I really enjoyed this book. This is my first Ashley winstead book. I did read this via audiobook and the narrator was fantastic. We follow Jane sharp as her father unexpectedly dies. She gets a phone call from her mother breaking the news that her father might have had a heart attack. After her father’s death she becomes obsessed with true crime and joins a website called the network. She signs up and goes from there. One day she gets a message from someone to join their group who investigate cases and she accepts. They know everything about her before inviting her into their group. There are now 5 of them in the group and they come across a case that is so horrific that they feel they need to investigate right away. Then we follow the sleuths on their journey to uncover the killer of the murder of these 3 college girls. There are so many twists and turns in this book I would highly recommend. I read that the author takes from true crime cases in this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Winstead, and Tantor Audio for this audio copy of this book will bury me for my honest review

Narrator: 5/5 Fantastic narration
Plot: 1/5 Incredibly exploitative and hypocritical.

First of all, the writing is amazing and as usual, Ashley Winstead is a fantastic story teller.

Unfortunately, she lost the plot. As in, should have never written about true crime cases that are so fresh and aren't even closed yet. I read the authors note and I understand that she wanted to discuss the exploitation of true crime, but all she did was become exploitive herself. It's horrifically graphic when it talks about CASES THAT ARE REAL. I don't know why she couldn't just make up a fictional case and use that and internet sleuths. It was entirely unnecessary to bring in real cases.

I was hoping it was going to be broadly based on the real life cases, but it was basically like she was reading from the case file. Honestly I'm really sad and disappointed in the author and the publishing team for this. I hope the families never read some of the graphic scenes in this book.

To write this kind of book, the families need to consent and I haven't seen that anywhere. If they come out and say they approve of the book, I'll take back this review.

This was hard for me to rate, but I can't ethically go for more than two stars.

This novel follows our protagonist, Janeway Sharp, as she discovers a true crime online community and becomes part of a group of five amateur sleuths. They turn into a cute little found family and try to solve a gruesome case in Idaho that just keeps getting weirder.

Here's the thing: I really liked this book. I also really loved the narrator's voice and she kept me engaged. The characters charmed me, the pace kept me locked in, and it was suspenseful despite being a bit predictable. Now here's why I couldn't rate this any higher than 2 stars: it's clearly based off of the University of Idaho case from 2022, and not just a little bit. So many of the details are pulled directly from the case. If it was a couple similarities I could look past it, but it's everything from the murder weapon to two of the victims having been childhood friends and being in the same bed together the night of the murder. It's an insane number of similarities and it feels gross, particularly because this case is so fresh and still going through the legal system. I read this entire book going "wow this seems familiar" and finally did my research once I was done with it. Yikes.

This was such a fun and crazy thriller. I did not see any of the twists and turns. My first Ashley Winstead book but definitely not my last.

This is my first book by this author. I have heard really great things about this author though. I really enjoyed this read though. It was a rather interesting story.

3.5* rounded up... I am approaching this review on the sheer standpoint of a fictional account of some true crime aficionados that investigate crimes, but typically in way more in-depth fashion than just from their armchairs. I do see the similarities to the current Idaho murder case, but am not sure this is a deal breaker for me...since it is categorized as fiction. I think if you go in with this firm mindset, and do not read into anything or add facts to the ongoing case, it helps. There are differences as well. Prove me wrong or convince me otherwise and I'll gladly retract.
On its surface, I thought the character development and dialogue was well-written and the storyline captured my attention and kept it throughout. Jane, while going through the grief of recently losing her father is caught up in gathering details and helping to solve a serial murder. There are twists and turns and an unexpected ending. I thought Winstead was clever in her handling of the online exchanges, as well as what was going on in real time.
The audio version was good, but at times I found the narrator's voice to be breathy or whispery, causing me to turn my volume up and down throughout. It was sometimes difficult to follow the multiple layers of this story in audio form, and I may go back and remedy that with the actual print copy.
Overall I recommend for any fans of true crime and psychological thrillers. I don't think you'll be disappointed if you take it at face value.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARL. All opinions are mine.

Ashley Winstead's books always have a darker tone than I normally like. "This Book Will Bury Me" is one of her better novels. The narrator was really good.

As a lover of thrillers, I found the audiobook difficult to stop listening to. The narrator did a wonderful job. The book was a slow burn but not to the point where I felt I wanted to put it away. I wanted to know the ending, and I was excited to finish.

