Member Reviews
I could not put this down!! The different povs confused me for the first few chapters, but once I sorted it out I really enjoyed it. I felt the romance aspect was a little unnecessary in my opinion which is why I’m not giving it 5 stars. Definitely 4.5 stars though! I didn’t read The Night Swim so this was my introduction Rachel Krall, but I had read The Escape Room. Will definitely recommend!!
I loved night swim and Rachel Krall and dark corners did not disappoint. I devoured this book. I enjoy the parts that were podcasts that followed along the story as if everythings happening at once. I truly hope there’s a third story that picks up where this leaves off.
Another great story by Goldin. I was happy that she revisited this character and this world but it was a little slower for me than her first book, which I really adored. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
Megan Goldin is one of my favorite authors, i do admit i had to read The Night Swim before i started Dark Corners, I do think that Rachel Krall is one of my new favorite series to read, she just fits right in with everyone and is able to find things out that the police cant.
This story had everything needed to make it great and i really enjoyed how it played out, the big reveals and how all the questions were answered, even throw in a little romance as well. I really thought i had it figured out but was so wrong, the ending also leaves us waiting to see what is next for Rachel Krall.
Megan Goldin really knows how to tell an intriguing story that keeps you guessing. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.
This book started out so good! The entire book I was thinking “this is Megan Goldin’s best work yet!“ And, it really was, until the last couple of chapters. Don’t get me wrong, I did like the ending, it was just that the way she wrote it made it seem so rushed. There was so much happening and then just a quick couple of chapters to tie up all of the storylines. It left me a little bit unsatisfied. Especially the storyline between Rachel and the FBI agent. I just really felt like the stories all could have been wrapped up better.
My other suggestion for the publisher would be this: the chapters which are Rachel’s podcast need to have something setting them apart from the others. It was a little confusing at first, realizing this was her podcast after the rest of the story. So either a different font, or a chapter heading letting the reader know they are reading something different than the rest of the story.
Thank you to the author, St Martin’s press, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review. Publication date, August 7, 2023.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Category: Mystery Thriller
Overall: Gripping, Psychological, Immersive
Pros: This was a riveting psychological thriller with well-crafted characters, a haunting setting and relentless tension. The characters are complex and multi-faceted, each harboring their own secrets and motivations. The protagonist, Rachel, is determined to get to the truth, driven, intelligent and fiercely independent. Megan Goldin skillfully explores her internal struggles, which made her a relatable and empathetic character. The suspense in the plot builds masterfully with twists and turns layered throughout. The entire plot is tightly woven, with no loose ends, and every piece of the puzzle fits together seamlessly. In addition to the suspenseful narrative, this book explores themes of deception, trust and the dark side of the internet. It was so interesting to see the behind the scenes world of influencers and everything that comes with it. I also loved the romance escapade between Rachel and the FBI agent. I hope he becomes a recurring character in future books in the series!
Cons: Certain aspects of the plot were slightly predictable. The twists and turns, though well-executed, occasionally rely on familiar traps and conventions seen in mystery-thriller novels.
Special thanks to NetGally and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copy!
An interesting mystery which delves into the world of influencers. Not really my cup of tea but the mystery was good and current for the state of social media.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was a great book! The mystery was great, I liked having everyones point of view & I just over all really enjoyed it and will highly recommend!
This was a great follow up to the first twisty book. It was hard to put down and I loved the podcast aspect to it
I read this book in two days. It was great. The characters were captivating, and the plot line was fresh. Even the minor characters were written in a very just way. Although, I think Joe and Rachel's connection was very awkward and not what the author meant for it to be. However, what was written amazingly is the social aspects of today's life of influencers and the social justice that was given back to the minority and the poor. Not enough is written about the victim, mostly focusing on the killer. This story did not make me wonder why the killer was the way he was or even his motive (which was missing from the story). I did learn something new, which was the medical condition that was written in the story. It's a must read.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for letting me read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a good, but a little slow story. It pings all of the tags of what a lot of people are looking for: crime podcast star, influencers, cute FBI agent, and a beach. It has a deranged serial killer who conveniently has a rare metabolic disorder that makes him smell and so he is conveniently identifiable.
Rachel Krall is asked to go to a prison to see a man who is due to be released for killing a young woman. Another woman went missing around the same time as the first was killed. And an influencer, who unexpectedly visited the man is also missing.
The story is good, but a little too pat. The ending was very strange. It just stopped. I thought my download was corrupt. But it adds a few sentences after the story is all tied up, not enough to be a cliff hanger and not enough to make much sense.
Stories centered on true crime podcasts are having a moment now, and it’s often challenging to find a unique premise. Look no further! I loved this book, devouring it in a matter of hours, staying up into the wee hours, flipping pages. This story had me hooked from the first chapter and kept hold until the very end. I loved the opportunity to don my detective cap. This is a fun whodunit, and possibly even more fun - figuring out the why. Highly recommend!
Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this story, in return for my honest opinion.
I was hoping we had not seen the ending of Rachel Krall and was glad I was right. Rachel gets convinced by the FBI to go to Florida in return for exclusive access to a case. At the same time as her arrival, a famous influencer at convention nearby goes missing. The only question left is did the FBI bring Rachel out in relation to this and the fact that Terrance Bailey is soon to be released from prison? Rachel dives head first into the case and in her nature, danger as well.
This story was a slow burn for me, I didn't get really invested into it until about halfway through. I did also feel that It was a bit longer than it needed to be which led to some filler conversations, and plot lines. Looking past that, I think the author did a wonderful job with creating many twists and turns in the book. The development of Rachel from the Night Swim to now was also great to see. Overall, I give this book 3.5 stars and once again, hope this is not the last we see of Rachel Krall and maybe Joe Martinez too? ;)
PUBLICATION DAY: August 8, 2023
Rachel Krall is having great success with her podcast. Known for setting the wrongly accused free, Rachel is intrigued when she gets a call from Agent Martinez in the FBI, asking her to come to Florida to speak with a prisoner who may know more than he’s saying. But what will Rachel find when she looks more deeply into Terence’s life? Will she and Agent Martinez solve the mystery of the missing women, before it’s too late?
PROS and CONS:
Rachel is a good main character, one who follows clues, looks intelligently for more information, and puts things together. Perhaps there was just one too many missing women with not enough clues provided along the way? I found myself reading to see the ending, with no real hope of figuring anything out along the way. I did enjoy one twist that I didn’t see coming!
READ IT?
If you’re looking for…an intriguing mystery with a timely true crime angle, then this one’s for you!
4 Stars
Dark Corners is my favorite book by Megan Goldin so far. I love the continuation of the storyline from The Night Swim. Goldin has a way to make me care so deeply for the characters and storyline.
Rachel Krall from Megan Goldin’s The Night Swim is back! In book two of the series, the story begins with an unsettling mystery. After visiting Terence Bailey, an inmate who is thought to be the murderer of six women, social media influencer Maddison Logan has disappeared without a trace. When the FBI hit a wall in their investigation, they contact podcast host Rachel Krall for help.
Rachel accepts and flies down to Florida to help.
Soon after the police discover a woman with an ouroboros tattooed on her, the police learn that Terence Bailey has an accomplice on the outside that has an obsession with influencers- including Rachel. Rachel is forced to examine the dangers in the dark corners of the internet.
Dark Corners is another solid and twisty thriller from Megan Goldin! There are several things I liked about this one, the fast pacing, cleverly planted red herrings. and the ending was very satisfying. I also liked the fact that we learned more about Rachel in this one.
This is my fourth read by Megan Goldin and I can't wait to read whatever she writes next! I can always count on her to deliver a suspenseful and highly entertaining thriller.
Dark Corners by Megan Goldin will be available on August 8. Many thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
Goldin is fast becoming a favorite author. She has a way of creating believable plots and characters and just keeps you reading . I loved this one too and the podcast angle is a unique take .
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review the book
Thank you for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.
Rachel Krall, my new favorite heroine of mystery stories/books. I have not yet read the first Rachel Krall book but am going to look for it now since I am hooked. I fell 'in love' with her from the beginning of the story. A professional independent and intelligent young woman out to make things right. The FBI brought her in as ger name came up after a girl went missing and to possibly keep a criminal in prison. Yet, the story took different turns and twists and even though I thought I had everything figured out, I sure didn't.
The story developed as it went along and I had a hard time putting it down as I wanted to keep reading to find out what was happening!
Only one part I did not like...as an animal lover, and I know many of my bookclub friends that will feel the same way...what happened with the dog and the cat?? Why even mention them when there is no closure on them?! I always like a story that doesn't leave lose ends...yet, this one leaves the reader hanging on those 2 'characters' to come to an ending of their imagination. That lost 1 🌟 for me, otherwise it would have been a 5 🌟 book!
Otherwise, great developed story line and building on it as it moved along.
Thank you NetGalley and St Martins press for an advanced copy of this ebook.
The second installment in the Rachel Krall series, Dark Corners brings the story of the disappearance of social media Influencer Maddison Logan after meeting with convicted serial killer, Terence Bailey, at the correctional facility where he is being held.
When the FBI hit a wall in their investigation they turn to Rachel for help (seriously, so unrealistic but I’ll ignore that). Rachel goes undercover at a convention for influencers where we get a glimpse of the influencer scene as Goldin sees it. I have been seeing a lot of influencers popping up in recent books and they are always written the same - shallow, vapid and so unlikeable. Talk about a stereotype. This was frustrating to see as it’s just an excuse for poorly written characters with little development. Thankfully the book had some areas to redeem itself.
Unlike the first book in the series, this one moves at a much faster pace and does not tell the story through courtroom dialogue. While it take a little to build the story and draw you in, you will get drawn in and not want to put the book down (except maybe to throw it during the Buzzcon scenes) until you’ve solved the case.
I did not find Rachel unlikeable in the first book but definitely found her too stubborn and unlikeable in this one, she was in a bad mood for most of the book and didn’t listen to what anyone said to her. I hope we see more of Rachel Krall and that she get redeemed. Overall some things about this book that just really brought the rating down for me but if you can look past those things it’s an entertaining read and a good mystery
Hey guys, just wanted to jump on here and give a quick review. A lot of you have been asking me for my review of Dark Corners. If you haven't caught on, this book involves.... "influencer" culture!
Rachel Krall is back! Actually, she never went anywhere because the FBI lured her into a new case before she could decompress from her last case. I'm sure glad they did! This was a great installment in this series. The case is compelling and mysterious, the players are culturally relevant, and I love the podcast transcripts! Some of the writing, however, reads a little young adult, specifically the chapters from the FBI agent's perspective. I'm not sure why that writing seemed so off, but it did.