Member Reviews
The creep factor in this book was enough to keep me up at night. This was my first read by this author and now I know I have been missing out on some great reads. The pacing was perfect. The dual timelines were done so well I was literally up all night trying to finish one more chapter but that turned into 10-12 more chapters! One of my favorites of this year!
This is a riveting podcast junkie thriller and I had such a great time reading it. I savored this one slowly over days like podcast episodes. The story is meaty and the characters are compelling, if not completely deranged!! Just fabulous!
A podcaster with a secret in her past hosts a show where she allows people to confess their crimes to the world. I found this premise to be intriguing because while she gives them a voice to tell their story, she is fully aware that some of these people are BAD. She holds no romanticized delusions and I found that refreshing.
When someone claiming to be the man who murdered her mother when she was a child contacts her, her whole world is upended. She needs to know the truth, considering she killed her mother’s murderer years ago…
I found the way this was written to be a lot of fun. Jumping back and forth in time between the bulk of the story and the podcast episodes, this terrifying story unfolds and I am kind of sad it’s over. This one really gripped me.
Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I attempted to read this story over a few weeks because I could not get fully absorbed in the story. I really enjoyed the concept and it did give some creepy murder mystery vibes but the story dragged on too much and I had to give it up half way. I even tried skimming through to get to the interesting chunks but that was too much work.
Carter Wilson is back with another unique thriller! I'm a fan of everything he writes and I knew I would love Tell Me What You Did. But I couldn't have imagined just how blown away I would be. I don't scare easily. At least not when it comes to what I read or watch. But this book had me genuinely creeped out.
Poe has a podcast with a very interesting premise. People confess things they've done with anonymity but that doesn't mean they won't get in trouble if they're recognized. One of these people claims to be the person that murdered Poe's mother. She knows that can't be true because she killed that man. Or did she?
This guy knows details he shouldn't know, he makes Poe question if she might have killed the wrong guy. Not only that but he is determined to make Poe confess to her crime. He is completely unhinged and will stop at nothing to make her tell all to her listeners.
This dude alone is responsible for most of the creepy factor. He is described as cadaverous physically and absolutely vile in personality. I was fully clenched every time he spoke, haha. The entire time I was tense as Poe along with her father and boyfriend tried to stay a step ahead. He wants her to confess on Halloween so there's not much time to stop him if they can.
I really want to avoid spoilers so I'll just say I highly recommend Tell Me What You Did. If you like dark revenge thrillers then you'll love this. Also, loved the connection to Mister Tender's Girl, another Carter Wilson novel. It was nice seeing Alice again and I really hope it's not the last we see of her and Poe. You don't need to have read Mister Tender's Girl to read this one. But you should read that one too anyway!
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early!
Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Tell Me What You Did" by Carter Wilson is a gripping psychological thriller that had me hooked from the very first chapter. The story revolves around Poe Webb, the host of a popular true crime podcast, who invites people to anonymously confess their crimes to her audience. This unique format grants her guests a potent combination of anonymity and instant fame, though she can't guarantee that the police won’t come after them. Typically, Poe erases both the crime and the criminal from her mind after each episode.
However, everything changes when a strange and oddly familiar man appears on her show, claiming to be her mother’s murderer from years ago. This revelation forces Poe to confront a chilling truth: she knows something no one else does—her mother's murderer is dead because Poe killed him. This twist adds a whole new layer to the story that I found incredibly compelling.
From the outset, I was captivated by Poe’s journey as she grapples with her past and the implications of the man's confession. Her struggle to piece together the events surrounding her mother’s death felt incredibly real, and I empathized with her desperation to uncover the truth. I completely agree with a fellow Goodreads reviewer who said, “The character development is top-notch.” Wilson crafted complex characters that felt relatable and flawed.
The pacing of the novel kept me on my toes. Just when I thought I had the plot figured out, Wilson introduced twists that completely changed my perspective. I was particularly struck by the way the tension escalated during Poe’s interactions with the man, perfectly illustrating how expertly he builds suspense. An Amazon reviewer mentioned that “the twists are both surprising and satisfying,” and I felt the same way—each revelation left me wanting more.
What I appreciated most was how Wilson explored themes of guilt and redemption through Poe's eyes. The internal struggles of the characters added depth to the narrative, prompting me to reflect on the choices we make and their consequences. I resonated with another reader who highlighted this aspect, saying, “The psychological elements are woven seamlessly into the plot.” It truly elevated the story beyond a typical thriller.
In conclusion, "Tell Me What You Did" is a must-read for anyone who loves a well-crafted psychological thriller filled with suspense and emotional depth. Carter Wilson has delivered a story that lingers in my mind long after I’ve turned the last page. I wholeheartedly recommend it!
Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for this complimentary review copy.
4.25 Stars
Poe Webb’s name certainly suits her; she’s a true crime podcaster with a dark secret of her own—one equally or more heinous than that of her most malevolent guest. But when a cringe-worthy creep appears on her show spouting an admission that threatens to derail her very soul, Poe finds not only her salvation in jeopardy but also the lives of those she loves most.
My honest opinion: Initially, I too found issue with the author’s treatment of his female protagonist…until I factored in the horrific trauma she suffered as a young girl, which makes her crude language, emotional detachment, and an almost masculine persona believable—all effective tools in her desire to keep the world at bay.
To summarize, the plot is original, the main character hauntingly unforgettable, the antagonist everything a villain should be. In essence, I found TELL ME WHAT YOU DID compelling. Why not five stars? The author had me by the nose hairs up until the three-quarter mark, which is when the plot began to stall, and Poe’s tendency towards vacillation was discordant enough to take me out of the story. Would I recommend it? Absolutely! I’m looking forward to reading more titles by Carter Wilson. Much appreciation to him, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.
