True Crime Story

This is my first book by Joseph Knox and I was lucky enough to get an ARC digital copy from Netgalley, however when Anne Cater of Random Things Tours asked if I wanted to take part in the blogtour I said YES, but can I please have the audio version as I am a recent convert to podcasts and true crime on audible.

First and most importantly do NOT do what I did after the first chapter which is GOOGLE the book, the author and the story, just be patient and go along for the journey because this book is one hell of a ride.

True Crime Story is a very clever book consisting of multiple narrators retracing the steps of young Zoe Nolan. A 19 year old Manchester University Student who literally disappeared into the night on 17th December (which is also my birthday). Author Joseph Knox and his friend Evelyn Mitchell slowly and painstakingly piece together the fragments of her life leading up to her disappearance interviewing her friends, family and University lecturers.

If you love podcasts and true crime then this is the next book for you. I couldn’t stop listening to this and hearing Zoe’s twin sister Kim’s tell the listener about living in the shadow of her more beautiful, more talented favoured sister was really heart-breaking.

Throughout the narrative, I was convinced I knew why and how Zoe disappeared, except after every other chapter I was changing my mind, which shows the ingenious talent of Joseph Knox and his complex plotting and storytelling.

This really is an enjoyable and addictive book which I thoroughly recommend.

True Crime Story is a very clever take on the crime genre. The book is told as a series of eye witness accounts, with not everyone being a reliable narrator. It is further elevated by the roles of the author and his ‘co-author’ in the story - causing the reader to continually question whether it is fact or fiction. It is incredibly well done.

When Zoe Nolan’s parents go to pick her and her twin sister up after their first term as students in Manchester, they find that Zoe is missing. True Crime Story is a reconstruction of events surrounding Zoe’s disappearance, mainly using interviews of those who were there. It delves into the murky relationships between the protagonists and ultimately delivers a very satisfying ending.

I read Joseph Knox’s debut Sirens when it was released, as it was a featured ‘new blood’ novel at the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival. True Crime Story is another level. It is pithy and intriguing and keeps you guessing throughout. I listened to the audiobook and the production values are top notch with unique portrayals of each character. I suspect people will make comparisons to true crime podcasts (and to the Six Stories series of books) but True Crime Story sits as its own being beyond the podcast world. My only slight concern is that none of the characters are particularly likeable.

Thanks to Netgalley and PRH for the ARC. Thoroughly recommended. 4.5*

This is a new author to me, but having heard a lot of good things about this book and with it being set in my hometown, I was excited to get stuck in.

In 2011, Manchester University student Zoe Nolan went missing after a party at her student accommodation. With year's passing and Zoe still not being found, the case grabs the attention of writer Evelyn Mitchell who seeks out Joseph Knox for advice on writing about the mystery.

The book is written by way of emails between the two and interviews conducted by Evelyn with the main players - Zoe's twin sister, parents, boyfriend and friends.

The accounts of each slowly weave the backstory before Zoe's disappearance, up to the event of the night she went missing and beyond, in the aftermath of her disappearance.

It is a complex case and although I loved the way it was told, it takes some concentration to keep up with who is who and what they have said before. I felt like making my own murder board at times just to keep track!

Well worth a read if you like true crime and mysteries.

**listened to the audiobook**

This book is so clever! At the start of the book I was left slightly bemused as to what was real and what wasn't? Was it all fiction? What was going on?
The audiobook has multiple narrators, and reads like a podcast or documentary series. It's really clever, and definitely made it more engrossing that maybe the physical copy of the book would.

I loved the idea for this book, but the more it went on the less interested I became. I found it to be repetitive, and slow paced - I genuinely cared about what happened but I found it became very 'waffly' and went off-topic too many times. I just wanted to find out what happened!

Overall it's very clever, but I don't think the plot was as good as the concept.

A good read if you like lots of dialogue.

I struggled with this book in places, it’s not the kind of book I usually go for due to the format it has been written.

It is interview based and paints a picture of Zoe’s life before her disappearance and puts a personality to her name rather than her being ‘just another victim’.

It seemed a little fragmented going from person to person, explaining the timeline.

It was very thoroughly researched and had a lot of information in it.

I enjoyed the narration style.

Probably much better for someone who likes this format of writing.

Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.