“Always know what you’re walking into. Dark corners can be dangerous.”

Rachel Krall, the true crime podcaster star of Megan Goldin’s acclaimed The Night Swim, returns to search for a popular influencer who disappears after visiting a suspected serial killer, and eventually finds herself on the suspect list. Rachel is recruited to assist the FBI in the where abouts of influencer, Maddison Logan. Krall uncovers the cut-throat world of social media influencing, leading to clues that help solve decades old murders.

The fast paced, short chapters make for a quick read. We get more of a glimpse into who Rachel Krall is, which I enjoyed. I will say that the story line around The Night Swim felt more robust. The main suspect was easily identifiable from the start however the plot (with a small twist,) and momentum of the storylines carried me through.

Unfortunately this book didn't do it for me. I remember enjoying The Night Swim but honestly had forgotten the character, Rachel Krall, which is the same narrator in this book. There was too many characters to keep a handle on for me and too much back and forth. Not a bad review. Just not my personal preference. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book early.

When true crime podcaster Rachel Krall’s name is dropped by a suspected murderer who is soon to be released from prison, special agent Joe Martinez flies Rachel to Daytona to talk to the prisoner about a missing influencer who visited him. Soon bodies begin piling up and Rachel assumes an influencer alias at BuzzCon to get to the bottom of it.

This was an interesting mystery but it felt obvious and the constant bashing on influencers is very played out. There was also quite a bit of repetition that was not at all necessary.

Dark Corners by Megan Goldin is book 2 in the Rachel Krall series. I absolutely loved The Night Swim which was book 1 so I desperately requested an advanced copy of this book. It did not disappoint. I really enjoyed this book because of the well-developed sequencing, hot and cold trails as well as the relevant subject matter, and intrigue. I hope there is a book 3.

I received a review copy of this book from the author/publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I didn't love this one as much as The Night Swim, but it was still entertaining. I did get a little bored in the middle, and I wasn't impressed with the portrayal of the influencers. The twists weren't particularly shocking, but I did enjoy them. I was excited to see Rachel's character back in action, and I hope her story continues in a future book.

Influencers, ride-shares, Murder, secret societies, serial killers, podcasts- what didn’t this book have?

I loved Night Swim and book two did not disappoint. Rachel Krall is back and better than before.

As I did before, I absolutely loved the podcast style. I got to listen to this in addition to reading the physical copy and there were moments literally felt like I was listening to a real true crime series.

I will say that the ending was a little abrupt and I could have used some more, but hopefully this means that we’ll get more of Rachel in the future.

4.5 stars rounded

I wasn't sure if Goldin could follow-up The Night Swim but I'm happy to report that I really enjoyed Dark Corners.
While there weren't a ton of twists and turns and "OMGs" there was enough action in this book to keep me engaged and excited to pick it up. The only part where I struggled with this book was reading about the lives of influencers - but that's not because it wasn't represented accurately or written poorly, it's because so much of that lifestyle is unappealing to me.

For those that are wondering - you would not need to read The Night Swim prior to reading this book to enjoy it.

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

Review is late - I read this in December - but I got it here just in time for this to out this summer.

When I was approved to read this story - I downloaded it immediately. I was not going to waste another second waiting to read Megan's newest novel. I mean was reading this on my phone while sitting in the sun in Mexico the easiest way to read this -- no. But it was worth it as Megan has created a fantastic story once again.

I do reccomend all of Megan's novels but the "Night Swim" was the first that I read and similar to "Dark Corners" I devoured it. I was so excited to have Rachel Krall back as our main character as I loved the podcast style of story.

This story lived up to the first one. We have twists and turns and it kept me guessing. I loved the influencer piece of the story as it made it feel very current.

Definetly check this one out! -- actually just add all to your cart. You won't regret it.

I def had some issues with the story. I didn’t love the influencer-con premise, and found all the details revealed to Rachel, a stranger, too convenient. And I could pretty much put all the pieces together early on. I’m annoyed at the things Rachel missed that should have been obvious. But all that being said.. I still enjoyed it. It’s a quick, satisfying mystery.

I was so excited to be offered a @netgalley copy of Dark Corners by Megan Golden. I’m always anticipating a new release from her every summer.

