KARIN SLAUGHTER
#1 international bestseller with 35 million copies in print in 37 languages.
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KARIN SLAUGHTER is the author of nineteen novels that have sold over 35 million copies in 37 languages. A New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author, Karin’s books have debuted at #1 in the United Kingdom, Germany, and The Netherlands. Her novels, Cop Town, The Good Daughter, and Pieces of Her are all in development for film and television. A long-time resident of Atlanta, she splits her time between the kitchen and the living room.
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After That Night
William Morrow - August 22, 2023
GBI investigator Will Trent and medical examiner Sara Linton are back in an electrifying thriller from New York Times bestselling author Karin Slaughter
After that night, everything changed . . .
Fifteen years ago, Sara Linton’s life changed forever when a celebratory night out ended in a violent attack that tore her world apart. Since then, Sara has remade her life. A successful doctor, engaged to a man she loves, she has finally managed to leave the past behind her.
Until one evening, on call in the ER, everything changes. Sara battles to save a broken young woman who’s been brutally attacked. But as the investigation progresses, led by GBI Special Agent Will Trent, it becomes clear that Dani Cooper’s assault is uncannily linked to Sara’s.
And the past isn’t going to stay buried forever . . .
Praise for After That Night
An Amazon Top 20 Mysteries, Thrillers and Suspense Books of 2023—New and Continuing Series
“[G]rueling, pitiless, yet compassionate…. It’s a signal achievement of Slaughter that the climactic revelations add still another layer of horror to her tale.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) on After That Night
“Karin Slaughter raises her game with every book. After That Night is compulsive reading.” —Clare Mackintosh, author of I Let You Go
GIRL, FORGOTTEN
William Morrow - August 23, 2022
#1 in Holland
#1 in Ireland
#2 in UK
#4 in US
A PW “Most Anticipated” for Fall 2022
The Times “Book of the Month”
The Times “100 Best Books of Summer”
A SMALL TOWN HIDES A BIG SECRET…
Who killed Emily Vaughn?
A GIRL WITH A SECRET…
Longbill Beach, 1982. Emily Vaughn gets ready for the prom. For an athlete, who is smart, pretty and well-liked, this night that should be the highlight of her high school career. But Emily has a secret. And by the end of the evening, that secret will be silenced forever.
AN UNSOLVED MURDER…
Forty years later, Emily’s murder remains a mystery. Her tight-knit group of friends closed ranks; her respected, wealthy family retreated inwards; the small town moved on from her grisly attack. But all that’s about to change.
ONE FINAL CHANCE TO UNCOVER A KILLER…
US Marshal Andrea Oliver arrives in Longbill Beach on her first assignment: to protect a judge receiving death threats. But, in reality, Andrea is there to find justice for Emily. The killer is still out there – and Andrea must discover the truth before she gets silenced, too…
Praise for GIRL, FORGOTTEN
“The whole story is a masterpiece of mystery, and Slaughter's skill as a writer has never shone as brightly as it has in this novel.” —Book Reporter
“Layer upon layer of mystery, a great cast of characters, and some genuinely startling twists. This is Slaughter at her best.” —Booklist Starred Review
“Slaughter skillfully leads readers on a thrilling journey into the past to solve the murder that a small town wants to forget, yet is still haunted by.” —Library Journal Starred Review
“Slaughter relies less on real surprises to hold the attention than she does on page-turning qualities, which this effortlessly accomplished thriller has in keen-edged spadefuls.”—The Times
FALSE WITNESS
William Morrow - July 20, 2021
#1 in UK
#1 in Holland
#1 in Belgium
#1 in Ireland
He saw what you did. He knows who you are…
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...
Praise for False Witness
“A shocking tragedy at the end will keep readers transfixed. Slaughter is writing at the top of her game.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Equal parts hyperrealistic thriller and epic tragedy, Slaughter’s latest is pitch-perfect storytelling.” —Booklist, starred review
“Slaughter skillfully and assuredly relates the violence of a sociopath, while creating an emotional connection to lives touched by tragedy and addressing current events.” —Library Journal, starred review
“A shared secret comes back haunt two sisters, who are forced to confront a dark and terrifying reality. Rich characters and deft plotting make this an unputdownable story that will move you to the core. This is Slaughter's best yet." —Camilla Läckberg
“Slaughter offers us a high-stakes thriller that handles the tragedy of addiction with empathy and grace. Her heroines are believable, flawed and courageous.” —Oyinkan Braithwaite
“Heart-stopping one moment, heart-breaking the next. Slaughter at her finest." —Cara Hunter
“Karin Slaughter’s False Witness is a twisty, searingly contemporary mystery steeped in a dark past, and she weaves a story that catches your breath and keeps you gasping and guessing until the end.” —Stacey Abrams
“Karin Slaughter is a master of the Thriller genre and her genius comes through on every page, in every character, through every plot twist. False Witness is so suspenseful, it’s tension palpable, and the action so visual, I can’t wait to see its brilliance in film.” —Francesca Momplaisir
"Slaughter has written a wickedly sharp and arresting tour de force that blends a riveting plot and emotional subterfuge with the kind of propulsive prose that makes False Witness absolutely unputdownable." —Lauren Francis-Sharma
THE SILENT WIFE
William Morrow - August 4, 2020
Atlanta, Georgia. Present day. A young woman is brutally attacked and left for dead. The police investigate but the trail goes cold. Until a chance assignment takes GBI investigator Will Trent to the state penitentiary, and to a prisoner who says he recognizes the MO. The attack looks identical to the one he was accused of eight years earlier. The prisoner's always insisted that he was innocent, and now he's sure he has proof. The killer is still out there.
As Will digs into both crimes it becomes clear that he must solve the original case in order to reach the truth. Yet nearly a decade has passed—time for memories to fade, witnesses to vanish, evidence to disappear. And now he needs medical examiner Sara Linton to help him hunt down a ruthless murderer. But when the past and present collide, everything Will values is at stake…
praise for the silent wife
An August 2020 LibraryReads Pick
“Slaughter delivers an unflinching, deeply empathetic exploration of the stigma surrounding rape and the enduring trauma suffered by its survivors.”—Publishers Weekly
“Slaughter adds depth to her best-selling series with the investigations of old and current cases, while also advancing the key personal relationship. Another slam dunk.”—Booklist, starred review
“A hard-hitting, fast-moving slicing wow of a book.”—Lovereading
“The Silent Wife is the 10th book in Karin Slaughter’s Will Trent series, but such is her skill that it’s perfectly possible to join the story here. […] As sharp and absorbing as ever.”—The Guardian
“Read The Silent Wife for the circuitous plot, the inherent violence, the detailed investigation and the tender love story. When they all come together in the adept hands of Karin Slaughter it is exquisite.”—Jackie K. Cooper
THE LAST WIDOW
William Morrow - August 20, 2019
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. Vanished into thin air, the authorities are desperate to save the doctor.
