Book Summary and Reviews of We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter

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Cloggie Downunder

Unbelievably good crime fiction!
We Are All Guilty Here is the first book in the North Falls series by award-winning, bestselling American author, Karin Slaughter. In North Falls, Georgia, it’s said that everybody who isn’t a Clifton either works for the Cliftons or has been arrested by the Cliftons. Emmy Lou Clifton-Lang is a deputy for her father, Sheriff Gerald Clifton, when two fifteen-year-old girls go missing during the town’s 4th of July fireworks. Emmy knows them both well: Madison Dalrymple is like a niece to her, the step-daughter of her best friend, Hannah; the other is Mad’s best friend, Cheyenne Baker.

Emmy Lou feels guilty over how she handled her last encounter with Madison, and while much of the town looks for the girls, she and all in the Sheriff’s department work tirelessly, digging deep into everyone with even the faintest connection to them. After a few missteps, it looks like they have their man.

Twelve years on, thanks to a true crime podcast, a North Falls man on death row is free and, two days later, fourteen-year-old Paisley Walker goes missing under eerily similar circumstances. In the angry crowd outside the parolee’s home, there’s a tragic shooting that has far-reaching consequences for the whole town.

With each hour that passes, all involved: the Sheriff’s department, the GBI, the FBI, are acutely aware of the statistics, the fast-diminishing chance of bringing Paisley home alive. In California, on the brink of retirement, a criminal psychologist with the FBI, known for her expertise in finding missing children, catches wind of the Paisley Walker case and immediately sets out for Georgia. But will her presence be welcomed by all in North Falls?

Once again, Slaughter gives the reader a gripping tale, filled with action, suspense, and yes, some graphic detail. There are twists, turns and red herrings before the final, satisfying conclusion. Even the most astute reader will have barely an inkling about one of the perpetrators until the final chapters. Slaughter’s characters are believably flawed, but also grow and develop; characters with depth and wisdom refer to past mistakes and lessons learned.

Fans who may wonder, with each new work, if Slaughter can maintain her matchless standard, can rest assured that her latest is another winner: almost impossible to put down. More of this cast will be most welcome. Unbelievably good crime fiction!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins UK.

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