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⚠️ While I do appreciate that the author acknowledges that this story was inspired by the murders of four University of Idaho students on November 13, 2022-the timing may be sensitive for readers since the trial against the accused has not yet even begun (slated to begin August 11, 2025 and to last for 3 months). This review is based on my feelings about the fictional story only.

3.5 ⭐️

One year after the case concluded, Jane Sharp is writing a book that will serve as a confession about her part as a “True Crime�� armchair detective who got involved in a case which captured the attention of an entire nation.

Jane, a college student herself, was grieving the unexpected death of her father, when she found a connection online, in the World of True Crime, which helped to fill the void his death has left.

She is invited to join a smaller, secret group of five, who chat on the encrypted privacy of Signal, and who end up finding fame on Newsline after helping to solve a case in Florida, where Jane lives, after she becomes involved.

This book includes their “chat threads�� as gives us an insider view of how those who are obsessed with True Crime, operate-sometimes getting things wrong and hurting innocent people in the process-and sometimes finding things the Detectives have missed because of their ability to comb through the lives of those involved who have made this easier by posting everything on Social Media.

Initially, I was entertained by this “fly on the wall�� perspective but I guessed a big part of the story at just past 50% in-and not because it mimics the real case-it actually doesn’t. In fact, the author takes great pains to change things up around the halfway point, but this is where things lose credibility. Also the story begins to feel WAY TOO LONG!

I decided to round down despite an enjoyable first half, when I realized upon finishing this, that it did NOT compel me to seek out her backlist titles-so it was just a slightly above average read!

A buddy read with MarilynW. Be sure to read her thoughts about this one-we had much to discuss about some eye rolling moments!

Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of this title. As always, these are my candid thoughts .