Summary
All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers is a thriller unraveling dark secrets and murders in a small midwestern town. The story centers on Margot Davies, a journalist who returns to Wakarusa, Indiana, to care for her uncle, who is grappling with dementia. Her hometown is also where the unsolved murder of her childhood friend January Jacobs still looms. When the disappearance of a local girl chillingly mirrors January’s cold case, Margot is determined to stop history from repeating itself. Her investigation reveals shocking truths hidden within this seemingly close-knit community.
Plot
All Good People Here opens in 2019 with Margot Davies, a journalist, returning to her hometown of Wakarusa, Indiana, to care for her uncle, Luke, who is suffering from dementia. She remains haunted by the 1994 murder of her childhood friend, January Jacobs. Her curiosity reignites with the disappearance of Natalie Clark, a new case resembling January’s.
Margot investigates parallels between January’s unsolved murder and Natalie's disappearance. Flashbacks to 1994 show January's murder and the media frenzy affecting her family, especially her mother, Krissy. Margot discovers links involving January's imaginary friend, Elephant Wallace, leading to Elliott Wallace, a suspect in another unsolved case.
As the plot unfolds, Margot uncovers hidden family secrets and, as these revelations emerge, faces danger. Culminating with a shocking confession from January’s killer, All Good People Here leaves the identity of Natalie’s killer—and the certainty of Margot’s fate—unknown.
Characters
Margot Davies: A journalist who returns to her hometown to care for her uncle and becomes immersed in investigating the long unsolved murder of her childhood friend, January Jacobs, and its parallels to the recent disappearance of another local girl.
Krissy Jacobs: January’s mother, whose search for answers leads to tragedy.
Billy Jacobs: January's father, who struggles with grief and fears old secrets resurfacing.
Jace Jacobs: January’s twin brother, who remains haunted by his sister's death and the weight of unknown aspects of that night, living an isolated life.
Luke Davies: Margot's uncle, who has early-onset dementia. His moments of clarity help Margot uncover secrets related to the case.
Detective Max Townsend: A detective whose biases and oversight impede the investigation into January’s murder. His conduct highlights issues within the justice system.
Natalie Clark: Her disappearance prompts Margot to further explore connections between the past crime and current events, linking the two investigations.
Themes
Trauma and its lasting impact
All Good People Here examines the effects of trauma and its enduring consequences. The unsolved murder of January Jacobs deeply affects her close childhood friend, Margot Davies. This tragedy drives Margot's pursuit of the truth and influences her choices. January’s mother, Krissy Jacobs, struggles with grief and suspicion, which impact her mental stability.
Influence of the past on the present
All Good People Here intertwines past and present, showing how unresolved history influences current events. Margot's investigation indicates that unanswered questions from the past can determine present actions. Her return to her close-knit hometown revives the impact of January's murder, affecting her discoveries about her uncle, Luke.
Small-town secrets and morality
Set in Wakarusa, Indiana, the story explores secrecy and moral duplicity, raising questions over how traditional values can coexist with conspiracies and biases. The community's treatment of the Jacobs family reveals tensions between outward morality and hidden truths.
Role of media
The media's influence highlights its role in framing narratives and impacting public opinion. Coverage of January's murder and the biases involved show how the media can shape reality and collective memory. Margot faces ethical challenges as a journalist, balancing integrity with compelling storytelling.
Ashley Flowers draws from real-life crime, specifically the JonBenét Ramsey case. The fictional murder of January Jacobs mirrors the media frenzy, familial suspicion, and secrecy associated with JonBenét's unsolved case. The novel examines the interaction between public perception and private grief, offering insights into the complexity of such cases.
Quick facts
Published in 2022, All Good People Here is Ashley Flowers's debut novel.
Flowers is known for hosting the popular true crime podcast Crime Junkie.
All Good People Here became a #1 New York Times bestseller shortly after its release.
The storyline closely resembles the real-life unsolved murder of JonBenét Ramsey.
Set in Wakarusa, Indiana, All Good People Here emphasizes small-town secrecy and hidden pasts.
The story unfolds in dual timelines, alternating between events in 1994 and 2019.
All Good People Here involves Margot Davies investigating the cold case murder of her childhood neighbor, January Jacobs.
The story is told from the perspectives of Margot Davies, a journalist, and Krissy Jacobs, the mother of the murdered girl.
The audiobook features dual narration by Brittany Pressley and Karissa Vacker.
Complex family secrets and community dynamics significantly drive the plot forward.
All Good People Here includes emotional subplots, notably Margot's relationship with her uncle, who is suffering from dementia.
Key plot twists unfold as Margot uncovers connections between murders occurring 25 years apart.
The ending of All Good People Here is ambiguous, sparking speculation about a sequel.
About the author
Ashley Flowers (1989-) is the creator and host of Crime Junkie, a top-rated true crime podcast with over 500 million downloads. She is also the co-founder of Audiochuck, a media company. An avid young reader of Nancy Drew mysteries, she later devoured the works of Agatha Christie, fueling her fascination with the hidden motives behind shocking crimes. Drawing on her insights into murder and suspenseful storytelling, she made her fiction debut in 2022 with All Good People Here. Set in a small town in Indiana, Flowers’s home state, and following an investigation into the unsolved murder of a girl in 1994 and its possible link to the disappearance of another local girl in 2019, the novel quickly became a #1 New York Times bestseller. Her second novel of suspense, The Missing Half, was released to critical acclaim in May 2025.
