Poe Webb hosts the top-ranked true crime podcast in the country, Tell Me What You Did, where guests call in to confess their crimes. She’s generally pretty good about compartmentalizing—hosting the interview and then forgetting about it—but when a strangely familiar man calls in one day, it stops Poe in her tracks. Claiming to be the man that killed her mother, he traps Poe in to conducting an interview like no other because Poe knows that it can’t be true… She killed the man that murdered her mother.

Maybe I don’t know the legal system well enough or maybe it’s a general flaw of the book but couldn’t Poe be arrested for aiding and abetting all of these criminals who come on her show? She has video evidence of who they all are but the whole concept never seems to be a problem… I guess this synopsis works if you can suspend belief there.

At first glance it seems like it will be hefty book, coming in at over 400 pages—I’ll admit I was concerned because what thriller needs to be over 400 pages—but a lot of it is podcast dialogue so it went by surprisingly fast. Still, there are places where it dragged. There was a lot of back and forth between Poe and her mother’s supposed killer that either felt repetitive or like unnecessary detail.

This story drew me in immediately with its thrilling and suspenseful prose and I think readers who love strictly plot-driven narratives are going to love this one. I would consider this to be very popcorn thriller-y as there is so much focus on driving the plot forward and so little on the characters’ actual being; Poe is one-dimensional with very little character development or emotional depth.

Surface level, it’s a fun, quick read—an absolute page turner due to the short chapters—but I wanted more from the characters; not likely one that I will remember but enjoyable enough.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available 01/14/2025.

This book is a ride from start to finish! From the first page, it had me hooked in a way I didn't expect, especially given how many true-crime-podcast-themed books we’ve seen lately. This one, though, manages to feel fresh and different, and it has its own unique spin that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The story revolves around a podcast host, Poe, whose life is thrown into chaos when a guest on her show claims to have murdered her mother. What really makes the book stand out is how it flips the usual narrative. It's not just about unraveling a mystery; it's about Poe's journey through some very murky moral waters. She's a character you can't help but empathize with, even when she's making some pretty questionable decisions. You feel for her, yet you can't quite endorse everything she does, and that’s where the genius of the book lies—it makes you question your own moral compass.

And OMG let's talk about the creep factor. The antagonist is as unnerving as they come, almost in the realm of Hannibal Lecter-level creepy. He’s a character that will make your skin crawl in the best possible way if you’re into that kind of thriller.

One of the things I loved most was the twist. I thought I had it figured out early on, only to second-guess myself thanks to some clever storytelling. When the reveal finally hit, it still managed to surprise me, which is a rare treat.

Overall, I’d give this book a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars. It’s a fantastic read for anyone looking to be immediately sucked in by a good thriller, especially those who enjoy stories with morally complex characters and sinister bad guys. If you're looking for a book to devour over a weekend, this one should definitely be on your list.


Thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Carter Wilson for the advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this!!
I was hooked from the very beginning. Poe was a conflicting main character, but I still found myself rooting for her. I was in a state of anxiety throughout the novel wondering what was going to happen. The author did a great job with surprises and keeping the reader guessing. I will definitely read further works by this author!
Thanks to Net Galley for the book to review.

4.5/5

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC!!!

THIS BOOK!!!! I can’t say enough about this. Another thriller based off a podcast but honestly nothing like I’ve ever read before. There is a lot of dark humor and cussing which I absolutely love. It’s all one POV but told from different ways - past vs present and even written differently in some of the chapters (ie chapter based but also interview based).

The one funny thing is I definitely thought the main character (Poe) was a man until about a quarter of the way through. I would say this is probably a mix between thriller and horror - a bit spooky, but I loved it. I took away half a point due to feeling like it kind of glorified murder? But seriously - YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK. It comes out January 2025 - preorder it now, you won’t be sorry.

Oh. My. Gawd. This book! Talk about a cat and mouse chase! I absolutely love Poe - she is such a bad ass. Her struggles are so believable. My mind kept trying to figure out any twists and turns but did not figure this one out. Now I have to get my hands on the other books written by Carter Wilson. Would make an incredible movie but too often they wreck the story. Please let there be more of Poe in the future!

