I absolutely loved The Night Swim by Megan Goldin, so when I was approved for an advanced copy on NetGalley, I was stoked to say the least and more than ready to dive into another 5 star thriller.
Unfortunately, as much as it pains me to say this, it fell flat for me.
I am already not a huge fan of the podcast trope, and find that it's been horribly overdone in the past few years, but like I said, I enjoyed The Night Swim and was ready for more Rachel Krall.
However, in this second novel the format was changed, and not for the better. I really did miss the courtroom drama and the podcast episodes. We see much more of Rachel this time around, as she is working with the feds and I didn't particularly enjoy her as a character. Any part to do with the FBI cooperation storyline just about bored me to no end, which I mainly attribute to the pacing. The beginning started off strong, but the middle was incredibly slow, uneventful and way too long, while the ending felt a little too rushed.
I also did not enjoy the Influencer subplot, but that is mostly on me, as I'm probably too old for this type of stuff, and cannot relate to the obsession with average Joes and Janes and their respective opinions.
All this to say, that while the book didn't work for me, subjectively, it wasn't a bad book by any objective means.
This is probably the right book for people (maybe a little younger than me), who enjoy both podcasts as well as internet Influencers, and aren't looking for courtroom drama.
On the plus side, the audio production was absolutely fantastic and helped me finish the book when I otherwise might have put it down for a more thrilling thriller.

Dark Corners
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Megan Goldin

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley. St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: 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.

My Thoughts: This is book no. two in the Rachel Krall series. I listened to “Night Swim” a few months ago in anticipation of this novel. Rachel has a true crime podcast that has blown up since we last met her, she is even famous, so much so, that she has to keep a low profile. Rachel gets a call from FBI to assist them without any details over the phone, just the name Terrance Bailey. Rachel’s interest is piqued and after an interview with nothing gained, the FBI is sending her back home. Rachel does not do well being told what to do and decides to hang out at BuzzCon to get some additional information on a missing influencer. BuzzCon is a huge convention for influencers and also where they announce the influencer of the year award, which comes with a financial awards, a streaming platform, and bragging rights for a year. The further Rachel digs, the more danger she is in. A danger cat and mouse game ensues.

The story is narrated primarily by Rachel with some other surprise narration. In the beginning, Rachel seems very defensive, lacks situational awareness, engages in unnecessary risky behavior, and even at times, was unlikable. However, towards the end, she warmed my heart again. The characters were created with depth, with our MC being expanded on, had some witty moments, were mysterious, creative, and intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, a little fun, while still suspenseful and twisty, and engaging. The story unfolds by introducing and building up our characters, layering the plot in twisty ribbons weaved throughout the story with a fabulous ending. Goldin has a way with words that pulls you in and you just get lost in the story, she is brilliant, and intelligent.

I had the privilege of having the ARC for both the digital and audio formats. I got a little behind on reviewing when I had surgery but am almost caught back up. The narrator on this one had the perfect audiobook voice and handled the voice narration like a pro, easy to listen to, and really brings Rachel Krall to life, along with the other characters. I adored the first one but I felt like this one did not live up to the first one. Do not get me wrong, it was still a good read/listen that I enjoyed, I was just hoping for more. However, I would definitely recommend this one and “Night Swim” to other readers.

What I Like:
✨Rachel Krall: I loved this badass true crime podcaster in Night Swim (book one and one of my favorite thrillers from 2020), and she doesn't back down in Dark Corners. She’s tough, methodical, and passionate about righting injustices. She works with Detective Joe to help solve a missing persons case. A romance develops between them, which feels a little like insta-lust. Personally, I could do without the romance, but I know other reviewers love the romantic suspense element.
✨Twisty Plot: Goldin plants plenty of red herrings. Some of the twists I guessed; others, I was dead wrong. I do think the reader needs to suspend some belief to make the twists work.
✨Narration/Audio production: I highly recommend this format! The narrators create tension and suspense while the production team nails the podcast feel!

