Tödliches Verderben: Thriller | Die Fortsetzung des #1 SPIEGEL-Bestsellers »Dunkle Sühne«

North Falls #2

by Karin Slaughter, Schmitz, Birgit, Nina Petri (Narrator)

Eine Stadt voller Geheimnisse. Ein Killer ohne Grenzen

Als eine Polizistin in ihrem Haus brutal angegriffen wird, gerät der Frieden in der Kleinstadt Verona ins Wanken. Bei ihren Ermittlungen stößt Sheriff Emmy Clifton auf eine jahrzehntealte Verschwörung, in die die mächtigsten Persönlichkeiten der Stadt verstrickt sind. Gemeinsam mit ihrer Schwester, der ehemaligen Bundesagentin Jude Archer, wird sie in ein Labyrinth aus Lügen und Schweigen hineingezogen, in dem jemand skrupellos mordet. Während mächtige Feinde im Schatten lauern, beginnt für Emmy und Jude ein Wettlauf gegen die Zeit, der alles zerstören könnte, was ihnen lieb ist.

Psychologisch, temporeich, düster – einfach brillant

»Man sollte Karin Slaughters Thriller mit einem Warnhinweis für Leser mit schwachen Nerven versehen …« The Guardian

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Suspense

Audible Audio

First published August 11, 2026

About the author

Karin Slaughter is one of the world’s most popular storytellers. She is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty- five novels, including the Edgar nominated COP TOWN and standalone novels PRETTY GIRLS and FALSE WITNESS. An international bestseller, Slaughter is published in 120 countries with more than 40 million copies sold across the globe. PIECES OF HER, based on her novel, debuted at #1 worldwide on Netflix as an original series in 2022. Her bestselling thriller series, Will Trent, is now a television and streaming sensation in its 4th season. THE GOOD DAUGHTER will soon be a limited series starring Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy, and further projects are currently in development for film/TV. Karin Slaughter is the founder of the Save the Libraries project—a nonprofit organization established to support libraries and library programming. A native of Georgia, she lives in Atlanta.

Facebook: Facebook.com/AuthorKarinSlaughter

Website: http://www.karinslaughter.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karinslaugh...

Reviews

[Dutchie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is this now becoming my new favorite series? Yes, I do believe it is. The second book in the North Fall series does not disappoint in the least!

We pick up a few weeks after the events of the first novel, and Emmy is investigating a murder of a police officer. There are many suspects to flesh out, and the crime scene just doesn’t seem to be adding up. On top of the investigation, there’s a lot going on in Emmy’s personal life as well. Like a ton! Her relationship with Jude is forefront. We see Emmy struggling, trying to juggle both her personal life and this investigation that hits close to home for her.

I liked this one a tad bit more than the first one. There was a ton going on in the first one, whereas this one kept close to the main storyline. I appreciate the focus on the investigation as well as the banter back and forth between Jude and Emmy. There were just enough suspects to investigate without throwing in the whole town. Does it count that I solved the mystery one page before Emmy did? I think so!

The ending was set up nicely for a follow up book, and I can’t wait! Do I recommend this novel? Absolutely!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sorry y’all but this just felt like a lot of set-up for book 3. So I’m seated for that now. Give me more!!!

Start date is an approximate, but it was a few days before the Friday I left for the choir retreat.

——-
It’s not August yet but I’m seated

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

*CRACK* That is the sound of Karin Slaughter hitting it out of the ballpark once again!!!!! I swear Karin Slaughter could write the phone book and I would love it. I found The Secrets We Hide to be dark, gritty, raw, addictive, thrilling, gripping, and riveting. I loved being back in North Falls and being a silent observer as Sheriff Emmy Clifton and her sister, ex-federal agent Jude Archer, make a horrific and grisly discovery - Allison Vickery has been murdered in her home and her teen daughter is bleeding and barely alive.

The Secrets We Hide is the riveting second book in the North Falls series but will work well as a stand-alone novel. Having said that, the first book in the series We Are All Guilty Here was fantastic, and I highly recommend reading it to get more background on both Emmy and Jude.

As Emmy begins investigating, she must interview various individuals and have a list of suspects. I love putting on my super sleuthing hat and tried my best to figure out whodunit, in this book. I enjoyed the process of the investigation and the slow unraveling of the plot. I found this book to be full of characters with secrets, messy relationships, lies, and tension. I enjoyed the twists, turns and revelations in The Secrets We Hide. I also loved the raw and authentic interactions between Emmy and Jude. There is a lot of history there, some angst, some pain, some quilt, some love, and some intriguing moments. Plus, the ending packs a punch that many readers will be feeling for some time.

Overall, another gripping, emotional, and thrilling book by Karin Slaughter. There is just something compelling about how she shows humans at both their best and worst. She doesn't hold back and lays bare the violence, the pain, the questions, and the resolutions in her books. She excels at writing characters I root for and also characters that are complicated and feel so real.

