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All Good People Here
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Mystery & Thriller (2022), Nominee for Best Debut Novel (2022)Everyone from Wakarusa, Indiana, remembers the case of January Jacobs, who was found dead 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 fear 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 sick uncle, it feels like walking into a time capsule. Wakarusa is exactly how she remembered: genial, stifled, secretive. Then news breaks about five-year-old Natalie Clark from the next town over, who’s gone missing under eerily similar circumstances. With all the old feelings rushing back, Margot vows to find Natalie and solve January’s murder once and for all.
But the police, the 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 the killer still be out there? Could it be the same person who kidnapped Natalie? And what will it cost to finally discover what truly happened that night?
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.
When Margot returns home to help care for her sick uncle, it feels like walking into a time capsule. Wakarusa is exactly how she remembered: genial, stifled, secretive. Then news breaks about five-year-old Natalie Clark from the next town over, who’s gone missing under eerily similar circumstances. With all the old feelings rushing back, Margot vows to find Natalie and solve January’s murder once and for all.
But the police, the 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 the killer still be out there? Could it be the same person who kidnapped Natalie? And what will it cost to finally discover what truly happened that night?
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.
312 pages, Hardcover
First published August 16, 2022
About the author
Ashley Flowers
7 books3,810 followersAshley is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of audiochuck, the award-winning, independent media and podcast production company known for its standout content and storytelling across different genres, including true crime, fiction, comedy, and more. Most recently, Ashley released her debut novel, All Good People Here, a fiction crime thriller that became an instant #1 New York Times Bestseller in August of 2022.
As CCO, she works with her team to create an overarching content strategy and vision for the network of shows and company growth. She also hosts several audiochuck shows, including top-rated podcast Crime Junkie, The Deck, Red Ball, and Full Body Chills. At the core of the company and all its podcasts, Ashley and her team are committed to developing responsible true crime content.
In addition to her work at audiochuck, Ashley is passionate about advocacy work and recently established the nonprofit Season of Justice to provide financial resources in order to help solve cold cases. She sits on the organization’s board of directors.
Ashley was born and raised in Indiana, where she continues to live with her husband, her daughter, and her beloved dog, Charlie. She received a Bachelor of Science in Biological Services from Arizona State University.
As CCO, she works with her team to create an overarching content strategy and vision for the network of shows and company growth. She also hosts several audiochuck shows, including top-rated podcast Crime Junkie, The Deck, Red Ball, and Full Body Chills. At the core of the company and all its podcasts, Ashley and her team are committed to developing responsible true crime content.
In addition to her work at audiochuck, Ashley is passionate about advocacy work and recently established the nonprofit Season of Justice to provide financial resources in order to help solve cold cases. She sits on the organization’s board of directors.
Ashley was born and raised in Indiana, where she continues to live with her husband, her daughter, and her beloved dog, Charlie. She received a Bachelor of Science in Biological Services from Arizona State University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 26,131 reviews
November 15, 2023
Hmm…semi-satisfying -I was so close to love this book but that abrupt ending gave me second thoughts- review is coming up!
True crime and podcast elements, tight knitted- conservative- nosy small town theme and two girls’ brutal murder investigations collide the past tragedies into present kind of intriguing plot line: were the strengths of this story!
Margot Davies who returns her hometown Wakarusa after 20 years where the brutal murder of her neighbor girl and her childhood best friend January Jacobs has scandalized the entire community and haunted the reputation of Jacobs family whose members keeping secrets that torn them apart.
Margot is journalist and she returns to take care of her fifty years old uncle Luke who was the only father figure for her when her father failed at this job.
As soon as she comes back, murder case of Natalie Clark shakes the neighbor town Nappanee! Townies of Wakarusa already start criticizing the situation and another vandalizing attack happens at Jacobs’ front walls just like twenty years ago when their daughter has been kidnapped and killed.
Even though she’s sacked from her job at the newspaper because of emergency situation her uncle created has prevented her to write a good article about the murder investigation, she is adamant to dig out more to bring out the skeletons townies his in their closets which mean she also has to dig out her own past, learning secrets about her own family.
The book’s progress is extra slow burn after the strong opening. The chapters were a little dragging. Because of the interesting topic I kept on reading and I was about to round up 3.5 stars to 4 but that abrupt, weird ending which force us fill the blanks to write our own ending was semi satisfying for me! Unfortunately I cut the half star and I decided to give three solid, it’s not very good but it’s still okay read stars!
I’m still interested in reading more future works of the author. It was still a promising start!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
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True crime and podcast elements, tight knitted- conservative- nosy small town theme and two girls’ brutal murder investigations collide the past tragedies into present kind of intriguing plot line: were the strengths of this story!
Margot Davies who returns her hometown Wakarusa after 20 years where the brutal murder of her neighbor girl and her childhood best friend January Jacobs has scandalized the entire community and haunted the reputation of Jacobs family whose members keeping secrets that torn them apart.
Margot is journalist and she returns to take care of her fifty years old uncle Luke who was the only father figure for her when her father failed at this job.
As soon as she comes back, murder case of Natalie Clark shakes the neighbor town Nappanee! Townies of Wakarusa already start criticizing the situation and another vandalizing attack happens at Jacobs’ front walls just like twenty years ago when their daughter has been kidnapped and killed.
Even though she’s sacked from her job at the newspaper because of emergency situation her uncle created has prevented her to write a good article about the murder investigation, she is adamant to dig out more to bring out the skeletons townies his in their closets which mean she also has to dig out her own past, learning secrets about her own family.
The book’s progress is extra slow burn after the strong opening. The chapters were a little dragging. Because of the interesting topic I kept on reading and I was about to round up 3.5 stars to 4 but that abrupt, weird ending which force us fill the blanks to write our own ending was semi satisfying for me! Unfortunately I cut the half star and I decided to give three solid, it’s not very good but it’s still okay read stars!
I’m still interested in reading more future works of the author. It was still a promising start!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
blog
October 30, 2022
2.5 stars, rounded down
Ok debut, but sudden ending that totally felt unfinished. Didn’t really grab me, nothing really surprised me.
I think I expected a lot due to the author's history as a crime podcast producer, and maybe I would have liked the book more had I not known her background. As it is, this is the story of journalist Margot, who returns to her small hometown in Indiana because her uncle who raised her is suffering from progressing dementia. When she was six years old, the little girl across the street was abducted and murdered, the case went unsolved. Soon after Margot arrives, another little girl goes missing in the area. Margot sees connections and is determined to investigate. Are they really connected?
What I liked:
I'm always a fan of cold case stories and those of missing people. The mystery aspect compelled me to keep reading.
What I didn't:
This is so similar to JonBenet Ramsey's case. Too many similarities and possibly the writer pushing her agenda of what she thinks happened with that one.
Like I said before, there really aren't any surprises, and if there are, there's not enough suspenseful tension built up to make the reader care about the identity of the villain(s).
The character development just isn't there with any of the characters. Although we get a past storyline and a present one, they aren't fleshed out very well to provide enough of a background to connect with anyone.
And where I could forgive all of that and still say this was a halfway decent first book attempt, what I can't get past is the non-ending. You have Margot confronting someone and then...it just ends. I felt like something was left off, I actually turned back in my kindle to see if I accidentally skipped some pages, but no. This is the reason for me rounding down. Give me an ending, don't just make things all ambiguous.
I may read something else Flowers writes to see if she develops her skill as a book writer with more practice.
Want to know Spoilers about the ending and who did it? Check out my blog post:
Spoiler Alert! All Good People Here
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Ok debut, but sudden ending that totally felt unfinished. Didn’t really grab me, nothing really surprised me.
I think I expected a lot due to the author's history as a crime podcast producer, and maybe I would have liked the book more had I not known her background. As it is, this is the story of journalist Margot, who returns to her small hometown in Indiana because her uncle who raised her is suffering from progressing dementia. When she was six years old, the little girl across the street was abducted and murdered, the case went unsolved. Soon after Margot arrives, another little girl goes missing in the area. Margot sees connections and is determined to investigate. Are they really connected?
What I liked:
I'm always a fan of cold case stories and those of missing people. The mystery aspect compelled me to keep reading.
What I didn't:
This is so similar to JonBenet Ramsey's case. Too many similarities and possibly the writer pushing her agenda of what she thinks happened with that one.
Like I said before, there really aren't any surprises, and if there are, there's not enough suspenseful tension built up to make the reader care about the identity of the villain(s).
The character development just isn't there with any of the characters. Although we get a past storyline and a present one, they aren't fleshed out very well to provide enough of a background to connect with anyone.
And where I could forgive all of that and still say this was a halfway decent first book attempt, what I can't get past is the non-ending. You have Margot confronting someone and then...it just ends. I felt like something was left off, I actually turned back in my kindle to see if I accidentally skipped some pages, but no. This is the reason for me rounding down. Give me an ending, don't just make things all ambiguous.
I may read something else Flowers writes to see if she develops her skill as a book writer with more practice.
Want to know Spoilers about the ending and who did it? Check out my blog post:
Spoiler Alert! All Good People Here
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
January 19, 2023
2.0 stars — I have heard a lot of talk about “All Good People Here” due to it being the first novel written by Ashley Flowers, the host of the popular podcast, “Crime Junkie.” My thoughts after reading this book are — Flowers does a great job as the host of the popular podcast, “Crime Junkies.”
Maybe the podcast recently covered the Jon Benet Ramsay murder because the first third of the book is almost identical to the details of that crime. The book diverges from there, but despite a story that has its interesting moments, the writing is so poor that it detracts from what could have been a good murder mystery. The main character, Margot, is a local reporter who returns home to take care of her ailing uncle while working remotely from his home. When a local girl is murdered under similar circumstances as the unsolved murder of Margot’s childhood best friend, Margot goes on a mission to try and prove they’re connected and solve them both. The story requires the reader to put away his/her common sense on multiple occasions which becomes harder with each eye rolling moment. A mother convinced her 6 YEAR OLD son beat his twin sister to death..Yep. A wife and mother who professes to never have been gay decides in middle age to enter into a long term lesbian relationship with an old classmate (wouldnt she have had some attraction before then).. why not? And my favorite… a character kidnapped after standing outside at night and turning her back on an approaching vehicle, whose driver pulls to a stop, the driver exits and an older woman kidnapper grabs the character from behind and drags her back to her vehicle where she forces her inside and drives away. Trust me I had to read it twice and still can’t believe this was part of this novel. ANNNNNND my biggest gripe of all: she doesn’t reveal what happens to the main character and the story is left unresolved. I HATE that most of all, and can’t remember an author who left the reader with such a giant question mark for an ending. So if there is a sequel someone let me know what happened because I’m not reading it.
Maybe the podcast recently covered the Jon Benet Ramsay murder because the first third of the book is almost identical to the details of that crime. The book diverges from there, but despite a story that has its interesting moments, the writing is so poor that it detracts from what could have been a good murder mystery. The main character, Margot, is a local reporter who returns home to take care of her ailing uncle while working remotely from his home. When a local girl is murdered under similar circumstances as the unsolved murder of Margot’s childhood best friend, Margot goes on a mission to try and prove they’re connected and solve them both. The story requires the reader to put away his/her common sense on multiple occasions which becomes harder with each eye rolling moment. A mother convinced her 6 YEAR OLD son beat his twin sister to death..Yep. A wife and mother who professes to never have been gay decides in middle age to enter into a long term lesbian relationship with an old classmate (wouldnt she have had some attraction before then).. why not? And my favorite… a character kidnapped after standing outside at night and turning her back on an approaching vehicle, whose driver pulls to a stop, the driver exits and an older woman kidnapper grabs the character from behind and drags her back to her vehicle where she forces her inside and drives away. Trust me I had to read it twice and still can’t believe this was part of this novel. ANNNNNND my biggest gripe of all: she doesn’t reveal what happens to the main character and the story is left unresolved. I HATE that most of all, and can’t remember an author who left the reader with such a giant question mark for an ending. So if there is a sequel someone let me know what happened because I’m not reading it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2023
This had some great twists and turns, but what was that non-ending?! 😩
October 18, 2022
I’m glad I didn’t go by some of the not so great reviews and skip this one, because I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Honestly, something about the cover reeled me in and I’m glad it did. This was a fast read, and I was hooked from the first page all the way through until the last page.
All Good People Here, revolves mainly around the character of Margot Davies, who comes back to her hometown of Wakarusa, IN. It’s been 25 years since the death of her childhood friend, January Jacobs, and she feels that more childhood killings are related to that of her friend. As a reporter, Margot goes off on a mission to interview people and find who may be connected to these child killings. Margot does this while trying to care for her uncle Luke, who is suffering from dementia. Margot has a lot on her plate, and she is super stressed out (totally relatable). Can she find the connection to all these murders? Will she be able to tend to her uncle and maintain a household? And are the people in Wakarusa all good people? 🤨
This book will have you playing a guessing game all the way to the end! There were many surprises along the way, and none that I had figured out. I love how this story played out.
Apparently, the author has a podcast (that I’ve never listened to), but I plan on catching up on it since I am a fan of true crime! I also recommend reading this book as it was enjoyable and entertaining from beginning to end.
All Good People Here, revolves mainly around the character of Margot Davies, who comes back to her hometown of Wakarusa, IN. It’s been 25 years since the death of her childhood friend, January Jacobs, and she feels that more childhood killings are related to that of her friend. As a reporter, Margot goes off on a mission to interview people and find who may be connected to these child killings. Margot does this while trying to care for her uncle Luke, who is suffering from dementia. Margot has a lot on her plate, and she is super stressed out (totally relatable). Can she find the connection to all these murders? Will she be able to tend to her uncle and maintain a household? And are the people in Wakarusa all good people? 🤨
This book will have you playing a guessing game all the way to the end! There were many surprises along the way, and none that I had figured out. I love how this story played out.
Apparently, the author has a podcast (that I’ve never listened to), but I plan on catching up on it since I am a fan of true crime! I also recommend reading this book as it was enjoyable and entertaining from beginning to end.
September 14, 2022
Ashley Flowers is the CEO of her own company and hosts the popular true crime podcast, Crime Junkie, which I’ve often enjoyed. I was excited to get my hands on an early copy of her book.
I won’t waste time going into the plot, but apparently, writing podcast episodes is very different from writing a novel, because this story never got off the ground. The author did capture the small town atmosphere, but the mystery itself was a replay of the Jon Benet Ramsey case. I had high expectations that someone who works in true crime could come up with something a bit more original and compelling.
