First off, I enjoyed Ashley Winsteads other 3 thriller books, so I automatically couldn't wait to start this one. That's where the excitement ended for me. Unfortunately, I DNF this book, I got 30% through and had no interest to hold me or keep me wanting to continue and I rarely give up on a book. I enjoy true crime but as the author note states this book is loosely based on other true crimes. That being said, I would rather just watch a true crime episode than read this lackluster play by play of online sleuths that read in a non fiction type of way. This one missed the mark for me.

Wow! This book has me checking my doors and locks on my windows (I’m on the 3rd floor 🤣) and I may sleep with the light on tonight! If you love true crime, this book is for you! So many twists and turns in this book. Even though I figured out some of the things that were going to happen early on, I still enjoyed the book.

This book is a little graphic, so aware when reading.

Thanks NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

I could not put this book down and mark my words, it will be adapted into a limited series. I’m not really a true crime fan but I found this books so engaging. Are people really out there solving crimes in forums? News to me. Anyway this book was on the longer side but it was pretty fast paced. I loved the forum messages and the group of unlikely friends solving crimes. Overall, I couldn’t wait to find out what happened and found myself thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it. I guessed the murderer early on and wish it would’ve been less obvious. Other than that this is was a stellar read!

Unfortunately I found this book pretty tedious and highly implausible. The online warriors inserted themselves so deeply into the investigation, they were able to infiltrate the FBI? I wanted to quit a few times, but the cliffhangers pulled be back. The twists were not super surprising and the link to her father's death felt forced.

I wanted to LOVE this book. I was really excited about the premise of the story, online true crime sleuths working in chat forums to solve murder mysteries the authorities can't seem to. Initially I was hooked but about 40% in the book lost steam and I had issues with the pacing causing the story to fall flat. There's a subplot where the FMC wants to determine why EXACTLY her father has passed away -it was a heart attack, and we KNOW THIS- and I just did not get that bit and found it to be unnecessary. The idea was there but I fear, for me this one lacked the execution I was looking for. I would encourage checking triggers before going in.

Thank you Sourcebooks and NetGalley for my ARC

These thought and opinions are my own

2.5 or 3 stars. I LOVED Midnight is the Darkest Hour and was so excited to get my hands on this one. I was unfortunately disappointed.

I've seen the criticisms of this book and its plot. I didn't have a problem with the content of the book and I don't see anything wrong with using real stories as inspiration for a book but... this seemed so lazy. It was basically a 500 page retelling of the Idaho murders. Why? Some of the plot revolved around a different murder, yes. But most of the book focused on the Idaho killings and that plot followed the real life University of Idaho murders to a T. I just don't understand why such a talented and creative writer would do this.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

This book was excellent! It was extremely long but definitely didn't feel like it at all, I actually stayed up until 6 AM last night finishing it. It's one of those books that takes you on a journey and what a journey it is! This is actually my first true crime thriller book and what an amazing one to begin with! I will definitely be picking up more books centered around true crime in the future.

I have actually read two Ashley Winstead books in the past and when I saw this one was available on NetGalley I rushed at the chance. I think Ashley Winstead is a terrific author and her writing is absolutely beautiful without being overly wordy or long and tedious. It definitely made the book easier to get through even with it being so long.

The characterization was top notch as well and because we are taken on this long journey with all these unique characters, we really get to know them on a personal level. By the end of the book they really felt like old friends and didn't feel two dimensional whatsoever. It's definitely another thing that Ashley Winstead does masterfully.

The plot was so intricate, full of twists and turns, most of which I didn't see coming. I did guess one thing right halfway through the book but there were so many more surprises later on that it really didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. There were just so many layers to the plot that the author really made a good choice in deciding to tell it in the form of a tell-all book that the main character ultimately writes after everything has already transpired. The chapters were also pretty short and the book is divided into three parts which made it even easier to digest and process.

Pacing was also on point, even though I wouldn't call this book an outright thriller. There were definitely thriller-y parts in it but it was mostly a suspense mystery in my opinion. But even with that being said, I wasn't bored at any point in the story and I usually only enjoy super fast paced thrillers.

