Ashley Winstead’s 2021 thriller, In My Dreams I hold A Knife, caught my attention and never let go throughout my reading experience, so I jumped at the chance to obtain an advance copy of her newest novel.

This Book Will Bury Me, is told from the POV of our main character, Janeway Sharp (what a truly awesome name!), who tells her story in a book she is writing after being involved in a controversial true crime case. A book within a book is one of my catnip tropes so I was immediately intrigued. Janeway, known as Jane, is a college student who recently and unexpectedly lost her dad to a heart attack. Everyone deals with grief in their own way, and for Jane that means diving into the internet world of true crime amateur sleuthing. After Jane assists in solving her first case, she falls in with 4 other internet sleuths, who quickly make a name for themselves as they try to solve a recent murder of 3 university women. This novel was a slow burn, but I was invested throughout. Unlike some other readers, I did not see the twist coming. I always appreciate a thriller/mystery where the author can catch me off-guard in that way.

Admittedly, I did find, In My Dreams I hold A Knife, more propulsive and heart-pounding, however, This Book Will Bury Me, still gave me a lot to think about. It will be perfect for lovers of true crime and those who enjoy diving into the underworld of internet sleuthing. It will also make for great book club or buddy read discussions, especially for those who love mysteries, thrillers, and/or books that have an element of controversy around them. Winstead’s latest novel is based on the November 2022 murders at the University of Idaho, and some may find that fact controversial and uncomfortable, since this is a murder case that will not have been tried by the date of the publication of this book, March 25, 2025.

3.5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC of This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead in exchange for my honest review.

If you saw my stories recently or even the reel I posted yesterday, you already know I DEVOURED this book. First of all, thank you @bookmarked for sending this ARC, it meant SO much to me. A book within a book about amateur true crime detectives and I couldn’t have loved it more. If you hear me talking about this book for the foreseeable future, I am sorry but not sorry. Coming March 25, 2025 so put this on your Libby hold, pre-order, or whatever you want but just make sure to add it to your TBR!

I for the most part I really liked this story. The characters were likable, the plot to some extent believable, the message that the online true crime community can be harmful or helpful was also important. What I didn’t like and what made me really uncomfortable was the fact that the author used the 2022 Idaho murders as the basis for her story. Anyone familiar with that crime will certainly see it in the story. It is a pretty blatant use of a recent high profile crime to base a fiction story on. Many people will be justifiably outraged by this, and there will be pushback on what is otherwise a pretty good book.

I really liked the main character Janeway, who is the sole narrator of the story. The story is told in the first person and is styled like a memoir or true crime nonfiction story, which I really liked. I liked how Jane often broke the fourth wall to help the audience understand what was going on. Jane was a young woman dealing with the grief she felt over the death of her father. Her grief was overwhelming her and she starts off looking for answers. The depiction of her grief and the path she takes to overcome it, was well done. Jane’s biggest fault though is her impulsivity and her naivete. Both of these put her in some difficult situations throughout the story.

I also liked the community of armchair detectives that she befriends on the internet. They have a bond and are very much like a family though they have never met in real life. They welcome Jane with open arms and take her in and help her learn how to solve a murder.

This is very much a plot driven story and there were some really interesting twists to the story. I was able to figure out part of what was really going on with the murders early on, but not all of the story was easy to figure out. The pacing and writing were solid for the most part and I was happy to follow along with figuring out the story with the characters.

However, I really disliked how close to the Idaho murders the story gets. It felt very exploitative, and totally unnecessary. The victims were almost exact copies of the real life women, the suspects were similar as were the crimes scenes. The seemingly ineptitude of the small police force was also used. Even the description of the town was eerily similar. I think using this crime that is still in litigation was unseemly and I expect better from authors and publishers.

But the commentary on how social media and the true crime community sometimes hinders or at times helps high profile investigations was well done. We saw this with the Idaho murders. The social media posts were out of control, accusing people right and left with no thought to how that would impact innocent people’s lives. The friends and families of the victims were unfairly victimized during the whole thing. As was the police force who, for good reasons were very quiet about the investigation. I think the author did a good job of portraying all of this in the story, but also showed how some of these amateur detectives can be helpful at times. (Although I don’t believe that was the case with the Idaho murders)

Looking past the huge problem I had with the use of a recent the murders, this was a really well done story. The twists and turns were well done and I was second guessing myself the whole time. If you like fiction that resembles true crime then this might be a book that would interest you. But be aware that there are parts that might make you just as uncomfortable as they did me.

I binged this book! I’m fascinated by true crime and the culture surrounding it. Like many individuals, I’m deeply curious and love to solve mysteries. Yet, I recognize the complicated nature and potentially harmful side to this phenomenon.

With that said, I feel like Winstead does an excellent job exploring the nuances of true crime. There are many layers to this story, and I really appreciated the character depth.