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quick read. There were lots of characters to keep track of, they were dealing with a possible serial killer so the names of possible victims were often mentioned. I liked the main characters well enough. The story moved at a pretty good pace. I got sort of bored with the influencer angle just since those characters were annoying as are most influencers.

This said it was the second book in the series. I didn't read the first and was still able to follow the story so it seems like it can be done as a stand alone.

There was more than one narrator, but they all did a good job of emoting and changing voices.

3.5 ish

“Always know what you’re walking into. Dark corners can be danger points.”

I enjoyed Night Swim by Megan Goldin and was so excited when she announced another Rachel Krall book.

Rachel Krall finds herself embroiled in the mysterious disappearance of Maddison, a popular influencer. Things get interesting when they discover that Terence, a soon-to-be-released prisoner with a possible connection to the murders of several women, was one of the last people Maddison visited. Stuck in their investigation, the FBI calls Krall. Can she discover Maddison's whereabouts before it is too late?

Dark Corners was a lot of fun. While I did find part of the mystery to be a bit predictable, several things kept me on my toes. The ending was full of tension and a bit of a nail-biter.

I read other reviews that Rachel seemed out of character in this installment, some noting they felt like she was rude. I didn't notice this. However, I read Night Swim a while ago. I am not sure I remember her characterization enough to note any changes.

For me, the downsides were mostly due to my personal preferences. I am not a huge fan of social media/influencers in books. It just doesn't do much for me. One thing I liked about Night Swim was the courtroom drama, and there is none of that here. Also, I do think it was a bit long, and there was some repetitiveness I could have done without. However, I still enjoyed Dark Corners, and recommend it to fans of Rachel Krall, mixed media, true crime podcasts, mysteries, and thrillers.

I highly recommend this as an audiobook. The podcast sections bring the story to life. All three narrators do a fantastic job. One of them is January LaVoy, who I love.

Further, this is technically book two in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel Krall is back with another mystery for her podcast. I love the podcast angle Megan Goldin intertwines in her stories. The audio book was great because the podcast chapters were read like a podcast with background noises and everything. I really enjoyed the storyline. There were times that Rachel was a little immature in her responses but other than that, I loved her working together with Joe Martinez and I thought the red herrings were well played. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next Rachel Krall mystery!!

Dark Corners was so good! The audiobook is so perfectly done and I loved the podcast format to it. It switches between past and present. While technically the second in the series, Dark Corners can be read as a standalone. I haven't read The Night Swim yet and I had no trouble picking this one up.

Rachel Krall is summoned to Florida to speak with a prisoner who is about to be released from prison after being there for six years. He is suspected of murdering multiple victims but no proof was ever found. Rachel goes to a social media influencer event to try and find out more details. We get to hear from multiple POV and I couldn't tell how everyone was connected until the end, and I was shocked at the big reveal(s). Highly recommend listening to this audiobook!

Thank you MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!

Terance Bailey was convicted for breaking and entering but was always a suspect for murdering 6 women. When an upcoming influencer visits him in prison and is missing right after, the FBI bring in Rachel Krall, a famous true crime podcaster to see if they can uncover the truth behind the missing influencer and the link to the past murders.

This book was an exciting read. Recently there have been so many books with podcasters in the thick of the story, but this was pretty interesting. I liked the peak into the toxicity in the influencer world. Racheal Krall was kick ass cool, didn't care for the romance angle and the guy coming in to save her! I enjoyed the plot reveal and I didn't really expect it!

Thanks to St Martin's Press & Macmillan audio for the EARC and the ALC.

Dark Corners was just the type of thriller I love. Quick paced, tons of twists and turns, and just when you think you know which way it's going to go....another twist. I love the plot and feel that it is very relevant and now...considering how much of their lives people are willing to put on the internet for all the world to see. The second book in this series was well worth the read... well listen. I loved the narrators and thought they really brought the book to life. Thank you to McMillan Audio for an ARC audio in exchange for my honest review. 4 dark & twisty stars.

