This book is written so well that it really does suck you into the story, you feel the emotions along with the main character as she’s desperately trying to find the missing teenagers. The plot is rich, and the characters brilliantly written. Truly another brilliant read by Karin Slaughter!

This book starts with the abduction of two teenage girls and the investigation that follows. The timeline then moves forward 12 years to the present day and the abduction of another girl in a case reminiscent of the previous one. No spoilers here but this is a very tense and gripping book with some quite graphic scenes.

I understand this is the first in a new series of books from Karin Slaughter and it certainly does not disappoint.

This book is complicated - not an easy read because the crimes committed are brutal and callous but it does set the stage for further stories for the protagonist Emmy.
There are many twists and surprises in this book which make it an interesting read.

One of the best books I have read for some time. Karin Slaughter has brilliantly captured the small town mentality concerning crime and how the community are quick to point a finger. The story moves at a pace and the deductions made do not stretch the imagination too far. Everything seems plausible!
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the advance copy of this book.

This was really fun!! It was very reminiscent of The Good Daughter. I feel like I should have more to say; but honestly no notes. This was very enjoyable, I would recommend to anyone who enjoys thrillers.

Nobody does dark secrets and small towns like Karin Slaughter does; the intensity of that all-knowing, all-seeing eye and the ever present risk around the corner. Another thing that I do admire Karin Slaughter for is her ability to never rest on her laurels. Not content (and she would be perfectly entitled) to bring us the consistently high standard of her ongoing series each year, she again delivers something new and beyond what, for some, would be her comfort zone. I was soon swept up in the story of two missing girls in rural Georgia, because there was so much to learn about them and almost everyone in this tiny corner of the world they called home, but which they longed to escape.

In creating Emmy Clifton, Karin Slaughter has given us a strong lead character, one whose task is all the more challenging because with the investigation into the girls' disappearance, everyone is connected to either Emmy, or the girls, or both. There is a lot of violence in the revelations as the story progress but rather than gratuitous I found these elements to be all too revealing, giving way more to sadness and a degree of pathos I maybe wasn't expecting. The sense of claustrophobia of Small Town America is so well-coloured that I felt as if I was looking over shoulders at the action - no mean achievement but something Karin Slaughter excels at when she moves away from Atlanta and exposes the sadder, meaner side of rural America.

This is a big book and not one to to be taken lightly. Some serious themes from the backbone of the story but are in excellent, extremely sympathetic hands. After all, this is a thriller, and yes, it will keep you up if, like me, you need to read just one more chapter before bedtime.

Karin Slaughter's novel, "We Are All Guilty Here," is a must-read for enthusiasts of psychological thrillers.

The novel takes place in a small town in America where the disappearance of two teenage girls sends shockwaves through the community. Officer Emmy Clifton is tasked with the case. As one of the missing girls is the daughter of Emmy’s best friend the case is also personal. As she delves deeper into the mystery, she uncovers a complex web of secrets, lies, and hidden motives that complicate the investigation at every turn.

Emmy Clifton emerges as a compelling protagonist. Her determination and resilience are rigorously tested as she navigates both personal and professional challenges, adding a profound layer to the narrative.

The atmospheric small-town setting creates tension and isolation and adds to the overall suspense.

The writing style is both engaging and evocative and the novel is perfectly plotted keeping the reader constantly engaged.
As the investigation unfolds and secrets are revealed, readers are taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and suspense.