Wonderfully written, well thought out, and riveting. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

4.5 stars

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sadie E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karin Slaughter's firmly back in familiar territory: tangled family dynamics, inherited trauma, small towns with big secrets, violence that feels too close to ordinary life, and the kind of darkness that doesn’t so much lurk as it settles in and refuses to leave.

This a strong read and great book, but it's not peak KS. It actually took me a while to get into. Once the initial excitement of omg omg new Karin Slaughter book wore off, my first impressions were… not great. I really thought I wasn’t going to like it, which was crushing. But once it found its rhythm (or I adjusted to new(ish) characters), it pulled me in completely.

There are twists and turns everywhere. The dust barely has a chance to settle before something else shifts, which makes it so engaging. It’s very much a “just one more chapter... wait, what now? okay, well I have to find out what's going on here” kind of experience.

Emmy. A mixed bag for me. It's not that I don't like her, but she's pretty weak in comparison to characters from previous series. This is a universe where unstoppable force of competence and intimidation Amanda Wagner exists. I just keep comparing Emmy to all the other amazing women KS has written and she comes up short.

I liked her more in the first book. In this one she’s, I dunno, just a bit pathetic at times? She's crazy relatable and a really well written character, but sometimes she’s just overwhelmed in a way that feels like it actively works against her ability to function in her job.

I get that she cares. That’s very clearly the point of her character, but it often hinders her more than it helps. She’s so emotionally invested in victims, suspects, case outcomes, and what her deputies think of her that she ends up second-guessing herself or drifting away from the actual task in front of her. There are moments where you can almost see the investigation slipping through her fingers while she’s off in her head trying to process everything emotionally or trying to clear "the shard of glass in her throat" 🙄🙄 Honestly hate that imagery and its overuse. Across this series, there is a lot happening in Emmy's throat. Cotton, glass, lumps... girl, see a doctor. Call Sara Linton!

Emmy works with her son (yay nepotism), but rarely lets him take on anything more meaningful than knocking on doors or directing traffic because she’s too focused on keeping him safe. Which is understandable, but also slightly concerning given the job description and makes you wonder if this is the right career path for these two. Emmy herself only has the position because her dad gave it to her (double yay nepotism), which adds another layer to how uncertain she sometimes feels in the role.

Jude, on the other hand, is a standout for me. She’s a breath of fresh air in a book full of touchy-feely, emotionally overloaded characters. She's direct and grounded, refreshingly no-nonsense when everyone else is spiralling or overthinking every possible connection to their family history.

And whenever the GBI's mentioned, I briefly spiral into crossover hope. It never happens, but I remain emotionally committed to the idea, and I'm going to do my best to manifest it.

One recurring frustration with Slaughter’s writing in general is how central parental relationships are to almost every emotional thread. Everyone's constantly processing their parents (living, dead, non-existent, it's complicated, or otherwise). Emmy, you are 42 years old. You have an adult son. At some point you have to look up from the generational trauma and focus on the case in front of you.

I have to remind myself when I get mad at Emmy that I was so mad at Will when he turned up because I missed Sara. I guess I have attachment issues. And even when it’s messy, it’s all very intentional. KS builds her stories out of interconnected emotional threads, and nothing ever exists in isolation. It's not my favourite from Karin, but once it hooks you, it refuses to let go.

--------
Pre-read:
Heavy breathing intensifies

No way! A Karin Slaughter ARC???? trying to stay calm and totally normal about this 🙀🙀

[suspenseisthrillingme · Rating 5 out of 5]

A crime fiction tour de force, The Secrets We Hide just proved that Karin Slaughter is one of the best in the business. Twisty, complex, but also atmospheric, the deeply human characters and intricate, onion-like plotting came together like a masterful duet, delivering slow-burning suspense alongside of a couple of mind-blowing, “WTF?!” twists. Before that, though, it took a deep dive into the heavy, thought-provoking themes of dysfunctional family dynamics, unresolved grief, generational trauma, and the dark reality of domestic abuse in typical Slaughter style with unapologetically intense vibes. Don’t get me wrong, this was most definitely not one of her more brutal books and certainly felt much slower in pace. You see, instead of focusing on violence or gore, the finely crafted web of secrets and lies had an emotional darkness to it that I could feel down to my bones as this crime-fighting duo searched for the truth.

As much as I loved the gossipy small-town feel and interconnected misdeeds, though, this mystery-slash-police procedural combo was really all about the characters—especially Emmy and Jude. Shining a bright light on the fragile and complicated relationship of these two very different women, I fell in love with their believable, true-to-life behavior and growing bond. That being said, the absolute best part of the novel had to be the *mic drop* twists, including the one on the very last page. Featuring a trademark Karin Slaughter ending that made me crave book three in this series, I found myself crying out in surprise so loud that my family asked if I was okay. Following up a middle that set it all up with perfection, my brain is still reeling as nothing was as it seemed. Perfect for fans of Harlan Coben or J.T. Ellison, it was a richly layered book with a large cast and a complicated plot that absolutely delivered in spades. Rating of 5 stars.

