Those We Thought We Knew Audiobook By David Joy cover art

Those We Thought We Knew

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Those We Thought We Knew

By: David Joy
Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews
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Winner of the 2023 Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction

Winner of the 2023 Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award

Winner of the 2024 Sir Walter Raleigh Award

One of Vanity Fair’s Favorite Books of 2023

“A beautifully fearless contemplation.”–S. A. Cosby

From award-winning writer David Joy comes a searing new novel about the cracks that form in a small North Carolina community and the evils that unfurl from its center.

Toya Gardner, a young Black artist from Atlanta, has returned to her ancestral home in the North Carolina mountains to trace her family history and complete her graduate thesis. But when she encounters a still-standing Confederate monument in the heart of town, she sets her sights on something bigger.

Meanwhile, local deputies find a man sleeping in the back of a station wagon and believe him to be nothing more than some slack-jawed drifter. Yet a search of the man’s vehicle reveals that he is a high-ranking member of the Klan, and the uncovering of a notebook filled with local names threatens to turn the mountain on end.

After two horrific crimes split the county apart, every soul must wrestle with deep and unspoken secrets that stretch back for generations. Those We Thought We Knew is an urgent unraveling of the dark underbelly of a community. Richly drawn and bracingly honest, it asks what happens when the people you’ve always known turn out to be monsters, what do you do when everything you ever believed crumbles away?

©2023 David Joy (P)2023 Penguin Audio Crime Fiction Noir Crime Fiction Heartfelt Tearjerking Feel-Good Scary Suspense

Critic reviews

One of:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Best Southern Books of 2023
Garden & Gun’s Best Books for (and About) Southerners of 2023
BookRiot’s 10 Best Appalachian Books of 2023
CrimeReads's Most Anticipated Crime Fiction of Summer 2023

"[David Joy] is a man who sees his homeplace clearly and who writes like his hand was touched by God." —The New York Times

"[A] bracing novel…both a murder mystery and a deeply intimate story of generational relationships and loss." —Vanity Fair

"A refreshing departure…Joy has a knack for heightening intrigue…. He’s like a magician playing a shell game, and it’s an effective way to keep readers on their toes. The book is filled with gorgeous prose, particularly when Joy turns his considerable talents toward descriptions of the natural world." —Atlanta Journal Constitution
Masterful Storytelling • Authentic Characters • Powerful Social Commentary • Gripping Suspense • Emotional Depth
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I liked this book - the story & the characters are dynamic and interesting, as they always are with David Joy's writing.
Macleod Andrews narration brings this book and its characters to life in a way that is hard to explain. He could bring depth and profundity to a buzzfeed listicle.

Good book

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What a beautiful book! Heart wrenching, maddening, and gorgeous. Everyone in the US in 2025 should be made to read or listen to this book. Thank you, Mr. Joy.

Beautiful Book

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It’s not a mystery per se. You know who it is before they do. But it’s suspenseful and keeps the reader coming back for more. The premise is so important—these people who uphold oppressive systems are our family, neighbors, and friends. Stories like this one offer some hope that the narratives are changing.

So glad David Joy writes

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This is an outstanding book. The writing is authentic and true, just like the characters. Hopefully this author will receive the recognition he deserves. A fiction writer myself I can be tough to please but for me, this book hit the sweet spot between excellent literature and chair-gripping suspense.

Amazing

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David Joy is a one in a lifetime talent who did something few could actually pull off, and he does it with gut wreching sincerity. All of his books leave me wondering how much he has left to give us. I want more from this author. Read any of his novels and you'll want more, too. Kudos to the narrator, as well, Fair warning: This book might make you confront some ugly truths about the people you think you've always known.

Joy does it AGAIN

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A story of struggle, examination of beliefs, and the tear of change. Loved the alternative perspectives of a rebel flag. Just getting people to question what they think they understand is a start to a humanity of acceptance, not fear. Thank you for telling a story that I pray will spark changes of heart.

Powerful, authentic, beautifully written...

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Excellent Book and great narration. The beautiful ending made me cry! Highly recommended it. I Absolutely loved it💯💯

Wow!!

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I have been a David Joy fan from his first book and put him in the same category of writing excellence as another amazing writer, Michael Farris Smith. I am also from Mississippi so am more than aware of the depth of emotion and volatility that unfolds. Tackling racism head on, Mr. Joy's book pulls no punches as this story evolves and revolves around a young woman's passion for justice and awareness and the devastating reactivity to maintain the status quo. This book to me is Mr. Joy's best work so far and the amazing narration by one of the best around, MacLeod REALLY Good"

I Couldn't Put Down My Ears....

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I don’t know if it was the author’s intent, but I’ve found myself reexamining my entire small town Mississippi life and wondering how many “shared experiences” I’ve had with people who didn’t have the same experience at all. Beautifully written. Masterful storytelling. Compelling characters. Enlightening.

A re-examined life

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Beautifully written. His description makes you feel immersed in the story. I could taste the cornbread, hear the screen door slam and feel the breeze. The character development was thorough and clever in the unfolding of what was true. I will definitely recommend this book.

So very believable I thought it was historical fiction

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