Welcome back to North Falls, a small town with big secrets. When gunshots ring out at 1601 Iris Drive, Sheriff Emmy Clifton and her sister, ex-federal agent Jude Archer, discover a devastating scene: Allison Vickery murdered in her own kitchen and her teenage daughter bleeding and left for dead upstairs. Everyone thinks they know what happened, but they’re wrong. The deeper Emmy digs, the darker it gets and the secrets buried in this small town are far more dangerous than anyone imagined.
I never don’t like a Karin Slaughter book, and this one is no exception. But I’ll be honest, it wasn’t my favorite. It took me a bit to really get into the story, and I think part of that is on me. I read We Are All Guilty Here about a year and a half ago and I guess I just forgot a lot of what happened. It took time to get back into the lives of our characters and reorient myself in North Falls. This series builds on itself in true Slaughter fashion, so while you technically can read her books as standalones, I never recommend it. There’s too much nuance and too many references that draw from the previous book, and you’ll miss a lot without that foundation.
Once I settled in, I liked this one. Getting to know the Clifton family more was one of the highlights, and I know as this series continues, we’ll keep peeling back layers the way Slaughter always does. The domestic violence thread woven throughout the story is handled with weight and care, and there are plenty of red herrings, twists, and turns to keep things engaging. The plot felt not quite as tight as Slaughter’s usual work, but it’s still highly compelling, though I have to give myself props for putting the pieces all together before the end!
Emmy is a frustrating character at times. She’s so in her own head that I wanted to shake her more than once. But I liked that she comes out of it a bit by the end and starts to step into herself more. Jude, on the other hand, drove me a little crazy with the constant mothering of Emmy. And this is a personal ick but the repetitive “sweetheart” from Jude got under my skin. I know how that storyline progresses and I get it, but as a sibling dynamic it just rubbed me the wrong way. That’s my own thing though.
Overall, this felt more like a long-term building book than a completely gripping page turner. It’s holding us over for book three, and that little cliffhanger at the end makes me FEEL like things are about to get crazy, which I am absolutely here for. The plot wasn’t as airtight as her best work and I needed more from the motive behind everything, but Slaughter is still the queen of mysteries and thrillers. Even her “worst” book is wonderfully written and worth a read. Solid four stars and I’m ready for the next one already.
be sure to head to my instagram to win your copy! @speakingof.books
Karin Slaughter Reviews
AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP |★★★
The Secrets We Hide comes out August 11, 2026. Huge thank you to William Morrow for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
