We Are All Guilty Here – North Falls #1

Author: Karin Slaughter
Genre: Crime Thriller, Police Procedural
448 pages
Publisher: William Morrow, 2025

Synopsis
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?

My review
We Are All Guilty Here is the first novel in the new North Falls series by Karin Slaughter. Slaughter’s writing is precise and deliberate, and every word is chosen with care to drive the narrative forward. As a longtime fan of her work, I was thrilled to dive into this new series, and it delivers everything I love about her novels – taut suspense, compelling characters, and a story that lingers long after the final page.

This first book introduces Officer Emmy Clifton, a relatable and layered character who’s easy to root for. Slaughter has a knack for creating characters that feel real, and Emmy is no different. In the first half, her vulnerabilities really stand out as she tackles a case that hits close to home. Her emotional reactions make sense given her youth and the personal stakes involved, and her growth over the course of the story felt genuine.

This novel skillfully balances character-driven storytelling with the intricacies of police procedurals, weaving a twisty plot that kept me guessing. I read a lot of crime fiction, and Slaughter is still able to surprise me! She dives fearlessly into dark themes, shining a compassionate light on issues like violence against women and children. Her unflinching approach is matched by sensitivity, creating a narrative that’s as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.

We Are All Guilty Here is a fantastic start to a new series. Slaughter’s ability to blend intricate plotting with deeply human storytelling is unmatched, and this novel is no exception. With surprising twists, a strong sense of time and place, and relatable characters, this is a fantastic start to what promises to be another unforgettable series. Bring on the next installment!

Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Karin Slaughter for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

My recommendation: worth the read!