Another Ashley Winstead book, another 5 star read. I wanted to save this one for when I had time to really get lost in it and I am so glad that I did. It was near impossible to put it down. I was totally hooked from start to finish, I loved it so much. I was sad when it was over and that ending was 😳😱

We know from the start that some really bad has happened and that our main protagonist Jane Sharp was a big part of it. What we don’t know is what happened and why. This is Jane in a tell all kind of read, setting her story straight. We go back to where it all started for her with the sudden death of her beloved father. Her grief leads her to find something to busy her mind, and she falls down a rabbit hole online with a rue crime forum. She finds herself obsessed with finding clues and working the cases. She soon finds herself in with the big guns online, and looking at a case that is all over the news, the murder of 3 college girl on campus.

I don’t want to say too much more about the story, you just need to read it. It is a story of love, loss, grief and obsession. It highlights our relationship with true crime and the need to know. Jane is a complicated character, at times not easy to like and at other times you just want to give her a hug. It is dark and emotional and very well written. I loved knowing something big was coming but not knowing what it was. It certainly increased the tension for me.

So do yourself a favour, grab this book, put the do not disturb sign on and go down the rabbit hole that is The Book Will Bury You. One of the best books that I have read this year.

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Landmark on NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book so early.

Publishes on March 25th, 2025.

4.5 / 5 stars

College senior Jane Sharp is sent into a dark spiral of grief following her father's unexpected passing. A local woman's murder does manage to catch her interest, and Jane finds herself getting obsessed with the online amateur detective community. When Jane helps to find the clues that crack the case, she gets invited to join a close-knit inner circle of elite investigators who work together on cases virtually.

Several months into her new avocation, a shocking murder begins to make waves online: three college women have been brutally slain in their home, but the police have no evidence to go on. After the killer strikes a second time, Jane and her team of online investigators decide to gather IRL in the college town to investigate the apparent serial killer. But every clue they uncover only begs more questions and the answers all seem impossible.

Written as a fictional tell-all, This Book Will Bury Me is by far the best I have read by Winstead yet. Jane is a young woman struggling with understanding how to deal with her own grief and how to process decisions her deceased father made. She wants to create a legacy worthy of his memory and is driven by that. I might not buy that the elite circle invited her in immediately, but I did find her character believable.

I thought that they mystery aspect was great and it kept me guessing all the way to the end. The conceit of the book being Jane's memoir was interesting and allowed her character to include commentary on the vampiric nature of the true crime industry and the racism and ageism of the official and unofficial crime solving communities.

I'm shaving off half a star from this book because it is perhaps a bit longer than it needs to be. I think too much time is spent at the outset establishing Jane's grief. It is an important part of the story, but that section could have been tighter.

This will be one of the biggest thrillers of 2025! If you're a fan of the genre, add this to your TBR!

Jane, struggling from her father ‘s sudden death, finds solace in an online group who is dedicated to solving real life crimes. She has had trouble in the past fitting in whether it be a college or in her job and is welcomed into this group with open arms. She finds her niche and the group of four others work together solving crimes the police have trouble solving on their own. Their success of solving high profile crimes is featured on a dateline type show, which makes them a celebrity within the online community that comes with its pros and cons. The next big case comes up that the police are extremely inept at solving and the team jumps on it.

I like the idea of the online community and delving further into what I would consider the armchair detective scene. I personally am a huge fan of dateline as well as follow all the true crime and documentary shows . It was interesting to me to see this behind the scenes, armchair detective theme play out. The crime itself is very closely related to one that is currently in the headlines today. The fictional crime had so many details that were pretty much identical to the true crime that I questioned the reasoning behind why the author chose this route. Some of the details were almost identical to the case itself and became a distraction. I couldn’t discern between what was fact and fiction and found myself on Google several times. Once I got past all of the details of the case I enjoyed where the author went with it. The twists at the end were very good and I did not see them coming. I’ve read a few books by this author and have come to enjoy her writing style..

