NYC, Jane Murphy social content writer/creator in marketing, we follow her daily routine which comes across as very mundane. We learn about her dating life; different boyfriends including Jeremy whom she helps establish his career in the social media world. Personally was very engaged in this part of the book, moved a bit slow.
Then for the 2nd part everything picks up and things get interesting. There is a murder. Who is the killer? There is a switch from narrator here and it goes from third to first person and we get a different perspective on Janes life. Lots of retracing of steps, secrets and an investigation. I enjoyed this 2nd part most throughout the book.
Third part of the book centres around Jeremy (in the future)He discusses what became of him through a podcast and it starts to bring together a lot of the lose pieces in the storyline. slower pace again. Overall a very good read. well written, creative and great mystery plot covering a whole range of personal issues such as mental health, loneliness and human connection. Enjoy it.


Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review/opinion.

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in advance for an honest review.

Review: Unfortunately, I have tried to finish this book several times. When reflecting, I can only attribute that to the writing style just not being for me. I doesn't feel like the story is moving forward in a meaningful way and is downright confusing at times. Looking at other reviews, it looks like this book either really hits for people or doesn't (such as life). I think I'm just not one who it hit with. I wish I had more to report but I wanted to at least share that the writing wasn't for me and I felt that it was very stagnant and not meaningful for me. I hope others fall in the camp that enjoy it.

This was really unique and unsettling to read. It was told in three different parts from three different t perspectives about one woman and how she is viewed by others. I really enjoyed it!

I really enjoyed this book. It's a murder mystery split into three different perspectives/books: the victim, the investigator, and the accused. I thought it was a very clever and fresh spin on this genre. There was more depth to the narrative besides the classic 'whodunnit,' and I think everyone who reads it will come away with a different interpretation. 100% recommend.

The first segment focuses on Jane, a young woman who suffers from control issues manifesting in bulimia. Jane's book was my favorite of the three. The way the author uses repetition to show how monotonous and precise her daily routine is is so creative. It was enjoyable to read because you could tell the author really cared about Jane and her struggles. I'll admit that when I began reading, I had forgotten that this was a murder mystery, and when Jane's chapter ended abruptly, I was shocked.

The other characters/narrators, Jesse and Jeremy, were well thought out and, although I enjoyed Jesse's book more, the medium of Jeremy's chapter was refreshing and very telling of his character. Both of these characters were complex and distinct. Seeing Jane's world through Jesse's eyes and seeing Jesse through Jeremy's eyes was a fascinating mindfuck.

I can't wait for it to come out so I can get a physical copy. Keep your eye out; this is worth the read.

Eugenie Montague’s Swallow the Ghost is a book I struggle with recommending. While intriguing and inventive, it left me with a sense of incompleteness and a lingering question: why Jane at all?

The novel unfolds in three interconnected parts, each offering a different perspective on Jane’s life and (SPOILER) death. It’s the first part, told from Jane’s own perspective, that truly captivated me. Montague masterfully captures the experience of a young woman struggling with an eating disorder and a profound sense of loneliness, despite her outward success. The repetitive nature of the prose mirroring her internal struggle, the claustrophobia of her daily routine, and the yearning for connection in the attention economy—it all felt achingly familiar.

The subsequent sections, focusing on the investigation of Jane’s murder and a metafictional exploration of authorship, felt less impactful. While they raised interesting questions about online identity, grief, and the ethics of storytelling, they ultimately detracted from the emotional weight of Jane’s story.

Perhaps this was intentional. Perhaps Montague wanted to highlight the way we all become side characters in other people’s narratives, even in death. But for me, the lack of closure on Jane’s fate, and the shift away from her own perspective, left me feeling unsatisfied.

Swallow the Ghost is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant debut, but one that ultimately left me wanting more. It’s a book that will stay with me, not necessarily for its satisfying resolution, but for the haunting portrayal of a young woman lost in the digital age.

Thank you so much to Net Galley for the digital copy of this book! It took me a while to read it, and while this isn't what I typically read as a horror genre lover, I'm glad I was able to try this one out.

Initially, I would just like to give a trigger warning to readers for eating disorders. In this three part story, the first section follows Jane. The repetition of her days was both sad and eerie and I just wanted her to be okay. She deals with bullimia nervosa. The book also deals with grief, substance abuse, and violence.

Jane is at the core of this book, though we see multiple points of view. I won't say too much about her initial section, as I was pleasantly surprised by the twist of what happens to her in her cycle of self harm and sex.

The second part took a swap from third to first person and follows Jesse. It was interesting seeing Jane through someone else's lens. This was my favorite section. While still emotionally devastating, Jesse's character brought warmth to the story. And in part three, we follow Jeremy.

While I enjoyed this overall and would recommend it, it definitely left me with some questions and felt jarring at times. I do love an unreliable narrator, and the characters were quite likable, but part 3 felt a bit tedious.

