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1.86k reviews for:
This Book Will Bury Me: A dark and addictive thriller inspired by true crime from TikTok favourite Ashley Winstead
Ashley Winstead
3.78 AVERAGE
1.86k reviews for:
This Book Will Bury Me: A dark and addictive thriller inspired by true crime from TikTok favourite Ashley Winstead
Ashley Winstead
3.78 AVERAGE
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book had me engaged from the start. The voice of the narrator brought a diverse structure to the book which prevented any boredom from setting in. I really felt like I got to know her as a person and was working alongside her to solve the crime. This said, I don’t feel like other characters ever really had their own voice. Additionally, while the majority of characters did have independent aspects which helped to flesh them out as people, some were clearly lacking in backstory. This meant that I’d guessed the big twist about halfway through the book. However, I was still thoroughly on edge right until the end and was deeply interested to see exactly how everything would be tied up. On top of this main narrative, there were also some truly interesting discussions about true crime and the way police treat marginalised groups. This did flop in some places with the discussion becoming far too much of a binary to actually discuss why certain groups feel certain ways but I understand fitting in a full discussion of issues was not the aim of this book. This goes hand in hand with my only other criticism; I’m a little tired of the footnote craze. I think it makes authors take their books too seriously when they’re not actually doing anything overly serious while also just being incredibly annoying to read. These issues were all minor in comparison to the wider plot. Overall, a very good read
After her father’s death, Jane distracts herself by getting involved in a true crime forum. She helps a group of 4 other internet sleuths solve a murder near her home in Florida so they invite her to their private Signal chat to get involved in more cases.
When a trio of sorority girls are murdered in Idaho, they blame the wrong suspect who is then beaten by vigilantes. “Lightly,” a member of the group quits because he thinks “Goku” and “Citizen” are too proud and released info they shouldn’t have. Three more girls in the town are murdered.
The 5 sleuths move to the town in order to continue investigating. Jane thinks the sorority house mother, Lizzie, killed the first girls and a copy cat killed the other three. Goku and citizen get a confession from a man to all the murders. Once that man is arrested, he has an air tight alibi (in jail). Jane and lightly realize Citizen committed the second killings to bring Lightly back to the group.
Citizen escapes the FBI, and Jane moves back to Florida. When Citizen reaches out to Jane she provides him with the location of the FBI safe house where Lizzie is staying. Lizzie and Citizen fatally stab each other.
Jane closes by revealing all this in her book to set the record straight even though she knows she’ll be prosecuted.
The twist was predictable. Red herrings are part of the genre, but still a bit too obvious. The sleuths quit communicating with each other, each following their own leads, once they moved into a house together in Idaho even though they should have been even more collaborative at that point. If they had all shared info with each other, they would have noticed the gaps in Citizen’s work. It would have made more sense if they weren’t all living together and eating dinner every night.
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I love her writing so much.
I cannot decide how I feel about this book so I am giving it a 3 aka my average rating.
I enjoyed most of the characters and the way that the author tied in grief. I felt that the depictions of true crime reddit-esque message boards were very realistic, and I think the way that people form community around this subject was true to life. It had suspenseful enough chapters that it made me want to keep reading, and although I’ve seen some reviews say it was way too long, I honestly didn’t mind the length and time that it took to ramp up.
However, I guessed the twist before we were even halfway through (unclear if the author meant it to be this obvious or not?) and I am still feeling a little icky about HOW CLOSELY the plot pulled inspiration from the University of Idaho case, especially while it’s still open. I acknowledge that I picked up and purchased the book knowing that it was aligned with the case, but it just felt a bit gratuitous by the end. I think by taking it that extra step and having a roommate who *saw the murderer leave with a ski mask on, didn’t call the cops, and didn’t report it til much later the next day* was all just a bit too on the nose.
In reflection, I think this book gives me similar afterthoughts and feelings as I had after reading Bright Young Women, the fictionalized telling of Ted Bundy’s slaying of the Chi Omega sorority sisters, from the POVs of the survivors. I definitely think the book is provocative and sparks conversation, but I’m still unsure of if it was necessary or whether it serves a purpose.
I enjoyed most of the characters and the way that the author tied in grief. I felt that the depictions of true crime reddit-esque message boards were very realistic, and I think the way that people form community around this subject was true to life. It had suspenseful enough chapters that it made me want to keep reading, and although I’ve seen some reviews say it was way too long, I honestly didn’t mind the length and time that it took to ramp up.
However, I guessed the twist before we were even halfway through (unclear if the author meant it to be this obvious or not?) and I am still feeling a little icky about HOW CLOSELY the plot pulled inspiration from the University of Idaho case, especially while it’s still open. I acknowledge that I picked up and purchased the book knowing that it was aligned with the case, but it just felt a bit gratuitous by the end. I think by taking it that extra step and having a roommate who *saw the murderer leave with a ski mask on, didn’t call the cops, and didn’t report it til much later the next day* was all just a bit too on the nose.
In reflection, I think this book gives me similar afterthoughts and feelings as I had after reading Bright Young Women, the fictionalized telling of Ted Bundy’s slaying of the Chi Omega sorority sisters, from the POVs of the survivors. I definitely think the book is provocative and sparks conversation, but I’m still unsure of if it was necessary or whether it serves a purpose.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes