This Book Will Bury Me

 

Author: Ashley Winstead

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Publication date: March 25, 2025

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the digital review copy! 

Jane Sharp, a college student grieving the loss of her father, becomes obsessed with true crime. She joins forces with a group of other armchair detectives, investigating crimes and becoming online friends. When the murder of 3 college girls in Idaho takes over the headlines, the group springs into action and travels to Idaho to meet in person and investigate the murders. Jane and her group aren’t the only amateur sleuths in Idaho. Far too many true crime junkies have made the trek to try to solve the murders too. Jane and her group find more questions than answers. They soon realize the killer is far worse than anyone imagined. 

The story is told through Jane’s point of view. She’s writing a book and recounting the events a year after they take place. This is a character driven thriller. That doesn’t mean there weren’t a lot of twists and turns, because there were tons. My heart broke for Jane at losing her father and her life was derailed by grief. Her friendship with her fellow sleuths and the distraction of the investigation gave her something to focus on instead of constantly turning inward. 

Author Ashley Winstead kept me guessing trying to figure out whodunnit. It’s also an interesting take on the popularity of true crime and its dominance right now. I really enjoyed this compelling and engaging thriller. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This Book Will Bury Me comes out March 25. Add it to your tbr now! 

QOTD: do you have a favorite true crime documentary or podcast? Give it a shout out.

Although I love mysteries and thrillers, I actually don’t have any. I guess I prefer fictional crimes to reality. 

About the Author

Ashley Winstead is the bestselling author of Midnight is the Darkest Hour, The Last Housewife, In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, The Boyfriend Candidate, and Fool Me Once. Her books have been translated into over a dozen languages worldwide and optioned for television. Ashley holds a Ph.D. in contemporary American literature and lives in Houston.

#thisbookwillburyme #ashleywinstead #sourcebookslandmark #netgalley #truecrime #crimefiction #mysteryfiction #thrillerfiction #truecrimejunkies #idahofiction #bookstagram #bookreview #alwaysreading #grief #bookworm 

#thrillerthursday

The Collaborators

 

Author: Michael Idov

Narrator: Santino Fantana

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Year: 2024

Thank you Simon & Schuster Audio for the gifted audiobook! 

I like espionage thrillers, but they often take along time to unfold. There’s lots of time spent on the set up and not enough time spent on action. Luckily, Michael Idov’s The Collaborators isn’t like that. It’s a globe trotting, action packed adventure. 

Ari Falk is a young CIA operative who just lost his best asset, an outspoken critic of Russia. Ari sets out to find out  who killed his best asset and why. Along the way he meets Maya Chou, the daughter of billionaire who allegedly killed himself. Maya’s looking for answers too. Ari and Maya realize their quests for answers are somehow connected. But can they evade assassins to find the truth? 

I really liked the fast pace of the story. With a listening time of just over 8 house, this was an easy binge read for me. Both Maya and Ari are likable characters who are attracted to each other and work well together. There were lots of twists and turns throughout the story that kept me guessing. I also really enjoyed the various locations the characters visited. Their country hopping really kept the story moving. Santino Fantana’s narration was excellent. He really brought the characters and the settings to life. This is a top notch thriller and I’d love to see these characters again in the future. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

QOTD: Do you think you’d make a good spy? What skill set or characteristic do you have that would be useful for being a spy? 

I’m getting to be a woman of a “certain age” who’s often overlooked in public. I’d blend right into a crowd. 

#thecollaborators #michaelidov #simonaudio #audiobook #audiobookreview #audiobookstagram #espionagethriller #espionagefiction #thrillerfiction #bookrecommendation #audiobookreommendation #alwaysreadingm

The Butcher

 

Author: Jennifer Hillier

Narrators: Chris Henry Coffey, Corey Brill, Raquel Beattie, Zac Aleman

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Year: 2024

Thank you Simon & Schuster Audio for the gifted audiobook! Truly appreciate it! 

The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier is a dark and twisted thriller. Three decades ago Police Chief Edward Shank killed the notorious“Beacon Hill Butcher” ending the serial killer’s reign of terror. Now retired, Edward has moved to a retirement community and given his longtime home to his grandson Matt. While doing some backyard renovation, Matt uncovers a dark family secret. 

I really enjoyed this one! This isn’t a whodunnit type thriller. It’s an omg what crazy thing’s going to happen next type of thriller. Honestly the less you know going into this book, the better. The story is told from multiple points of view and it’s full of suspense. Hillier keeps ratcheting up the tension all throughout the book and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The multiple narrator cast did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

QOTD: How do you feel about unreliable narrators in thrillers? Do you enjoy them or find them frustrating?

I like unreliable narrators. I like they make for more complex characters and are more interesting. 

#thebutcher #jenniferhillier #simonaudio #audiobook #audiobookreview #audiobookstagram #crimefiction #thrillerfiction #seattlefiction #bookstagram #bookish #serialkillerfiction

Carson the Magnificent

 

Authors: Bill Zehme and Mike Thomas

Narrator: Johnny Heller

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Year: 2024

Thank you Simon & Schuster Audio for the gifted audiobook! 

