Category Archives: Karin Slaughter

July 28, 2021 · 12:02 am

Review: False Witness by Karin Slaughter

Title: False Witness by Karin Slaughter
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 448 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

He saw what you did.

He knows who you are…

From the New York Times bestselling author of Pieces of Her and The Silent Wife, an electrifying standalone thriller.

AN ORDINARY LIFE…

Leigh Collier has worked hard to build what looks like a normal life. She’s an up-and-coming defense attorney at a prestigious law firm in Atlanta, would do anything for her sixteen-year-old daughter Maddy, and is managing to successfully coparent through a pandemic after an amicable separation from her husband Walter.

HIDES A DEVASTATING PAST…

But Leigh’s ordinary life masks a childhood no one should have to endure … a childhood tarnished by secrets, broken by betrayal, and ultimately destroyed by a brutal act of violence.

BUT NOW THE PAST IS CATCHING UP…

On a Sunday night at her daughter’s school play, she gets a call from one of the firm’s partners who wants Leigh to come on board to defend a wealthy man accused of multiple counts of rape. Though wary of the case, it becomes apparent she doesn’t have much choice if she wants to keep her job. They’re scheduled to go to trial in one week. When she meets the accused face-to-face, she realizes that it’s no coincidence that he’s specifically asked for her to represent him. She knows him. And he knows her. More to the point, he may know what happened over twenty years ago, and why Leigh has spent two decades avoiding her past.

AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

Suddenly she has a lot more to lose than this case. The only person who can help is her younger, estranged sister Callie—the last person Leigh would ever want to drag into this after all they’ve been through. But with the life-shattering truth in danger of being revealed, she has no choice..

Review:

False Witness by Karin Slaughter is a suspenseful mystery set against the backdrop of the Covid pandemic.

Leigh Collier is a successful attorney who is separated from her sixteen-year-old daughter Maddie and estranged husband Walter due to the ongoing COVID pandemic. She misses Maddie (and Walter) but since she must attend court in person, she would rather not put them at risk. But the biggest threat to Leigh turns out not be from the pandemic. Instead, it is from her new client, Andrew Tenant, who knows things about Leigh and her opioid addicted sister Callie that could destroy her if he reveals shocking details from her past. How much is Leigh willing to risk  to keep this information under wraps?

Leigh is stunned when her boss leaves her no choice except to take Andrew’s case. Her client is accused of a brutal sexual assault and Leigh has a week to get up to speed since the case is about to go to trial. She is also not expecting a long-ago connection to Andrew but so she is relies heavily on her ability to compartmentalize her life. But Leigh is so unnerved and frightened by Andrew she is finding it very difficult to remain detached. And, an even bigger concern is how does he know about a time from her life Leigh has worked so very hard to put behind her?

Callie has had a very difficult life due to her drug addiction. She and Leigh do not have much contact but they both have each other’s backs. Leigh and Walter have paid for Callie to go into rehab but she can never kick her drug habit for long. Andrew’s threat to reveal damaging information does not just affect Leigh. Callie would also be caught up in the revelations but she has much less to lose than her sister. Will Callie be able to keep it together long enough for Leigh to make it through the upcoming trial?

False Witness is a fast-moving mystery with a multi-layered storyline. Leigh might be a successful attorney but she remains guilt-stricken over her self-perceived failings as a teenager. Callie is able to manage her addiction but it still rules her life. Andrew is a chilling character who is completely devoid of a conscience. The sisters attempt to save themselves from Andrew’s devious machinations is perfectly balanced with the legal elements of the plot. With jaw-dropping twists and unexpected turns, Karin Slaughter brings this legal drama to an edge of the seat conclusion.

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Filed under Contemporary, False Witness, Karin Slaughter, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Suspense, William Morrow

July 29, 2020 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter

Title: The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter
Will Trent Series Book Ten
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 498 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

He watches. He waits. He takes. Who will be next . . .

THE SILENT WIFE

Investigating the killing of a prisoner during a riot inside a state penitentiary, GBI investigator Will Trent is confronted with disturbing information. One of the inmates claims that he is innocent of a brutal attack for which he has always been the prime suspect. The man insists that he was framed by a corrupt law enforcement team led by Jeffrey Tolliver and that the real culprit is still out there—a serial killer who has systematically been preying on women across the state for years. If Will reopens the investigation and implicates the dead police officer with a hero’s reputation of wrongdoing, the opportunistic convict is willing to provide the information GBI needs about the riot murder.

