Happily brought back into the cosy, not-at-all-cosy world of Karin Slaughter.

The book pulls big punches right from the start and keeps up the pace throughout. The split timelines work well to heighten the feeling of hopelessness, building anger at the perpetrator until retribution.

I read this in less than 48 hours, eagerly waiting for Karin’s signature twists. While it did not have my favourite reveal from her collection, it was strong enough to make me chastise myself for thinking I had figured it out so early on.

This was a great setup for a new series, and I am already invested in the new leads. Strong, well-rounded, multifaceted women carry the story, with hints of future long-lasting storylines mixed into the single book thriller. I look forward to reading more as they navigate their world. Happy again to see a mention of the GBI, could we have more crossovers and Easter eggs? I see you, Mr Culpepper.

We Are All Guilty Here is another phenomenal 5 star thriller from Karin Slaughter,
Disturbing, detailed, gripping and full of suspense.
You won't be disappointed.

Favo author Karin Slaughter starts a new serie.

No Will and Sara, but new characters. Will I like them like as much as Will, Sara and the others?!
This book spends most of it introducing the new characters, their background and emotions. The crime part, the murders and investegation is only a small part of the book. Personally I didnt like that, for me the crime part is the most important. But the part that was crime, is well done. The book is also less gruesome than other books from Karin.

Overall it is a good start to a new serie and I look forward to it. Hopefully is the next a typical Karin Slaughter!

Absofrickenlutely PHENOMENAL. I couldn’t put this down… it’s all the things, a rollercoaster of thrill, heart stopping, jaw dropping, and more! This takes off flying from page one and keeps you on the edge of your seat till the very last page. Not for the feint of heart. An absolute masterpiece. Amazing characters, a terrifying plot and impeccable writing. One of my fave ever!

In the town of North Falls, the Clifton family go back generations. Chief Deputy Emmy Clifton is one of Karin Slaughter's new characters and I hope to see more of her in future books. While I have always enjoyed the Will and Sara series, it is great to get new characters.

We Are All Guilty Here primarily revolves around the kidnapping and murder of two North Falls teenagers, Madison and Cheyenne. It transpires that both girls knew dangerous secrets and were themselves living secret lives..

I thoroughly recommend this book. I was hooked immediately. KS draws you in and you just keep turning the pages. Thank you Netgalley for my advance copy.

The first in a new series of novels from Karin Slaughter which I found reminisent of her earlier Grant County series. Set in Clifton County, named after the Clifton family which this story revolves around. I do love a family centred plot and Karin is the master.

Here we have two 15 year old girls go missing, Emmy Lou Clifton is the Deputy tasked with finding them, with help from the Sheriff, her father Gerald Clifton. He is a great support to Emmy, with his systematic approach always asking her "What do we know?", "What do we think we know?" to get to the heart of the problem. These simple questions put the reader in the room, reasoning through the case with Emmy and Gerald. These are great characters, and through the story you get to know their relationship, backstories and their large family.

Just as you start to feel you've heard this all before and know where its going, BAM! Karin throws you a curve ball. She makes you care so much about these people and then she rips your heart out, gets you to shed tears alongside them. Its so beautifully written.

As with most Karin Slaughter books, there's some quite graphic descriptions which are not for the faint hearted, but these are needed as you get to experience the worst lows which make those high moments so much more special.

Full of excellent, deep and well developed characters, a rivetting storyline, plenty of graphic detail and heart-jerking moments. This is a class act. I often think I should try and write a story, then I read a book by a master of their craft like Karin and realise why I don't!

A true masterclass in story-telling. I absolutely adored this book, I loved Emmy and family, friends and colleagues. I loved following their thought processes, emotions and trauma. I can't wait to escape to their world again.

I would like to convey my thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for providing the opportunity to review this novel. All opinions are my own.

We Are All Guilty here is due to be released in the UK on 19th June 2025.

Reviewed March 2025

4.5 Stars.

Karin Slaughter is one of my favourite, if not my absolute favourite, authors! Her books are so well written and her characters are so well developed and she does it again in We Are All Guilty here....bringing all these characters to life so effortlessly. This was a very long book though, the chapters were very long, so it took me a while to finish this.