The writing was adequate, but with too much telling, not enough showing, I grew bored and found myself speed reading. Then that ending! Is the final chapter missing from my e-copy? I don’t mind an ending that leaves a bit to the imagination or one that is slightly ambiguous, but this just ends at a pivotal moment.
I have a lot of respect for the author’s accomplishments and success, and it gives me no pleasure to hand out a 2-star review. I didn’t enjoy this, but I would love to see the author write a nonfiction book on true crime.
* This was a buddy read with my friend Marialyce, one that left us both disappointed.
I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
June 30, 2023
is this a terrible book? no. but do i think this would have been published if AF wasnt a well-known true crime podcaster? also no.
lets start off with what is done well. the small indiana town is a great setting, the people in its community are pretty interesting characters, and the combination of both create an engaging atmosphere. i also think the handling of the sensitive topics that often come up in true crime was done pretty well.
but AFs experience in telling stories on her podcast can only get her so far. the writing is repetitive and boring, the tropes are overused, the reveals are predictable, and the non-ending is the biggest offender of them all.
i mean, ive read worse stories, but this definitely could have been a whole lot better.
↠ 2.5 stars
lets start off with what is done well. the small indiana town is a great setting, the people in its community are pretty interesting characters, and the combination of both create an engaging atmosphere. i also think the handling of the sensitive topics that often come up in true crime was done pretty well.
but AFs experience in telling stories on her podcast can only get her so far. the writing is repetitive and boring, the tropes are overused, the reveals are predictable, and the non-ending is the biggest offender of them all.
i mean, ive read worse stories, but this definitely could have been a whole lot better.
↠ 2.5 stars
June 19, 2022
My Rating System: 1.5 ⭐️ rounded down to 1⭐️ ticked no boxes COMPLETE FAIL!!!
Wakarusa, Indiana is a small town full of people who love to gossip and judge all the other townsfolk. So when January Jones is found murdered it is literally the talk of the town. January was found dead in a ditch taken from her family home.
Margot Davies was January’s best friend and 6 at the time of her BFFs disappearance and it shook her to her core. Believing in the real life boogey man her whole life since that fateful night. Twenty years later, and Margot is now all grown up and a hot shot crime journalist. January’s cold case has always haunted her and now in a neighbouring town another little girl goes missing under suspiciously similar circumstances.
Margot has moved home to Wakarusa to care for her uncle who has been struck down with early onset dementia. She is closer to the story than ever and she is determined to find out what really happened to January no matter the cost. There is someone in town who doesn’t want her there and is desperate to scare her off, can Margot find out the truth before her nightmares come true.
Look, I struggled even writing the blurb having now read the book. There are so many inconsistencies in this book and I know once again I am an outlier and have down rated this wildly popular novel. Also apparently Ashley Flowers is a hot shot Podcaster - well I have never listened to a podcast so I had no idea about this going in. 🤷♀️
The fact that the author is a podcaster doesn’t help this book, there are plot holes all over the place. AND can I just ask why does every story about a small town murder get reinvestigated 20 years later and result in the person investigating moving back for some family reason. It’s an old and tired concept and frankly I am bored by it. 🥱
The January Jones case is awfully similar to the Jon Benet Ramsey case in so many ways that even the super fans were disappointed by it. I wont go into it… but the parallels are glaringly obvious. 🙄
Also, all these so called ‘similar’ cases I have to say that is a super stretch - clearly Margot is used to jamming a round peg into a square hole because while I was reading the details of the cases the only similarity was that they had their heads bashed in (and I use the same language that the author uses to describe blunt force trauma to the little girls heads). I don’t think the cases were similar to January’s case at all - but maybe that was the point I don’t know. Chasing ghosts and all that. 👻
Another bug bear for me in this novel was the sheer amount of times that Margot felt guilty over leaving her uncle with his condition. Or after an episode. Seriously for starters just say he has dementia or early onset dementia stop referring to it as his condition. AND we get it you felt guilty as you stare longingly at your uncle who looks so different these days as you take off investigating a cold case that you really have no business being part of in the first place. If you felt so guilty you wouldn’t be roaming the countryside looking for a killer. Just get on with it… feel guilty but accept it stop meandering over the point. 🥴
Let’s take a look at what I did like - well it was a debut novel so I did think it would get better so I was willing to stay the course and there were some bits that I thought oh here we go something is brewing… but I was left disappointed for the majority of the time… ok so this is more about what else I didn’t like… honestly there were some good storyline’s that could have been explored better. I did like the alternative POVs from Krissy (January’s mum - back from when January was killed) and Margot (in the present day). I did like the fact that we got drip fed some info bit by bit to paint the picture but there were so many plot holes that I felt like you could fall down one and never come back up. 🕳
Now, rather than keep ranting I am going to finish with the ending… my god that ending. Trash is all I can say. It was suppose to create suspense and have us wondering and hoping… but it just leaves the reader hanging with no resolution - but then the epilogue gives a play by play of another part of the book which took hand holding to the maximum. It was complete rubbish I hated the ending. It completely ruined the entire book and any parts that could have been good for me. 😡
Initially when I started this review I was going to give it 2 stars but in good faith I cannot - clearly there were too many things I disliked - I am going to downgrade to a 1.5 rounded down to 1. Sorry, I really wanted to like this one, it was my first NetGalley read for a while and I was pretty pumped - completely let down though. 😪
Thank you to Harper Collins UK, NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy for my honest opinion.
Wakarusa, Indiana is a small town full of people who love to gossip and judge all the other townsfolk. So when January Jones is found murdered it is literally the talk of the town. January was found dead in a ditch taken from her family home.
Margot Davies was January’s best friend and 6 at the time of her BFFs disappearance and it shook her to her core. Believing in the real life boogey man her whole life since that fateful night. Twenty years later, and Margot is now all grown up and a hot shot crime journalist. January’s cold case has always haunted her and now in a neighbouring town another little girl goes missing under suspiciously similar circumstances.
Margot has moved home to Wakarusa to care for her uncle who has been struck down with early onset dementia. She is closer to the story than ever and she is determined to find out what really happened to January no matter the cost. There is someone in town who doesn’t want her there and is desperate to scare her off, can Margot find out the truth before her nightmares come true.