There is a lot of controversy circulating in regards to this book and the topic that closely resembles the Idaho murders. If this is something that is too soon to be read about then I suggest you skip this book, but I’m glad I I continued on as it did deviate from the headlines once it got going. Again, the author does address all of this prior to the start of the book so it might be a good idea to read that to determine if this is for you or if it will be triggering..

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed this one! I enjoyed the perspective of the story being told by an amateur sleuth. The characters were well developed and the whole story was really well written. I could not put this book down, and finished it in a few days. I appreciate the authors note at the beginning of the sensitive subject matter.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of 'This Book Will Bury Me' by Ashley Winstead, in exchange for an honest review.

I decided to return this book back to the publisher without reading it.

I went to add this book to my Currently Reading Goodreads shelf but first I read the summary then the many, very detailed reader reviews. This made me decide not to proceed. It seemed that reading/reviewing this book would support the exploitation of such a recent, horrendous tragedy, the Idaho college murders.

Nowhere in my copy did the author include an acknowledgement giving respect or courtesy to the victims, or their families, on using exact, specific details from the murders/case nor did she preface that it was based on true events. She disregarded that completely and chose to instead include a blurb on the copyright page stating "the characters and events portrayed in this book are ficticious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author. "

I would also like to note that the version I was provided was not an uncorrected copy, there was a note just before the title page that read, "This file represents the final manuscript being distrubuted for prepublication review." This all seems quite disrespectful, disturbing and unprofessional, both from the author and the publisher.

Anything that Ashley writes I will read! Jane is a college student and unexpectedly loses her father. She becomes obsessed with true crime and finds and joins an online group that helps track and solve cases that even the police are having trouble with. When three girls are killed on a college campus in Idaho Jane and her new group of friends are determined to crack the case. The story is suspenseful and I loved all the twists and surprises throughout the story. I enjoyed the format of the book and reading how the mystery unfolded and seeing all the pieces come together. The writing is this book was very raw, vulnerable and so emotional!! I was definitely tearing up while reading it. Ashley wrote about grief in such an honest and real way and I could tell this book is very personal for her. I finished this one a month ago and I still haven’t be able to stop thinking about it. I highly suggest you add this to your 2025 tbr!

I love Ashley Winstead, but I am so disappointed.

In My Dreams I Hold A Knife is peak dark academia, and Midnight Is the Darkest Hour reads like Twilight fanfic in the best way.

But, girl… writing a factionalized account of real-life murders, especially when they are so fresh, is pure exploitation. I’ve seen some marketing materials that frame the book like it’s supposed to be commentary on society’s unhealthy obsession with true crime but, if that’s her motive, the hypocrisy is epic. Other authors have made that point without profiting off of the pain of real-world victims and their loved ones.

If this were the first time she did it, I might be less critical, but I read The Last Housewife. I remember feeling like the details of that story were not only disturbing, but eerie… because it was based on the Sarah Lawrence cult.

If I wanted true crime (which I don’t), then I would read true crime. This is almost worse because it pretends to be more noble in pursuit of statement, but it’s too exploitative for me to enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are 100% honest and my own.

For all true crime lovers, this book is for you. Jane Sharp is reeling from the unexpected death of her father & throws herself into unsolved murder online forum. Once there, she is HOOKED. Ultimately she partners with four other amateur sleuths from extremely different backgrounds to assist the FBI solving a gruesome murder on a college campus.

This book is PHENOMENAL. As someone who went down the true crime rabbit hole, this book spoke to me on all levels. ✨

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own

*posted on GR & IG

THIS BOOK WILL BURY ME is a pivot for Ashley Winstead and her most personal thriller yet.
After losing her father unexpectedly, college student Jane Sharp immerses herself in the world of true crime, joining online sleuths who teach her how to track killers from afar. When the shocking murders of three college girls in Delphine, Idaho, make headlines, Jane and her friends race to crack the case, only to uncover a web of deception and danger far more sinister than they imagined. One year later, Jane breaks her silence to reveal the true story of the Delphine Massacres—a confession that will stun even the most seasoned true crime fans.