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. 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 Krall herself. 

Dark Corners is the second novel Megan Goldin has written featuring Rachel Krall. Even though this is the second book with Rachel as a main character, this can be enjoyed as a standalone. The multiple perspectives and timelines added to the face pace and kept me guessing throughout. It’s narrated by January LaVoy and Samantha Desz who both bring this story to life. 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, which made listening to this audiobook a real treat!  I recommend this novel.

All readers should add Megan Goldin's gripping new thriller Dark Corners to their "must read" list because of the compelling ensemble of villains and heroes alike as well as the genuinely spooky plot. None of them are what they seem to be because Goldin tricks the reader and twists the story in such a way that you won't know what hit you as you flip the pages. You'll want to know who it at the end did but won't know for sure until the very end. It's a riddle that isn't revealed until the final few chapters, coupled with a romance that intensifies between Rachel and the FBI agent who, ultimately, might be her only chance at happiness page, wanting to know who it at the conclusion did but being in the dark until then. It's a mystery that is kept a secret until the last few chapters coupled with a relationship between Rachel and the FBI agent that intensifies between the sheets and the pages and may ultimately be her only shot at surviving a killer who is now on the hunt for her.
Despite keeping her true identity a secret, Rachel Krall is a well-known podcaster. The best laid plans that had been in motion for years suddenly shift and Rachel becomes the bait for a killer. Rachel is not one for the spotlight, but FBI agent Joe Martinez sends her to meet Terence Bailey, a prisoner they believe is harboring a secret. The story eventually comes together as the pages flip, revealing what happened years ago between Terence Bailey, numerous deceased women, underwear drawers, and the young Influencer Maddison Logan, with whom Rachel feels an immediate connection despite having only seen her online. Krall starts her investigation, and while it is not surprising that she goes further than Martinez, this puts her closer to the real killer, who strangely enough has no trouble figuring out who Rachel is despite being surrounded by many Influencers who are similar to her at a conference for Influencers. Despite how well the Internet can conceal someone, it is very surprising that Rachel is so well-known and manages to remain anonymous.
When Megan Goldin combines all the elements that go into creating Dark Corners, she performs a fantastic job; unlike many thrillers, Dark Corners is unpredictable. Although I had a clue of what might have happened between Terence Bailey and Maddison Logan toward the conclusion, I was unable to guess all the book's functioning elements until it was finished. And it was a really terrific cat-and-mouse story with a killer and several victims. A fantastic book about heroes, as practically all of the characters in it turned out to be. Except for the killer, that is.

DARK CORNERS - MEGAN GOLDIN 4⭐ PLOT - Terence Bailey is about to be released from prison, but just before his release he gets a surprise visit from Madison Logan a big shot influencer. But hours later Madison disappears and police suspect Bailey's hand in it .after hitting a wall FBI asks Rachel Krall for help who is a famous true crime podcaster. As Rachel pursues her own investigation she somehow finds herself a target and is forced to confront the real dangers that lurk in the dark corners of the internet.
MY THOUGHTS This was a very interesting thriller esp the audiobook....its done so well .the sound effects esp in the podcast episode add value to the whole story which features alternative POV and mix media..podcast episodes intermingled with the current investigations. It moves very smoothly and the influencer field as a plot has been highlighted quite well. So if you are looking for a fast paced , thriller with short chapters check this one out and go in blind esp the audiobook for a full enjoyment.
Thank you Netgalley and publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

A influencer goes missing outside of a prison before a murderer is released? The only thing the two have in common is Rachel Krall, a true crime podcaster, who has helped to free the wrongly accused. When Rachel is called to come visit the murderer to get info on why the influencer would come to see him, she soon finds herself embroiled in a mystery she can't help but investigate. A good mystery with some interesting twists this next in the series book kept my interest. Not quite as interesting as the first book in the series yet still keeps me wanting to read more. The audiobook narrator was a little dry but otherwise I enjoyed the production level. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced audiobook for an honest review.