I was able to “solve” this one rather quickly. But that didn’t really impact my enjoyment of the book, rather it felt like a sort of validation.

Overall, I would recommend this book to fans of true crime and mystery thrillers. It’s a slower paced thriller, but I think it pays off in the end.

My rating: 4⭐️

Compelling, raw, and immersive! I will read anything Ashley Winstead writes and this one took me on a dark ride toward an explosive ending!

When Jane Sharp’s father dies unexpectedly, she is quickly drawn into the world of internet crime sleuths as a distraction from her grief. There she finds community and purpose as she contemplates her beloved dad’s death. After a local crime is solved with Jane’s help, she is hooked. And when the Delphine, Idaho college massacre takes place, she and her little band of super sleuths will go to the depths of darkness to find out who killed these innocent coeds. But the answers will only raise more questions and present very real danger to these True Crime junkies.

I was mesmerized by this story, I could not put it down. This almost read like a True Crime documentary and I felt like I was part of the hunt for this deranged serial killer. If you enjoyed Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll then you will love this one!

Thank you Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on March 25, 2025

Ashley Winstead did it again! I couldn’t get enough of this book. I love how she writes characters and their twisted motivations. I loved seeing how the story unfolded and how it related to the real world of internet sleuths and what they will do to solve a case. I had so much fun with this book and it’s another of my favorites by Ashley! Special thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book.

Ashley Winstead is the queen of dark, compulsively readable thrillers. Told in several mediums in the lens of a tell-all memoir, this was an interesting change of pace that really worked for me. The story follows Jane as she finds herself dabbling in true crime forums and eventually vigilante justice after losing her father unexpectedly. It also has a great found family element to it that I think will resonate with anyone who has ever made “online” friends. This book sheds a light on the underbelly of the sort of post-Serial obsessive true crime subculture and is absolutely gripping. While I guessed the twist, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book. 5 stars for another masterpiece from the queen.

Pub Date: 3/25/25
Review Published: 3/3/25
eARC provided at no cost by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who loves true crime, I was immediately sucked in. Jane and her online sleuthing friends are determined to outwit the police and help solve media-frenzied crimes across the country. Jane was just looking for a way to cope with her father’s death but ends up having her life changed forever. There were some great twists and turns that I did not totally expect. I just love Ashley Winstead’s writing.

4.5 stars! There were a lot of parallels with the Idaho 4 case and it makes me wonder how much online conspiracies and armchair detectives really affect (or maybe even harm) the outcome of a case.

Thank you to Ashley Winstead, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for the advanced e-copy in exchange of my honest review.

Janeway Sharp was just another college student, partying on a Saturday night, when a single phone call changed everything. Her beloved father had suffered a fatal heart attack.

Consumed by grief, Jane searches for answers. How could this have happened? Why did her father leave her like this? She isolates herself in her room, creating a shrine around his ashes, and soon becomes fixated on an unsolved murder in her area—a woman’s dismembered body found in a garbage bag with no leads.

That’s when she discovers the Network, an online forum for true-crime enthusiasts eager to solve cases they believe authorities have mishandled. Jane’s obsession leads her to make reckless choices, but ultimately, those choices result in a breakthrough—the arrest of the killer.

Drawn deeper into the world of amateur sleuthing, Jane is invited into an exclusive group of dedicated Network members. They take justice more seriously, pushing past the boundaries of online speculation. When news of three murdered girls in Idaho surfaces, the group launches its own investigation. Something about the case feels off—the stories don’t add up, and law enforcement is withholding information.

Determined to uncover the truth, the group takes matters into its own hands. Their pursuit leads them to Idaho, where they find themselves entangled in a dangerous game. The killer they’re chasing may be far more experienced—and far more cunning—than they ever imagined.

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This book has sparked strong reactions—some readers loved it, while others outright despised it. Personally, I fall somewhere in the middle. If you separate the Idaho storyline from real-life events, it becomes a solid, if unsettling, thriller. However, the fact that it draws so directly from the still-unresolved Moscow, Idaho murders makes it undeniably controversial. Bryan Kohberger has yet to stand trial, and incorporating such a fresh, painful case into fiction is bound to raise ethical concerns.

That said, the true crime genre has always borrowed from reality. Jessica Knoll’s Bright Young Women offered a fresh perspective on the infamous Chi Omega murders linked to Ted Bundy, providing a compelling look at survivors left in the wake of tragedy. In contrast, "This Book Will Bury Me" leans into the darker side of true-crime obsession. Jane’s journey serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of becoming too entangled in online communities and real-world investigations. She not only builds relationships with strangers but also uproots her life to chase a killer, all while navigating the unresolved grief over her father’s death. That emotional depth was, to me, the most compelling aspect of the book.