P.S. While this book is technically the second in a series, it could easily be read as a standalone. That being said, I don’t recommend it. We Are All Guilty Here (the first book in the series) was just as good and the character development between the two novels was simply sublime.

Read if you’re a fan of:
- Police procedural/thrillers
- “WTF?!” twists
- Complex storylines
- Dark secrets
- Small-town settings
- Gossipy locals
- Layered characters
- Conspiracy plots
- Thought-provoking themes
- A web of deceit
- Dysfunctional families
- Emotional depth
- Slow-burning suspense

SYNOPSIS:

1601 Iris Drive looks like any other house on the quiet, residential street. But rumors are rampant about the Vickery family, and what goes on behind closed doors.

When gunshots ring out, Sheriff Emmy Clifton and her sister, ex-federal agent Jude Archer, discover a devastating crime scene. Allison Vickery has been murdered in her own kitchen, and her teenage daughter is bleeding upstairs, left for dead.

Everyone thinks they know what happened. But secrets are buried everywhere in this small town.

And it’s up to Emmy Clifton to uncover the truth…

Thank you Karin Slaughter and William Morrow Books for my complimentary copies. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: August 11, 2026

Content warning: gun violence, death of a parent, domestic abuse, grief, murder, medical content, panic attack/anxiety disorder, OCD, alcoholism, violence, mention of: dementia, adult/minor relationship, homophobia, attempted suicide, abandonment

[Brandon Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

KARIN NEVER MISSES THIS WAS SO INTENSE!!! More thoughts to come!!

**just re-listened to the audiobook, Kathleen Early the narrator you are ✨

[Joey R. · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

2.5 stars —-This is the second (and probably last) book by Karin Slaughter I will ever read. My main problem with her books is not the books’ plots {which are interesting and full of twists and turns}, but the characters and the tone of both of the books I’ve read of hers. I can’t remember a Southern author more tone-deaf as to the attitudes, conversations and the machinations of a small-town police department. First, Ms. Slaughter is obsessed with male vs female conflict. I bet there were 20-30 references as to how the male employees addressed Sheriff Emmy Clifton, the main character in her latest book, “The Secrets We Hide.” I have never seen so much emphasis put on how disrespectful men (including her son) are by their choice of greetings: whether it be ‘boss’ “Sheriff” “Emmy” or Mam - it seems it was always wrong and a huge deal made out of the greeting . As someone who has worked with and around female police chiefs and officers in a small southern city for 30 years, I can say 100% — “Ms. Slaughter -nobody cares and it is not that big of a deal”. Ahhhh I feel so much better now that I got that off my chest. When this is combined with the fact that basically every male character is inherently evil, corrupt, a complete dolt or a criminal, I started thinking that maybe Ms. Slaughter isn’t a big fan of men. (The first clue should have been when 3 of the main female characters were victims of domestic violence -1 by 2 separate men). The book had other issues as well, primarily that none of the characters in “The Secrets We Hide” are likable or a person the reader could root for. Sheriff Emmy Clifton, the main character, is a control freak that is always negative and constantly complaining about everyone and everything. She also goes off on people at the drop of the hat and is basically mean. The more I read about her the more I disliked her. At some point I found myself hoping that the control-freak sheriff would screw up the investigation and one of the poor deputies that she treated like crap would step forward and solve the case— no such luck. Unfortunately, I know from experience that this will make ‘the boss’ twice as hard to work for the next time there is an investigation. I know that having no character to root for is something that I mentioned I hated in the past, but this book was particularly sparse of even candidates of a person I could rally behind. I know that Ms. Slaughter has a large following and a lot of fans, but I think I will stick to the Alice Feeneys and Freida McFaddens of the world and leave Ms. Slaughter to those who enjoy her style of writing. Don’t worry about checking on me — I’ll be fine after this rant (again… sorry but Goodreads is my safe space ). Maybe I should seek some counseling as well 😂🤣.

[L A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen Slaughter's second book in the North Falls series should be your next thrilling mystery. If you love police procedural in small towns, this will bring all the must haves with twists, shock factors, complicated family relationships and a lot of secrets. There is a lot of emotion in the book which sometimes can be brutal.

"Welcome to North Falls. A small town where everyone knows everyone. But nobody knows the truth.
1601 Iris Drive looks like any other house on a quiet, residential street. But rumors are rampant about the Vickery family, and what goes on behind closed doors."

Emmy and her sister Jude are back into action when they enter a crime scene that appears as a home invasion. The town says otherwise. Allison Vickery was a friend and colleague of Emmy's and found dead with her daughter brutally injured and unconscious. The community claims Allison's abusive husband did it, but Emmy disagrees.
I couldn't get enough of this one and held on to every word and scene. Emmy and Jude's relationship is complicated with a lot of sister resentment which will spark. The day of the crime scene they were to bury their mom. It gets heated. It can be read as a stand alone but I would read We Are All Guilty Here first.
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[STEPH · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, North Falls. Basically, it’s a small town owned by the Cliftons. Clifton family members are everywhere—their name is on every street sign, and even the sheriff of the police department is a Clifton. Multiple gunshots set the story in motion, with the sheriff and her long-lost ex-FBI agent sister trying to solve the case (preferably without killing each other—the Clifton way).