Look, I struggled even writing the blurb having now read the book. There are so many inconsistencies in this book and I know once again I am an outlier and have down rated this wildly popular novel. Also apparently Ashley Flowers is a hot shot Podcaster - well I have never listened to a podcast so I had no idea about this going in. 🤷♀️
The fact that the author is a podcaster doesn’t help this book, there are plot holes all over the place. AND can I just ask why does every story about a small town murder get reinvestigated 20 years later and result in the person investigating moving back for some family reason. It’s an old and tired concept and frankly I am bored by it. 🥱
The January Jones case is awfully similar to the Jon Benet Ramsey case in so many ways that even the super fans were disappointed by it. I wont go into it… but the parallels are glaringly obvious. 🙄
Also, all these so called ‘similar’ cases I have to say that is a super stretch - clearly Margot is used to jamming a round peg into a square hole because while I was reading the details of the cases the only similarity was that they had their heads bashed in (and I use the same language that the author uses to describe blunt force trauma to the little girls heads). I don’t think the cases were similar to January’s case at all - but maybe that was the point I don’t know. Chasing ghosts and all that. 👻
Another bug bear for me in this novel was the sheer amount of times that Margot felt guilty over leaving her uncle with his condition. Or after an episode. Seriously for starters just say he has dementia or early onset dementia stop referring to it as his condition. AND we get it you felt guilty as you stare longingly at your uncle who looks so different these days as you take off investigating a cold case that you really have no business being part of in the first place. If you felt so guilty you wouldn’t be roaming the countryside looking for a killer. Just get on with it… feel guilty but accept it stop meandering over the point. 🥴
Let’s take a look at what I did like - well it was a debut novel so I did think it would get better so I was willing to stay the course and there were some bits that I thought oh here we go something is brewing… but I was left disappointed for the majority of the time… ok so this is more about what else I didn’t like… honestly there were some good storyline’s that could have been explored better. I did like the alternative POVs from Krissy (January’s mum - back from when January was killed) and Margot (in the present day). I did like the fact that we got drip fed some info bit by bit to paint the picture but there were so many plot holes that I felt like you could fall down one and never come back up. 🕳
Now, rather than keep ranting I am going to finish with the ending… my god that ending. Trash is all I can say. It was suppose to create suspense and have us wondering and hoping… but it just leaves the reader hanging with no resolution - but then the epilogue gives a play by play of another part of the book which took hand holding to the maximum. It was complete rubbish I hated the ending. It completely ruined the entire book and any parts that could have been good for me. 😡
Initially when I started this review I was going to give it 2 stars but in good faith I cannot - clearly there were too many things I disliked - I am going to downgrade to a 1.5 rounded down to 1. Sorry, I really wanted to like this one, it was my first NetGalley read for a while and I was pretty pumped - completely let down though. 😪
Thank you to Harper Collins UK, NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy for my honest opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2022
January Jacobs was just six years old, when she was found dead in a ditch, hours after her family woke up and found her gone. Her case was never solved.
Her best friend and next door neighbor, Margot Davies, also six at the time, always wondered if it could have just as easily been her killed that night-and now twenty years later, she is a journalist who is still obsessed with the crime.
When she returns to Wakarusa, Indiana, to help care for an Uncle with dementia, and is assigned by her newspaper to cover a breaking story about Natalie Clark-a five year old from the next town over who has just gone missing -she feels that the two cases could be linked and she sets out to prove it.
But, in the past, she has also tried to link the case of another young girl, (Polly Limon, from nearby Dayton, Ohio) to January with no luck, and her employer is becoming frustrated. The initial article she submits is more of an Anniversary story about January than it is an investigative piece about Natalie.
But, Margot is determined to follow her instincts-no matter where they lead…
Ashley Flowers, is the host of the #1 podcast, Crime Junkie and this is her debut novel.
Although it IS NOT written in a podcast format, it unfortunately still mostly READS like one-with the exception of the sub-plot with Margot’s Uncle.
There is lots of TELLING to fill you in on the background of the January Jacobs case and plenty of interviews in the present day, similar to how a podcast unfolds.
It wasn’t compulsive reading for me.
Natalie Clark may have been the catalyst for Margot’s investigation but HER story is never explored, making this a journalist’s quest to solve a COLD CASE.
Because we don’t compare the two cases, past and present throughout the narrative, I didn’t feel any sense of TENSION, like I usually do with CRIME FICTION.
It didn’t move me, emotionally.
So, for me-this was just an average read, instead of an unforgettable one.
Fans of Ashley Flowers can pick this one up on August 16, 2022!
Thank You to Bantam for my gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Her best friend and next door neighbor, Margot Davies, also six at the time, always wondered if it could have just as easily been her killed that night-and now twenty years later, she is a journalist who is still obsessed with the crime.
When she returns to Wakarusa, Indiana, to help care for an Uncle with dementia, and is assigned by her newspaper to cover a breaking story about Natalie Clark-a five year old from the next town over who has just gone missing -she feels that the two cases could be linked and she sets out to prove it.
But, in the past, she has also tried to link the case of another young girl, (Polly Limon, from nearby Dayton, Ohio) to January with no luck, and her employer is becoming frustrated. The initial article she submits is more of an Anniversary story about January than it is an investigative piece about Natalie.
But, Margot is determined to follow her instincts-no matter where they lead…
Ashley Flowers, is the host of the #1 podcast, Crime Junkie and this is her debut novel.
Although it IS NOT written in a podcast format, it unfortunately still mostly READS like one-with the exception of the sub-plot with Margot’s Uncle.
There is lots of TELLING to fill you in on the background of the January Jacobs case and plenty of interviews in the present day, similar to how a podcast unfolds.
It wasn’t compulsive reading for me.
Natalie Clark may have been the catalyst for Margot’s investigation but HER story is never explored, making this a journalist’s quest to solve a COLD CASE.
Because we don’t compare the two cases, past and present throughout the narrative, I didn’t feel any sense of TENSION, like I usually do with CRIME FICTION.
It didn’t move me, emotionally.
So, for me-this was just an average read, instead of an unforgettable one.
Fans of Ashley Flowers can pick this one up on August 16, 2022!
Thank You to Bantam for my gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
July 4, 2022
All Good People Here is a debut thriller written by podcast host Ashley Flowers. Her experience with true crime shines through in this book of fiction. Written in a dual timeline narrative, it gives us the 1994 disappearance of a six year old girl and a similar disappearance twenty years later.
Margot returns home to Wakarusa, Indiana when her fifty something uncle starts suffering from early onset dementia. She’s his only close relative, so she comes back to care for him. Margot was also the next door neighbor of and same age as little January Jacobs when she went missing. As a journalist, she is asked to cover the new crime. And she keeps seeing similarities between the two crimes, although the police do not.
Margot was a sympathetic character. She’s in over her head in more ways than one.
Flowers perfectly captures small town USA - the social pressure to do the right thing, the in-line thinking. There’s a lot said here about the rush to judgement.
This isn’t a fast paced book, but it moves at a steady pace with several twists thrown in along the way. Most of which I didn’t see coming, especially the last chapter.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.
Margot returns home to Wakarusa, Indiana when her fifty something uncle starts suffering from early onset dementia. She’s his only close relative, so she comes back to care for him. Margot was also the next door neighbor of and same age as little January Jacobs when she went missing. As a journalist, she is asked to cover the new crime. And she keeps seeing similarities between the two crimes, although the police do not.
Margot was a sympathetic character. She’s in over her head in more ways than one.
Flowers perfectly captures small town USA - the social pressure to do the right thing, the in-line thinking. There’s a lot said here about the rush to judgement.
This isn’t a fast paced book, but it moves at a steady pace with several twists thrown in along the way. Most of which I didn’t see coming, especially the last chapter.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.
April 4, 2023
This was a 4 star book until the ending. What a way to ruin a perfectly great book! The ending was TERRIBLE, it negates any goodness the rest of the book had. Very disappointed in this one, not sure I'd be willing to give Ashley Flowers another chance after this.
September 9, 2022
3.5
I was really looking forward to reading this. I've listened to quite a few episodes of "Crime Junkie" and so a book from the host of the #1 true crime podcast? Sounded like a hit for sure.
I was intrigued by both cases. The unsolved murder of the main characters childhood neighbor in 1994 and the disappearance of another little girl two decades later. I was also intrigued by everything going on in Margot's private life.