The plot....2 teenage girls go missing, and Officer Emmy Lou needs to find these girls, because one of the girls is her best friends' daughter....so this is personal to her. I don't want to say too much, because in the beginning, I didn't understand why the book felt a bit drawn out and then there's a big revelation about 30% in.....and I'm thinking...huh...what now??? but once you hit the next few pages, you realise why the book and story is setup as it is.

A really good thriller, written by a great story teller. The book is very character driven, with really well written characters who you truly can picture and feel for...or hate....either or.... So that is part of the reason the book is a bit longer than your regular run of the mill page-turning thriller. Once we get to the end the pace picks up. The twist...I saw a part of it early on, so I wasn't too surprised, but how the whole thing ties together, obviously, I am nowhere close to KS's brilliant brain to connect all those dots.

I loved the final twist and I'm hoping this will become part of a series!

Firstly I would like to thank netgalley and Harper Collins and the brilliant author Karin Slaughter for an early copy of her book to read

Another fantastic read from one of my favourite authors. Could be read as a standalone read as a new crime read.its fireworks night.two friends disappeared,are they alive or dead? Officer Emmy Clifton on the case she knows the girls will she uncover what happened to them.the girls have secrets..Emmy devastated by there disappearance as she didn't speak to one of them on the fireworks night..Another Gritty exciting read from Karin.looking forward to reading more of her books. As you always get an intense exciting read..

This book will be read on goodreads and Amazon and waterstones.

This is Karin Slaughter at her very best
Shocking murders -brilliant characters -built around an addictive storyline
What more could we ask for ?
I know this was a stand alone but I would love to hear more from Emmy and her family !

Fantastic

Thankyou NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review

Karin Slaughter delivers another unmissable thriller with We Are All Guilty Here, a tense and fast-paced story that grips from the very first page. Set in North Falls, a small town where everyone thinks they know each other, the disappearance of two teenage girls on the night of the fireworks shatters that illusion and unearths secrets no one is prepared for.

For Officer Emmy Clifton, the case is personal. She ignored a plea for help from her best friend's daughter, and now she is desperate to bring her home. But as she delves into the mystery, she realises these girls were not who everyone thought they were. Beneath the surface of this close-knit town lies deception, betrayal and a darkness that will stop at nothing to stay hidden.

Slaughter’s trademark storytelling is on full display here, with a gritty and suspenseful plot that keeps the tension high throughout. The small-town setting adds to the claustrophobic atmosphere, where secrets are buried deep but never truly forgotten. The twists are relentless, and just when you think you have figured it out, the story takes another unexpected turn.

If you love thrillers brimming with dark intrigue, complex characters and shocking revelations, We Are All Guilty Here is a must-read. This is a book that will keep you on edge until the very last page.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Another amazing story by Karin Slaughter. I was on safari in India whilst reading this book and took every spare moment to read and find out what had happened to Cheyanne and Maddison two young girls who disappeared during firework celebrations on the 4th July from North Falls a small town in Louisiana. Emmy Lou Clifton a deputy in North Falls sets about trying to find out what has happened to the girls and if they are still alive. The twists and turns in this story are just amazing , I cannot recommend this highly enough. Once you start it is difficult to put down.

This was brilliant and one of my favourites by the author.

Emmy Clifton is a police officer in the small town of North Falls. Her father is the Sheriff. One night, two teenage girls vanish and the two set off to investigate. For Emmy it is personal, as one of the girls is her best friend's daughter and she turned her away when she needed her. But as they begin to comb through the evidence, it is clear no one knew the girls very well at all and a mystery begins to unfold.

I can't say more, save for spoilers, as this is just the very start of the novel that develops into so much more. If you have read a novel by Karin Slaughter before, you will know what to expect but if not, then be prepared to be torn apart. The mystery element was fabulous, it was thrilling in places and there were so many clever twists and turns that kept me flying through this one. It was also raw and devastating and not for the faint hearted. This is definitely one of my favourite novels by the author yet and I am so thankful I could read it early. Highly recommend.

