This Book Will Bury Me is a suspenseful read that keeps you on edge from start to finish. The novel weaves multiple storylines together, and while it may seem complex at times, most of these plot points are addressed at the end.

However, one drawback is the heavy emphasis on certain ideological themes, which, while relevant to some aspects of the story, occasionally feel secondary to the main plot. A more subtle approach might have allowed the core suspense elements to shine even more.

Additionally, the novel presents an unlikely scenario in which law enforcement collaborates closely with amateur internet crime sleuths on an open case. While this premise adds intrigue and tension, it stretches realism, as real-world police typically limit civilian involvement in active investigations.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

The pacing was off, and It was okay, but then I learned this was based on a true story with little to nothing changed and I don't support authors who use true crime cases for direct profit.

***Content Warning: this fictional book is closely inspired or shares similarities to the 2022 Moscow, Idaho murders of 4 college students.***

I received the digital and audio ARC for Winstead’s newest release and started reading ‘blindly’ before reading the synopsis. This Book Will Bury Me is told from the perspective of Janeway Sharpe, a 24 year old college student at UCF, who moved back home after her dad passes away. Amidst her grief, she stumbled into the world of true crime sub-reddits and community boards. Essentially finding a new ‘home,’ Jane forms a close relationship with 4 other members who work together to solve cases. Eventually, a shocking set of murders in Idaho, push the team’s skills to the limits, and they agree to meet in-person to ‘assist’ the authorities in solving the case.

Readers can expect:
*Mixed media content; a lot of chat boards, text threads, and some podcast interviews (which makes the nearly 500 page book move quickly)
*Narration that breaks the 4th wall; Jane frequently speaks to the reader directly via footnotes, as she interjects her version of events since she is writing the book a year after the case.
*Graphic descriptions of murder victims; as the team combs through case files and evidence, the crime scenes and victims are described with detail.
*Morally grey characters; some members of the team are willing to bend traditional morality (hacking, falsifying identities, accessing vistims’ families) in order to solve their cases- Winstead calls this ‘light situational madness’.
*Exploration (condemnation?) of the ‘true-crime’ community at-large. From ‘armchair sleuths’, ‘murder tourists’, TikTok crime girlies, and the way social media has increasingly blurred the lines between reality and truth, even botching investigations and ruining lives of innocent suspects.

I found Jane to be a compelling character, and the connection built with her co-investigators to be full of found family energy. The pacing starts slow, and builds nicely in the back half to the book with increasing twists, suspicions, and higher stakes. This was a story I found difficult to set aside due to its captivating plot and intricate characters. Specifically, audiobook narrator, Leslie Howard, was phenomenal at distinguishing between each character, and adding emotional depth to the story. I think readers with interest in complex characters and true crime will enjoy this new release.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Media for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I want to start with the good here: Ashley Winstead is clearly a talented writer, and I would be interested in reading more of her work. She created thorough backstories for her characters which is more than some thriller writers bother to do. Because each character was unique, it was easy to enjoy the found family aspect of the true crime group. That bit was lovely, and I want to know more about most of them.

Now, here's a not-in-any-order list of what irked me about this book.

*Nearly 500 pages for a thriller is A LOT to ask of a reader. This book is long, which might be okay if it weren't also repetitive in many places. The protagonist's motive for solving crimes was mentioned so many times in become fodder for eye rolls. Wait - but is she doing this for her dad or...?
*The blatant use of a real tragedy in this book skeeved me out. I'm just not convinced it's appropriate. And I think it shows a lack of imagination.
*I knew what the twist was pretty early on. This could be because I've read a lot of thrillers and so just picked up on the clues or it could be that it was obvious. Fellow readers, you let me know.
*The main character was unlikeable in ways I found it hard to deal with. Sort of a "she doesn't know she's pretty" if that makes sense. And she committed a cardinal sin in this book that I HATE - she cuts her own hair and it somehow looks great. PUHlease.
*The nondescript Asian character in this book drinks sake when they're all having a toast and that made me cringe.

I wish I had liked this more, but unfortunately it wasn't for me.