The overall theme was dark (typical Karin): a devastating crime scene, dirty cops, conspiracies, and decades-long secrets. I enjoyed the investigation, the legal process, the tension, and the urgency of solving the case. Even though there are a lot of characters to keep track of, you’ll slowly learn to love and visualize each of them.

I love this book, and I love Karin, but damn, Emmy irritated the living shit out of me! I literally wanted to punch her in the face and knock some sense into her. What the hell? She somehow managed to be annoying and unlikeable on every page, in every chapter. Thank God Jude is a badass because, no matter how much I love Karin, I would’ve dropped this series in a heartbeat. TF!

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. It dragged a bit at times, but it was intense nonetheless.

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

The queen of making me question humanity (and sleep) is back—and honestly, at this point I should just cancel all my plans whenever a new book drops because resistance is clearly futile.

Welcome to North Falls… where everyone smiles, everyone knows each other, and absolutely no one is telling the truth.

This one hooked me in that slow, unsettling way—like something is off, you feel it in your bones, but you can’t quite name it yet. Then the gunshots hit, the crime scene explodes open, and suddenly you’re trapped in a web of secrets so messy, so personal, you realize this isn’t just about who did it… it’s about why everyone is capable of it.

Sheriff Emmy Clifton? She’s not your polished, always-in-control heroine. She’s grieving, overwhelmed, stubborn to a fault, and carrying emotional baggage that could fill an entire evidence room. And I loved that. She feels real—messy, human, making decisions while her world is still cracking beneath her feet. Watching her navigate a case that hits way too close to home while trying to hold herself together? Painfully compelling.

And then there’s Jude—cool, sharp, emotionally locked down in a way that makes you both trust her and side-eye her at the same time. Their dynamic? Give me ten more books immediately. The tension, the history, the unspoken things simmering underneath—it adds a whole other layer to an already heavy story.

What really got under my skin (in the best way) is how this book peels back the illusion of “normal.” Behind every closed door? Damage. Control. Silence. The kind of secrets that don’t just stay buried—they rot and spread. This isn’t a cozy mystery you sip tea with. This is the kind you sit with, slightly uncomfortable, whispering “oh no…” as everything unravels.

Now, I’ll be honest—the beginning takes its time. You’re meeting a lot of people, piecing together relationships, trying not to lose track of who belongs to which branch of this very complicated human tree. But once it clicks? It clicks. And from that point on, good luck putting it down.

The twists? Oh, they’re there. Some you might sense lurking in the shadows… and then others come out of nowhere and just casually ruin your peace. And that ending?? Excuse me??? Karin Slaughter really said “you thought you were emotionally stable? adorable.”

Is it my absolute top favorite of hers? Maybe not. But is it still better than most thrillers out there? Without question. Because even when she’s not at her peak, she’s still operating on a level most authors can’t touch.

So yes—easily a 4-star read for me. Dark, layered, emotionally heavy, and impossible to fully shake off once you’re done.

Special thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing this impeccably stunning thriller written by one of my all-time auto-approved authors in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book two of the North Falls series.
Emmy Clifton’s mom just passed. But there’s no time to grieve as Emmy, alongside her sister Jude and son Cole, hears gunshots in the quiet, upscale neighborhood. They all run to the house to help the injured and find the shooter. But they quickly realize there’s much more to the story than a simple home invasion.

There’s a lot going on in this book. Also, pay close attention, because there are a lot of moving pieces and players. I admit, I got a bit confused at times and would have to pause for a moment and regroup.

I’ve been reading books by Karin Slaughter for years! In fact, I’ve read every book she’s released! Her books are always gritty, on the darker side, and this one was no different. Is this a new favorite? Probably not. But since she’s an auto-read author for me, I’m already looking forward to what she has in store for Emmy next.

✍️ Karin Slaughter
📄 404 pages
🗓️ Available Now
📈 4/5🌟🌟🌟🌟
👉 Thriller, suspense, police procedural, book 2 of a series.

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have I read too many Karin Slaughter books? Because I definitely guessed quite a few of the big plot points in this one.

Did that ruin it for me? Not even slightly.

I really enjoyed being back in North Falls and getting to know the Clifton family even more. They are a complicated bunch, and it can sometimes take a minute to keep track of who everyone is and how they're all connected, but I'm genuinely enjoying getting to know them. And I especially love seeing the relationship between Emmy and Jude develop. Their dynamic is definitely one of my favorite parts of this series so far.

As always with Karin Slaughter, there are some seriously dark themes here, particularly around domestic violence and trauma, but they're handled in a way that never feels gratuitous or like the book is glorifying any of it. Once this got going, I absolutely flew through it. There are twists, secrets and enough family drama to keep you constantly wondering what is actually going on, even when you think you've figured it out.

