This book read like a 4 or 5 star thriller. I would have loved it and highly recommended it if not for one huge thing...this book centers around the murder of 3 college girls in their off campus house in Idaho. Anyone who has followed the real University of Idaho tragedy will not be able to miss or explain away all of the similarities. There are too many to list here and it would feel disrespectful to the families of the victims to do so.
If the final publication includes an author's note stating that all proceeds from this book will go to the victims' families, i will happily change my rating.

This book was great. It kept me intrigued the whole time and reminded me of the Idaho college murders. Will read more from her.

This book will be everywhereeeeeee when it comes out! And you should just go in blind because I don't think the synopsis really draws you in.

Jane, a college dropout gets sucked into the world of internet crime solving after the sudden death of her father. She gets sucked in to case after case until there is a huge newsworthy case that catapults her and her little crime solving found family into the spotlight.

I liked the way this one was written. A mix of story and internet chats in a way that made the story fly by. It reminded me a little bit of Cover Story in that way for some reason. The chapters were short and although I'd say this was a little on the longer side I didn't mind the slower, drawn out pacing.

It did feel a bit to on the nose about the recent Idaho murders. I truly don't know much about that case but it seemed like there was a lot of parallels which felt kind of weird to me?! Like the state could have at least been something else and it would have been better.

I will also I figured out the twist at about 30% so I wanted a little bit more of a surprise in the end. I wasn't wiping my jaw off the floor but I did really enjoy the ride.

In My Dreams I Hold a Knife is Ashley's top book in my mind but this is definitely second!

content warnings: death of a parent, murder (graphic descriptions)

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the mystery of the case that was presented. I liked the presentation of information with the use of the forums to discuss what was happening. I felt like I was doing the investigating, which kept me reading. I was invested from early on and very intrigued by the plot. I enjoyed the growth that Jane faced and how she learned to cope with her grief. The side characters were also very well developed and it made it easy to see them as a family.
The big twist was kind of predictable because of the way the story was told from the future looking back. There were a lot of leading statements that made it easy to see where the story was going. I understand the story is told from the perspective where the reader already knows the results and the author is just telling her side of the events. But the leading statements made it too easy to guess the twist. I called who the murderer was from about 60% through. The ending was very satisfying though and wrapped up everything nicely, which i appreciate in stand alone novels.
One thing that was weird to me and kind of off putting was how similar this book was to the real life Idaho murders. It gave me a weird feeling that an author was use such a recent case as inspiration for a book. It just left me feeling kind of icky that so many minute details from the real life case were in the book. All of those details, the location, the victim demographic, the mo, the lack of evidence, the suspects, it is all too similar to the real life case, and a lot of those details could have been easily changed to avoid that similarity to such a recent tragedy. There should be some sort of caution to anyone who may be offended by that, because I have seen this be a point of criticism in a lot of other early reviews.

Ashley Winstead’s creativity never ceases to amaze me—it’s truly wild. This book was phenomenal, exceeding all my expectations. Initially, I was apprehensive about the large cast of characters (and their sleuth nicknames), fearing it might be overwhelming. However, Winstead masterfully crafted each character with such distinct personalities that I couldn’t help but become fully invested in their individual storylines—whether loving them or hating them.

The story drew me deeply into the world of true crime fandom, and I’m already eager to explore more of it. I especially loved following Jane as she navigated her grief and found a chosen family along the way.

Overall, I highly recommend this book! The only reason I deducted a star is that it felt a bit too long. Otherwise, it was an exceptional read.

This Book Will Bury Me
By: Ashley Winstead

This is a 3 for me.
This book is a lot. I had to really sit and think about this review. I'm torn because I liked parts of this book and honestly disliked others.

This is a story about a young woman named Janeway, aka Jane, aka Searcher. A college drop out after her fathers death. She turns to the true crime blogs and amateur sleuth groups online to cope with the loss of her father but ends up losing herself in this group in the process and becoming obsessed.

So, I DID like parts of this story. I also did NOT like a lot of parts of this book. I'll get what I didn't like out of the way first.

The blatant take on a real life tragedy a couple years ago. Set in the same state and other similarities. I had to go read other reviews around 40ish way in to make sure I was reading what I thought I was reading. I, like others, debated on even continuing reading it.

I almost stopped reading at that point.
It made me feel gross.

So did the online forum parts, to an extent. Or rather, a lot of the "armchair detectives" did.

The online mob mentality also made my skin crawl because I imagine that's what's its like IRL. (I will refrain from spoilers or details as the book is not out yet).

The ending kind of faded out for me and I had to suspend disbelief for a good bit of it.

I DID like the online chat parts and footnotes.

I liked the portrayal of Janes grief, as well as her mothers, and their strained relationship. They had different takes on her fathers passing and how they both handled it differently in their grief.

I also did love the found family aspect of it and how they all came together for it.

Thank you to Author, Netgalley, and publisher for this ARC. I wished I loved it more, tbh.

People are either going to love or hate this one.

