True-crime podcaster Rachel Krall is back in Megan Goldin's new book, Dark Corners.

"Terence Bailey is about to be released from prison. Police have long suspected him of killing six missing women. When influencer Maddison Logan goes missing after visiting Bailey, they wonder if he has an accomplice on the outside. The FBI asks Rachel to help find Maddison. She goes undercover at Buzzcon, an influencer event, hoping to find any information about Maddison. She discovers a world of fierce rivalry that may have turned deadly."

This is a compelling fast-paced narrative from Goldin. There are some interesting observations about Lifestyle Influencers and what that even looks like. (Probably not what you think) There is a lot of misdirection and red-herrings - Goldin keeps you guessing.
Rachel Krall is a little more assertive in this book - it's always good to see characters grow and change.
Like last year's hit, Goldin uses an uncommon condition as a plot device. I've heard of it, but never been around someone that has it.

Great performance on the audiobook from the team of Andre Santana, January Lavoy and Samantha Desz. Lots of characters in this book but the narrators stay on top of them.

There are surprising twists and the ending is wild. Definitely a book that thriller lovers will want to read.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for this audio ARC.

The narrators put on a wonderful performance.

This story was gripping and fun.

Really loved this one. When I first started it I had a feeling Rachel's name sounded familiar, it was. Didn't realize this was book 2 but luckily I read and enjoyed book one already. This story was super twisty. Full of influencers, death, and even some romance. This was the perfect book to sit down with after work and read in one night.

Twisty, riveting and I just could not stop listening until I was done!

Just like the previous Rachel Krall book, Night Swim, I think Dark Corners is best consumed as an audio book. I enjoyed hearing Rachel’s voice because I felt like I was in her head. Also just like the last books, I sometimes forgot that this wasn’t real while listening to the podcast portion.

The peek into the world of social media influencers was interesting and timely.

I thought I knew what was going on in the book, but it turned out that I was wrong. So wrong. I loved how everything connected at the end.

4/5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audioARC of this book.

A famous social media influencer vanished after visiting a jailed serial killer, so Rachel Krall, the true crime podcaster from Night Swim, sets out to find her. Rachel gets a call from the FBI after she's linked to the serial killer. There are some good eye-roll moments as Rachel searches for clues about the disappearance in the world of influencers.

Throughout this story, Megan Goldin led us down a few red herring paths while creating suspense and tension. Plenty of twists and turns kept me on my toes, trying to figure out who was involved and with whom. I wasn't a big fan of the excessive number of red herrings at times, but Megan pulls it all together with a satisfying ending.

I was lukewarm on the first Rachel Krall book, but this one worked much better for me. Especially near the end, this is a propulsive read about a game of cat and mouse between the podcaster and a suspected serial killer. There’s a second mystery unfolding alongside the main story, adding another puzzle to solve with how the two stories may be connected.

Megan Golding does not disappoint her suspense thriller readers with this one, whether you listen to the audio version or read the book. I love that unsolved mystery podcaster from 'The Night Swim,' Rachel Krall, is back. The story begins when a convicted felon is due to be released in a couple of days and law enforcement would really like to prevent this. Rachel gets invovled in the case down in the Datona Beach area with a bunch of influencers. I really enjoyed Megan's writing style, we readers get to know things first and then watch how the police detectives work their way in that direction. This is an author whose books will always be on my list.

This book was fully enjoyable. It had some interesting characters, a good mystery, and a great twist I didn't see coming.

I enjoyed following Rachel and the FBI guy, I forget his name 😬. But anyway, Rachel was a great MC who was determined to find out what happened to Madison Bailey, which turns into trying to find out what happened to another girl years prior.

I enjoyed watching the mystery unfold and putting the pieces together.

Another great book from Megan Goldin. Definitely an author to watch out for.

really enjoyed the audio experience of this book! The main narrator was fantastic and I loved the other various narrators brought in for other characters. I definitely think audio is the most immersive way to enjoy this book. For the story, I found it engaging and I was intrigued throughout the book.!While I didn’t love the setting of the influencer world, it is a very relevant topic today. I definitely saw one or two twists coming, but not all, which kept me flying through this book! The main character is a really strong, bad ass woman who goes after what she wants, so I loved her just as much as the first book. I would definitely be open to more book in this series, because both books have been very enjoyable! 3.5 stars!

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to listen to and review Dark Corners. Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. I thought the first 1/4 and the last 1/4 were prettt good but the middle was super slow and uneventful for my likely. With 50% of the book being a meh, I’m giving it 3 stars.

Wow, Megan Goldin does it again with another thrilling ride! I especially loved this one on audio because you get the podcast vibe. Loved it!

4.75⭐️

I had the audiobook read by André Santana, January LaVoy, Samantha Desz. I love this production quality. Plus the music added tension.

I loved Night Swim with true crime podcaster Rachel Krall, so was keen to try the murder mystery sequel. Here Rachel is summoned by the FBI to help with investigating the disappearance of a popular influencers not long after she met an incarcerated suspected serial killer.

Bullets points for Dark Corners
📕a cast of narrators
📕a sequel of Night Swim
📕enters the world of social media influencers
📕good plot complexity

The world of social media influencers was an interesting theme, the plot has good complexity and layers. There’s always plenty of interest with a good pace, the audiobook production quality combined with great storytelling made this a great listen.
I found Rachel and Joe likeable, and enjoyed their chemistry.