This book is a very good read for fans of true crime and serial killer psychology. While the first quarter of the book was slow for me, once the details of the set up passed, I found myself engrossed in the story. The author definitely surprised me a couple of times, and I found the way the book ended to be pretty fitting, while unlikely. I still found it really enjoyable and like it wrapped up the story well. The MC was also on a journey of grief, having lost her father, and while this side story was touching, I am not sure that it completely meshed well with the book. At times, I found it took me out of the investigation. Regardless, I still rate this one a solid 4 stars for being entertaining and a solid addition to the true crime genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC.

This is the second book I’ve read from Ashley Winstead. I read Midnight is the Darkest Hour and kind of hated it, but this book was much better. Jane joins a group of amateur sleuths who are trying to solve the mystery of three sorority sisters. Jane is currently grieving the loss of a loved one and is looking for any way to distract herself from her reality.

The narrator for the audiobook was great and kept up with the multi-media of reddit posts and foot notes. I fully connected with the characters. The premise was great, and it was a lot of fun. The twists in the book were decent, but somewhat predictable. I couldn't guess all the twists and the ending was satisfying.

I would recommend this for people who like true-crime style books. It wasn’t for me, but I bet many people will like this book. Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

I love all of Ashley Winstead's books, and This Book Will Bury Me was no exception. In this story, we follow Jane, who is coping with the sudden loss of her father to a heart attack. While she was dealing with her grief, she became obsessed with true crime. I really enjoy Ashley Winstead’s writing; it truly draws you into the story. However, I highly recommend reading the trigger warnings before reading this book. I think this book is by far her most intense book at least for me. The narrator of this book is really awesome. She does a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life. If you like true crime stories, you should definitely pick this one up. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the early copy. All opinions are my own.

I’m not necessarily a true crime junkie so I wasn’t necessarily familiar with the true crime cases this book was influenced by and drew on. But I do love a good mystery and this one was definitely a good one! I wanted a bit more character development from the FMC. And there is multiple references to “she who will not be named” or someone who hates the FMC and the reveal was a little lack luster and missing some details that were thrown quickly in at the end. But ultimately the mystery was gripping and crazy and twisty and I was willing to look past any flaws to keep going non stop to get to the end of this one.

4.5 / 5 stars

College senior Jane Sharp is sent into a dark spiral of grief following her father's unexpected passing. A local woman's murder does manage to catch her interest, and Jane finds herself getting obsessed with the online amateur detective community. When Jane helps to find the clues that crack the case, she gets invited to join a close-knit inner circle of elite investigators who work together on cases virtually.

Several months into her new avocation, a shocking murder begins to make waves online: three college women have been brutally slain in their home, but the police have no evidence to go on. After the killer strikes a second time, Jane and her team of online investigators decide to gather IRL in the college town to investigate the apparent serial killer. But every clue they uncover only begs more questions and the answers all seem impossible.

Written as a fictional tell-all, This Book Will Bury Me is by far the best I have read by Winstead yet. Jane is a young woman struggling with understanding how to deal with her own grief and how to process decisions her deceased father made. She wants to create a legacy worthy of his memory and is driven by that. I might not buy that the elite circle invited her in immediately, but I did find her character believable.

I thought that they mystery aspect was great and it kept me guessing all the way to the end. The conceit of the book being Jane's memoir was interesting and allowed her character to include commentary on the vampiric nature of the true crime industry and the racism and ageism of the official and unofficial crime solving communities.

The book is perhaps a bit longer than it needs to be. I think too much time is spent at the outset establishing Jane's grief. It is an important part of the story, but that section could have been tighter.

I also gave the audiobook a try after reading, and I have to admit — the narration didn’t quite work for me. Maybe it’s because I’d already spent so much time with Jane in my head, but the narrator’s voice just didn’t match the version of Jane I had pictured. It wasn’t bad, just a bit of a mismatch that pulled me out of the story at times. If you’re thinking about picking this one up, I’d recommend reading over listening.

This will be one of the biggest thrillers of 2025! If you're a fan of the genre, add this to your TBR!

A solid mystery/thriller that kept me looking for reasons to slip my headphones 🎧 back on and submerge myself within this world of murder, mayhem, and the armchair detectives determined to find the truth.

After much speculation regarding horrific crimes and the media frenzy that followed, Jane Sharp is coming forward a year later with the story only she can tell.

