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

conflicting feelings on this one. overall, enjoyed the true crime, web sleuths aspect of this book (as a true crime lover myself) but I was not a fan that she heavily references the Idaho murders and it just seems.... like she's profiting off of this tragedy? it's just so weird to be reading this book and being familiar with that case, it just doesn't sit well with me. like so many details were almost identical to what happened to those girls, changing a few details here and there. she does make note of this in her author notes but I don't think I was expecting it to be so blatant.

it was hard to rate this one because I truly did love the overall idea of this story. true crime is one of my interests, I read through forums, attend a monthly true crime chat at my local library, stay up to date on cases, listen to podcasts. I believe this would have been a great book without that connection and for me, especially so soon and with almost identical details. that's why this didn't quite meet the 4 or 5 star mark for me. 3 stars feels fair and I'll leave it at that.

I find Ashley Winstead’s books to always be page turners and this one was no different. Her ability to write dark thrillers makes her one of the best in her genre. This book, keeps you guessing, makes you nervous to keep reading (at points) and has you rooting for justice! However, I was a bit creeped out that this booked was based on real
Murders and so close to when they occurred. When I googled, I saw the trial is still ongoing….

With that in mind, I don’t want to give too much away, but if you’re ok reading a spin on the Delphine murders (Truthfully, when this story broke in real life, I shielded myself from it. While I like to read thrillers, I do not enjoy true crime. I had to google the differences in the story because I didn’t know what was real and fake.) then I would recommend this book. This story has you on the edge of your seat at parts and has all the ingredients of a good thriller! I will also comment though that the pace was a little off and the book a tad lengthy (I think some of it could have been edited out). This was a hard one to rate, but I give it 3.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

This Book Will Bury Me
by Ashley Winstead
Pub Date: March 25, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
From the bestselling author of In My Dreams I Hold a Knife and Midnight is the Darkest Hour comes a chilling, compulsive story of five amateur sleuths, whose hunt for an elusive killer catapults them into danger as the world watches.
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!

I think this was the longest book that I’ve ever read… I seriously didn’t think that it would ever end. This book literally buried me in guilt. Guilt that I should have put this in the DNF pile several days ago.
I will say that I wanted to read this book as I loved Winstead’s, “In My Dreams I Hold a Knife”- in fact I loved that book so much, that I keep looking for the same “high” I got with that book with every other Ashley Winstead book. Unfortunately, it just hasn’t happened. Each book I’ve read of hers after that one has been less and less appealing for me, with this one being the worst. With that being said- I think it’s time that I part ways with this author (it’s not you Ashley, it’s me), as we are just not a good fit anymore. :(

In this story, we have Janeway Sharp who unexpectedly loses her father. With this devastating news, she leaves college and moves back home with her mother. Jane is grieving (and rightfully so), and so she joins a true-crime online forum to help solve murders and cold cases. On this online forum, Jane makes many new friends who become like family to her. Solving crimes may just be what Jane needs to distract her from her own pain and grief.

This book is a work of fiction, which reads kind of like nonfiction (does that make sense?). In the very beginning of the book there is an Author’s Note, in which she states that she drew her inspiration for the stories from real cases, such as the University of Idaho (which played a major role in this book). I felt that were too many characters to keep track of, or maybe I just didn’t want to. I also felt that this book was geared towards a younger audience. I wish this book would have worked better for me, but it ended up not being my cup of tea…

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and the author for a DRC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: March 25, 2025
Genre~ General Fiction (adult), Mystery & Thrillers, Women’s Fiction

After suffering loss herself, Jane seeks refuge in the internet. In particular, the true crime community. While seeking a little distraction, Jane instead finds herself a sense of purpose and community within her true crime family. But, at what cost?

Besides In My Dreams I Hold a Knife (always my favorite Ashley Winstead as this was the book that drew my attention to her), this is probably my favorite of her books. I thoroughly enjoyed the true crime aspect and the light that was shed on the twisted nature of true crime - the combination of dark fascination with death and shedding light that is necessary to catch the killer. I loved and devoured this book.