Johnny Carson was a cultural phenomenon. He revolutionized late night talk show television and made it must see tv. Yet for all his popularity and fame, he was a very private man. He rarely talked about himself or his private life durning his 30 year reign as the king of late night tv. He also rarely gave interviews. Carson gave only one interview after his retirement from television to writer Bill Zehme for Esquire. After Carson’s death in 2005, Zehme began working on a Cason biography. He spent years doing extensive research and interviewed dozens of Carson’s friends and former colleagues. Zehme died before he finished writing the extensive biography. Zehme’s friend and former research assistant, journalist Mike Thomas completed the book which was published in November 2024. 

The biography is a deep dive into Carson’s life - from his boyhood in Nebraska, his military service during WWII, his early entry into radio and television, and his rise to highest echelon of the entertainment industry. It’s also a stark look at his personal life which included a somewhat dysfunctional relationship with his mother, four failed marriages, his troubles with alcohol, and the loss of one of his children. This is a comprehensive look at Carson’s life and career. It doesn’t shy away from the examining Carson’s failings and imperfections. The book really does attempt to let readers know the real Johnny Carson, a very shy and private man who also happened to be the greatest host in television history. 

I enjoyed the audio version of this book. Johnny Heller provides a great narration to the book which has a listening time of just over 9 hours. This is an incredibly well researched and detailed biography. It’s a great choice for readers who are especially interested in the early days of television and the rise of late night tv. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#carsonthemagnificent #johnnycarson #billzehme #mikethomas #heresjohnny #latenighttv  #audiobook #audiobookreview #audiobookstagram #bookstagram #simonaudio #biography

My Top 10 Reads in 2024

 

Here’s my top 10 favorite reads for the year. 

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

The Waiting by Michael Connelly 

The Last King of California by Jordan Harper

Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman

#1- 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸 by Chris Whitaker - a literary thriller with masterful storytelling and unforgettable characters 

QOTD: do we have any top 10 books in common? What was for favorite reads this year? 

#2024readingwrapup #toptenbooks #2024books #allthecolorsofthedark #happynewyear #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks

We Are Watching

 

Author: Alison Gaylin

Publisher: William Morrow Books

Publication date: January 28, 2025

Thank you William Morrow Books and NetGalley for the digital e-arc. 

This book has something for just about everyone- rock & roll, family drama, a decades old fantasy book, and a cult. What more could a reader ask for? 

Meg and Justin are driving their daughter Lily to college to start her freshman year. Lily notices the passengers in the car next to them are recorder her with their phones. Their driving gets more aggressive and Meg’s car crashes, killing Justin.  Weeks later, after recovering from the accident, Meg returns to work at the bookstore she and Justin owned. The store was founded by  Meg’s father, a former singer and guitarist who never really made the big time. Soon Meg and Lily discover that their family is at the center of an online cult’s obsession. And that obsession is turning deadly.

This one just pulled me right in from the jump. Author Alison Gaylin kept me on the edge in my seat trying to figure out what was going to happen next. She is an excellent storyteller and keeps ratcheting up the tension as the story unfolds. I found story is also very thought provoking too. It shows how far a conspiracy theory can spread and take over eventually ruining people’s lives. 

We Are Watching comes out Jan. 28. Preorder it now or add it to your tbr list. You’re going to want to read this one! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

QOTD: What’s the scariest part of cult stories for you—manipulation, isolation, or something else?

I think it’s how easily people are manipulated. I think it’s even easier today with the internet because we’re online 24/7. It’s too easy to go down a rabbit hole online and get sucked in.

#wearewatching #alisongaylin #williammorrowbooks #thrillerfiction #mysteryfiction #crimefiction #cult #cultfiction #publishingsoon #bookstagram 

What I Ate in One Year

 

Author: Stanley Tucci

Narrator: Stanley Tucci

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Year: 2024

Thank you Simon & Schuster Audio for the gifted audiobook! 

Actor and foodie Stanley Tucci takes readers on a delicious journey of what he ate almost every day in 2023. Mr. Tucci narrates his audiobook and it’s wonderful. I loved his dry wit. I also loved the descriptions of the food he ate in restaurants around the world and what cooked at home for his family and friends. If I ever win the lottery I’m going to Italy to eat at all the restaurants he discusses in this book. His love of cooking comes from his parents and he even provides several recipes throughout the book. He also provides a peek at his busy life as an actor, philanthropist, and husband and father. The chapters are short diary entries and his narration is extremely entertaining. Even if you don’t like cooking, the way he describes fresh ingredients and excellent, but simple meals will have your mouth watering. Mangiare!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

QOTD: what’s your favorite dish? 

I love pizza and pasta and meatballs.

#whatiateinayear #stanlettucci #simonaudio #audiobook #audiobookreview #food #foodie #nonfiction #audiobookstagram #audiobooksofinstagram