Rachel Krall, the investigative podcaster of Guilty or Not Guilty, is brought in by the FBI to interview a prison inmate, Terrance Bailey, who is about to be released in just a few days. He was convicted of breaking and entering but suspected in the killings of six women. More puzzling is that Terrance just had a visit from a popular influencer, Maddison Logan, and she’s now gone missing, which makes them think Bailey has an accomplice on the outside.

Much to the dismay of the FBI, Rachel decides to stay in town to help find Maddison who was in town to attend BuzzCon an influencer gathering. Rachel goes undercover to see if anyone knew Maddison, and any information that might help track her down. I loved the addition of Joe Martinez, the sexy FBI Agent! Rachel and Joe butt heads initially but end up working together. Rachel is adept at getting information where Joe’s guys haven’t had success, and the clock is ticking for Maddison. Rachel’s efforts don’t go unnoticed, which puts her in danger, as well.

The story was told from Rachel and Joe’s POV, but also the killer’s which was a chilling addition! I was on the edge of my seat worried about the characters and ended up listening to this exciting story in one day!

I read and loved Megan Goldin’s The Night Swim back in 2021. I hoped the author would bring back Rachel Krall and her investigative podcast in more installments. I got my wish here with Dark Corners and it did not disappoint! She’s a smart cookie and a determined investigator. I’m hoping for more Rachel Krall mysteries!

I listened to the story and the audio was fantastic! It’s narrated by January LaVoy and Samantha Desz, a combo from the last Rachel Krall story and narrators I’ve enjoyed from the past. January LaVoy performs Rachel in her “Special Reports” and has a rich, sexy voice, and Samantha Desz performs Rachel and all other characters as the story goes along. She has smooth, serious voice, one that I really enjoyed, as well! André Santa performs voices in the interviews in Rachel’s podcast chapters. There were sound effects as well, making it feel like a real crime podcast. I liked the additional feature! I highly recommend the audio version! I listened at my usual 1.5x-1.75x normal speed. I’d speed up if things were getting intense!

“Dark corners can be danger points”

Dark corners was a juicy thriller that had me completely hooked! The combination of social media, podcasts, coupled with a murder investigation was pretty darn cool!

I loved how the story would veer from one story angle to the next because it really kept me in suspense; I was desperate to find the links and how the story would unfold!

Rachel made me sick at point’s because if an FBI agent tells you to leave, why stay around and “make a vacation of it”?

Anyway, this was another solid thriller from Megan Goldin! She really can’t miss in these thriller streets!! The narration was also really great!!

Another 5 star read by @megangoldinauthor! I absolutely love the true crime and podcast aspect again in this one. Tying that in with a social media influencer going missing made it seem relevant and relatable for today's time.

It's such a solid storyline with great twists and turns that left me guessing the entire time. The strong FMC is such a plus for me. Pair that with a serial killer and a sprinkle of a romance. I was sold.

Again, highly recommend the audio. So well done with the podcast aspect.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the audio ARC to listen and give my honest review!

I enjoyed this book. I love that it delved in to the dangers of trying to be an influencer and overall dangers if social media. The suspense was great. Some parts were slow but the end was hard to put down for sure. Thank you so much for this ARC!

I really liked The Night Swim so I was pretty excited to hear about Dark Corners. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as huge of a fan of this book.

In Dark Corners, podcaster Rachel is flown to Daytona Beach, FL to interview a prisoner about a missing woman who visited him shortly before her disappearance. She then decides to attend BuzzCon, an influencer convention that the woman was involved with. In this book we are aware of the serial killer from the beginning, just not how the victims are connected.

I was surprised how unlikable Rachel is in this book. I like her drive to solve the mystery but not her attitude about it. She comes across as a stubborn, full of herself, know-it-all. I’m not ready to write her off just yet though, I’m just hoping that in future books it returns back to the courtroom drama etc of the first book. And enough already about her ‘bedroom voice’! It’s so overstated.

I listened to the audiobooks of both books. I especially like the podcast parts. They are very realistic & comparable to true crime podcasts I’ve listened to. Regardless of how much I don’t like the ‘male’ voice of defective Joe Martinez, the narrators do a really good job again in this book.

Thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press & Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advanced copy of this audiobook.

Thank you MacMillon Audio and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

I love when audiobooks have a full cast - and it REALLY worked for this fun true crime based podcast.

This is book 2 of the series, but it could be read alone if needed.

Definitely read trigger warnings before going into this one. I signed up for the audiobook because I knew I also had a copy from BOTM as an early release. I like switching between audiobook and e-books/physical books when I am working.

**Rape, murder, graphic descriptions are all things that may be triggering - especially as a listener.

Rachel Krall is a podcaster who is known for her meticulous research on murder cases and is famous for recently solving a cold case investigation. So when the FBI needs help on a murder investigation, they turn to Rachel. She soon finds herself in the midst of an influencer conference with people who are more interested in their phones and follower count than anything else - even a potential murderer nearby. No one seems to have noticed that Maddison Logan has gone missing days after visiting murder suspect Terrence Bailey in jail. As more people turn up dead and Terrence Bailey's release date inches closer, Rachel finds herself becoming a target of whoever has committed the string of murders.

This was a solid take on the murder podcaster trope, and I appreciated that I could read this sequel without having read the first book. Overall, I found the portrayal of influencers to be kind of cheesy and shallow. I didn't care much about the characters being murdered because they were portrayed as vapid and one dimensional. The murder mystery plot was a bit thin, too. Everything was a little too cookie cutter and predictable. I've enjoyed other Goldin books much more.

Thank you to Netgalley for both the audio and digital copy of this book. I had enjoyed Megan Goldin's previous Rachel Krall book, so looked forward to this one. It didn't disappoint. This book is dark, and at every turn it kept me guessing and wondering more and more what had happened to the missing influencer, Maddison Logan, and what an imprisoned Terrence Bailey had to do with it.
I really enjoyed this one, perhaps some of the additional influencer story line could have been left out, it didn't really have much to do with the main story. The back story of both Terry and Maddison made this book so intriguing.
I like Rachel's character, she's got spunk and she's not afraid of the dark places she investigates for her podcast. There is a bit of a romance, and it was fun, but also not a big part of the story.
The audio narration was very well done by Andre'Santa, January LaVoy, and Samantha Desz. LaVoy's voice is so smooth and comfortable!
Thank you again to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio. I look forward to more books from Megan Golden!

It’s dark, fast paced, emotional, mysterious… and I found myself having complicated feelings about the characters and their development. A solid choice. Recommend the audio.

This was an amazing follow up to the night. Swim which I also absolutely loved.Another fun mystery thriller 5 stars.

First I’ve read by this author. Terrific book!
If you have not read any of her books…hold on to your seats!
Rachel Krall is a well known podcaster.
Maddison Logan is a well known internet influencer.
Terence Bailey is in prison for breaking and entering…but he is also believed to be behind the killing of multiple girls around the same time as his B&E.
He was supposed to be released after two years, but an incident in the jail extended his prison term. He is now days away from release.
As his term is ending, the FBI is looking into anything they might be able to hold him on. They find nothing…
And then, Maddison goes to visit him…in jail…and then disappears!
Many points are brought out. The police and FBI are hurrying to find ANY leads. They look at the video recording of Maddison’s visit and figure out that Bailey told Maddison to contact Rachel and have her come to see him.
When all else fails, the FBI reach out to Rachel to ask for her help!
The story that ensues is both breathtaking and horrific!
As details emerge, the stakes seem to get higher and higher…and more people are missing….or possibly dead!
Totally blew me away as I NEVER figured out what was coming!
4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!
Looks like this is the second book in the series. I did not read the first one and it was fine…
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC of the audiobook! It released today, August 8th, so look for it now!

I loved the first book in this series, the Night Swim, and was so excited to receive the arc of the second. I was not disappointed! The narrator was excellent and held my attention easily throughout. This is a gem of a series with amazing, complex characters. The plot has lots of layers and intricacies but is not too complicated. The protagonist podcaster Rachel is a highly intelligent badass and I can’t wait for Goldin to write the next in this series! Perfect for fans of Joanna Schauffhausen and Allen Eskens.