I always enjoy a Karin Slaughter book, and I'm already at the point where I'm just as happy spending time with the Clifton family as I am with the Trent family. I might have guessed some of this one, but I still couldn't put it down.

Bring on book three!

[Madeline Church · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that I LOVE Karin Slaughter. She is one of my favorite thriller authors because no one does it like her. Unfortunately, this is my least favorite of hers I have read so far. I did not find it to be as gripping as her others. I want to be on the edge of my seat (like I have with her previous). In addition, I did not feel drawn or entertained by any of the characters. As always, her writing is superb. It's just hard when I have to compare it to her others that I love.

Thank you NetGalley, William Morrow, & Karin Slaughter for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Secrets We Hide will be released on August 11, 2026!

[Tracy P. · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

4.5-stars.

I was completely pulled into Karin Slaughter's The Secrets We Hide, particularly with Kathleen Early's audio narration driving every ounce of relentless tension. Small-town secrets are always dangerous, but hearing this tragedy unfold brought a whole new layer of dread.

Sheriff Emmy Clifton is thrust into a horrific case—the brutal kitchen murder of Allison Vickery and the near-fatal attack on her teenage daughter. The audio captures the sheer urgency and tragic weight of the investigation, making the atmosphere feel uncomfortably intimate.

What affected me most, though, was the emotional friction between Emmy and her sister, Jude. Hearing the tense, complex family history collide with their collaboration made their strained alliance feel remarkably raw and authentic. Kathleen Early's vocal delivery perfectly keyed into that fragile sisterhood under immense pressure. It's a gripping, visceral procedural that kept me in suspense from start to finish. Needless to say, I am all in for book three.

Bravo, Ms. Slaughter and Ms. Early.

[Tara“on a grief break” · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tense, emotionally grounded police procedural that explores themes of generational family secrets trauma, and resilience.

Thank you to Harper's Collins UK and Harper's Fiction Marketing for providing me with an ARC and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Having thoroughly enjoyed We Are All Guilty Here, the first book in the series, I was eager to dive into the sequel, The Secrets We Hide. The story picks up six weeks after the events of the first, and reconnecting with Emmy and Jude felt like catching up with old friends. While this installment moved at a slightly slower pace and could have used some trimming, it still held my attention. I found myself wishing for a bit more action at times, but the intriguing mystery kept me guessing right up to the stunning ending, complete with twists and a reveal I never saw coming. Overall, a compelling follow-up that has me already looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karin Slaughter is one of my favourite crime authors. She writes incredible books with deeply flawed and real characters and I just love them. The Secrets We Hide is the second book in her new North Falls series and it is fabulous. Not always easy reading, it tackles some difficult topics and is very dark. I cannot recommend this book and series more.

We are back in North Falls with Emmy Clifton, now the sheriff after her father’s death. Not everyone in town is happy about this and she is desperate to prove her opponents wrong. Driving home one afternoon she hears shots fired and races to the scene. There she finds her former colleague and friend Allison Vickery shot dead and her daughter badly injured. Everyone on the small town thinks that they know what happened and criticise Emmy for not arresting the man. But Emmy isn’t convinced, and with the help of her sister Jude, she sets out to find the truth.

I loved this book! Emmy has the weight of the world on her shoulders and yet she goes ahead and does her job, despite all the criticism she receives. We see past the tough exterior and her vulnerability is evident. So much has happened to her and her family that anyone would be struggling. Jude tries her best to be there for her and Cole, while keeping her own secret that she knows has to come out . This book is gritty and unapologetically intense. It is far from your run of the mill police procedural and am all there for that. I am emotionally attached to these characters and I had tears in my eyes reading parts of this book.

Another absolute winner from Karin Slaughter. Easy 5 stars

Thank you Harper Collins UK for allowing me to read this book early. Out on June 18th.

[Suz · Rating 5 out of 5]

My literary adoration belongs to Queen Slaughter. I had this in my ears over the weekend doing all the stuff - gardening, sorting my Street Library books and generally faffing about with books. I adore all the series, from Grant County to Will Trent, and now Emmy and Jude have jumped firmly into my heart. Oh how broken they are.

A lovely surprise was Karin popping into my ears during the audio acknowledgments. It thrilled me to hear how much she loves her work in the audiobook format.

Madly jotting notes as I listened to her chat with her audience, I can’t recall if this is verbatim, but the gist is exactly what I love about listening to a book: I’m spoiled with extra depth as it’s communicated to my ears. It’s the unique power of the spoken word, breathing life into a story.

It’s precisely what I love about each and every character Karin Slaughter writes: the deeply flawed and layered family dynamics and the secrets they hold. In the authors words ‘Not neatly broken, not easily fixed.’ Karin Slaughter also portrays the alcoholic in a distinctively and uncanny true to life manner. This is not a common thing in fiction. Only one other author I’ve read has done this, and that’s Marian Keyes. It adds to the integrity.