This title is one the best books I’ve read so far. I liked the true crime Easter eggs and the plot twist at the end wasn’t obvious. Only “complaint” is 100 chapters is a bit excessive for a 340 page book. I’m interested in seeing the physical copy with the QR codes after it releases next year. Will definitely be checking out other books by this author!
An easy 4.5⭐️ read for me!
This unique thriller had it all. Intrigue, suspense, mystery, a little gore and a whole lot of fun.
Although I found 100 chapters to be a little excessive, I really enjoyed the fast pace of this book. The jumping back and forth from points in time was great, and going from first person POV to the transcript of the podcast was really enjoyable.
The characters were really fleshed out and a delight to read. Poe is your morally grey FMC with a drinking problem who you’re rooting for the whole time. Her Dad is a beautiful man who loves his kid with his whole heart, and you can’t help but feel for him and all he has gone through. Hindley is a monster, but so well written and terrifying. Even the animals had their own personalities which added some lightness and humor. The only character I didn’t like was Kip, he was honestly kind of an ass who gave the impression he thought he was better than Poe and I found him irritating.
Another delightful surprise was the character Alice - I had no idea Carter had written a book about her and her traumatic backstory but I will definitely be reading it!
I really enjoyed this book, I enjoyed the story and the writing, and can’t wait to read more from Carter!
SPOILER: the dog does not die 🩷
Ok ok ok! I know! Another murder mystery podcast book. But no! This is not anything like the others I’ve read recently. It had such an original twist and I could not wait to see what happened. I was on the edge of my seat. Poe’s story and how it was told was amazing!!
This book had me on the edge of my seat, I don’t think it had a single boring page! This is my first read by Carter Wilson, but won’t be my last!
Poe Webb hosts a popular crime podcast with a twist, she allows people to call in and confess to crimes at their own risk. But a caller with an ulterior motive turns Poe’s world upside down.
Thank you to Carter Wilson, NetGalley, and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC!
Tell Me What You Did, by Carter Wilson, is a fantastic thrill ride of a novel. Creepy and twisty and fast paced, I couldn't put it down. Poe was a a great protagonist, very layered and fully drawn. There are many books featuring podcasts, but I felt this one approached it from a different angle making it stand out from the crowd. Highly recommend! (And I bet this book will make a great audiobook!!!)
This is the first book I have read by this author. I wasn't disappointed. I will admit that I struggled in the beginning to stay with it because it had a slow start. Once I got into it, it was a page turner. The book is about a true crime podcaster that has her guest confess their crimes. I will admit that this was an interesting story line, and I enjoyed it very much. I will be recommending this book to others. Thank you NetGalley ARC!
This book was just ok, very slow in the middle and I found myself skimming a lot of the podcast dialogue as I found it very uninteresting when you already knew most of the details. The end picked up a bit, but was still just so so.
Poe tiene un famoso podcast sobre crímenes en el que las personas que han cometido delitos confiesan y narran lo que hicieron, todo a través de videollamadas. Un día, uno de los invitados afirma que él mató a la madre de Poe, pero ella no le cree porque el asesino está muerto… ¿o no? Además, la amenaza diciendo que Poe debe confesar su crimen, o de lo contrario, algo malo sucederá.
Ella deberá descubrir si lo que dice es verdad y, en caso de ser mentira, quién es, cuál es su objetivo y cómo se enteró de lo que hizo.
Me encantó tanto la historia como la forma en cómo está escrito y dividido.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What a page turner. Poe Webb is the host of “Tell me what you did”, a popular true crime podcast where guests confess their crimes. At thirteen years old, Poe witnessed her mother’s murder, and when one of her guests confesses to be the murderer, Poe embarks on a deadly cat and mouse game.
I devoured this book. Poe was such an endearing character, strong yet broken, and I really enjoyed her close bond with her dad and her complex relationship with her boyfriend and producer, Kip. This book picked up from the first page and never let up. I look forward to reading more by Carter Wilson.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Wow… this was my first book from Carter Wilson and I can’t wait to read more!
This was absolutely intriguing, fast paced, a heart pounding story that will keep you awake at night.
I loved the characters, and how they developed and how sympathetic they turn to be throughout the story.
Really loved Poe, she is funny and a survivor with a wild mind.
This was perfect for spooky season for the creepiness and the darkness. Highly recommend.
Thank you so much Poisoned Pen Press, NetGalley and Carter Wilson for this ARC.
Publication Day 01/14/2025
Terrifying thriller about a popular true crime podcaster with a past. Poe Webb, at 30, is having a moment. Her producer Kip Nguyen is her boyfriend, and things are going well in Manhattan. Her podcast offers people the chance to come onto zoom and confess what they did, from terrible crimes to the sweeter and more simple. It’s a fascinating premise and she gets tens of thousands of downloads per month.
Although she has always told people her mom died in a car accident, Poe actually witnessed her brutal murder at the hands of a serial killer she was having an affair with. Poe was silent for months afterward, and vowed revenge on her mother’s killer. When a guest shows up claiming to be the person that killed her, Poe’s world is upturned.
This is a gruesome story. It is a good mystery but I would co-classify as horror as it is pretty gory, bloody; with jumpscares. It’s the kind of book that makes it hard to fall asleep. The story definitely grabs you at the start and you don’t want to stop reading. In a word-/ creepy. The epilogue is a satisfying conclusion.
Thanks to @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for the ARC. Book to be released January 14, 2025.
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Poe is a true-crime podcaster who invites her guests to confess their crimes to her: Tell Me What You Did.
I'm a real sucker for the podcast angle despite not being a podcast listener. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. A few parts in the beginning were confusing but I still devoured it!
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.