Let me start by saying that I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I began reading this book. Carter Wilson in an auto-buy author for me so it goes without saying that I will read the next book, and the next, and the next. (Although I just said it!) This book was fast-paced, petrifying, interesting, and full of creative talent.

Poe Webb is a podcast host who brings in those who want to confess a crime that they have committed. She can’t guarantee that the authorities won’t hear it, but people come on the show and it can make them famous instantly. Sometimes people just need their 15 minutes of fame, at any cost.

One day, a creepy guy calls in and claims to be the person who murdered Poe’s mother seventeen years ago. However, Poe knows this can’t be right; the killer is already dead. She knows this because she has a secret of her own; she killed her mother’s murderer. She allows him on the show and the head games begin. He wants her to confess to HER crime. Talk about turning the tables!

The plot thickens as the caller doesn’t just stop at the podcast interview, he wants to make Poe’s life miserable and then end her life. The game of cat and mouse begins. Poe must have a difficult talk with her father. He doesn’t want to relive anything but it’s imperative that she confess the truth of what happened 17 years ago. He also needs to know the truth about the slaying of the suspect years after her mother’s death. This caller is coming after her and everyone she loves.

The vivid descriptions of the violent acts in this book are terrifying. At one point, Wilson transported me to another dimension, as I could visualize the scenes the same as watching them firsthand. I had to pull myself back to the reality that I was sitting on my own couch reading. Wild!

In the middle of the book, during a conversation, we get a short recap of what was going on. This was great because if there was any misunderstanding of what was happening so far, it’s now clearly understood by the reader. The conclusion gave great closure and made sense. Another fabulous thriller that should definitely make it to the big screen or a limited series. There is so much here that it would be a shame not to use it for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of this book.

I really, really enjoyed this book! Tell Me What You Did is an unputdownable thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Carter Wilson weaves a dark and chilling tale centered around Poe Webb, the morally grey antihero and host of the popular true crime podcast, Confess to Me. The concept of inviting people to anonymously confess their crimes is gripping enough, but when Poe’s own dark secret comes into play, the tension ramps up even more.

Hindley’s character is incredibly creepy, the perfect antagonist whose unsettling presence lingers throughout the book. Poe, on the other hand, is wonderfully complex. She’s flawed, conflicted, and driven by motives that make you question her ethics at every turn—yet you can’t help but root for her.

The twists and turns in the story kept me guessing, and I have so many opinions about what happened, especially regarding that ending! I can't wait to discuss this with my book club because I feel like everyone will have their own theories. This was my first Carter Wilson novel, but it definitely won’t be my last. Highly recommend for fans of psychological thrillers who love a suspenseful, character-driven narrative!

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy in exchange for this review.

Wow. I've never read a book by Carter Wilson before, and I have to admit the error of my ways. This was. . . Really great. Admittedly, I did kind of figure out who the man calling himself Ian Hindley likely was rather early on, but in no way did that detract from the excitement and tension of the story. There is so much I WANT to say about this, but I honestly believe the less I say, the better. I will say that I thought the ending was justified, including Poe's prison sentence. (If she'd gotten off free as a bird, I'd have a hard time believing such an ending). I was on the edge of my seat with this one; my husband had to pry my Kindle out of my hands several nights after I'd fallen asleep reading, because I adamantly refused to stop reading while I was conscious). I can't recommend this enough, and I plan to look up the author's previous titles. This is absolutely a must-read, and I will leave it at that.

This book was incredibly unique and captivating! I loved the protagonist Poe and her goal of getting people to confess their crimes on her podcast. It was such a great way to highlight her own guilt and overall character arc. I loved every page!

Tell Me What You Did is my first Carter Wilson read. What I loved about this book was the character of Poe, her relationship with her father, and her love of Bailey. She was a true badass and the reader will either hate her or love her for what she did in New York City. I will admit what I did not like about this book was how long it is. It seemed very drawn out, but I did finish it to see how the book ended and I will try Carter Wilson again. Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. Rating: 3 stars Expected Publication Date: January 14, 2025

This is my first Carter Wilson book.

If an author can get me to read a 400+ page book in five hours, then it’s got my stamp of approval.
I’ve read a lot of the neutral and negative reviews and I get it, but I also think that a lot of reality needs to be suspended in order to truly enjoy thrillers. (Or any fiction in general? It’s not real. That’s kind of the point.)
And yes, contrary to some of the reviews, this was a thriller. I even looked up the definition to make sure. 🤓☝🏻

Poe was not very likable, but even in the Author’s Note, Wilson says the point isn’t for you to like the main character. He writes morally grey characters because they’re more complex. “Her situation should be one that readers will care about what happens at the end. You always want the reader to root for the hero, even if your protagonist is really an antihero.”

And on that note: unless you’ve personally witnessed what Poe witnessed at age 13, I’m pretty sure you have no say in how she reacts to things. 😂 Trauma literally changes your brain chemistry. Homegirl is just doing her best.

I’m not sure how I didn’t guess the plot twist. It’s been done before. I’ve read it before. But something about the suspense and the way Wilson writes made me blind to it. I really didn’t know who Ian was until like two lines before it was revealed.

Did I like any of the characters? Eh. Did I get hooked like a damn fish? Absolutely.

I’d definitely recommend this for true crime junkies (which I’m not), podcast lovers (which I’m not), and psychological thriller lovers (which I am).

—

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy to review honestly!

Tell Me What You Did is not the thriller I was expecting. It is more a Trojan Horse treatise on justifiable homicide, guilt, retribution, and trust written in the style of a clickbait story.
I enjoyed the slow burn unfolding of the story interlaced with excerpts from Poe Webb's live stream podcasts with her nemesis. I was often tempted to skip to the end to find out what had happened. Don't do it! Trust me.
3 stars means that I liked it.
Thanks and my honest review to Netgalley for the ARC

While intriguing at the beginning, I soon lost interest in the plot and characters were boring. I only was able to get halfway through before I gave up. 1 star.