Highly recommended at every turn. Kathleen Early is an outstanding narrator, adding so much more to this as I refused to down tools (read - take out my airpods).

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE SECRETS WE HIDE is the second in Karin Slaughter's "North Falls" series about the Clifton family, three generations of sheriffs in a small Georgia town. (Well, THAT sentence sure made me think of the Vicki Lawrence pop hit from 1973, "The Nights the Lights Went Out in Georgia.") We begin at the funeral for acting sheriff Emmy Clifton's mom, and things get dark fast. As the Cliftons are leaving, they hear gunshots, and discover that Emmy's friend and former cop Allison Vickory has been shot dead in her home and her teenage daughter is critically injured with a gunshot to the head. And we're off. What makes me love Slaughter's work so very much isn't the pyrotechnics or her deep knowledge of how police investigations proceed: it's her unabashed fascination with how characters cope (or not) when the walls close in. My Lord, do I care about the Cliftons, especially Emmy, her "older sister" and retired FBI profiler Jude -- you have to read the book to understand my use of quotes -- and her son, Cole. There's the OCD cousin who's a super mom and super lawyer, the ever-present memories of her difficult schoolteacher mom (who has just died of Alzheimer's) and sheriff dad, who is recalled very differently by Emmy and Jude. As with all of Slaughter's work, the plot is propulsive, the prose is precise, and the people are fascinating, flawed, and as real as your neighbors.

[Liana Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5! RTF


Karin Slaughter, the master of crime fiction and mysteries, I am so ready to return back to North Falls!

What's it about?
Emmy is back to North Falls, Georgia along with her sister Jude Archer, a former FBI agent. A former police detective is shot dead in he town kitchen and her barely alive teenage daughter is barely holding on. What seems like a straightforward investigation/murder turns complicated when an old murder case is connected to the new day investigation.

[Lily Steeper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bringing us back to her North Falls series is Karin Slaughter in this new gritty small-town crime thriller. As we saw with the series' debut novel, We Are All Guilty Here, acting Sheriff Emmy Clifton and her older sister—retired FBI agent Jude Archer- must navigate the outfall of their father's death. Per usual, Slaughter opts to start with a bang, literally. On the drive back from burying their mother, they hear gunshots from a home, finding Allison Vickery murdered and her teenage daughter bleeding upstairs.
As Emmy begins investigating, she must piece together a range of suspects while handling her own grief of losing her parents. Digging into Allison's background and her 20 years with the local drug squad, they uncover a local conspiracy tied to a controversial old trial, blackmail, and even corruption within the police force. It seems like every answer just brings another question, getting darker with each chapter.
What Slaughter does so seamlessly is blend together crime and character development. Emmy is such a layered character, navigating motherhood and fallout of her first marriage. The investigating is riveting, but so is the family drama that unfolds. They build on one another, and we follow Emmy and Jude's unresolved relationship develop after the revelation in the first book. Their tense relationship acts as an emotional anchor throughout. This one also ends with a big twist, hopefully setting the stage for a third novel.
Per usual, I think Slaughter knocked this out of the park. No one does thriller like her, proving she deserves her spot as crime queen. The mystery itself is so brilliantly constructed, I was kept on my toes from page to page. The North Falls setting was the perfect backdrop for a gritty plot, perhaps becoming one of my favorite series. The third book cannot come soon enough!

[Lena (Busy at the moment) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karin Slaughter is one of my top favorite writers. Even if this book was good it was nothing compared to the books about Grant County and Will & Sara!

Emmy has lost both parents in a short time. Her father served as the town sheriff—a position Emmy now holds until the election. Her parents had told her that her sister died, but Jude has returned after being gone for over 40 years.

Emmy can't understand why she haven't been back in so long! Jude has just retired from FBI. Emmy's son, Clay, is also working for the Sheriffs department.

Emmy, Jude, and Clay are leaving their mom's and grandma's funeral when gunshots erupt from a nearby house. They discover Allison dead and her daughter critically wounded. Allison had worked for the local police department. As the killer flees, a bullet grazes Jude.

Allison is married to a violent man—one who has abused her for years. Now, it appears she was finally ready to leave. Police discover the car half-packed, along with forged identification documents for them both.

I picked up this book initially, but I wasn't connecting with it. I decided to use a credit and grab the Audible version instead. Starting fresh was worth it—the audiobook finally made everything click into place. I'm glad that I had both because there are lots of people in this story!

The women in Karin Slaughter's novels are typically memorable. Emmy, however, didn't quite land for me. At 42, she's a veteran of the Sheriff's Department, yet she seems more caught up in her own thoughts than focused on her work. She's overprotective with her son and suspicious of the other deputies.

I really hope we will get more books about Will and Sara! That series is so much better!

