QUICK GLANCE-
My format- ebook
Other formats- 📖Physical (448 pages)🎧Audio (9 hours and 50 minutes)
Spice: Difficult to rate... see CW below
Language: 🤐🤐🤐LOTS!
CW: ⚠️ lots, see below
Pub Date: January 28, 2025

MY THOUGHTS:
Whew.... I feel like I need to catch my breath and let my heart rate come back down after reading this one! I don’t typically read horror/suspense, so Tell Me What You Did, did a number on me. The book’s villain was so creepy that I could only read this during the day to avoid him sneaking up in my dreams. I did feel that it was a little long and could have been maybe a hundred pages less. And the main character was a little wishy-washy at times and I could quite figure her out. There were a few surprises along the way and some that were easy to predict. But, overall this really was an amazing thriller if you can handle the language and disturbing and graphic scenes.

A good portion of the book was a podcast format so I would be really intrigued to hear the audio version of this book!

🤫 Secrets
💨 Bingeable
🔪 Revenge
🎤 Interviews/Podcast
🥶 Chilling and Tense
🐈 🐁 Cat and Mouse

Thank you @poisonedpenpress #netgalley for this book.

CW: ⚠️ graphic violence, sexual assault, detailed descriptions of trauma, stalking, manipulation, PTSD, and themes of revenge

How can a book this creepy be so good? I have no idea, but I could not put this one down! I was literally on the edge of my seat the entire time! This did not disappoint!

So, imagine being a wildly successful true crime podcaster who thrives on other people’s sins, only to have your own dirty laundry aired by some smug stranger claiming to have killed your mom. And just to spice things up? You already know who killed her. Spoiler alert: it’s you. Welcome to 𝙏𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙈𝙚 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝘿𝙞𝙙, where plot twists come at you like an overeager subway performer—loud, dramatic, and impossible to ignore.

Poe Webb, our sharp-tongued, morally gray protagonist, has built an empire on anonymous confessions. It’s all fun and games until her podcast guest list includes someone who drops a bombshell big enough to detonate her carefully buried past. What follows is a fast-paced, twisty thriller where everyone’s guilty of something, and “innocence” is just a vibe no one’s subscribing to.

Poe is… a lot. She’s the kind of character who screams “I’m complicated” while actively lighting her life on fire, which is both entertaining and occasionally exhausting.

But let’s not kid ourselves: this book isn’t perfect. There are moments where you want to shake Poe and scream, “Maybe therapy instead of podcasting, huh?” And some of the twists lean more “Lifetime movie” than “gritty psychological thriller.” Still, the ride is so entertaining you won’t care that you’ve suspended more disbelief than a trapeze artist.

Yes, I figured out the twists early. (Veteran thriller reader here.) But did that ruin the book for me? Not even a little. This story is like a bag of chips—you know it’s predictable, but you still devour the whole thing in one sitting, shame-free. The writing hooks you, the pacing doesn’t let up, and Poe’s questionable life choices keep you flipping pages with the same energy as a reality TV marathon.

Overall, this book is a popcorn thriller at its best—messy, twisty, and thoroughly bingeable. Is Poe a hero? A villain? A walking advertisement for why we should all mind our own business? Who cares? You’ll devour it in one sitting and still recommend it to your book club.

OMG! While Carter Wilson has never managed to disappoint in the past, Tell Me What You Did was on a whole other level. From the perfectly plotted storyline to the ever-ratcheting foreboding, I was not only on the edge of my seat, but my body was absolutely covered in chills. I swear that I’m not exaggerating in the slightest. Every single word was the stuff of nightmares with an antagonist as cold, creepy, and frightening as he was realistic. So much so that I felt the need to check the locks on my windows and the bolts on my doors before heading to bed on the night that I finished this spine-tingling psychological thriller. After all, I could easily put myself into each one of these scenes through Wilson’s riveting settings and evocative words.

Not only was the plot downright propulsive, but it also centered around one of my all-time favorite tropes: a true-crime podcasting narrator. What took this one over the edge into truly sensational, however, were the dual timelines and mixed media format. Already an original premise, everything seemed to shift and change with each additional chapter. And I haven’t even mentioned the twists. Quite literally gasp-inducing, one in particular had me whispering “Wait, WHAT?!” into the night as the latest revelation truly sunk in. Now, I do have to admit that I guessed one of them before all was revealed, but even that didn’t minimize the true splendor of this unputdownable, awe-inspiring novel.

