’t raise a concern? Really? And they even whisk her away from home without giving her time to think things through. And then, after a few hours, then they’re all concerned about her safety and want her to go back home? Flip side, Rachel took a lot of risks that made me cringe. Goldin was trying to portray her as independent, but she came across as bullheaded.
Terence Bailey has been in prison for six years without a visitor. Earlier in the week, Maddison Logan, a “hot young influencer”, had come to visit him. Right after, she goes missing. So the FBI has the bright idea to have Rachel visit Bailey to see if she can learn anything. It’s not giving anything away that the blurb doesn’t already say to indicate there’s a potential accomplice.
The story is told from the perspective of Rachel and Tom, an Uber driver with an unfortunate health problem. I’m not a fan of being privy to the culprit’s thoughts and actions. I much prefer a straight investigation.
I loved the scenes that dealt with influencers. I don’t follow any and having read this book, doubt I ever will. What a group of egos!
If you’re willing to suspend belief and just want some entertainment, you’ll probably enjoy this book. My Type A personality struggled with it. Another reviewer (thank you Girlwiththepinkskimask) mentioned the poor writing/editing here and she was spot on. There are numerous contradictions and repetitive clauses. It made for a very awkward read.
Despite being the second of the series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone.
My thanks to St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

Dark Corners is a phenomenal thriller from start to finish. Filled to the brim with twists and a captivating plot, this one is sure to keep readers hooked. The characters are well-developed. The story is incredibly fast-paced. This is one not to be missed! Highly recommended! Be sure to check out Dark Corners asap.

3.5 stars rounded down to a 3!

Dark Corners is the second installment in Megan Goldin's Rachel Krall series. In this novel, Rachel is asked by the FBI to come and talk to Terence Bailey, an incarcerated suspected serial killer who was visited by van-life and now missing influencer Maddison Logan. Rachel's investigation takes her to BuzzCon, where she'll have to brush elbows with micro and mega influencers who mostly care about followers and what they can post to get the most traction.

I just read The Night Swim earlier this month, and quite enjoyed it, so I was pretty excited for the second installment, especially considering I liked Rachel in the first book. Unfortunately, this book fell into one of my least favorite tropes where you kind of know what's going on the entire time and are just waiting for Rachel and the FBI investigator on this case to realize it as well. I think, like all of Megan Goldin's books, this was written very well and I didn't have a hard time reading it, but I was constantly ready for it to be over. Between the potential serial killer, a creepy ouroborous symbol shared by multiple influencers, and the strange almost postmortem podcast clips, there was a lot going on and I can't say it all worked.

Also in case anyone was wondering, I don't feel that it was necessary to have read The Night Swim before this, but I found The Night Swim to be much more enjoyable than this installment.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for an e arc in exchange for an honest review!

When I found out that Megan Goldin was writing a sequel to The Night Swim I was HERE FOR IT. And I'm still here for it, because it lived up to every single expectation I had. Rachel is amazing, and she's what every podcaster dreams they were, quite frankly. Two thumbs way up on this one.

Terry Bailey is about to be released from prison. There are some that aren’t ready for that to happen especially given that women are continuing to disappear and they all have connections back to Bailey. Throw in a conference of social media influencers and it is prime hunting ground for Bailey or whomever is causing women to disappear.

This is one that tosses in some mystery/thriller elements. A bit of romance, and connecting to the social media influencer community. There’s a bit for everyone, but that is why I gave it 3 stars. It felt like there wasn’t a target audience and at times it bored me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for this book.

LOVED this story! Likable characters, a well-written plot with some unexpected twists and turns. I loved the investigative report sections and what they added to the story. I don't believe I've read from this author before, but will certainly seek out her work in the future! Well done!

If you have not picked out your @bookofthemonth for July yet, I recommend choosing Dark Corners by @megangoldinauthor 🖤 You can’t go wrong with either the book or audiobook. I switched back and forth between the two. I loved how the audiobook made the podcast chapters sound like an actual podcast episode! Also, @januarylavoy is a narrator and I love everything she narrates. Seriously, she could narrate my cereal ingredients and I’m going to be entertained!

Dark Corners picks up where The Night Swim left off. Famous podcaster, Rachel Krall, is back helping the FBI figure out what happened to missing influencer, Maddison Logan. Maddison went missing after visiting a murderer in prison. The story has good plot twists, explores the dark side of social media, and has a small dash of romance.