I was pulled into the story right away. I thought it was interesting and there were some good twists. At the same time it wasn't one that had me on the edge of my seat. And I really didn't care for the ending. But this is just my opinion. Overall, I thought it was a pretty good read and debut from Ashley Flowers. I'm pretty sure I'd pick up her next read too!
September 15, 2022
Do you love ambiguous endings? Then this one is for you!
This was a solid whodunnit thriller about the murder of a little girl named January, with clear inspiration drawn from the JonBenet Ramsey case. The family members are the most obvious suspects, but through multiple perspectives and time jumps, things get so much more convoluted and the single murder plot evolves into a dark web of intense small town secrets.
I truly don’t understand if the author just ran out of time, or ink, or the publisher maybe forgot some pages at the end? But I genuinely hope the abrupt ending isn’t just a ploy to get readers to buy a sequel, because that feels like a bit of a cop out.
This was a solid whodunnit thriller about the murder of a little girl named January, with clear inspiration drawn from the JonBenet Ramsey case. The family members are the most obvious suspects, but through multiple perspectives and time jumps, things get so much more convoluted and the single murder plot evolves into a dark web of intense small town secrets.
I truly don’t understand if the author just ran out of time, or ink, or the publisher maybe forgot some pages at the end? But I genuinely hope the abrupt ending isn’t just a ploy to get readers to buy a sequel, because that feels like a bit of a cop out.
August 26, 2022
Predictable, formulaic and definitely creepy weird JonBenet fanfic. I didn't expect much from the queen of true crime plagiarism, but I somehow thought the story would at least seem incentive. Alas, I was disappointed. Literally go read any other thriller.
September 28, 2022
That ending ruined everything.
November 7, 2022
This was an enjoyable mystery! Not perfect because the ending left me hanging and I automatically think the worst happened. Before the actual ending was a great twist, and this book kept me guessing continuously, although other reviewers figured it out and rated it differently. I listen to the audio version and could not wait each day I stopped to start it again.
It is a small town mystery with sketchy characters rising out of the scene and I had my suspicions but quickly swept it under the rug with all their other secrets. It starts in 1994 when a six year old girl, January, goes missing. Her best friend lived across the street and carried with her the guilt that it could have been her. Margo comes back to her hometown to find out what happen to January after another girl goes missing.
It does carry elements of JonBenet, but a lot of mysteries link In similarities. I enjoyed it and thought for a debut it was intriguing.
It is a small town mystery with sketchy characters rising out of the scene and I had my suspicions but quickly swept it under the rug with all their other secrets. It starts in 1994 when a six year old girl, January, goes missing. Her best friend lived across the street and carried with her the guilt that it could have been her. Margo comes back to her hometown to find out what happen to January after another girl goes missing.
It does carry elements of JonBenet, but a lot of mysteries link In similarities. I enjoyed it and thought for a debut it was intriguing.
September 14, 2022
Well my generosity went out the door the more I thought about this most convoluted, ridiculous fell off the cliff ending and the time I wasted reading this book.
A journalist comes home to care for her beloved uncle who is suffering from early onset dementia and encounters memories of her childhood. There is one that has plagued her, it being the death of her best friend January Jacobs, who seemed to have been abducted and murdered at such a young age.
It did have the makings of a story that brought to mind the case of Jon Benet Ramsey and the author seemed to mimic the family of that child where each member was suspect. As Margot, an investigative reporter and best former friend of the young murdered victim, looks back twenty odd years ago, she senses there is a story there plus an undiscovered murderer. All the good people of the town, including her uncle seem to be hiding something and Margot is determined to find out what and of course write about it.
What fell short for me was the various characters that seem to come and go and the reader had no idea to where or why. The ending was a tad (really enormously) ridiculous and made the story even more convoluted that added a large question mark as to the mystery's solution.
Jan and I were totally amazed that a person who seems to specialize in true crime could write such claptrap! Our jaws dropped out of disappointment and precious reading time wasted.
Sad to say, after a promising start, it just fizzled out. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this story publishing in November.
A journalist comes home to care for her beloved uncle who is suffering from early onset dementia and encounters memories of her childhood. There is one that has plagued her, it being the death of her best friend January Jacobs, who seemed to have been abducted and murdered at such a young age.
It did have the makings of a story that brought to mind the case of Jon Benet Ramsey and the author seemed to mimic the family of that child where each member was suspect. As Margot, an investigative reporter and best former friend of the young murdered victim, looks back twenty odd years ago, she senses there is a story there plus an undiscovered murderer. All the good people of the town, including her uncle seem to be hiding something and Margot is determined to find out what and of course write about it.
What fell short for me was the various characters that seem to come and go and the reader had no idea to where or why. The ending was a tad (really enormously) ridiculous and made the story even more convoluted that added a large question mark as to the mystery's solution.
Jan and I were totally amazed that a person who seems to specialize in true crime could write such claptrap! Our jaws dropped out of disappointment and precious reading time wasted.
Sad to say, after a promising start, it just fizzled out. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this story publishing in November.
April 22, 2022
i can’t wait to see what ashley did with this book!! she’s such a great podcaster. literally PRAYING i get this arc 😭😭 i am not above begging
4/21::
I GOT THE ARC I AM SCREAMINGGGGG
review::
FULL. BODY. CHILLS.
All Good People Here is a chilling, devastating story of a young girl’s murder and a woman willing to do whatever she can to find her killer. I couldn’t put this down, and was captivated from page 1. There are so many twists and turns, and some caught me completely off-guard. My jaw dropped at one point!!
As Ashley Flowers debut novel, I was BLOWN away. This isn’t your typical mystery/thriller. Flower’s work in the true crime world really reflects in this as it is unpredictable, but REAL. I felt as if I were listening to another weekly episode and this was a real case. I think that’s why the ending was left open, and although some people won’t like that aspect, I actually really appreciated it because we don’t always get all the answers in real life cases.
As someone who listens to Ashley Flower’s podcasts, I was ECSTATIC when she announced this book. Ashely is an amazing story teller, and a true advocate for killers being brought to justice. I cannot thank NetGalley, Ashley herself, and Random House Publishing Group enough for an early copy of this book for a honest review. I preordered this book when it was announced and cannot wait to receive it when it releases August 16, 2022!! HIGHLY recommend!! I would give this 10000 ⭐️ if I could.
4/21::
I GOT THE ARC I AM SCREAMINGGGGG
review::
FULL. BODY. CHILLS.
All Good People Here is a chilling, devastating story of a young girl’s murder and a woman willing to do whatever she can to find her killer. I couldn’t put this down, and was captivated from page 1. There are so many twists and turns, and some caught me completely off-guard. My jaw dropped at one point!!
As Ashley Flowers debut novel, I was BLOWN away. This isn’t your typical mystery/thriller. Flower’s work in the true crime world really reflects in this as it is unpredictable, but REAL. I felt as if I were listening to another weekly episode and this was a real case. I think that’s why the ending was left open, and although some people won’t like that aspect, I actually really appreciated it because we don’t always get all the answers in real life cases.
As someone who listens to Ashley Flower’s podcasts, I was ECSTATIC when she announced this book. Ashely is an amazing story teller, and a true advocate for killers being brought to justice. I cannot thank NetGalley, Ashley herself, and Random House Publishing Group enough for an early copy of this book for a honest review. I preordered this book when it was announced and cannot wait to receive it when it releases August 16, 2022!! HIGHLY recommend!! I would give this 10000 ⭐️ if I could.