Dark Corners follows the same podcaster from The Night Swim. This time Rachel is being brought into a case by the FBI. They have a criminal who is about to get out of jail. He hasn’t had any visitors until recently when another influencer came to see him. She’s told to find Rachel Krall. The FBI think he’s still dangerous so they want to know why he’s asking for her and what the connection is. The influencer has since gone missing and they are looking for answers in anyway possible.

❤️Review❤️

Megan Goldin always finds a way to keep me on my toes. I spent a decent amount of the beginning confused. I had a harder time connecting and immersing myself into the story. This scared me because normally I’m sucked in from page one and can’t put it down. It worried me that I was going to dnf it and then something finally clicked and it was the typical thriller that I know and love from her. The chase for answers was on and I couldn’t wait to see how it ended. The twist was worth it and it saved my experience reading this book. Now the torture to wait for her next release next year.

4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#Bookstagram #Books #BooksBooksBooks #SuspenseBooks #ThrillerBooks #NewBooks #NewRelease #2023Books #BookReview #BookReviews #NetGalley #ReviewCopy

Hoooooweeee. That was quite an enjoyable ride. Another Megan Goldin page turner. After the first few chapters, I could not put it down. Hints were dangled along the way, and I picked up on some but not all.

Rachel Krall is called to Daytona when her name is uttered on camera by a convict. She doesn’t know the man, nor the person he was speaking to. But she’s known for her podcast so people know her. She gets roped in to help with a missing person case and stays in town as things get more sketchy.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

In Dark Corners, Rachel Krall is just back from her escapades in The Night Swim (book one), when she's roped into yet another strange disappearance. A woman has vanished from her RV, and there's a possible link to a convicted felon, who is asking for Rachel by name. Meanwhile, a luxury influencer convention is taking place nearby, and there's a hot FBI agent and a dead body or two thrown in the mix.

I wasn't as impressed with this book as I was with The Night Swim, which is perhaps an unfair comparison because it meant my expectations were sky-high. The influencer bits were really cringey for me and the dialogue felt especially juvenile throughout the book. Overall, it felt like a completely different writer was penning this story. Personally, I would have preferred to only have Rachel's POV in the story (I particularly could have done without Joe's POV — and honestly, his character) because I think it takes away from the reveal of what's going on.

Overall though, this book is entertaining enough if you don't expect it to live up to The Night Swim's legacy. Thank you to Megan Goldin, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for my advance copy.

I didn’t love the influencer aspect of the book. I thought they were very stereotypical characters and sometimes too many that it was hard to follow, but other than that the twists and turns were great. Megan Goldin did it again.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Dark Corners is the sequel to The Night Swim which makes it the second installment in the Rachel Krall series. Rachel has a true crime podcast that has garnered a huge following, as well as a ton of submissions with requests for her to investigate various cases.

She recently finished up a case (from The Night Swim) when she is called by the FBI and asked to come to a prison and meet with a notorious serial killer, Terence Bailey, because a recent visitor of his went missing. Oh, and the girl that went missing happens to be a super famous influencer. The drama, right???

I really enjoyed reading through all of the escapades that Rachel gets up to in this one. It felt different from The Night Swim, but not in a bad way. I listened to The Night Swim on audio and it had a great podcast element so I think this one would probably be great on audio too!

I wasn’t sure if Megan Goldin would manage to follow up The Night Swim with a sequel that could match it in suspense or outright brilliant writing, but somehow, Dark Corners did just that.

The second in the Rachel Krall series, I was excited to read another story focused around her. Between Rachel’s fearlessness and her strong, independent vibe, she was a character I grew to love in the first installment of this series. This time around, she was even more determined, a fact that the wily Special Agent Joe Martinez perhaps grew to regret. We also got to see behind the curtain a tad bit more of who Rachel really is as her gritty, in-your-face tenacity was on full display.

The absolute best part of this one, however, was easily the complex, yet easy to follow plot. Delivered via multiple POVs (including one decidedly evil man) plus a handful of podcast transcripts told after the fact, it kept me on the edge of my seat. A stunning example of crime fiction, it also held plenty of thrills for this thriller loving gal. The climax, in particular, was both realistic yet also pulse-pounding, a detail that would easily translate beautifully onto the silver screen.

Truly unputdownable, I was delighted by the many twists (one that had me gasping out loud), red herrings, and unmitigated foreboding. And as the facts were slowly revealed, I was, quite candidly, unable to guess where they were headed. Just as mind-boggling as the suspense-driven plot was, though, it also delivered a heartwarming potential love match. And I, for one, can’t wait to see where it might go in the next novel.