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 neighborhood’s 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.
PRAISE FOR THE LAST WIDOW
#1 bestseller in The Netherlands, Belgium, the U.K., South Africa, Ireland, and Germany
#1 bestseller on Apple Books
An August 2019 LibraryReads Pick
“Thriller fans will devour this visceral, gratifying entry.”—Publishers Weekly
“With familiar characters, further developed here, and a plot as timely as it is riveting, Slaughter’s latest will enthrall her ever-growing legion of fans…Slaughter’s thrillers have become near-automatic best-sellers, and this is one of her best.”—Booklist, starred review
“Another strong novel by Slaughter, with complex characters to root for and an antagonist you hope gets what he deserves. With a well-written, intriguing plot and an edge-of-the-seat ending, this is sure to keep readers up late into the night.”—Library Journal, starred review
"Karin Slaughter is remarkably adept at using a single, tragic incident as a doorway to far more devilish acts. Her skill is typically masterful in The Last Widow…Nobody balances thrills and emotion, pacing and heart, better than Slaughter…A stunning triumph in all respects.”—BookTrib
PIECES OF HER
William Morrow - August 21, 2018
The #1 internationally bestselling author returns with a new novel in the vein of her New York Times bestsellers 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 knows everything about her mother, Laura. She knows she’s spent her whole life in the small beachside town of Belle Isle; 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 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 would ever find her. But now she’s been exposed, and nothing will ever be the same again.
The police want answers and Laura’s innocence is on the line, but she won’t speak to anyone, including her own daughter. Andrea is on a desperate journey following the breadcrumb trail 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. . . .
PRAISE FOR PIECES OF HER
Georgia Author of the Year Award, Detective/Mystery Category Winner
“With an intrigue and suspense-filled plot, Slaughter’s well-crafted, tense, and exhilarating story will keep readers on the edge of their seats.”—Library Journal
“Readers will find themselves totally immersed in the suspenseful, alternating story lines and won’t want either of them to end.”—Booklist, starred review
“Simply one of the best thriller writers working today. I’d follow her anywhere.”—Gillian Flynn
“Enter the world of Karin Slaughter. Just be forewarned, there’s no going back.”—Lisa Gardner
“Breathtaking…. Fiction doesn’t get any better than this.”—Jeffery Deaver, New York Times-bestselling author of Solitude Creek and The Skin Collector
“All of Slaughter’s books... are satisfyingly surprising and plausible, but it’s Slaughter’s prodigious gifts of characterization that make her stand out among thriller writers…Slaughter’s satirical touches are as deft as her grimmer renditions of real life.”—Washington Post
“It’s a compelling story that swept me along, unable to resist and unable to stop reading.”—Suspense Magazine
"Once listeners start Karin Slaughter's new mystery, stopping won't be an option...Slaughter's clever plotting and Early's high-voltage performance will keep listeners glued to their listening devices."—AudioFile
"The ever-popular crime novelist is back with another pulse-pounding standalone, this one considering the twisted relationship between a mother and a daughter after the latter realizes she may not know the woman who gave birth to her at all.”—Entertainment Weekly, "20 New Books to Read in August"
"A propulsive, high-stakes thriller rife with intrigue and suspense."—USA Today
"Slaughter reinforces her place at the top of the thriller pack."—Publishers Weekly
THE GOOD DAUGHTER
William Morrow – August 22, 2017
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.
Praise for THE GOOD DAUGHTER
“Karin Slaughter has—by far—the best name of all of us mystery novelists. More to the point, The Good Daughter is Karin Slaughter’s most ambitious, most emotional, and best novel. So far, anyway.“ —James Patterson, New York Times bestselling author of 16th Seduction
“The darkness of the past is very present in this utterly chilling thriller. With heart and skill, Karin Slaughter keeps you hooked from the first page until the last.“ —Camilla Läckberg, internationally bestselling author
“Unforgettable. If you want to pick up what is sure to be one of the most talked-about thrillers of the summer, then look no further than Karin Slaughter’s The Good Daughter…If you aren’t already on the Karin Slaughter bandwagon, it’s time to jump aboard.“—Bookish
“If you like twists and turns, delve into this tale of cold cases and spellbinding suspense. This thriller is not for the faint of heart.“—Southern Living
“It’s not hyperbolic to declare that Slaughter is a master of her craft. Her characters—even the secondary ones—are deep and multifaceted, and here, the tightly packed story unfolds at a perfect pace that leaves readers frantically turning pages even as the harrowing violence within makes them cringe.“—Booklist, starred review
“It’s hard to think of any writer since Flannery O’Connor […] who’s succeeded as consistently as Slaughter at using horrific violence to evoke pity and terror. Whether she’s extending her franchise or creating stand-alones like this, she really does make your hair stand on end.“—Kirkus, starred review
“It’s Slaughter’s prodigious gifts of characterization that make her stand out among thriller writers.“—The Washington Post
“Slaughter manages to create a book that is part character study, part mystery, part action, and part family study. The writing and the vocabulary are both beautifully rendered, and the humor is wry. Readers will become attached to the characters, and the pages will seem to turn almost of their own volition inexorably to the end.“—Huffington Post
THE KEPT WOMAN
A Novel
William Morrow – September 20, 2016
The author of Pretty Girls returns with an electrifying, emotionally complex thriller that plunges its fascinating protagonist into the darkest depths of a mystery that just might destroy him.
Husbands and wives. Mothers and daughters. The past and the future.
Secrets bind them. And secrets can destroy them.
With the discovery of a murder at an abandoned construction site, Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is brought in on a case that becomes much more dangerous when the dead man is identified as an ex-cop.