Megan Goldin is an author I always know I can count on for an excellent read so I requested a review copy of her latest thriller, Dark Corners, without even reading the synopsis.

I was thrilled to start reading it and realized that it features Rachel Krall, the protagonist from The Night Swim, my favorite book from Goldin so far. Don’t worry if you haven’t read The Night Swim yet because Dark Corners works well as a standalone. That said, definitely go back and read it though because it’s fabulous!

Rachel Krall is a badass. She is a true crime podcaster who has become a household name because even though she has no experience in law enforcement and is not a detective, she has been able to solve cases that law enforcement agencies have not. Her instinctive investigative skills and her no nonsense attitude have grudgingly earned her the respect of the various agencies, including the FBI who has called her in to assist on the case that is the focus of this book.

Following Rachel as she puts together the pieces of a case was the most riveting part of the book for me. It’s fascinating to see her mind at work and to follow her train of thought as she investigates. This case, which focuses on a social media influencer who goes missing after paying a visit to a serial killer in prison, was especially interesting to follow as it takes Rachel into the world of influencers & even to an influencer convention, giving a sneak peek into that world. Goldin always weaves plenty of twists and turns in her novels to build suspense and when an unexpected twist actually puts a target on Rachel’s back, I couldn’t put the book down!

I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook. I highly recommend the audio since many excerpts from Rachel’s podcast are woven into the story. While it was fine to read those excerpts on the page, the audiobook really enhanced my reading experience.

Overall, an entertaining, suspenseful read I couldn’t put down.

4.5/5 Stars - rounded up for netgally/goodreads

I flew through the audio of this book! It listened like a true crime podcast with a great full cast narration and audio production. This is the second in the Rachel Krall series. I actually had not read the first and it was totally fine as they are two independent stories, but I enjoyed this one so much I will be going back and picking up the first!

This book is for anyone who enjoys true crime podcasts like Serial or Up and Vanished. If you enjoy this you might also like The Anatomy of Desire.

True crime podcaster is asked for help in an FBI investigation into a potential serial killer and missing social media influencer.

This was a really good thriller with twists and turns sprinkled throughout. There were parts that felt drawn out, but I was intrigued the whole time.

The podcast view was definitely enhanced in audio format. The narration was very well done.

I did not realize this was book 2, though it can be read as a stand alone. I plan to read book 1 and will be on the look out for future stories.

Once again, Megan Krall finds herself at the center of solving a crime thanks to her podcast. This time she’s a person of interest after influencer Maddison Logan goes missing after visiting suspected serial killer Terrence Bailey in prison two days before he is scheduled to be released. The real twist? Megan’s name came up in Terrence and Maddison’s conversation and the FBI wants to know why. Once they call Megan in, there’s no stopping her from trying to find out more about what is happening, even when they ask her to stop. But will she be able to get answers before something happens to her too?

While I didn’t adore this one as much as I did The Night Swim, I did fly through it in a day and really enjoyed it. Once I was in it, I couldn’t stop - I needed to know what was happening - from the smelly Uber driver, to the convicted serial killer about to be free, to the wild world of the influencer convention, there were so many layers to this story that held me engaged from start to finish. Although Megan is not always likable, and some of the twists were predictable, the exciting storylines made up for it. I was able to switch between audiobook and physical book and both options were great!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advance copies.

An interesting look at the influencer scene mixed with a true crime podcast. This was a solid mystery that kept me engaged throughout.

I loved that the audio component featured the podcast as part of the narrative.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

I’ve enjoyed Megan Goldin’s previous novels especially The Night Swim and Stay Awake. Both were five star reads for me.

I had the ebook and audiobook of Dark Corners to review and was looking forward to hearing more from Rachel Krall, the true crime podcaster first introduced in The Night Swim.

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

Since Rachel Krall’s True Crime podcast “Guilty or Not Guilty” helped a previously convicted killer get a new trial, she’s been receiving letters from others convicted of terrible crimes. Now she is visiting a Central Florida Correctional Facility with two FBI agents to see an inmate named Terence Bailey.

“Your name came up in an FBI investigation. I need to ask you a few questions.”

