I really enjoy Ashley’s other works but the parallels to the real life Idaho murders and her book just gave me the ick. Ashley knows how to write, the narration is done well. I just could not get into this one. I’ll still read what she comes up with next but won’t be recommending this one. Thanks, NetGalley for the ALC.

I really enjoyed this authors rom com books but this genre just didn’t land with me. I had a hard time finishing it.

as a devoted mystery reader with the gift of context and dramatic irony on her side, i found this whodunnit fairly easy to figure out. it wasn’t so blatantly obvious that i was annoyed at the characters for taking their time puzzling it out – i thought it struck a nice balance and enjoyed watching the pieces fall into place, even if it did take a while.

i love a found family so i really liked most of the characters (at this point, can any group of people in a fictional work function without at least one hacker extraordinaire??). the larger problem was that the book felt unnecessarily long. i enjoyed reading it while i was actually reading it, but once i put the book down it was kind of hard for me to feel motivated enough to pick it back up.

i’m not well versed in the world of true crime (i like my felonies fictional, thank you), but i’ve heard that one of the major events in this book is a ripped-from-the-headlines version of one that actually happened. i usually think it’s pretty gross and lazy to use real crimes, but i didn’t clock it while i was reading since i wasn't familiar. what i did get was that amateurs and cops both have plenty of problems (often each other). the amateur sleuths were quick to judgment and hurt innocents. the police were more concerned with their prejudices and perception than getting justice. i didn’t really believe the relationship between the group and law enforcement, just like i didn’t believe some of the final resolutions, but honestly i was way too busy losing it over the star trek AND buffy the vampire slayer self-insert fan fiction to care. the AO3 mention alone was enough to get four stars out of me!

thanks to tantor audio for the audio copy and sourcebooks landmark for the digital copy on netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The narrator was too good at her job, her voice gave a very sinister tone to the story. I was at the edge of my seat while listening and a little terrified.

Another fast paced, hard to put down book from Winstead! She has very easily turned into a must read author for me. I love how twisty her thrillers are along with having interesting, unique character development!

I was hooked from the very beginning! It kept me guessing and engaged. I loved the twist and the ending was perfectly executed. The only thing keeping it from a 5 star.. is the fact that it is too close to the real tragedy in Idaho. It did leave me with some discomfort at times.

ASHLEY WINSTEAD IS ABSOLUTE FIRE!!!! Honestly, this author gets better with every book and this one is no exception. College student, Jane Sharp has lost her father to a sudden heart attack. She drops out of college and gets obsessed with true crime. Amongst the forums, she meets her "family", a group of true crime aficionados, who invite Jane to join them. Jane seems a natural at sleuthing and she quickly impresses the group by helping to solve a woman's murder in her hometown.
When tragedy strikes a college town in Delphine, Idaho, the group swoop in with their knowledge and skills in order to help the police. But it quickly becomes apparent that the group has different takes on "helping" and their father-figure, George, wants no part of leaking the police report. However, as soon as he leaves, another murder rocks the campus on Delphine and George quickly gets pulled back in to the group. But are the arm-chair sleuths actually helping or hindering? And will the murderer be brought to justice?
This was full of twists and turns and is extremely fast-paced. Jane tries to explain her side of the story and get the facts straight for the audience but at the same time, you can't help trying to solve the murders yourself.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this digital audio e-arc.*

This book was so exciting to read! I felt for the main character Jane, aka searcher. Her dad passed and she dropped out of college. She began following true crime buffs and got involved in some of the mystery. Early on she proved herself by providing some insight that led to some evidence, and a few elites of the true crime community took her into their circle. As she delved deeper and deeper into the murders, she began to lose herself. She even lost her minimum wage job at Starbucks. This book was a wild ride, and the whole book's premise was that it was a book within a book. This was the story the FMC wrote to give her side of what happened since many people felt she and her true crime friends may have created more problems than solutions. This was found family, but also an homage to her father. I loved it!