There were a couple of parts that really didn't seem to fit or make sense when it comes to the loss of her dad, including a tidbit about his past that came out during her search for connection. But maybe I missed the point? Either way, it didn't distract from the story just really didn't seem to provide benefit.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Definitely look out for this one in March as it is hard to put down!

Okay buckle in, because I have a ton of thoughts about this book.

First, I want to start with what I liked. I thought this book. I enjoyed the main character Jane, as well as her found family of true crime afficionados. As someone who has experienced quite a bit of loss and grief, I thought she was very well written and the withdrawal from her life and hyperfocus (aka descent into madness?) she takes in the aftermath of her own loss and grief to be accurate and touching. The book is well paced, the characters are fully fleshed out and likeable, and the arc is well thought out, if not predictable. I guessed the big twist at just under 50% completed, but the ending still felt somewhat satisfying, although a little rushed.

But this leads me to the issues I have with this book. The vast majority of the details of the crime that occurs is just an almost full regurgitation of what is currently publicly known about the 2022 Idaho University murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. From the exact school, the looks of the characters, the Greek life, the killer using the sliding glass door, the murder method (stabbing)- these are just a fraction of the similarities. There are also rumors that the man who is currently charged with the murders participated in online forums speculating about the crimes prior to being arrested. Instead of being inspired by this case to come up with her own novel, Ashley Winstead has taken all of the pain, horror, and violence of this case and then expanded and extrapolated on it, musing about the victims last moments, increasing her word counts with her own fantastical descriptions of these victims' horrific final moments.

Writing and publishing this story, at this time, has to be the most unethical, deplorable, and disgusting thing I can think of an author ever doing. Ashley Winstead is such a great writer. I have loved her previous stories. She is clearly intelligent and bright and could have still written this book and changed enough details so that it wouldn't harm any of the victims' families, but no, she chose to rip off the popularity of this case in the true crime space in exchange for sales. I am so utterly shocked that anyone could be so vile and callous, I will never read another book by this author. Shame on you Ashley Winstead, and shame on Sourcebooks Landmark for publishing it.

Let me be very clear: these victims have parents, siblings, family, friends, loved ones for whom this case is still fresh. They have received no closure, no justice, no peace. I anticipate massive public backlash when this is published, and it will be fully earned.

Man, what a read! We follow Jane's story as she connects with some online friends to try and figure out some murders, true-crime style!

I'll be honest, this one took a few tries to get into. The first few chapters were a little slow, and then it took a complete 180 and I had a hard time putting it down! I've never read anything from Winstead, but she sure can create a mood and setting that leaves you thinking about it even days after reading! While I did see the final twist coming, there were just enough turns to keep it interesting without feeling forced or out of place. Thanks so much for the ARC!

This was a different type of book for Ashley to write. She dips her toes in the true crime/podcast/amateur sleuthing world and we follow her characters as they try to solve multiple cases from around the country. I have no idea if people actually do this but I wouldn't be surprised. She made not so subtle nods at Crime Junkie, My Favorite Murder, and more. Some reviews talk a lot about how this book follows the murder of 3 college girls in Idaho and is a little too close to reality about a case that isn't fully done yet. A lot was different by the end of the book but I still felt like she could have changed the state at least.

This book was also about grief of losing a parent and it was woven in as the motivation for our main character Jane to start digging into cases in the first place. I enjoyed how this intertwined with the story but I couldn't stop thinking Jane was nuts for dropping out of college to solve murder cases from her laptop in her bedroom.

Overall, this is my least fav of Ashley's thrillers but still an enjoyable read. Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an advanced copy. Out 3/25/25.

I've seen controversial reviews no this book and I understand. I did enjoy the story, however. A serial killer angle, a surprise twist (although I saw it coming a little over halfway through). I thought the book was fast paced and well-done!

This book was twisty and turny in the best way. I loved the narrator and the way the story was told.

So, this book literally made me extremely conflicted bordering on a moral existential crisis for like a month…but @readbyregan ‘s review today really reminded me that I needed to finally write my review about it!

Okay, so I did go into this book not having read the synopsis and solely wanted to read it because I have absolutely loved all the author’s past works, writing style, and her online persona.

I was quickly and fully drawn into the thrilling aspects of the book and the epistolary style of the online forum sections and on those factors alone this would have easily been a high 4.5⭐️ or even a 5 star read for me.

