A perfectly fine literary fiction book, but certainly not the twisty thriller the blurb of the book promises. The story is about familial loss, addiction, acceptance, and broken relationships. The plot revolves around Teddy, whose sister has gone missing 10 years ago and on the day of her disappearance, her father kills himself. This dredges up the true crime Reddit community to start to re-investigate the decade old crime, and reels Teddy back in as well.

My biggest complaint is that for a book that is billed as a fast-paced thriller, I found it extremely slow at times and it wasn't the twisty story I wanted it to be. If would have been fine if that's not what I was promised, but it's certainly more about processing grief than solving a mystery. The book does a great job of showing the underbelly of Reddit threads though, and how scary they can be. This certainly added to the suspense, even if the end result/mystery was a bit of a letdown. I think it will be a popular book next year nonetheless.

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The ending of the book left me feeling unsatisfied, as I am used to reading thrillers and mystery with a clear precise answer and resolution. This book felt too much like something could've happened in real life, sometimes there's no ending, and that's the darkest and scariest part.

OMG. I AM WITHOUT WORDS.

I AM SO INCREDIBLY THANKFUL TO THE WONDERFUL KATE BRODY AND SOHO PRESS for sending me an advanced copy of this un-put-downable crime read about the pain and suffering one family goes through after the sudden disappearance of their daughter and sister, Angie, ten years prior.

Accolades on the back will tell you that this book is perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn and Otessa Moshfegh, and I couldn't agree more due to the raw and unfiltered narratives and jaw-dropping twists. Additionally, I'd say this book reminded me of The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold for its drawn-out resolve or lack of resolve in this cold-case narrative.

18-year-old Angie has gone missing, and ten years later, her family is still grieving, so much so that their father has taken his life, leaving his remaining daughter, Teddy (Theadora), and his wife to pick up the pieces. What Teddy finds takes her down a "Rabbit Hole" (title reference) into a slew of conspiracy theories, Reddit threads, and dead ends as he strives to solve Angie's case. Picking up where he left off, Teddy meets an exciting cast of characters who may or may not have her family's sensitivities in mind, preying off that grief and infamous disappearance.

I couldn't put this one down and I can't wait for more of my pals to pick this one up. This is probably one of the best and most addictive books I've read all year... and it hits shelves on January 2, 2024.

3,5 Stars

Ten years ago Theodora’s, Teddy’s, elder sister Angie disappeared without a trace. She was never found. Now, around the anniversary of the disappearance her father kills himself. It seems he was obsessed with finding out what happened to Angie and he gave himself ten years to find her. He lost himself on the internet platform Reddit with other armchair sleuths. Teddy wants to know what her father found out and falls herself into the rabbit hole that her sisters case is.

I think this book is not accurately advertised. This is not a thriller. We stay in Teddy’s head and see the world through her eyes. This book is more of a dark character drama about a sister dealing with never knowing what happened to her sister. The pace is slow and Teddy is a very difficult character to sympathize with. She makes wrong and stupid decisions all the time. I have read recently quite a few books with female characters which are doing stupid things throughout the book. I am really fed up with this. Teddy has even self-destructive features. She begins to question if what she thinks has happened is really the truth. The human memory is a treacherous thing.

At first I had some difficulties finding into the book. The writing was rough and sometimes I had the feeling the story jumped from one place to the next unexpectedly (or maybe that was just the ARC not properly edited). But the second half I read in one sitting. I think I just got myself into the flow of this brittle and dark story. One last warning: don’t expect any answers or even closure. You will not get that here. There are still questions and I guess we have to live with them like Teddy has to.

For me this was rough read and I have mixed feelings about it. But it held my interest and it was somehow different to your average thriller which I always appreciate.

First of all, I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a gifted e-copy of this book for review purposes. The following review is my honest opinion about this book.

This book was my introduction into this subgenre of women vs the void. I have heard of it, but never really got the opportunity to read it. Frankly, I did not find myself to be a fan of this style of writing. I have sometimes been called too optimistic, maybe this factored into my preference. The plotline of this story was good, intriguing enough to keep me reading till the end, inspite of the many digressions into darker thoughts. However, I was not a fan of the open ending. I love mystery thrillers, and this book good right in this genre. But like any mystery lover, I like to get to the bottom off the problem, at least in fiction. I am sure there are many out there who would love this book, but it's just not my piece of cake.

This book j tried so many different times and I wanted tj love it.

But in all hinesty I just don’t. I know this will be perfect for someone else so I am still giving 3 stars. But there is not anything for me between these covers.

Thank you to NetGalley and SoHo Press for this ARC! What a stunning debut novel this was. I loved reading this twisty and wonderfully well written story. Everything about this book was executed perfectly from start to finish. I can’t recommend Rabbit Hole enough! Kate’s writing was dark, funny and heartbreaking.

Fans of true crime and dark thrillers will eat this one up!

Loved this dark and twisty mystery. For as much sincere heart (and trauma) the book has, there were also lighter moments, showing off the author's stellar sense of humor. Also, I adored the protagonist Teddy and I was with her all the way.