Studying the body, Sara Linton—the GBI’s newest medical examiner and Will’s lover—realizes that the extensive blood loss didn’t belong to the corpse. Sure enough, bloody footprints leading away from the scene indicate there is another victim—a woman—who has vanished . . . and who will die soon if she isn’t found.
Will is already compromised, because the site belongs to the city’s most popular citizen: a wealthy, powerful, and politically connected athlete protected by the world’s most expensive lawyers—a man who’s already gotten away with rape, despite Will’s exhaustive efforts to put him away.
But the worst is yet to come. Evidence soon links Will’s troubled past to the case . . . and the consequences will tear through his life with the force of a tornado, wreaking havoc for Will and everyone around him, including his colleagues, family, friends—and even the suspects he pursues.
Relentlessly suspenseful and furiously paced, peopled with conflicted, fallible characters who leap from the page, The Kept Woman is a seamless blend of twisty police procedural and ingenious psychological thriller—a searing, unforgettable novel of love, loss, and redemption.
Praise for THE KEPT WOMAN
iBooks Best Books of September
Indie Next List for October
Indie Bestseller
2017 Southern Book Prize Winner
“Enter the world of Karin Slaughter. Just be forewarned, there’s no going back.”—Lisa Gardner
“There is nobody, and I do mean nobody, who writes the kind of books Karin Slaughter does…It is amazing to witness the raw talent Slaughter brings to this book.“—Jackie Cooper, The Huffington Post
“Graphic violence, expected from Slaughter, dots the pages of this compelling novel, along with suspense that continually ratchets upward, a revealing look at domestic violence in all levels of society, and the continued development of a tight-knit cast of characters. This is prime Slaughter, must-read fare for thriller fans.”—Booklist, starred review
“Slaughter excels at complications—both for her characters and in the mysteries they’re investigating. This is a page-turner, of course, but it’s also a multilayered exploration of choices and consequences and the lasting effects of damage done.“—Library Journal, starred review
“More proof that Karin Slaughter remains one of the most authoritative thriller writers in the field. She is adroit at taking readers to the darker reaches of the human psyche.”—The Financial Times
“An intense look at the nature of loss and control, and how love can taint both.“—Publishers Weekly
“If you don’t feel a chill run down your spine by the time you read the last page, you may want to be sure you still have a pulse.“—BookReporter
“Part True Detective, part The Girl on the Train. All parts gripping.“—theSkimm
“There is pure pleasure in reading a great writer’s work at the peak of her talents. That’s what we get from Karin Slaughter in this stunning Will Trent/Sara Linton novel. Fans know not to expect the ordinary from Slaughter, and The Kept Woman proves just how far she’s willing to take her characters…You may think you know what’s coming, but you don’t. If this is your first book by Karin Slaughter, prepare yourself. There are more than a dozen waiting for you and you have the entire winter to read them all.”—Margaret Cannon, The Globe and Mail
PRETTY GIRLS
A Novel
William Morrow – September 29, 2015
#1 internationally bestselling author Karin Slaughter returns with a sophisticated and chilling psychological thriller of dangerous secrets, cold vengeance, and unexpected absolution, in which two estranged sisters must come together to find truth about two harrowing tragedies, twenty years apart, that devastate their lives.
Sisters. Strangers. Survivors.
More than twenty years ago, Claire and Lydia’s teenaged sister Julia vanished without a trace. The two women have not spoken since, and now their lives could not be more different. Claire is the glamorous trophy wife of an Atlanta millionaire. Lydia, a single mother, dates an ex-con and struggles to make ends meet. But neither has recovered from the horror and heartbreak of their shared loss—a devastating wound that’s cruelly ripped open when Claire’s husband is killed.
The disappearance of a teenage girl and the murder of a middle-aged man, almost a quarter-century apart: what could connect them? Forming a wary truce, the surviving sisters look to the past to find the truth, unearthing the secrets that destroyed their family all those years ago . . . and uncovering the possibility of redemption, and revenge, where they least expect it.
Powerful, poignant, and utterly gripping, packed with indelible characters and unforgettable twists, Pretty Girls is a masterful thriller from one of the finest suspense writers working today.
Praise for PRETTY GIRLS
People’s Choice Award: Favorite Books 2016 – Crime & Mystery
Amazon Best Books of 2015
2016 ITW Thriller Award Finalist
2016 ALA Reading List Selection (Adrenaline category)
Indie Next List – October 2015
Amazon Best Book of the Month – October 2015
Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best books of 2015
“A hell-raising thriller… a genuinely exciting narrative driven by strong-willed female characters.“—The New York Times Book Review
“Twenty-four years after a traumatic disappearance tore a Georgia family apart, Slaughter’s scorching stand-alone picks them up and shreds them all over again…The results are harrowing. Slaughter (Cop Town, 2014, etc.) is so uncompromising in following her blood trails to the darkest places imaginable that she makes most of her high-wire competition look pallid, formulaic, or just plain fake.“—Kirkus Reviews starred review
“Slaughter’s stand-alone novel packs a heck of a wallop, and while it’s a powerful thriller, it’s also a deft look into a family forced to confront horrific tragedy. Slaughter’s longtime fans will be thrilled. New readers will be hooked on this twisted tale from page one.“—Library Journal, starred review
“Pretty Girls is one of the year’s most fascinating stories, told with the creatively inventive touch of a true master of suspense. It is also a story that will stay with you for a long time after you have closed its pages…I have long praised the books of Karin Slaughter, Pretty Girls however requires praise at a new level.“—The Huffington Post