All in all, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery thrillers centered around true crime and finds that fascinating. Who would have thought I would learn something from a fictional thriller book, definitely not me. Highly recommend!

Was this good? Yes. Was it heavy? YES. Her writing pulls you in every single time and while the subject was tough,
I couldn’t look away. This book does mirror a tragedy that occurred in Idaho a few years ago but it was not tasteless. It was executed well. This book paid an homage to true crime fans everywhere with an interesting twist. I still have to sit with this for a while but I will continue to read ANYTHING she writes.

4.5⭐️

I gotta say I mostly enjoyed the storyline but was very distracted with everything that has been going on politically. I know that definitely disrupted my "rhythm" and I ended up reading 2/3 of this in short spurts. I did really like the premise. It was unlike any other mystery I've read. I felt like I was reading Jane's diary in real time, which I guess was kind of the whole point. I didn't love her as a character - she is very much a flawed heroine. But that's one of the things I enjoyed about the story. The online amateur sleuth storyline was fun to navigate, especially since I know nothing about it. The twist, or who-dun-it, was not expected. Well done! I didn't particularly love the plot regarding Jane's father. I don't know...if felt like it was supposed to be more revealing but I guess I just didn't see the whole point of it. Overall, this was a fun read!

This book was good but not great. I'm not sure if a reveal toward the end is meant to be a twist, but I felt it was quite obvious even a third of the way into the story. In addition, I didn't love that the actual details of the crime so closely mimed what happened in Idaho - so little about the setting, the victims, the witness, and the details of the crime itself were changed and that felt perhaps too exploitive. However, I did think the author brought up some valid points about the true crime community, and I found the found family aspect of the storyline endearing.

This dark academia genre has twist and turns and an atmospheric chill. The deaths of three college students seems a little insensitive, but I guess all true crime is. This book shows how completely obsessed strangers can become with true crime and how it helps and hurts cases. Written with footnotes, narrative gaps, and an unreliable narrator keeps you reading and guessing.

I genuinely loved this book. At no point did I know what was coming next. I felt so close to the main character, her grief and pain was so palpable but made her such a well rounded character. I thought the dynamic of all of the characters in the group as well was fascinating, and the ending had my jaw on the floor. Loved.

DNF at 15% couldn’t get past the use of real people and stories this book was not correctly marketed in its description there is not mention of that in the synopsis.

Okay I am a huge Ashley Winstead fan so I pretty much begged Net Galley to give me this! The overt copy-paste job done from the Idaho murders that were so recent really took me by surprise if I am being honest. I’m by no means an ethical expert in true crime, but it was enough to make me feel uncomfortable if I am being honest. That aside, I loved the depiction of the quirky online community and the dark spiral of obsession our main character goes down.
However I a begging you to write a book more similar to my all time favorite, Midnight is the Darkest Hour!!!

This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead
Anticipated Publication Date: March 25, 2025
Three Stars- ⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and the author for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

“Those drawn to true crime can be divided into four main types. The detective, the defender, the victim and the killer”.

Summary: This Book Will Bury Me follows Jane Sharp, a college student grieving the recent death of her father, who finds herself drawn into the world of true crime. She joins a group of internet sleuth detectives. When three college girls are found dead in Delphine, Idaho, Jane and her friends dive into the case, eager to solve it before anyone else. However– details don’t add up, and the police remain tight-lipped.
My Review: This book is a thrilling mix of suspense, obsession, and twists! I enjoyed how the story was written in chat form while the characters were in the forum. However, it hits too close to home with the “Idaho State” murders for me. For those reasons, I ranked it a 3 instead of a 4 star.

Ashely Winstead can do no wrong. Such a talent writer & im happy to see her expand into the true crime fiction genre. Entertaining as always.

After her father unexpectedly passes away, Jane Sharp finds herself getting pulled into the world of true crime via an internet forum. There, she finds four other individuals who she quickly connects with as they work together to solve true crime cases, eventually leading to news profile of the group. With this notoriety and recognition comes opportunities to further embed themselves in cases, culminating in the group meeting in person in Delphine, Idaho, to help find a killer after three college students are brutally killed.