Apparently I just love me a dark story that involves podcasts. I was hooked as soon as I found out the main character hosted a podcast having people admit to crimes they’ve committed and that her mother was murdered when she was a kid.
I loooved the way that every other episode is the transcript from the podcast. I loved the family bond, all the secrets and of course the love for the pets. Honestly, just do yourself a favor and pre order this asap!!


Thank you sooo much to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this 5 star reading.

I liked the different take on true crime podcasts of people confessing their crimes. This book had me hooked with that right away. This was a thriller to top most thrillers. There was enough twists to keep me wanting to read and I could not guess what was going to happen. I am so happy I got to read this book. 4.5 stars!

Although a bit frustrating at times*, overall, I found this to be quite a compelling read.

*My common mantra for reading mystery/thrillers is [extremely Joey Taranto voice] "Call the police, call 'em today!" I was singing that at times with this one, but also, "Just hang up!" Or in the words of Da Share Zone, "If it sucks...hit da bricks!" Maybe it's because I work a job that gets more attempts at scam/prank calls than most, but you actually do not have to talk to people just because they've contacted you. And you don't even have to make up an excuse--you can just end the call. Or say literally anything--I've used, "Oh, no--a ghost!" before. This week, I was so addled that all I could say in a response to a attempted scam was "Wow, that's crazy." My point being, you don't have to entertain nonsense for any reason. Unless it's the plot of a mystery/thriller, I guess.

As a child, Poe Webb watched her mother be murdered in their home. The killer saw Poe, but spared her with the threat to keep her mouth shut or he'll come for her and her father next. She's been looking for him since, determined to make him pay.

Fast forward to the present, Poe is the founder and host of an increasingly popular podcast that invites her viewers to confess their crimes to her. (Can we take a minute to acknowledge that this would be a fascinating IRL podcast? Can someone please work on that?). In her line of work, she comes across some creepy individuals, but they all pale in comparison to the man who claims to have been her mother's killer and knows one of Poe's darkest secrets.

Poe is rattled, but skeptical. Then the man gives details that only the killer and Poe know, and she starts to think she really is speaking to her mother's murderer. When he demands a live stream on Halloween night to force Poe into confessing her long-buried secret, the stakes become higher than ever and Poe has no choice but to follow his instructions.

The book flips between the present day and a transcript of the live stream between Poe and the alleged killer. This gives you plenty of backstory while building suspense for the final showdown.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(I would actually give this a 4.5)

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Sensational!! One of my favourite books this year.
I knew from the moment I started this one that it was going to be spectacular. The characters, the setting, the true crimes being revealed, all so intriguing.

Poe Webb hosts a true crime podcast where people reveal their crimes to her.
She can't guarantee the police won't come after her guests but they continue to reveal their secrets to her. One day, an oddly familiar man appears on her screen and tells her he killed her mother, all those years ago. But she knows this can't be true, because her mother's killer is dead.

This one turned from completely intriguing to absolutely terrifying pretty fast and I am so glad I read it during the day! The secrets and lies, with Poe's backstory that are revealed, along with the mystery story and a cast of fascinating supporting characters. There was also a clever link to one of the author's previous novels that I thoroughly enjoyed. This is easily one of the best novels I've read this year.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Poisened Pen Press for this gifted review novel.

Could not put this one down, read it in one day! It was such a creepy thriller and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I also loved the dynamic between Poe and her dad. Highly recommend this one!!

As a huge fan of thrillers, I had this book on my list to read, so thank you Netgalley and sourcebooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
What originally drew me in what the originality of the plot of the book. Poe Webb, a true crime podcast host, gets people to confess their crimes live on her show....pretty basic right??? Wrong!! A man comes on the podcast claiming to be her mother's murderer from years ago. But Poe knows something no one else does. This man cannot be her mother's murderer because she killed that man years ago!!

(Plot twist and down the rabbit hole we go!!)😳

I definitely recommend this book if you are a fan of thrillers and be prepared for some slow spots throughout, but overall, a solid 4 star read!