Here’s where my spiraling began (🚨POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD, PROCEED WITH CAUTION🚨)

I soon found out that this book was “loosely” based on the Idaho College Murders which was actually really heartbreaking and tough to read about. This author oftentimes does play on these themes of using pop-cultural true-crime moments to add to the thrilling factors in her books. I normally actually like how she weaves the real happenings into the fiction but, this seemed a little different and I’m not sure why?! Maybe it’s because I remember every aspect of the case and the day it happened or because I’m a chronically online true-crime girlie and it was horrifying or maybe even this being the first notable true crime story that has happened where my frontal lobe is fully formed?!

Also, this is totally not a pile on this author! I think based on the writing, plot, and characters I really liked the book and fully was entertained! It just really made me think. And if I could take anything away from this book, I think the MAIN overarching theme of it was to show just how crazed this case was because of the internet and the easiness of the transfer of information wether real, misinformed , made up, etc because of social media. Like the world can be at your finger tips BUT, if that information isn’t vetted for truthfulness falsities can run rampant AND THE INTERNET IS FOREVER!

My final opinion is, I truly don’t know. I don’t know if I liked this book, I truly don’t know if I do or don’t recommend it, I don’t know if true crime as purely “fictitious” “entertainment” is predatory…I just don’t dang know!

I think this one will just be the first book that will stay in my no rating purgatory (but I’ll put it at a middle ground of 3 star so I can leave my review) , because I just don’t know.

⭐️THIS BOOK WILL BURY ME, out MAR 25th⭐️

Special thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for a review copy of this book!

Wow. I’m very new to thrillers, and this might be the one to get me hooked. (Or at least hooked to Ashley Winstead.) I instantly connected to Janeway Sharp and the devastating loss of her father, experiencing something similar myself. And while I didn’t grieve by being consumed by amateur sleuthing to solve murders, I couldn’t look away from this story as it unfolded. Five stars!

Thank you to Net Galley for a free e-book in exchange for this honey review.

This is when I really wish I could be giving half stars. I want to do 3.5, because putting 3 feels like I didn’t fully enjoy the story, which I was actually very engaged in. But putting 4 also feels too generous for how I felt about the book as a whole.

This book was based around true crime sleuths and their contribution (or hindrance) to solving crimes. It did its job of making me check all my house locks before going to bed.. it felt more real than other thriller books..

Mainly because the crime itself is directly pulled from the Idaho College Murders that happened TWO years ago. Now the author does note this in her opening letter, but it feels kind of lazy and insensitive to not change more of what happened. There are some differences, mainly the twists of who did it. But in the same state and to three girls that lived in a party house.. was just a little too exact.

I also couldn’t tell if the author was trying to side with true crime sleuths or not. The protagonist kept mentioning guilt when being called out but then swearing she wasn’t in the wrong.

The parts about her dad felt a little forced. The opening letter the author also mentioned that her own dealings with grief affected this novel. So those parts felt raw and emotional, but also didn’t feel needed besides how it lead the main character to start true crime sleuthing. Felt like she had to keep coming back to him randomly so she could have a reason to tie it all together.

But hey, it gave me a lot to think about and kept me engaged so I did enjoy it despite everything above.

Thank you to NetGalley and Source Landmark for giving me the opportunity to read this advanced copy for my honest review.

Ashley Winstead has forever found a reader in me. This started off slow for maybe ten pages and then it hooks. Like all of a sudden I was staying up the entire night to read it in one sitting.

The twist? Called it early, but it was interesting seeing the crumbs left. Second twist? Comes in quick.

3.5★

My thoughts in a few sentences:

I liked this book and I recommend! The plot was interesting and the characters are funny, smart, and realistic. The writing and the voice of this book was one of my favorite things about it. It comes out March 25, 2025!

Full thoughts:

I went into this book blind and I highly recommend doing the same! It made everything that happens so much more shocking.

This Book Will Bury Me is addicting and well written. The formatting of the true crime chat forum snippets and the footnotes included throughout the book made it feel interactive! I love books where the narrator acts as the author of the book, and they write as if they’re speaking directly to the reader.