All in all, I just can’t get over what was a truly unsettling game of cat-and-mouse. With short, addictive chapters, genuine dialogue, and unbridled unease, it just couldn’t have been better. Even the believably mounting sense of danger was enough to signal that this was going to be a book to devour from the very first page. Add in a flawed, morally gray main character and layers of dark, twisted mysteries, and this easily became my favorite book by this author. And that statement is truly saying something as they were ALL easy five star reads for yours truly. Together with intense, taut writing and a well-developed plot, I’m now going to declare that I’ve just discovered my first out-and-out winner of the year. Rating of 5+ stars.

Thank you to Carter Wilson, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for my complimentary digital and physical copies. All opinions are my own.

I’ve never had a book give me nightmares until this one. This book legit had me paranoid, checking my surroundings while reading at 3 am lol. I could not put this book down until I finished it.

This book follows the FMC, Poe, who has a podcast where she allows people to confess their crimes semi anonymously. One day, a man joins her podcast claiming to be the man that unalived her mother. This “confession” leaves Poe reeling to find out who this man is, while forcing her to confess secrets of her own.


This was a great read if you’re into suspenseful thrillers. I would highly recommend this to anyone. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive an ARC of this book.

Absolutely loved this! I couldn’t put it down! The realness and creepy feeling that this book gives off really sets the tone. The characters were relatable and it was fast paced.

After reading The Father She Went To Find early last year and loving it, I just knew I had to read Carter Wilson’s new one!! 🙌

I’m discovering I love books that have a storyline involving podcasts! This one really had me hooked, despite guessing who Hindley was very early on! I definitely recommend checking this one out! 👏

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Carter Wilson for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review!! ❤️ Just ordered Mister Tender’s Girl so I can read about Alice’s story!

This had a slower start for me, but it also had a powerful finish. Put the two together and you still have something. True crime podcast host Poe felt authentic and you were with her as she hid her own secrets while trying to sleuth out others.

4.6, rounded.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
I always enjoy Wilson’s work, and this book was no exception! I was hooked from the first chapter and found it hard to put down. I found myself mindlessly flipping through the pages of this suspenseful and twisted book. Wilson knows just how to hook his readers in as this book starts off with a bang and never slows down. The short chapters are a HUGE plus (because you know I love me some short chapters👏🏻!) I also really enjoyed the MC, Poe, as well as how Wilson executed the podcast element in this book-amazingly well done!🙌🏻 Also, I found the character of Hindley to be completely creepy (but I loved it). Wilson knocked it out of the park with this book, it is my favorite read of the year so far and will definitely be near the top of my favorite books of the year probably. If you don’t have this book on your radar, do yourself a favor and add it to your TBR list now because this is a definite must read!!🎉


𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦A book that hooks you in from the first chapter
✦Plenty of suspense and twists throughout
✦A book that starts off with a bang and keeps ups the pace throughout
✦Great characters and character development
✦True crime podcasts
✦Short chapters

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5

WOW! What a thrill ride! This was creepy and totally immersible. Poe Webb has been haunted by her mother's vicious murder. What will happen when a man claiming to be her mother's murderer comes onto her podcast? Carter, thank you for this book!

🗽🗽🗽🗽 / 5

TELL ME WHAT YOU DID by Carter Wilson

thank you to @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for early access to the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

quick thoughts:
🎙️ MC hosts true crime podcast where guests anonymously confess to their crimes
🌀 twisty psychological thriller w/ mixed media
✍🏼 dual timeline, single POV, short chapters
😶‍🌫️ morally gray characters w/ dark pasts
👍🏼 would recommend to thriller lovers!

i didn’t have a lot of time or energy to read after the holidays, especially with our unfortunate circumstances these past few weeks, but i was picking up my kindle every chance i could to read this one 👀

🎶 “you’ll never know the psychopath sitting next to you”

this one hooked me from the beginning and didn’t stop there. this book literally had no chill because it was so fast-paced, and i was here for it. books with mixed media elements kind of seem to be overdone these days, but this one was executed exceptionally well. i loved the idea for the true crime podcast because it sounds so insane that i would definitely be a listener—who wouldn’t want to hear people anonymously confess crimes? the transcript from the MC’s podcast, the dual timeline, and the short chapters kept this story interesting and intriguing, which was much appreciated. i’ll for sure be checking out other works by this author!

“Tell me what you did” by Carter Wilson is a quick thriller read. Poe Webb is a true crime host that invites guests on her podcast to confess to crimes. Then someone confesses to her own mother’s murder and Poe is drawn back into the case. It was very twisty mystery.