I could not put this book down! Every chapter left me needing more. Great suspense. Had me asking questions throughout. A great thriller. I don't like audiobooks but I could see listening to this one if we could have a creepy narrator with a back and fourth of Poe and IH.
100% will read again and will force my husband to read.

*** I received an e-ARC of this book from Poisoned Pen Press through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review***

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summary: 🎧 Poe is the host of a top ranked crime podcast in which her guest anonymously confess to crimes. A few of her guest have been caught by the police after confessing, but that is the price they agree to for the instant fame. One guest shows up to confess to the most shocking crime of all- the murder of Poe’s mother many years before. The guest is familiar to Poe but he can’t be her mother’s murder because Poe has a confession of her she’s been hiding….

Thoughts: 📝 I was hooked from the Author’s Note! I read this book in one sitting. I enjoyed the back and forth between Poe and Ian’s podcast and the story line. This book was fast paced and had me rooting for the morally grey heroine. The unexpected twist was *chef’s kiss*💋 I will defined buying a hardback copy when this book comes out!

✨ Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley.

Poe Webb hosts a true crime podcast with a rather unusual twist. Her guests admit to crimes they have committed. Anonymously, but her audience is particularly good at digging up their true identities. Poe also has a secret, but if it is exposed, it could ruin her life too. She never expects one of her guests to claim that he killed her mother. Poe is 100% certain he is lying. The question is, how can she be so sure.
A story that gripped me from the first page. Poe was such a complex character. She has a traumatic past, a decision that might have destroyed her life, and now, a successful podcast. But someone knows her darkest secret, and they are determined to make her pay. It’s an intriguing game of cat and mouse that kept me turning pages into the night.
Bonus points for a character from the first book I read by this author. I will not mention who, but I would love to see these two characters again.

Really good. Held my interest the whole time and I never quite could figure out what was happening. Highly recommend for any thriller lover! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

This book creeped me out and it definitely kept me guessing. I hate to reveal too much when it comes to thrillers, because I feel like it’s better to go in mostly blind. But basically Poe did something that she needs to confess too and theres a very good backstory to that, as well. There were times I thought Poe was a little creepy herself.

Publication date: January 14th, 2025
Page number: 448
Audio length: -
Narrator: -
Genre: psychological thriller
POV: Poe
Setting: US

Poe, who was present at her mother’s unsolved murder now has a crime podcast. It is a cat and mouse game, with twists and turns until the end- focusing on murder and revenge. It also reveals some of Poe’s closest interpersonal relationships.


Thank you to author, publisher, NetGalley for advanced audio copy. This is an honest voluntary review.

I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of "Tell Me What You Did" by Carter Wilson, thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press. The novel introduces us to Poe Webb, the host of a confession-based podcast. The plot thickens dramatically when an episode unexpectedly features her mother's murder, plunging Poe into a harrowing quest for the truth while she navigates her own instincts.

I'm thrilled to say this has been one of my favorite reads of the year! Wilson masterfully blends elements of darkness, gore, and suspense to create a gripping narrative. The story is vividly depicted, making it easy to visualize every scene. Additionally, the quick chapters help propel the story forward at a brisk pace. Having never read Wilson's work before, I was thoroughly impressed by his skill in crafting such a compelling and complex cast of characters.

I recently read a book by Carter Wilson, and I'm pleased I had the opportunity to read it. The book features Poe, who has a new twist for a True Crime Podcast. On the show, guests are given 15 minutes to share their stories without interruption, followed by a Q&A session. The podcast's origin may be linked to the fact that Poe witnessed her mother’s murder as a teenager, vowing to seek justice. The podcast begins with someone making Poe a guest on her show, seemingly aware of Poe's past actions. Poe has a loyal dog named Bailey and an assistant/boyfriend named Kip. Kip feels like Poe is holding back and wonders if she will tell him what she did. I was glad to be along for the ride. Poe has a great support system who are with her on this dark, twisty journey. It raises the question: is Poe a hero or an antihero? Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC through NetGalley.