I was going back and forth, but I think I’ve settled on a 3. This was definitely compelling, enough that I read it in less than a day, staying up till like 1:40 AM to finish it. But in the end, I have super mixed feelings about it. I liked at first that it seemed like it was gonna really dig into the dark side of the ways people get involved in the true crime “fandom” but in the end, that was a let down. Rather than critiquing that movement, I feel like the characters’ actions shown to be were justified because hey, they solved the crime. To be fair, I suppose that is part of the conceit of the book: of course Jane will want to justify her actions, and since it’s an ARC, the discussion questions and talk with the author haven’t been added to the back yet, so I’m not sure about her intentions, and that’s something I will have to check out once the book is out. (Although after looking at reviews and discovering that the case in this book is apparently based on an IRL one, I’m not feeling particularly charitable.)

The reveal of the real culprit was also INCREDIBLY obvious, I think I clocked it after the first few [redacted] references, around 32% in. I did think their motivations were done well, in a fucked up way, and I didn’t predict what it’d be. And wanting to be proven right definitely is the reason I ended up staying up so late. The tension worked for me, it kept me reading.

I did like the found family aspect of it a lot, and the stylistic choices of it being presented as a book the main character was writing (although frustratingly, the clickable footnotes didn’t work, so I had to keep clicking back and forth and spoiling myself for the start of the next chapters). In the end, I’ve enjoyed a lot of Ashley Winstead books (In My Dreams I Hold a Knife was absolutely a 5 star for me), and I was so thrilled to get an ARC for this, but the more I think about it, the less I liked it.

Thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS for the digital ARC; all opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher for a free Netgalley.

This one was quite the ride.This Book Will Bury Me is about Janeway, who loses her father unexpectedly. While grieving she finds a group of arm chair detectives. They work together to solve murders.

I enjoyed the writing of the characters in this one. Each character added something to the plot of the book. None of the characters were "too much" or written in an exaggerated fashion. Jane drove me bonkers at times. But her character was well fleshed out.

While we are given some red herrings, I did figure out one of the end pieces. Though that happened, I still did not feel like it took anything away from the book as the way Winstead laid it out was well done. But that very ending? Fabulous. I loved how this one wrapped up.

Definitely recommend.

DNF - Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this story. Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I don't know why writers think it is a good idea to take a real life true crime, and have it be the premise of a fictional story. It's distasteful and once I realized that this author was doing just that, I had to stop reading. The Idaho Four was a tragedy; one that still doesn't have answers or justice for the victims and their families. It's a big no for me to take the details of their nightmare, and use it for a fictional book.

A 4/5 thriller!

I loved this one! I read In My Dreams I Hold A Knife when it came out for book club, and immediately loved her writing style. I found this book to be equally engaging and interesting, and didn't think any twist was too outlandish.

PS - You know what Ashley Winstead is really good at? Book titles. This and IMDIHAK are two of my fav thriller titles I've heard in so long.

Yup! This Book Will Bury Me….ha but I started wanting to dig my own grave in hopes of escaping having to finish this book. Total outlier opinion I am guessing since it has a 4+ star review, and I am giving this a measly 2 stars.
Initially I was strapped in for a wild ride that Ashley Winstead gave me with "In my dreams I hold a knife" (Why oh why are their scissors on the cover??) The opening few chapters had my attention as we learn that our lead girl is being accused of doing something really bad, and we are flashed back to a time when Jane is what we think is an innocent co-ed at a Florida University. How did her life spiral into the chaos you read on the first few pages?

Sadly the writing style falls off and we dive deep into the dark web, true crime chat rooms and endless references to star trek (or wars?? who cares they both are weird) this trifecta drained my interest. Winstead also grasped every opportunity to remind us that "rednecks" are dumb as monkey butts and racist. She was about as subtle as an Elephant in a China shop letting her political views be known. PSA: Authors keep the politics out of the books please. I am reading fiction, if I wanted to read a politic piece I would pick up the newspaper, so stop. Thanksomuch!

On ward, This book left a really really really bad taste in my mouth. Winstead ripped the all too recent "Idaho College" murder story and fictionalized that tragedy. It was really off putting, I thought. As Winstead is trying to maintain a thriller/mystery plot line on the side she has Jane trying to deal with her father’s death. Prepare yourself…this is going to sound harsh, but like why? There was no mystery about his death. This could have been a completely separate. Book how Jane tries to discover “who her father really was”. Given that this book was pretty long, she should have just cut this whole subplot in my opinion. The last chapter in This Book Will Bury Me was Winstead trying to jump into the deep end of a literary masterpiece, when in all honesty she was just jumping off the edge of an above ground pool your neighbor got from Walmart in 1995 with floaties on and a snorkel. Maybe other readers will find this chapter poetic, but I had completely checked out by the conclusion of this book and couldn’t wait to move on to my next read.