The Truth.

Leslie Howard's dramatic narration ensures that <i>This Book Will Bury Me</i> works fantastic as an audiobook. Howard was an ideal choice for narrating. Her delivery gave the captivating content a hypnotic quality. A brick of a book, clocking in at over 13 hours in audio form, had me coming back to hit play every chance I got. I ended up completing it in two days. That isn't to say the book is flawless. It isn't. There are some issues that I found to be problematic, but nothing made my interest wane.

There are some plot points that wandered off into tangents that weakened the pace causing lulls. The storyline with her dad seemed odd and out of place sometimes. Given the novels length some of this should have been cut or reworked to create a streamlined approach. The obvious connection to the 2022 University of Idaho murders is glaring and a catalyst for controversy. It felt like poor taste and brought the ick factor. A fictional murder would've been a better move. The ending seemed far-fetched and too convenient. 🤷🏻‍♀️

There were twists and turns that were smart and I was caught unaware a few times. Piecing together clues alongside these brilliant minds with danger lurking was compelling.

If you like solving mysteries this is one to consider. 🕵🏻‍♀️

*Be aware that there are scenes of violence with blood and gore. Also, many detailed discussions of multiple violent crimes from an investigative point of view.* 🩸

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for an Advanced Listening Copy!! These are my unbiased opinions.

DNF at 50% so insanely boring. I kept trying to get into it but I was overall just so bored. The story just kept seeming to drag without any real excitement.. I had higher hopes for this one

Love Leslie Howard for narration! She has the ability to make me really forget what’s happening around me and feel engrossed in the story. This book definitely pulls you in, and I really enjoyed it. I had some slight concerns about how closely it mirrors the current Idaho case, which I didn’t love, but the story itself was very good.

This review has been posted to Goodreads and Storygraph on March 17th, 2025. Links provided.

After the sudden death of her father, college student Jane Sharp becomes consumed by the world of true crime as a way to cope with her sorrow. She connects with online sleuths, learning their methods of solving cases from afar, which brings her both camaraderie and a sense of accomplishment. When the murders of three college girls in Delphine, Idaho capture widespread attention, Jane and her new friends set out to crack the case before anyone else. But as they investigate, they discover the situation is far stranger than they imagined - details don’t align, the police are secretive, and the media frenzy overshadows any real evidence. As the case unfolds, the group realizes they may be dealing with a more cunning and dangerous killer than they originally thought, and their involvement may be leading them into a perilous trap. Told from Jane’s perspective a year later, this book tells Jane’s story as she breaks her silence and reveals the startling details behind the Delphine Massacres and everything that led up to the shocking truth.

Truthfully, I am really struggling with how to go about writing a review explaining my personal opinions of this book. First of all, I listened to this book on audio. For that, I want to give the narrator five stars. She really brought the story to life, capturing the emotional depth of Jane’s journey. From the grief she felt after her father’s death to the growing tension as the mystery unfolded, every emotion came through so clearly. The pacing was spot-on and she made the smallest details feel significant, which kept me fully engaged. It was like being right there in the story, experiencing everything through Jane’s eyes.

Now for the aspects of the actual story that just don’t sit right with me and why I ultimately had to give this book a low rating. It’s clear that Winstead didn’t just take inspiration from the real-life Idaho student killings in 2022 but essentially mirrored it, with only minor changes. The murders, the layout of the house, and even the character details are so similar to the ongoing King Road case in Idaho that it felt uncomfortable. The fact that Winstead didn’t even bother to change the state or make significant alterations seems disrespectful. While I did appreciate the way the book highlighted the negative aspects of amateur true crime enthusiasts online, the rest of the story felt in poor taste. I just couldn’t help but feel like Winstead is trying to profit off a tragedy that is still so raw for so many people, especially the victims’ families. I think the book and its focus on true crime enthusiasts could have been more impactful if it had an entirely original case they were trying to solve. The fact that this book is publishing less than six months away from the real-life trial it has copied just feels insensitive. Also, at least with my audio copy, there was no forward nor author’s note at the end even remotely explaining that this story could have taken inspiration from real life events. Lastly, even putting all of that aside, I thought the ending was incredibly anti-climatic and quite a letdown. The reality of the murders and motive behind them was so ridiculous and I was left scratching my head with the part related to Jane’s dad. All in all, it’s not one I would recommend and certainly won’t read again.