“The author’s trademark of complex plots coupled with character studies makes Pretty Girls another standout.“—Associated Press
“A gritty page-turner about the crimes perpetrated against women and the devastating effect on those who love them…Mega-best-selling Slaughter’s previous stand-alone was an instant New York Times best-seller; her second is sure to follow suit.”—Booklist
“Claire Scott, the heroine of this gripping standalone from bestseller Slaughter (Cop Town), thought she knew everything about her architect husband, Paul, but her posh Atlanta life is turned upside down when he’s fatally stabbed in an alley and she uncovers a series of nasty videos on his home computer…The family was already splintered following the 1991 disappearance of Claire and Lydia’s older sister, 19-year-old Julia, who vanished near her University of Georgia dorm…Chapters from the girls’ father’s journal, written to the missing Julia, form a poignant counterpoint to the chilling violence of this unsettling tale.“—Publishers Weekly
“A stunning family tragedy and a hold-your-breath pedal-to-the-metal thriller magically blended by Karin Slaughter’s trademark passion, intensity, and humanity. Certain to be a book of the year.”—Lee Child
“Searing, searching, soulful: a major achievement from a writer of extraordinary talents. Every Karin Slaughter novel is a cause for celebration—but simply put, Pretty Girls is the finest novel of her career.“—Kathy Reichs, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Speaking in Bones
“Unique in voice, brilliantly plotted, Pretty Girls is in part a wrenching, breathtaking look at a family in extremis and an uncompromising depiction of pure evil. With this book, Slaughter has managed that most difficult of feats—to tell a gripping, page-turning crime story (and I mean fast!) that can both make your heart race and make your eyes swell with tears. Fiction doesn’t get any better than this.“—Jeffery Deaver
“Mesmerising. All her trademark talents are on show here—dizzying twists, sparkling dialogue, edge-of-your-seat tension. Exceptional as Slaughter is, this book takes her to a new level—think Slaughter multiplied to the power of ten.“—Mo Hayder
“Riveting…Pretty Girls is a very, very tense read. I did not know what was going to happen, or how the denouement would play out, and it’s hard to surprise me.“—Charlaine Harris
“When Slaughter lets it rip, she is Nathanael West’s heir. In other words, she’s not for sissies!“—New York Post
“Spine-tinglingly good.“—The Sun (UK)
“A brilliant page-turner from the thriller queen…“—Press Association (UK)
“{Slaughter’s] attention to detail and flair for character make for excellent reading, no matter the subject matter…there is a sense of triumph when reading the denouement, and if you’re me, barely resisting shouting out loud to cheer the heroines on.“—The Evening Herald (Ireland)
“[A] beautiful construction that depicts a shattered Atlanta family…This book is dark, intense, and quite graphic. It will keep you on the edge of your seat with your shoulders tensed for the next blow, then the next, then the next. I stayed up way too late finishing it!”—Suspense Magazine
“Pretty Girls is a gritty and frightening psychological thriller written by Karin Slaughter, a true master of the genre. The suspense is terrifying, the pacing concise, the characters intensely developed, and the chilling plot stunningly conceived and executed. I was absorbed from the first page until the shocking, explosive ending. Karin Slaughter has outdone herself in this impressive stand-alone thriller.”—Fresh Fiction
“Slaughter changes directions with this stand-alone psycho- logical thriller featuring both a terrifying psychopath and an evil conspiracy. The fast pace, peppered liberally with shocks and revelations, pulls you in and doesn’t let go. This dark and twisted tale of one family’s devastation is not for the faint of heart, but readers who can take the violence are in for a super thrill ride. This may be the best Slaughter book yet. 4.5 stars, Top Pick!“—Romantic Times
“Pretty Girls is sure to add to Karin Slaughter’s accumulation of fans and have them all awaiting whatever she decides to write next.“—BOLO Books
“The queen of the police thriller…all the twists and suspense that readers expect from Slaughter.“—Atlanta Magazine
COP TOWN
A Novel
Delacorte Press – June 24, 2014
Karin Slaughter, author of the New York Times bestselling Will Trent novels, is widely acclaimed as “one of the best crime novelists in America” (The Washington Post). Now she delivers her first stand-alone novel: an epic story of a city in the midst of seismic upheaval, a serial killer targeting cops, and a divided police force tasked with bringing a madman to justice.
Atlanta, 1974: As a brutal murder and a furious manhunt rock the city’s police department, Kate Murphy wonders if her first day on the job will also be her last. She’s determined to defy her privileged background by making her own way—wearing a badge and carrying a gun. But for a beautiful young woman, life will be anything but easy in the macho world of the Atlanta PD, where even the female cops have little mercy for rookies. It’s also the worst day possible to start given that a beloved cop has been gunned down, his brothers in blue are out for blood, and the city is on the edge of war.
Kate isn’t the only woman on the force who’s feeling the heat. Maggie Lawson followed her uncle and brother into the ranks to prove her worth in their cynical eyes. When she and Kate, her new partner, are sidelined in the citywide search for a cop killer, their fury, pain, and pride finally reach the boiling point. With a killer poised to strike again, they will pursue their own line of investigation, risking everything as they venture into the city’s darkest heart.
Relentlessly paced, acutely observed, wickedly funny, and often heartbreaking, Cop Town is Karin Slaughter’s most powerful novel yet—a tour de force of storytelling from our foremost master of character, atmosphere and suspense.
