After reading Lisa Jewell's None of This is True, I've really enjoyed thrillers with a podcast element Tell Me What You Did has short chapters, true crime energy, a fearless female character and alternates between present day and podcast transcript. Although there were not many twists since most of the information was provided upfront, there was plenty of tension.

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

Poe is a true-crime podcaster who invites her guests to confess their crimes to her: Tell Me What You Did. Poe has a secret, though: her own mother was murdered, and she’s been hunting for the killer… or maybe she already took care of him? There’s a few points at the beginning of the book where this is unclear, and while it is eventually resolved I think they could be reworked to prevent confusion. I love the title as well, although part of the way through the book, it switches to “Confess to me,” which, again, I think could be changed to match the title and the first story told in the book.
Overall a fun, if not entirely engaging thriller. Things pick up during the last half, but I didn’t find myself as compelled by the first half. Still, definitely worth finishing and I enjoyed the end and resolve of everything. While they aren’t part of the same series, this book connects to Wilson’s previous work, Mister Tender's Girl.

I loved this. Podcasts within crime books are always my favourite. The concept of Poe's podcast where she invites people on to confess to their crimes was great, especially as her own concept was turned back on her and she has to confess to her crimes to her own audience. I really enjoyed the book, it was suspenseful and creepy and I'm a sucker for a strong female character who's not afraid to get her hands dirty.

I could not put this book down. It hooked me right away and terrified me all the way through! Although Poe was mostly "grey" I found myself rooting her on. The relationship with her dad was heartwarming and how could you not love Bailey?? Grimm cracked me up, thank you for that kitty smile. One of the best thrillers I've read this year.

Thank you netgalley and publishers for an e copy of this Arc. This book kept me guessing with its twists and Omgosh the fast paced thriller that definitely will be a cure if you are in a reading slump. Loved the plot and characters.

Wow this booked was amazing. All the stars for this book.

I loved the whole podcast type style to this novel and I worked really well. I loved listening to the storyline and watching it unfold. This novel is full of twists and turns that you won't see coming, secrets, lies, deceit, and revenge. I loved this one to the very end and cannot recommend this one enough.

I look forward to more books by this author.

ARC Review ✨️Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson
Genre : Mystery and Thriller
Pub Date Jan 14 2025
Publisher : Poisoned Pen Press

" We never really know how others view us, but the one certain thing is that it's rarely how we expect."

✨️Exciting, gripping, and intense psychological thriller centered around a true crime podcast and podcaster.
✨️Just Wow 👌 Superbly engaging with podcast recordings and her own point of view. It hooked you from the very first page, and you can't stop. A full panicking edge of the seat, thriller. Fast-paced chapters revenge thriller. An original plotline with unreliable characters, excitement, anger, confusion, and frustration all roll into one. Masterfully crafted secrets and painful past experiences. The ending is pulse pounding with compelling atmospheric setting. Superbly engaging. Highly recommended.
✨️ Thanks a lot to @Netgalley , author, and the publisher for the eARC.

This book will have you guessing everything you think you know about the characters, so many twists and turns

Poe Webb has a popular podcast show where she invites guest on and they confess what crime they have done. The show is appropriately named "Tell Me What You Did". One day a guest appears on the show who says he murdered Poe's mother. Your heart breaks for what Poe saw and how it effected her life.

Poe has never told anyone what she saw and knows about that night. She is still traumatized by this and after it happened she didn't speak for three months. Now he wants her to go on live and confess what she has done. She is unsure how he knows what happened in New York. She isn't sure she believes he is who he says he is but she will do everything to protect her family.

Poe is a person you find yourself rooting for in this story.

4.5⭐️

This book is a suspense/thriller but there’s definitely a creepy feeling as you read this.

Poe has a podcast that allows people to confess their dirty little secrets to her which are usually crimes. Only their voice is ever released when the show is ready to be aired. She never does any live event either to protect their identity.

One day, a guest shows up and it shakes her up. He’s saying that he’s the one who murdered her mom all these years ago. He’s also requesting to do a live interview with her and threatens her is she doesn’t. He starts to stalk her and it gives you the jeebies! He’s creepy and clearly a lunatic that wants to make people swarm in their sit and wants all the attention!

There is some twists which one I didn’t see coming! It was fast pace, easy and fun to read. Kept me guessing as I read. It’s a first POV and double time line. One leading to the event and the event itself. And the chapters are short!

Poe is very direct also, her character has some spunk!

This was my first Carter Wilson and I really enjoyed it!

Thank you NetGalley and Carter for the ARC!

Wow!
Female rage, creepy stalker/killer vibes, and revenge plot!.... This book had everything ! 😍 This book follows Poe, a crime podcast host, who one day gets a guest on her show claiming to the the man who killed her mom when she was a teenager. This man is creepy, disturbing, and gives you bad vibes all the way around. What ensues after this initial meeting will leave your heart racing, your jaw dropped, and you flipping the pages to know what happened and will happen next. Yes some of the ending was semi-predictable, but that didn't matter because this book was giving me all the thrills! Highly recommend!! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!!!

*Tell Me What You Did* offers an intriguing premise centered around Poe, a podcast host who invites anonymous confessions of crimes on her show. The storyline grabs your attention immediately, especially with the morally complex setup of people baring their darkest secrets for a wide audience.