Thank you @macmillan.audio @stmartinspress and @netgalley for allowing me to read and listen to this book/audiobook ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

“The scariest monster is the one who hides in plain sight”.

Well, if I wasn’t terrified of rideshares before, I sure as hell am now!

What an addictive and fascinating sequel to The Night Swim! Rachel Krall is back as the scrappy and brilliant crime podcaster, being summoned by the FBI for help with a case in Florida.

This story focuses heavily on social media influencers, as Rachel goes undercover at an influencer conference called BuzzCon, to discover what may have happened to a missing influencer. The author gives the average person a glimpse into the world of the highly successful influencer, what successful actually means, what it costs, and significant downsides to that lifestyle.

“Being an influencer is the game of life, Rachel. Until someone finds out you’re a fraud. Then everything falls apart. Then you crash and burn”.

Although there weren’t detailed podcast “episodes” like there were in The Night Swim, there certainly were twists and turns as Rachel uncovers mystery after mystery in this detailed story. You don’t need to read The Night Swim to follow, but the background is very helpful! Overall a very engaging and fascinating read I would absolutely recommend.

*Thank you NetGalley for the advance reading copy of this novel*

For the follow up to the Night Swim, there were a number of positives about the novel which I will start with the mystery. The set up of the novel is on the coattails of the previous story, having our main character only just wrapping up of the last case. Rachel is whisked away from her home at the request of the ominous FBI. Being thrown into an active investigation there is a number of settings such as a prison and an influencer convention. These led to some unique opportunities to make conflict but also led to where some of the plot drug on.

The side romance between Rachel and the main FBI investigator felt a bit shoe horned in plot line. Besides the odd comment here and there, there as not much to speak of to show the attraction especially with the FBI investigator has barely dealt with the loss of his wife a few years prior (to the point of having her still as his phone screen). Likewise there were a few parts that were a bit convoluted, such as the reason some people did not bring up past crimes, the motives of the killer, and so on. Rachel's character in this novel was also a lot less likable compared to previous story, I wanted to like her more.

There were a number of items I did like about the story but there are also some specific instances that I would like to be developed more or adjusted to make sure sense store-wise.

Dark Corners by Megan Goldin

My rating:
4/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dark Corners is the second book in the Rachel Krall series. Rachel is a famous true crime podcaster and is requested by the FBI to fly to Florida immediately when Rachel’s name was brought to their attention by an inmate.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the short chapters with multiple perspectives / POVS. Megan Goldin is an auto read author for me! I think the book came together nicely in the end with no loose ends. I will say I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first book in the series, The Night Swim, but this was still very good!

This book has a little bit of everything, but is mostly a thriller. At times, the story was going in so many directions I was a little confused how it would all come together but by the end I had all my answers!

If you enjoyed The Night Swim, definitely give this one a read. I do think this could be read as a stand alone as nothing about the first book was revealed in this, but I would read the Night Swim anyway because I loved it!

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC! Add this to your TBR now!

When Madisson Logan, an Instagram influencer, disappears after visiting suspected serial killer Terrence Bailey in prison, the FBI asks Rachel Krall for help. Rachel, a podcaster we first met in Goldin's Night Swim, was named by Bailey as someone Madisson should seek out.

I really enjoyed this story interspersed with bits of Rachel's podcast about the investigation into the disappearance. I really liked the character of agent Martinez. I'd like to see more of him in the future.

If you haven't read Night Swim yet, don't fret. This can 100% be read as a standalone.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley and Megan Goldin for an advanced copy of this audiobook. I offer my review freely.

Publication date : 08 August 2023

Dark Corners is the second in the Rachel Krall series, but the reader doesn't need to be familiar with the first book to read the second. In this story, the podcaster is brought down to Florida by Joe Martinez of the FBI after an influencer goes missing, after speaking to a prisoner due to be released in a matter of days. When a body is found nearby, law enforcement believes it's Maddison, the influencer, and that Terence Bailey, the prisoner, is an accomplice to someone on the outside. Instead of going home, Rachel decides to stick around during an influencer convention to learn more about Maddison and try to figure out who had motives for her disappearance. During her stay, she learns about two missing girls from years ago that may be the key to figuring out what happened to Maddison, and Bailey's involvement with her. The book is a solid mystery/suspense, as the reader follows Rachel and Joe trying to piece together what happened in the past as well as what's happening underneath their noses. It isn't a story with big plot twists, and the one in there is something that many readers will be likely to figure out on their own. A good solid beach read, but not necessarily one that captures the reader's attention and makes it a "can't put it down" page turner. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

ARC audiobook and book provided in exchange for an honest review.