This book had elements that I enjoyed as well as parts that I found less appealing. I thought the ‘internet family’ bit was really well done. I feel most readers will be able to identify with the evolution of internet strangers becoming some of the most important people in your life, and the online conversations were spot on. I also found Jane’s journey with her grief at losing her father very touching. Grief can be challenging to describe, as it’s such a personal journey, and I could feel Jane’s deep sadness and anger at losing her parent too early. Jane’s decisions, while not all logical, made sense in this context. And finally, I liked the general premise of this book. I’m not a huge fan of true crime, but I found the general story intriguing with the internet forum connection.

What I didn’t love: I wasn’t aware that this book pulled heavily from a real multiple murder, one that hasn’t yet been fully resolved. I wish the author would have used a different, closed, case if using real events for inspiration was necessary. I didn’t feel good reading about these events knowing that they were based on a true story, one in which the victims’ families are still waiting for closure. I also found the big twist/reveal to be fairly obvious early on given multiple clues and hints. And finally, the book was just too long. I don’t hate long books, but the length here didn’t seem to add much and I feel like a shorter book may have helped with quickening the pace and increasing suspense.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Ashley Winstead's novel "This Book Will Bury Me" is an arresting exploration of ambition, love, and the intricacies of human nature.

The protagonist in this story, Jane Sharp, unexpectedly lost her father due to his death and while seeking a distraction from her grief becomes obsessed with true crime groups and solving mysteries.

Winstead's prowess in painting the darkest shades of ambition alongside the brightest flashes of human connection is masterful.

Winstead's characterization is poignant and raw, making it easy for readers to see bits of themselves in the flawed, driven, and often self-destructive characters. The dialogue crackles with authenticity, and the inner monologues delve deep into the psyche, unearthing the universal fears and desires that drive us all.

Winstead’s prose is as beautiful as it is biting, offering moments of lyrical beauty juxtaposed with gut-wrenching realism. Her storytelling is adept at weaving intricate plot lines that keep readers on edge, guessing what might come next, yet allowing them to savor each moment.

"This Book Will Bury Me" is not just a novel; it’s an experience that challenges readers to reflect on their own lives and the lengths they would go to achieve their dreams.

Whether you're a fan of literary fiction, mysteries , or a true-crime sleuth, you should enjoy this thought-provoking read,

2.5 rounded up to 3 stars.

When college student Jane Sharp’s dad suddenly dies, she finds the online true crime community as an outlet for her grief. Jane and her group of sleuths become obsessed with a case in Idaho, and things start to get dangerous as they get closer to uncovering the truth.

This book made me feel… uncomfortable. Not in a good way. I think Ashley Winstead brought up some interesting points/criticisms about the true crime community, but felt this book completely contradicted the message she was trying to get across? It brings up valid critiques about profiting off of another persons tragedy, yet this book is doing exactly that.

It’s almost a slap in the face to say it’s *inspired* by the Idaho murders. Not enough changes were made. I could get behind this if the victims families were made aware and supported this book, but I haven’t seen Ashley Winstead confirm anything about that. It seems way too soon to have a book so similar to that case.

As for the actual book, I have always enjoyed Winstead’s writing. I think this book could’ve cut about 100 pages though. It’s extremely predictable but I was wanting to see how everything would unfold. I also think we dwelled way too much on Jane’s dad.. nothing really came of the side plots with her dad’s death except for that being the reason for her getting into true crime. Like what was the relevance of finding out her dad was molested?!

I think I would’ve enjoyed this so much more if it weren’t so clearly inspired by the real life case that have families still waiting for justice.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Four out of five stars. I really enjoyed the author’s writing. I liked the premise and how the author used her own grief/experience to add depth to the FMC. I follow a lot of true crime and my view of the community is that it is toxic, which the book definitely shows. It was written so well because it used real cases to create the story that I truly thought I was reading nonfiction. My ONLY complaint is that the book was way too long. I feel like 100 pages could’ve been cut and it would’ve been the same story.