Interesting story with a few plot lines but all wrapped up well in the end. Kept me on my toes until the end.

As a fan of NIGHT SWIM, I was very excited to get access to Rachel Krall's next story, DARK CORNERS. This one seemed different than NIGHT SWIM --I think due to the fact that the story wasn't necessarily centered around her podcast. As a true crime podcast lover myself, that was one thing that I particularly loved from Goldin's other novel. While I wished that DARK CORNERS would've included more of the podcast element, it still was an intriguing read that I couldn't put down! So many twists and turns!

This had a great twist I did not see coming! Has anyone else read it and know what I’m talking about?

When I requested this from NetGalley, I didn’t realize it was book two in a series. As far as I could tell, it didn’t hurt that I hadn’t read the first book in the series, The Night Swim (though I want to now).

Our leading lady, Rachel Krall, is a true crime podcaster and is well know for helping an innocent man be released from prison. In the beginning of this story, her name comes up in a conversation between a convict about to be released from prison and a mysterious visitor he has just days before his release. The convict, Terence Bailey, is suspected in the death of six women, though there isn’t enough evidence to charge him for the crimes. When his mysterious visitor, who turns out to be Maddison Logan, a well known influencer with a huge following goes missing, the FBI decides to bring Rachel in to see if she has any insight into their investigation.

When things start looking dangerous for Rachel, the FBI tries convincing her to go home. She however has no such intention. She finds a way to go under cover at an influencer conference to learn more about Maddison. Because she is known for her voice, but not her face, no one realizes who she is. She soon discovers there are serious rivalries amongst influencers at the conference and can’t help but wonder if some are responsible for Maddison’s disappearance.

I highly recommend this if you enjoy mysteries with more clues than you know what to do with 😂 The story kept a fast pace and was told through multiple POV, which I loved.

Dark Corners by Megan Goldin is the sequel book to The Night Swim and it did not disappoint. This book had me on the edge of my seat from the beginning as Rachel Krawl is called out to a prison in Florida to help FBI agents investigate a missing influencer who is somehow connected with an inmate set to be released. This story is told between the perspective of multiple characters which helps lend to the anxious and atmospheric feel. I highly recommend this book to anyone needing a psychological suspense.

This audiobook was entertaining and the plot twists were great. I for sure recommend you read the first book before getting this one. I felt a little lost until I found it this was the sequel. Still a good read.

When I first saw Dark Corners, I didn’t realize it was a standalone thriller following the same character in The Night Swim. So I listened to both books back to back. Personally, I enjoyed Dark Corners better than the first. While you don’t have to read them in order, I did find that it helped me understand Rachel as a character more by reading The Night Swim first.

One thing I will say is both Dark Corners and The NIght Swim are definitely worth listening to over reading the physical copy if you enjoy audiobooks. The narration is excellent. The podcast elements were done so well. It brought the story to life so much more for me.

Things I enjoyed in this one:

-Rachel as a character really intrigues me. While both books in this series may not be my favorite books I have ever read, I will definitely continue to read any books that come out in this Universe.
-The podcasts elements. I am a true crime lover myself, so these chapters were so fun for me. Plus, I loved how the story unfolded a little at a time as we “listened” to the podcast episodes.
-The social media influencer setting was a unique and interesting setting.
-The small budding romance was a great addition. I hope we get a chance to see more of Rachel and her broody new FBI love interest.

I was slightly disappointed that I saw the twists and turns coming in this one (you know who the bad guy is from the beginning), overall, this was enjoyable for me. I do hope we see more of Rachel in the future.

This was a wonderful book. A great Thor ill er that kept me guessing the whole time. I would recommend this to all thriller lovers!