August 16, 2022
this is for lovers of true crime, the JonBenet Ramsey case, quick thrillers and multiple red herrings.
however this story has been done plenty of times, which caused me to grow a bit bored and want more originality. on the one side i was fascinated because i also followed the JBR case to closely IRL… but on the other side, i was bored because i’ve heard all that before. double edged sword!
it was a quick binge and kept me interested if nothing less. this was a good debut, but not great. the ending also makes you go 🤔🤔🤔 and is a bit of a cliffhanger! i enjoyed the past plots much more than the present. the MC in the present didn’t ever resonate with me.
thanks to Bantam for the gifted ARC! releases next week. full review to come on my IG.
however this story has been done plenty of times, which caused me to grow a bit bored and want more originality. on the one side i was fascinated because i also followed the JBR case to closely IRL… but on the other side, i was bored because i’ve heard all that before. double edged sword!
it was a quick binge and kept me interested if nothing less. this was a good debut, but not great. the ending also makes you go 🤔🤔🤔 and is a bit of a cliffhanger! i enjoyed the past plots much more than the present. the MC in the present didn’t ever resonate with me.
thanks to Bantam for the gifted ARC! releases next week. full review to come on my IG.
September 12, 2022
Not much to say here. Premise sound interesting to you? Save yourself some reading eye strain, go pop a big bag of corn and watch one of the eleventy trillion specials that have already been made about the JonBenet case. There's inspired by and then there's inspired by. This was waaaaaay too close to the real thing for me. I also really wanted to punch the lead in the throat for leaving her uncle on his own so much when the entire point of her returning home was because he wasn't capable of being left alone any longer. But I do love a house cover, still, so you know I had to snag an early copy of this instantly ; )
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
August 16, 2022
Gonna need ya’ to define “good” here.
⏰ 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫: Another girl has disappeared and only reporter Margot Davies sees a connection. 20 years prior, her childhood friend January was taken and murdered. Now - another girl taken, a new haunting message on a wall, clandestine warnings - all pulling Margot deeper into the story. But Margot has problems - she’s losing everything, including her uncle with early dementia and she keeps seeing a strange red-haired woman everywhere, all while Margot is side-eyeing everyone she knows from this small town, including those closest to her.
💡𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: The title of the book elicits the memory of “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor (Southern gothic yo!) where yup - everyone focuses on the outward appearance of being GOOD, not ACTUALLY being good people (Pfft… who wants that?), which is more important than truth and honesty in this neck of the woods. Flowers embraces this small twisted-town spirit and runs with it in this novel with a Jon Benet Ramsey-ish nod from the 90’s. Dead pageant-loving daughter, parents and brother survive, fingers pointed firmly at all of them at one time. All sketch.
Here’s the skinny - this is a quick read and written with adroit “beach-read” fast pacing and Flowers excels with this first novel - she kept my attention, didn’t irk me with a stupid female protagonist, and provided twists and a few turns which is tough to do to a reviewer who reads ALL the mysteries.
𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆𝗠𝗮𝗴𝘀.𝗰𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
📚𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Mystery/Small-town
😍𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨: Great end of summer read… get this last one in.
🙅♀️ 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨: Can’t think of a specific group unless you find a Jon-Benet type situation too tough to read.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for my advanced copy in exchange for my always-honest review and for making this city girl… proud to be a city girl 😆.
⏰ 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫: Another girl has disappeared and only reporter Margot Davies sees a connection. 20 years prior, her childhood friend January was taken and murdered. Now - another girl taken, a new haunting message on a wall, clandestine warnings - all pulling Margot deeper into the story. But Margot has problems - she’s losing everything, including her uncle with early dementia and she keeps seeing a strange red-haired woman everywhere, all while Margot is side-eyeing everyone she knows from this small town, including those closest to her.
💡𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: The title of the book elicits the memory of “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor (Southern gothic yo!) where yup - everyone focuses on the outward appearance of being GOOD, not ACTUALLY being good people (Pfft… who wants that?), which is more important than truth and honesty in this neck of the woods. Flowers embraces this small twisted-town spirit and runs with it in this novel with a Jon Benet Ramsey-ish nod from the 90’s. Dead pageant-loving daughter, parents and brother survive, fingers pointed firmly at all of them at one time. All sketch.
Here’s the skinny - this is a quick read and written with adroit “beach-read” fast pacing and Flowers excels with this first novel - she kept my attention, didn’t irk me with a stupid female protagonist, and provided twists and a few turns which is tough to do to a reviewer who reads ALL the mysteries.
𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆𝗠𝗮𝗴𝘀.𝗰𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
📚𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Mystery/Small-town
😍𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨: Great end of summer read… get this last one in.
🙅♀️ 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨: Can’t think of a specific group unless you find a Jon-Benet type situation too tough to read.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for my advanced copy in exchange for my always-honest review and for making this city girl… proud to be a city girl 😆.
August 22, 2022
Ok, I feel like it is tough to just review the book and not to mention the other bits that come to my mind when reading this, so I will use this opportunity to include that.
I used to be a big fan of the podcast in its early days, but since the plagiarism came to light, I have not felt right to keep supporting the author and the co-host. A simple acknowledgement and apology would have been all that's needed for retribution, but none came. Very disappointing actions by one of the biggest true crime podcasts, not to mention the complete lack of personal ethics and morals.
So now, here comes this book. The book itself read fast, was intriguing and I did enjoy it.
However, I feel like as a host of a true crime podcast, you do write about what you know, right? Then why not mention it?
The storyline was clearly inspired by real-life events of at least one real-life crime, that of JonBenét Patricia Ramsey. Maybe mixed in with Madeleine McCann and Caylee Anthony. I do not think it is far-fetched to assume that, taking into account who the author, Ashley Flowers is.
My biggest problem is that this is basically a fictionalisation of a theory about a real-life child that has not only lost her life tragically but also been made into a media spectacle and now this book does even mention that?! How is that not disrespectful? I just cannot fathom the balls to do that. Can't. Nope.
This has clearly been inspired by and based on a real-life crime including a child (!), so we are not going to even mention that and basically create a theory about that and profit off of it and not even disclose it. Is this history repeating itself again? And is the "author" getting away with it again? Doesn't sit right with me.
I have a real problem with the lack of disclosure here, and skating on thin ice with ethics and morals as a human being. I simply cannot get over it and I don't think I should.
Therefore, the rating is 2 stars, being generous, as the book itself was an alright read.
Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!
I used to be a big fan of the podcast in its early days, but since the plagiarism came to light, I have not felt right to keep supporting the author and the co-host. A simple acknowledgement and apology would have been all that's needed for retribution, but none came. Very disappointing actions by one of the biggest true crime podcasts, not to mention the complete lack of personal ethics and morals.
So now, here comes this book. The book itself read fast, was intriguing and I did enjoy it.
However, I feel like as a host of a true crime podcast, you do write about what you know, right? Then why not mention it?
The storyline was clearly inspired by real-life events of at least one real-life crime, that of JonBenét Patricia Ramsey. Maybe mixed in with Madeleine McCann and Caylee Anthony. I do not think it is far-fetched to assume that, taking into account who the author, Ashley Flowers is.
