🗽🗽🗽🗽 / 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⁣
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⁣Length: 448 pages. ⁣
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⁣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

This was wild. This was my first experience reading Carter Wilson and I am considering going back and visiting his back catalog because I had no idea what to expect and ended up really enjoying it. Poe was a scrappy protagonist, and her mysterious and terrifying stalker was deeply, deeply unsettling. While I guessed some things early, other things caught me off guard with well placed red herrings. Overall, this was a fun thriller to be sure.

This book was wild! I loved how the timeline jumped back and forth and left me hanging on the edge of my seat. I truly never knew what would happen next and that the only solution would be to finish as quickly as possible, which I did in a day. As much as I love a cliffhanger, sometimes I just need a solid ending and this one was both satisfying and conclusive.

3.5 Stars**

Tell Me What You Did is a fast paced thriller, that has you turning those pages so fast.

We have the main character Poe who has her own true crime podcast where she invites people anonymously to 'confess their sins' so to speak. But what her listeners don't know is that Poe has a very dark past - she watched her mother get murdered... and then Poe was the one to kill her mothers murderer... or did she get the wrong guy?!

As I mentioned this is a fast paced thriller, which I did find to be good. The ending/twist was very predictable but I still overall liked it. The one thing I can't wrap my head around though is her father and boyfriend being so ok with the fact that she killed someone... I just think there should have been more of a reaction from them.

Overall a good thriller, with a good storyline.

My thanks to Net Galley and Poison Pen for allowing me to review this arc.

Poe Webb is a Podcaster that has guests come on to confess their crimes. But what if the crime confessed to Poe was "I murdered your mother " However, Poe already killed the man that killed her mother. Or did she?This man knows many things about Poe and wants her to be the interviewee on a live stream while he stalks and terrorizes her to make sure she complies.

I did like this and look forward to more. My only issues I found Poe a bit flat and not developed.

This one was an incredible read, it had my full attention from the very beginning and it was impossible to put down. Perfect for fans of true crime, everything from the chapters to the characters to the plot was in my opinion, perfection.

5/5

Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson is a book that takes a pivot of the True Crime / Cold Case - Armchair Detective Mystery Book genre that is all the rage right now.

Poe is the host of a podcast (naturally) and she is being taunted and played with like a cat with a mouse. Yet, Poe had no reason to play alone, other than the possibility of guilt.

Some lost threads on the plotline.

Recommend if you loved Layne Fargo's They Never Learn.

I loved the premise of this one. This isn't your typical podcast mystery. The characters are complex. I honestly thought I had it figured out from the start but it was so much more than I expected. And I was stunned by the end.

Let me tell you what I did! I read a very clever, well thought out, engaging, dark, and riveting page turner titled Tell Me What You Did!! I also enjoyed the tie in to the author's previous book, Mister Tender's Girl. Yes, Alice makes an appearance in this book! So very clever how Carter Wilson brought her into this book.

Poe Webb is a popular true crime podcaster who invites people/criminals to come on her podcast anonymously and tell her what bad deeds/crimes they committed. Poe is no stranger to crime. Her mother was murdered in their family home when Poe was a young teen. When a creepy man comes on her show and tells her that he murdered her mother, Poe knows the man is lying because she killed the man who murdered her mother!

Oh, what a tangled web this book became! So very clever, so well thought out, so wonderfully written, and so hard to put down! I loved the tension, the dread, the secrets, and the mounting sense of danger! As the book progressed, I thought I knew where this book was going to go, but I was wrong, wrong, wrong. I'll say it one more time, this book was so clever!

I loved how the book gives glimpses into the past along with the podcast notes, giving readers more information but the author still dangles several reveals just out of reach, which had me fully invested in the book, desperate to know what would happen next! There are quite a few twists and turns and several shocking reveals which had me reeling.

A dark, gritty, captivating page turner!

4.5 Stars – Creepy, Gripping, and Unputdownable

This was my first Carter Wilson book, and it definitely won’t be my last! I absolutely loved it and couldn’t put it down. It was downright creepy—so much so that after reading it last night, I found myself checking my closet and shower for murderers.

The story centers on Poe, who hosts a podcast where people confess their crimes to unburden themselves. Things take a chilling turn when a guest with traumatic ties to her past comes on the show, forcing her own life to become part of the narrative. As he begins stalking her, the tension skyrockets.

I don’t want to give away too much because thrillers are best experienced without spoilers, but Poe’s backstory—and the secret she needs to confess—is captivating and well-developed. There were even moments when I found her a bit unsettling.

The format was another highlight for me. The narrative alternates between events leading up to a pivotal, climactic day, which masterfully builds suspense and keeps you guessing until the end.

This book delivered everything I want in a thriller. Just read it—you won’t regret it!

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press & Carter Wilson for this read!

Wow this book had a hold on me. I was reading another book and I completely neglected it for this one! Told through a podcast and first POV, the author did an amazing job at making us sympathise with the main character and justify all their actions. The book built up so much suspense and I was hurridly reading pages trying to find out what was going to happen. A solid twist, some gruesome moments and a thrilling ending. This book had it all.

You NEED to pick this up on its release. I know it's going to be in the top reads for many thriller lovers in 2025!