Praise for COP TOWN
Winner of the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger 2015
Nominated for 2015 Edgar Award for Best Novel
Amazon Best Books of 2014
South Florida Sun-Sentinel Best Mystery Books of 2014
“Karin Slaughter is simply one of the best thriller writers working today, and Cop Town shows the author at the top of her game—relentless pacing, complex characters, and gritty realism, all set against the backdrop of a city on the edge. Slaughter’s eye for detail and truth is unmatched…I’d follow her anywhere.”—Gillian Flynn
“Stunning . . . In Karin Slaughter’s first stand-alone novel, she breaks new ground with this riveting story of two young police officers trying to stop a serial killer targeting cops. Her characters, plot, and pacing are unrivaled among thriller writers and if you haven’t yet read her, this is the moment.”—Michael Connelly
“Much more than a thriller…Karin Slaughter’s unforgettable female characters, and stunning evocation of time and place, make Cop Town one of the most powerful and moving reads of recent memory…A masterpiece.”—Kathryn Stockett
“Sly . . . compulsively readable . . . [one of] the summer’s best thrillers.”—O, The Oprah Magazine
“Cop Town proves Karin Slaughter is one of America’s best writers. . . . She pulls her readers into a twisted tale of mystery and keeps them fascinated from start to finish.”—The Huffington Post
“Intense . . . engrossing . . . evocative . . . [Karin Slaughter’s] first stand-alone novel [has] a gritty, action-packed plot and strong, believable characters.”—Associated Press
“Slaughter graphically exposes the rampant racism, homophobia, and misogyny of cop culture in the 1970s. . . . Winning leads, the retro setting, and a riveting plot make this one of Slaughter’s best.”—Booklist, starred review
“Superb . . . explosive . . . [Cop Town] is sure to win over readers new to Slaughter’s work while reminding old fans of her enormous talent.”—Library Journal, starred review
“Evocative writing . . . amazing characters . . . with edge-of-your-seat suspense and a riveting plot . . . Slaughter’s first stand-alone book is a knockout.”—RT Book Reviews
“Scintillating . . . Slaughter does her usual fine job of exploring intriguingly troubled characters.”—Publishers Weekly
“Cop Town is a celebration of pioneering women in law enforcement.“—AudioFile Magazine (Earphones Award Winner)
“One of the most brutally realistic books that I have read in recent memory; Slaughter’s literary talents are given full rein here, and the results are stunning. Cop Town is one of this year’s must-read books.“—Bookreporter.com
“Cop Town is so much more than a standard crime thriller… mesmeric scene-setting, powerful characterisation, a menacing sense of misogyny, a police force consumed by bloodlust and a heart-stopping dénouement are evidence of a writer at the top of her game. Moving, darkly funny and painfully honest, Cop Town is a master-class in top-notch crime writing and one of the best thrillers on the shelves this summer.“—Press Association (UK)
“Vivid, gritty and taut, this terrific whodunit keeps you guessing.“—Sunday Mirror (UK)
“Karin Slaughter has long been comfortably ahead of the pack in the field of powerful and disturbing crime fiction but Cop Town shows a broadening of reach: it is a more ambitious novel than any she has previously written. Her achievement here is such that many fans will be happy to see her continuing to devote her attention to similar standalone novels.“—Financial Times (UK)
“This is hardboiled crime fiction from the pen of an absolute master of the genre. The characters are credible, and the sexist, racist, homophobic world they inhabit is brilliantly and brutally drawn. The end hints at a returning series, and we’d definitely be back for more.“—Heat magazine (UK)
“The plot, which describes the hunt for a killer, is enriched by the vivid portrait of the place and time. This is a gripping thriller with a feminist subtext, describing the foreign country that is the recent past.“—Literary Review (UK)
“Powerful, atmospheric, and engrossing.“—Woman and Home (UK)
“A brutal, gripping hark back to the bad old days. It’s a helluva fine read, but it’s plenty shocking too.“—Sunday Sport (UK)
“Slaughter builds the tension expertly, this is the real deal.“—ELSEVIER (Holland)
“Slaughter keeps you reading until your palms are sweaty and your pulse is racing.“—Marie Claire (Holland)
“The queen of crime strikes again.“—Knack (Holland)
“Cop Town is one of Karin Slaughter’s best books. A nail-biting thriller as well as a merciless and unadorned description of the southern US society during the 1970s. Some scenes are heavy, but you just cannot stop reading.”—Charlotte Link
UNSEEN
A Novel
Delacorte Press – July 2, 2013
Karin Slaughter’s New York Times bestselling novels are utterly riveting and masterfully drawn. Her latest thriller, Unseen, pits detectives, lovers, and enemies against one another in an unforgettable standoff between righteous courage and deepest evil.
Bill Black is a scary guy: a tall ex-con who rides to work on a Harley and trails an air of violence wherever he goes. In Macon, Georgia, Bill has caught the eye of a wiry little drug dealer and his cunning girlfriend. They think Bill might be a useful ally. They don’t know that Bill is actually a Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent named Will Trent. Or that he is fighting his own demons, undercover and cut off from the support of Sara Linton—the woman he loves, who cannot be told of the risk Will is taking.
Sara herself has come to Macon because of a cop shooting: Her stepson, Jared, has been gunned down in his own home. Sara holds Lena, Jared’s wife, responsible: Lena, a detective, has been a magnet for trouble all her life, and Jared’s death is not the first time someone Sara loved got caught in the crossfire. Furious, Sara finds herself involved in the same case that Will is working without even knowing it, and soon danger is swirling around both of them.
In a novel of fierce intensity, shifting allegiances, and shocking twists, two investigations collide with a conspiracy straddling both sides of the law. Karin Slaughter’s latest is both an electrifying thriller and a piercing study of human nature: what happens when good people face the unseen evils in their lives.
Praise for UNSEEN
“Slaughter’s most powerful book to date . . . No one writes like Slaughter. . . . Her words fairly growl on paper but yet her descriptions of relationships are tear inducing. This may make her an anomaly but she is the best damn anomaly writing books today. Make sure you read Unseen.”—The Huffington Post
“Slaughter plunges readers into the action from the get-go with her electrifying ability to write suspenseful, riveting confrontations between cops and criminals, all while deepening the backstories of her longtime series leads. Another intense read, on multiple levels, from the ever-reliable Slaughter.“—Booklist
“Tense…the twisted plot and shocking reveals remind readers why Slaughter remains a dominant voice in crime fiction.“—Publishers Weekly
“Slaughter has the ability to take the reader deep into a character’s psyche and pull away before it becomes too much to handle. The story that Slaughter weaves will not be forgotten anytime soon.“—Associated Press
“Gasp-inducing plot twists and intricate storylines mark another outstanding thriller from powerhouse Slaughter. As usual, she pulls no punches…“—Romantic Times
“Gripping as ever…masterful.“—Chatelaine (Canada)
“Whenever the conversation turns to the nation’s top thriller writers, the short list invariably includes New York Times best-selling author Karin Slaughter.“—Sacramento Bee (Bee Book Club Selection)
“Two storylines collide with brilliant effects.“—BookPage
“As intricately plotted and exciting a yarn as anything Slaughter has delivered to date.“—Irish Independent
“An emotional roller coaster ride . . . fast-paced and edge-of-your-seat . . . Slaughter is brilliant.”—Wichita Falls Times Record News
“Superb and emotionally wrenching . . . The despicable nature of the crimes being investigated only serves to enhance Will’s innate goodness and humanity. Current series fans will be delighted, and newcomers to Slaughter’s work will find a new obsession.”—Library Journal
“Compelling . . . [Slaughter] balances a complex plot with believable twists while sensitively exploring her realistic characters’ emotions and problems.”—South Florida Sun-Sentinel
CRIMINAL
Delacorte Press – July 3, 2012
Karin Slaughter’s new novel is an epic tale of love, loyalty, and murder that encompasses forty years, two chillingly similar murder cases, and a good man’s deepest secrets.
Will Trent is a brilliant agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Newly in love, he is beginning to put a difficult past behind him. Then a local college student goes missing, and Will is inexplicably kept off the case by his supervisor and mentor, deputy director Amanda Wagner. Will cannot fathom Amanda’s motivation until the two of them literally collide in an abandoned orphanage they have both been drawn to for different reasons. Decades before, when his father was imprisoned for murder, this was Will’s home. . .
