What did I think of this debut mystery by a popular podcaster? Check out my Review of All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers!
All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers
Published on August 16, 2022 by Bantam Books
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review.
Synopsis: Everyone from Wakarusa, Indiana, remembers January Jacobs, who was found dead hours after her family awoke to find her missing. Margot Davies was six at the time, the same age as January—and they were next-door neighbors.
In the twenty years since, Margot grew up, moved away, and became a big-city journalist, but she’s always been haunted by the fact that 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 a five-year-old from the next town over who’s gone missing under eerily similar circumstances. With all the old feelings rushing back, Margot vows to 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.
What Else Has Ashley Flowers Written?
This is Ashley Flowers’ debut book. Congrats! Ashley, along with her longtime friend Brit, are the podcasters behind Crime Junkie, and Ashley’s Audiochuck Productions also produces other podcasts, like Counter Clock.
Review of All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers
I’m always little apprehensive when I approach a “celebrity” book.
In the YA space, where I started blogging, there are some really disastrous celebrity books. Like this 2.9 star one. Or this one by a famous pair of sisters, also 2.9 stars.
But I’ve listened to Ashley’s podcast (linked above) for a couple of years and I know she is a super-engaging storyteller. In addition, she talks about how she grew up reading mysteries, so that gave me hope.
All Good People Here is a solid debut that I enjoyed reading!
The book’s premise is one that mystery readers will be very familiar with: a reporter returns to her small town to handle some family business and becomes drawn into an old case, one she has a personal connection to. Think early Gillian Flynn.
Newspaper reporter Margot was only six when her friend January disappeared.
When Margot comes back into town to check on an uncle with early onset dementia, she’s horrified to hear that another young girl disappeared and that January’s family found a threatening message written on their barn.
I’ll deal with the “wtf” elements of the book in my Spoiler Discussion For All Good People Here, which I urge you to join when you’ve read the book (or encourage you to join if you love spoilers like I do!)
What Did I Like About All Good People Here?
What I did like about All Good People Here was that it had a past/present storyline that felt connected and well-executed. I loved the small town Midwestern setting.
The heart of the book is January’s case, a tragic one that ripped a family apart and sent ripples of fear through a community for decades after.
Janaury’s death seemed to have a superficial similarity to the tragic and (still unsolved) 1996 death of JonBenét Ramsey. This case is one of the most debated true crime cases out there.
If you are interested in the similarities between January and JonBenét, I go into a lot more detail in my Spoiler Discussion of All Good People Here.
I also liked the fact that All Good People Here had a good number of reveals, all spaced out nicely.
My main gripe with the book was that very unresolved ending! As Brit would say: wait, what? Is this some kind of statement on cold cases?
Is there a sequel in the works where this new case gets solved? If anyone knows, please tell me.
Otherwise, come over to my Spoiler Discussion for All Good People Here and let’s talk suspects, who actually killed whom and what are theories are about that ending!
In addition, if you enjoy podcasts, you might like this list of Thrillers With Podcast Elements!
Oh, I’m able to comment again. lol I was blocked from commenting for for reason for a while. I was hoping it would work itself out.
That is so strange and I am sorry about that!
Unresolved ending? Not fun. I do want to read this though – it sounds good. I haven’t listened to this podcast, but I must try it!
SO unresolved, but the book is really fun, especially if you like true crime podcasts!
**Potential Spoiler**
In regards to the ending, how do you think Krissy found out about January’s killer? Was it mentioned and I simply missed that detail? At where on the timeline did she learn the truth?
Hi Emily Grace! Thanks for marking the spoiler. We discuss this in the comments on my Spoiler Discussion for All Good People Here. All I can say without spoilers (lol) is that the book is vague about it. But if you check my reply to Natalie’s comment, you will see my analysis. Would love to know what you think!
I was really disappointed at the end of the book There was an explanation for two of the murders (Krissy and January) but no explanation for, or connection to the others. It was a great book but the ending fell SO flat. I also felt it was very questionable that Luke would tell Billy he was the twin’s father. What was the goal? He likely knew Billy was a hothead and he might be setting up a huge, volatile conflict with no real goal. Luke seemed too level-headed for that based on Margot’s descriptions. The end left so many loose ends.