We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter — Genre’d Podcast Episode 8

About the episode:

This week on Genre’d, Katy leads us into We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter—a small-town Southern thriller packed with fireworks, buried secrets, and a deputy who can’t shake what she ignored the night two girls vanished.

Come for the spoiler-free first ~15 minutes; stay for the wild twists, family drama straight out of a true-crime podcast, and our stunned silence when the final reveal hit.

💥 Spoiler warning: First ~15 minutes are spoiler-free; full spoilers after ~15:00 (including killer reveals and timeline twists).

💥 Content warnings: sexual violence, harm to minors, addiction/recovery, murder, dementia/Alzheimer’s

What we cover in this episode:

• Tropes & vibes: dual timelines, small-town secrets, morally gray leads, ticking-clock investigation, “everyone’s guilty of something” energy

• Characters to watch: Emmy (reluctant engine), Gerald (sheriff & patriarch), Jude (the profiler who knows too much), Madison & Cheyenne (the missing girls)

• Pop-culture detours: Will Trent, Sharp Objects, True Detective — plus a real-life true-crime update on the Austin “Yogurt Shop” case

• Family secrets & chaos: dynasty drama, alcoholism, repressed grief, and one twist that left us saying “WHAT?!”

Why listen?

If you love twisty, atmospheric thrillers that read like prestige TV—think True Detective meets Sharp Objects—this episode is for you. We unpack why Karin Slaughter’s pacing feels cinematic, what makes her flawed characters so believable, and how this story turns guilt into its own kind of villain.

Mentions & shoutouts:

Author: Karin Slaughter (Will Trent series)

Pop culture: True Detective, Sharp Objects, Will Trent (TV), and the 1991 Austin “Yogurt Shop” murders (DNA case update)

Themes: guilt, forgiveness, small-town loyalty, family trauma, moral compromise

Bonus tangent: building our Delaware library-studio (feat. seven IKEA shelves, our dad’s power tools, and Lola 🐾)

Our ratings:

Katy: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — “Twisty, shocking, and smart. I’m still thinking about that reveal."

Elyse: ⭐⭐⭐½ — “Not my usual genre, but I couldn’t put it down once it clicked. Too dark for bedtime, but worth the ride.”

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Join the conversation:

Would you have guessed the ending? And be honest — did you also think “Slaughter” was a pen name?

Tell us your theories, favorite characters, and what you’d do if your hometown hid this many secrets.

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Fast facts: We Are All Guilty Here

Is it part of a series?

Yes — Book 1 of Karin Slaughter’s new North Falls series.

What tropes are in it?

Dual timelines, small-town secrets, family dynasty drama, morally gray leads, ticking clock, hidden identities.

Spice level (0–5 chilis)?0/5:

No romance subplot; pure thriller.

If I loved it, what should I read next?

Sharp Objects (Gillian Flynn)

Pretty Girls (Karin Slaughter)

The House Across the Lake (Riley Sager).

Audiobook notes?

Narration is tight and cinematic; easy to follow even with the dual timelines.