This was my first thriller by Ashley Winstead. This book is very interesting and i’m a little conflicted on my opinion. So here’s my pros and cons regarding this book:

Pros:
- Couldn’t put it down
- For True Crime Fans
- Fast-paced & short chapters
- Everything gets tied up at the end, no loose threads.

Cons:
- this book takes inspiration from the Idaho 4 murders and that left a sour taste in my mouth considering the case isn’t tried yet.
- I guessed who the killer was around 40% through the book.
- it was like a car crash, so gruesome you couldn’t look away
- not sure how I feel about the tie in with her Dad…

i’m giving this a 3 because I am very conflicted and once I have had time to think about it I may change my rating, the writing was very good but it just felt wrong to draw inspiration from something so fresh in true crime. Also very upset I guessed the killer because I was hoping it would be something more shocking. Read the trigger warnings before diving into this book!

I recently finished This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead, narrated by Leslie Howard. First off, the narration was strong and fit the tone of the novel well—Howard really captured the layered, introspective vibe of the main character, Jane Sharp.

The story centers around Jane, a college dropout who has found community and purpose in an online group of true crime sleuths. Together, they work behind screens, using digital tools and instincts to help crack real-life cases. But when the group gets involved in solving the murders of three college girls in Delphine, Idaho, they end up entangled in a situation far more dangerous and far-reaching than they ever expected—one with consequences for the town, the online true crime community, and themselves.

Set a year after the so-called “Delphine Massacres,” the book unfolds through Jane’s perspective as she finally shares her version of events—leading to a shocking confession that will stick with readers and true crime fans alike.

I’ll preface my review by saying I wasn’t closely familiar with the real-life Idaho college murders that inspired the backdrop for this story. That said, I still found the plot compelling. Winstead delivers a fresh take on the true crime thriller genre, adding thoughtful character development, layered motivations, and strong emotional undertones. Jane was a mostly likable and relatable character, especially in her grief following her father’s death. Her obsession with the case as a coping mechanism was written in a way that felt very human and believable.

Another standout element for me was the inclusion of diverse characters and the novel’s subtle but meaningful commentary on the disproportionate treatment of missing or murdered minorities in media and law enforcement. Winstead managed to weave in social commentary without it feeling forced or preachy.

Some of the plot twists were predictable—though that’s likely due to my love of the genre and familiarity with its usual turns—but others caught me off guard, keeping the pacing and suspense engaging.

Overall, This Book Will Bury Me is a smart, modern mystery that blends internet culture, grief, obsession, and justice into a story that’s both timely and thought-provoking. I’d rate it 3.75 out of 5 stars.

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Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy (ARC) of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This book CONSUMED me.

To be honest, I’m a fan of Ashley Winstead’s writing and requested this without reading the synopsis. We follow Jane, a young woman whose life has been upended by the death of her father. She questions how well she really knew her dad and deals with her grief by visiting true crime boards. Jane has a natural talent for solving crimes and soon finds herself adopted by a network of seasoned fanatics. When a gruesome massacre grips the nation, Jane and her friends know they can solve it.

I was immediately gripped by this novel. Immediately I was sucked in to this case and tried to figure out what was happening. Winstead definitely kept me guessing the whole way through. Also, I was very interested in true crime a few years ago, so I felt a connection in that way. While most armchair detectives really do hope to help, I’m glad the author highlighted how exploitative it can be.

I read this via audiobook and the narrator did such a great job bringing this story to life. Jane is our narrator, but we also spend so much time with the other investigators from the forum. The voices given to each of these characters is unique, distinct, and easy to follow. The narrator is a large part of what hooked me to this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.

This is my first Ashley Winstead book & it will not be my last! I went into this blind. Didn’t even read the back summary. When the book start progressing, I was SHOOK! She is an amazing storyteller & keeps the reader wanting more. I love the setup of the book. It made the flow go well.

This book was actually quite ridiculous! It is full of plot holes, coincidences, and so many things that could never happen in real life. But you know what, it was so much fun that I didn't care!
A young woman gets involved in an online true crime group. When she finds key evidence in a murder investigation she becomes obsessed with investigating crimes and comes to see her online group as a family. The group gets involved in a major mass murder investigation, but will they be among the next victims?
I listened to the audio ALC (thanks netgalley) and it was a very gripping and exciting read. It was well paced and even though I had guessed who the killer was, there were still plenty of twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat. I'm definitely recommending this and will check out Winstead's past works.

This Book Will Bury Me is Ashley Winstead’s newest thriller about a group of armchair detectives trying to solve the most famous crime of modern day. Jane, the FMC, is grieving the sudden loss of her father and is looking for something to take her mind off of her new reality. She is accepted into an inner circle of an online, true crime, amateur sleuths group where she quickly becomes a vital part of the group and gets obsessively wrapped up in solving the case with her new found true crime junkies.

