A mystery thriller (and a bit of an adventure story as well). A group of give true crime enthusiasts set out to solve a mystery in middle america. I loved that this book was set almost in a found footage way of the character telling the story a year after everything happened.

I thought the twists were well placed and impactful without feeling like the author is trying to mislead you for the sake of it. I enjoyed the main character and thought their little group of sleuths are a compelling group. I would definitely read another book by this author.

From the beginning of the book, we know something terrible goes wrong.

The book is written as a the main character’s tell-all book, reliving the events of one year ago, when Jane, the “author,” was an internet true crime buff, part of a group that worked to investigate crimes and help police solve them, a la “Serial” podcasters and fans, etc. But as I said, Jane often breaks the fourth wall in her book and we know that during her big investigation something goes terribly wrong and she is publicly shamed, possibly even prosecuted. We don’t know what happens yet.

I don’t want yo give away details, but I was really into this one. It starts off telling how Jane gets involved in the true crime world, leaving little crumbs, like I said, that she gets involved in something sinister. I was absolutely dyyinggggg to find out what it was! (Hint: the “big case” is mirrored after a very famous one you’ll recognize, but don’t count on it being a mirror image.)

And thus story has twists upon twists upon twists. There’s plenty going on, but the author is good at leaving little tidbits in there that will eventually make you go “ahhh! It makes sense now!” I enjoyed seeing all these little pieces come together and create the larger picture.

However, my only “meh,” moment came when I guessed pretty early on what one of the MAJOR twists was going to be. I thought it was pretty obvious. And at a certain point I just wanted it revealed. Because it was just really obvious. But like I said, there were other twists in there that kept things up to a four-star read. I wasn’t disappointed overall.

If you’re a fan - or heck, even not a fan - of the true crime genre trend, thus will be a good one for you. It’s also incredibly suspenseful and full of twists that keep coming, even if you see some of them.

I definitely recommend it!

I could not put this book down. It’s almost 500 pages but I read it in a single day. The story of a young woman looking back on how she got wrapped up in a true crime case that went off the rails was super fascinating. The book has a lot of commentary about true crime enthusiasts or amateur sleuths in addition to providing a compelling mystery that Jane and her group of sleuths are trying to solve.

The book is presented as Jane writing her own events of what went down after everything had been misrepresented by others in the press and on social media. I like that perspective in books where the main character is looking back and peppers in comments like “if only we knew at that point what we’d learn later” and things like that. It adds a lot of dramatic tension and intrigue. I also enjoyed the use of footnotes and ways it was trying to make the book feel like a memoir.

This isn’t the most fast paced mystery/thriller on the planet. A lot of time is spent introducing Jane and the other amateur sleuths she meets. We get to see them working together and just existing as friends or a found family unit before things really kick into high gear in the plot. Near the end of the book the tension is increased and it becomes pretty fast paced, but don’t go into the book expecting the whole thing to fly from plot twist to plot twist.

Outside of the mystery plot I appreciated all of the time spent dealing with Jane’s grief over losing her father and feeling like she had to create some sort of legacy for him and herself. I felt like Ashley Winstead did a great job at showing how it made sense for Jane to become so obsessed with spending all of her time on true crime cases.

Definitely add this one to your TBR if you’re interested in complex characters, fascinating mysteries, and true crime commentary!

Dang, this book was good.

The style of writing kept me absolutely hooked. Short chapters are always a plus in my book. The crime junkie, internet sleuth community perspective and review boards made the story even more interesting. It felt like you were solving crime alongside Searcher and her friends.

I loved the POV of the main character, and how her journey as it relates to her dad was braided throughout the narrative. The character development was just want you want it to be (shout out Mistress!).

I really couldn’t put this book down.

This is my first read by this author, and I’m so glad I was approved for this ARC.

Highly recommend - especially for folks who like writing/stories similar to Verity or mysteries by Ruth Ware.

This book is written from the perspective of a young woman who got caught up in the world of true crime and armchair sleuthing and who did something wrong in order to get answers, and she's telling us her side of the story retrospectively. I was immediately hooked by this premise and by the mystery of what our main character did that has gotten her into so much trouble. As a true crime media consumer, this was right up my alley - I recognized the real-life people and cases that were alluded to, and I also really related to the struggle between being interested in true crime and reckoning with the real-life consequences that come from true crime media. This was a super fast read and kept me interested until the very end!

