NetGalley Review — my rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead is a thriller surrounding 5 wanna-be internet sleuths trying to solve crimes all over the country — but can they do it without getting in trouble themselves?

This was a goodie from the Winstead camp! I would def say 4.5 rounded down because I guessed the twistyyyyy but her writing absolutely slays! Her characters are so easy to get in touch with and her stories are ones you can fall right into.

Pick this novel up in stores and online March 25, 2025! Big thanks to @bookmarked for the ARC! ✨

#netgalley #sourcebookslandmark #ashleywinstead #thisbookwillburyme #arc

The way I dropped *everything* I was doing when NetGalley granted me the wish of THIS BOOK WILL BURY ME by ASHLEY WINSTEAD!

It’s no secret that I live for an ASHLEY WINSTEAD book & have been anticipating the heck out of this one since I first heard her talking about it. I stayed up so far past my bedtime to devour it and loved every word!

We’ve got true crime + amateur sleuths + a tell-all + complicated grief + an unlikely found family + Heathers + obsession + a dash of Greek life + fame + infamy.

It’s everything 🙌🏻

Jane Sharp finds herself engrossed in the most famous crime in modern history. Everyone thinks they know the true story of what really happened in Idaho, but one year after the infamous crime, Jane decides to tell the shocking truth.

After her father’s unexpected death, the only place Jane finds solace, or purpose, is in a group of four fellow online armchair detectives. She sinks deeper into the dark and morbid world, finding she has a natural talent for crime solving.

When news breaks that three college girls were brutally murdered in Delphine, Idaho, Jane and her friends are determined to solve the case before any other true crime fanatics. Their obsession brings them together and as the media descends on Idaho and coverage reaches a fever pitch, the dangers surrounding the case escalate.

This book is such a fascinating exploration into the reality, the obsession and the dangers, of amateur sleuthing. It’s dark and powerful and filled with pain and warmth. Bringing justice and building a legacy and paying honor to those we’ve lost. It’s heavy and engrossing and a thoroughly entertaining page-turning thriller.

From the writing to the characters to the twists and reveals I was so invested in this story. ASHLEY WINSTEAD always infuses her books with so much emotion + moments of relatability + raw feelings. I loved the format + the footnotes + the dashes of humor. Can’t wait to tab and dog-ear this book when it hits shelves on 3/25/25.

Thank you to @netgalley & @bookmarked @ashleywinsteadbooks for my dream eARC.

Janeway Sharp, after the unexpected death of her father, is looking for a distraction and becomes obsessed with true crime and the online true crime forums. She quickly is invited into a small group who become her found family, and they teach her the ins and outs of armchair detective work.

When three college girls in Idaho are brutally murdered, the forums go crazy trying to solve the crime. Jane and her friends are right in the thick of it - but things take unexpected turns, and things aren't what they seem.

This book is well written, and although I suspected the twist before it happened, I was engrossed enough to finish in a few days. Very suspenseful, with a main character who is on-again off-again likable. Some of her decisions were maddening.

Although this is fiction and claims any similarity to real life is unintentional, I felt the details were too close to the real-life Idaho case, which has yet to be resolved. For that reason, it made me feel a bit uncomfortable, and I hope the family members of the real-life victims never pick up this book.

I enjoyed the found family dynamic, the slow burn pacing, and the authentic way Jane's grief was written, as well as the crime forum conversations.

There is the closeness to the real-life Idaho case, and there are graphic murder scene descriptions, but I would recommend this book to those who love dark thrillers..
Expected publication March 25, 2025
Many thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the e-arc of this book

This Book Will Bury Me hooked me from the beginning and while the middle was a bit slow at times, I enjoyed reading through the twists and to the end. I felt like it wrapped up nicely. With that being said, there are two MAJOR problems with this book:

1. So much of it was super unrealistic. You can't honestly expect people to believe that internet sleuths' help is going to be welcomed and accepted by the FBI, right? And that they are going to be given special clearance... I'm not buying that.

2. And worse... I found it super gross that so many details about the case in this book were exact copies of the real life Moscow, Idaho murders case from 2022. I did not understand the reasoning for this, felt like it was insensitive to the families, and could have easily been avoided. I read an ARC of this novel and I can only hope the author will address this in some form in either the author's notes or acknowledgements at the end of the book OR (better yet) change these unnecessary details prior to publication.

I really wanted to like this book but simply cannot get past the straight-up copying of very recent real life murders that haven't even been to trial yet. For that, I'm giving 2.5 stars cautiously rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an e-ARC of this novel.