Not impressed, I guessed the ending and never felt invested. Once again Winstead has let me down. I keep hoping for better from her. But maybe if Trump wins 2024 that will at least make me feel like a W in my column since she totally robbed me of my time. [If She can insert her political agenda in her books, I will insert mine in my review]

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to review this advanced copy of This Book Will Bury Me. I was not influenced or paid in exchange for my honest review.

Ashley Winstead is an amazing psychological thriller writer. This book had a lot of twists and turns that were not expected. The initial similarity to the Idaho murders bothered me at first, but the story evolved so much that I soon found myself no longer bothered. Keep doing you, Ashley!
#ThisBookWillBuryMe #NetGalley

Thank you net galley and publisher for this ARC. This book was initially very interesting to me and then felt like it slowed down quite a bit. I enjoyed the twist at the end.

Did not enjoy how graphic this book was and how closely it was tied to Idaho murders. While it was well written it was not enjoyable for me.

I am going to preference this review by saying that I do not read, or follow true crime. I don't listen to podcasts and I have never been in a chat room...so this was a new world to me. I found the mystery to be OK...and I did know where it was going, but I loved Jayne trying to figure her way through grief and the love she had for her father.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a hard one to rate. And I still can’t quite figure out if I liked it or not tbh.

On the one hand, this book managed to really pull me in, it stayed with me even when I wasn’t reading. I think the author did a fantastic job with this cast of characters, especially Jane, she was complex and well written. She wasn’t necessarily likeable, but I don’t mind that in a thriller. I felt for her at times, but I also despised her for some of the choices she made. I found it truly fascinating how the author managed to simultaneously make me like and dislike her.

This played nicely into the commentary on true crime. Jane getting involved with the group and then watching her slowly but surely become obsessed with solving these cases was very well done. It also served as a great way to show how some of the people who engage with these true crime cases and ‘investigate’ will think themselves helpful and important. But what they’re actually doing is often times insanely invasive and disrespectful to the victims and their families and just plain irresponsible and dangerous for the (innocent) people they think are guilty.

On the other hand, though, I felt like it was too long. The pacing was just a bit off.
Don’t get me wrong, it was interesting and well written for the first like 60%, but it also dragged. It only started to really get going after around the 60% mark. All of a sudden, things were happening left and right.
I also struggled with the group’s ‘investigation’ and what goes on towards the end, all of that seemed very unbelievable to me, honestly ridiculous. At the same time, I don’t know anything about the whole true crime thing because that shit really weirds me out, so what do I know? Maybe this actually does happen?

Now with all that said I’d have given the book a solid 3.75 stars.

However, I read some reviews saying that this story is very similar to a real murder case that happened not too long ago? I don’t know anything about that, since it happened in the US. But if it’s true, then I’m kind of confused by what this story was trying to do. Because it obviously discusses and comments on the dangerous fascination with true crime that seems to be so common nowadays and shows the very real consequences this can have. But then at the same time it uses a real murder case as I guess inspiration? That kind of goes against everything the story tried to say, no? It still doesn’t make sense to me, but maybe I just didn’t get it..

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was the best book I've read in quite some time. I was practically glued to the pages- I couldn't put it down! I loved everything about this one- the book inside of a book; two killers with two different motivations (I only caught one!); the grief that drove many of Jane's actions. . . . .it all came together in a book that was fascinating, entertaining and just overall well-done. I honestly think this book will sell itself, easily, but I'll be happy to help it along its way. This was my first book by Ashley Winstead, but it certainly won't be my last!

Wow, what a thriller. As a true crime buff myself, I loved reading about the inner workings of real internet sleuths. I appreciated the interwoven mentions of real true crime, such as talking about the role of Barbara Rae Venter and genetic genealogy. As well, the obvious connections to the Idaho murders of the last few years adds an interesting framing. Highly recommend

Consumed with grief after the sudden passing of her father, Jane drops out of college and moves back home. Once hearing about the brutal murder of three Idaho college coeds, Jane dives deep into the case, connecting herself to some online amateur sleuths. Finding a profound sense of purpose and a new family, Jane and the others become embroiled into the crime they are investigating, placing themselves in danger. For fans of NONE OF THIS IS TRUE by Lisa Jewell or SADIE by Courtney Summers.

