Member Reviews

"I’ve been looking for a predator. It turns out that a predator has also been looking for me."

This story is told from several points of view. First, there's Rachel Krall, a true-crime podcaster who has saved an innocent man and  solved a crime. She also tells parts of the story from her podcast. Then there's Thomas McCoy, who is working for Rideshare and has a violent side. Joe Martinez is an FBI agent investigating the disappearance of a social media influencer and its connection to a prisoner in a maximum security prison. He has also summoned Rachel to sweet talk the man since he claims to be her biggest fan.

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

Twisty, turny, full of suspense, and absolutely addicting. I devoured this book; couldn't put it down. Every angle was shocking and thrilling.

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I absolutely loved this book. Night Swim is one of my favorite books ever so as soon as I heard there was a sequel I had to have it. The story was chilling and gripping. This one kept me guessing, just when I thought I had it all figured out something new would happen to change my mind. I loved the little bit of romance for Rachel as well. Highly recommend this one!

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BOOK REVIEW 💯 📚

First of all, thank you to @netgalley for allowing me the chance to read this ARC of Megan Goldin's newest novel! I have a feeling I will have my more Goldin novels on my shelf now 😉

Rachel is a true crime Podcaster who is on the hunt to find a missing social media influencer who disappeared after meeting with a suspected serial killer.

Terry Bailey is about to get released from prison when his last and first known visitor disappears. Everyone has a theory on what happened, but Rachel is determined to be the one who solves the mystery.

#alliesbookreads #bookrecommendations #bookworm #books #followforfollowback #booklove #booklover #bookstagram #botm #bookreview #bookreviewer
#alliesbookreads #netgalley #ARC #mustread #bookrecommendations #bookworm #books #thrillerbooks #followforfollowback #booklove #booklover #bookstagram #botm #bookreview #bookreviewer

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3.5 Stars!
I was so excited to receive an early copy of Dark Corners and to be back in the world of Rachel Krall.

When Maddison Logan, an extremely popular “van life” influencer, goes missing, the FBI recruits true crime podcaster, Rachel Krall for help.

Little does she know that she will be meeting with suspected serial killer (but incarcerated for theft), Terrence Bailey, in a Florida prison to try and get information, because ironically, Maddison had visited Terrance in prison just days before she vanished.

Now, Rachel has to pose as an up and coming influencer and infiltrate a luxurious event full of popular social media stars, to gain any clue she can to find Maddison.

I really enjoyed Dark Corners. It kept me intrigued the whole time. I couldn’t stop reading because I needed to know how everyone was connected and how this mystery would be solved.

I really missed the podcasting element of this book. I enjoyed it in the first Rachel Krall story (Night Swim), but I don’t think it took away from the story at all.
I loved that this story wasn’t set so much in a stuffy courtroom. It was much more adventurous in that aspect.
The twists were pretty predictable so that took away from the “shock factor” for me.

Overall, I really enjoyed it and I hope that Megan Goldin gives us more of Rachel in the future.

Thanks so much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for giving me this ARC. It will be released to the public on August 8, 2023

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4.75/5 stars! First of all, this cover was so pretty and really drew me in. I hadn't realized this was the second book in the "Rachel Krall" series, but it could be read as a standalone without issue. When I read the premise, I was reminded of the podcasts "Morbid" and "Crime Junkies." A FMC that is a crime podcaster is such a fun angle for a story. I thought this book balanced twists and still feeling realistic. Will definitely be checking out more books by this author.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

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With Night Swim being one of my top reads I knew I had to jump on this book as soon as I saw it. From the start it roped me in and was a fun and thrilling ride. While there wasn't a huge twist, I felt the storyline was good enough that you honestly didn't even need it. Loved it.

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This is the second book involving podcaster and investigative "journalist" Rachel Krall and, in terms of quality, it's very similar to the first book. I was certainly not disappointed with the result. The story (and plot) is well laid out (even clever at times), easy to read, with characters who have some opportunity to grow and develop. Yeah, there are a few dumb (and questionable) decisions made by characters that pave the way for things to go a certain direction but overall, it's an enjoyable way to spend reading time (especially with a cup of coffee on a cold winter day).. Thumbs up for this one.

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You really can't go wrong with a. Megan Goldin book. It's always a wild and highly entertaining ride! Dark Corners involves a modern day influencer who is doing a podcast on true crime. It has many twists and turns and will keep you turning page after page. Highly recommend!

Thank you to net galley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

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Rachel Krall well known podcaster is contacted by the FBI to meet with a dangerous prisoner, Terence Bailey, suspected of murder. Joe Martinez of the FBI is hoping that she will be able to get some information from Terence Bailey to help their case and help them find Maddison another young influencer who went missing hours after visiting Terence. What connection did Maddison have to Terence and how is he involved in her disappearance when he is locked up? Soon Rachel becomes a target of Terence who is going to be released in two days and she needs to get to the bottom of all of this before he comes after her. While the FBI is working one angle, Rachel is working her own. Will they be able to get to the bottom of it all before Terence is released? What happened to Maddison? Is she dead or alive? Good read and one I would recommend. Goldin is one of my favorite new authors!