Wow! This story takes a deep dive into the dark world of amateur sleuthing that I didn't know existed to this extent. After the death of her father Jane Sharp dropped out of college and began her obsession with online true crime as her way to grieve. This obsession leads to a chilling mystery in Delphine, Idaho.

The twisty plot and the promise of shocking revelations make it a page-turner and will be a fun one for those interested in true crime. However, it loses a star from me for its resemblance to real-life events, particularly the Idaho murders - it felt all too familiar..and predictable!

Overall, an intriguing story that blends suspense and the allure of solving the unsolvable!!

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Landmark, Ashley Winstead, and Netgalley for my ecopy of this book!

4.5 stars.

Still reeling from this book, and honestly, I might need a moment to process my feelings. But let me just start by saying: I absolutely devoured this. I felt hooked from the start.

As someone who wasn’t super familiar with the details of the Idaho murders, the true crime elements were both fascinating and addictive. Ashley Winstead strikes a perfect balance between being informative and keeping the story engaging—never boring, always compelling.

The characters really stood out to me, especially Jane. Her grief over losing her father was written so beautifully and felt deeply personal. As someone who’s currently watching my mom battle stage 4 cancer, Jane’s journey hit me hard. Her story was cathartic in a way I didn’t expect, and that emotional connection is a big reason why this book earned such a high rating from me.

Now, that twist. I didn’t see it coming, but I’ll admit, I’m the type to just vibe with a book rather than analyze every possibility. Looking back, the clues were there, and I can see how sharper readers might guess it early—so keep that in mind if you’re a seasoned thriller fan.

If I had to nitpick, I’d say the pacing could’ve been tighter in a few spots. The ending, especially the third massacre, felt a little rushed, and, like most thrillers, there were some unrealistic moments. But honestly? Those are minor critiques in what was otherwise an incredible read.

This is my third Ashley Winstead novel, and I’m officially obsessed with her writing. She’s become an auto-buy author for me, and I cannot wait to see what she comes out with next. Highly recommend this one if you’re a fan of true crime-inspired thrillers that pack an emotional punch!

Ashley Winstead is my new favorite author. I was totally immersed from the first page, and found the book hard to put down.

The story is written in a first point of view. Janeway Sharp is the 24 year old viewpoint character. The author does an excellent job of making us a feel her grief and confusion over her dad’s death, and her need for distraction. Through her eyes we get to know the other amateur sleuths - their personalities and what motivates them - and the reader feels like they know them too.

Ashley Winstead’s writing is clear and easy to follow. I was never once taken out of the story by confusion over what she was trying to describe.

The plot was delightfully twisty, but logical. You The story unfolds in surprising ways, and the reader is there every step of the way. The author left no plot holes in the story, which for this reader is huge.

I can’t recommend this book enough!

True crime come alive really is a trip…to a crime scene…for your vacation?
For Searcher and her sleuthing crew, the answer is a resounding yes. After her father’s death, Jane (Searcher) is trying to find signs of love he left behind for her. While looking, Jane becomes more and more interested in online crime sleuthing. While it starts someone low-stakes, eventually the FBI come knocking! What follows is a whirlwind escape into a world many true crimers would die to see!
I very much enjoyed reading this book, I have been in a big reading slump and this was the book that finally brought me out of it! I am so excited to see this book’s popularity skyrocket over the next year!

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the digital review copy!

Jane Sharp, a college student grieving the loss of her father, becomes obsessed with true crime. She joins forces with a group of other armchair detectives, investigating crimes and becoming online friends. When the murder of 3 college girls in Idaho takes over the headlines, the group springs into action and travels to Idaho to meet in person and investigate the murders. Jane and her group aren’t the only amateur sleuths in Idaho. Far too many true crime junkies have made the trek to try to solve the murders too. Jane and her group find more questions than answers. They soon realize the killer is far worse than anyone imagined.

The story is told through Jane’s point of view. She’s writing a book and recounting the events a year after they take place. This is a character driven thriller. That doesn’t mean there weren’t a lot of twists and turns, because there were tons. My heart broke for Jane at losing her father and her life was derailed by grief. Her friendship with her fellow sleuths and the distraction of the investigation gave her something to focus on instead of constantly turning inward.