I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style, which is delivered largely in a podcast format with a heavy focus on dialogue. While this choice aligns with the story’s concept, it felt a bit jarring for a book, making it harder to connect fully with the characters and the emotional depth of the story. Despite this, the storyline itself was engaging and entertaining, enough to overlook the stylistic challenges.

If you enjoy books with unique formats or are intrigued by the podcasting world, *Tell Me What You Did* is worth picking up for its solid plot and creative premise, even if the writing style might not be for everyone.

This book. Gripping, wonderful, thrilling …everything I need in a thriller and more! I don’t want to say anything that will spoil any parts of this but , wow oh wow. Love. This. Book!!!

4.25 stars. This one gripped me right away with such a great premises: A podcaster who has people on who get 15 minutes to "Tell me what you did," without interruption. If Poe, the podcaster, believes they are truthful, then she will interact with them asking questions. Sounds great, huh? But what her listeners don't know is that her mom was violently killed 17 years ago and one day the person who calls on her podcast says, "I killed your mother."

Then the second part of the book begins with the cat and mouse game of who is this person and are they telling the truth or not. I found the concept to be great, Poe was a bit foolish at times (and it really bothers me when people think they can handle stuff without police intervention) but this was a solid read with fast-paced short chapters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Carter Wilson (who is a new author to me) and Poisoned Pen Press for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I will be reading more by this author.
1 like

Having just read my first Carter Wilson novel, I know it won't be my last! Tell Me What You Did is a pulse-pounding psychological thriller that unfolds like a high-stakes game of cat and mouse.

Poe Webb, the host of a popular true crime podcast, invites listeners to anonymously confess their crimes. While she can’t guarantee her “guests” won’t face legal repercussions, the combination of anonymity and instant fame makes her show irresistibly enticing. After each episode, Poe usually wipes the criminal stories from her mind.

But when a strange and hauntingly familiar man appears on her show, she can't ignore him. He claims to be her mother’s killer from years ago, but Poe harbors a secret that no one else knows: her mother's murderer is already dead—because she killed him.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was a quick, suspenseful read that kept me hooked from start to finish. Each chapter left me eagerly anticipating what would happen next. Wilson skillfully weaves in podcast episode transcripts at just the right moments, enhancing the back-and-forth between present-day events and past timelines discussed in the episodes. The novel raises thought-provoking questions about confession and whether anyone can truly escape their past.

Many thanks to Carter Wilson, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Be sure to grab a copy when it hits shelves on January 14, 2025!

Trigger warnings include: murder, infidelity, abuse, alcoholism, and torture.

I felt this was an ok read, it held my attention for the most part, I like the podcast element in the book. Overall I don’t think I was the right audience for this book. The plot sounds good but the reveals were a little slow and the twists just weren’t twisty for me. But even though it wasn’t for me doesn’t mean it won’t be for you.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this ARC!

I absolutely love a book with connections to a podcast, this did not disappoint. While I would have liked some more character development in Poe, the twists were good and an overall great read.

I didn’t know if I was going to make it through the book, the first half just felt painfully slow however the information was needed and the second half picked up and it was a great ending.

If you want a book about podcasts and revenge this is for you

Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson is a thrilling game of psychological cat and mouse warfare. It is rare that I find a book that I cannot break away from, but this was one of them.

Poe Webb is the host of a highly successful podcast where she invites people to anonymously confess to crimes they have committed. She opens the platform up to her guests, allowing them to speak for 15 minutes, uninterrupted. If she deems the person is being honest, then the discussion continues. What Poe's listeners don't know, is that Poe is holding back a few secrets of her own.

When an eerie, unsettling guest named Ian books a slot, Poe's world is turned upside down. You see, this guest claims that he is the person who murdered Poe's mother, Maggie, 17 years earlier. A murder which Poe witnessed. But Ian wants more than just the opportunity to confess; he wants Poe to share her secrets as well.

Lies, murder, betrayal, family ties...nothing is off limits in this book. This book is a must read for 2025!

Huge thanks to Poisoned Pen Press, NetGalley, and the author for this ARC.

Summary:
Poe Webb is the host of a hit true crime podcast. What makes her podcast so popular and unique? She provides criminals with a forum to confess their crimes. Most choose aliases to remain anonymous, but none the less, Poe does not guarantee that their confessions won’t result in police investigation.

What Poe’s audience doesn’t know, is that she also has her own true crime history. That is, until a man comes onto the podcast and claims to be her mother’s murderer.

What ensues is a deadly game of cat and mouse. Is this man who he claims to be? And how can that even be possible?

Review:
The podcast trope is becoming more and more common, but this variation has its own unique spin that keeps it interesting and different from others in the category.

Poe isn’t a particularly likeable character, but given her morally gray decisions, I don’t believe she is intended to be. Unfortunately, I didn’t find any of the characters to be likeable. All of our main characters seemed to support Poe regardless of her own confessions, and the evidence she provides as justification is weak, at best.

However, even though the characters were not likeable, they were well developed with their own unique traits and personalities.
Some parts seemed a bit repetitive at times but overall a great book to add to your TBR list if you’re looking for a suspenseful cat and mouse type thriller.

(Thank you to Carter Wilson, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be published January 14, 2025)