Thank you to the author, publishers HarperCollins and NetGalley UK for access to this as an advance reader’s ebook. This is an honest and voluntary review.

Emmy Lou is a Sheriff’s deputy in a small Georgia town which is pretty much run by her extended family, including her father who is the Sheriff. So, she feels she knows everything about her town, and they know everything about her. When her best friend’s daughter goes missing, Emmy is determined to find her, along the way unlocking a raft of secrets behind the small town family life.

Karin Slaughter is an expert in the secret lives of small towns. The apparently law abiding, the conspiracies to hide wrongdoing, the lies and guilt for family secrets. And she puts all of that to good use in this newest book, the start of a new series.

The characters of Emmy Lou, and laterally her estranged sister Jude who is a retired FBI agent, are compelling. Paired with a plot that never lets up, even with an unexpected time jump, this is another Slaughter classic and I can’t wait to see where the series goes next.

Emmy Clifton works as a police officer in North Falls, a tiny town where her father serves as the sheriff. There is a race to piece together evidence in the hopes of locating two local teenagers alive after they go missing, one of whom is the daughter of Emmy's best friend. Another compelling thriller from Karin Slaughter, it tackles some harsh subjects in an interesting way. I'm excited to find out more about the Clifton family and their mysteries when this new series continues.

Tough police procedural - dark and engaging.

Emmy Lou is a sheriff's deputy, working in a small town, populated by many members of her family. She investigates the disappearance of two teenage girls which leads to a whole series of other felonies. There are a lot of interesting and well-developed characters and plenty of surprises and revelations. It's not a particularly uplifting story - probably a deliberate move by the author. I've previously read quite a few of Karin Slaughter's novels and have always enjoyed them - this one is no exception. Although dark, it's well worthwhile reading it. Recommended. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

We Are All Guilty Here is a very good and entertaining read. It has a great start with the disappearance of two teenage girls and Officer Emmy Clifton investigates. I think Karin Slaughter connects easily with her readers through her writing and I was drawn into the story right away. Emmy is a very likeable and relateable character and I was rooting for her throughout. The author creates a lot of suspense and thrills in her story and I was constantly second guessing who was responsible and what would happen next. The second half of the story is a very riveting read which I found hard to put down. In a town where people have their own secrets I felt I was unwrapping layer upon layer of secrets, subterfuge, lies and deceit which gave the plot line so more depth. The ending is open and I hope? there will be a 2nd book as I'd love to know more about Emmy and her family. If you like crime books, I'd recommend this and don't think you'll be disappointed.

4 stars

Another masterpiece from Karin Slaughter !!

A friendship destroyed by a heinous crime. A town in shock. Family feuds and a ghost from the past. Another epic story from Karin Slaughter with a host of flawed, broken but determined characters trying to atone for past mistakes.

Always a treat to have a new Karin Slaughter to read, even better when it may be the start of a new series.

This is a story about family, friendship, small towns, small mistakes that add up to bigger ones, different kinds of grief and the different ways people handle (or don't) their emotions.
Much of it centers around Emmy Lou, daughter (and chief deputy) of Gerald Clifton, the local Sherriff. Two young girls are abducted on the fourth of July, and one of them is the stepdaughter of Emmy Lou's best friend. We follow that investigation for a while then skip forward 12 years to learn about the aftermath.

To say anything else would involve spoilers, but there are twists and turns aplenty and the excellent characterization I've come to expect from Karin Slaughter.

I should note that this is a hard read that's really brutal in places as the main plot revolves around child abuse.

Thanks to Harper Collins and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 rounded up. Another hit series from the Queen of the crime genre. Karin Slaughter writes with such ferocity and depth and this one is no exception. While not as amazing as some of her older novels/series, this one featured everything we have come to love and expect from this author. She pulls no punches and tackles darker subject matter that other authors would shy away from. Her books always stay with me long after I finish the final page. There were some parts of this one I didn't love such as the pacing, and the introduction of a main character POV quite a way into the story, but overall it was a deep, emotional and suspenseful mystery that will leave you guessing. I look forward to book 2.

Karin is in top form! Really enjoyed this read. A new town, new intelligent characters. A great story with a few twists thrown in. I will recommend this read.