Author Ashley Winstead kept me guessing trying to figure out whodunnit. It’s also an interesting take on the popularity of true crime and its dominance right now. I really enjoyed this compelling and engaging thriller.

"If you’re reading this, chances are last year you flipped on the news and saw me getting shoved to my knees in the dirt, hands wrested behind my back, gun-toting FBI agents swarming like ants around me into that three-story house."

What an opener to a really interesting slow burn mystery. Janeway Sharp had dropped out of college after her father died, and she turns her attention to true crime forums. She is recruited into an online group of crime solvers. These are people that believe they are better than the police, they spend hours delving into cases and analyzing evidence. It's an odd group of people from all ages and occupations.

The group becomes obsessed with a serial killer who has killed three female college students in Idaho. But the group quickly makes an enemy of the police when they decide to go to Idaho and solve the crime themselves. But the killer is still there...


This was really interesting. If you're into true crime shows or podcasts definitely read this.

Thank you netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for giving me an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Love, love, loved this book! If you enjoy true crime, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat! Great read!

One of the best books I’ve read in a long time!! I love that this reads as a non fiction- fiction. A literal thriller memoir. I was hooked and I felt like I didn’t know which way was up or down with all of the twists. At times I felt like I had all the info but none at all. Great characters as well!

This book felt unnecessarily long. Almost to the point where there wasn’t enough happening to justify the story being told. The characters were likable enough but the pace was incredibly slow. While I wish I could say I would recommend this book, I truly believe there are so many other thrillers out there that are so much more captivating.

This book was interesting. Im a little torn as I did like some parts and not the others. It seemed to be based pretty closely to the real crime. It was intriguing but I knew from early on who it would turn out to be. Also it’s a little too long for me personally.

Thank you #NetGalley for this #ARC

Overall, I had a great time reading this book. It’s only 3.5 stars because I found it easy to call the big twist far too early in the book, but is that the book’s fault, or is it because I just read too many thrillers? That said, I loved the narrative style of the book with the direct talk-to-reader moments and the footnotes... I loved the commentary about grief and how that could lead people into an obsession with True Crime. It was super fast, and had some great moments despite being predictable.

Some “If you liked” style comparisons: I’ll Be Gone In The Dark

Warning: Ashley Winstead lays it out in an author’s note, but this is True Crime inspired and it HEAVILY takes from real cases that are currently ongoing (she credits them in the author’s note). I noticed many reviewers take issue with her profiting off them, but she did acknowledge her reasoning and the cases at the beginning, so it didn’t bother me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this advanced reader copy.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Ashley Winstead for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Can Winstead do any wrong?? Not in my eyes. She once again knocks it out of the park with another book that will keep you on your seat and have you engrossed until the very end. The true crime amateur aspect to this book was done very nicely and I enjoyed watching the different true crime detectives come together to solve a huge case.

I cannot wait to see what Winstead brings us next.

In the day and age of true crime doubling as entertainment, one has to wonder about the ethical implications of true crime escapism.

In 'This Book Will Bury Me", due to be published in March 2025 by Ashley Winstead, Janeway Sharp is a college student who just lost her father to a heart attack. In the midst of her grief, Jane stumbles upon a message board frequented by amateur sleuths attempting to solve real-life crimes. What follows is an exploration of grief and how the true-crime community can help (or inhibit) real-life investigations.

Winstead uses details from real-life true crime cases that set the internet on fire to get the reader thinking about the implications of the public's involvement in true-crime stories. In the midst of a page-turning crime story, Winstead also manages to guide the reader through the stages of grief with the main character, which in my opinion is the best part of this book.

This is definitely a page-turner and a thinker. I think some readers will find the details of a real-life true crime story to be a bit of a turn-off, but considering the overall theme of the book, I found it appropriate.

Her beloved father recently dead, a 24 year old college senior delves into the online world of amateur detectives and becomes part of an elite group when 3 women students in northern Idaho are murdered. She and her crew converge on the town along with hundreds of other amateur crime fighters and three women on the colleges track team are slaughtered. Keeps one reading for sure. Interesting look into the subculture of online amateur sleuths, their information networks, and podcasts as well as the danger they can cause and put themselves in.

This one fell a little flat for me. I was not a fan of how closely related to the Idaho college murders it was.