THIS BOOK WILL BURY ME is perfect for fans of Michelle McNamara's true crime book, I'll Be Gone in the Dark. This book reads more like a true crime thriller (which it is) than a psychological thriller that you may expect from this author. This book is still twisty at times that you won't expect, but the story does dive into a "story within a story" narrative, which is very different than the author's previous thrillers. The pacing is a bit slower, which took me a bit longer to finish, but I do believe that the reason for the pacing was to fully immerse into Jane's world. The narrative about Jane's father was deeply personal, raw, and compelling. You will root for Jane in ways that you won't expect. THIS BOOK WILL BURY ME is entertaining and suspenseful, and fans of this author should prioritize this book when it comes out in March 2025!

This book was quite crazy. I loved the closeness of the real Idaho murder case because it almost felt like a true crime. This kept me so enthralled from start to finish. An Easy 5 stars. If anyone likes thrillers this is going to be my top rec for 2025!

Ashley Winstead never fails to deliver a gripping thriller. Her writing is so compelling, and I'm always sucked right in.

I loved the deep dive into the true crime message boards. If I didn't have so many hobbies already, I could totally see myself getting sucked into this world. Jane's reaction to her father's death was surprisingly relatable, and I totally understood how she used her newfound obsession with true crime as a way to avoid addressing her feelings about her father.

This book was never slow or boring. There was always something new I was desperate to discover, and it was so hard to put down when real life came calling! The steps these amateur sleuths took to identify these killers were fascinating the whole way through.

I'm not going to comment on my opinion of the ending in hopes of avoiding spoilers. Absolutely add this one to your TBR, and once you've read it, head to my blog post to discuss the ending! I certainly have thoughts I want to share.

5-Star Review: A Thrilling, Unstoppable Read

Ashley Winstead’s This Book Will Bury Me is a masterfully crafted thriller that grips you from the first page and refuses to let go.
After the death of her father, college student Jane Sharp becomes immersed in the world of online amateur sleuths. When a series of brutal murders rocks the quiet town of Delphine, Idaho, Jane and her friends embark on a race against time to uncover the killer’s identity. But as the investigation deepens, they discover the true danger may be far closer than they ever anticipated.

Presented as a “tell-all” narrative in the near future, Jane’s compelling voice guides readers through the shocking twists and turns of this relentlessly paced story. The clues unfold with precision, keeping you on edge until the very last page. Though certain scenes may be unsettling and some resemble familiar real life cases, this is balanced by the gripping tension and plot twists that propel this novel at breakneck speed.

Winstead excels at weaving an intricate plot with richly developed characters, especially Jane, whose emotional growth adds depth to the high-stakes mystery.

Dark, addictive, and expertly written, This Book Will Bury Me is a standout read for fans of true crime and psychological thrillers. Thank you, NetGalley, for the advanced digital copy—this book is sure to be a hit!

I enjoyed this book . I liked the first half better than the second and I did find the major twist predictable . I’m not sure if it was on purpose that one of the crimes is similar to a recent major real life one.
Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The world of internet sleuthing is so intriguing to me and how Ashley Winstead chose to tell this story; I was not disappointed! I loved how each of her main characters was distinct, and how each came with their own story. The parallels to real-life stories kept me hooked until the last pages. Her choice of villain; OMG! This book will keep you on your toes and make you want to be right there digging online to find the answers. I loved this one!

THIS BOOK WILL BURY ME is a ripped-from-the-headlines true crime inspired thriller told as a Tell All novel. Our protagonist and tell-all author, Jane, channels her grief from her father's recent passing into amateur sleuthing in the online true crime community. It quickly becomes her obsession that leads to an investigation of the murder of three college women in Idaho.

Winstead explores the ethics of armchair investigators and whether they help or hurt when it comes to solving crimes. It was a lengthy thriller but the addictive short chapters kept me flipping pages well into the night. Every character played an important role in Jane's story, the vivid characterizations pulled you deep into the layered plotting and even deeper into Jane's paranoia.

