"Killer Story" By Matt Witten: Review/Giveaway

Review by Lorie Lewis Ham

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase it. 

Killer Story is the latest mystery novel by author and TV writer Matt Witten. I have been a fan of Matt’s work for some time, so when he asked if I would review his latest book, I of course said yes! The fact that the story involves a true crime podcast was a bonus for me as I am also a big fan of podcasts.

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Image Source ‎ Oceanview Publishing

Petra Kovach is a struggling reporter on the verge of being laid off yet again. At first, she thinks she is being pulled into her boss’ office to be praised for her last article and hopes to pitch him the story she has been wanting to do for years—one where she can finally find justice for her friend who was murdered. But when she realizes instead that she is about to be fired yet again, in a last-ditch effort to save her job she pitches the idea as a true crime podcast claiming to have more new info on the murder than she really does. Her boss agrees to give her this last chance, so now she is in a race to find the leads she needs before she runs out of time. When Petra begins her investigation, she believes the police had the right person even though he was found not guilty, but soon she uncovers some ugly secrets that have her wondering if the real killer might be someone else the police never suspected.

The victim was an alt-right YouTuber named Livvy. She met Livvy when Petra was her counselor at a camp and she came to love her like a sister. But the YouTube star that the girl became wasn’t the young teenage girl she had known, so she also wants to find out what changed her. When the one lead she does have falls through, Petra finds herself crossing lines and telling lies to keep her podcast and her job alive, justifying to herself that it is okay because she will finally get justice for her friend. But in the end, will it cost her everything she loves?

While at times Petra was a little hard to root for because of some of the questionable choices she makes along the way to get her story, it was easy to understand what brought her to that point. This book also provides an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the world of podcasting and YouTube—media that is now a big part of journalism. The story also realistically portrays the frightening amount of damage that can be done by political extremists on the internet.

As always, Matt’s writing was flawless and the twists and turns of the story keep you on the edge of your seat! This is the kind of book that you just can’t put down until you get to the end! If you love a good thriller, especially if you are a fan of true crime podcasts, don’t miss Killer Story.

To enter to win a copy of Killer Story, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "killer,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen February 18, 2023. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! A new episode went up this week.

You can use this link to purchase the book or click here. If you have adblocker on you may not be able to see the Amazon link:

Lorie Lewis Ham is our Editor-in-Chief and a contributor to various sections, coupling her journalism experience with her connection to the literary and entertainment worlds. Explore Lorie's mystery writing including her latest mystery novel One of Us, a Tower District Mystery, at Mysteryrat's Closet.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.