3 ⭐️ When I requested this audiobook on NetGalley, I did so purely on my love of Ashley Winstead and I forgot that this book had many similarities to the very real Idaho college murders of 2022. This book is not a non-fiction retelling of that case, it just uses all the details of that case to build its own story. So the killer and the narrative are all a bit different than reality. Still, the use of a case that is ongoing and trial has not happened yet gives me the complete ICK. I wanted to give the book a fair shot so I powered through it. It is about online sleuths and their quest to solve murder mysteries and a group of 5 citizens who band together and solve cases, it starts off with this group solving other cases until it gets to the Idaho college murders around 30% mark. From there it wholly focuses on their desire to be the first to solve that case.

For starters, let me get into what I did like - which is the audiobook narration by Leslie Howard, I am quickly becoming a huge fan of Leslie and I will definitely pick up more audiobooks narrated by her. Leslie’s inflection, pace and characters are all wonderfully done in every book of hers I have listened to and this is no exception. So if you do pick this up, highly recommend the audio. I also liked diving into the world of online civilians playing detective, it is a little cringy diving so deep but it is still very fascinating. I am very guilty of loving true crime but have never once in my life thought I could be more useful than the police or FBI, it is truly crazy what these keyboard warriors do.

What I didn’t like - the story is entirely too long. At times it gets very repetitive and felt like a slog around 60-75%. A lot could have been cut from this book and made zero impact on the story. As I already mentioned, I also did not like that this story uses a real case that has not been on trial as the jumping off point, I would have been kinder if this was instead a 100% original true crime story. Also, the ending and whodunit parts are not at all surprising, I could easily see where this was going and I do not like the predictability factor of this book.

Overall, major props to the audio, taking off many points for the story but I also liked learning more about online sleuths and their obsession and methods.

Thank you to Netgalley, RB Media and Ashley Winstead for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Title: This Book Will Bury Me
Author(s): Ashley Winstead
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Date Published: March 25, 2025
Date Read: March 19-20, 2025
Format: Audiobook
Free?: This book was received as a an eARC audiobook courtesy of NetGalley.

Overall Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️
Mystery Rating: 🔍🔍🔍🔍
Suspense Rating: ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Tear Rating: 💧
Humor Rating: 😆

——————————————

Synopsis
"A chilling, compulsive story of five amateur sleuths, whose hunt for an elusive killer catapults them into danger as the world watches."

Review
When I first started this book, it was giving me 4-star vibes. I enjoyed the narrator and loved the way the book was set—as a tell-all/memoir book from the main character with a "what went wrong" Tarantino moment at the start, but that rating immediately nosedived when I started to feel a sense of deja vu at the plot.

As other reviewers have called out, the main crime story that the characters investigate is barely different from the actual case currently awaiting trial in August from Idaho — with the book version set in Iowa — with uncomfortable similarities to the victims.

The book touches on the true crime obsession that has swept social media over the past several years, and the parasocial relationships that sleuths develop with the victims they research, but it feels very exploitative to build this so clearly off of an ongoing case.

While I know it’s not uncommon for authors to pull from real life events and crimes for plotlines, the recency of these murders and the amount of details that were barely changed made this book leave a bad taste in my mouth.

🚨🚨🚨🚨 CAUTION - SPOILERS BELOW 🚨🚨🚨🚨

For a book that is focused on a main character and her four friends that are successful internet sleuths, there were several moments that made me roll my eyes at the author’s lack of research. One example: when the character goes to campus to infiltrate the sorority, she mentions that the KD hopefuls wore shamrock nametags and the actives wore teddy bear nametags, then shrugged it off as "no idea what those two have to do with KD," when a simple google search would tell you that a teddy bear is the sorority’s mascot, and they host events like Shamrock Week as philanthropic events. It may seem like a petty thing to complain about, but it was just one example of moments that I felt the author could’ve done better with the worldbuilding.

Recommend?
If you don’t have a problem with the exploitation of the victims from Moscow, Idaho, then you will probably love this book. However, if it will leave a bad taste in your mouth like it did with me, then this might be a book you want to skip.

