This Book Will Bury Me was the EXACT thrill-ride I needed to kickstart another year of reading! I haven't had a mystery/thriller that hooked me and made me scrounge for 10 minutes here and there to get in another chapter in in a long time! Ashley Winstead introduces us to Janeway "Jane" Sharp, a college student in Florida who is not exactly thriving. While trying her best to fit-in and attending outings, she gets a phone call from her mom that her dad has passed away. This event shapes all of Jane's subsequent actions - dropping out of college, returning to her hometown Starbucks to work, and spending time on internet sleuthing websites to read about a semi-local murder case. Jane quickly becomes obsessed with the online message boards. Showing a knack for internet sleuthing, she is eventually invited into a group of "elite" sleuths, which sends her down a path of unforgettable friendships and a wild ride in the front row seat to a serial killer.

Reminiscent of the Idaho Murders in real life, three college friends are all murdered in their home. This is the case Jane and her elite sleuthing friends are determined to solve, even if it means forgoing work and flying to Idaho. We are introduced to a parallel universe to our own, complete with Nina Grace (Nancy Grace anyone?)! Winstead lays out the story as a tell-all memoir from our main character Jane. We can tell that this story takes a wild turn, as there are references to 'The Person Who Shall Not Be Named,' setting the record straight, and going against the advice of her lawyers. A tale of friendship, murder, mystery, and of course a tiny bit or romance, This Book Will Bury Me will keep you hooked until the bittersweet end!

Thank you to NetGalley, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, Sourcebooks Landmark, and the author Ashley Winstead for an ARC of This Book Will Bury Me in exchange for an honest review.

Okay I have things to say.

First of all, I really, really love the premise of this book, and it is very different from anything i’ve ever read! I found myself thinking of this book often, and i always love when books have me hooked like that!

The characters were all so extremely likable in my opinion, and I am a sucker for unexpected friendships!

The one complaint I have, is that there was a point around 70% where I felt the upcoming plot twist was made obvious, and I wish it had been more subtle!

That being said, a lot of other plot twists happened in this book that caught me completely off guard, and I was hooked until the very end!

Thank you to netgalley and sourcebooks landscape for the arc!

Winstead’s writing in this book is superb. From start to finish, the writing is gripping, spellbinding, and absolutely captivating. Once you start reading, you just cannot stop. I couldn’t put this book down. The characters were compelling and I enjoyed their interactions with each other. This book did a deep dive into the true crime culture and did an excellent job of showing all the sides of the “armchair sleuths”. But, as much as this book was about murder and true crime and the complexities of a world that lives online now, it was also about grief, love, human nature, and found family. Winstead did an excellent job of marrying all these themes together in a way that felt natural. She tugged at your heart strings, made your jaw drop, and kept you glued to the page. The ending was truly explosive and so well done. The only part of this book that didn’t feel quite right was how closely some of the crimes in this book resembled crimes that occurred jn real life fairly recently. Other than that, this book was a truly gripping read.

I don't believe I have ever read anything by this author before, and I can't say I'm that big of a fan. It seemed a little predictable and it went on for longer than necessary.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity

Winstead's new novel is framed as a book written by the protagonist, Janeway Sharp. Jane spirals after the death of her father and quits college and immerses herself in online forums to push aside her grief. She quickly befriends an online group that is dedicated to solving murders, a group that has been pretty successful to date. When three college women are murdered in a sorority house in Jane becomes more and more obsessed the the group. When more murders take place, the gang travels to the college town to make sense of it all.

The tension is thick! Winstead creates a bit of claustrophobic anxiety as we get closer and closer to solving the crime. If you love true crime, or a unique thriller, this is a book for you!

We have Jane, who is dealing with the sudden death of her dad, trying to find something to distract her and stumbles on true crime forum.

She gets involved and soon forms friendship with 4 other true crime sleuths and tries to solve cases. I really enjoyed the found family aspect of the story and the messages in the forum.

The book was way too long and the first 75% of the book dragged for me. I did enjoy the twist and how the story played out

Thank you @bookmarked for a copy of the book.

DNF

After realizing this is an almost exact retelling of the Idaho 4 (without the author even acknowledging that’s what it is) I can’t finish this book.

I understand authors take ideas from real life but this is too fresh and raw. The trial hasn’t even started yet, the families haven’t received justice so it just feels in bad taste. Plus the amount of similarities is way too many. I’ve enjoyed Ashley’s other books but unfortunately this one was a big miss.

This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
3 stars

This is the only book I’ve read by Ashley Winstead. I am basing my review solely on the quality of writing etc. I understand there is a lot of controversy over the subject matter in this novel HOWEVER, the synopsis was made available to readers and as readers we CHOSE to proceed with reading. On the flip side of that statement, I acknowledge that the details and events in this book are damn near identical to a true event and this book was clearly inspired by the tragedy that took the lives of victims and destroyed their families.

