Review by bellebookcorner - We are all guilty here

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bellebookcorner 's review for:

We are all guilty here by Karin Slaughter

4.0

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was my first Karin Slaughter novel—I’ve known her through the Will Trent TV series, so I was really excited to finally read one of her books.

I had my doubts early on, but then those final chapters ? Total game-changer!

Heads up before going in: some scenes deal with very dark and graphic subject matter, so definitely check the trigger warnings below if you need them.

The story is told across two timelines: one follows what happened to Madison and Cheryanne 12 years ago, and the other picks up in the present day, when a similar case shakes the town all over again.

I’ve gotta admit, the first 20% felt a bit slow. There were a lot of details—and while I normally love a solid police procedural, this one got slightly repetitive and heavy on the telling instead of showing.

But, the slow burn paid off the moment the real digging began and the truth about the girls began to surface. That’s also when Jude came onto the scene—and things instantly got more interesting. Her skills helped Emmy crack the case, but her mysterious past kept me guessing too.

The final 30% ? Absolutely thrilling. So many twists, buried secrets, and a finale that seriously caught me off guard—I couldn’t put the book down. That last twist really sealed the deal!

Since this is the start of a new series, I’m really curious to see where the characters go from here and what kind of case they’ll tackle next.

If you’re into thrillers with a heavy dose of police work—profiling, chasing leads, and strategy—you’ll probably enjoy this one.

I’m glad I pushed through and gave it a chance, and I’ll definitely be watching for book two!

I received a review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!

Content Warnings