An unputdownable thriller.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

North falls thriller book 1

As a number 1 Karin Slaughter fan and having already had this book on pre order I was ecstatic to be chosen for ARC so huge thank you.
Having followed Will Trent and Dr Sara Linton it was great to begin a new series from the 1st book of the North Falls thriller series.
Yes I am desperate for a Sara and Will update but it was great to get stuck into new characters and Emmy Lou Clifton didn’t disappoint. Sheriffs daughter she is from a town where family ties from generations run deep. Married to school love Jonah in a tumultuous marriage and mother to Cole aged 11 Emmy comes upon a case on fireworks night which changes Emmys world. Long standing best friend Hannah, step mother to 15 year old Madison, is distraught when Emmy makes the discovery of Madisons abandoned bike and missing best friend Cheyenne. Blood belonging to Cheyenne is present at a scene and the outlook isn’t looking good.
Hannah and Emmys friendship crumbles when Hannah discovers Emmy and Madison had been chatting a short while before her disappearance and Emmy knowing Madison looked upset made the decision to become embroiled in the usual messiness of her marriage leaving Madison upset and alone. Home truths are thrown at Emmy and the 2 fall apart.
12 years later as the case unfolds Jude Archer ,special agent in charge of serial killer Freddie Henley finally gets the location for the 12th child body before he dies meaning Jude , 2 years passed retirement decides to call it a day. Going over final emails she’s alerted to a missing child back in North fall and asks to go there. Having spent 27 year career delving in child killers and paedophiles Jude is keen to offer some expertise especially as the missing child coincides with the release of Adam Hurtslinger who had been jailed for the murders of Cheyenne and Madison some 12 years previous.
Jude’s return changes the story and not wanting to spoil this experience for anyone this is where I end!
This book was phenomenal, I cannot wait for more on Emmy Lou and her family and the next book. I was left speechless and tearful at times towards the end. The book has a little bit of everything and a whole lot of storyline and future books to follow.
Amazing is all I can say and 5 stars don’t give this book justice.

This book was incredible—raw, gripping, and painfully emotional. Karin Slaughter tackles unthinkable crimes involving children with a careful, deliberate touch that never feels exploitative. It’s dark and disturbing, yes, but it’s also filled with the kind of layered family dynamics and moral complexity that Slaughter does so well.

Set in a small Georgia town, the story follows Officer Emmy Clifton as she investigates the disappearance of two teenage girls. What starts as a search quickly becomes a deep dive into buried secrets, guilt, and the lies people tell to protect those they love. Emmy’s personal ties to the case only make everything feel more intense and real.

Slaughter weaves a tense, emotional narrative with characters that feel painfully human. It’s a heavy read at times, but one that sticks with you—not just for the crime, but for the people and relationships at the heart of it.

A must-read for anyone who loves thrillers with emotional weight and moral gray areas.

This was a heartbreaking read which I couldn’t put down. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I have read all of Karin’s last book series and I loved them, but this beginning to her new series didn’t disappoint; it was brilliant from start to finish, and I can’t wait for the next instalment.

A first book in a new series, and it does not disappoint in its delivery of crime and suspense. We are given enough detail to fill in the gruesome gaps with our imaginations, making us want to continue turning the pages.

I enjoyed the introduction of the new characters and look forward to learning more about them in future books. The only reason it is not 5 stars is because we have only just met the characters.

What do we know? Karin Slaughter is a brilliant crime writer!
What do we think we know? There will hopefully be more from the Cliftons!

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Collins, for providing me with an advance copy.

This one is a very slow burn mystery but it pays off at the end so make sure you persevere. Thank you for the ARC. Recommended.

Title: We Are All Guilty Here
Author: Karin Slaughter
Publication Date: June 19, 2025
Rating: 4/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollinsUK, HarperFiction | HarperCollins for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Welcome to North Falls—a small town where everyone knows everyone. Or so they think.

Until the 4th of July firework night. When two teenage girls disappear, the town is left in shock by the horrific evidence the culprit left behind.

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. As Emmy sorts through the clues the girls left behind, she discovers that she never truly knew them. Nobody did.

Karin Slaughter was able to write 'We Are All Guilty Here' with the proper amount of care and sensitivity, addressing difficult issues head-on without holding back. This story is emotionally charged, incredibly heartbreaking and compelling. All the twists and turns that you won't see coming will keep you guessing from beginning to end.

Given the author's skill at creating a plethora of red herrings and layers of suspicion, this is unquestionably a classic Slaughter book that will captivate readers from the first page.

A must-read for those who appreciate well-created characters and a well-written psychological suspense novel that will keep you on edge until the exciting conclusion.

Karin Slaughter will always be an instant-buy author for me, so I was excited to receive We Are all Guilty Here as an ARC.

In typical Karin Slaughter fashion, the very beginning drew me in and kept me hooked. I love that as an author, Slaughter doesn’t shy away from tough or graphic topics; she writes books that are heavy but heartbreakingly honest, and I appreciate the focus Slaughter gives to the victims in her stories. I think that’s one of the main reasons she’s become a favorite author of mine; she doesn’t focus on the crime itself, but instead focuses on the people impacted by the crime.

