I enjoy this kind of thriller! The kind I can listen to at a small cabin in the woods, but still sleep a night. The book had me questioning and trying to identify the ties between the different characters and investigations throughout.

I appreciate the narration and that the book flips back and forth between Rachel’s interviews, and providing updates on her podcast.

The narration was easy listening, it was a multi character cast and the different characters were distinct.

I would be interested in more Rachel Krall.

I appreciated
- Details about the snake tattoo/art
- I enjoyed Terence Baileys character and wanted him to be innocent
- Maddison Logan’s character intrigued me and I like how it all came together at the end.

Memento Mori

Rachel is a true crime podcaster asked to assist the FBI in the disappearance of a social media influencer.
Suddenly the target of a monster hiding in plain sight, Rachel is forced to confront the very real dangers that lurk in the dark corners of the internet.

Psychological Thriller - Missing People, Murders & Influencers!

Special thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for this ARC!

Dark Corners
By: Megan Goldin
Narrated by: André Santana, January LaVoy, Samantha Desz
Series: Rachel Krall Investigation, Book 2
Publisher: Macmillan Audio

This book in one sentence… True crime podcaster, Rachel Krall, is back to investigate a new crime— a well known social media influencer has gone missing!

We first met Rachel in Megan Goldin’s 2020 hit novel, The Night Swim. Dark Corners is the second book in the Rachel Krall series. Although this one could be read as a standalone, you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you skipped the first. I really enjoyed The Night Swim and the reviews indicate that I’m not alone, so it’s a great place to start!

Although I felt The Night Swim had more twists and turns and jaw dropping moments, Dark Corners was anything but predictable and keep me questioning the meaning of all the clues Goldin drops throughout. My brain was exploring a myriad of possibilities until the last couple chapters. The short chapters kept the story moving along at a steady pace; I felt especially hooked in the last half of the book. I read and enjoyed this book in all three formats and they are all fantastic. I read on my Kindle at night, listened to the audiobook while on the go, and cozied up with the hardcover when I had time to sit and read. This is a great audiobook because of all the podcast segments. The ebook and print formats are still great but the audio captures the essence of Rachel’s podcasts. I also love one of the narrators, January LaVoy.

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
🎧 Podcasts
📱 Social Media
🧩 Solving a puzzle
🏃‍♀️ Short chapters
🔪 True Crime
🤷🏻‍♀️ Whodunnits

I gave Dark Corners four stars and feel there are a ton of readers out there who will enjoy all the mystery and suspense this novel has to offer. Be sure to pick up your copy today!

Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book before its publication date. The thoughts and opinions above are my own.

Dark Corners By Megan Goldin (Rachel Krall #2)

Goodreads summary (review of Dark Corners and Night Swim) of Dark Corners by Megan Goldin (Rachel Krall #2):

Terence Bailey is about to be released from prison for breaking and entering, though investigators have long suspected him in the murders of six women. As his freedom approaches, Bailey gets a surprise visit from Maddison Logan, a hot, young influencer with a huge social media following. Hours later, Maddison disappears, and police suspect she’s been kidnapped—or worse. Is Maddison’s disappearance connected to her visit to Bailey? Why was she visiting him in the first place?

When they hit a wall in the investigation, the FBI reluctantly asks for Rachel’s help in finding the missing influencer. Maddison seems only to exist on social media; she has no family, no friends, and other than in her posts, most people have never seen her. Who is she, really? Using a fake Instagram account, Rachel Krall goes undercover to BuzzCon, a popular influencer conference, where she discovers a world of fierce rivalry that may have turned lethal.

When police find the body of a woman with a tattoo of a snake eating its tail, the FBI must consider a chilling possibility: Bailey has an accomplice on the outside and a dangerous obsession with influencers, including Rachel Krell herself. Suddenly a target of a monster hiding in plain sight, Rachel is forced to confront the very real dangers that lurk in the dark corners of the internet.

Rachel Krall, the true crime podcaster star of Megan Goldin’s acclaimed Night Swim, returns to search for a popular social media influencer who disappeared after visiting a suspected serial killer.

