Deep Dark Fake Author Nicole Annbury

Book Review

3 out of 5 stars

(I don't like giving low ratings to books so it's a 2 for me but I'm marking a 3 star.)

Releasing Nov. 13, 2026

Saint Pierre, Missouri isn't a great place to be at the moment. There's a River Trail Lookout that has that beautiful, whimsical feel but hiding within the vegetation is a person abducting and killing women. A serial killer that hasn't been caught and may be getting ignored by the ones in charge. Because the focus is on the mayoral election and who will win. Controversy surrounding the candidates and potential scandals.

Riding the tails of both the stories is Ramsey and Sylvie. Though Ramsey seems to be the more dedicated one of the two. Stopping at nothing to be there to get the scoop first and outdo the veteran anchors. Sylvie's trying to do the correct thing and settle into the job but the cases surrounding the disappearances are causing her to have PTSD. Can she remain calm enough to cover this story or will her past consume her? Can we trust Ramsey and his findings or is his drive and hunger clouding his judgement and skewing his moral compass of getting the truth?

I was interested in this read because of the premise and other reviewers raving about it on NetGalley. However, I got to 50% before deciding to DNF (did not finish). This is just my personal and honest feedback as to why this thriller was a miss for me.

At 30% or less I couldn't honestly tell you what this story is about/the plot. Simply because we have a total of maybe three plots going on at once and none of them are really going anywhere. Just a repeat of the previous chapter and more telling than showing. We don't really get the AI plotline until around 40 to 50%, hints of it before but it doesn't become a thing until later. I may be a bit harsher when it comes to thrillers because typically the hook has been put in place well before 30%.

All the characters felt flat. Vast like an ocean but as deep as a puddle in the middle of a desert. Ramsey's a crazed news anchor who's desperately trying to get ratings up and be in the right place at the right time. I was growing tired of his constant hunger and statement of "this is just the beginning". Mind you it may not have been worded the same but after every new break in the cases he seemed to exclaim the same thing again. I wanted to know more about his personality and why he needed to be the best and the one to get ratings up. Is he trying to prove himself to someone or? Also, when someone close to him went missing he didn't have any remorse or concern about them at all. Instantly started manically thinking of ways to spin the story so he could make news gold. . .

We also get almost whole chapters of the mundane moments of Ramsey's life. Showering and changing outfits/what he will wear with what pants. Mundane moments can be important to the plotline or planting seeds of doubt in the reader because of certain behaviors or things. With Ramsey's day-to-day it could've been completely removed and not affected the story in the least.

Sylvie was a mess and I couldn't relate to her at all. One moment she's fearful and consumed with terror because of a past event we get insight into/flashbacks of. The next she's running along the Trails where women have been known to be abducted or murdered at. Both past and present the Trails are not a safe place. Yet she justifies continuously going back to the trails to run as a way of not allowing her past to dictate her future. I get that but also, she could be doing this growth/healing in a more productive and safe manner. Even just going to a different park/trail location that's not under scrutiny for both political and murder reasons.

"Besides, when I ran, I had my pepper spray and listened to the Bloody Babes: I had an army of badass true-crime women who wouldn't go down quietly." - Sylvie

Um, girl you have pepper spray and a podcast, how is this going to help you? Hearing your surroundings is very important, not blocking them out. Mind you she's a news anchor alongside Ramsey so she knows the cases of missing women personally because of work and the gritty details. She also has never met or talked to the podcast girlies. So yes, they are there, but they will be covering your case if they deem it worthy enough to be a segment on the podcast. AKA, it won't help you in the here and now.

Again, I understand pushing your boundaries and not allowing trauma to control you, but please be safe and think of your own health and wellbeing! Don't go skipping down dark, shady alleyways in bad neighborhoods to help overcome your fear of the dark. Pepper spray can help but have more on you than just a can that may take more effort getting to than it's worth if it isn't easily accessible. Look up a couple of self-defense measures, have a group, pocketknives are always an option, and more!

There's language in this read along with traumatic things and situations. We have dual POVs.

I felt like there was a lot going on but also nothing was going on. The pacing wasn't there or it was but kept getting disrupted by Ramsey's wardrobe change. I was waiting for that thriller hook and to be glued into the story and wondering what happens, but for me it never came. The AI plotline honestly started surfacing too late in the book and I was already a foot out the door.

Reading is subjective! You may find nothing wrong with this read and absolutely love it! I truly do not like giving low reviews to books, but when I do I try to ensure the review is constructive. Giving reasons as to why the book was a miss for me and what worked/didn't.

However, you may rate this read don't forget to give the author some stars! And if it's low like mine, be nice with your words and don't blast or tag the author.

Thank you, NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the opportunity to read.

Amazon.com: Deep Dark Fake eBook : Annbury, Nicole: Books

Deep Dark Fake | Barnes & Noble®

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