OH MY GOSH! Ashley Winstead is truly the best.. I LOVED this book! My heart was pounding and the true crime podcast piece was done SO well! Thank you netgalley!

Wow wow wow. This book absolutely blew me away and may be my favorite Winstead book yet. Or at least tied with The Last Housewife. The amount of depth that went into telling this story - amateur sleuths hunting a killer - was so well developed that I kept wanting to pick up the book. Any time a thriller is over 400 pages I worry that it will be too much filler. But nope! Each chapter had purpose and was organized. I loved how the format was set up with the FMC telling all in a book about what has transpired. Such a clever set up. And I suspected the one twist or maybe that was the whole point but it was so well crafted. Following along with the clues and how these sleuths hyper focus in dissecting information made we want to do a deep dive into reddit. And the found family - did not plan to absolutely adore this team of misfits. Mistress and Lightly are by far my favorites! I also thought the character development of Searcher/FMC was done so well. The focus on the impact of losing her father and how that shaped the entire book was so important.

One of the best thrillers I have read in a long time.

The Last Housewife: 5 stars
This Book Will Bury Me: 5 Stars
Midnight is the Darkest Hour: 4 stars
In My Dreams I Hold a Knife: 4 stars

This is going to be a bookstagram/booktok favorite for sure! I was obsessed with this book! I imagine it would make a great audiobook as well. I loved the way it was written. If I could wish for one thing, it would be to flesh out a little more the part about she who shall not be named and her accusations. Since that was the reason for the book I think it should’ve been discussed more

This Book will Bury Me is written for the true crime lover. It is engaging and fast-paced, and it reads like a true crime podcast. The twist was easy to guess, but still fun to watch unfold. There were some side plot lines I was not a fan of- grieving her dad’s death as she dives deep into the online true crime community. Most of it was entertaining, but I missed having a big shock moment. Definitely worth a read!

Thank you Netgalley and sourcebooks for the advance copy buuuut I will not be reading this. I should have done more research prior to requesting, but saw an author whose books I’ve enjoyed in the past and automatically requested. After reading the initial author’s blurb mentioning several true crime events “inspiring” (if you can even be inspired by that kind of thing) the plot for the book, and digging deeper into other reviews describing how the author used the Idaho murders in explicit gory detail, only changing the victim’s names for “respect”… it felt dirty to even consider reading this. This is a tragedy that has yet to see any closure or justice so to mimic it in a *fictional* novel feels sooooo very wrong to me.

This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead is a chilling and intricately woven psychological thriller that keeps readers guessing until the final twist. Winstead’s sharp prose and keen insight into human nature create a tense and gripping atmosphere, with layers of secrets and lies gradually unraveling. The characters are flawed yet compelling, adding depth to the story's twists and turns. While the pacing falters slightly in the middle, the tension ramps up in the final act, delivering a satisfying and thought-provoking conclusion. A must-read for fans of dark, character-driven mysteries.

Her best book yet!!! I loved how the story was told in the form of a book as well as forum posts, it made everything so fun to follow! I was hooked from the very beginning and absolutely loved every minute of it. The characters were great and all interacted so well!

Reeling from the unexpected death of her father, college student Jane Sharp, unexpectedly falls in with an underground community of amateur sleuths investigating true crimes. When three college girls are mysteriously murdered in Delphine, Idaho, Jane and her friends dive into the investigation, determined to solve the case before anyone else. As they dig deeper, they uncover strange inconsistencies and begin to suspect the killer is far more dangerous and cunning than anticipated.

I was super intrigued by the premise of this book and I had high hopes until I started reading it and realized it was basically a take off of the Idaho Murders. The killer isn’t even locked away completely yet. It felt kind of wrong.
Also- it was a little slow, especially in the beginning and moving towards the middle.
I normally love Ashely’s books and find her super creative and she always holds my attention but this one was just too much. I’m not a super big true crime fan, so this was a bit outside my preferred genre.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the digital ARC of this new read from Ashley Winstead, coming out in March 2025!

This would have been a four star book but I docked a star for using too many components of a real crime case. This book talks a lot about true crime fans and the very thin line that can be crossed to become problematic. But then the author uses very distinct facts from a very recent and very public murder case and that rubbed me the wrong way. I get being inspired by true events and adding them into fictional stories and I think the author could have used less about the real case and still achieved the same story. Other than that I enjoyed this book. I loved the discussion about grief and how it can change a person.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

It’s the most famous crime in modern history. But only she knows the true story.

After the unexpected death of her father, college student Jane Sharp longs for a distraction from her grief. She becomes obsessed with true crime, befriending internet sleuths who teach her how to hunt killers from afar. In this morbid internet underground, Jane finds friendship, purpose, and even glory...