*There might be small/slight spoilers being this is a series-However, it is important to note that you can completely read Dark Corners as a stand-alone.
Reason #1- Night Swim/Stay Awake

First, let's talk about the first book in the Rachel Krall series, Night Swim (review linked). One of the things I loved about Night Swim was the focus on victims. It focused more on the victims, and specifically, the lingering effect of rape trauma on victims than the perpetrator.

Quote from Night Swim:

We have this unfair disparity in rape cases where the victim gets- let's call it what it is- violated. Twice. Their first time in the attack. The second time, in court.

Additionally, Megan Goldin goes into deep detail about the process of completing a rape kit, which is also very violating in itself.

In Dark Corners, Megan Goldin continues this focus on the victims. Yes, there is an exploration of the criminal mind, but the victims are front and center. Their stories. Also, the victims living in the aftermath of loss are spotlighted throughout Dark Corners. Their stories and grief come through loud and clear.

We are so desensitized to evil, so obsessed with finding out what makes <killers> tic that we forget the victims. Not just those they kill but those they leave behind.

What sets apart Dark Corners from Night Swim is (what I believe to be) the influence of Stay Awake (stand-alone). My only negative takeaway from Night Swim is that I wish there was a bit more suspense and thriller to it. I didn't review Stay Awake because I was on hiatus, but I loved it. It was completely different from the Rachel Krall series, as it was a psychological thriller. Having said that, Dark Corners doubles down on the thriller and suspense. While maintaining its focus on social issues, and victims, it was a far more suspenseful read (more below).

I always knew I would read the second book in the Rachel Krall series because of how much I loved Night Swim.  I will definitely continue the series.




Reason #2- Structure/Podcast

I loved how Dark Corners utilizes Rachel's podcast. There are A LOT of characters in Dark Corner. Although the main character is Rachel, there is a large cast of supporting characters, each with their own story. One of the reasons this works is because of the podcast episodes spliced in between chapters throughout the book. Each episode serves as a way to wrap up/way to pull together all the characters and their story. This is essential. Rachel Goldin is a tremendous spinner of tales. With everything going on, having these podcasts to summarize and link information is vital to keeping the plot clear.

Secondly, the podcast episodes are very well produced in the audiobook. From the way they utilized different narrator voices for each episode's participants to the music and background sounds, it is phenomenal. The background crickets and birds used were so realistic that my cats perked up looking for them.

The podcasts in Night Swim were excellent, but Megan Goldin and the audiobook producers really upped their game.

Reason #3- If You Like Slow Burn...

Dark Corners is a slow-burn thriller. It is as much about the journey to the truth as it is about the truth itself. In saying that, I mean there are slow reveals throughout the story. Megan Goldin creates multiple stories that you want to link together but good luck. You won't know the connections until Megan Goldin wants you to. Nevertheless, Dark Corners never drags. It is constantly moving with surprising suspense throughout, rather than a succession of big reveals in the last parts of the book.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for an advance audio copy of Dark Corners by Megan Goldin, which released on August 8th, 2023
Reason #4- Character And Plot Driven

Dark Corners is one of those rare books that is driven by both the plot and the characters. You can't say it isn't a character-driven story. Rachel Krall is the centerpiece of the series. Moreover, there are a multitude of characters with different parts to play in the plot. You will grow to care about all, well, most of them 😉.

On the other hand, you can't say it isn't plot-driven. Each character has a unique story to tell. They will ultimately string together, but they also have an individualistic quality that lets them stand on their own.

Between these two pieces, you get an incredible balance between the plot and characters.

Reason #5- Rachel Krall

If you are going to create a series around one character, then Rachel Krall is it. Megan Goldin writes Rachel Krall as a smart, strong, and fiercely independent female character. When the FBI brings her in to help with a case and then tries to cut her loose (because the plan goes sideways), Rachel isn't having it. She has a steadfast determination to continue her work and find out whatever she can, anyway, she can. Multiple times she reminds the FBI that she doesn't work for them, so they can't tell her where to go or what to do (in the context of this situation). And that is exactly what she does.

Rachel Krall believes in the rights and stories of the victim. She has a very unique voice. Megan Goldin completely builds the character development with Rachel Krall.