I found that the first 30% read faster-paced than beyond that point. That does make sense given the difference in the duration of the first case the group helps solve and the second (and main) case introduced. I wouldn’t say I was bored after the 30% mark since I was kept on my toes and the process of the group finding evidence and brainstorming was very interesting, I just felt like it dragged a little compared to the first 30%. Although I did guess the plot twist, I very much enjoyed the overall plot and how everything played out and was revealed! The ending did feel unsatisfying to me unfortunately. I liked it, but I do wish it played out differently.

I enjoyed the characters in this story a lot! There was a nice found family element that the main character, Jane, really needed after losing someone very important to her. The dynamic of the cast of characters and how they worked together to find evidence and find justice for the victims flowed smoothly.

SKIP THIS NEXT PARAGRAPH IF YOU WANT TO GO IN BLIND!

The closure that Jane finds at the end of the story is touching and a nice element to the resolution of the book. She struggles with her father’s death throughout the entire book, and is caught up in her worry that she’ll never know everything she never learned about him. She does learn some new information about him from friends of his that she contacts, but ultimately finds acceptance and peace that part of him will always remain unknown. In the final sentence of the book, it says “Remember him, record him in the annals, and let us both rest in peace.” I got goosebumps when reading that because she credits her success in solving the case to her father. Since Jane is the “author” of this book, you can tell she feels a sense of relief that she finally has HER truth about the heavily media-covered case out in the open.

Thank you Sourcebooks & NetGalley for the free eARC!

This book bears an unsettling resemblance to the real-life story of the Idaho murders, which makes reading it feel deeply uncomfortable. Given that the actual case has not yet gone to trial, the timing of this fictional release feels inappropriate and insensitive. It’s difficult to separate the fiction from the reality of such a tragic situation, and that disconnect left me feeling uneasy as I began to read.

From what I know about this author, she isn’t afraid to tackle difficult topics and craft thrilling narratives. However, I haven’t read any of her previous books, so I can’t compare this work to her past efforts. The buzz surrounding this book on NetGalley initially encouraged me to request it, but now that I have it in hand, I regret my decision.

I strongly feel that delaying the publication of this book by at least a year would have been a wiser choice. It would allow more distance from the real-life case and offer readers a better opportunity to approach the book as a work of fiction rather than something that feels exploitative of ongoing events. For now, I don’t think I can finish reading it, and I hope the author and publisher reconsider the timing of its release in future situations like this.

Ashley Winstead definitely knows how to write a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat. As a true crime watcher and part time arm chair detective I can see why folks get consumed when a tragedy happens and the need to solve the crime as well. I’ve been reading Winstead since her debut novel and each book keeps getting better and better!

I received an ARC of this book from Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback.

When I first started reading and saw that the subject was a multiple homicide at a university in Idaho, I wondered if this was based on the actual case in Idaho. But I don't really know enough details about the real case to compare. Reading some other reviews, it appears there are a lot of similarities which upset other readers. I personally do not agree, but I can see why some might be sensitive to this.

The format of the book is really unique, as it's supposed to be Jane's writing. It was slightly frustrating when she would say "she who would not be named," but the author actually revealed who she is referring to in a reasonable amount of time before I got fed up. I tend to get fed up easily when authors make vague references and then take ages to clarify.

I enjoyed the relationship between the web sleuths, and I can completely see this happening in real life with lonely people essentially finding an online family.

The villain occurred to me early on, but just as a passing thought, so I was still sufficiently surprised when it was revealed.

I felt there was one point not proved and did want closure on it. I also thought the author was going to go further with Jane's father's legacy.

One thing that was a bit annoying was the footnotes, as on the Kindle, it was not particularly easy to read them in real time when they were mentioned.

I flew through this book and couldn’t put it down. It also is so much like the murders of the University of Idaho students…like down to very specific details. I think that’s why I was so engaged but it also felt kind of…wrong? I have friends that were at the “murder house” at U of I just hours before the girls were killed so I guess I’m sensitive to this case…. But also a bit obsessed with it 🤔
Pros: short chapters, great writing. Cons: is it too much too soon about a heartbreaking case that isn’t even over with yet? Undecided on that. Giving it 5 stars because it’s all I could think about for days.