Tell Me What You Did

Author: Carter Wilson
Genre: Psychological Thriller
420 pages
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

Synopsis
She gets people to confess their crimes for a living. He knows she’s hiding a terrible secret. It’s time for the truth to come out…

Poe Webb, host of a popular true crime podcast, invites people to anonymously confess crimes they’ve committed to her audience. She can’t guarantee the police won’t come after her “guests,” but her show grants simultaneous anonymity and instant fame—a potent combination that’s proven difficult to resist. After an episode recording, Poe usually erases both criminal and crime from her mind.

But when a strange and oddly familiar man appears on her show, Poe is forced to take a second look. Not only because he claims to be her mother’s murderer from years ago, but because Poe knows something no one else does. Her mother’s murderer is dead.

Poe killed him.

My review
Tell Me What You Did is an engaging psychological thriller from Carter Wilson. The podcast element is especially effective here, more so than in most novels I’ve read that use a similar device. Don’t be put off by the length. Short chapters and brisk pacing make this one easy to fly through. It’s a great pick for a quick, entertaining read over a day or two.

The structure is one of the novel’s biggest strengths. I was hooked right away by the short, punchy chapters that made it hard to stop reading. The blend of podcast transcripts and traditional narrative, along with the shifts between past and present, keep the story dynamic and fast-moving.

Wilson does a solid job developing Poe. She’s not always likable, which makes her feel more realistic, though there were definitely moments when I was frustrated with her choices. This is very much a plot-driven story, but I still found the characters engaging. Bailey, Poe’s dog, easily stole the show for me!

Where the novel lost a bit of momentum was in the final stretch. After all the buildup, I was hoping for a more shocking, jaw-dropping twist. Instead, the reveals felt somewhat underwhelming and predictable, which left me a little disappointed.

Tell Me What You Did is a fun, fast-paced, and entertaining read. I just wish the ending had packed more of a punch.

My recommendation: entertaining read for the afternoon!