We Are All Guilty Here is dark, heartbreaking, hopeful and breathtaking in equal measures. Slaughter draws characters that both flawed and endearing, surrounded by events and relationships of incredible complexity. I was hooked from the first page, and loved that Slaughter peppers clues and twists around every corner. The story is masterfully paced and my mind is still spinning with the intricate details that led to an equally satisfying ending.

The dysfunctional Clifton family and the close knit and somewhat incestuous community of North Falls are the perfect combination for this psychological thriller, and I’m excited to see what the rest of the series brings. I would highly recommend this read to fans of Karin Slaughter or those looking for a fast paced thriller with great emotional depth.

Thank you HarperCollins UK for an early copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

We are All Guilty Here is a brilliantly crafted new crime thriller from this page turning author.
In the small town of North Falls two teenage girls suddenly disappear, Officer Emmy Clifton a close friend of one of the girls mother is beside herself with grief as her friends daughter had reached out to her that evening but dealing with her own problems Emmy ignored her.
The undercurrent of gossip and innuendo and very unsavoury characters uncovers shocking truths about these girls.
There are some genuinely jaw dropping revelations during the investigation and as the story unfolds some very dark heartbreaking scenes.
With Emmys sister whom Emmy was told had died years previously turning up as an about to retire FBI agent who is determined to help, Emmys world continues to be sent spinning.
The story flows seamlessly, exciting, heart pounding and suspenseful this is the very definition of a ‘thriller’
Do I miss Will and Sarah - absolutely, but I can’t wait for the next in what I know will be a new brilliant series.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

1 Million Stars ******

This is my new favourite book, well I mean it is up there at least with my other favourite - Karin's first, Blindsighted :)

I could not put this down. I was absolutely gripped from start to finish. I stayed up past my bedtime, I ignored my kids, I can't remember much of NYD (from reading, not a sugar coma) and I just cannot tell you how good this book was.

There are so many different stories going on all in one book. I didn't read the blurb before going in, because I'm going to read it anyway so why spoil it :) I started the first part and was immediately invested in the case. It was terrifying, sad, heartbreaking, frustrating. And then it flipped to 12 years later. A new case, an older cast of characters, a couple of new faces, but the same disgusting crimes and families as before.

The main characters are great, Emmy and her dad Gerald - both cops. Her son Cole, again a police officer. The peripheral characters are mainly their family (you'll see why) and her friends/acquaintances. And did I spy another Marla working on dispatch? (Marla from Grant county must be long gone by now!)

Overall there is nothing wrong with this book, and I will be rereading and buying every copy available on release.

Thank you so much for my early copy.

What a treat for 2025! This is the first book in a brand new crime /thriller series from Ms Slaughter - I am already a fan but this book is just superb.

Set in a small town, North Falls, and detective/assistant sheriff (if that is a 'thing? I get confused with American law enforcement ranks) Emmy Clifton leads a team to investigate the abduction of two young girls.. Lots of suspects and the chief of police, her father, keeps us readers on our toes with plenty of background of the girls, the local area and the local men.

No more spoilers, except to say the book gathers pace. brilliantly especially when Jude arrives to help! If this is the start of a new series, count me in!! I will even help with the casting should the book make the screens. The lead singer of The (Dixie) Chicks is perfect for badass Jude?

Ms Slaughter still manages to describe the murders without too much gory detail. She also, sets out plenty of accurate references to young girl abductions in the USA.. At times, this is stark reading.

Excellent stuff, well worthy of 5 stars.

Thanks to Net Galley and Harpewr Collins UK for the chance to read and review.







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

I am a HUGE Karin Slaughter fan and I couldn't wait to see what her new series was like. I really enjoyed this and when I got into it, I was desperate to find out what what was going on. I knew there was someone in the cast of characters who was guilty but it took me a while before the penny dropped.
Karin absolutely nails small town America with complex family lives filled with secrets and paranoia. Emmy is a great character who grapples with letting her best friend down by ignoring her daughter's plea for help, with devastating consequences. Cut to the modern day and there is a copycat happening. Emmy has to go back through the case to find out what they missed. The sudden appearance of her older sister who she had always been told was dead throws a challenging curve into the mix and finding out the real relationship towards the end of the book really set it up for the subsequent books. It isn't quite Will Trent and Sara but I can see me becoming as obsessed with this series. Thanks Harper Fiction!

North Falls is a quiet town in Georgia, where everyone thinks they know everyone else. Of course this proves not to be true when two teenage girls vanish during the town’s July 4th fireworks display. For Deputy Emmy Clifton the disappearances are very personal as one of the children is the daughter of her closest friend. Can the police find the girls before it’s too late? Which one of the unsavoury characters living in their town is responsible? Fast forward 12 years and another teenage girl disappears. Is there a new threat to the children of the town, or has the killer from the past resurfaced? This is a riveting story, with fine characterisation, twists and turns aplenty and unpleasant surprises too. Emmy’s introspection is just a little too much at times, slowing down the narrative but this is another very fine book from Karin Slaughter.