Only days ago, another young woman was viciously murdered in a state park in northern Georgia. Is it a fluke, or could there be a serial killer on the loose?

As Will Trent digs into both crimes it becomes clear that he must solve the cold case in order to find the answer. Yet nearly a decade has passed—time for memories to fade, witnesses to vanish, evidence to disappear, and lies to become truth. But Will can’t crack either mystery without the help of the one person he doesn’t want involved: his girlfriend and Jeffrey Tolliver’s widow, medical examiner Sara Linton.

When the past and present begin to collide, Will realizes that everything he values is at stake .

Review:

The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter is a twisted mystery that is quite compelling. Although this newest release is the tenth installment in the Will Trent series, it can be read as a standalone.

GBI Investigator Will Trent, his partner Faith Mitchell, and his girlfriend, Medical Examiner Sara Linton are investigating a murder that occurred during a prison riot.  In the course of their examination of the scene and the deceased, prisoner Daryl Nesbitt claims to have information about a cell phone ring. However, before he will give up the details, Daryl insists that he was framed for a series of attacks and murder that occurred eight years earlier. He will give them the information about the cell phone ring in exchange for them investigating the cold case. Will and Sara decide to take a second look and they are stunned to discover several other murders that are shockingly similar that have occurred in the intervening years. Convinced a serial killer has been operating under the radar, they are soon looking at old cases in hopes of unmasking a murderer.

Eight years ago, Sara’s ex-husband Police Chief Jeffrey Tolliver and his officers are investigating the savage attack on college student Beckey Caterino and the horrific murder of another student. He is under intense pressure to find the person responsible, but there is scant evidence.  After another victim is discovered, a new sense of urgency finally leads to a possible suspect.  Although they do not have enough evidence to arrest the person for the attacks, they manage to get a conviction for another crime, leaving the other cases officially open.  Jeffery is not certain they have the right person for the attacks but when no new leads turn up, he is forced to let it go.

In the present, Will, Faith and Sara are caught off guard after they are provided with information that links several other possible murders with the cases from eight years ago. As Will and Faith dig into this new evidence, they are absolutely horrified at what they discover. Sara’s expertise proves to be invaluable, but will they locate the prolific killer before this person strikes again?

Seamlessly shifting back and forth in time, The Silent Wife is an absolutely riveting police procedural.  Will, Faith and Sara are multi-faceted characters that are easy to like and relate to. Will and Faith make steady progress in their investigation and Sara’s assistance is vital as she looks at old cases that were ruled accidental.  With a series of unanticipated plot twists, Karin Slaughter brings this intriguing mystery to a diabolical conclusion. Old and new fans of the Will Trent series are going to LOVE this latest addition!

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Filed under Contemporary, Karin Slaughter, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Suspense, The Silent Wife, Will Trent Series, William Morrow

August 21, 2019 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Last Widow by Karin Slaughter

Title: The Last Widow by Karin Slaughter
Will Trent Series Book Nine
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 464 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

New York Times bestselling author Karin Slaughter brings back Will Trent and Sara Linton in this superb and timely thriller full of devious twists, disturbing secrets, and shocking surprises you won’t see coming

A mysterious kidnapping

On a hot summer night, a scientist from the Centers for Disease Control is grabbed by unknown assailants in a shopping center parking lot. The authorities are desperate to save the doctor who’s been vanished into thin air.

A devastating explosion

One month later, the serenity of a sunny Sunday afternoon is shattered by the boom of a ground-shaking blast—followed by another seconds later. One of Atlanta’s busiest and most important neighborhoods has been bombed—the location of Emory University, two major hospitals, the FBI headquarters, and the CDC.

A diabolical enemy

Medical examiner Sara Linton and her partner Will Trent, an investigator with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, rush to the scene—and into the heart of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to destroy thousands of innocent lives. When the assailants abduct Sara, Will goes undercover to save her and prevent a massacre—putting his own life on the line for the woman and the country he loves.