Flash back nearly forty years. In the summer Will Trent was born, Amanda Wagner is going to college, making Sunday dinners for her father, taking her first steps in the boys’ club that is the Atlanta Police Department. One of her first cases is to investigate a brutal crime in one of the city’s worst neighborhoods. Amanda and her partner, Evelyn, are the only ones who seem to care if an arrest is ever made.
Now the case that launched Amanda’s career has suddenly come back to life, intertwined with the long-held mystery of Will’s birth and parentage. And these two dauntless investigators will each need to face down demons from the past if they are to prevent an even greater terror from being unleashed.
A masterpiece of character, atmosphere, and riveting suspense, Criminal is the most powerful and moving novel yet from one of our most gifted storytellers at work today.
Praise for Karin Slaughter and CRIMINAL
“Karin Slaughter proves she’s one of the best crime novelists at work today with Criminal. Slaughter weaves a rich tapestry of complex characters with a compelling mystery.“—Associated Press
“As much a social and cultural treatise on women’s rights and roles in the 1970s as a crime drama…a story that will jar the senses of the most jaded crime-novel readers. Slaughter never disappoints, but this could be her best.“—USA Today
“Karin Slaughter’s best yet by far: All her signature strengths are amplified a hundredfold by the past explaining the present. Reading this book was like watching a great athlete having a career year.”—Lee Child
“I really love intelligent thrillers, and in this book, Karin gives us the back story of one of my favorite characters—Will Trent—along with a fascinating look at a serial killer in Atlanta, and some modern history of the lawmen—and women—who hunt him down.“—Linda Fairstein for TODAY
“Slaughter delivers another riveting, pulse-pounding crime novel.”—Booklist, starred review
“Karin Slaughter has more tricks up her sleeve than Houdini…[Her] books are some of the most interesting and fascinating books you will ever discover and Criminal is Slaughter at her most visceral and gut-wrenching best. This is not some appetizer of a story; it is a ten-course meal. It will fill you up with satisfaction, but also leave you wanting more.“—The Huffington Post
“Slaughter expertly shapes an intriguing and entertaining tale.“—Daily Express (UK)
“Slaughter is adept at mixing elements of horror as well as humor…a tale that’s full of suspense.“—The Oklahoman
“Criminal is a masterpiece, that rare mystery that grips readers and holds them late into the night, hearts pounding long after the last page.“—Orlando Books Examiner
“They don’t call Slaughter ‘the thinking woman’s thriller writer’ for nothing—her pacing assumes you can keep up.“—BookRiot
“Now this is a thriller that deserves some attention…thoroughly entertaining.“—The Daily Telegraph (Australia)
“Razor-sharp…There is authenticity, cracking detail and ambience as well as sufficient twists and turns.“—The Wharf (UK)
“If Mo Hayder writes the nastiest crime novels this side of the Atlantic, then Karin Slaughter is her oppo on the other side of the pond, and Criminal is no exception…If you like your crime fiction down and dirty, this is one for you.”—Crime Time (UK)
“Karin Slaughter is a true master of the crime fiction genre. Criminal is one tightly constructed, superbly plotted, nervous-making crime story. Do not deny yourself its pleasures.“—Herald de Paris
FALLEN
Delacorte Press – June 21, 2011
There’s no police training stronger than a cop’s instinct. Faith Mitchell’s mother isn’t answering her phone. Her front door is open. There’s a bloodstain above the knob. Her infant daughter is hidden in a shed behind the house. All that the Georgia Bureau of Investigations taught Faith Mitchell goes out the window when she charges into her mother’s house, gun drawn. She sees a man dead in the laundry room. She sees a hostage situation in the bedroom. What she doesn’t see is her mother. . .
“You know what we’re here for. Hand it over, and we’ll let her go.”
When the hostage situation turns deadly, Faith is left with too many questions, not enough answers. To find her mother, she’ll need the help of her partner, Will Trent, and they’ll both need the help of trauma doctor Sara Linton. But Faith isn’t just a cop anymore—she’s a witness. She’s also a suspect.
The thin blue line hides police corruption, bribery, even murder. Faith will have to go up against the people she respects the most in order to find her mother and bring the truth to light—or bury it forever.
Karin Slaughter’s most exhilarating novel yet is a thrilling journey through the heart and soul, where the personal and the criminal collide, and conflicted loyalties threaten to destroy reputations and ruin lives. It is the work of a master of the thriller at the top of her game, and a whirlwind of unrelenting suspense.
