All Good People Here

A Novel

By: Ashley Flowers

Narrated by: Brittany Pressley, Karissa Vacker, Ashley Flowers

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In the propulsive first novel from the author of The Missing Half and host of the #1 true crime podcast Crime Junkie, a journalist uncovers her hometown’s dark secrets when she becomes obsessed with the unsolved murder of her childhood neighbor—and the disappearance of another girl twenty years later.

ONE OF POPSUGAR’S BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR

You can’t ever know for sure what happens behind closed doors.

Everyone from Wakarusa, Indiana, remembers the infamous case of January Jacobs, who was discovered in a ditch hours after her family awoke to find her gone. Margot Davies was six at the time, the same age as January—and they were next-door neighbors. In the twenty years since, Margot has grown up, moved away, and become a big-city journalist. But she’s always been haunted by the feeling that it could’ve been her. And the worst part is, January’s killer has never been brought to justice.

When Margot returns home to help care for her uncle after he is diagnosed with early-onset dementia, she feels like she’s walked into a time capsule. Wakarusa is exactly how she remembers—genial, stifled, secretive. Then news breaks about five-year-old Natalie Clark from the next town over, who’s gone missing under circumstances eerily similar to January’s. With all the old feelings rushing back, Margot vows to find Natalie and to solve January’s murder once and for all.

But the police, Natalie’s family, the townspeople—they all seem to be hiding something. And the deeper Margot digs into Natalie’s disappearance, the more resistance she encounters, and the colder January’s case feels. Could January’s killer still be out there? Is it the same person who took Natalie? And what will it cost to finally discover what truly happened that night twenty years ago?

Twisty, chilling, and intense, All Good People Here is a searing tale that asks: What are your neighbors capable of when they think no one is watching?

Critic reviews

“Ashley Flowers has a knack for writing twisty plots and believable characters. All Good People Here is a stunning debut from a fresh new voice in the thriller space.”—Karin Slaughter

“All Good People Here has enough twists and layers for three novels. Ashley Flowers has taken a premise familiar to true-crime fans and created a story that’s compelling and psychologically rich, with an ending that’s as unnerving as it is satisfying.”—Lou Berney

“While some aspects of the fictional plot may remind true crime aficionados of real cases, the twist at the end is wholly original.”—Good Housekeeping

“Intense.”—PopSugar

“Ashley Flowers has taken her passion for true crime to new dimensions. . . . Flowers’s strong debut [is the] perfect summer mystery.”—People

“Flowers has uncanny insight into the types of stories many Americans want right now.”—Elle

“Crime Junkie fans and readers alike will be ready to settle in for what can only be described as a hair-raising, thrilling, twisty and chilling read that is every bit what we would expect from our favorite hostess.”—BookTrib

“This intricate, intriguing puzzler should surprise even those readers certain they know where the plot’s heading. Flowers is off to a promising start.”—Publishers Weekly

Derivative, but entertaining

As a true crime buff, I found this entertaining! A little too on to the nose with the JonBenet Ramsey case, with a touch of others like Casey/Caylee Anthony. I found the level of parallel distracting and somewhat lazy, like a re-imagining of the JBR case (maybe even a hint of what the author thinks happened there). It was very plot-focused and the characters could have used more development. The ending was abrupt; it was also open-ended, which can work, but not for this particular narrative. It seemed like it was going for Joyce Carol Oates vibes, but fell short on execution. I did like the structure, the shifting perspectives, jumping around in time. This novel had a lot of potential! Overall an entertaining read that kept me engaged, but if they'd spent more time developing it, it could have been better.

LOVE THIS BOOK!

I started listening early today, I’m already on Chapter 13! I can’t stop listening! It is sooo good! The writing is amazing, the layout of each chapter is amazing! These twists & turns already!

So excited it's finally out!

I was so excited to hear Ashley Flowers was writing a mystery novel and it's everything I hoped it would be! 🤨👁🔍

Well written and wonderful!

Ashley Flowers does an excellent job in this fictional true crime tale! Will listen again and again!

I LOVE THIS!

I have been following Ashley’s progress through Crime Junkies for years. This book gives us insight to her way of thinking and her creative side. I’m so excited to see what other books follow.