This was okay. I think the title and cover made it seem darker than the book. I also really struggled to care about the characters despite the interesting premise.

I didn’t really care for this book unfortunately. It was just ok. I typically like her books, as they are good thriller and mystery reads.

This was my first Modglin book and I see why people are obsessed. This has all the genres I love - mystery, thriller and some romance. The atmosphere was super eerie and constricting and kept me on edge. The brother’s best friend storyline worked well and had me interested to see what happened all those years ago. The narration was strong and I enjoyed the dual POVs.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrators were fantastic! I was hooked from the first chapter and listened to it pretty much straight through. I loved the dual POVs and timelines. I’m a huge fan of the author and highly recommend this book as well as the rest of her books!

Where the Darkness goes by Kiersten Modglin

Audiobook was very well done. Great narration.

Tessa never expected to return home and if she did, it wasn’t to attend the funeral of her best friend. Her murdered best friend.

Her brother offers his place to stay but she doesn’t know he lives with his best friend and her ex… Garrett.

People are drawing parallels between the murders that happened years ago and everyone has secrets they don’t want coming to light.

This book comes over two timelines. Tessa, Will and Garrett as teens and then present day.

It brings all the threads of the murders together in a fast paced and clever way. The twist is so shocking I wasn’t sure I heard it right. It was massively far-fetched but I kinda loved that! It really skirts some dark dark topics and it really was one heck of a thriller. One of the best of the year for me.

The plot was epic, characters were well defined and the writing was brilliant. This was my first by the author but it won’t be my last.

4.5 stars

This is a dual timeline romantic suspense that was a quick easy listen. I found this to lean on the romance, and the mystery/thriller aspect was pretty lackluster in my opinion. It just didn’t grip me, and there didn’t feel to be a lot of tension, though there were plenty of dead bodies. I also didn’t enjoy the fact that the romance focused heavily on the past, and I don’t enjoy reading the sexual exploits of teenagers. Between the dual POV and the dual timeline, just felt a little choppy. The narration was good! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

I struggle with the priest/religious themes. I did enjoy how for once the brother was in favor of the sister/best friend relationship.

5⭐ (story) Tessa Becker has several reasons to never return to her hometown: She will have to face the man who shattered her heart. She is terrified to confront her ailing mother’s condition. That is where the murders happened.

Tessa Becker must return home for one reason and one reason alone: Someone else is dead and it’s time to finally learn the truth. Ever since the first murder, Tessa’s once charming and safe hometown has been infected with suspicion and fear. Back then accusations were made in whispers, but without proof, the killer still walks free. And now it’s possible they’ve struck again.

If things weren’t complicated enough, Tessa finds herself forced to stay with the one man she had hoped to avoid. Years ago, Garrett Campbell held her heart until he crushed it. Now, he’s a stranger. He’s also her brother’s best friend. In an all-too-familiar place filled with secrets and devastating loss—surrounded by people and memories she’d rather forget—Tessa will have to discover the truth about what happened back then, and the threat it poses to the town and the ones she loves most before it’s too late.

I discovered Kiersten Modglin earlier this year, and I'm so glad I did. She always brings a new twist to my favorite genre. It's rare to surprise me with the twists and turns along the way, but Modglin does it again with this gem. Highly recommended!

5⭐ (audio) I listen to tons of audiobooks, and as long as the narrator doesn't pull me out of the story, it's fine. Ellie Gossage and Jay Myers do a fantastic job though, bringing life to the characters and pulling you into the suspense.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced audio copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

oh wow... this was surprising!

a romantic thriller
brother's best friend
second chance romance

This story centers around Tessa and Garret, and is told in alternating timelines of when they were teens and present day. A spree of crimes happened back when they were in high school and it looks like it has started again, bringing Tessa back home, where she reconnects with Garret and starts to discover a lot of hidden secrets about her family and the town!

This was definitely a fast paced read and I enjoyed both the mystery and romance plots. I do think we could have benefited from more character / relationship development, but overall I really enjoyed this!

Intriguing and suspenseful, Where The Darkness Goes keeps you on the edge of your seat from the very first chapter. Kiersten Modglin deftly weaves together a taut psychological thriller with a whisper of romance that adds depth and tension to Tessa’s homecoming. Ellie Gossage and Jay Myers deliver stellar narration, bringing the characters’ emotions and struggles to life with a palpable sense of urgency. While some plot revelations felt slightly rushed, the overall atmosphere and pacing kept me glued to my headphones. If you crave a twisty, small-town mystery with heart, this audiobook is well worth the listen.