Oh Ashley Winstead and her marvelous brain! How does she come up with these storylines? This was the perfect execution of a slow burn thriller. Amateur crime sleuthing is a world I wasn’t aware of but it is fascinating!

While the twists are not unexpected, the whole ride is one you will not want to end. Be sure to pre-order and read as soon as it’s released in March!

📚 This Book Will Bury Me
✍ Ashley Winstead
📖 Mystery/Thriller
⭐4.5/5

➡ When a group of internet sleuths get too involved in the case of a serial killer they're solving, they may all be in danger.
◾
🎯 What I loved: This book was riveting. Every chapter closed on a note that left me wanting more and I was hellbent on putting the clues together myself! The band of characters had me intrigued from the get-go and I found Jane's perspective fascinating. Jane's grief-fueled passion for solving crimes alongside Winstead's approach to the amateur true crime solving world made for a fast but thought-provoking read. What I love about Ashley Winstead is her range- she has a beautiful way of immersing readers in everything from dark academia and politically fueled romances to cult thrillers and now an internet-sleuthing mystery.

🙅‍♀️ What I didn't: It was tough for me to reconcile the abrupt shifts in Jane's thoughts that wavered between the crimes she was solving and her own interest in learning more about her father. The story kept circling back to her grief and connection to her dad but to me, that connection felt a little bit forced. Her initial grief driving her into the crime solving community made sense but felt like tying things back to her father over and over when he really didn't have a connection to what she was doing didn't work. This really was my only complaint with the book though and I loved how well the twists, turns and leading were executed in this one!
◾
Read if you love:
*found family/crime solvers
*true crime chats & internet sleuths
*serial killer mysteries
◾
See also: Bright Young Women, I Have Some Questions for You, Ask For Andrea

This book NEEDS to be on everyone’s TBR for 2025. True crime podcasts meets forum sleuths meets FBI consultants. After a pretty traumatic event in her life, Jane takes an interest in a dead body found. Little does she know the twists and turns this is going to throw into her life. THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT is unmatched. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all of the characters and what brought them to the true crime world. Jaw dropping twists that I just did not expect. I would rate this 6 stars if I could.

I’ve read all of this authors books except one of them and this is my favorite out of all of them. I’ll read anything she writes even though I don’t end up loving them but this one redeemed itself and ended up being worth the read. I love the whole true crime aspect to this book, forensics is something I’ve always found to be interesting. I was so hyper focused on one story and I was blind to who was behind the crimes.

Jane unexpectedly loses her father and she decides she wants to take a break from college, she’s heartbroken and wants to go back home with her mother. She suddenly becomes obsessed with true crime and joins the dark web of “detectives” who are really just normal people who have can hack very well. They become obsessed with trying to find out who committed the murders of three girls in Idaho.

I thought I had figured out who was behind the crimes but I was wrong. I recommend giving this book a read. Thanks Netgalley and publisher for the chance to read this book for free for my honest opinion. This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, so I am glad I ended up liking it.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for 5he opportunity to preview this uncorrected proof in exchange for my review. I saw a lot of hype about this book and was excited to read it. The best part was the amateur sleuth theme! The chat room writing sections were okay but lended to the theme of the book, so I understand why they were there. A good slow burn!

I am having a hard time deciding what to rate this one. I enjoyed my time reading it and was caught up in the twists and turns. I thought the portrayal of Jane’s grief was written masterfully. I’m struggling because after reading I learned of the similarities to a real life case in which the victims’ families have not received any closure. That just feels not right to me.

*EYES FOR STARS...STARS FOR EYES? STARRY-EYED*
In 2024, one of my favorite reads of the year was one of the first books I read in the year, within the first couple of weeks of January...
Hello again, to that oh so familiar feeling - because WOW, this book is a stunner. Clocking in at 480 pages, this is my new favorite Winstead read, and will be difficult to be beat.
I was drawn in by this story from the start - and although this book is a marathon for me (hello, ADHD) - I found myself not losing interest (this says a lot, truly) and loved loved loved every turn this story took.
Mystery and/or thriller readers are not going to want to miss out on this book!
5 stars

This book had tons of twists and turns and literally had me staying up way past my bedtime to figure out *what is happening*? I was very much intrigued and invested the entire time. Hits on people of color/minority groups. It's pretty gore descriptive without completely "going there." I'm a little confused on the whole "this is a book to clear my name" thing; maybe would have been better as a blog post. Didn't want to put down. Highly recommend.

If you’re a fan of twisty mysteries, true crime podcasts, or armchair detective dramas, Ashley Winstead’s This Book Will Bury Me might already be on your radar. Known for her gripping storytelling in In My Dreams I Hold a Knife and Midnight is the Darkest Hour, Winstead delivers another thriller that’s compulsive, chilling, and darkly intriguing. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dig in.


The story revolves around Jane Sharp, a college student grappling with the recent loss of her father. Seeking solace, she dives headfirst into the world of online true crime communities. When three shocking deaths rock the small town of Delphine, Idaho, Jane and her fellow amateur sleuths decide to crack the case themselves. But as they unravel the threads of this mystery, they find themselves entangled in a web far more dangerous than they anticipated.