There is an authors note at the start that states the inspiration is from a true crime case. I do hope the author revises that note to include something heartfelt and respectful to the affected families. The way it sits now, I interpret it to be dismissively insensitive and the author needs to do better.

It took me longer than usual to get this book read. On average I read a book in 1-3 days. This one took me several weeks to work through. This is a story about internet “sleuths” across the world that follow ongoing and cold case crime investigations. During a spree of multiple homicides at a college campus, a group of five characters break off together and begin their own research as the investigation is unfolding. Ultimately, law enforcement brings this group into the fold to assist with the investigation and things go awry.

Each of the characters has their own personal experience that initially brought them to the true crime community and as we learn their individual stories, they become more relatable. Under the surface there is a theme that touches on grief and how the journey looks different for individual people. This group becomes a tight knit family of sorts which I love. Found family is my number one favorite trope! I think the writing is decent with good relationship building. The pacing was somewhat slow in the beginning but at the same time, that pacing allowed us to learn the character back stories. I think it showcases what society in general excels at, becoming so focused and caught up in something that you forget real people are affected. (Much like the author potentially did while writing this book.). It translates as dehumanizing (which again, is an accurate depiction of society.) The pace picks up speed at the halfway point and brings us through to the end of the book pretty smoothly. The plot twist wasn’t actually much of a twist, it was predictable and from that point on the rest of the book was predicable as well. I’m not a fan of the ending, it was lackluster and left me thinking “that’s it?”

Overall, an average read. It wasn’t a terrible novel but it wasn’t amazing either.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars!)

This Book Will Bury Me is a gripping blend of true crime and thriller that immediately grabbed my attention. The opening was intriguing and the story that kept me turning pages late into the night.

The novel follows Janeway Sharp, a 24-year-old college student whose life is unraveling after the unexpected loss of her father. She’s dropped out of school and moved back home with her grieving mother, struggling to navigate her new reality. Told entirely from Jane’s perspective, the book is written as if she is documenting the events in a book herself, creating an immersive and personal reading experience.

Jane soon finds solace—and obsession—in the world of amateur online sleuthing, where she becomes entangled in a case that offers both distraction and danger. Her deep dive into internet investigations introduces her to a tight-knit, eccentric community of fellow sleuths, a dynamic that I found both compelling and endearing.

I read the majority of this book in one sitting during a flight, which speaks to how engaging it was. The pacing kept me hooked, and I genuinely enjoyed the relationships that formed within the amateur sleuthing community. However, I deducted half a star due to the predictability of the ending. While this is a personal preference, I tend to rate thrillers lower if I correctly guess major twists in advance.

That said, the journey to the conclusion was still thoroughly enjoyable. If you love a true crime-inspired thriller with a deeply personal narrative voice, this book is definitely worth picking up.

If you like stories that are ripped from the headlines, this might be for you. I am not sure how I feel about that aspect of it. The book borrows many many details of the Idaho college murders for this, and while on one hand it is interesting to see how she spun it into fiction, on the other there is something a little off putting about it. I found some of the plot points a little unbelievable, but this is pretty typical in thrillers. All in all I think I was lukewarm on this book. Not the worst thriller I've read, but not the best either.

With sharp and beautiful observations of grief, a found-family of fully realized oddball characters, and sinister crimes whose spark points unravel throughout a deftly executed plot, Winstead has written a true tour de force in This Book Will Bury Me.

After Janeway Sharp's father unexpectedly dies her senior year of college, her grief is infinitely crushing. When a woman in her town is found dismembered, she finds her way to an online true crime network of amateur sleuths. After she helps them solve the case, she's invited to a more exclusive group of armchair detectives, and she immediately finds purpose and connection with them. When three sorority girls at Northern Idaho University gain national attention, Jane and her new friends gravitate toward the case. As they attempt to sort out who committed such devastating crimes, Jane is forced to decide where her line of ethics lies, and what could be worth crossing that line.

Told through the lens of Jane writing her own memoir about her experience, Winstead explores the complexities of true crime obsession, violence against women, overwhelming grief, and our innate, human desire for purpose and connection. With the use of mixed media, Winstead authentically depicts the often unnecessarily cruel vibes of online forums, while also doing what she always does best: lovingly fleshing out characters in misunderstood corners of society, allowing readers to challenge stereotypes from a more nuanced understanding of what motivates people.

Fans of slow-burn mysteries, fully realized ensemble casts, and contemplations on grief, friendship and family will absolutely devour This Book Will Bury Me!

This book was a tad out of my element. Although I love true crime, the gore surrounding this book with the realistic ties to the Idaho murders made me rethink my initial interest in the novel.

