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.