[Adi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am LOVING this series!!!! This was such a great sequel - every book has almost felt like an individual season of a limited crime TV series and I love it. This one was a little less twisty/surprising than the first but I loved seeing all the shifts in dynamics throughout the town and the characters and I was hooked pretty much from the beginning. Cannot wait for the next one!!!

[Krickette · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secrets We Hide written by Karin Slaughter, the second book in the North Falls series, is shockingly absorbing. It hits every emotion on the scale and absolutely makes your mind whirl.😵‍💫

The Secrets We Hide is an intense thriller with a layered story that fills its pages with a twisty story about a community in shock. It literally (and figuratively) starts off with a bang, and by chapter two we are knee deep in a horrific crime.

Slaughter’s writing is smooth and calculated. Every page is heavy and heartbreaking. By the time I finished chapter two, I needed to take a minute…🙃 I set the book down and allowed the information to sink in.
I gave myself time to remember …
the characters and their connections,
the North Falls community,
and all that was lost in book one.
And then, I began again!

👉A Peak inside…
This story picks up just six weeks after North Falls says goodbye to their long standing Police Chief as he was gunned down in front of the world to see. Emmy, his daughter, witnessed it all. Her world splitting in two. The Secrets We Hide begins at a funeral, yet another loss for Emmy… for the family… but this time, the death of Emmy’s mother overwhelms her. She feels numb, shook and exhausted. Then the hammer drops again…
her life in constant motion,
a fellow officer gunned down in her own home.
With the help of Emmy’s older sister, Jude, a renown FBI superstar and psychiatrist, they begin a wild manhunt.

Intense and full of half stories, these two are unstoppable as they tackle this detective thriller together. With so many suspects and not enough time in the day… this story unfolds, and keeps it’s readers at the edge of their seat. Just wow… so much happens here!

An intense, emotional ride, and this story throws everything at you. A mix of fear, raw emotion, dedication, community connections, family and murder! It was fantastic! Although if I’m being open and honest, I loved We Are All Guilty Here just a bit more (book one in the North Falls series). I can never get enough of being lost in Slaughter’s world!
A 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨star read!! Rounding to 5!

TW: Physical Abuse, drug related issues, alcoholism

[Youssra {very busy-review slumping} · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as amazing as book 1 but another banger nonetheless!

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more family drama and secrets than murder thriller. 

A police officer is murdered in her kitchen and her teenage daughter is left for dead upstairs.

This latest release is my least favourite book by the author.
There was little tension, the stakes and suspense felt minimal, and the characters were frustrating. 

I always appreciate how she focuses on the characters. Perhaps thrillers that are more fast-paced and exciting are more popular, but those sort of popcorn reads are not for me - I prefer a character study and plot twists that don’t rely on lacking information or an utter suspension of belief. 

However, this was so internal and repetitive that the plot itself suffered. I didn’t care about the crime as the characters involved were not given page time. Everything was related back to the sheriff and her returned sister. 

You can read this without reading book one as it does a good job at laying out the basic facts, but you will be missing context. Thus, the more emotional moments and characters’ turning points might not resonate with you as much. 

I am landing on 3 stars 🌟. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook: the author’s writing style is gripping, her character work is amazing (if not slightly repetitive in this book), but the plot left a lot to be desired. 

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[Sara G · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐

Picking up a few weeks after the first book, we follow Acting Chief Emmy Clifton as she’s dropped straight into a brutal new crime scene where a former police officer is murdered and her teenage daughter is barely hanging on. Everyone thinks they know who did it, but the investigation quickly turns into a massive web of secrets. To solve it, Emmy teams up with her sister Jude, a former FBI agent whose profiling skills give the case some much-needed clarity. But in North Falls, the truth is always buried under layers of corruption.

Initially, the investigation felt a little repetitive. There were moments when we’d see the same events from Emmy’s POV and then again from Jude’s, and it made the first half feel a bit redundant. But once I hit the midpoint, I understood what Slaughter was doing. Seeing Emmy’s cop instincts bounce off Jude’s psychological profiling works really well and gives the investigation some momentum.

The story does spend a lot of time on Emmy and Jude’s relationship and the elephant‑sized secret between them, which is compelling, but I definitely wanted more from the investigation side and less of this lingering secret and Emmy falling apart while Jude tries to hold her together — although I did really enjoy their dynamic, and given what Emmy has been through recently, it would’ve felt strange if she wasn’t falling apart.

And that ending… I did not see it coming. I thought I had this one figured out and was fully prepared for something pretty straightforward, but the twist actually surprised me, in the best way. Overall, this ended up being a complex, slow‑burn crime procedural with real emotional weight, and I genuinely think this series is worth sticking with. It’s messy, tense, and layered in all the right ways.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story 4 stars. Narration 5 stars
To be completely honest, this fell a little short of 4 stars for me, but I rounded it up. It took me twice as long as it usually does to finish it and I had to re-listen to big parts of it due to falling asleep. That part is on me due to insomnia issues. There were so many characters that are introduced to up the number of possible suspects, the number of people that don’t want the main female character to win her bid for sheriff, people she works with that resent her or just more family members that may or may not have been introduced in book one. My memory just doesn’t stretch that long for side characters unless extremely important to the book. I just read way too much to keep track.

