All Good People Here: A Novel
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - In the propulsive debut novel from the 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 THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: PopSugar
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?
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Readers say *All Good People Here* is a twisty, engaging mystery with a gripping small-town atmosphere and suspenseful exploration of truth and memory...
I’m a HUGE fan of Crime Junkie, so when I heard Ashley was writing and publishing a book, I knew I needed to get my hands on it. I was NOT disappointed! I enjoyed the HELL out of this book
The one issue I had with the book was the pacing. The pacing definitely got a little wonky, especially towards the end. The book was a great slow burn that kept me intrigued throughout, and then BAM. The last ~80-ish pages picked up a crazy amount in an almost rushed way, as if trying to get all the great plot twists in quickly. That being said, the plot twists right at the end left me wanting to know MORE. Is Margot good??
The story is told in dual POV with a time difference intertwined. We bounce between our main character, Margot, a journalist trying to solve a small town murder case she believes is connected to the 25-year-old murder of her neighbor January, and Krissy Jacobs, the mom of January ad she lives through the traumatizing disappearance and murder of 6-year-old January (her daughter). You really find out how their two stories intertwine and connect as the book progresses and just when one woman’s story picks up, we’d switch back to the other POV, which left me wanting to know what’s going to happen that much more.
Overall, I thought the book was well-written and exciting, despite the rushed cliffhanger of an ending! I can’t wait to see what else Ashley has to offer as far as writing goes.
When Margot Davies was six years old, her friend from across the street January was murdered. January's Mother, Father and 9 year old brother were all under suspicion that someone in that house either knew who murdered January, or one of them did it. Her murderer was never brought to justice. Margot moved on with her life as most of the townspeople did.
When Margot needed to return home to care for her ailing Uncle, news breaks that 5 year old Natalie Clark, who had been missing, body was found. Two young girls murdered in the same small Indiana town?? Margot decides she is going to find out who killed Natalie and January and bring them to justice. This one has you thinking that you know who did it, but you are wrong.
This one had an ending that you either loved or hated… I was team LOVE!! I definitely recommend this one.
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