I loved how the narration was performed on this book! The three narrators did a terrific job and with the music and sound effects, it made it engaging and fun to listen to! I really enjoyed the story as well! I really liked the plot of the true crime podcaster getting wrapped up in a missing person case and the story definitely takes you places along the way. It stays extremely relevant dealing with social media influencers and the lives they live behind their personas. I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes psychological thrillers and mysteries!

Thank you to St. Martin Press for the ARC and ALC.

Dark Corners by Megan Goldin was on my 2023 most anticipated list and I'm so happy I was able to read and review this copy. The Night Swim was a 5 star read for me and to know that we will continue with more with Rachel Krall and the Guilty or Not Guilty Podcast was amazing news.

I am giving Dark Corners 4 stars. I loved that we got to continue with Rachel and her podcast as we got to learn about cases along with her. The audiobook is amazing and I highly recommend reading and listening if possible because of the full produced podcast with sound effects. I also appreciated that you don't have to read The Night Swim first in order to read this.

The reason why this wasn't a 5 star read for me is because although I loved getting back into the podcast, like a new season, I found this book to lack the "podcast" affect for me. The audiobook was full produced however it didn't have the same punch as the Night Swim. Also, I learned that the "influencer" parts were not something I personally cared for but some might.

I do hope Megan Goldin will continue to write for Rachel Krall because I do find her stories very interest and hard to put down.

This was a great read!

A huge thank you to NetGalley, St Martins Press and Macmillan Audio for my advanced copies of Dark Corners.

I was gifted the ebook and then later the audio version of this book by the publisher which I was not expecting.

I loved the audio for this.
Dark Corners is narrated by André Santana, January LaVoy and Samantha Desz. They did a phenomenal job. January Lavoy is one of my favorite voice actors so I was so excited to see her on this project.
This audio was very well produced and felt unique.

I also really loved the mystery. It was well written and Megan Goldin just continues to impress me. I've read 3 of her books so far and they've all been a solid 4 stars ✨

Overall- Highly Recommend . I look forward to reading more by this author.

This book took me a while to get into but once it picked up I couldn't put it down. I liked Rachel's truecrime podcast and I was invested in figuring out what happened to Maddison. I felt like the ending was a bit rushed and I was still left with the question as to why the stinky killer was killing those girls. But overall I enjoyed this book.

Dark Corners is well written. Crazy life of influencers, serial killers, FBI protocols and a podcast ‘wannabe detective’ all come into play. Megan Goldin’s descriptive writing and masterful use of literary devices make her novel a pleasure to read, despite some of the content being a little disheartening and/or gruesome at times.
I highly recommend Dark Corners.
Thank You to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, and Megan Goldin for the opportunity to enjoy this ARC.

Dark Corners by Megan Goldin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Dark Corners is a follow-up to the popular Rachel Krall thriller " The night swim" ( which I highly enjoyed as well ) however, this book can be read as a standalone as it touches all the bases needed without much explanation needing from its predecessor.

" ᴬˡʷᵃʸˢ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʷʰᵃᵗ ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ʷᵃˡᵏⁱⁿᵍ ⁱⁿᵗᵒ, ᴰᵃʳᵏ ᶜᵒʳⁿᵉʳˢ ᶜᵃⁿ ᵇᵉ ᵈᵃⁿᵍᵉʳ ᵖᵒⁱⁿᵗˢ"

Thank you to @netgalley & @stmartinspress for sending me an #earlycopy #arc #giftedcopy

I really enjoyed this book. The start seemed very slow. Almost DNF slow. But the little pieces were just enough to keep me reading. It does eventually pick up. It's not overly fast-paced but it's interesting- and I'm not sure I could have seen the twist coming if it had called me first and told me when to pick it up from the airport 🤣

Overall this book was very enjoyable and I can't wait to add my #botm copy to my shelf!