Review:

The Last Widow by Karin Slaughter is a chilling mystery with a topical storyline. Although this newest release is the ninth novel in the Will Trent series, it can easily be read as a standalone.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation Agent Will Trent and his girlfriend, medical examiner Sara Linton unwittingly find themselves in the middle of a domestic terrorism plot.  Hearing explosions that appear to have been set off at nearby Emory University, they rush to lend assistance. Before they reach the explosion site, Will and Sara are stopped by a traffic accident. While Sara is giving aid to the wounded, they both notice something about the scene is off. The situation soon turns dire after Sara makes a heart stopping discovery.  Having been savagely beaten, Will helpless watches as Sara is kidnapped. Despite his injuries, Will joins his GBI partner Faith Mitchell and their boss Amanda Wagner as they begin their investigation.

Meanwhile, Sara fears for her safety as she is forced to treat the wounded men in her care. The apparent leader, Dash, assures her he will set her free when he no longer requires her assistance. Sara tries to remain calm as Dash forces her to accompany him to his remote encampment in the mountains.  She quickly deduces Dash is running a paramilitary organization that is preparing for a cataclysmic mission.  Sara is tasked with caring with the children at the camp who are in the midst of a measles outbreak.  Her concern for her patients escalates as their conditions worsen despite medical treatment. Sara is growing extremely alarmed as Dash makes final preparation for an eminent attack.

Will is growing increasingly agitated as he tries to find Sara. He and Faith are both frustrated over the lack of co-operation between the different agencies working the investigation. They quickly discover Dash is the leader of a white supremacist group which has managed to fly so low under the radar that details about the group are scarce. Will is determined to figure out a way to go undercover in order to save Sara. But with time running out, is there any chance he can infiltrate the group before it is too late?

The Last Widow is a pulse-pounding, suspense-laden mystery with a terrifyingly real storyline.  While certainly compelling, the pacing of the novel is a little slow since the same scenes are shown from multiple characters’ points of view.  Despite this unusual narrative choice, the tension builds to an almost unbearable pitch as the novel hurtles to an action packed conclusion. Old and new fans of Karin Slaughter’s Will Trent series do not want to miss this all too realistic mystery which features a sinister, ripped from today’s headlines plot.

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Filed under Contemporary, Karin Slaughter, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Suspense, The Last Widow, Will Trent Series, William Morrow

August 20, 2018 · 11:57 pm

Review: Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter

Title: Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Contemporary, Historical 80s, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 480 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

The #1 internationally bestselling author returns with a new novel in the vein of the New York Timesbestsellers Pretty Girls and The Good Daughter—a story even more electrifying, provocative, and suspenseful than anything she’s written before.

What if the person you thought you knew best turns out to be someone you never knew at all . . . ?

Andrea Cooper knows everything about her mother Laura. She’s knows she’s spent her whole life in the small beachside town of Gullaway Island; she knows she’s never wanted anything more than to live a quiet life as a pillar of the community; she knows she’s never kept a secret in her life. Because we all know our mothers, don’t we?

But all that changes when a Saturday afternoon trip to the mall explodes into violence and Andrea suddenly sees a completely different side to Laura. Because it turns out that before Laura was Laura, she was someone completely different. For nearly thirty years she’s been hiding from her previous identity, lying low in the hope that no one will ever find her. But now she’s been exposed, and nothing will ever be the same again.

Twenty-four hours later Laura is in the hospital, shot by an intruder who’s spent thirty years trying to track her down and discover what she knows. Andrea is on a desperate journey following the breadcrumbs of her mother’s past. And if she can’t uncover the secrets hidden there, there may be no future for either one of them. .

Review:

Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter is an even-paced, intriguing mystery that weaves back and forth between events in the present and the mid-1980s.

The story opens with Andrea “Andy” Oliver is celebrating her 31st birthday at a diner in a local mall with her mom Laura. Just as Laura is chatting with a former patient’s daughter, a gunman opens fire, killing two people. As the shooter aims his sights on her and Andy, Laura calmly attempts to prevent him from harming Andy. As the situation grows more tense, Laura saves herself and her daughter, but her actions place her at the forefront of the police investigation and ensuing media frenzy.  As Andy is soon to discover, Laura is not who she seems. After a stunning turns of events, Andy’s quest for the truth is about to put herself and others in danger.

Andy is drifting through life aimlessly after her return to Belle Isle from New York. Working as a police dispatcher, she lives in an apartment over Laura’s garage and she has no real plans for the future.  Andy freezes in the face of danger and finds it virtually impossible to focus on Laura’s commands. However, after another menacing situation arises, Andy forces herself to act and soon finds herself on a collision course with Laura’s secret past.