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This was my 2nd Megan Goldin book, but not in this series. I read “Stay Awake” and thought it was interesting. This book was way better.

This book is the 2nd book in a series, and it looks like there will be more books. However, it stands alone as well, so you don’t have to read the other book first. It does mention the events of the first book, but not annoyingly so.

This book had a killer terrorizing women. The police think they’ve gotten the perp, and put him in jail. But, enter podcaster Rachel & the FBI, and you just know that they have the wrong guy.

There’s heat between the FBI agent & Rachel, which is a nice detail. There’s a creepy Uber driver who smells really bad, and is talked about way too much in his POV, in my opinion. Then there's a podcasting convention which pits all the most vapid and shallow podcasters against each other for a million dollar prize. That part I found to be really boring, and so did Rachel, apparently. She was invited to the convention because she’s part of that world, but she goes undercover and hides her real identity. She skips most of the events, & doesn’t even attend the parties. I give her props for that!

I didn’t like how Rachel figured the killer before the FBI did, and a lot of the other details, too. She was kind of a pain in the butt, quite frankly. But, it’s probably the nature of these types of books.

I liked the book, overall, but the ending seemed a little abrupt. Clearly, planning on more books in the series. I’ll forgive the author for that.

I thank #Netgalley, #St.Martin’sPress & #MeganGoldin author of #DarkCorners for the ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Dark corners is an expertly woven web of interlocking stories. The author does an excellent job of telling each story as parallel timelines that the reader can tell all connect somehow, yet you can’t pin down what that link is. There are plenty of red herrings and variables that are presented as important that end up being unrelated. While the conclusion is eventually very possible to guess, the story does an excellent job of pushing the reader’s certainty of the conclusion out to the very end. The modern setting of the story makes it more relatable to the times we are living in, whether it’s through the social media references or the sudden rising obsession with true crime, the story is well marketed to younger readers.

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This was by far my most anticipated read of the year and sadly, it was a huge letdown. I was so excited to see it as a Read Now on Netgalley after I literally stalked the site every day looking to request this book! I don’t know what the heck happened, but it feels like the first book in the series was written by an entirely different author. I didn’t recognize the Rachel in this book at all. I almost feel like I need to re-read Night Swim now to make sure I am not crazy. Not only did this not seem like the same character, we didn’t get *much* of her. Yes, she is the main character, but there is zero substance or character development or backstory. She just kind of exists in the book. Another really strange thing is that I felt like this was a UK edition. There were several words and turns of phrase that were off for a story set in Florida: Trainers? No one in America uses that expression. Sneakers, tennis shoes, or athletic shoes. Air con? Nope. We say air conditioner or AC or central air. The I-95? No. Just I-95. There was one more towards the end but it escapes me now. I actually had to look up the author’s bio at one point because it was making me insane. She lives in Australia, so maybe? I honestly don’t know, but I have read every single one of her other books and never noticed this before.

So, all of that being said, this story is very different from Night Swim. Rather than Rachel doing her podcast in conjunction with a trial, she somehow gets wrapped up in helping the FBI solving a crime. This one is kind of messy. There are several missing people, and a couple murders. There is also a whole influencer side story going on. It really didn’t hold my attention at all and I am so bummed about it. It did pick up and get better towards the end but again it was messy and there was a lot going on. Hopefully all these issues get sorted out and changed before the publishing date in August.

I’d love to read another book with Rachel in it but hopefully something that feels more like her and the first in the series.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Let’s make this clear: I COULD NOT put this book down. Sleep? Who’s she? Refills of iced matcha and a good fluffing of pillows kept me refreshed enough to devour this read in hours.

creepy serial killer: check
true crime podcaster looking to solve a case: check
hot FBI agent who, of course, has the hots for said podcaster: check
the influence of social media and how terrible and crippling it can be: check
twists and turns and having no idea what might come next: check
dark corners: CHECK

When I say I had no idea where this book was taking me, (in the best possible way) I mean it. And that’s what I love about Megan Goldin’s writing and storytelling - girl knows how to keep you on your toes until the very end.

I enjoyed the characters and really felt like I got to know them throughout the story; I had some hunches about a couple things I ended up being right about (spidey senses in action) and loved the buildup of those arcs.

This was such a good read, and I genuinely hope the author, Megan, continues the Rachel Krall series. Now excuse me while I go read her other novels. Please do not disturb.

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5 stars !! The second book in the Rachel Krall series was super good and kept me interested. Definitely kept me guessing all the way to the end !

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🔍Book Review - Dark Corners🔍
Publish date: August 8, 2023

True crime podcaster from The Night Swim, Rachel Krall, is back! Dark Corners can definitely be read as a stand-alone though. There were plenty of twists and turns in this one, and although I thought the big a-ha moment was somewhat predictable, there were still some surprises along the way! Overall, this was a super fun read with some great characters. If you’re looking for some mystery and suspense, pick this one up!