It seems that a popular travel vlogger, Maddison Logan has disappeared after visiting suspected killer and inmate, Terence Bailey. Maddison is popular on all platforms - Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. She has almost half a million followers.

“What did a successful social media influencer want with a serial killer?”

Terence Bailey is either a petty thief or a cold blooded killer responsible for abductions and murder of young women.

So why did Maddison visit Terence Bailey in prison? And more importantly, what happened after that caused her disappearance?

And why is the FBI telling Rachel that her name has come up in the investigation?

After reading mixed reviews for Dark Corners I was a little worried about what I would think of the second book in the Rachel Krall series. I shouldn’t have worried. I really enjoyed this one too. Some parts were a bit over the top and readers definitely have to suspend disbelief at times. However, I was engrossed and excited to read what would happen next.

I noticed that some readers really didn’t like Rachel’s character. I could see how she might rub some people the wrong way. She could be pretty snarky. But I kind of liked how she didn’t let anyone push her around. She stood up for herself and what she believed in.

Being able to switch back and forth between audio and ebook is always good. I thought the audiobook was also well performed with great sound effects and narration.

Much of the story takes readers into the world of influencers. A bit of a peek behind the curtain. The competition for awards, sponsors, deals, and followers.

Overall, I thought this was an enjoyable domestic suspense novel. I am definitely looking forward to reading more from Megan Goldin.


I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars, rounded up. This is the second Rachel Krall mystery from Megan Goldin, author of Night Swim. Though it's technically a sequel, it can be read as a standalone. There's very little overlap from the first book.

This time, instead of researching a case for her podcast, Rachel finds herself in Florida at the request of the FBI. Bailey, a prisoner convicted of B&E and suspected of being a serial killer is about to be released. Maddison, a young influencer in town for Buzzcon, a social media conference, has disappeared - conveniently right after visiting Bailey in jail. Is Bailey connected to Maddison's disappearance? When the FBI can't figure it out, they call Rachel in to try to get Bailey talking. That doesn't work, but Rachel gets sucked in and sticks around to figure all out. You may ask why the FBI would call in a podcaster to help them solve a case. I can't tell you without spoiling the story, but I will say there are reasons. Are they good ones? Probably not, but who cares? Suspend your disbelief a little and go with it.

I have to say I enjoyed this book more than Night Swim. The stories differed in format - Night Swim included a lot of courtroom drama, while this one was all about amateur sleuthing. I had MANY issues with the lack of research/inaccuracies in the courtroom portions of Night Swim, so I for one was glad to see that Dark Corners didn't go there. The author took out the courtroom drama and left us with a fast-paced fun beach read. To me this book felt like an episode of Veronica Marrs - and who doesn't love Veronica Marrs? I do wish the author had included more of Rachel's podcast in the story. I also wasn't over-enamored with the influencer angle, but it's everywhere right now isn't it? And the mystery had to take place somewhere. Maybe the next one will take place in a setting that's more interesting to me - and YES, I'd like to see a next one.

A couple of side notes:

* I listened to the audio version, and the narration was terrific. It was fun to have the little musical interludes whenever the podcast was woven into the story.

** I've seen a couple of reviews complain about Rachel being abrasive, cranky, mean. I didn't notice any of that. Maybe b/c I'm all of those things, or maybe b/c to me she came off as a strong person who knows what she wants looking out for herself. So there's that.

Overall, Night Corners was a solid summer thriller. Was it believable? Nope - but it was fun, and interesting without being too over the top. If you don't mind suspending your disbelief a bit (and isn't that what summers are for?) I say give this one a try. I myself am looking forward to seeing where Rachel Krall goes next.

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the chance to preview the audio book
Publication date - 8/8/23 - out today!

Up until July, I had not read a Megan Goldin book. I read the synopsis and just had to read it. I love books that include podcasts. I had gotten a BOTM physical copy early and was so excited to get the audiobook. as well. The narrators grabbed my attention and helped the story speed along around every twist and turn.. ( I did pick up the first book in this series and read it first). I’m looking forward to more from this author and I will be checking to see what other books the main narrator has voiced.. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the audiobook in exchange for a honest review.