4 ⭐️

This was my first Ashley Winstead book and I enjoyed it! Loved the true crime aspect and all the twist and turns. The only con was it was on the longer side!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I loved the journey this book took me on! I am not one who watches a lot of serial killer shows or documentaries nor do I look stuff up online but I’m not opposed to them, and I have friends who enjoy them. Diving into a fictitious version of what I expect it’s actually like was super fun to read. I did figure out one thing and knowing I was right is satisfying. How the story played out was enjoyable to read. Ashley Winstead definitely writes a fun thriller. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC to review.

Okay, this is what it feels like to read a book that is tied up so beautifully with a shiny ribbon. This took me so long to read. Not because of its content but because of my own distractions. I write this because the slow burning build to this plot felt like exactly that a little monotonous but very quickly the reader understands why each detail mattered. Because of the pacing at the start of the book, I was SO incredibly surprised by the ending. The pace stayed consistent but truly the twists kept coming and at the end I felt like every single thing was tied up so nicely. So many times you read a mystery or a thriller that leaves you frustrated with more questions than solutions. This book nailed the ending for me.

I have to say this book was kind of boring. I struggled to finish it. Very slow moving. I should have dnf’d it.

Twenty-four-year-old Jane Sharp is distraught after the death of her father. The world of true crime becomes a perfect diversion when she is invited to join a diverse group of amateur online crime solvers. Adopting the alias Searcher, Jane teams up with Citizen, Goku, Lightly, and Mistress, forming the Newsline 5. Following the shocking murders of three female college students in Delphine, Idaho, the group gets so involved in the hunt for the killer that they become a part of the story, which keeps getting more and more complicated. Jane recounts this compelling tale one year after the case has concluded and reveals the complete truth behind the murders. 

This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead is a work of fiction inspired by real cases, as noted in the author's introduction. While a gripping crime thriller, it is also a story about grief and love, as Jane comes to terms with the loss of her father, a man she realizes she never fully understood. The book raises intriguing thoughts about the role of armchair detectives who may aid in crime-solving but can also create havoc. The media can also cause damage to an investigation and its victims. Winstead became a must-read author following her 2021 debut, In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, and she continues to produce dark, chilling stories. She has also written two entertaining romance novels, which amazes me how she can juggle such different genres. If you are a fan of true crime, you'll want to read this book. 

4.25 stars.

Jane Sharp is an older college student trying to figure out how to embrace her life at her university when she gets the call from her mom that her dad has had a heart attack. After his death she struggles to find meaning in anything. She doesn’t return to school, picks back up her Starbucks job and falls down a rabbit hole of online true crime sleuthing. When she gets invited to a more exclusive group she decides this could be her calling and her way to honor her dad’s memory. She starts working with 4 others to find out who killed 3 sorority girls in Idaho. What unfolds will change her life forever.

Grief does crazy things to people. I sympathized with Jane the whole book. As a lifelong Daddy’s Girl, I ached right along with her. As a true crime junkie myself I can absolutely see how she found purpose in her digging. Winstead can sure tell a story and I’m here for it every time…she is an auto read for me now.

THIS BOOK WILL BURY ME by Ashley Winstead follows Jane Sharp, who dives into the world of armchair detectives to investigate a mysterious case at an Idaho university. The novel excels at showcasing a “found family” dynamic among the group of sleuths; their camaraderie and collective sense of purpose are highlights of the story. It also offers a fascinating look at the allure—and pitfalls—of amateur investigation.

While the pacing is compelling, the ending feels somewhat abrupt, and the narrative focus on the perpetrator overshadows the victims. Though Jane’s grief is central to the plot, her character could have been explored in greater depth. Additionally, the title doesn’t quite capture the nuanced story within.

Overall, it’s an engrossing read for those intrigued by online sleuthing and strong group dynamics. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Publication date: March 25, 2025.

This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead had a premise that hooked me immediately.

After the death of her father, Jane Sharp is looking for distraction from her grief. She happens upon a true crime website, with amateur sleuths with extricate means looking to solve crimes. She finds herself hooked after helping to solve one murder. When three college girls are murdered on a college campus in Idaho, Jane and her friends think they must go to the source, get closer to find the killer. Delphine, Idaho doesn’t necessarily want their help though and the media storm blows up this case more than any of them can fully realize.

I thought this book was fine. The premise was intriguing and there was some good character development early on to establish the true-crime network and all those involved. The longer this went on, I found our main character less likable and it made it hard for me to continue to stay invested. I also felt the balance between Jane and her friends trying to solve the murder and Jane looking into her father’s past was unbalanced and at times fighting against each other. I felt like I saw the twist coming a mile away and the final twist frustrated me.

I also noticed that some of the plot points in the Delphine, Idaho case were eerily similar to the 2022 University of Idaho murder case, which is going to trial this summer. There’s something about this that made me feel icky and almost made me DNF this book.

I was really excited for this one, but felt a bit disappointed in the end.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: 3/25/25