It’s an audiobook that I’d highly recommend.

4.5 - I enjoyed this book way more than The Night Swim, the first book in Megan Goldin’s Rachel Krall series. For me, the different parts of the story came together in a more satisfying whole than in The Night Swim. In this book Rachel is called in by the FBI because Madison, a young influencer, has gone missing after visiting Terence Bailey, a suspected serial killer, in prison. Rachel’s name came up in their visit and the FBI hopes they can use her to find out more information about what might have happened to Madison.

As with the first book I loved the way that Rachel’s podcast is incorporated into the story, especially when listening to this as an audiobook. The little bits of music, background noise, and different narrators really bring that part of the book to life. With changing opinions about the ethics of true crime content, I appreciated that there’s a point in the book where Rachel makes a point to focus on highlighting the victims and their lives as opposed to giving the spotlight to the killer.

With Madison being an influencer, there’s also a lot of commentary about social media and the ways that people portray themselves online. Rachel has to end up attending an influencer convention undercover to try and get more information about what happened to Madison and if any of the other influencers are to blame.

I really hope that Megan Goldin writes more books following Rachel Krall. She’s an interesting character and the podcast element gives the books an interesting angle to tell stories. Definitely check this one out.

I love this book! I plan to go back and read the first one. Rachel had such an interesting personality. I loved how we got little pieces along the way. The main killer was so crazy. The smell thing really was an extra bit that made him hate-able. Love the social media aspect of the book. The special podcast reports really made it special on the audio.

Megan Goldin is a master of suspenseful storytelling. From the opening page I was hooked and quickly trying to turn the pages to see what would happen next- the opposite of a slow burn.

The second book in the Rachel Krall series and wow has our main character grown. She has developed a stronger backbone and a sarcastic tongue that serves her well. In Night Swim Rachel was outside the action, observing and reporting on the drama. In Dark Corners she is inside the story and at the center of the drama. It was a bit jarring at first but so well done that it was believable.

We have a social media conference and a serial killer. This could have easily turned dark comedy but the exceptional writing made those two extremes plausible. The mystery had me guessing (incorrectly) the outcome but I was completely satisfied when it was finally revealed.

The format was the same, a dual storyline between a pressure filled mystery and an objective podcast that felt like a mini vacation from the suspense.

The narrators are fabulous and added to my enjoyment of this book especially Samantha Desz. The inflection differences between the story and the podcast scenes were so well done.

“There’s an old rule of thumb in prison’s, actually it’s more of a life lesson. Dark corners can be danger points.” I LOVE THIS! The author, Megan uses a great scenario to introduce the title.

The author has different narrators playing the different points of view, of the antagonist, Thomas and protagonist, Rachel. The multiple characters with different narrators was really entertaining and I loved the music that played throughout the chapters. The main narrator made sure that she used clear tonal notes to differentiate between male and female characters.
Captured my attention right away and never let go!
The podcast angle is quite interestingly diverse from any other books I’ve read or listen to. You’re going to have to get the book to know what I’m talking about!
Rachel special reports - HOW VERY INGENIOUS! I’ve never read a novel that included a cool way to be so different! I enjoyed the typing music feeling when bringing the reports into a new chapter.
I felt for the antagonist and could relate to the bullying situations so I understood why he’s flipped out! Megan did an excellent job at making me feel for the personalities.
An Intriguing and nail biting thriller definitely worth listening to as well as reading this book! I’m giving this 4 stars only because the author rushed the romantic interest a bit.

This was a phenomenal follow up to The Night Swim and I have to say I enjoyed this one so much more! I was hooked right away and I enjoyed following along as Rachel and the FBI worked to solve a string of murders and disappearances and the focus on social media and influencer culture felt relevant and interesting. It was also kind of eerie that I read this at the same time there was a break in the Long Island serial killer/Gilgo Beach murders where sex workers were also some of the victims. I mostly listened to the audiobook which was great but would periodically switch to the e-book. Highly recommend if you enjoyed The Night Swim, true crime podcasts or just fast-paced, mysterious, unsettling thrillers. 4.5⭐️

I loved this book so much! I had to get it all my book of the month luck! Her books never fall to intrigue me

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of Dark Corners. I really enjoyed Night Swim, the first book in the series. But this one wasn’t quite as good. I don’t think I will read anymore from the Rachel Krall series. But, just like Night Swim, the audio version was well done!

{3.5 stars}

We got to know podcaster Rachel Krall in 2020’s summer hit thriller Night Swim. She’s back in Dark Corners as she investigates a missing influencer. That search takes her into prison to meet an almost paroled, ex-con, and pairs her with an FBI agent hot on the case.

I was middle of the road on Night Swim, but I liked this novel a bit more. It uses many points of view and ways of communicating what is happening as it is happening. It also has us following the actual killer so we get some insight to their psyche. They are all the usual, red herrings, along the way and a bit of romance but this one has a nice pace and wraps everything up cleanly. Also, as a bookstagrammer, I enjoyed the influencer angle, that was a fun way to approach things.

Thanks to Macmillian Audio and St Martins Press for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.