I’m looking forward to seeing Emmy Clifton in future novels… and maybe, just maybe, we’ll get to see Emmy enter Sarah’s world one day. I think they’d make fast friends.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Brilliant book. Sad, shocking and gripping story. Great main characters full of grit and guilt. Super writing bringing it all to life on the page. Story full of twists and turns.

Thank you to net galley, the publishers and Karin Slaughter for the early access to read We are all guilty here for my honest review.

I have read a lot of books by Karin Slaughter and I was over the moon to see she had written another book. And I am so glad I have read it, Karin has done it again!

I love her style of writing, the plot of the book and the characters. I hope we get to see these characters in another book, I loved the family relationships.

The plot was great, i was hooked from the first chapter. And I for sure was not expecting the twists at the end of the book. I was shocked and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

I did feel as though the chapters were long as I prefer shorter chapters however that did not impact my overall love for this book.

Thank you so much for early access, I thoroughly enjoyed it and it’s another masterpiece by the amazing Karin Slaughter.

Karin Slaughter’s We Are All Guilty Here completely pulled me in and left me thinking about it long after I turned the last page. It’s set in the small town of North Falls, where two teenage girls, Madison and Cheyenne, vanish during a Fourth of July celebration. What starts as a routine missing persons case quickly unravels into something far more unsettling.

Officer Emmy Clifton is at the heart of the story, and I really felt for her. She’s determined to find the girls, but there’s also a deep sense of guilt weighing on her—Madison had tried to reach out to her before disappearing, and Emmy brushed it off. That guilt fuels her relentless search, making her even more compelling as a character.

As the investigation unfolds, dark secrets about the town and its people come to light. It’s one of those stories that makes you question how well you really know the people around you. The tension builds with every chapter, and just when I thought I had things figured out, another twist came out of nowhere.

Slaughter does an incredible job of bringing North Falls to life. The town feels real—both its small-town charm and the hidden tensions beneath the surface. The pacing is perfect, and every revelation hits hard.

By the end, I was left thinking about guilt, morality, and the weight of secrets. We Are All Guilty Here isn’t just a mystery—it’s an emotional, thought-provoking read that lingers. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next.

I very nearly dnf'd this. It was a bit slow to begin and I didn't really care much for the characters but decided to keep going for a bit longer. By the time Jude entered the story I was hooked and could not get to the end fast enough.

Slaughter continues to pump out bangers. Emmy Lou is a deputy in Clifton County. Her father is the chief, her mother and best friend are teachers, and her husband is a deadbeat. On the 4th of July, her best friend Hannahs stepdaughter, Madison, approaches her looking for help. When Emmy turns her away, distraught over her husband's awful behavior, Madison walks away and disappears. This book follows the investigation into Madison and her best friend Cheyenne's disappearance. With a broken bike, cracked smartphone, a puddle of blood, and a necklace chain, Emmy doesn't have hope she'll find them alive. This book was devastating (definitely tw for people sensitive to child abuse, grooming, and rape) but soo well written. This book does a great job of balancing actual police work with family/town drama. I wish there was more because the twist felt very unresolved. I can't wait to read more!

Set in the small town of North Falls in Georgia Deputy Sherriff, Emmy Lou Clifton is investigating the kidnapping of two girls during the 4th of July celebrations. One of the girls is the daughter of her best friend, Madison, who contacted her before her abduction. Emmy has previous experience of child abductions and knows that time it is critical in the first 24 hours or usually after that they end up dead With the help at first from her father Gerald who is the Sherriff she do all they can to find them until one of the girls bikes turn up near a pool of blood Emmy now knows that she more or less looking for their bodies.
We are all guilty here is the first book in the new series by Karin Slaughter and this is another fantastic read by the author. I have been a fan of her Will Trent series, so I was excited to read this for the bunch of new characters and I wasn’t disappointed. The is a captivating read by the author and the author doesn’t shy away from the grim details involved in the abduction and killings. But the emotions that are running high not only between the relatives and the people involved in the case but also Emmy’s trying to deal with it all.
I reckon this is going to be another best seller and I hope they will be more of Emmy Lou to come 5 stars from me.