Kiersten Modglin’s Where the Darkness Goes, brought to life in audiobook form, is a riveting psychological thriller that grips you from the very first moment. The narrator’s exceptional delivery perfectly captures the tension and eerie atmosphere of the story, enhancing every twist and turn. Modglin’s intricate plot and deeply layered characters shine through, with suspense building relentlessly as secrets unravel and the stakes rise higher. The narrator’s ability to convey the characters' emotions and the creeping sense of dread adds an immersive quality, making it impossible to stop listening. Where the Darkness Goes is a must-listen for anyone who loves a dark, twist-filled mystery, delivering an electrifying and unforgettable experience.

"Where the Darkness Goes" is another gripping masterpiece by the queen of mystery, Kiersten Modglin.

This story draws you in with its dark tone, initially hinting at a romance before revealing the town's sinister secrets. Tessa's journey to uncover these hidden truths is both thrilling and chilling, with gruesome details that keep you engaged. However, the boys' final revelation felt like a letdown; they had known the truth for decades, leading to yet another tragic death, which somewhat diminished the suspense.

Overall, I enjoyed the narrative and its gripping tension. While the past timeline occasionally dragged, the present storyline kept the book lively. It’s a thought-provoking tale that lingers in your mind long after reading.

After leaving her hometown many years ago, Tessa now returns for her childhood best friend's funeral. This homecoming forces her to confront her unresolved feelings for the man who broke her heart and past events that have deeply impacted the small-town community.

Romantic thrillers aren't usually my thing, but this one really grabbed me. The chemistry between Tessa and Garret was electric, and I loved the strong friendship between Garret and Will.

It was a quick and entertaining read, though the thriller aspect didn't quite meet my expectations.

I enjoyed the book and the audio narration. Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the free ALC.

Thank you to NetGalley, the audio house, the narrator and the author for an opportunity to listen to a complementary copy of this audiobook in return for review, based upon my honest opinion.


I have read a few of this authors books before and have always enjoyed them. This book was more of a romantic suspense than a thriller book, but there was still some good twists, and the interaction between the character characters was well done.

Tessa Becker returns home for her old high school friends funeral, being back home brings up a lot of old memories and the first person she runs into is the last person she wants to see Garrett. When Tessa learns that her friend did not die in an accident, she wonders if this has anything to do with the murders that took place while she was in high school. I will say the ending was a bit of a surprise for me. I did feel like the story could’ve been more developed as to the mystery suspense part.

I do really enjoy this author’s books and I will definitely listen to and read more of them.

You guys know I’m biased and love Kiersten Modglin, but I think was a good romance story with a little mystery thrown in too. The dual timeline and POV flowed well and I truly enjoy her writing style. Although I didn’t like the twist that much, I really loved the characters and the narrators did a great job speaking for them.

This story was heavy on the romance and light on the thrills. I wasn’t emotionally invested in the romance, and the reveal was disappointing. Overall, this story didn’t resonate with me.

Where the Darkness Goes by Kiersten Modglin
Format: audio
Pub Date: 12/31/24
Rating: read it right now thx

Listen. No one does romantic suspense quite like KMod in my opinion. When she writes this genre it feels like such a perfect marriage of romance and thrillers. I am so invested in the characters that I almost forget there is a twist coming? And Where the Darkenss Goes is no exception to that!

This book has an unsolved cold case that may or may not be a resurfacing serial killer coupled with a second chance brother’s best friend romance. That’s it that’s the review. What more could you want?!

Modglin delivered once again with a quick, twisty, super engaging read coupled with incredible narration. I have no idea how she cranks books out this fast but I haven’t met one I disliked yet!

Also, check out the recent post on @kierstenmodglinauthor page. She has a guide to all of her books and said everything will be available on KU a bit longer (this ebook is already live too, the audio will release on the 31st)!

Thank you to @netgalley for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my love letter…I mean honest review 😂😅

This was an entertaining read but not quite what I was expecting. I prefer thrills over romance. This had both, but neither felt fully fleshed out.

Still I did enjoy it. The narration was well done with a few minor blips. One of the character’s voices was difficult to listen to, I’m sorry to say.

I think fans of this author will enjoy this one nevertheless.

Really liked this one—romantic suspense is new for me but this was very well done. Loved the dual narration and I feel like I heard an Easter egg from a previous book and now want the reread Hemlock.

Like all things KMod, I absolutely loved this one. I really enjoyed the suspense in this one. Trying to figure out this decade plus long small town mystery of who is responsible for the killings of these young women and their mothers. But also the romance and the spice were a great touch. KMod does a great job of balancing the two and writes a really good romantic suspense novel. The narrator was great! She did each character justice and drew you in. I was equally invested into Tessa and Garrett’s story and rooting for them the entire time.