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The reason Katie is reluctant is because the crime they’re covering happened in her small town. 5 years ago, Lacey was murdered at an annual beach party. Everyone was there but no one saw a thing! It’s a resort town so the locals aren’t clamoring to discuss it because murder isn’t good for business. Who would have thought our beach party could end the way it did? Close friends gathered on the last night of a long hot summer—which one of us could have killed the girl everybody loved? I'm not sure if I'd read this author again. The narrator, however, was excellent and great casting. Overall my opinion is very "free kindle unlimited vibes" A better KU book, but still a KU book. Everyone who is close to Lacey sits by the smoky fire. Her adoring boyfriend, who holds onto her, perhaps a little too tightly. Her little sister, always in Lacey’s shadow, sifting fine soft sand through her fingers, never taking her eyes off Lacey. And me. Sad and full of rage, after an argument forced the man I love to leave the party early. My other complaint was the leading character. Her excessive drinking (why is everyone a drunk these days???) was tiring and her constant self-deprecation and saying how she didn't compare to her friend/cohost was very grating. I also had a hard time believing these two girls solved a cold case in a week or two.
I'd also like to add that I had some trouble with the writing style. It was far too choppy at times, which made it difficult for me to follow and understand. I get the appeal and power of using short sentences and chapters in this particular genre, but I don't think it was executed that well here.
I love thrillers that keep me guessing until the end and then deliver that last punch that leaves me breathless, but unfortunately, this one was not one of them. I saw the twist coming, and it left me a bit disappointed. I was definitely surprised that this story actually ended up being mostly set five years after the event, and I didn't see the podcast angle coming either. I'm not sure why especially the true crime podcast wasn't mentioned in the blurb to be honest, because it seems like such an essential part of the plot in the first place. It certainly was the element I liked most about the story, along with the mystery around Lacey's death. There were a lot of suspects to keep you busy, although I have to confess that I did guess what happened long before it was revealed. Instead this is a superbly written multi layered murder mystery where all the characters are carefully constructed with real depth and so much interest. Sadly, the victim of that murder, Lacey, was at that party that was attended by several teens who were soon to go off to college. Most of them were friends since childhood, yet one of them was very likely was responsible for Lacey’s murder. This is especially the case because not all of this group of young people were friends.
As the book continues on you slowly find out more about the night of the beach party and also experience the interviews of those willing to go on the podcast in real time. The narrator has such a beautiful voice, I loved listening to her. She is a pro and I hope to hear a lot more from her in the future. Thanks to Bookouture, Bookouture Audio, the author and NetGalley for the ARC and audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*I love the concept of this book where the podcast was a cold case where two of the people on the podcast team knew the victim and were present at the time of her murder. As someone who has never actually listened to a podcast, it was interesting to see some of the process involved. I also liked the extenuating circumstances that made it very difficult to figure out who the killer was. More than that, the twists closer to the end of the book really caught me off guard, thus making this debut novel a truly riveting read.
Katie, a journalist, and her more outgoing best friend Sophie do a true crime podcast together. As Sophie has grown more successful in her influencing, the podcast has slowed to once a month instead of weekly. When an opportunity to really grow the podcast arises, it’s Sophie who is more interested this time, even willing to post about it on her glitzy feed. The narration was excellent also with just the right amount of drama, so as not to be intrusive, but let the story flow and be the star of the show. I thought the casting was spot on but found pronunciation of word "us" as "uzzzzz" grated a bit and also towards the end it sounded as if she was getting a little tired and tagged on new topic sentences/paragraphs in the same tone as the one that just ended which left it feeling a bit flat and harder to follow - so a 4.5 really for that. Who would have thought our beach party could end the way it did? Close friends gathered on the last night of a long hot summer – which one of us could have killed the girl everybody loved? Feel free to invite some friends to join our Round Table community!http://www.goodreads.com/group/invite_members/26989-goodreads-authors-readers I had fairly low expectations based on having been let down so many times by false advertising; books described as “unputdownable” or as “mysteries” or “grabs you and won’t let go” only to find that yet again you’ve been mislead.Sophie and Katie are best friends who start a podcast documenting the details of a murder of one of their acquaintances that took place surrounding a beach party when they were around age 19 in their small British town(along with their mutual friend Tom as podcast editor). Now, some years later, Katie co-hosts a true crime podcast with a friend from Uni, Sophie. Sophie is also beautiful, popular, a social media influencer, etc. Sophie is also dating a guy Katie grew up with. Given these... personal connections... Sophie talks Katie and her BF to do a new podcast called "Small Town" investigating Lacey's death.
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