Thank you to @netgalley, St. Martin’s press, and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

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Rachel Krall is a true crime podcaster that has a knack for solving cold cases. This is the second book featuring her. I did not read the first novel and did not feel like I was missing anything, so don't think it is necessary to have read that one to enjoy Dark Corners.

This is a 5 star read. My reasons: the writing draws you in, keeps you engaged, gives you just enough to keep you guessing without dragging on and on, the twists are believable and the ending is satisfying. Rachel is summoned by the FBI to talk to a prisoner in Florida to see what he knows about the disappearance of a famous blogger. Rachel doesn't know either the prisoner or the missing blogger but she quickly gets up to speed. For some reason, the prisoner wants to talk to her and she just doesn't know why. Along with FBI agent Joe Martinez, she works to infiltrate BuzzCon, an influencer conference, to find out more about Maddison, the missing blogger and also tries to figure out her possible connection to the prisoner Terrence Bailey, who is a suspected serial killer (no proof) and will be getting out of prison soon. Throughout, we also meet a rideshare driver, Thomas, and have to figure out how he fits in. Why is Rachel here--to solve a crime, or become a victim?

Highly recommend this fast paced thriller.

Thank you in advance to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

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I've read all of Megan Goldin's books and this one did not disappoint. We get to revisit with Rachel Krall from Night Swim. Rachel has a podcast that helps to solve true crime. She receives a cryptic message from social media influencer Maddison Logan asking for help. Rachel heads to Florida to attend a conference on social media influencers and hopes to meet Maddison. She realizes a prison inmate may have some answers. Terrance Bailey is not very forthcoming with information. He is due to be released from prison soon and doesn't want to take any chances of his release being held up. While Rachel is in Daytona to attend the convention she learns Maddison is missing. She meets FBI agent Joe Martinez. This story is told in several points of view. You meet new characters and the mystery continues to increase. The suspense keeps you on the edge of your seat. I loved the twists and surprises throughout the book. Once again Ms. Goldin kept me reading until the early hours of the morning. I was tired at work today but it was definitely worth it. I love this author. I sure hope we get to hear more of Rachel Krall in future books. There is still alot of story to tell. Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this book. Get it on release day you won't be disappointed.

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Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book.

Goldin’s The Night Swim from a couple of years ago was one of the best books I had read that year. The plot and the characters have stayed with me. So I was very excited to see the protagonist from that novel return in this sequel.

In this, the second entry in what I hope will be a series, podcaster Rachel Krall finds herself summoned to Florida by the FBI: they want to watch her engage with a man about to be released from prison—a man authorities suspect is a serial killer, though they were not able to prove those claims when he went to jail on a more minor charge years ago. Now a young influencer is missing and the FBI thinks Rachel might be able to help them before it’s too late.

I enjoyed this a lot. I found it to be a real page turner and had to work to put all the disparate pieces together. I also am interested in the potential love interest Rachel might have in the FBI agent who handled her (pun intended) in Florida. One criticism might be that the end wrapped up too quickly, explaining away otherwise convincing character traits and red herrings that had been dropped throughout the novel. Also, after the incredible emotional roller coaster of the first novel in the series, this felt a bit different. But that’s to be expected.

Final thought: this one doesn’t pack the same powerhouse punch as did the first in the series, but it’s a good read all the same. I can’t wait to see what Rachel’s next podcast—and adventure—will be about.

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Love love love this author. Her writing style flows so nicely and her character development makes me feel as though I personally know them. I was hoping this would be more podcast like the Night Swim and slightly disappointed that it was not, but nonetheless loved the storyline.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It's scheduled for an August release date.

When I saw that Dark Corners was the second in a series about a true crime podcaster named Rachel Krall, I decided to read the first book, The Night Swim, before starting this one. You definitely don't have to, however. The trial Rachel follows in The Night Swim is only mentioned two or three times and there are no spoilers.

I did enjoy Dark Corners, but not quite as much as The Night Swim. I had a hard time keeping the timeline straight at first until I realized that the chapters aren't titled. In The Night Swim, Hannah's chapters as well as the Guilty or Not Guilty podcast transcripts were written in first person. Rachel's were written in third. In Dark Corners, there was periodically a chapter that was written in first person (from Rachel's perspective) that I can assume will eventually be labeled as being part of her podcast. The rest were written in third person. I was perhaps 20% through the book when I finally made the distinction. If I hadn't read The Night Swim beforehand I don't know if I would have ever figured out what those first-person chapters were supposed to be telling me other than randomly receiving some background information. (I'm assuming/hoping they'll be titled prior to publication).

The story itself is fine. There are a lot of seemingly unrelated puzzle pieces thrown at you that somehow all get explained right before the end. There's also a love interest for Rachel introduced. It doesn't take over the story but at the same time, I don't really feel it was necessary for the narrative so feel free to skim that page or two if that's not really your thing.

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