Events from the 1980s unfold in a series of well-place flashbacks. As Andy picks through the detritus of her mother’s life, the two story arcs gradually converge in the present. Andy has no idea she is about to set in motion a harrowing series of events that will endanger herself and others. How will Andy deal with the shocking answers she learns about herself and Laura?

Pieces of Her is an engrossing mystery with a storyline that feels familiar since many elements are reminiscent of true life events. Andy is initially a frustrating character who is helpless in the face of danger. Fortunately, her quest to uncover the long buried secrets of her mother’s past turns into a life-altering journey of self-discovery.  With a few unanticipated twists and turns, Karin Slaughter brings the novel to an action-packed conclusion that is quite satisfying.

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Filed under Contemporary, Historical, Historical (80s), Karin Slaughter, Mystery, Pieces of Her, Rated B, Review, Suspense, William Morrow

August 9, 2017 · 11:57 pm

Review: The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter

Title: The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 528 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

The stunning new novel from the international #1 bestselling author — a searing, spellbinding blend of cold-case thriller and psychological suspense.

Two girls are forced into the woods at gunpoint. One runs for her life. One is left behind…

Twenty-eight years ago, Charlotte and Samantha Quinn’s happy small-town family life was torn apart by a terrifying attack on their family home. It left their mother dead. It left their father — Pikeville’s notorious defense attorney — devastated. And it left the family fractured beyond repair, consumed by secrets from that terrible night.

Twenty-eight years later, and Charlie has followed in her father’s footsteps to become a lawyer herself — the ideal good daughter. But when violence comes to Pikeville again — and a shocking tragedy leaves the whole town traumatized — Charlie is plunged into a nightmare. Not only is she the first witness on the scene, but it’s a case that unleashes the terrible memories she’s spent so long trying to suppress. Because the shocking truth about the crime that destroyed her family nearly thirty years ago won’t stay buried forever…

Packed with twists and turns, brimming with emotion and heart, The Good Daughter is fiction at its most thrilling.

Review:

The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter is an utterly spellbinding mystery that is also quite heartrending.

Twenty-eight years ago, thirteen year old Charlotte (Charlie) Quinn, her fifteen year old sister Samantha (Sam) and their mother Gamma are brutally attacked in their home by two masked gunman. The perpetrators were searching for patriarch Rusty, a reviled criminal defense attorney whose client list features such lowlifes as rapists, killers and drug dealers. In the present, Rusty’s clientele is much the same and Charlie is a criminal defense attorney who is currently separated from her husband, ADA Ben Bernard. Following a one night stand with a stranger, Charlie discovers she and her hook-up have inadvertently switched cell phones. Going to the local middle school to exchange phones, Charlie finds herself in the middle of a school shooting that stirs up all of the unresolved trauma from her past. In the aftermath of the devastating shooting, two people are dead and Rusty quickly agrees to represent the alleged shooter, Kelly Wilson, and Charlie is forced to confront the demons that have haunted her for the last twenty-eight years.

Charlie is not one to mince words and she might have a tough outer shell, but she is still clearly traumatized by the attack that forever altered her family’s lives. At one time blissfully happy with Ben, her caustic tongue and endless haranguing in recent years have finally driven him to leave her. Making no progress in fixing her tattered marriage, Charlie’s one night stand with a stranger is completely out of character and she is deeply ashamed of this decision. Now a witness in the case against Kelly, Charlie is stunned to realize she harbors doubts about Kelly’s guilt despite the fact the teenager was literally caught red-handed at the scene of the crime.

As events play out after the shooting, Charlie must finally deal with the trauma from the childhood attack. Although she shares office space with Rusty, she is NOT his legal partner and they manage to put aside their ideological differences. Their exchanges are playful but their discussions lack depth or much substance. While Ben knows about what happened to Charlie, her past is clearly still affecting her behavior and decisions, yet she refuses to discuss it with him or anyone else.

The Good Daughter is a dark and gritty mystery but there are surprisingly humorous, laugh out loud passages that lighten the storyline. The characters are brilliantly developed, deeply flawed yet personable and even some of the “bad” guys manage to elicit sympathy. The two story arcs seamlessly flow together and it is impossible to say which storyline is more compelling. Karin Slaughter brings the novel to a jaw-dropping, twist-filled conclusion that wraps up all of the loose ends. An absolutely enthralling mystery that fans of the genre do NOT want to miss.

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Filed under Contemporary, Karin Slaughter, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Suspense, The Good Daughter, William Morrow