Given its premise, this novel is bound to stir debate. Readers should take time to read the author’s note and reflect on their own relationship with true crime. After all, every thriller has a real-life inspiration—sometimes, that inspiration is closer than we’d like to admit.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

You can never go wrong with Ashley Winstead Books. This one did not disappoint one bit. I was hooked from page one and I was super invested in this story. It was a fun journey going along with Jane and her coming across a new passion she grew to love which was in the true crime area. After her dad passed away she really didnt know what to do with herself. She heard about a murder that happened and came across some sites that involve true crime and other people who were into that sort of thing and she wanted to be a part of it. More events started happening which was another horrible case involving the murder of 3 College student females and now with Jane being involved with this true crime network, she was determined to help try to solve the case with her new friends.

I dont want to give away too much of the story but so much more happens in this book, with more murders and more crazy twists that happen that will make you not want to put this one down and be in shock!

This was my 4th Ashley Winstead book and it had me hooked from the get-go! This Book Will Bury Me surrounds Jane Sharp, a 24 year old college student whose father passes away at the beginning of the book. This sets Jane into a spiral causing her to drop out of college, lose her job, and lose herself deep within an online forum of sleuths for a distraction. Jane becomes "Searcher" who helps put the pieces together to a local murder which sets off a chain reaction catapulting her to internet fame and making her an essential piece to this core group of sleuths- Lightly, a retired detective from Chicago, Mistress, a stereotypical grandmother and retired librarian, Goku, a tech-guru who works for Amazon, and Citizen, a Marine who has a rough upbringing and sympathizes with Searcher.

This novel had me gripped from the very beginning. I loved the premise, I loved the execution, I loved every minute of it. I thought the entire thing was genius! Did I guess who the ultimate killer was? Yes. Did that upset me or spoil it for me? No! I was still invested and kept reading. I appreciate how everything was wrapped up neatly at the end and that we were given answers for everything, even if they did give us some wiggle room to fill in the blanks. 5 stars for This Book Will Bury Me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC!

This Book Will Bury Me follows a strangers-to-family group of internet sleuths who jump into the dangerous and addictive world of crime-solving, particularly focusing on the murder of six college students who’s killer effectively left no trace to follow. The police and the FBI are both at a loss, and so it is up to this group of underdogs to infiltrate, investigate and uncover. Each of these amateurs have not only secret online identities, but well crafted and distinct personalities: Jane Sharp, the young college student and novice; kind and protective Mistress (I couldn’t stop picturing Lin Shaye); the genius hacker with a heart of gold, Goku; retired, by-the-book former law enforcement Lightly; and military charmer Citizen. Winstead wins over and over again with This Book Will Bury Me, showing her undeniable craft and talent for creating something that has a heartbeat of its own.

Reading like non-fiction, partially because of its method of storytelling (a “tell-all” confession), and partially because of the attention to detail, This Book Will Bury Me is a non-stop, exhilarating mystery that surprises and scares. I’m a sucker for a “found family” dynamic, and by the time these five get off the internet and step into the real world, I was rooting for them to not only solve the murders, but find something perhaps equally necessary: connection, purpose, belonging. As with most true crime, there’s an inherently human aspect. It’s the catalyst for many who remain fascinated despite its heartless nature. Whether it’s justice, discovery or morbid curiosity, the need to know is strong and prevalent. I was tethered from the very beginning, and felt that all too familiar empty ache when I closed the book and was left both satisfied but crestfallen it was over.

Also, shoutout to Morristown, TN! Having recently lost both my grandparents who hailed from Morristown, Jane’s grief over her father felt especially poignant. Life is a beautiful and fragile thing.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

This is the second book I've read by this author and while I liked In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, I really enjoyed this one. In my opinion, the author's writing and craft improved, not that they were ever bad. I liked the entire premise of this, even though I'm not a true crime girlie. Winstead captured the true crime craze perfectly. Out of all the characters, there were very few that I didn't like, which I feel weird saying considering the subject matter. They were fleshed out so well that I could see where each one was coming from and why they did the things they did. The pace of the story was so smooth and natural, I was never bored. It was full of tension, and I felt like I was on the edge of my seat often.

I'm excited to find out what Ashley Winstead puts out next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for feedback.

I struggle a bit with where to rate this book. There were times I really enjoyed it and others when it felt like I was reading a completely different book.

True crime and internet sleuthing seems to be the trend right now and I’m seeing a lot of books come out with that as a premise. What I liked the most about this book is that it felt like the main character(s) were actually capable of solving the crimes they were investigating and didn’t just accidentally stumble upon a crime that needed solving. There was thought and logic behind how they approached the clues that made this feel a little more elevated than your average thriller.

I also liked that the chapters were fairly short and rolled right into one another. It was difficult at times to pull away from the story. That being said there are a few parts of the story that did feel a touch slow and I think could’ve been trimmed more or removed altogether but even they weren’t enough to completely turn me off the book.