First and foremost, thank you so much to Soho Crime, Kate Brody, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy!

What a debut novel! I will say that I do not think this book was presented as it should have been – I would not consider this a thriller by any stretch, I will say that I enjoyed it anyway! Once I was able to look at it from a different perspective, I found that I did think this was a compelling novel.

I am a true crime fanatic, always have been and always will be. I do sometimes struggle with the connotations that can come with that and this book dives into it from a unique and interesting perspective. Teddy lost her sister a decade ago, and now faced with the suicide of her father, she takes a deep dive into the world she found out he had encased himself in – through reddit and the online true crime community, she sees that her father had taken to threads of people speculating, wondering, and trying to solve her sister’s disappearance.
I enjoyed this as a deep dive into the psyche of a grieving woman. I think the way her mind processed things and how she handled her tumultuous emotions was compelling to experience through written word. It was heart wrenching.

I wish the synopsis and description had been different so that I would know better what I was getting into. This didn’t get very dark and she didn’t come off as ‘scary obsessive’ like the description made me think she would be. I was thinking Gone Girl levels of obsession, but for the most part it made sense in this. I recommend it to those who want to experience the roaring waves of unassured, devastating, heart wrenching grief. If you are expecting anything more than that, change your expectations before going in.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers for this Advanced Readers Copy of Rabbit Hole by Kate Brody!

"A twisty, sexy debut exploring the dark side of true crime fandom and the blurry lines of female friendship, perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, My Favorite Murder, and Fleabag.

Conspiracy theories from Reddit seduce a disaster-prone woman into an obsession with solving her older sister's cold-case disappearance.

Ten years ago, Theodora "Teddy" Angstrom's older sister, Angie, went missing. Her case remains unsolved. Now Teddy's father, Mark, has killed himself. Unbeknownst to Mark's family, he had been active in a Reddit community fixated on Angie, and Teddy can't help but fall down the same rabbit hole.

Teddy's investigation quickly gets her in hot water with her gun-nut boyfriend, her long-lost half brother, and her colleagues at the prestigious high school where she teaches English. Further complicating matters is Teddy's growing obsession with Mickey, a charming amateur sleuth who is eerily keen on helping her solve the case.

Bewitched by Mickey, Teddy begins to lose her moral compass. As she struggles to reconcile new information with old memories, her erratic behavior reaches a fever pitch, but she won't stop until she finds Angie - or destroys herself in the process.

A biting critique of the internet's voyeurism, Rabbit Hole is an outrageous and heart-wrenching character study of a mind twisted by grief - and a page-turning mystery that's as addictive as a late-night Reddit binge."

I was sold at Fleabag and Reddit binge.

I received a digital advance copy of Rabbit Hole by Kate Brody via NetGalley. Rabbit Hole is scheduled for release on January 2, 2024.

Ten years ago, Teddy’s teenage sister Angie disappeared. On the anniversary of her disappearance, Teddy’s father drives off a bridge, committing suicide. Desperate for answers, Teddy follows her father’s path down the Rabbit Hole of Reddit, digging into the same forums her father frequented. In her digging, Teddy finds a friend in Mickey, a young woman deeply obsessed with the case. Teddy is committed to searching until she either finds her missing sister or her own destruction.

This story is told entirely from Teddy’s perspective, including her thoughts, actions, and the discoveries she makes online. Teddy is a mess, struggling to balance her losses with her job teaching high school English. Her messiness is very relateable, as she is doing her best to be what the world expects her to be while pursuing her own goals. While she makes very questionable choices, they all make sense based on her experience of the world. The characters around Teddy are equally messy, in ways that contrast her own messiness, which gives all the characters a feeling of reality.

Much of the novel swirls around Teddy’s online sleuthing. Both the good and bad of online communities is represented here, with Teddy encountering people who are truly trying to help as well as people who are out to cause as much chaos as possible. This questioning of information she finds online bounces off of Teddy’s own uncertain memories. The uncertainty is really what drives Teddy deeper down her rabbit hole.

Overall, Rabbit Hole is a solid mystery that asks questions about internet culture, morality, memory, and how far we should go to find the truth.

A twist on true crime? Say less!

While there were a few points that felt like it dragged on, I felt like Kate Brody was still able to masterfully weave her story. I was captivated by most of this story and and some gripping points I couldn’t even put the book down!

A solid mystery thriller that I think everyone should add to their tbr!

When it mentioned this book had true crime, straight away I wanted to read it. It’s more about someone’s grief, so I was disappointed in that respect. Still liked it though.

Fast paced and entertaining. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

Whew boy, this book bummed me all the way out. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I desperately needed a fluffy romance and several YA novels to get me out of my RABBIT HOLE-shaped funk. The premise of this novel is absolutely delicious: on the tenth anniversary of her sister Angie's disappearance, Teddy's father kills himself, leaving behind cryptic notes and a Reddit account that lead Teddy down the rabbit hole of an obsession with solving her sister's case. Add in some truly messed up relationship dynamics and a newfound bestie practically made of red flags, and this is one for the Gillian Flynn girlies for real. The novel is a literary thriller with most of the emphasis on literary -- typical thriller fans will probably be disappointed, as Brody is more interested in mining grief and depression than delivering plot twists. (Also, I'm a relatively tough reader, but I was shook by the animal death in this book. It wasn't necessarily unexpected, but it was so hard to read. Content warnings abound!)