I tried several times, but sadly I could not finish this one. Quite simply I was just so confused!! I found myself back tracking so I could relisten to see if I missed something. Realizing I didn't, was frustrating. This is the second novel by this author that I could not finish. It has to be the writing style that just doesn't work for me.

unfortunately the narrator kept me from enjoying this book - I will read it in a physical or digital copy.

A commentary on the rise of armchair detectives and true crime aficionados, This Book Will Bury Me is a twisty and disturbing thriller.

I had difficulty rating this one. I was keen to pick it up, having loved Winstead’s In My Dreams I Hold a Knife. Like Hold a Knife, Bury Me is well written, engaging, fast paced and layered. I found myself interested and keen to uncover new twists. The ending was satisfying, and tied off the story well.

I sat with some discomfort though at knowing at least on of the real life cases was very recent, and still not gone to trial. For me, this pulled me away from the story at times. I understand the authors intentions based on the authors note, but the close parallel to real life didn’t feel necessary to the story.

I read this both as an audiobook and ebook, and both were well done. The audiobook gave a heightened sense of the voyeurism of true crime obsession, capturing the experiences of a wide cast of characters, and having an almost podcast feel.

Thank you Tantor Audio for an advanced copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

This is a an exciting thriller, so gripping it practically reads itself, and has tons of commentary on true crime culture, and family dynamics, childhood trauma and the desire to leave a legacy. While not very graphic, it definitely deals with heavy topics, so check your trigger warnings.

I loved the Searcher's voice, our protagonist, who finds the true crime community by mistake and though she found a second home just when she needed it. Their subsequent forays into investigating show both the most glorious moments amateur investigators can dream of and the most catastrophic mistakes they can commit.

It's a yes from me.

Thanks you Netgalley for this ALC and Leslie Howard, a wonderful narrator.

In a year filled with disappointing thrillers, this might be the worst. Aside from the touching moments with the father, the book fails at nearly everything it sets out to do. The mystery feels like an afterthought, and the characters lack depth.

Winstead tries to create a “found family” dynamic, but it comes off as forced and melodramatic, especially considering how little time the main character has actually spent with these people.

I normally am able to suspend my disbelief when it comes to thrillers but I struggled here. Jane conveniently picks up random skills, like going undercover, and manages to find clues that actual experts miss. The main reveal also has a pretty big plot hole.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tantor audio for the ARC of This Book Will Bury Me.

I’m very torn with how to begin this review. This book could have EASILY been a 5 star read. It was enthralling and kept me on the edge of my seat most of the story. However, my biggest issue is that the main plot point was based off of the recent Idaho murders which still has not had its own conclusion. If the author would have changed the location, details, method used, etc. I would have 100% given this 5 stars.

The twist was incredible. It was cool getting to know the backgrounds of each of the characters. I even loved all the different crimes referenced and how they were all eventually connected. It just bothers me that she basically copycatted an actual crime without even mentioning it was loosely based on events.

Last, THERE 100% NEEDS TO BE TRIGGER WARNINGS LISTED BEFORE READING.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

#ThisBookWillBuryMe #NetGalley

True crime fiction is quickly becoming the next big, and perhaps overplayed, trope. After recently reading What Happened to Nina, I can see the appeal of these stories and have come to better understand the role of "keyboard warriors" and how they can either assist or completely hinder a case.

In the novel, Jane is struggling to process her father’s passing and is seeking a way to ultimately let go. Unable to relate to her mother’s journey, she turns to an amateur sleuthing network and dedicates herself to uncovering details that could help solve a cold case.

With a bit of fortuitous luck and some serious determination, Jane successfully solves her first case and is welcomed into the inner circle of seasoned sleuths. The group soon catches wind of a crime so heinous that it demands their full attention. The journey to uncover the truth will be long and arduous, and for Jane and her new family, survival along that path is not guaranteed.

This is not my first encounter with an author using a true case as the foundation for their story. To be honest, I'm conflicted about this approach. While I understand the compelling nature of true crime and its emotional pull, the exploitation of real cases feels a bit unsettling.