My biggest problem is that this is basically a fictionalisation of a theory about a real-life child that has not only lost her life tragically but also been made into a media spectacle and now this book does even mention that?! How is that not disrespectful? I just cannot fathom the balls to do that. Can't. Nope.
This has clearly been inspired by and based on a real-life crime including a child (!), so we are not going to even mention that and basically create a theory about that and profit off of it and not even disclose it. Is this history repeating itself again? And is the "author" getting away with it again? Doesn't sit right with me.
I have a real problem with the lack of disclosure here, and skating on thin ice with ethics and morals as a human being. I simply cannot get over it and I don't think I should.
Therefore, the rating is 2 stars, being generous, as the book itself was an alright read.
Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!
March 26, 2023
I don’t know who Ashley Winter is nor I closely follow true crime cases. I randomly picked the audiobook since it was available on Libby and the summary sounded interesting. And the book honestly was. The writing was light and scene was set right. Hence, I found the audiobook gripping unfortunately, the ending ruined what could’ve been a 4 stars read to a more of 2.75 one. It’s not open ended, it’s abrupt as if a chapter is missing. And that’s not okay, especially in this genre.
Story wise, it’s fun. Character wise, it’s meh. There was no character development, maybe Krissy a bit. I wanted to know more about some characters like la Jace but overall, none were memorable. Honestly, in this genre I care more about the plot than the characters because it’s the mystery elements that interest me the most but a little more depth to the MCs would’ve been appreciated,
The audiobook however is great! I’d give it the green light if you were considering listening to the audiobook.
Story wise, it’s fun. Character wise, it’s meh. There was no character development, maybe Krissy a bit. I wanted to know more about some characters like la Jace but overall, none were memorable. Honestly, in this genre I care more about the plot than the characters because it’s the mystery elements that interest me the most but a little more depth to the MCs would’ve been appreciated,
The audiobook however is great! I’d give it the green light if you were considering listening to the audiobook.
December 22, 2022
This was close to a four star read as I got really invested but by the end I just felt "meh" about it.
May 30, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an arc of this book! So this book was interesting to say the least. My biggest issue is they took the facts of the JonBenet Ramsey case and the theories surrounding it and even modeled the family members off of that family and they created their own story. Which is fine but if you’re going to do that, it should’ve at least been mentioned in the description because it just seems like you’re turning that story into a way to capitalize off that case. It also meant it didn’t felt like an original story.
February 12, 2023
Dear Ashley,
Most of the book was really great but that ending was genuinely annoying.
Kind regards
Claude
Seriously folks. There a few things more annoying to me than an unsatisfying ending. Now sometimes there are cool endings that your are left shocked or mind-blown. This just felt unfinished. I was actually totally absorbed for most of the book so I will still give it 3 stars. The characters were interesting and although the whodunnit elements were well signposted, I still loved the twists and turns.
CW:
Most of the book was really great but that ending was genuinely annoying.
Kind regards
Claude
Seriously folks. There a few things more annoying to me than an unsatisfying ending. Now sometimes there are cool endings that your are left shocked or mind-blown. This just felt unfinished. I was actually totally absorbed for most of the book so I will still give it 3 stars. The characters were interesting and although the whodunnit elements were well signposted, I still loved the twists and turns.
CW:
October 9, 2023
This is a complicated mystery, that Margot, as a journalist, returning home to care for her uncle, would like to solve.
But for me, I have never been more angry at an author than I am at this one.
Did she wrap up this mystery at the end? Yes.
So, what is the problem?
Perhaps it is because of how it ended. So abruptly.
It’s not how one would expect it.
Does that make her good as a writer – or does that make us as readers disappointed?
I don’t have an easy answer. Perhaps it depends on which characters we are rooting for – and, if we are satisfied with the outcome.
For me, I felt dumped.
It just didn’t seem right to leave it (end it) this way.
Especially with an epilogue in past tense, and well, I can’t tell you how the chapter prior to the epilogue ended because that would be giving it away.
So, all I can say, is that I am sincerely angry.
And, I just don’t know how else to explain it other than that.
I’m not sure my feelings matter in this.
If this makes you curious about this mystery, check it out.
(P.S. – and if this story appears similar to any real past cases, the author doesn’t own up to them. That is unusual.)
But for me, I have never been more angry at an author than I am at this one.
Did she wrap up this mystery at the end? Yes.
So, what is the problem?
Perhaps it is because of how it ended. So abruptly.
It’s not how one would expect it.
Does that make her good as a writer – or does that make us as readers disappointed?
I don’t have an easy answer. Perhaps it depends on which characters we are rooting for – and, if we are satisfied with the outcome.
For me, I felt dumped.
It just didn’t seem right to leave it (end it) this way.
Especially with an epilogue in past tense, and well, I can’t tell you how the chapter prior to the epilogue ended because that would be giving it away.
So, all I can say, is that I am sincerely angry.
And, I just don’t know how else to explain it other than that.
I’m not sure my feelings matter in this.
If this makes you curious about this mystery, check it out.
(P.S. – and if this story appears similar to any real past cases, the author doesn’t own up to them. That is unusual.)
May 8, 2022
Great read! I finished this in one sitting, late into the night. The story primarily centers on Margot, who returns to the small town in which she grew up to take care of her uncle with dementia. She’s a journalist and takes an interest in a child abduction that looks similar to an unsolved murder of her best friend January when she was just 6 years old. You also get alternating chapters told from the POV of January’s mom, Kristy, from 1994 when the murder occurred. These w storylines converge in a really satisfying way.
I liked Margot and Krissy and thought all of the characters were believable. While flawed, I could empathize which most of them. The mystery is sound, causing me to change my mind many times as to who the culprit might be. The whole story made me feel sad about all the things that could have been and all the small things that could have gone differently to avoid how it all turned out- I like a book that can leave me with that much emotion at the end.
Speaking of the end, it’s the only part of the book I didn’t love, as there were loose ends I didn’t feel were tied up (and I love when everything is tied up neatly!). This wasn’t enough to keep me from loving the book, though.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this debut novel and am excited to see what this author comes up with next. Strongly recommend for those who enjoy mysteries. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I liked Margot and Krissy and thought all of the characters were believable. While flawed, I could empathize which most of them. The mystery is sound, causing me to change my mind many times as to who the culprit might be. The whole story made me feel sad about all the things that could have been and all the small things that could have gone differently to avoid how it all turned out- I like a book that can leave me with that much emotion at the end.
Speaking of the end, it’s the only part of the book I didn’t love, as there were loose ends I didn’t feel were tied up (and I love when everything is tied up neatly!). This wasn’t enough to keep me from loving the book, though.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this debut novel and am excited to see what this author comes up with next. Strongly recommend for those who enjoy mysteries. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 27, 2022
I think the only people giving this book 4/5 stars are major Crime Junkie/Ashley Flowers fans and were just thrilled to be reading a book by her. Fans of crime fiction (or well-written fiction in general), however, are going to be pretty disappointed.
My first major issue with this book is the obvious parallels to the JonBenet Ramsey case. Others have mentioned this, but the plot really does read like JonBenet fanfiction with some minor details changed. I wouldn't have as much of a problem with this if the author were honest about what she was doing. But she instead billed this as an original, fictional story that her own brain came up with. I even double-checked my suspicions and re-read the JonBenet Ramsey case after finishing this book and was shocked to find even more details and parallels that made it into Flowers' story. All of this left a bad taste in my mouth. Something about it feels icky and unethical.