However, as a true crime fan, I had a concern about how closely the book relates to the real-life events of unresolved Idaho student murders. This aspect of the novel is troubling. The case is ongoing, and this book could be seen as exploitative. However, I maintain my 4-star rating. This was my introduction to this author, and I thought the book was well written.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for providing the Advanced Listening Copy of This book will bury me by Ashley Winstead . All opinions are my own."

Thank you Tantor and Netgalley for the ALC of the audio! I was really excited for this one, and I'm leaving with mixed feelings. 3.5 stars rounded up.

"I know what you're thinking, that I'm presenting a veneer of false humility to avoid telling you how I pulled off my investigative feats. You've heard things about me, from the news, the person who shall not be named - but I'm here to set the record straight. And the truth is, no matter how much I wish I could claim I was some sort of... savant... I feel plenty of remorse."

At first, this seems like a true crime non-fic that has been fictionalized... then it turned out to be an actual true crime that was fictionalized. I have a hard time essentially finding anger with this sentiment, like other reviewers, because then I would have to look through that same lens while watching certain TV shows... (Like Law and Order: SVU that did a very similar storyline to the actual true crime inspiring this story) It is okay to take inspiration from real-life events, I think my issue is how similar to meat of the crime, in question, is to the story portrayed within This Book Will Bury Me. It is really well done, and I liked the change in antagonist, but I feel like we (the author)... just, maybe... could've changed certain aspects of the story (location, maybe) and made it more of an 'inspired by' versus the direct and very loud inspiration that it was. The more I sit with it, the more of an issue I have with it. You know? I have to have a little bit of empathy towards the real victims, sorry...

Story narrator is also, like, super unreliable and arguably problematic as hell, but I guess that's the point.
BUT Audiobook narrator? Leslie Howard? She's perfect.

This Book Will Bury Me is told from Jane Sharpe’s point of view. She’s 24, has recently lost her father by way of a heart attack, and has become obsessed with true crime, or maybe more accurate, with a true crime online forum where amateur sleuths discuss clues and theories about the murders in the headlines. I listened to the audio and the narrator does a fabulous job. Her tone and pace match the story well. Each character has a distinctive voice, and she brings out Jane’s emotions well.

Take the time to read the author note on this one. She was inspired by several real life murder cases, including the killings in Idaho in 2022, and the loss of her own father. How you feel about that may influence whether you want to pick this one up or not.

The plot is engrossing. Jane has found acceptance and support in her online community, even a bit of fame. Then she and her four closest friends(?)/ allies(?)/ partners(?) start looking into the murders of three sorority sisters in Idaho. The deeper they get, the more questions they have. And then another set of murders pulls them to Delphine. The book is from Jane’s point of view and she is telling us a year later what happened during that time, how the investigation went, the mistakes and highlights. While I found Jane a little over dramatic, I enjoyed the rather dysfunctional family the five sleuths formed.

The big twist was not totally surprising, but I think that’s because the author did a good job at giving us just enough clues. The plot moved along quickly and the the internet forums felt authentic. Parts are a bit gory and disturbing. I usually say I don’t read serial killer fiction, but this is my second and I’ve enjoyed (I’m not sure if that’s the right word, but you know what I mean) both.

Thank you Netgalley and Tantor audio for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review.

We follow Jane, who joins an online true crime community to escape the grief of her father's sudden death. When she’s invited to a private detective group, she couldn't resist. Three girls have been brutally killed by a serial killer, and when the pattern repeats, the group tries to stay ahead—only to keep falling behind. Is the killer truly that clever, or are they chasing the wrong suspect?

A year later, Jane writes a book about what really happened with the Delphine Massacres. It’s a lengthy read, but the narrator delivered it so well that I stayed engaged. I didn’t even notice it was 480 pages!

Unfortunately, I have mixed feelings about this book. The setting was amazing, and I was hooked right away. The first half flew by, but then something changed and I started to lose interest. The big reveal just didn’t hit me the way I hoped it would.

I also missed the deeper insights I usually find in her other books. I really liked Jane’s relationship with her father and wanted more of that. But towards the end, I felt detached from the investigation. I just didn’t care anymore.

No.

I listened to the audio.
Unfortunately I don’t know if it was the Audio or if it was the actual story but 12% I was not enjoying the book.
Once I got to 40% I decided to DNF.

I was not a fan, it just felt/sounded so bad and so unrealistic I just couldn’t continue.

After losing her father, she became obsessed with true crime. She ends up joining a group online who teach her how to hunt killers from afar. When three girls are murdered, Jane and her friends try to solve the crimes. What a chilling story with so many interesting characters. So many twists, I didn’t want it to end. I really enjoyed Ashley’s writing and I’m looking forward to reading more books by her. I really enjoyed the narrator. She did a wonderful job!