An interesting premise for sure, sort of like Psycho but we didn't know who the killer was immediately. I enjoyed seeing a change of narrator after the first section because I was so worried for the future of the first POV character. I was a fan of the second section's POV character but saddened to hear that what was said in the third section basically made it pointless.

Not recommending for those dealing with eating disorders or dealing with a loved one's dementia. Having dealt with the latter I was very affected by the description of events.

From the outside, it looks like Jane’s life is going well. She’s successful as an experimental author, and one half of the writer duo creating an ongoing social media mystery story. She has a boyfriend (or a couple of them). She has friends. But in reality, she’s spiraling in a cycle of obsessive thoughts and self-harm. Then tragedy suddenly strikes, and everyone is Jane's life is affected in a different way. Everyone is left examining their own version of the truth.

This is a bold and experimental story that takes readers on an expected ride. The book is comprised of 3 sections: the first a stream-of-consciousness inner look at Jane’s point of view, the second (and longest) is a more traditional narrative from the point of view of the private investigator hired to investigate the tragedy while caring for his sick mother, and the third is written as an interview at an author reading with Jane’s co-writer and sometimes-boyfriend. Each of these sections is written in an entirely different style, each a character study of its subject. Jane’s section was brief and compelling enough, but the final section drastically slowed down the momentum that the middle section had built. I thought the middle and longest section was spectacular, and if that was the voice we stuck with for the remainder of the book, I would rank this book in my top 5 reads of the year.

Instead, the final section came as a let-down, and I found it to be the least interesting part of the story. There is no closure, and this section didn’t feel as though it moved the story forward or revealed something new.

This is a unique book that will leave readers with no idea what to expect. Despite the unsatisfying ending, it’s a book I would recommend to others for the unique experience it provides.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I actually loved this??? The first part really showed the monotony and repetitiveness of office/corporate girl life and struggling with an ED. The second built on it really well with the investigative elements. The last third was the weakest part, but it didn't ruin the book for me, just could have done without it; I don't think it added much. The first two parts had me gripped and complemented each other perfectly. Great book!

The plot summary describes Swallow the Ghost by Eugenie Montague as 'audacious' and I'd have to agree. What presents itself as one thing quickly becomes so much more; it is a narrative leap of faith that will reward some readers and punish others. Jane Murphy's life has a predictable ebb and flow: she runs every morning, spends her day collaborating on a viral novel told through the Internet, her evenings with her best friend and co-worker, and her nights binging and hiding her secrets. Readers, too, will be lulled by the rhythm of Jane's life and intrigued by its small changes.

Montague's novel is, ultimately, very literary in its structure and the overarching theme of memory in the era of social media as well as perception. Overall, I enjoyed the different perspectives and how they shifted our understanding of what the story was trying to achieve. However, like many others, I found the unresolved thread of what felt like a major plotline less than ideal. The first two perspectives, especially Jane's for me, were engaging but I found the last one to be more of a slog and with a character I didn't want to connect with unless he had the answers I wanted. So, as far as plot goes, I left disappointed.

The strongest aspect would have to be how multi-faceted Jane becomes as the narrative grows. Readers feel as if her perspective allows them into private moments no one else sees, but, as we learn from other characters, even that isn't everything. Montague makes a gutsy move (which I won't spoil here) and, while it doesn't ultimately pay off, it spins the novel in interesting directions. I found myself questioning more and more and bought into the mystery. The writing itself is lovely and, as a fan of repetition, I like Jane's routine and its almost verbatim loop.

I would recommend this book to readers interested in novels exploring experimental structures or themes of memory. Readers who have dealt with obsessive behaviors and routines may relate to Jane. Readers who have taken care of their parents or personally dealt with dementia will find a haunting portrait in these pages. Overall, Swallow the Ghost isn't for everyone but there is still much to appreciate in its storytelling.

Swallow the Ghost was an excellent read. I loved the character study and the writing felt propulsive. I would read more from this author again.

Unfortunately not for me. In a world with SO many books being published, I just don't see this as a must in our collection.

I was immediately drawn to this book after seeing the cover, but I went into this not really knowing too much about it. When I realized how this would play out and saw the involvement of social media as a plot device, I knew I would be in for a good ride. This was so unique! Loved the set up, loved the way the story was split into different sections/parts with varying points of view and an overarching mystery - although I do wish the ending were a little cleaner in how everything is wrapped up. It was a little anti-climactic for me. But overall, a solid read!

This started off promising, but after part one, it was on a rapid decline for me. It was written well, but OMG, was it ever boring.

I don't think I'm the intended target audience for this book. After finishing the book (I did skim through the last 20% because I could not keep reading it anymore) it's a lot of mostly vibes and even so I felt myself thinking "what the hell was the point of that part of the story" about soooo many things.

This was way too slow paced and had little to no resolutions for my personal taste.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Mulholland Books for sharing a digital copy. As always, opinions are my own.

Phenomenal! Told in three parts, and each is so different but uniquely interesting. I found the story and characters all fascinating and I can't wait to read more from this author. I love thinking one thing and being wrong in a literary way. Iconic story.