Once again, I want to note that although this is the second book in a series, Dark Corners completely works as a stand-alone.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to an ARC of this book. We are told that there are three people doing narration for the audiobook but I found it hard to tell that. That is a complement. A good narration can made a book or break it. This was wonderful. The voice for Rachel Krall, our intrepid heroine, sounded just like it was described in the book. Cudos to Macmillan Audio.

This book is literally about a young man Terrance Bailey accused of many crimes and multiple murders though no evidence has been found to back up the murders, and his last two days in Prison. As the hour draws closer, the FBI asked Rachel Krall, a well-known and decent podcaster of True Crime, to come help in their investigations. She visits Terrance and leaves with more questions than answers. Instead of returning home, she stays, She has received a call from a young influencer, Madison who has disappeared, She was the last person Terrance saw before Rachel, Rachel begs her for help and disappears an hour after leaving the message. Rachel feels a responsibility. There isn't a hotel room in town so Rachel get books into a hotel where thousands of influencers are meeting, disguising herself as an influencer who is trying to learn the ropes.
As she and FBI Agent, Joe Martinez, try to unravel the story and see if Terrance is truly guilty, we get thrown into the world of influencers. Which is not pretty. I'm thinking this is probably well researched and paints a horrible life for those that think being an influencer would be the most wonderful job in the world.
This is such a good book. There are a few red herrings as a good mystery should have, but no ghosts, no supernatural shifts. Rachel has the advantage as she is an investigative journalist and can meld into most any crowd. Martinez has little support from the Daytona Beach police who have made their decisions a long time ago.
Everything comes together beautifully, no hanging herrings out there!.
This is a wonderful book for mystery/thriller readers who only a really well written book.

This has been a fabulous year for psychological thrillers!!!

This is book 2. You don’t need to read book 1 but it’ll give you great background on our MC so you should definitely listen to that one too!

Rachel is a true crime journalist/podcaster. The FBI is asking for her help again. A possible serial killer will be released due to lack of evidence in 2 days and a popular influencer is missing after last being seen meeting with him.

Rachel is going in to BuzzCon an influencer convention to see if she can find out what happened to Maddison before a serial killer is released.

Rachel is so not into the influencer scene and all the drama that comes with it so seeing her out of her element was great.

Super dual narration! Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan Audio! Can’t wait for the next installment in the Rachel Krall Investigations series! Great fun! Two thumbs UP!

Okay honestly, I didn't think I was going to like this book, which is book 2 in the series. Don't worry you don't have to read the first one, to read this book, same characters but different storyline. Anyways back to my gripe. lol Rachel's personality in this book has changed a lot from the first book and at first, I wasn't sure I liked the new Rachel. But as I read more, she grew on me and I found myself liking this story better than the original. Also, another bonus was listening to the full cast on the audiobook. I loved how they made certain parts seem like you are really listening to a true crime podcast. I thoroughly enjoyed it and now I'm just going to wait patiently for the next book, hopefully there is a next book.

Entertaining, not sure what i was in for. I wasn't fond of the "podcast" part of it. I feel i missed a part with the killer.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

This series blends two of my favorite things-mystery/thriller books and true crime podcasts! I love the way the podcast is threaded throughout the whole story. Keep the Rachel Krall books coming 👏🏼

Also, this narration was fantastic!!

I’m so happy I was introduced to the Rachel Krall series. While I didn’t find this one as jaw dropping as the Night Swim, I really enjoyed this book. I’m officially a big fan of Megan Goldin and her Rachel Krall books. I do hope she continues them!

I think this book lacked the twist and element of surprise I expect from thrillers or suspense novels. But, in true Megan Goldin fashion, the characters were all so well written and the story kept flowing. It was less of a “what’s going to happen” and more of a “how will this develop” type of read.

Thanks so much NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ARC!

This is the second book following the character Rachel Krall who is a true crime podcaster. I have read The Night Swim, and enjoyed this second installment more. I was quickly drawn in to the story and found myself guessing up until the end. The last third got a little lengthy, but it was worth it for the ending. I have read other books by this author, and I do feel some disconnect with the main character, I think if I was an avid lover of true crime and podcasts I would enjoy her much more, Thank you Netgalley and McMillan Audio for the ARC of this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and McMillan Audio for a copy of this ALC in return for an honest review!