Now, this books main murder takes place in Idaho and if you’ve paid attention the news in the last 2 years I bet you can guess which crime it’s modeled after so trigger warning if that case upsets you. I agree with other reviews that the murder in this book does resemble that crime a little too closely and I think more could have been done to set the fictional crime apart. That was part of the book that kind of lost me because I had read a lot of what was in the book already just from reading the news.

The big plot twist was also easy to see coming if you paid attention to the beginning of the book. It didn’t make it any less satisfying for me but if you’re expecting so huge plot twist you might be let down.

Solid 3.5 stars

This has an intriguing premise. Jane unexpectedly loses her father and is overwhelmed by grief. She leaves college and then connects with a group of online sleuths who investigate true crime. A high-profile case of college students murdered in Idaho has Jane's group searching for clues to help solve the case.

This was well-written with short chapters, and it starts with a moderate pace but picks up as the action builds and becomes suspenseful.
Jane and her online group develop a bond via chats in a true crime forum, which adds a fun epistolary element to the book. The characters are quirky and memorable. I rooted for Jane and felt like her personal storyline, working through her grief and trying to learn more about her father, was raw and compelling.

While I enjoyed many elements of the book, and have loved this author's previous books (and will continue to read her books) it does very very closely mirror the real-life 2022 Idaho murders of four college students, and this was hard for me to read. It is too soon for me. But, I think that true crime fans will really enjoy this one.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for the gifted ARC.

I am really sad that I did not like this book as much as I could have. I really loved Ashley's book In My Dreams I Hold a Knife so I was looking forward to her new release!! For most of the first half of the book, when we are learning about the death of Jane's dad and her obsession that begins over true crime and sleuthing, I was really enthralled by the book and loved where it was going. My problem was that once we got to the halfway point and started getting more in depth on the main murders that were the subject of the book, I started to realize the similarities to the University of Idaho murders of the 4 students that happened less than 2 years ago. It wasn't that this book just took inspiration from that event, most of the details around the murders are copy and paste, all the facts from the real events that occurred. Given that the Idaho 4 murders happened not too long ago, the trial is ongoing and investigations/due process is being carried out, and the families have had less than 2 years to grieve the losses of their children, I just got an icky feeling reading the rest of the book.

It is a shame because this book had a lot of potential and I really enjoyed a lot of it. If the author would have decided to use a lot less identical facts of the Idaho 4 murders in writing the main murders in her book I would have rated this book higher. But it feels too soon, and for a book that is trying to be a dialogue on the true crime community, using the Idaho 4 murders as the main subject of the book just didn't fit well.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the free book!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark Publishing for the opportunity to read and review This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead. All opinions are my own.

First off, I need say that Ashley Winstead is an auto buy author for me. I loved In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, The Last Housewife, and Midnight is the Darkest Hour. I was so ready to read a new one from Ashley Winstead. Unfortunately, I had trouble with it from the get-go. First, I had trouble getting attached to any of the characters and it seemed slow. Second, once the story got to the Idaho murders, I was shocked how much this novel seemed to be taking from the real crimes that did happen. Crimes that are still in litigation. This just didn't sit well with me, so I made the decision to DNF at the 35% mark. I'm sure there will be a large portion of readers who don't have a problem with it and will enjoy the book, but this time I'm not one of them. Will I continue reading from Ashley Winstead? Absolutely, most of her writing is a complete hit with me. Looking forward to what she puts out next. This book will be available at all major book retailers on March 25.

This book is difficult for me to rate. I loved Jane and her pursuit for answers. However, there were parts of this book that dragged and parts that just didn’t seem believable. Overall a good thriller with a very different storyline!

I’m a big fan of Winstead’s books and her unique voice. This Book Will Bury Me defies genre or formula. It’s a true crime novel, a tell-all, a grief journey and a story of found family. And it all works so well!

Jane is faced with the sudden and unexpected loss of her father. Grieving and searching for answers about who he was and what led him to certain lifestyle choices, she turns to the internet - and finds a true crime forum. Jumping in with a few questions and observations, she is taken in by an established sleuth group. What unfolds from there is the start of a new search, distraction and all consuming obsession.

What a ride! I would recommend going in not knowing more than these basics. Buckle up!

I feel quite conflicted here. For starters, I really enjoyed the main character and the “tell-all” style of the book. I was fully into the storyline. Janeway is a little gem. I had no qualms with the writing style, it was quite good.

However, the main case in the story is wayyyy way wayyy to similar to the *actual* idaho murders from 2022. it feels wrong to write and profit off a case with an active trial, idk. Also, I called the “twist” so early on, i really wanted to be wrong, but it kind of took me out of the story a bit.

I hope the author addresses why they’ve focused on and kept details almost identical to the real life idaho murder case.