I have been a fan of Karen Slaughter for as long as I can remember so naturally when given the opportunity to read this latest masterpiece I jumped right into it. This fast-paced thriller creates tension and suspense as a town with secrets and damaging lies are revealed. Claustrophobia is added by the fact that many of the people are linked to one another as part of the Clifton dynasty: the school principal, Sheriff, and lawyers etc. Very few leave.

The book opens on 4th July in the town of North Falls where the community are celebrating as they watch the fireworks. Soon they are rocked by the disappearance of two young girls, Madison and Cheyanne. As they search frantically it becomes clear that they are running out of time to get them back alive. Their abduction and subsequent murders divide the town as Emmy, a police officer and Madison’s mother blame her for not stepping in when she was needed. As the plot develops it becomes clear that the girls were involved in something sinister and far more powerful than they understood. There are large amounts of cash, drugs and pills found.

Slaughter boldly takes on subjects that are taboo yet intriguing as she delves into the minds of psychopaths, rape victims, child abduction and murder. Of course she then adds that little plot twist where she expertly sews up those loose ends.

This is a book which captivates through strong character development within a community which is rocked by undercurrents of criminality. Nothing and no one are who they initially present.

This is a brilliant addition to Slaughter's repertoire and one I highly recommend. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication

Great to be able to read Karin Slaughter's new book.
It's packed full of stories and has an unexpected twist when you think you've finished but the book is only half way through.
Emmy-Lou works in the police department where her father Gerald is the Sheriff. The novel opens on the night of fourth of July and when the fireworks start, two girls are abducted. A huge hunt starts and uncovers secrets around the town. But the impact on Emmy is huge and long lasting.
The book re-starts twelve years later and there's a new abduction and new problems. but unexpected help arrive.
There is as much going on in Emmy's private life as there is in her professional position. This is as interesting as the main storyline. I like Emmy's strong, Flawed character. Although it drove me mad the way she kept calling her son, a deputy in the police department, 'baby'. He tries to keep separate the roles of mum and chief.
I hope Emmy 's story is just starting.

Brilliant, heart-breaking, tense, disturbing and another impossible to put down novel. Karin Slaughter has done it again! Be prepared to get lost for hours in a story that kept me reading late into the night.
Thank you so much for this ARC. I look forward to more from this series.

I’ve long been a fan of Karin Slaughter’s crime novels, known for their gripping blend of suspense, unflinching realism, and well-developed characters. We Are All Guilty Here marks the beginning of a brand-new crime thriller series featuring Officer Emmy Clifton. One of Slaughter’s greatest strengths is her ability to craft compelling characters, and Emmy is no exception. Her flaws and vulnerabilities add depth and make her incredibly relatable.

Set in the small town of North Falls, the disappearance of two teenage girls during a Fourth of July fireworks celebration shatters the community’s fragile sense of security. As Officer Emmy Clifton delves into the case, she uncovers shocking truths about the missing girls—secrets that reveal how much people can hide, even in a seemingly close-knit town. With every step of the investigation, Emmy is forced to confront the unsettling realization that no one is as innocent as they seem.

Karin Slaughter doesn’t shy away from difficult topics. While the subject matter is intense, it’s handled with sensitivity and care. The setting of North Falls, with its undercurrent of small-town secrets and gossip, creates a palpable sense of claustrophobia. Slaughter masterfully explores the hidden lives of a tight-knit community, peeling back layers of guilt, deception, and complex relationships. The novel delves into the lengths people will go to protect their secrets—and the devastating fallout when those secrets are exposed.

What sets Slaughter apart is her meticulous attention to detail, especially in forensic and procedural elements, which lend authenticity to her crime scenes. The plot is gritty, fast-paced, and packed with suspense. If you enjoy stories steeped in small-town intrigue, dark twists, and a relentless narrative, We Are All Guilty Here is a must-read. Highly recommended!

Review will be shared to my blog and all various book sites nearer to publication date

I'm a huge Karin Slaughter fan and was incredibly excited to be offered the opportunity to get early access to this.

12 years ago, two teenagers were abducted and brutally murdered by a local paedophile. He was jailed, however after new evidence placed him at the scene of a different crime in a different city, he was released. A few days after his release, another girl is kidnapped in near identical circumstances and the County Sheriff's department must act quickly to review the old cases and help them identify the suspect and find the girl before it's too late.

Sounds like a fairly straight forward, simple plot but the characters and the complex relationships they have with each other, give this story depth. The first few chapters detail the initial kidnaps, and then the story jumps forward 12 years to the present where we pick up with the characters, where they're up to in their life and how they've developed over the decade.

I absolutely loved this book. The characters are all so well written and believable; their relationships and struggles are relatable and the plot is so cleverly written and paced. Just when I thought I had it all sussed out, new information or a twist was introduced and I was thrown off once again!
I genuinely couldn't put it down and I think actually one of my favourite books of the year. I'm hoping that this will be the first of a new series because I'd love to hear more story's with these character. Highly recommend

Wow this is an incredible read.