So when news of the shocking deaths of three college girls in Delphine, Idaho takes the world by storm, and sleuths everywhere race to solve the crimes, Jane and her friends are determined to beat them. But the case turns out to be stranger than anyone expected. Details don't add up, the police are cagey, and there seems to be more media hype and internet theorizing than actual evidence. When Jane and her sleuths take a step closer, they find that every answer only begs more questions, and begin to suspect their killer may be smarter and more prolific than any they've faced before. Placing themselves in the center of the story starts to feel more and more like walking into a trap...

This book was definitely based off of the Moscow murders, some details almost to a tee (Queen vs King St, murder details, etc). With that being said, there is still more to this story outside of that murder, it’s just the main one that reels us in.

This book was very quick to read. The chapters were short and you wanted to read just one more. You’re kinda rooting for this group to catch the killer so I was Curious to get to the end

With that being said, I figured out “who dun it” pretty quickly, for one of the murders. It was a little obvious. However, I liked l the “twist” that never really gets 100% wrapped up in the end.

Overall, I would call it a popcorn thriller, where it’s quick, entertaining, but I wouldn’t say it’s a must read or you have to go buy it today. It’s a good rainy day, need a quick read type of book.

I really enjoyed this book. I haven’t ready anything like this before and enjoyed the style. The story was also full of mystery and kept me guessing. I will definitely recommend this book to others. Thank you NetGalley.

Another fabulous book by Ashley Winstead. Was it over the top, unrealistic and far fetched? You betcha! Did I love every single word of it? Also, yes. I loved all the characters that she created and her unique premise. I will say I guessed several plot pints quite early on but it didn’t take away from the enjoyment at all. Winstead’s books are always a fun ride, never boring and I always look forward to see what her brilliant mind comes up with next!

I enjoy this author and will read anything she writes. I loved her first two thrillers but the third one lost me. This book, her fourth thriller, was a return to suspenseful storytelling. I was sucked in immediately and even though I guessed the twist pretty early on, that didn’t bother me. I would prefer some well placed hints along the way to a surprise twist that seems to come out of nowhere. The story borrows heavily from the Idaho college student murder case, so it may not be for everyone. I thought it was an interesting look into the world of true crime/internet sleuths and the circumstances that draw people into that. Definitely suspenseful and entertaining!

This was not only a page-turner but a heart racing need to find out who did it and left at one point with my jaw hanging open. Then there’s the ending! This was incredibly well done. I worried there was too many characters to keep track of but quickly figured them out and enjoyed the background on each. The pace was well done and can’t say enough about the jaw drop towards the end of the book.

Thank you to Sourcebooks for the review copy of this highly anticipated new release from favorite author Ashley Winstead!

TL;DR: My new favorite book from Ashley Winstead! A gripping and thought-provoking suspense novel that kept me up late into the night with its compelling plot and complex themes. I’ll be raving about this one for a long time!

Full Review:
I absolutely loved this book and continue to be impressed by how Ashley Winstead masterfully weaves current events and popular thriller tropes into stories that feel entirely her own. In this novel, she skillfully explores themes of true crime enthusiasts, amateur sleuth networks, ongoing murder cases, grief, loss, and found family.

I couldn’t put this book down—it had me staying up late several nights in a row. I was completely immersed in the plot, Jane’s story, and the twists and turns her journey took. The exploration of amateur sleuthing networks added a fascinating layer to the narrative.

As with any well-executed suspense story, the strengths here lie in how the plot unfolds, the strategic placement of twists and clues, and the steady build to a satisfying conclusion. The ending left me thinking deeply about the themes in the book and reconsidering, in the best way possible, everything I’d just read.

Wow! My first Ashley Winstead did not disappoint! I was immediately hooked and could not put this book down! Definitely a book that you can binge in a day or two!

This Book Will Bury Me is essentially a book within a book. The story is being narrated by our main character, Janeway Sharp, who is writing her tell-all one year after the events of “the crime of the century.” She writes as if the reader already knows the events, but of course we as the readers don’t actually know anything. The quick-paced writing and suspense keeps you turning the page to find out what happened!

While I did guess part of the “who-dunnit” this did not take away from the ending. I felt like one of the amateur sleuths trying to figure out the who and the why and the satisfaction from the reveal was everything!!!

I loved how modern this thriller felt, incorporating the true crime internet craze. The incorporation of true crime and amateur investigative culture gave such an interesting spin to the story. It was eye-opening to see how much influence (good and bad) the true crime community has or can have on active cases.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark, Ashley Winstead, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this suspenseful crime thriller in exchange for my honest review!