I also didn’t completely love the main character, Jane. Her almost unhealthy idolization of her deceased father was troubling. The constant reminders of how important he was, contrasted with the fact that he didn’t take care of himself enough to prioritize his family, seemed odd. Honestly, that whole backstory could have been omitted, as it wasn’t necessary to the plot.

On a positive note, I thoroughly enjoyed the audio production of this novel. Leslie Howard was an excellent narrator and one of the reasons the plot held my interest throughout. For a rapidly emerging genre, the creative approach to making these stories feel like podcasts really draws the reader in.

I almost feel like this book needs two reviews. One thriller/true crime perspective and the other for its similarity to a real life murder still being adjudicated in the courts.

As far as thrillers go, THIS BOOK WILL BURY ME is a fast paced, wild ride. College senior Janeway Sharp is broken after the unexpected loss of her dad. Lost and trying to make sense of his death, she finds herself unwittingly obsessed with a true crime internet site where she gets involved with amateur detectives. Jane, it seems, has found her people. She is soon invited to join a splinter group who actively involve themselves in ongoing investigations, including the grisly mass murder of three college students. That case puts Jane and her cohorts on a collision course with a murderer.

Ashley Winstead highlights the growing fascination with true crime and the public’s obsession with delving into the gory details. It’s wickedly sharp and highly addictive. I binged the audiobook in a single day because it was impossible to press pause.

My issue with this book is the striking similarity to the real life murder of four college students in Idaho; a case which is currently being tried in the courts. It sometimes feels as if the author is capitalizing on these tragic deaths. It felt gruesome and inappropriate, and diminished my reading experience. Simple changes to location and crime details would have resolved this issue.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the advance listening copy. All opinions are my own.

I couldn’t finish this book or really even get into it because I absolutely hated the narrator. I know this is purely a personal preference thing but I absolutely can not stand when narrators use such a breathy quiet voice. I shouldn’t have to listen to an audiobook on full volume in order to read it. And I realize that’s also probably a sound engineering issue but I couldn’t get past it. Nor did I even want to try when I found out this book is a ripped from the headlines situation. I find it deeply unethical to write fiction based off of the torture and murder of real people without consulting or compensating their family and friends. It’s just really vile. I should’ve looked into the book further before I requested it. That’s my fault.

I DNFd this at 42%.

I only recently found out about the Idaho 4, and it shocked the hell out of me that not only is this book a fictionalized retelling of this case that has very much not come to justice, the author executed this in an extremely icky way that made me feel like I was dishonoring them by reading. I imagine the other cases mentioned are also closely based off true stories. I wish I’d known this ahead of time.

This Book Will Bury Me seeks to display how dangerous true crime sleuthing has become in the age of Gabby Petito, and even has some flimsy messaging about how Black victims of brutal murders or unsolved disappearances don’t receive remotely the same interest or media coverage.

However, I found the writing problematic. The FMC’s father dies…from being fat. He has a heart attack because he’s fat and irresponsible with his health, because duh? If that was not meant to be the lens he’s viewed through, the way he’s written absolutely undercuts that, plus his wife, FMCs mom, is extremely fatphobic. I don’t know why thriller authors continue to write fat people so offensively, but I also know calling things out like this will perhaps lead to more compassionate change.

The FMC is also unlikable in a haughty way, not in a way that seems to lead toward a character arc. She does a lot of breaking the fourth wall and explaining what is going to happen before it happens which felt like reading the same thing twice. The writing style overall wasn’t for me. By the time I DNFd, pieces were very much still falling into place, but it felt overwritten in many ways.

While this didn’t work for me, if you’re really into true crime sleuthing I think you’ll have fun with this!

I wasn’t a fan of the narration. The narrator did a lot of whisper-talking that made S & C sounds really harsh to the ears, and I didn’t like how she read male voices—it felt like she was mocking how men sound rather than shifting pitch and tone to emulate the sound.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with an ALS and an ARC!

🚨 Pub Date: 3/25/25