Title: WE ARE ALL GUILTY HERE
Author: Karin Slaughter
ISBN: 9780063336803
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 400
Source: NetGalley
Welcome to North Falls—a small town where everyone knows everyone. Or so they think.
Until the night of the fireworks. When two teenage girls vanish, and the town ignites.
For Officer Emmy Clifton, it’s personal. She turned away when her best friend’s daughter needed help—and now she must bring her home.
But as Emmy combs through the puzzle the girls left behind, she realizes she never really knew them. Nobody did.
Every teenage girl has secrets. But who would kill for them? And what else is the town hiding?
Official Summary
04 February 2025
A big thank you to everyone at Team Slaughter for the early review copy of Karin Slaughter’s brand-new series, due for release later this year.
Karin Slaughter has done it again with We Are All Guilty Here, delivering an utterly gripping and emotionally charged thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.
The small-town setting of North Falls is flawlessly rendered, capturing both the close-knit charm and the suffocating secrecy that breeds suspicion and drama. Slaughter’s knack for creating a deeply immersive atmosphere is on full display here. I felt as though I were walking the same streets, sensing the simmering tension as the community unravelled.
At the heart of this story is Officer Emmy Clifton, a complex and compelling protagonist. Emmy’s guilt over turning her back on her best friend’s daughter drives her relentless quest for justice, and her vulnerability makes her all the more relatable. Slaughter expertly peels back Emmy’s layers, showing us her courage and determination, while also exploring the heavy weight of her regret.
The mystery of the two missing teenage girls is brilliantly constructed. Slaughter takes readers through twist after twist, each revelation adding depth and urgency. As Emmy delves into the girls’ secrets, the book highlights a painful truth: how little we sometimes know about the people closest to us. This theme resonates deeply, making the stakes feel incredibly personal.
I especially appreciated the way Slaughter handles the darker elements of the story. The novel doesn’t shy away from exploring the murky waters of guilt, betrayal, and the hidden lives of teenagers, yet it does so with sensitivity and purpose. Each character feels real, flawed, and raw, and their motives are layered with complexity.
The pacing is pitch-perfect, and the suspense builds to an explosive climax that left me breathless. Even after the final twist, I found myself reflecting on the story’s deeper themes and the moral uncertainty that lingers long after the last page.
If you’re a fan of character-driven mysteries with razor-sharp plotting and emotional depth, We Are All Guilty Here is a must-read. Karin Slaughter has once again proven why she’s one of the best in the business. North Falls may be fictional, but its secrets will haunt you long after you leave.
Also by Karin Slaughter
THIS IS WHY WE LIED
Welcome to the McAlpine Lodge: a secluded mountain getaway, it’s the height of escapist luxury living.
Except that everyone here is lying. Lying about their past. Lying to their family. Lying to themselves.
Then one night, Mercy McAlpine – until now the good daughter – threatens to expose everybody’s secrets. Just hours later, Mercy is dead.
In an area this remote, it’s easy to get away with murder. But Will Trent and Sara Linton – investigator and medical examiner for the GBI – are here on their honeymoon.
And now, with the killer poised to strike again, the holiday of a lifetime becomes a race against the clock…
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Karin Slaughter is one of the world’s most popular and acclaimed storytellers. She is the author of more than twenty instant New York Times bestselling novels, including the Edgar-nominated Cop Town and standalone novels Pretty Girls, The Good Daughter and Pieces of Her. She is published in 120 countries with more than 40 million copies sold across the globe. Pieces of Her is a #1 Netflix original series starring Toni Collette and Will Trent, based on her Will Trent series, is on ABC (and streaming on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally). False Witness and The Good Daughter are in development for television. Slaughter is the founder of the Dave the Libraries project – a nonprofit organization established to support libraries and library programming. A native of Georgia, she lives in Atlanta.
Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for this review copy. We Are All Guilty Here is a brilliant, twisty read you will not want to miss. I would highly recommend adding this book to your TBR. Are you a Slaughter fan? Which is your favourite book? I would love to hear from you, please leave a comment below. Until next time, happy reading!
