I received this book from the publisher William Morrow.

I have heard of Karin Slaughter but had never read one of her books. I saw some early praise for this particular book and was thrilled when I received it. This is a story about someone being violent toward women. As often happens, the killer starts innocuously and continues evolving. The detective is Will Trent, he has appeared in other Slaughter books. He is trying to solve a murder with the help of Sara Linton, the medical examiner. The killer hasn’t left any evidence behind. Will is contacted by the man the police suspected of a similar crime years ago. He is in prison on a child pornography charge and offers to help if he can receive some concessions.

As Will and Sara examine the first crime from years ago, they discover other similar crimes. Some of the killings have been misclassified and now they are facing a serial killer. But how do they solve their case? They have to go back to the beginning. The story alternates between the investigation of the initial case and the current investigation.

I don’t want to give away the fantastic ending. The killer’s identity only becomes apparent near the end and the follow up after the killer is identified does not drag on.

Karin Slaughter details the violence of this killer in a very matter of fact way. She doesn’t sensationalize the crime at all. This is a well-balanced look at a terrible crime. If a reader has experienced rape or violence, this story could be too emotionally charged for them. It may also be difficult reading for younger readers.

The characters in the book are wonderful, very realistic, and believable. Their dialogue is genuine and flows well – a sign of a good author. I can see why her characters are so popular, they feel like people you know. This book was also fun for me because I moved to a small town near Atlanta a year ago and recognized many of the places referenced in the book.

I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to reading more by Karin Slaughter.

My rating: 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

Additionally: Between yard work and other obligations, posting has been delayed. As we are on the brink of fall, I know I will have much more time to devote to books. I’m really looking forward to the cool weather, a cup of tea, and a good book. When I have time to read more by Karin Slaughter I’m torn between going backward on her list from this point or starting at the beginning and working forward. Does anyone want to give me some direction?