What a great read Karin it's one of the best Physiological Thriller writers or they're and this is proof of that.. 2 teenagers go missing and all hands are on hand hunting week we've read this before but not the Karin way it's not only one encounter this is a story of 2 halves and yet its all one story. The twists are awesome you will not see them coming and they blow the story in ways your not imagining that's how a Physiological Thriller should be and this is.

The hard nut detectives but not Hollywood style this is great the town is run by the family it's named after and they have the mixture of issues that drive each other up the wall and back but they have each others backs arnhem needed but not in private. Read it that will make sense. The past is always there and when the story twists with another disappearance (that's not the twist no spoilers here) things go up another level. .

This is a great great read I loved every page the suspense the characters the storyline am as captivating as each other this is a mixer read for all fans of Physiological Thrillers you will love it. Not enough stars available sorry I can only give it 5 its deserves a lot more.

Karin Slaughter at her best, Excellent writing with twists and turns galore.

No ones family is perfect and it is good to live in a small place but everyone thinks they know everyone's else's business.

Is the vicar guilty, or the dentist, or the school teacher? This book is an excellent page turner.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this novel early.

On Fourth of July, the whole town of North Falls comes to the park for the fireworks. However, under the cover of the fireworks, something more sinister happens - two local girls disappear, and the town is left reeling.

For Deputy Emmy Lou Clifton, it becomes more personal - one of the girls tried to speak to her before she disappeared, and the secrets she tried to impart could have been what brought so much danger to her door.

This is a fantastic standalone book, where the twists keep coming and the characters are fully fleshed out. An easy 5* book.

This reminds why Slaughter is one of my favourite Authors, her writing style pulls you in with a captivating, no-holds-barred plot with well written characters you can empathise and sympathise with.
I liked Emmy, her attitude and all her flaws and the stories twists and turns kept me involved in guessing who the perpetrator was.
I hope there are more books set in North Falls!

#WeAreAllGuiltyHere #NetGalley
Compelling. Highly recommended.
We’re All Guilty Here is a gripping, psychological thriller set in the small, seemingly idyllic town of North Falls. When two teenage girls go missing after a fireworks display, the town is thrust into chaos. The once tight-knit community begins to unravel as deep secrets are exposed, and the search for the missing girls becomes a race against time. This novel skillfully blends suspense with a powerful exploration of guilt, secrets, and the complexities of human nature.
The story revolves around Officer Emmy Clifton, a dedicated police officer with a personal connection to the case. After the disappearance of two teenage girls, Emmy becomes embroiled in the investigation, feeling the weight of guilt for not having been there when her best friend's daughter needed help. As she delves deeper into the case, Emmy discovers that the girls, who appeared to be typical teenagers, were hiding dark secrets that no one—least of all the people who thought they knew them best—could have imagined.
The investigation unfolds in a small town that seems like the perfect setting for a mystery, where everyone knows everyone, yet no one truly knows anyone. As Emmy unravels the truth, the lines between right and wrong blur, and she faces difficult decisions that could change the course of her life forever.
We’re All Guilty Here is a compelling and intricately woven thriller that will keep readers hooked from start to finish. Karin Slaughter’s ability to combine suspense, emotional depth, and a richly developed setting makes this novel a standout in the psychological thriller genre. The story’s exploration of guilt, secrets, and the complexities of human relationships gives it a weight that goes beyond the typical crime novel. Fans of slow-burn mysteries with complex characters and intricate plotting will find this book a rewarding read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK Harper Fiction for giving me an advance copy.

Dropped everything to read this from one of my favourite authors and I have no regrets!

The way the book starts is so well done, I was practically sweating with the descriptions of the weather and the way the ‘incident’ is introduced is tense and brilliant.

The characters are so well done, endearing and flawed. I couldn’t put this down and if you like a good crime thriller you won’t be able to either.

WOW, what a book! It kept me guessing until the end. It was dark, thrilling and gripping. I read this is one sitting as I was completely hooked. What an ending. This is perfect for psychological thriller fans!

It had many curveballs that made my head just spin! It deserves way more than 5 stars as it is a must-read book!

Everyone needs to pre-order this book you won’t regret it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars

Look, I will always read a Karin Slaughter book.

We are all guilty here was an absolute banger for me. Emmy lou is a great character and I love how involved she gets with the cases she works. I did not see the whodunnit coming, though I was able to guess one of the twists in regards to Emmy Lou.
All in All, another amazing read and I would highly recommend this

Yet another 5* read from this accomplished author. Two teenage girls disappear. A father and daughter head a frantic police search complicated by a town populated by unsavoury residents and regular church going families hiding under the umbrella of respectability all hiding secret lives that cannot be revealed to assist in any investigation for witnesses. Fast forward 12 years and old scars and open wounds resurface with the disappearance of yet another child with a similar modus operandi to the previous abduction.. Higher police authority designates an FBI agent experienced in child abductions and serial killers to joint the search as a consultant. Feathers are ruffled, old traumas emerge, family history explodes as time runs out for yet another victim. Fast paced investigation with excellent three dimensional characterisation and explosive conclusion that satisfies on every level. Many thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for this thrilling ARC.