All in all, this was yet another example of how brilliant the masterful Megan Goldin is. Without a doubt, I’m already eagerly awaiting another addition to her collection. From the riveting storyline to the perfect, little bow of a conclusion, I was left desperate for more. Now I’m just going to have to wait for waaay too long to get another fix by this author. So if it isn’t already obvious, I strongly recommend pre-ordering this one now. Or, if you haven’t already read The Night Swim, pick up a copy today! Rating of 5 stars.

Trigger warning: abduction of a young woman, forced captivity, drugging, mention of: prostitution, spousal abuse, drowning, strangulation, stabbing, death of a spouse, financial crimes, drug use

What a ride! Megan Goldin never disappoints, and I was so glad to hear she was bringing back Rachel from The Night Swim! You can definitely read this one as a stand-alone novel, and, in fact, I think I liked this one better than Night Swim because, duh, serial killer!! I found the podcast/influencer angle less annoying than the usual thriller that has those elements in it.

4.5 stars - I'm not sure this is "objectively" this high of a rating, but my number 1 criteria for this genre is to entertain me, and DARK CORNERS fully delivered the entertainment factor for me! Every element of the plot worked for me: the past serial murder angle, the current missing woman investigation, and the current suspense element closing in on Rachel. I really liked how all of that was paced and how the stories came together & resolved. For me, all of that was so satisfying & exactly what I want from this kind of story.
Writing quality wise, I do struggle with some of the choices. The podcast segments are so well written, and I wonder if this is just the author struggling to translate that talent into dialogue? It just feels clunky at times and there is an over repetition of names that gets a little grating. I saw some people saying they didn't like the characterization of Rachel... TBH, I didn't remember her characterization clearly enough from NIGHT SWIM to notice 😹 But YMMV- I didn't find her abnormally rude or TSTL
That said, this is my favorite book to date from Megan Goldin and I 100% hope we get more Rachel Krall!!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the gifted early copy. Below is my honest review.

I really like Rachel Krall! This is the second book about her from Megan Goldin and the fourth Goldin book I've read overall. Loved them all!

In this one, Rachel finds herself pulled into a seemingly random investigation due to the words of a random prisoner doing time, who also happens to be a suspected serial killer. FBI agent Joe Martinez brings her into, hoping her presence will get the prisoner to talk in another case. Of course, things go completely bonkers from there, and it turns out that the web is much more tangly than previously suspected.

The killer in this one is terrifying and disgusting, and it really makes you think about how often you trust strangers.

Definitely give this one a read. I don't feel like it really gave anything away from the first in the series, but I always recommend reading all books in a series first. I think you could get away with not reading it in this case, but why would you skip the first one when it's good too?

Dark Corners
By Megan Goldin
Pub Date: 08 Aug 2023
St. Martin's Press
General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers

As Rachel Krall (previously in The Night Swim) delves into the mysterious disappearance of a popular influencer, she discovers a chilling secret. This may prove that the suspected serial killer is not as far away as it seems.

I have followed Megan Goldin's work for several years. Dark Corners was immersive and enjoyable, keeping me flipping pages. In comparison to Night Swim, Dark Corners was a close second. However, it creates an atmosphere that keeps readers engaged and entertained. Goldin's distinct writing style evokes suspense and mystery. It also brings a modern twist with its foray into social media and influencers. Rachel was fantastic in Night Swim, and I really enjoyed revisiting her character in Dark Corners.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's for allowing me to experience this thrilling novel. It is always a pleasure to review Megan Goldin's books.

#DarkCorners

Having loved Goldin’s previous book, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘚𝘸𝘪𝘮, a twisty tale that dealt with rape culture in society today, I could not wait until August to dive into her second book in this ‘series.’ (I say series lightly - same main character, but that’s about it - this book stands completely on its own).

This time around, true crime podcaster, Rachel Krall, is off to Florida, thanks to a call from the FBI. Young women are missing, a violent inmate is involved, and Rachel seems to be the piece that ties them all together.

I was completely absorbed in this book, trying to figure it all out, crawling down plausible rabbit holes the author created, and had more than one jaw-dropping moment. Goldin is a master of building both tension and characters; she doesn’t just go for the twist, but deeply develops each piece of her tale. I was absolutely buy anything this writer puts out in the book world.