Thank you NetGalley, Ashley and Tantor Audio for the ALC!

Publication Date: March 25th 2025
Rating: ✨✨✨✨
#ThisBookWillBuryMe #NetGalley

After losing her father unexpectedly Jane is lost and wants answers when a news picked up on a local killing she stumbles onto the true crime experts and joins online sleuthing with a group. Who teach her how to look and help track down killers. When the murders of three college girls in Idaho, makes the news Jane and her fellow Sleuth try to track down the killer and what really happen. This story is told a year later from Jane POV on what happen in large to the world. With a confession that will rock the fellow true crime Sleuths.

This is a fast pace and gripping novel on what happen and why? Are they helping or hurting the case. The only part I feel a little short it is one part of the ending. But if your interested in a Thriller mystery trying to solve the case along with the book this is a great book to get into.

Thank you NetGalley for this Audio-Arc in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The story starts with Jane losing her father and experiencing the grief of an unexpected death. To distract herself, she throws herself into investigating true crime cases that are unsolved, even reaching dark ares of the internet.

She makes some online friends through this work and they spring into action when three college students turn up dead. Everything is off about the case with the Delphine Massacres, including the police handling the case.

This story told a year after the conclusion of the murder cases when Jane decides to tell her story about what happened. The writing style was unique and engaging. Medium paced and definitely dragged a little at times, but was overall a good book!

Narrator was great - Leslie Howard is one of my faves!

Thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 3/25/25/.

I did not realize this book was by the author of In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, but it explains a lot!

This was a good thriller with many complicated emotions and relationships that are hard to describe, but the author did well with both. Despite the whole thing being chaotic (a part of the plot, not the writing style) and trust being a difficulty for everyone involved, it was easy to follow along and the reader gets to play sleuth along with our characters, which is enjoyable. It has some violence, but mostly it messes with your head trying to figure it all out and hoping our protagonists don't get in trouble.

Following her father's death, Jane comes across a network where people solve crimes on the internet. She becomes obsessed with solving murders and being part of the world of crime sleuthing. One shocking case she comes across is the murder of the three girls in Delphine, Idaho, and she wants to be the first person to solve the case. However, a lot of the things about this murder do not add up, and the closer they get to some answers, the more Jane and her friends are in danger.
This book was fine. I liked that throughout the book, Jane starts to learn a lot more about her father. I also liked that we got to see how both Jane and her mom grieve over their husband's father's death. However, I was having difficulty following along with all of the different characters, especially once Jane met the group of people in person. I could connect the character's internet names to their real names. I also found this book boring. I was having difficulty engaging with the story and wanted everything to come together much sooner than it did. Once the book started to pick up in pace, I was not interested in the story. I wanted to love this book because I enjoyed her other book, In My Dreams, I Hold a Knife, by the same author, but this book was just not for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc/alc.

I must say that I am a bit conflicted on how to rate/review this book. First off, I want to address the controversy around this book and the author using a real life true crime story as inspiration (or potentially ripping off) the true crime story. That part makes me feel a little sick. I don't necessarily condone it.

Next I have to say this book was addictive. I first picked it up and started to devour it. I got the first 30% of the book finished then. I then proceeded to get bored of the story for whatever reason and so I put the book down.

In March 2024, I picked the book back up again and read it from 30% on. I was also granted access to the audiobook around this time. I must say that Leslie Howard did a great job with the narration of the audiobook and I thought she was the perfect narrator for this book. I would've finished the book in one sitting if I didn't need sleep

With all of that being said, I think this book is a little creepy. So I would not recoommend reading it too late at night. I also don't think it is as creepy as All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers, which I found really creepy.

I apologize if this review is all over the place. I suppose my rating/opinion of this book is also all over this place. I would like to close by saying that Ashley Winstead is a very creative author and I would consider reading more by her in the future!

4.5 stars for This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead.

I received an advance audiobook copy from netgalley.

I really enjoyed the narration of the book and think it was well written to be narrated (and read) as an audiobook.

The character development and getting to know each one was interesting. The transition of locations and characters was easy to follow. I felt like I was investigating right along with this crew.

What wasn't easy? Figuring out where the author was taking the story. I did NOT see that twist coming.

Definitely recommend!

I really enjoyed listening to this book. Ashley Winstead books makes perfect as audiobooks. Serialkiller/mystery vibes. The narrator was great too.