This was quite a crazy ride. I really liked the writing style and the use of footnotes and social media formats. The foreshadowing is incredible. I would think I missed something and then the answer unfolded a little later which kept me hooked and made it hard to put down. Like most thriller mysteries, there were several characters, including members in the online message board. Parts of the story is in a social media format, which I liked because it helped drive the plot, but they used the character’s handles instead of names, which made it more authentic, but at times got a little confusing trying to remember who was who. This also made the audio a little harder to understand so I was thankful to have both an ARC & ALC so I could follow along creating a full immersive experience. I enjoyed that it was written so that the narrator is talking directly to the reader, making you even more invested because you feel like you are part of the story. The audio narrator did an incredible job bringing the characters and story to life, delivering a flawless performance from start to finish.

I would definitely check the TW. It did get graphic and there’s been some controversy.

Thank you @bookmarked, @tantoraudio, and @netgalley for the #gifted ARC and ALC. All thoughts are my own.

I won’t be finishing this book. I didn’t realize this was about an ONGOING criminal case. Feels gross to be profiting off a real life case that isn’t even fully finished/solved?

This Book Will Bury Me is the perfect read for lovers of thrillers and true crime. It is a murder mystery but with a more important theme of dealing with grief. The journey that Jane takes through dealing with her grief is incredibly relatable. I enjoyed how the book starts off with Jane telling the reader her story. I went into the book mostly blind and was drawn in with wanting to know what it was that Jane had done. Many unpredictable twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat. I most enjoyed that even as the puzzle pieces started to come together in the end, you could not help but question it. I would highly recommend this book. Additionally, as an audiobook, I loved the narration by Leslie Howard. It was very easy to follow as I listened even during parts with multiple forum users speaking.

Just finished This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead, and I’m so glad I did—right before it officially drops tomorrow, March 25! If you’re a fan of thrillers and mysteries, this one should be at the top of your list.

I chose to experience the story through the audiobook, and while the narration had its ups and downs, it didn’t take away from the gripping plot. The narrator’s choice to use whispery, hushed tones for dramatic moments sometimes made it hard to follow, especially in noisy environments like my car. I found myself constantly adjusting the volume—turning it up to catch the quiet parts and then getting blasted with louder moments. My kids even asked, “Why is she yelling at us?” If you’re planning to listen while on the go, this might be a tricky one. But if you’re not set on the audiobook, I’d definitely recommend grabbing the printed version because the story itself is absolutely worth it.

The book follows Jane Sharp, a college-aged woman reeling from the sudden loss of her father. As she struggles with grief, she finds solace and a new sense of belonging in an online true crime forum. Alongside four other unique individuals—a father figure, a grandmother figure, a brother-like figure, and a potential love interest—Jane becomes part of a tight-knit group solving real-life crimes. But when a serial killer emerges on a college campus, the group is drawn into a case that threatens their own safety as much as the victims’.

I was captivated by Jane’s emotional journey as she navigates grief and the search for answers, both in the case and in her own life. It’s a deeply human story that reminds us of the weight of loss and the desperate need to fill the empty spaces left behind. The characters are wonderfully developed, and I found myself becoming emotionally invested in them—especially Jane. The mystery is at the heart of it, but it’s the emotional ties that will stay with you long after the book ends. If I had to choose between mystery or thriller, I’d say it leans more towards mystery, though it does have a thrilling edge.

Overall, This Book Will Bury Me is a gripping, emotional ride with a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. If you haven’t already, be sure to pick it up tomorrow!

Big thanks to NetGalley, Ashley Winstead, and Tantor Audio for the ARC of this audiobook.

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True crime and mystery/thriller lovers will be hooked immediately as a college student finds herself part of a true crime podcast as a means to give her a purpose after the unexpected death of her father and her unmanageable grief. The murders and the way the amateur sleuths worked are amazing as well as very scary. Some really interesting and disturbing consequences of amateur sleuthing are portrayed as action unfolds, such as do amateur sleuths actually find clues missed by the police, do the police overlook possible scenarios because they are looking for the easiest way to solve a crime and what happens to innocent people when unsubstantiated theories are made public. I thought the way the story was told was amazing and I loved every minute of it.

Janeway Sharp has found herself back at home following the sudden death of her father. Looking for anything to occupy her mind she falls into a true crime group and manages to assist in solving a murder. Her group is drawn into another case and they get closer to the crime and closet to danger.

I really enjoy Ashley Winstead's writing. The standout part of this book was the personal story of Jane dealing with the loss of her father. Her grief could really be felt and it made sense why she would be willing to go to such extreme measures to avoid really sitting down and dealing with it. The mystery was relatively standard but I did enjoy following along as it unfolded. I did have a fairly good idea of what was going to be the big twist. I really enjoyed this as an audiobook. Leslie Howard did a great job with the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Tantor Audio for this Advanced Audiobook.
This Book is a thrilling page-turner. The plot is twisty and full of suspense, it kept me on the edge of the seat.It’s perfect for anyone who loves a good psychological mystery!

This audiobook was a slow burn originally. There was a lot of character development for the first half so it was a bit hard to get into. Once I made it halfway through, I was intrigued! There was definitely a plot twist at the end that I didn’t see coming!

3.5 Stars. After her father's unexpected death, Jane Sharp finds solace in an online community focused around true crime. This group is entirely focused on SOLVING these crimes, and ethics and morals are not a problem for them. Jane goes deeper and deeper into these investigations and completely loses herself in the process. This is an interesting spin on a popular topic like true crime. Jane's character is VERY surface level and the "twist" wasn't very surprising. In all fairness, I like to go into books completely blind but if I had known this book was centered around true crime then I probably wouldn't have picked it up.

This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead is a true-crime based novel.

"Jane is reeling from the death of her father. She turns to a true-crime forum and becomes immersed in the idea of helping. Her legwork on a prominent case gets her invited to join a long-standing group. Murders of several college students take them all to Idaho. Things don't add up and they believe they're searching for a killer that's smarter than any they've seen before. And it feels like they're walking into a trap."

This story is told from Jane's POV as if she's writing a book about what happened with her and the group as they worked to solve the crime. Jane even shares some things the lawyers tell her not to. This book is longer than Winstead's other books, but the pacing is very good.
Jane is a morally gray character (You expect that from Winstead) She's willing to do whatever it takes to find evidence - she lies...a lot.
There's a big twist at the end. You may guess what's coming but it's just a guess. Interesting ending.
Be sure to read Winstead's response to using a real-life case.

Leslie Howard is good with the voices on the audio but there were many times I had difficulty understanding her, especially when she spoke in a subdued voice. Most audiobook listeners I know are doing some other activity while they listen and I think you should take outside noise into consideration when setting voice levels - whispers are very difficult to hear.

Another good story from Winstead.

This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead is a medium paced thriller that shows just how dangerous things can get when you obsess over them. Janeway (Jane) is reeling from the unexpected death of her father, when she learns of a local woman whos chopped up body pieces turn up in a lake not far from her house. From this point forward, her life is never the same. Jane dives into the all consuming world of true crime and quickly finds herself teaming up with an online group of other true crime fans to take matters into their own hands and solve one of the biggest true crime stories of the decade.

This book overs a very interesting look into the true crime groupies you can find anywhere online, including Reddit, and how obsessed some of these people can get over finding the truth. I will be honest, I did not like the main character, but I feel that is supposed to be how the story plays out. Her and her ragtag team of detectives constantly over step boundaries in order to pursue their own agenda and self assured-ness in order to feel some type of way about solving a case. I know some people were knocking this book for Winstead's use of the Idaho Murders and how similar her book is to the real life case. I actually enjoyed her portrayal of the case, and how people on the internet went nuts over it, and completely obsessed over it. I think she mixed in some elements from other famous cases into it as well, so it wasn't an exact rip from the headlines.

All in all, I thought this book really put into perception how viral cases can get now a days, due to the number of true fan fanatics, and outlets for sharing information, It shows what can happen when someone looking for an escape gets obsessed with an outlet to the point they cannot control themselves anymore and the dangers of true crime fanatics.

This book has been all over my socials and I knew I wanted to read it! Thanks to Netgally, I received an ARC audio copy. The narrator was fantastic and did really well keeping the reader intrigued. I have not read a fast paced thriller like this in a while, so it was a nice change.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I can understand why some found this book exploitative of the recent Idaho murder case of three college students, however, I found it an enjoyable work of fiction focusing more on internet sleuths than a true crime story.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Tantor Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book by Ashley Winstead, with the audiobook wonderfully narrated by Leslie Howard. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

After the unexpected death of her father, college student Janeway Sharp heads home to grieve with her mother. She becomes obsessed with true crime and soon becomes part of an online armchair detective group, finding purpose and friendship. When three college girls are killed in Idaho, Jane and her friends are determined to solve the crime.

Ashley Winstead has once again created a book that you’ll have a hard time putting down, especially if you are obsessed with true crime (and who isn’t?). This book, told in a story-in-a-story format, will pull you into the hunt for a serial killer. It will have you thinking about the online true crime obsessives – good or evil or somewhere in between? It’s also a story of grief and trying to come to terms with losing someone we love.

I love Ashley Winstead and will read anything she writes, so my expectations were already high going in. Needless to say, "This Book Will Bury Me" exceeded those. I did not see the ending coming - I had a couple other theories that were slowly peeled away - and I was thrilled by the surprise. Have already recommended to others!