When I first read The Night Swim earlier this year I absolutely fell in love with it. Having read another book from Megan Goldin, I was hopeful that her first series would become a new favourite for me. Unfortunately this sequel didn’t set me off on the best footing for that. While I overall enjoyed the book, and especially appreciated its ability to be critical of the criminal justice system while still being largely focused on it, there were some major issues for me. First was its treatment of sex workers. They were the faceless beginning victims to a burgeouning serial killer, as they so often are, and while there was some criticism within the text of this phenomenon, I felt it was still very lacking in its treatment of characters who were sex workers. Specifically, there were none. The inclusion of sex workers felt thrown in and clumsily handled and I was wishing for more throughout the book.

There was also the disability issue. The killer did have a disability and his disability is directly tied to his monsterousness. Again there is a surface level criticism of this within the text, but it didn’t fix the problem. Capping off my list of problems is its dealing with influencers. A mass of vapid, superficial, egomaniacs in the opinion of the book. Sure it might be true in some cases, but the drilling in of the point soon became more like a tirade against technology rather than an insightful criticism of a flawed industry.

All of this being said, I wanted to like this book, so in a lot of ways I did. I have also liked two others of Megan Goldins, so I am going to try again with her next entry into the series, but this book overall left a sour taste in my mouth.

This book was great! I really liked the alternating chapters with the use of blog type reports. The narrator was fabulous and the way the report chapters are recorded is like listening to actual podcast episodes. It was so fun to listen to. The storyline was the perfect pace and kept me guessing the whole time. The “bag guy” was pretty obvious but the way the other character were linked was not obvious at all. Rachel was a fabulous main character and drew me into the story. The social media influencers were so vapid and it seemed appropriate. The Buzzcon scenes were fun to read,

Finally, that ending was amazing! I was gobsmacked….didn’t see that coming! What a wild ride!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Unfortunately, 3.5 or 3.75 stars isn't an option, so I went with 3, but I'd definitely say 3.5 to 3.75 out of 5 for this one. Overall, here is what I loved: The potential relationship between Rachel and Joe was definitely a bonus. I don't often expect much in terms of romance in my mystery/thrillers, so this was a nice touch, but it felt almost like an afterthought. The addition of the Rachel Krall special podcast episodes were great. It tied the plot points together while also making it feel almost like a "breaking news" add-in. I listened to the audio version, so that made these even better. Lastly, the misleading errors throughout where the police came short and Rachel jumped in was a big plus. The fact that the cops judged the women who were taken based on their lifestyles and declared them simply as runaways was disheartening, and sadly, I think this happens in real life some, too. The fact that Rachel cared enough to stay with the case and get the answers needed despite what the police said made me like her even more.

Here is what I didn't love: to me, the characters fell flat. I am not expecting pages and pages of characterization, but there just didn't seem to be a lot of personality. Had I not been listening, I feel like most of the female characters could have basically been the same person, and the male characters too, aside from Tom and his smell. There wasn't a lot of character building at all, which made it really hard for me to resonate with any of the characters. When this happens, it's hard to sympathize and I'm hyperaware that I'm reading. When I read a book, especially a suspenseful book like this one, I want to be so engrossed and feel ties to the characters that I almost forget I'm reading. Aside from the disconnect here and the relationship between Joe and Rachel, there wasn't much else to dislike.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I will definitely be checking out others by her!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the opportunity to listen to this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I first became a fan of Megan Goldin after listening to her novel The Night Swim on audio. The production of the book drew me in from the start and it was a blast to follow along with Rachel Krall's serch for the truth. Dark Corners is the second in the Rachel Krall series and it was just about as equally entertaining as the first one.

I felt a stronger connection with the first book and its subject matter, whereas this novel lacked the same depth. The novel incorporates a lot about influencers, which was a little meh to me. Social media and influencers are common topics now for thriller books that create surface level characters who seem out of touch with real hardship in life. That being said, this novel balanced the social media elements with a murder mystery that was incredibly twisted and wicked.