Emmy has just lost her mother to Alzheimer’s and in fact the book starts with the funeral. While on the way to the after funeral part of the day, the family in her car hear gunshots in a good neighborhood and stop. Her son is a deputy and her sister Jude is an ex-FBI agent and they
enter into the house with her. Emmy is acting sheriff. Inside they find the body of a female ex-cop among other surprises. The story is told mainly from Emmy’s point of view, but almost equally her sister’s point of view as well.

In addition to the murder mystery, there’s also moments of panic attacks and grief, especially on the part of Emmy. Although her sister has some bad moments depicted as well. These characters are complex and certainly not cookie cutter. Family secrets and lies abound in this series. The mystery gets very intricate, but I did figure it out shortly before it all comes to light. I was pretty lost prior to that.

I am working on reading many more books by this author as she is just so good and very prolific. Next up is the first book in her Will Trent series and I just finisher her Grant County series about a week ago. I’m enjoying them.
Narration by Kathleen Early was stellar as usual.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are very few authors I trust as completely as Karin Slaughter. Every time I pick up one of her books I know I’m going to get an intricate mystery, unforgettable characters, and an emotional gut punch that lingers long after the final page. The Secrets We Hide is no exception. In fact, it only solidified how invested I’ve become in the North Falls series.

Picking up after the events of book one, we’re reunited with Sheriff Emmy Clifton as another brutal crime rocks the town of North Falls. On the surface, the case seems straightforward, but this is Karin Slaughter. Nothing is ever as simple as it first appears. Every answer uncovers another question, every secret reveals an even darker one, and every character feels like they’re carrying years of buried pain.

One of my favorite aspects of this series is that the investigation is only part of the story. The complicated relationships between Emmy, Jude, and the rest of the Clifton family continue to evolve in fascinating ways. Book one left so much unresolved between the sisters, and watching those emotional threads unravel alongside the murder investigation made this feel incredibly rich. The grief, resentment, loyalty, and love woven throughout these relationships are just as compelling as the mystery itself.

As always, Slaughter refuses to pull her punches. This is gritty, violent, disturbing, and emotionally devastating in all the best ways. She never relies on shock value alone, though. Every brutal moment serves the story and deepens our understanding of these characters and the darkness they’re forced to confront. The exploration of grief, family legacies, loss, and the complicated bonds between sisters gives the novel real emotional weight beneath its twist filled plot.

The mystery itself is brilliantly constructed. Every time I thought I had a handle on where things were headed, another revelation completely shifted my perspective. The investigation is layered, clever, and surprisingly intricate without ever feeling confusing. And then there’s that ending. Somehow Karin Slaughter continues to surprise me after all these years. I’ve honestly never finished one of her books feeling disappointed, and this one delivers another ending that left me completely stunned.

What excites me most is how much potential still exists in this series. Emmy, Jude, and the entire Clifton family are endlessly fascinating, and it genuinely feels like we’ve only scratched the surface of who they are. I would happily read five more books centered on these characters and this town.

If you’re looking for a thriller that’s equal parts emotionally devastating and relentlessly suspenseful, The Secrets We Hide absolutely delivers. It’s bold, smart, dark, and impossible to put down—exactly what I’ve come to expect from one of my all time favorite authors.

Perfect for Readers Who Love

* Dark, gritty crime fiction
* Small town secrets and complicated politics
* Intricate, layered mysteries
* Family drama and sibling relationships
* Emotionally driven thrillers
* Shocking twists with satisfying payoffs

[♡❀Caroline. K❀♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

As per usual, I literally couldn’t put the book down. Whatever Karin has in her writing is clearly working because I thoroughly enjoy it every single time. It’s the way she pulls at my mind, heart, soul, and emotions with the way she writes the characters, situations, story, and their journey.

This book was one of my most anticipated reads this year, and I gotta say, I’m not disappointed. There were moments where I felt a little lost because there were quite a handful of characters to keep track of, and sometimes their individual stories got a little lost with all the other major events happening.

Butttt other than that, Karin Slaughter books always remind me just how much I love thrillers and mysteries. There’s something about the way she tells a story that completely pulls me in, and this was no exception.

4.75 ⭐

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes!!!! Now that’s how you tell a story 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Bravo!! That was good, that was so good. Beautifully written and well developed characters that truly brought this storytelling to life. I got all emotional and was about to cry lol 😂 I was in it and I wanted to figure out who done it just as bad as they did. Oh and the twist, well there were a few. I saw the first one coming, but did not figure out the shooting until they did 🤯 This was an absolutely fantastic read.

Looking for Law and Order on steroids? Then stop right here!! This one will pull in and you will find yourself going down a rabbit hole filled with heat stopping moments and unforgivable secrets and for that I say…..Well done and thank you very much!!!