I was honestly shocked when I was approved for early access to This Book Will Bury Me and eagerly dived in. This book, in short, is sheer brilliance and an absolute masterpiece!

I cannot tell you how much I geeked out at all the Star Trek: Voyager references peppered throughout the story. Janeway is one of the most realized characters I’ve ever read about - her entire personality and being are so fleshed out as she walks us, the reader, through her investigation of the Delphine murders. I truly felt like I was right there in her mind and part of the action. This story is so immersive that when it ended I experienced a brutal pull back into reality, like waking from the most vivid dream or virtual reality experience.

I’ve loved every single thing written by Ashley Winstead - her dark thrillers and romance books alike - but this is hands-down the best thing she’s written. This Book Will Bury Me is a powerful exploration of grief and infiltrates the mindset of the true crime community in never before seen ways. A must read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up. I really liked this one, as a fan of true crime, I really related to it. I'm not involved the way some people are with Reddit and other sites, but who doesn't follow the news, wonder and try to solve the crime themselves. I liked the concept of the book being told by one of them and setting the story straight on what really happened. My only gripe with this is HOW much it takes from a very real crime that is still being investigated and going through the motions of trial. I figured out a pretty big chunk of the twists and to me it seemed a bit predictable but I still really enjoyed how it shaped up and came out. The ending I 100% was not expecting. I think this did a great job showcasing how amateur sleuths can help but also hinder real life investigations and lives. Overall, not my favorite Ashley Winstead book (looking at you The Last Housewife) but still up there and on par with her other magnificent thriller/mystery reads!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Yet another banger from Ashley Winstead!! I am very tired of the amateur detective/podcast trope, but this version was so fresh and fun. I loved the twists. I loved that it was not just about the murder, but about found family and obsession. I think this is the author’s best book so far.

4.5 stars rounded up! I was hesitant about reading this because I have mixed opinions about the other Ashley Winstead books I’ve read, but this was *almost* a perfect thriller for me! Everything about this novel - the characters, the story, the writing - was so gripping and kept me hooked all throughout, which is hard to do as a fairy long thriller (almost 500 pages). I did think the ending could’ve been wrapped up in fewer pages which is why it’s not a full 5-star read for me. It took a tiny bit of the buzz out when the big twist was revealed and it kinda kept going.. and going.. and going. But otherwise, a really well written story that I couldn’t put down!

I know there’s some controversy about the author pulling details from the University of Idaho murders. You can definitely tell that that case was (at least partly) inspiration for the story, and I can see where that would turn the whole book sour for some readers. Personally, while some details definitely feel inspired by the real life case, I think the author clearly went in a whole new direction to make it her own fictional story, and it did not feel like a rip off, cash grab of the real story to me. That’s just my opinion & I respect anyone who disagrees and feels otherwise! But I would be aware of these details before diving into this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced copy!

I was on the edge of my seat this entire book, enjoyed every moment and well written. Didn’t end up going where I thought it would - in the best way!

WOW!! This hauntingly raw and unique tell-all was gripping and unputdownable! I did not expect to love this story as much as I did when I first started reading. It's basically a book within a book. I wasn't crazy about the footnotes and some of the information seemed unnecessary, but it didn't take long for the story to completely consume my mind and my heart. A little lengthy, but the pacing was fast. It was so well written and engaging. A beautiful mixture of literary fiction, psychological thriller, and true crime. This is definitely my new favorite book by this author. She really outdid herself with this one. I would highly recommend this book to all lovers of thrillers and true crime. It's a MUST READ!

Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for granting me digital access via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead expertly blends grief and obsession in a gripping tale of true crime and the often-twisted paths of amateur sleuthing. Following the death of her father, college student Jane Sharp dives into the dark world of true crime, seeking both distraction and a sense of belonging among fellow armchair detectives. When a shocking series of murders of three college girls in Delphine, Idaho captures national attention, Jane and her newfound friends race to uncover the truth, only to find themselves tangled in a web of misinformation, media frenzy, and danger.

As the story unfolds a year after the tragic events, Jane is ready to reveal the true story behind the Delphine Massacres—a revelation that promises to shock even the most seasoned true crime enthusiasts. Winstead's sharp writing keeps readers on the edge of their seats, exploring themes of obsession, loss, and the fine line between seeking justice and putting oneself at risk. This compelling novel is perfect for fans of psychological thrillers and true crime, inviting readers to question how far they would go in pursuit of the truth.