This Story Might Save Your Life

What a debut! Tiffany Crum arrives on the scene with This Story Might Save Your Life and wastes no time proving she knows exactly what she's doing, with a balance of slow-burn tension, heart, and intrigue in a package that's easy to read. Think of it as a fun mash-up of mystery, romance, and podcast culture.

At the center of the story is Joy and her longtime friend Benny, who run a mega-hit podcast together. Mixed in with their dynamic is Joy's husband Xander, who manages the business end of things. (And let me just say, as a side note, that I absolutely love the premise of their podcast and would definitely listen to it in real life.) Everything is going great until Benny arrives ready to record another episode, only to find both Joy and Xander missing, with broken glass in their wake.

By putting the podcast at the heart of the plot, Crum gives the story a distinct voice and structure, with Joy and Benny playing off of each other well She also excels at populating her world with shadowy figures — Xander's sister Mallorie, in particular, lurks at the edges of the narrative, her mysterious text exchanges with Xander raising questions that kept me trying to tease out red herrings from true culprits.

This book is less of a thriller and more a slow-burn mystery, with a modern edge and a pace that builds steadily. But what makes This Story Might Save Your Life rise above the typical thriller is its emotional core, as Joy and Benny's relationship was surprisingly touching. I found myself genuinely invested in these characters, cheering for some in a genuine way that doesn't always happen with this genre. But it's not all jokes and chemistry; this story is as much about betrayal as it is about friendship.

A note for audiobook listeners: the audio version is exceptional. The dual narration is well-cast and well-performed by Julia Whelan and Sean Patrick Hopkins, and the additional voices included on the tips line add an immersive, almost documentary quality. If you have the option, this format is an excellent way to experience this book.

Read this if you love stories of lifelong friendships, podcasts, slow-burning intrigue, or mysteries with a little more character depth.