This week, I’ve been on a bit of a true crime podcast binge, so I decided I wanted to find an audiobook that matched the vibe. Courtney Summers’ Sadie was the perfect fit.

Sadie’s mom is out of the picture, having left her and her little sister, Mattie (13), with their “surrogate grandma,” May Beth, to go on a drug binge. Then Mattie goes missing, and her body is eventually discovered – she’s been assaulted and murdered. Several months after the murder, Sadie goes missing too.

Podcaster West McCray is contacted by May Beth in the hopes that he can find Sadie, because she says she “can’t take another dead girl.” He follows the cryptic path Sadie left behind, interviewing odd characters along the way who all seem to connect the dots as to where Sadie might be going.

With a full cast to round out every interview, this really did sound like it could be a podcast. Spoiler: it does end on a more ambiguous note, but I think that keeps the believability alive. There are clearly some heavy topics touched on in this one, so do be mindful if you need trigger warnings.

Overall, this would be a great audiobook for a long car ride. So, if you’re looking for something for your last summer road trip over the upcoming holiday weekend and you’re a crime fan, I’d check this one out!