The narrators- André Santana, January LaVoy, Samantha Desz- should be commended for their ability to add the necessary depth and suspense to this novel that it needed to shine. I loved the alternating viewpoints of the multicast narration, they allowed the story to unfold at the right pace- not too fast and not too slow.

The ending of the book was also very enjoyable, there were a few twists that I did not see coming and I was impressed by how many of them Goldin fit in to the end, yet made sure that they all made sense and were not overwhelming.

Ultimately, I felt like I got to know Rachel Krall better by the end of the novel and I am hoping there will be more to this series in the future. I love the audiobooks, their production and elements of music, the podcast, etc, are really fun to listen to.

After well-known content creator Maddison Logan disappears, podcaster Rachel Krall goes undercover at BuzzCon, an influncer conference, in an attempt to give the police any leads to her disappearance. Meanwhile, Terrence Bailey is set to be released from prison, and the police suspect he murdered 6 women but never had enough to charge him. Since Bailey is the last person to see Maddison, they suspect he might have another victim and an accomplice on the outside.

Dark Corners started off as a very captivating read. However, I think it's too long for its own good. There were a lot of times near the end where I was just spacing because the story wasn't really interesting during those times. One that stands out the most was the love story or romance subplot. I really wasn't that invested in it, and there was no chemistry between the two characters. Could have definitely done without that.

Thank you to NetGalley an the publishers for this ALC. André Santana, January LaVoy, and Samantha Desz were great narrators.

"I've been looking for a predator and it turns out a predator has also been looking for me."

In the second book in the Rachel Krall series, Rachel is called to Daytona Beach after an inmate is seen writing down her name. For what? Rachel has no clue but as a true crime podcaster, her life can be a little risky.

Van life influencer Madison Logan goes missing after leaving a cryptic voicemail for Rachel and Rachel is determined to find out why she is being involved. Is it to help or to simply get the story out?

"Some people will do just about anything to go viral."

I wanted to love this book as much as everyone else did as I have seen so many raving reviews and I really enjoyed the first book in this series. It just didn't hit as much for me.

For one, it almost felt like more of a love story than it did a thriller. I wasn't invested in that part of the book so it lost me there. It was way too much of a slow burn in the romance and thriller department for me.

Overall, I'd say give this book a go for yourself.

I liked this one maybe not as much as the first book, I don’t know why but this one seemed easy to walk away from and didn’t keep me as glued as I had hoped. I like the character of Rachel and will pick up the next book in this series.

Narrated by André Santana; January LaVoy; Samantha Desz all did a great job at the narration and bringing the emotions! The audiobook was interesting in the way it added the podcasts.

3 stars

I received this book from the publisher Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

Rachel is a famous, true crime podcaster. She has been contacted by the FBI to assist in the disappearance of a young lady. But, there is more to this disappearance than meets the eyes. And the further the investigation goes the more creepy it becomes.

I am a huge fan of this author and this book will keep you glued to the pages, for sure! Now, it did slow down a bit in the middle but you just can not stop because you know something big is just around the corner.

This story just builds in intensity as it slowly unfolds. I really enjoyed Rachel. She is very intelligent and just keeps pecking away until she discovers the truth. And this lands her in a bit of a mess. And you just need to read it and find out!

It is not necessary that you read The Night Swim to follow this story. However, I do recommend you read that book! Do not miss it!

And I just love a production! And these narrators are fantastic! André Santana, January LaVoy and Samantha Desz really put on a show with this story!

Need a good suspense with a chilling outcome…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today n

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

*Audiobook*

I really enjoyed the narrator and the immersive audio. Some chapters are told in the form of a podcast, and it truly sounds like a podcast while listening. There is intro and outro music and different narrators for characters. I also like how the story was structured. Without giving any spoilers, the chapters alternate between Rachel’s podcast reports, her current situation, and the killer’s actions. The audio format made it engaging and easy to distinguish between the perspectives. There were some twists I didn’t expect, but what will happen becomes obvious fairly early. I was still interested in the story and figuring out how all of the missing/dead girls were connected. The story tied up all the loose ends nicely, and overall I thought it was well written. My one complaint is the romance element felt rushed and unnecessary. Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Megan Goldin for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.