Two Thrilling Audiobooks For Augtober

I love that the new trend is to think of August as Augtober — to validate how much many of us want it to be fall. I know a lot of you absolutely love summer and being hot. However, I am not one of those people. Give me pumpkins and spooky season asap. If you are looking for a book that is absolutely thrilling, might I offer up the following two audiobooks – A Likeable Woman by May Cobb as well as Dark Corners by Megan Goldin. Both audiobooks are sure to have you on the edge of your seat.

I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

Named A Most Anticipated Thriller of Summer 2023 by Oprah Daily ∙ Buzzfeed ∙ SheReads ∙ BookBub ∙ PureWow ∙ CrimeReads ∙ and more!

Kira’s back in her affluent hometown for the first time in years and determined to unravel the secrets of her mother’s death--hidden in the unpublished memoir she left behind-- even if it kills her. . . .

After her troublemaker mother’s mysterious death, Kira fled her wealthy Texas town and never looked back. Now, decades later, Kira is invited to an old frenemy’s vow renewal celebration Though she is reluctant to go, there are things pulling her home. . . like chilled wine and days spent by the pool . . . like sexy Jack, her childhood crush. But more important are the urgent texts from her grandmother, who says she has something for Kira. Something related to her mother’s death, something that makes it look an awful lot like murder.

When her grandmother gives Kira a memoir that her mother had been working on before she died, Kira is drawn into the past and all the sizzling secrets that come along with it. With few allies left in her gossipy country-club town, Kira turns to Jack for help. As she gets closer to discovering what—and who—might have brought about her mother’s end, it becomes clear that someone wants the past to stay buried.

And they might come after Kira next.

May Cobb’s A Likeable Woman is a gripping thriller about old family secrets come to light. This was the first book I’ve read from May Cobb. It is about Kira who left her affluent Texas town years ago for LA after her mother died by suicide. Kira is back in town for a vow renewal. Her grandmother gives Kira her mother’s unpublished memoir and we see that maybe her mother’s death wasn’t suicide, but perhaps homicide — as the memoir reveals affairs and things that some would like to remain secret. Also, Kira comes across an old flame that she has feelings for, Jack. But, he’s married with a kid. However, the marriage doesn’t seem all that happy. A whole lot is about to go down while Kira is home.

I think because I don’t read as many thrillers – I really did not see the twist coming in A Likeable Woman. The villain was not who I expected. However, if you are a more experienced thriller reader you might know who it is. I found this story very enthralling. Cobb does the sense of place and setting so well – I felt like I was there in the insular, wealthy town. Kira also is an interesting character – even though I didn’t entirely know how to feel about her or what to think. The audiobook of May Cobb’s A Likeable Woman is narrated by Amanda Stribling who was new to me. It is 11 hours and 1 minute. I thought Stribling’s narration came across as serious and good for this kind of book.

I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

"A gripping story that is equal parts shocking, unnerving, and thrilling. Goldin takes the ‘true crime’ trope to new and unexpected territory.” —Karin Slaughter, New York Times and #1 international bestselling author of Girl, Forgotten

Rachel Krall, the true crime podcaster star of Megan Goldin’s acclaimed The Night Swim, returns to search for a popular influencer who disappears after visiting a suspected serial killer.

Terence Bailey is about to be released from prison for breaking and entering, though investigators have long suspected him in the murders of six women. As his release date approaches, Bailey gets a surprise visit from Maddison Logan, a hot, young influencer with a huge social media following. Hours later, Maddison disappears, and police suspect she’s been kidnapped—or worse. Is Maddison’s disappearance connected to her visit to Bailey? And why was she visiting him in the first place?

When they hit a wall in the investigation, the FBI reluctantly asks for Rachel Krall’s help in finding the missing influencer. Maddison seems to only exist on social media; she has no family, no friends, and other than in her posts, most people have never seen her. Who is she, really? Using a fake Instagram account, Rachel goes undercover to BuzzCon, a popular influencer conference, where she discovers a world of fierce rivalry that may have turned lethal.

When police find the body of a woman with a tattoo of a snake eating its tail—identical to a tattoo Rachel had seen on Bailey’s hand—the FBI must consider a chilling possibility: Bailey has an accomplice on the outside and a dangerous obsession with influencers, including Rachel Krall herself. Suddenly the target of a monster hiding in plain sight, Rachel is forced to confront the very real dangers that lurk in the dark corners of the internet.

Dark Corners by Megan Goldin is the sequel to The Night Swim — and wow what a follow up. I am not a huge thriller reader but I really enjoy Goldin’s Rachel Krall books. Featuring a true crime podcaster, it seems Rachel Krall’s podcast has really taken off. She now receives letters and communications from all around the country particularly from inmates looking for someone to prove them innocent. Rachel ends up getting a message from an influencer named Maddison who goes missing just before the release of suspected serial killer Terrance Bailey. This is connected because Maddison just recently visited Terrance in prison. And so, Rachel goes undercover at BuzzCon, an influencer extravaganza at Daytona Beach right by where Maddison went missing and where Terrance will be released.

I was absolutely CAPTIVATED by Dark Corners. The audiobook was the exact perfect way to experience Goldin’s release. It is narrated to perfection by January LaVoy, Samantha Desz, and Andre Santana. Dark Corners is 10 hours and 46 minutes. There were twists. The villain was suitably creepy and scary. I was for sure on edge. I loved the development in Krall’s character. For someone kind of famous for doing a podcast, she is intensely private with good reason. I also liked that she didn’t know a ton about social media and influencers — but that was also a surprise given her occupation. There’s also the beginnings of a romance as well. This was such a solid, good audiobook. It is perfect for people who liked A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder and want to listen to something aimed at adults.

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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