This book was a ride. It had everything I look for in the genre — suspense, unexpected twists and a satisfying ending that didn’t leave me with lingering questions. From the start, the story pulled me in, keeping me on edge as I tried to piece everything together.

One of the things I appreciated most was how well the twists were executed. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story would take a turn that caught me off guard in the best way. It kept the suspense high without feeling predictable.

I also loved that all the loose ends were tied up by the end. There’s nothing worse than an unsatisfying ending but this ending wrapped everything up perfectly. It was just the right balance of intrigue and resolution.

Overall, this was a great read that had me hooked from start to finish.

"I definitely don’t have an off-switch in my brain that says it’s okay to let this one go."

That's the book, basically.

Summary:
Marty Gray is our main character, and she never learned how to let go. Her brother disappeared when she was eight years old. Twenty years later, she still lives in the home her parents fled ten years ago, desperate for a new start.

After spending most of her life investigating her own brother's disappearance, Marty starts an ill-fated podcast about two hikers who went missing in a local ghost town. Nearly a year after the spectacular failure of this podcast, three men are murdered in a parking lot in Marty's town. Like every other mystery Marty has ever heard of, she can't get this one out of her head.

My Thoughts:
Marty really grew on me. Like, she definitely needs a fantastic therapist and also maybe a nap. But she feels like a real person with real trauma. She makes several stupid choices, but you always see where she is coming from.

If there is ever a sequel. More Peabody, please.

I think the pacing was pretty good. It always felt like something new was happening, but not so quickly that it was hard to keep up. There is a section right at the end that felt a bit infodumpy, but it made sense, I suppose. Felt more like a recap than a rushed ending, which was nice.

As for the mystery itself: I genuinely did not see a lot of these twists coming. Yet they all felt logical. There were enough hints that I think a reread would be fun, but not so many that it gave the game away too quickly. I do think that in the early middle of the book there starts to become a lot of names and dates to keep up with. By the time I finished the book, though, I knew who everyone was and what had happened when. So hang in there!

Final Opinion
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick, satisfying read. I would love to read more from this author, and I would be interested in seeing a return from Marty Gray.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy! All opinions are my own.

Welcome to Murdertown by Rian Wynne is a chilling and atmospheric mystery that follows Marty Gray, a quirky and determined investigator who isn’t afraid to dig deeper when the authorities have moved on. The novel begins with two young backpackers vanishing without a trace after hiking up Ghost Mountain, followed by a gruesome triple murder in a mall parking lot. Both cases seem unrelated at first, but Marty discovers eerie similarities that lead her to believe there’s more to the story.

Marty, armed with little more than her curiosity and a podcast history filled with failure, sets out to uncover the truth that no one else seems willing to pursue. As she unravels the sleepy town’s darkest secrets, the reader is taken on a tense and suspenseful journey, where the past and present collide in unexpected and dangerous ways. The book is rich in atmosphere, with Ghost Mountain itself adding an eerie and haunting backdrop to the unfolding mystery.

Wynne crafts a gripping tale, balancing the small-town charm with a dark undercurrent of suspense. Marty is an engaging and relatable protagonist, whose dogged determination makes her an underdog worth rooting for. Welcome to Murdertown is an immersive and cleverly woven thriller that will keep readers hooked until the very last page, as Marty uncovers unsettling truths that threaten to expose more than just the town’s secrets. Perfect for fans of character-driven mysteries with a touch of the eerie and supernatural.

**⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | A Gripping Thriller That Keeps You Hooked!**

*Welcome to the Murdertown* by Rian Wynne is an absolute page-turner, a fast-paced thriller that never slows down for even a second. From the haunting mystery of Ghost Mountain to the shocking triple murder in a mall parking lot, the story is packed with twists, secrets, and an investigation that pulls you in right alongside the determined protagonist, Marty Gray.

Marty is a compelling lead, grappling with the unresolved disappearance of her brother while throwing herself into another tangled mystery that no one else seems to care about. She feels incredibly real—flawed, persistent, and easy to root for. The story unfolds from multiple perspectives, yet everything ties together seamlessly in the final chapter, delivering a satisfying and well-thought-out resolution. The addition of podcast transcripts woven into the narrative is pure genius, making the story feel even more immersive.

Despite having a large cast of characters, the author does a fantastic job introducing them in a way that never feels overwhelming. The mystery itself is gripping and realistic, avoiding over-the-top gore in favor of a plot that feels disturbingly plausible. And let’s talk about the twists—brilliantly executed, never forced, and always logical.

The ending ties up the immediate mystery beautifully, but it leaves just enough open to make you crave a sequel—especially regarding Marty’s brother. And Peabody? Absolutely love him! We *need* more of him in the next book.

Overall, *Welcome to the Murdertown* is a must-read for mystery lovers who enjoy clever storytelling, realistic characters, and a suspenseful plot that keeps you guessing until the very end. Highly recommended!

★★★★.5

Marty Gray’s life and identity have been shaped by her brother’s disappearance nearly 20 years ago. She is seeking closure, but unlike the people around her, she needs to know what happened before she can finally move on.

When two Norwegian backpackers, Astrid and Linnea, disappear nearby, Marty decides to start a podcast in an attempt to uncover the truth and bring the families of the two girls some closure. If anyone understands the importance of closure, it must be Marty. Rumors swirl around the case—after all, the girls vanished in the small, abandoned ghost town of Golden, at the base of Ghost Mountain, part of the Blue Mountain Range.

“It’s Ghost Mountain, you know? Weird things happen.”

Astrid was found dead a few days after her disappearance, with a heart condition believed to have caused her death. But Marty suspects there’s more to the story. In her mind, the evidence just doesn’t add up. All that remains is a YouTube video of the two girls in a local bar, singing a made-up song that now feels eerily close to the truth:

♬♪♫ “It’s a ghost town / There’s nothing to see / But don’t look / Don’t look for me…” ♫♪♬

And then, there’s the chilling, heartbreaking final message from the still-missing Linnea: “I’m here.”

Most locals moved on, but things in Plymouth didn’t stay quiet for long. Another murder occurred—the Parking Lot Murders. The victims: two of the town’s golden boys and an unknown local who barely garners any media attention. Once again, things don’t add up. Another half-hearted investigation identifies what must be the least likely suspect in history! Despite the fallout from her attempted podcast nearly a year ago, Marty feels it’s up to her to uncover the truth and bring closure to the victims’ families…

”Welcome to Murdertown? More like Welcome to My Overactive Imagination.”

What a fantastic book! I was a little hesitant to read yet another crime novel centered around a podcast, but in this story, it wasn’t the focus. The story was well-written—definitely not a debut, as confirmed by the writer. Rian Wynne writes under a pen name—a mystery surrounding the mystery—I am here for it!

The character development was amazing, as was the atmospheric setting. Marty is a unique character—flawed at times, but you can’t fault her. Growing up in the shadow of her brother’s disappearance in a small town with no resolution, always being reminded of what was and what could have been, she felt incredibly relatable. Rian Wynne did an excellent job bringing her to life! The description of the twice-abandoned ghost town and the eerie woods surrounding both Max’s and the backpackers’ disappearances made it feel like I was right there, hiking alongside Marty.

As for the mystery, I was utterly clueless! Other than knowing that the world’s least likely suspect was about to be charged, I had no idea what was going on—it was perfect! I highly recommend you check this out!

Thank you NetGalley and Rian Wynne for an early copy. All opinions are my own.