A review by ajnel
All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

In the present, Margot, a journalist haunted by the unsolved murder of her childhood neighbour and best friend, returns to her small hometown to care for her uncle who is starting to exhibit clear signs of dementia. A new girl's disappearance echoes the unsolved case, drawing Margot deeper into the town's dark secrets. As Margot delves into the past, she uncovers disturbing truths about her hometown and those she thought she knew. The novel really alternates well between the two timelines and does not succumb to the normal flat integration which one often finds in multi-timeline whodunnits.  The Focus remains on Margot's emotional nexus to both the historic murder and the townsfolk and her underlying need to make square pegs fit round holes.  That said, this does not affect the pacing materially adversely and the plethora of well-positioned twists and turns keeps the reader thoroughly engaged.