Thank you to Tantor Audio, RB Media, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read to an ARC of This Book Will Bury Me in return for my honest review.

A bit of a slow start, but overall entertaining, though a bit predictable. Found it a little gross that it is very obviously based on the Univ of Idaho murders in 2022 (I mean, the main "case" in the book takes place in ID and the victims' names are similar, minimal effort made to conceal this), a real-life case that is still being prosecuted.

I was really excited to read the newest book by Ashley Winstead, being a fan of her books, but unfortunately, this one did not work for me. The premise was intriguing, since I really enjoy true crime, but the story was such a slow burn and almost felt too long for me to fully enjoy. The story follows Jane, who after the death of her father, finds an online group dedicated to solving real life crimes. The work together to investigate the murder of 3 young college students.
As always, the writing was superb, and the author's does a great job writing her characters. I will continue to read her future books, and I hope others really love this story.
I listened to the ALC for this one, and the narration was top notch!
Thank you to Tantor Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The story itself was really good. I couldn’t stop listening to the audiobook. Narrator did a fantastic job. Lots of interesting twists and turns. If you like true crime, this would be up your alley.

Now for the big BUT, this story takes a lot of its elements from a real true crime. If you have issues with that, you will not like this book. When I found out, I felt a bit awkward listening to the book.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This Book Will Bury Me was a highly anticipated read for me this year. Which I gave a 3.5 star rating, this books expected publish date is March 25, 2025.

We follow Jane as she is in the midst of her grief from her father’s unexpected death.

In her sorrow she turns to a true crime sleuths chat to seek a distraction. She quickly befriends a group of sleuth detectives and eager to prove herself.

When 3 college girls in Delphine Idaho are found dead, the world is struck. All true crime sleuths race to solve the crime. Jane finds herself amongst her group of detective sleuths in Idaho to solve the crime. Which I loved and found so unique. I was immediately reminded of Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll while reading.

This didn’t hit for me like I thought. Not what I had expected. I really enjoyed the setup of this book and where it was going. There was so much grief embedded in this book as Jane tries to get some other understanding of who her father was. Some of which took over the story line of the mystery and thriller storyline. Picking up this book for this factor and not a drama (sad story grief expectation).

I realized the big twist before the reveal and was left a little deflated. I wasn’t as invested in the group of sleuth detectives as characters. They really pulled together and became a ‘found family’. I was way more interested in solving the crime and the mystery there.

The writing was enjoyable and had a great pace for a thriller and I was finding that I didn’t want to put the book down.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I thought this book was interesting and well written but I wish it was a little less true to life. It was so obviously inspired by the University of Idaho murders that it almost came off like fanfiction. I really think more should've been changed from the real life case. That being said, I thought the perspective of a websleuth was an interesting one to take and the story was tense throughout. I also liked how the book was written as if it were a tell-all written by a character after the fact.

Well I was glad to get this Audiobook, but I was disappointed. The voice was very soft, too whispering. When my phone, with headphones, was on it loudest I couldn't hear the voice while walking my dog or vacuuming. I had a hard time listening to it.
Also I found the story too slow and dull whithout something happening. This wasn't for me unfortunately.

While listening to the audiobook I was really taken aback by the similarities - especially since there hasn’t been any sort of resolution or justice in court. I had to do some digging but I found out that the author posted a note (on Instagram) that did end up clearing things up for me. I’m really hoping this will be added to the beginning of the audiobook as it felt a little counterintuitive without having known it was a true crime book when starting it. That being said, the main character was interesting and the story intriguing. This book was very detailed, maybe even a tad long. Included was lots of backstory, like the main plot of the story doesn’t start until chapter 23 (again reading the note made this make more sense). All in all, I look forward to reading more from Ashley Winstead, as I feel she’s a wonderful author. The narrator was amazing with her multitude of different character voices - all with so much depth and inflection. I would like to thank Tantor Audio and NetGalley for giving me an ARC (which did not sway my opinions or review).

***Also, if grief of losing a parent (or you have lost someone recently), or true-crime events are triggers this is probably not a good fit to read at this time.***