Honestly, most people picked up All Good People Here because they recognize the voice. If you've spent any time in the true crime podcast world, you know Ashley Flowers. She’s the face of Crime Junkie. So, when she dropped a debut novel, the hype was immediate. It was huge. But here’s the thing: writing a 20-minute script about a real-life cold case is worlds apart from structuring a 300-page thriller. People wondered if she could actually pull it off.
She did. Sorta.
It’s a polarizing book. You either love the breakneck pace or you’re throwing it across the room because of that ending. Let’s get into what really happens in Wakarusa, Indiana.
The Setup: Small Towns and Long Memories
The story follows Margot Davies. She’s a journalist who heads back to her hometown to care for her uncle, Luke, who is battling early-onset dementia. But Wakarusa isn't just any sleepy Midwest town. It’s the kind of place where everyone knows your business but nobody talks about the skeletons in the closet.
Twenty years ago, Margot’s neighbor, January Abbott, was murdered. She was six. Found in a ditch. The case was never truly solved, though everyone had their theories. When Margot returns, another little girl goes missing from a neighboring town.
The parallels are too loud to ignore.
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Margot becomes obsessed. It’s not just professional curiosity; it’s deep-seated trauma. She was the same age as January. They were friends. She starts digging into the old case files, and predictably, the town doesn't want her poking around. You've seen this trope before, right? The "returned protagonist vs. the wall of silence." Flowers leans heavily into it, but because she knows the true crime genre so well, she peppers the narrative with the kind of procedural details that feel authentic.
Why All Good People Here Feels Familiar (The JonBenét Connection)
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. If you read the first fifty pages of All Good People Here, you’re going to feel a massive sense of déjà vu.
January Abbott is a pageant girl.
She was found in her own home (initially).
There’s a strange note.
The parents are under a microscope.
It is very, very clearly inspired by the JonBenét Ramsey case. Flowers doesn't really hide this. In fact, for true crime buffs, it’s part of the draw. You’re essentially reading a "what if" fictionalization of one of the most famous cold cases in American history. It works because it taps into that collective frustration we all feel about unsolved crimes.
However, some critics felt it stayed too close to the real-life inspiration in the beginning. It takes a minute for the book to find its own identity outside of the Ramsey shadow. Once it does, though, the twists start coming fast.
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The Pacing is a Rollercoaster
The book is fast. Short chapters. Cliffhangers. It’s designed to be binged in a single weekend.
Margot is a flawed lead. She makes questionable decisions. She lies to people. She puts herself in danger. Some readers find her annoying, but she feels real in her desperation. She’s someone trying to fix a past she couldn't control.
Then there’s the dual timeline. We get glimpses of 1994. These flashbacks are crucial because they show us the immediate aftermath of January’s death. We see how grief curdles into suspicion. The town basically cannibalizes itself. It’s dark stuff. Flowers excels at capturing that specific brand of Midwest claustrophobia—the kind where "nice" people do terrible things to protect their reputation.
The Ending Everyone Argues About
We won't do spoilers here, but we have to address the vibe of the finale.
Usually, in a thriller, you expect a neat bow. Or at least a semi-satisfying "gotcha" moment. All Good People Here takes a hard left turn. It’s an abrupt ending. Some call it a cliffhanger; others call it unfinished.
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If you like stories that haunt you because they don't give you closure, you’ll dig it. If you need a detective to explain exactly how it all happened in the library with the candlestick, you’re going to be frustrated. It’s a bold choice for a debut novel. It mirrors the reality of true crime: sometimes, there is no justice. Sometimes, the bad guy just... is.
Technical Execution: Fact vs. Fiction
While the book is fiction, Flowers brings in a lot of "real" feeling elements.
- DNA Testing: She explores how forensic technology has changed since the 90s.
- Media Ethics: Since Margot is a journalist, the book looks at how the media can destroy lives during an investigation.
- Dementia: The subplot with Uncle Luke adds a layer of emotional weight that keeps the book from feeling like a standard "detective" story.
Is it high literature? No. Is it a masterclass in suspense? Absolutely.
What to Read After Wakarusa
If you’ve finished the book and you’re staring at the wall wondering what just happened, you probably need something to fill the void.
- Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn: If you liked the "damaged woman returns to her toxic hometown" vibe, this is the gold standard. It’s grittier and the prose is sharper.
- The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor: This captures the "childhood tragedy coming back to haunt the adults" element perfectly.
- None of This is True by Lisa Jewell: For those who liked the meta-commentary on podcasts and media obsession.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Read
Before you dive into All Good People Here, or if you’re recommending it to a friend, keep these three things in mind:
- Adjust your expectations for the ending. Don't expect a traditional resolution. Treat it like a true crime podcast episode that ends with "the case remains open."
- Pay attention to the side characters. Flowers hides a lot of clues in plain sight through the interactions Margot has with the townspeople, not just the "main" suspects.
- Listen to the audiobook if you can. Since Flowers is a professional narrator and podcaster, she knows how to perform a story. It adds a layer of tension that the text alone sometimes misses.
The book is a solid 4-star thriller for most. It’s not perfect, but it’s a page-turner that proves Ashley Flowers knows exactly how to hook an audience and keep them guessing until the very last sentence. Even if that last sentence leaves you screaming.
Next Steps for Thriller Fans:
- Check your local library for the "unabridged" audiobook version for the best experience.
- Compare the plot points to the 1996 Ramsey case to see where Flowers diverted from history.
- Map out the timeline of the 1994 events versus the present day to catch the subtle inconsistencies in the characters' stories.