Winstead excels at capturing the morbid fascination many of us have with true crime. Jane's evolution from grieving daughter to obsessive sleuth feels authentic and nuanced. Her online friendships mirror the camaraderie—and occasional toxicity—that can arise in internet subcultures. The novel’s framing device, with Jane recounting the events a year after the case’s shocking conclusion, adds tension and an air of foreboding.


However, despite its engrossing premise, This Book Will Bury Me stumbles in a few areas. As a legal professional and true crime enthusiast, I found some of the legal and procedural aspects distracting. For example, the repeated assertion that evidence discovered by civilians would automatically be inadmissible in court is simply incorrect. While mishandling evidence can diminish its credibility, the strict rules about constitutional violations (like the “fruit of the poisonous tree” doctrine) apply to law enforcement, not private citizens. These inaccuracies pulled me out of the story and made me wish for a more thorough fact-checking process.


Another curious choice was the heavy use of footnotes. While this might have been intended to mimic the style of non-fiction true crime accounts, it felt out of place in a fictional thriller. The footnotes occasionally disrupted the narrative flow, making it harder to fully immerse myself in the story. Similarly, the inclusion of thinly veiled real-life figures, like a Nancy Grace doppelgänger dubbed “Nina Grace,” felt clunky and unnecessary.


Despite these flaws, there’s a lot to enjoy. The mystery surrounding the Delphine Massacres is genuinely compelling, and the interplay between Jane and her sleuthing friends provides plenty of drama and humor. Jane’s personal journey—grappling with grief, finding purpose, and ultimately confronting the consequences of her obsession—is relatable and engaging.


In the end, This Book Will Bury Me is an imperfect but gripping read. If you can overlook the occasional procedural misstep and quirky stylistic choices, you’ll find a chilling, thought-provoking story about grief, obsession, and the dark side of internet sleuthing.

First of all, I’ll praise Winstead’s ability to write about the grief of losing a father while in the throws of that grief herself; it was so incredibly vulnerable and relatable. Grief was a prevalent theme in this book, which I felt worked really well with the topic of true crime fascination. This book was layered — a tell-all book within a book, online forum transcripts, etc. But I found it worked well; it introduced a mystery about the MC Jane that kept me reading, and allowed not only the MC but other characters to be introduced and fleshed out in a way that kept me reading.

That being said, I do wish that the author had created a more fictionalized central crime in the book, rather than using the hyper specifics of a real life crime, especially one that still remains open. I felt like that detracted from the overall message and empathy of the story, and left me generally uneasy with the book and its intentions.

I thought this book was very good! I would recommend to others to pick this one out and read it. If you enjoys mysteries or thrillers this is the right book for you.

📚 Review: This Book Will Bury Me 📘
I really loved this book! It was so good. I really enjoyed it. Whenever I wasn’t reading it, I was talking about it or thinking about it. It was crazy. During my time reading this book it was all consuming.
I feel like @ashleywinsteadbooks really hit it out of the park with this one.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with this book, it is about a young woman named Jane Sharp. Her father just recently died and to get her mind off her grief she becomes involved in an online group of true crime sleuths who have been working together to solve cold cases. Well Jane joins them in their quests. And just as they are solving one case, another case even bigger than the first happens. The group even starts working with the FBI to help solve this next one. Jane becomes a key person in solving this crime. What she discovers is more than she or her group of sleuths would have ever imagined. I really don’t want to say much more in fear that I would give too much away. Just know that book gets crazier and crazier as the storyline unfolds. When I say it consumed me it really did. Again, I loved this one. If you are a fan of true crime, you will definitely want to check this one out. This was a true ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars for me!

Thank you to @netgalley and @bookmarked for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Pub Date: March 25, 2025

Have you read this one yet? What were your thoughts?

I love Ashley Winstead's writing. It is like Riley Sager's, descriptive without being drawn out. Entertaining and easy to get through. However, I just felt like that one was drawn-out too much for me. I felt like a lot was going on with the characters but the plot was taking forever to move on. Again, probably a good pace for most, but I found myself wanting to get through it quicker and it just wasn't happening. I DNF.

i went back and forth between rating this 3 or 4 stars and ultimately settled on 3, because like many other reviewers, i take issue with the setting and details of the "fictional" crime this book primarily focuses on. while i loved Winstead's writing and the overall plot, i did not appreciate that the crime being investigated in this book was so heavily influenced by a very real and very recent crime. i was shocked how many parallels and even exact details were pulled from real life. many of these details could have been changed without impacting the story - the easiest of all being the state the crime took place in. idaho, really??? is the author trying to be intentionally controversial because...seriously, WHY? i feel so conflicted about this one because if a lot of these details had been changed, this could have been a 5 star book for me. i really loved everything else about it and was engrossed in the story every time i actually picked it up, but it took me a month to finish because i never wanted to pick it up. if it weren't an ARC, i probably would have DNF'd it.

thank you to netgalley and sourcebooks landmark for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.