I am loving these new books that feature a main character as a podcast host. The narration is unique as it is told through the perspective of the host and of the listener.
This one kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. The author did an outstanding job tying up any loose ends and I wasn’t left with any unanswered questions.
This one would be awesome in audiobook form. Overall would definitely recommend! Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Could not put this down. I will be ordering this for my library and reading other books by this author.

“You’re about to be on the top-ranked crime podcast in the country…Welcome to this episode of Tell Me What You Did.”

A podcast confession to a crime might be cathartic and the culprit’s way to achieve fame while maintaining anonymity. The components of the podcast consisted of an audio feed and a webcast video. The video was only streamed to podcast partners, thirty year old Poe Webb and her producer/boyfriend Kip. Kip’s insistence on the video was to ascertain whether visible and audible cues were indicative of a true confession. By pre recording, Poe and Kip could determine whether to air any given episode.

Why a true crime podcast? Poe had witnessed her mother’s murder when she was 13 years old. The killer threatened to come after her and her father if she ever shared detailed information with the police. Her father became “a shell of a man” while Poe “pulled away from just about everything…ended up starting a podcast built around conversations with strangers.”

The shocking, scream-worthy terror of a read takes off when guest Ian Hindley gives off the most chilling vibes. According to Poe, Hindley exhibited “a familiarity [she] can't place while he [tells her] You’re going to learn a lot about regret.” Hindley plans to shine a spotlight on Poe by turning the tables. “You don’t know, do you?...Why Poe. Dear Poe….I killed your mother.” It had to be a prank. Poe had killed her mother’s murderer!

Hindley insisted on a live stream podcast on Halloween. Not even the police knew that Poe had witnessed her mother’s murder. He wants her to confess on live stream or there would be hell to pay! “Life is nothing but a series of choices followed by a series of regrets. We have to talk about what happened in New York.”

For this reader, this propulsive thriller needed to be absorbed in small chunks. The scare factor required indoor house lighting when reading. Poe was an engaging, sympathetic anti-hero despite her obvious flaws. I was rooting for her to find emotional peace and solitude.
Highly recommended.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

You will be locking your doors while reading this thriller!

Poe hosts a podcast where people confess to crimes. Her past comes rushing back to her when a man joins her podcast, claiming to be her mother’s killer, all the while threatening to expose her darkest secret.

This one was so creepy (but in a good way)! Thrillers involving true-crime podcasts are popular right now but this one is unique and I could not put it down.

Read if you like:
✨thrillers about podcasts
✨short chapters
✨”cat and mouse” thrillers

Thank you Net Galley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

(Will post to social media and GoodReads on publication day)

Such an interesting concept but it fell flat to me. Elementary writing and I struggled with the characters.

Main character had a classic case of a woman written by a man, unrealistic and unlikable. Unfortunately it was too much to overlook despite my interest in these kinds of stories.

3.5 stars

Overall, this was an entertaining read. The beginning grabbed my attention, and the short chapters kept the story moving,

However, I was hoping for more from the characters, and there were no noticeable plot twists in these pages. Suspenseful, but only just.

I wanted more, but it was still enjoyable.

"Tell Me What You Did" by Carter Wilson is an absolutely gripping read that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The story is a nail-biter, filled with suspense and creepy twists that make it hard to put down. Wilson masterfully crafts a tale that keeps you guessing, with well-developed characters and a plot that unfolds with perfect pacing. If you love thrillers that keep you hooked until the very last page, this book is definitely for you!

Poe Webb hosts a true crime podcast where people confess their crimes anonymously. One day, a man claims to be her mother's murderer, but Poe knows she killed him. Now, she must confront her past and the truth about her actions.

What an exhilarating journey! This book was truly captivating, making it difficult for me to tear myself away from its pages. The story is expertly crafted with a strong build-up, seamlessly shifting between different timelines, including the haunting past of Poe's mother's murder and the gripping present. While some readers may find the multiple timelines distracting, others believe that it adds depth to the narrative. Nevertheless, the tension is skillfully maintained throughout the story.

If you are a fan of novels that delve into the darkest recesses of the human psyche, while keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very last page, then this book is a must-read for you.

Thank you, Poisoned Pen Press, for an ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Not sure why but this book scared me more than any book in a long long time. Had to stop reading it at night and finish the last of it during the day time. It is well written, strong heroine, sometimes foolhardy but dedicated. The ending was satisfying as well. Hard to say I enjoyed it, but will read others by this author. 4.5

This is one of my favorites from Carter Wilson. The main character, Poe, is flawed, but you can’t help but root for her. The villain is scary and the atmosphere is creepy. I tore through this book quickly and thoroughly enjoyed it. This is a great suspenseful revenge thriller!

This is a well written scary book about a podcaster and the possible killer of her mother. It is pretty disturbing and tense and my older students will enjoy this. Might be too much for the younger ones.

This story follows Poe Webb who hosts a popular podcast where she records conversations with criminals who are allowed to 15 minutes to confess their crimes. However, during one of the sessions, the caller claims to have murdered Poe’s mother. I won’t say anymore on how the story unfolds but from this I was hooked on the concept.

The twists were well executed and had me guessing until the last second. However, the very last part of the ending fell a little flat for me. I found some of Poe’s attitude towards revenge etc a little too much at times. I wished we had also had more development of her Dad’s characters too.

I enjoyed the change in format from podcast dialogue to prose and made the book easier to read and felt like I flew through the chapters.

Going back and forth between past and present events also helped build suspense and it came together well in the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review