Sigh, this one just wasn’t for me. Part of it might have been that it wasn’t helped by the clunky formatting that would be more polished upon publication. But I also had a hard time jumping right into the plot without a lot of setup at the beginning. The book had a lot of potential but it just left me a little confused.

Teddy has always been somewhat obsessed with the disappearance of her older sister, Angie, ten years ago. When her father commits suicide she discovers his obsession with the disappearance led him to active involvement with a Reddit community centered around Angie. When Teddy enters the community and starts communicating with others, it only intensifies her preoccupation leading to increasingly self destructive behavior.

The publisher’s synopsis of this book was somewhat misleading and I was a bit disappointed that it didn’t really deliver what was foreshadowed. That said, it was a character study of grief and depression and the personal and familial dissolution it can cause.

Although this debut novel was slow to develop, it was a fast read. I wouldn’t characterize this as a mystery but perhaps more of narrative fiction or psychological thriller.

2.75 stars
This book definitely has an audience but it was not me. It was far darker than I expected but not dark like your average popcorn thriller. I’m not even sure I’d call this a thriller. Teddy was investigating her sister’s cold case and there are some suspenseful moments, but mostly, this is grief and a lot of. Again, has its audience, but I’m not it. Also, I’m not going to go through them all but LOTS of triggers in the book including *multiple* animal deaths, drug use/addiction, suicide, and probably tons more. Please look into this further if need be.

The blurb for this book was very buzz worthy:

“A twisty, sexy debut exploring the dark side of true crime fandom and the blurry lines of female friendship, perfect for fans of Ottessa Moshfegh, Gillian Flynn, My Favorite Murder, and Fleabag

Conspiracy theories from Reddit seduce a disaster-prone woman into an obsession with solving her older sister’s cold-case disappearance”

Firstly, this book was NOT sexy. I didn’t need it to be (or really want it to be tbh). There was a decent amount of sex but it wasn’t sexy. It was messy, mostly angry, lonely, and desperate. None of it was glamorous or glorified. The “blurry lines of female friendship” was also misleading in many ways. I won’t get too into that because I don’t want to get into spoilers but it made me anticipate a different relationship between the two main characters.

Teddy was a hard character to follow. She has a lot of grief to deal with throughout this book but even still… the blurb calls her “disaster-prone” but that makes it sound like things are happening to her. She has had tragic family events but now she’s also on her own downward spiral, and that’s a lot of the book. It’s a bunch investigation into Angie’s disappearance but this doesn’t read like many popular thrillers and readers should be aware of that tone before starting. The investigation is often times uncomfortable and pushing boundaries. Teddy is at the point in her life when she’s losing herself the most and it’s so hard to watch her go down this path, make so many bad decisions, and still want to root for her to have this happy ending by the time the book concludes. It’s so uncomfortable to watch sometimes and I just didn’t know how I wanted her story in this book to end. I thought the ending was a little weird but also made some sense.

I didn’t really like the writing style and I know it’s just not my taste, but I still had a lot of other things I didn’t care for. Spoiler for the ending… (view spoiler) I kind of felt like the amount of grief was gratuitous? There was just SO much going on. Angie’s continued disappearance, the father’s suicide, the dog with cancer, a side character who overdosed (actually, more than one), and just even more death and downward spiral. Again, I guess that’s just the theme/vibe here, but this was advertised as a “page turning mystery” so I was just looking for more of that feeling of being riveted, finding clue after clue on Reddit going down the proverbial Rabbit Hole… I didn’t really feel like it gripped me like that. It’s definitely more crime than mystery/thriller…

I was also expecting more of a twisty friendship. There is a twist in there somewhere but some of what I was expecting upfront was behind the scenes and didn’t hit like I wanted it to. From the start, we know there’s something more going on with Mickey but we find little pieces as the story goes on.

I don’t want to rate a book lower just because I didn’t like it when that’s what it was supposed to be, but I’m not picking on it and just rating it low because of what it is — I actually put some points back for this reason. I just don’t feel like rating it higher shows my true feelings about it either. I’m really torn about it. It wasn’t a horrible hook but it was compelling in its own right. There are definitely people who will click with this and I can see it getting some really good buzz, and it will also have the opposite effect on many people. I guess I’ll leave my feelings in the middle.

After her father’s suicide, Teddy stumbles onto an active Reddit community about her sister’s disappearance. She quickly becomes fixated on it and it affects her life in unseen ways.

Anyone who has been sucked into a true crime rabbit hole will appreciate this story. This takes it to a whole other level given the main character’s sister is the one missing. It’s interesting going into this investigation with her and it dives deep.

“Things that are broken cannot be unbroken. Men who split in half cannot be patched together. Daughters who are lost can never be found.”

Rabbit Hole comes out 1/2.