A book within in book is such a uniquely fun format, Jane's footnotes were my absolute favorite part of this read. It completely immersed the reader into the Tell All aspect.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy!

Our main character Jane's father dies unexpectedly and she somehow joins an internet web sleuthing group to solve murders. The main murder case they are following is a murder that is almost exactly the same as the real life Moscow, Idaho murder case. I did not like that the author used this actual murder case as her basis for this novel. It was very off putting to me. This book has a good idea but I don't like the way the story actually played out. This was just okay for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of this book for review.

4.5 stars! What a ride!

At first, this book annoyed me. The way the story was told took me a minute to get into. But once I was into it, I was in! So many twists and turns. I did not predict anything that happened! I also came to enjoy the POV from which the book was written.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Winstead, and Sourcebooks for this ARC!

4 stars!

I absolutely love Ashley Winstead and will read literally everything she writes and so I was so excited when I got the ARC for this! I think where this book really shines is the writing. The author's note in the beginning mentions that Ashley Winstead lost her father recently, and the portions written about grief and moving past a hard loss legitimately brought tears to my eyes.

Where this book didn't completely work for me was the true crime aspect. I thought this became a lot more interesting once we got a little further in the book, but initially the monotony and repetition of the true crime boards wasn't my favorite. I also did guess the mystery, which isn't the worst thing ever, but I always love to be surprised.

That being said, I really did enjoy this book! I read it in basically one sitting because I was so invested in what was going on, and I did truly feel like every character was fleshed out and uniquely themselves.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you so much for the advanced copy! Ashley Winstead is one of the few authors I’ll pick up in the thriller genre, and it was an incredible opportunity to read This Book Will Bury Me prior to the March 2025 release.

To everyone else that has to wait? I AM SO SORRY but also preorder it immediately. Wow. Wow wow wow.

This Book Will Bury Me is a whodunnit written for our generation. It’s from the perspective of Jane, and she narrates and annotates her personal involvement in a national true crime phenomenon: the Delphine (Idaho) Massacres. Jane takes the reader from an ambiguous starting point (her father’s death) to a jaw-dropping finish line (a lottt more death).

Winstead does a great job capturing the world of amateur, online sleuthing and delivering it in a page-turning, morbidly-relatable, and engaging work of fiction. Each character has their own presence and personality - whether it’s someone in Jane’s core group, someone we only know by a username, or someone who plays a supporting role. The details are well-written, and the reader will actually learn a good bit along the way.

I did put things together before Jane does on the page but I also wasn’t mad about it. This one will have you staying up late or canceling plans to finish once you hit the halfwayish point, and then even the last page won’t disappoint.

I’d recommend this for anyone who enjoyed In My Dreams I Hold A Knife, anyone who wants a more adult version of the Truly Devious series, anyone who thinks Ted Bundy is attractive, and anyone who has also let grief steer them in an unconventional direction.

This is shared on my Goodreads

This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead is a banger. It’s a clever, complex, eerie, slow burn psychological thriller. The story follows 24-year old Jane, who is reeling from the untimely death of her beloved father. In an effort to find meaning to his life, she becomes increasingly obsessed with investigating true crime online. It’s an insightful take on how easy it could be to become radicalized by the internet. Jane soon finds notoriety and an online “family” within an exclusive group of amateur sleuths. The group of 5 travel together to Idaho to track a serial killer on a college campus, and quickly become overly involved in the active investigation. I found the fictional murders in Idaho to be perhaps too closely related to the very recent real life killings of the University of Idaho students.

I was immediately sucked in by this story. I consider it a slow burn, because at 480 pages, a significant amount of time is spent on character development. There are plenty of twists and ultimately a satisfying ending. This was my first novel by this author, but will not be my last! I will definitely be recommending this to fellow true crime junkies. Pre-order now: estimated pub date 3/25/25 4.5/5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.