Swallow the Ghost follows Jane and Jeremy, writers of a viral internet novel, with the story they're writing unfolding through fake social media accounts. It also partially follows Jesse, a private investigator. This book is written in 3 distinct sections from each of the main 3 perspectives, clearly defined through differing formats. I liked how the different points of view were clearly separated and not interspersed throughout. I think that really propelled the story in this case. The story leaves a lot of unknowns, but I think in this case it makes it more realistic.

I'd definitely recommend. Thanks NetGalley!

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for providing me with an E-Arc of this book. The following is my honest opinion *

3.5⭐ out 5

This book took me by surprise. I liked this book alot more than I thought I would after reading a couple pages. The two things I really enjoyed: the structure of how the story was told and “life imitating art”.

Told in three parts through the different characters; Jane, Jesse, and Jeremy without swapping back and forth between. For this book it really worked in its favor and didn’t require the reader to keep track of what is an extensive timeline and additional characters. The first two parts made so much sense to me. The repetition done to showcase Jane’s character was the bait that kept wondering. The true hook was that right at the being of Jesse’s part. I had to find out more. I have to find out what happened. But when it came to Jeremy’s part I didn’t enjoy. I found that it dragged and I disconnected from it.

****PLEASE BE ADVISE THIS IS WHERE THERES SPOILERS!!!! *****


In the story the characters, Jane and Jeremy, are working on a fictional story that is the murder mystery of Rita, through social media platforms. Jesse’s investigative work, while it “follows normal procedural” techniques, the breakthrough is through a snippet time in a picture. Very reminiscent of what Rita’s audience was tasked to do to find out about her disappearance.

With that being said, there was some things I questioned that I feel could have made the story better. What was Jesse’s job ??? It was explained but the way he went about discovery just didn’t make sense to me. But also the police, they never got her work computer??? Or old phone???? Like what????
Then the ending of second part. We get the smoking gun and the build up and the revelation is done and then it’s “that’s all” and we move on the Jeremy’s part. What??? It felt like it when one forgets to there is a third part to the question and then are rushed to answer it. I feel we could have gotten a better transition in parts and maybe even a short third part..

Overall though, I enjoyed this book. I would recommend it.

Fascinating story and format, I loved the way Montague built the story. I was hoping for more like the first section, but overall felt satisfied by the result and enjoyed the read.

I went into this not really knowing too much about it - I loved the cover! When I realized how this would play out and saw the involvement of social media as a plot device, I knew I would be in for a good ride. This was so unique! Loved the set up, loved the way the story was split into different sections/parts with varying points of view and an overarching mystery - although I do wish the ending were a little cleaner in how everything is wrapped up. The last section was a little anti-climactic, which sucks since I really did enjoy the first two parts.

I'm not sure what I expected when I requested Swallow the Ghost by Eugenie Montague- but it ended up being so much more. I feel Montague had this way of weaving Social Media into a Mystery that I don't believe has been seen before. I honestly usually suspect to dislike any sort of mention - especially if excessive; of social media in the books I read. I read to get away from that constant barrage of social media. Jane was drowning in it and seemed to thrive that way.. until she didn't. The way social media was used to write a story and characters with an author or in this case two- felt like a stark comparison or reminder of what our relationship to social media actually is. Seeing the way that Jeremey & Jane made characters in his book come to life through social media reminded me of the facades we all put forward on the internet and how stuck in that cycle we are. How easily those characters could have been mistaken for real people. How we truly don't know the people we think we do. Social media in itself has this mysterious layer to it. What felt so visceral to me was that it was as though I was reading a book inside of a book. I know that's confusing but bear with me. The way Jeremy & Jane were written- I forgot at times they were characters in the book I was reading- not the authors. I think this was done so seamlessly.

The book is in three sections- the first from Janes perspective with a disturbing and mysterious to it. The second section we meet a new character- this section is told from his perspective, an Investigator named Jesse. The third Section is told as a Podcast interview between Jeremy and a man named David. I loved the different perspectives shifts and what that provided the story. It was like reading three books but they melded together so well.

In Janes section there is a repetitiveness in her days that is very clear on the page as though her life is on a loop. I liked that this could be interpreted different ways. To some it may show simply the mundane- to others like me with OCD, Anxiety and ADHD we may see some of our need for routines or compulsions in this character. Though its never mentioned that she has any specific mental health conditions- she does have an eating disorder and seemed to have a level of rigidity that felt all to familiar in her routine. What I really liked about getting the second portion from Jesses perspective is that it made him real- it allowed us to see inside his life aside from just being someone hired to Investigate a crime. His and his moms characters were a really beautiful addition. The third portion of the novel though I feel added value and a different perspective to probably the least likeable character- it did feel as though it left the ending open.

I would highly recommend reading this book. I think I was after a different ending so that is why the four stars. I think Montague has a talent though and is an author to watch for in the Literary Fiction world.

Infinite thank yous to Mullhollond Books, Little Brown & Eugenie Montague for my Advanced Galley in exchange for an honest review.