I couldn’t wait for the new book by Karin Slaughter, the moment I could I put my pre-order in so I could read the book on the day it was released. I’ve read this book in Dutch because it was released before the English one. The transition from English to Dutch was a big one, that why it took me more time to finish this book.

Next year (hopefully) with the new book I will be waiting a bit longer so I can read it in English. I am Dutch but it was hard to get through this book. Why? It has been written in English, so the flow in the story is how its meant to be. In Dutch it has been translated of course, some sentences just didn’t sound good. Some sounded so weird that it pulled me out of the story and getting back in that flow was hard.

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS! So stop reading if you don’t want to know them.

This book is called ‘We are all guilty here’ and is the first book in a new series Karin is writing called North Falls. We follow Emmy, deputy sheriff in North Falls and her father Gerald who is Sheriff. It’s the fourth of July which means Independence Day. A lot of families have gathered for the upcoming fire works show. Cozy on a picknick blanket, children are playing and adults are talking and mingling. Everyone except the 15-year-old Madison, she’s waiting near the old oak tree for her best friend Cheyenne. She’s late which made Madison doubt about the meeting place. The old oak tree was the spot, right? After waiting for 45 minutes, Madison starts to panic. Did something happen?

The fireworks started just as Madison got her bike; about to search for her best friend. Just as she wanted to go, she sees a car speeding her way. A car that looks just like the one Cheyenne’s dad drives. Surely Cheyenne didn’t steal the car? They were meaning to slip away and do it together so they could take it for a joyride. But as soon as the car comes to a stop, Madison gets a feeling… Something isn’t right. Why is Cheyenne’s bike hanging out of the trunk with a bent wheel? Did she have an accident? When Madison stepped closer that’s when she sees her, in the trunk under the bike. Cheyenne! She’s been beaten up and bleeding, her eyes filled with fear. Just as Madison takes a step towards the trunk to help Cheyenne out, she hears a sound behind her. The moment she turns, everything turns black.

Emmy’s been called by her dad after they both had a tingling feeling… A something-ain’t-right feeling. They go and search for what made them have that feeling.

After a lot of things happened, a whole lot of research, an arrest is made and that’s where this case ends, right?

– 12 years later

A stupid podcast by a fellow North Fall resident, Adam has been released from prison. But with his release comes a whole lot of anger from other families. How can a murderer be released? Not long after a girl goes missing under the same circumstances as the girls did 12 years prior. With that a whole crowd of angry people meet in front of Adam’s house, which is why Emmy, Gerald and Emmy’s son Cole are going to Adam’s to get things under control. Talk the people down so they can go home and talk to Adam to see what’s what.

There is so much happening in such little time. Emmy’s father has been shot and killed. Emmy’s mother has been taken away to live in a care facility because of dementia. Emmy’s life has changed in an instant. A sister believed to be long dead seems to be alive and is joining the investigation as ex FBI agent. They need to find the 14-year-old girl named Paisley.

There is so much happening but it doesn’t take them to long to rule Adam out as a suspect. He doesn’t even fit the suspect profile and if he doesn’t fit now, he might not have done the murders 12 years prior in the first place. After a lot of investigating, researching and interviews results in a lead they can investigate. In the end they’ve found the ones they were looking for, it’s just hard to process. But what about Paisley? Will they find her in time, or has she been dead all along? With every hour that has transpired the likeliness of Paisley being alive is next to none, but there is still hope.

This story was epic, like all her other work. In this book we have gotten to know a lot of the residents of North Falls, which is a good thing when you’re starting a new series. You get to know the dynamics of this small town, it’s something that makes it easier to flow into the next story.

The plot twist was something else, I did not see it coming one bit.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for Karin!