On top of that, the writing itself is quite poor. I'm not sure how best to describe it, other than 'elementary' or 'juvenile'. There's a lot of telling and hand-holding throughout the novel like the author is assuming the reader is too dumb to follow along or put two-and-two together. There's also no real...development? Most of what happens in the book is just the author saying "and then this happened, and then the character did this, and then this next thing happened, etc." The end result is that none of the characters' actions, or plot 'twists' that happen, make any sense at all. By the time I got towards the end, I found myself rolling my eyes (cue "sure Jan" meme) at most of what the narrator told me because I didn't believe anything she said.
There are many, many, many examples of this development issue. From the beginning, most of Wakarusa is convinced the Natalie & January cases are connected. Without any evidence, except that both girls were around the same age at the time they disappeared. 25 years apart. In different towns. I'm not sure whether Flowers just expected us to take her at her word, but it really just frustrated me because it didn't make any sense. Then there's the fact that Margot is supposed to be taking care of her uncle (who has early-onset dementia) but she'll just leave him for days at a time, even after he wanders out of the house and gets lost for hours. Again, make it make sense. I could go on, but I don't want to get into spoilers. With some proper character and plot development, some of these issues could've probably been resolved. But without it, you're just left scratching your head.
And then there's the ending. Yes, it sucks just as most other people have said it does. To me it felt like Flowers was trying to be profound - like this was her mic-drop moment that would leave her readers in awe of how incredible she is. All I could do was roll my eyes (again) and mosey over to goodreads to write this review. It just wasn't good and did not accomplish what she thought it was going to.
Phew, this was a long review. In truth I rarely write reviews and am not normally so vitriolic when I do. Without the JonBenet stuff, I would probably give this 2 stars. The book was mildly intriguing at certain points and, for a first novel, it wasn't a bad attempt. But the JonBenet stuff really annoyed me and made me less forgiving about the other nonsense. If you're a huge Ashley Flowers fan you might enjoy this book (emphasis on might). If you don't know who that is, you'd be better off skipping it.
My first major issue with this book is the obvious parallels to the JonBenet Ramsey case. Others have mentioned this, but the plot really does read like JonBenet fanfiction with some minor details changed. I wouldn't have as much of a problem with this if the author were honest about what she was doing. But she instead billed this as an original, fictional story that her own brain came up with. I even double-checked my suspicions and re-read the JonBenet Ramsey case after finishing this book and was shocked to find even more details and parallels that made it into Flowers' story. All of this left a bad taste in my mouth. Something about it feels icky and unethical.
On top of that, the writing itself is quite poor. I'm not sure how best to describe it, other than 'elementary' or 'juvenile'. There's a lot of telling and hand-holding throughout the novel like the author is assuming the reader is too dumb to follow along or put two-and-two together. There's also no real...development? Most of what happens in the book is just the author saying "and then this happened, and then the character did this, and then this next thing happened, etc." The end result is that none of the characters' actions, or plot 'twists' that happen, make any sense at all. By the time I got towards the end, I found myself rolling my eyes (cue "sure Jan" meme) at most of what the narrator told me because I didn't believe anything she said.
There are many, many, many examples of this development issue. From the beginning, most of Wakarusa is convinced the Natalie & January cases are connected. Without any evidence, except that both girls were around the same age at the time they disappeared. 25 years apart. In different towns. I'm not sure whether Flowers just expected us to take her at her word, but it really just frustrated me because it didn't make any sense. Then there's the fact that Margot is supposed to be taking care of her uncle (who has early-onset dementia) but she'll just leave him for days at a time, even after he wanders out of the house and gets lost for hours. Again, make it make sense. I could go on, but I don't want to get into spoilers. With some proper character and plot development, some of these issues could've probably been resolved. But without it, you're just left scratching your head.
And then there's the ending. Yes, it sucks just as most other people have said it does. To me it felt like Flowers was trying to be profound - like this was her mic-drop moment that would leave her readers in awe of how incredible she is. All I could do was roll my eyes (again) and mosey over to goodreads to write this review. It just wasn't good and did not accomplish what she thought it was going to.
Phew, this was a long review. In truth I rarely write reviews and am not normally so vitriolic when I do. Without the JonBenet stuff, I would probably give this 2 stars. The book was mildly intriguing at certain points and, for a first novel, it wasn't a bad attempt. But the JonBenet stuff really annoyed me and made me less forgiving about the other nonsense. If you're a huge Ashley Flowers fan you might enjoy this book (emphasis on might). If you don't know who that is, you'd be better off skipping it.
November 14, 2022
Thank you PRHAudio for the complimentary audiobook!
Fantastic audiobook! And that ending though, I'm glad to have finally got the surprise view at the epilogue but what happened to Margo?? I'm thinking there will be a sequel coming because that ending seems to leave at a cliffhanger. Hope so. Fingers crossed, otherwise I don't like what it looks like because Margo seems to be a fighter in this story. When people said no or too difficult, she pushed forward. That being said, I did enjoyed Margo's point of view as well as Chrissy. I also liked many twists in this story. The death of January, a little girl who danced and dressed up in costumes that some people thought she wore too much makeup for a little girl and where she was found reminds me about the JonBenet case.
This story was told in a timeline, back in 1994 with Chrissy and today in 2019 with Margo. Chrissy was a popular teen in high school. She was beautiful too. She married young to a high school guy she dated that last summer. Later they were the couple that everyone knows because they owned most of the land in that area. Their 6 year old daughter was found dead and survived by the twin brother Chase. Margo is a crime reporter who failed at her job recently because she was grieving for the loss of her aunt and worrying for her uncle who's experiencing early signs of dementia. She decided to move back to her old hometown to take care of him. While she's there, the town people started to remember who she is and she started to learn of the recent disappearance of a little girl. She couldn't help but connected the new case with that of her friend January. She decided to investigate and write this story to win her job back.
Fantastic audiobook! And that ending though, I'm glad to have finally got the surprise view at the epilogue but what happened to Margo?? I'm thinking there will be a sequel coming because that ending seems to leave at a cliffhanger. Hope so. Fingers crossed, otherwise I don't like what it looks like because Margo seems to be a fighter in this story. When people said no or too difficult, she pushed forward. That being said, I did enjoyed Margo's point of view as well as Chrissy. I also liked many twists in this story. The death of January, a little girl who danced and dressed up in costumes that some people thought she wore too much makeup for a little girl and where she was found reminds me about the JonBenet case.
This story was told in a timeline, back in 1994 with Chrissy and today in 2019 with Margo. Chrissy was a popular teen in high school. She was beautiful too. She married young to a high school guy she dated that last summer. Later they were the couple that everyone knows because they owned most of the land in that area. Their 6 year old daughter was found dead and survived by the twin brother Chase. Margo is a crime reporter who failed at her job recently because she was grieving for the loss of her aunt and worrying for her uncle who's experiencing early signs of dementia. She decided to move back to her old hometown to take care of him. While she's there, the town people started to remember who she is and she started to learn of the recent disappearance of a little girl. She couldn't help but connected the new case with that of her friend January. She decided to investigate and write this story to win her job back.
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