3.5 stars

I found this to be an enjoyable psychological thriller. Some readers may like to know in advance that parts of the story are a bit dark. There is also a lot of swearing in this book, which really didn't advance the storyline. The point could have been shown without the frequent cursing. There were also parts where there was a lot more telling than showing. I really enjoyed how the story went back and forth between the main storyline and the podcast, which gave clear insight into both sides of the story. This was a bit different than many thrillers I have read, but it did keep me turning the pages. The book may also cause readers to consider whether or not there is ever any justification for committing some crimes. Or are they always wrong, no matter the circumstance? I look forward to reading future books from this author.

This book started off really good. But it ended up falling quite flat for me. I didn’t feel like I got to know the main character (other than the fact that she has a pretty obvious drinking problem), which is a shame. I also understood who the villain truly was pretty early on, and I thought it was odd that the MC didn’t suspect it.

I like that the book had short chapters, it makes it easier for me to keep reading, and I finished it in a few days.

This book stressed me out! I thought the premise was unique and the way the chapters bounced around in the timeline kept me wondering what would happen next. I did not expect any of the events at the end, and I appreciated the way it all wrapped up in the final chapter. Read if you’re want a book that will keep you hooked until the end.

This was SUCH an excellent thriller—with a morally gray main character and a podcast plot, the book went in a few directions and I really enjoyed how it tied up. As a dog person, I also loved Poe’s relationship with Bailey.

The premise was unique, the plot a page turner, and with short chapters and mixed media format with the podcast reviews I was completely engaged throughout.

I’m excited to read more from this author as I saw in the authors note there is crossover between a character from her other book. Poe was a very dimensional character, and I hope to see more of her in Wilson’s future books.

The ARC mentioned QR codes that were throughout the book, and I was bummed they weren’t available in this version. I’ll have to pick up the final book to scan them.

This book did not do it for me. I didn’t like the writing or the plot and I found myself decently bored. Almost DNF

I was very excited to receive this book, I’ve read a couple of Wilson’s previous works & found them to be very worthy thrillers. This one I’m happy to say, jumps right into the story & keeps up the pace throughout.

Poe’s past & the secrets she keeps are affecting her life but she’s also turned it into a lucrative podcast. When the extremely creepy, Ian Hindley, comes on as a guest, he shakes up everything Poe knows about her mother’s murder. The book intersperses the chapters of Poe being interrogated by Ian on October 31st with the month leading up to it. I found it really aided in keeping the tension high. This is a very well executed cat & mouse game, it had me guessing whether this man was in fact Poe’s mother’s killer or not. It’s creepy, suspenseful & definitely keeps you turning the pages! And it has a fantastic conclusion.

🎧

Read if you like:
* Are You Sleeping by Kathleen Barber
* The Girl On the Train by Paula Hawkins
* Henry Kimball/Lily Kintner series by Peter Swanson

📱 Tell Me What You Did 📱⁣
⁣⁣
⁣Genre: Psychological Thriller⁣
⁣⁣
⁣Length: 448 pages. ⁣
⁣⁣
⁣Pub Date: January 28, 2025. ⁣
⁣⁣
⁣Who else loves thrillers featuring true crime podcasts?! Tell Me What You Did takes that trend and twists it around a little bit. Poe, the host of a popular podcast, has people on her show to anonymously confess crimes they have committed to their audience. When a strange but oddly familiar man appears on her show, Poe’s forced to take as second look as everything she’s know about her life is suddenly turned upside down. ⁣
⁣⁣
⁣This is a creepy, twisty book that I’d consider a popcorn thriller. It’s nothing deep or thoughtful, but I was super entertaining! Four stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
⁣⁣
⁣Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for an ARC of Tell Me What You Did in return for an honest review. It publishes January 28,

I definitely fear I’m an outlier on this one 😔 the more I think about it, the angrier I get at the actions of poe, our true crime podcast main character…

poe interviews cons, felons & sometimes even unalivers on her podcast - so when she seemingly interviews her mother’s killer, all heck breaks loose (especially because she thought she unalived him 7 years ago 🤯)

and while the premise is catchy, the story doesn’t really go anywhere from there. the entire slow burn is poe making idiotic decisions to preserve herself while trying to figure out if this new stalker is indeed her mother’s killer or not… and boy, kip was the only sound character I fear when he looked her in the eyes and said “but you killed someone” 🫡

poe as a character was very uninteresting to me, and spent more time flipping back and forth between drowning in guilt from her actions of the past and being a tough BITCH who is hunting down the killers herself. it was very jarring and didn’t lend very well to relatability.

overall, it was a quick binge, but there was little to no mystery for me. and it left me wanting more from the story as a whole! I fear I’m just getting tired of the female protagonist making idiotic decisions to “protect” the ones they love when really…. just call the damn police okay????

thank you to netgalley and sourcebooks for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

rating: 2 stars
wine pairing: oregon pinot noir