A review by novelinsights
Dark Corners by Megan Goldin

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This was a fun sequel and an engaging story. The podcast pieces felt a little less prominent this time around than I remember them being in the first novel, which was a little disappointing since those are the parts with sound effects and music if you are listening to the audiobook, but it was still a fun listen, and I can see how perhaps they would be less interesting in the written format. While I would have liked perhaps a few more twists and turns, and there was at least one element of the investigation that I don't think ever really paid off anywhere (the internet ad), the ending of the story did throw me a twist I wasn't expecting, and that's always important for thrillers for me. I also found the results of the mystery to be fairly satisfying.

I didn't want Terrence Bailey to be guilty, so I'm glad he turned out to be a good guy in the end.

There was one aspect about the ending that I wish had been done better, however.

Rachel ended up playing the role of a glorified damsel in distress, which I didn't appreciate. Our protagonist should be the one making the biggest difference in the climax, not her FBI boyfriend. I do like that Goldin wasn't afraid to put Rachel in danger, but it probably could have been done in such a way that she intentionally did something to get herself rescued or to incapacitate her captor, rather than it just being an offhand comment she left in a voicemail that decided the entire ending of the book.

All that said, I'm glad that this turned out to be a series, and I plan to keep up with future installments as they are released.