Praise for Karin Slaughter and FALLEN
#1 Bestseller in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands
“Karin Slaughter always grabs you on the first line and never lets go.“—Mary Higgins Clark
“The first 16 pages of Karin Slaughter’s new novel are a master class in suspense… Fallen, Slaughter’s 11th novel in 11 years, shows again that she is in the first rank of today’s crime novelists. Her story is expertly written, exhaustively researched, steeped in police lore, deeply rooted in the author’s native Georgia and exceedingly violent. Slaughter has a rare ability to balance violence with a compassionate view of her complex and all-too-human characters. She’s a supremely tough-minded novelist who often writes with exceptional sensitivity… Fallen is a complex, gripping and deadly serious novel that reflects anew Slaughter’s abundant talent. If you haven’t read her, you should.”—The Washington Post
“An amazing effort. This is Slaughter’s best book to date, and readers unfamiliar with her work will find this one a perfect place to begin.”—Associated Press
“An absolute master… Her bad guys are desperate. They’re in a hurry. They have chips on their shoulders and Glocks in their glove compartments. They’re so real that you’d swear you just got a whiff of them from the next room. And there’s no lock on your door… Slaughter creates some wonderfully complex and mature female characters, a distinctive achievement in the world of thrillers…”—The Chicago Tribune
“Slaughter has always known how to pace the suspense in her stellar crime novels, but she really outdoes herself here…In what might be her best effort yet, Slaughter reveals the heart and soul of her characters within a highly choreographed, unrelentingly suspenseful plot.“—Booklist, starred review
“Karin Slaughter, the most hardboiled of American mystery authors, contributes another relentless entry in her series set in Atlanta…Crammed with astonishingly believable dialogue, painfully uncomfortable love and breathtaking action…Slaughter never disappoints; Fallen is a must-read. Grade: A“—The Plain Dealer
“Slaughter just keeps getting better!“—Romantic Times Book Review
“Gripping…a thriller sure to please Slaughter’s many fans.“—Publishers Weekly
“Her talent is the equivalent of an Edgar Allan Poe or a Nathaniel Hawthorne…You can’t dismiss the growth of Slaughter’s talent. She has always been a good writer but of late she has become an exemplary storyteller, weaving her words with skill and intelligence. Fallen is a prime example of her talent. Sometime in the future, college classes will be devoted to Slaughter’s books and her writing skills will be dissected. She will be recognized as one of the great talents of the 21st century and will hold an honored place in the realm of world literature.“—The Huffington Post
“A power-driver of a novel…As always, Slaughter’s work is stellar. 4 stars.”—USA Today
“Suspenseful, quick-moving, and dappled with Atlanta locale, each novel in Slaughter’s Georgia series offers more insight into her well-crafted characters but can still stand on its own for new readers. Highly recommended for crime thriller and suspense fiction enthusiasts, especially fans of John Sandford, Kathy Reichs, and Patricia Cornwell.“—Library Journal, starred review
“A gritty page-turner where the casual brutality of gangs and life on death row are rendered with chilling exactitude; its nail-biting climax will leave you paging back through the book for clues you missed. But like the best writers in the genre, Slaughter offers a deeper look at police work and crime.”—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“At its heart, Fallen is about family—family of birth and of choice…Slaughter is at her best in this novel…with a gentle and deep understanding of her characters.”—New Orleans Times-Picayune
“Karin Slaughter has written a novel that is complex, unsettling, and with one of the meatiest suspense plots of the summer.”—Tucson Citizen
“Karin dropped me right back into the lives of Sara Linton, Faith Mitchell and Will Trent, with another well-plotted and action-driven thriller that I whipped through, but did not want to end. This is definitely her best book as she weaves many storylines and backstories together. Karin has set a high bar with each of her books—and she delivers. So much happens in FALLEN that once you close it, you will need time to think about the story as you finally exhale.“—Carol Fitzgerald of Bookreporter.com
“Slaughter’s thrillers are always exciting, but it’s her compelling characters that really make them page-turners.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune
“This is Slaughter’s best thriller yet.”—Bookloons
“Male readers who have found themselves overcome with cute might want to check out best-selling author Karin Slaughter, whose latest thriller, Fallen, features her characteristically complex characters, gritty realism and tight writing.“—Las Vegas Review-Journal
BROKEN
Delacorte Press – June 22, 2010
Karin Slaughter’s bestselling novels are as notable for their vivid portraits of lives shadowed by loss and heartbreak as they are for their dramatic criminal investigations. Her latest offering features the return of her most compelling characters and introduces memorable new ones in a tale of corruption, murder, and a confrontation that will leave more than one life…
Lena Adams is an anxious cop, who is still haunted by her role in the death of her former boss, Jeffrey Tolliver, Grant County’s popular police chief. His widow, Dr. Sara Linton, has been living in emotional and physical exile, and her return to her hometown is disrupted by the discovery of a woman’s body in a frigid lake. Hours later, in the wake of a chaotic arrest, a hapless young man kills himself in his Grant County jail cell after confessing to murder. Sara is certain that the police—and Lena—are hiding something. Determined to break through the wall of silence, Sara calls in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
The arrival of Investigator Will Trent from Atlanta raises the stakes. He finds an ineffectual police department that is endlessly chasing its tail. While accepting the hospitality of Sara’s family, who provide him room and board, Will draws on her history, knowledge, and medical expertise. He doesn’t, however, fully comprehend Sara’s considerable distrust for and hostility towards Lena Adams, the facts surrounding Chief Tolliver’s death, or the complexities of this insular town. Will can’t afford any blind spots and finds himself caught between the divergent truths of two empowered women. While chipping away at a police cover-up, he unleashes a case filled with explosive secrets, and encounters a thin blue line that could be murderous if crossed.
Spellbinding and keenly paced, Broken is Karin Slaughter at her best. Here is an unforgettable story of raw emotions, dangerous assumptions, the deadly and layered game of covering up, and a man’s determination to expose the most painful of human truths—no matter how deeply they’re hidden or the devastating costs.
Praise for Karin Slaughter and BROKEN
#1 Bestseller in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands
Suspense Magazine Best Thriller/Suspense of 2010
Nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award
“Addictive…Slaughter is a terrific writer, and she keeps the emotional tension high throughout.“—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Guaranteed to send a chill down your spine. We’re recommending this terrifying tale with a warning: do not read at night…This chilling mystery is just begging to be read in one sitting.“—Cosmopolitan
“Move over, Catherine Coulter—Slaughter may be today’s top female suspense writer.“—Library Journal, starred review
“With its relentlessly grim depiction of the desperate circumstances of those trapped by deep-seated poverty, Slaughter’s latest entry in her series overlays the standard police procedural with a burning sense of social justice.“—Booklist
“Slaughter is a master of the totally engrossing, gotta-know-what’s-gonna-happen-next page-turner; she doesn’t write thrillers as much as she explodes suspense.“—Lisa Gardner in Woman’s Day
“[A] white-hot series.“—Kirkus Reviews
“A first-class, perfectly paced mystery…Slaughter at her best. 4 1/2 stars“—Romantic Times, Top Pick!
“Superb…Slaughter keeps the emotional tension high throughout.“—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Opening the pages of a Karin Slaughter novel is accepting an invitation to enter a dark world of mystery and suspense…Slaughter weaves a spell of interest that keeps you entranced from beginning to end. Very few authors have this talent, but Slaughter has it in spades. Broken is a fascinating story created by a uniquely talented writer.“—The Huffington Post
“[A] compelling, fast-moving story…Karin Slaughter proves to be a master of characterization…tailor-made for the big screen.“—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“Slaughter’s fine, pulse-quickening latest—about a not-so-accidental drowning—takes its characters as seriously as its forensics.“—People, Great Reads
“…a white-knuckle cross-over featuring characters from both of Slaughter’s popular series.”—Entertainment Weekly
“Powerful…This is a novel of deep emotion and complex relationships mixed with Slaughter’s talent for writing a superbly constructed police procedural.“—USA Today
“Broken is superbly crafted…perhaps the best of the series thus far, and that is high praise indeed!“—BookPage, Top Pick, Mystery of the Month
“[A] terrific series…each one is as good as the one before.“—The Globe and Mail
“There is more to this writer than the mayhem her surname suggests—her own upbringing in a small town in southern Georgia is something Slaughter parleys into multi-faceted, highly persuasive portraits of a community not at ease with itself. [Slaughter] is still bloody good company.“—The Independent (UK)
“Karin Slaughter’s latest thriller is a spine tingler! 5 out of 5 stars“—Star Magazine (UK)
“A taut, terrifying plot…Guaranteed to keep you up reading all night long.“—Stylist (UK)
“[Karin Slaughter] delivers an edgy tale of small-town corruption and mistrust with more than enough plot twists to keep readers on their toes.“—Irish Independent
“Karin Slaughter’s new [thriller ignites] on contact…Will Trent [is] easily Slaughter’s best creation…Slaughter delivers excellent police procedure…“—Madison County Herald
“Just terrific…Karin’s writing is the best I have seen from her. It was tough to put it down!“—Carol Fitzgerald of Bookreporter.com
“I’m an avid crime fiction reader and have long enjoyed Karin Slaughter’s novels. Broken does not disappoint. It features the dysfunctional and wounded detective Will Trent, whom I am learning to love almost as much as I detest his equally damaged wife. The novel is set in small-town America and the menacing weather adds an additional dimension to the mounting tension that is keeping me up at night.“—Amanda Coetzee for the Sunday Times (South Africa)
UNDONE
Delacorte Press – July 14, 2009
Published internationally as GENESIS
In the trauma center of Atlanta’s busiest hospital, Sara Linton treats the city’s poor, wounded, and unlucky—and finds refuge from the tragedy that rocked her life in rural Grant County. Then, in one instant, Sara is thrust into a frantic police investigation, coming face-to-face with a tall driven detective and his quiet female partner…. In Undone, three unforgettable characters from Karin Slaughter’s New York Times bestselling novels Faithless and Fractured collide for the first time, entering an electrifying race against the clock—and a duel with unspeakable human evil.
In the backwoods of suburban Atlanta, where Sara’s patient was found, local police have set up their investigation. But Georgia Bureau of Investigation detective Will Trent doesn’t wait for the go-ahead from his boss—he plunges through police lines, through the brooding woods, and single-handedly exposes a hidden house of horror buried beneath the earth. Then he finds another victim.…
Wresting the case away from the local police chief, Will and his partner, Faith Mitchell—a woman keeping explosive secrets of her own—are called into a related investigation. Another woman—a smart, upscale, independent young mother—has been snatched. For the two cops out on the hunt, for the doctor trying to bring her patient back to life, the truth hits like a hammer: the killer’s torture chamber has been found, but the killer is still at work.
In her latest suspense masterpiece, Karin Slaughter weaves together the moving, powerful human stories of characters as real as they are complex and unforgettable. At the same time she has crafted a work of dazzling storytelling and spine-tingling mystery—as three people, each with their own wounds and their own secrets, are all that stands between a madman and his next crime.
Praise for Karin Slaughter and UNDONE
#1 Bestseller in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands
“Slaughter’s latest is a compelling look at how two flawed people work to overcome their shortcomings and combat pure evil.“—People
“Bestseller Slaughter brings together characters from her two series for the first time with electrifying results… Slaughter ups the emotional ante with every twist and turn…”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Slaughter has always been a talented writer, but in recent years her work has just gotten better and better. Undone‘s razor-sharp suspense and emotional depth make it a very worthy one.“—The Daily Beast
“Complex, sad, twisted and delicately plausible all at once, and what is otherwise a finely wrought procedural deepens into something more…her pacing is impeccable, the final mayhem exquisitely honed.“—Houston Chronicle
“A case as complicated and sophisticated as crime fiction gets…Slaughter always has great plots and characters, but Undone is one of her best.“—The Globe and Mail
“This is a fast-paced read with a complex plot that contains enough twists to keep even the most veteran mystery reader guessing the identity of the culprit until the very end. Highly recommended as a high-octane summer read.“—Library Journal, starred review
“Building on the characters’ evolving relationships and shared histories, Slaughter creates a story every bit as addictive as an HBO series (we can only hope!)…It’s a heart-pounding race to the finish that reveals as much about the hunters as the hunted.“—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“A complicated spider web of secrets and tangles.“—Los Angeles Times
“Undone confirms [Karin Slaughter] as one of America’s best crime thriller writers.“—Blogcritics
“From the first page, [Undone] is a book that grabs the reader by the scruff of the neck. And it doesn’t let you go until the very last…Switch off the mobile, cancel all appointments and expect to be drawn in and totally captivated by this deftly-plotted novel. 10/10“—Edinburgh Evening News
“Georgia native Karin Slaughter lives up to her peculiarly apt name as a crime novelist…Suspenseful and darkly powerful.“—Edmonton Sun
“Best-seller Slaughter serves up flawed characters and grisly forensics in this suspenseful series entry.“—Booklist
“Combining characters from both her series, Karin Slaughter produces a novel that probes, shocks, and enthralls. She writes with an edge that borders on ferocity, and her characters have tremendous depth, complete with all the flaws and foibles that make them truly human. No one is producing more powerful work these days.”—Bill Cusumano, Nicola’s Books, Ann Arbor, MI
“Slaughter’s strength is the portraits she paints of her investigators, with their very human failings.“—Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“I have not read many books by [Karin Slaughter], but after finishing Undone, I now must back track and read all the ones I haven’t read yet. This book was that good. It is a definite must read…you will lose track of time and will even have to barricade yourself in a room, just so you can read Undone in peace. Undone is in my top five favorite reads of 2009!“—Cheryl’s Book Nook
“Slaughter does an excellent job of ratcheting up the tension.“—Austin American-Statesman
“Even those who know Karin Slaughter’s books only by reputation are aware of her pole position in the realm of tough and persuasive crime thrillers. This is Karin Slaughter firing on all cylinders—showing, as ever, that she would never be happy trading on past glories. Each new book represents a move forward for her, and Genesis pushes all the right buttons.“—Amazon.co.uk
“Karin Slaughter lives up to her peculiarly apt name as a crime novelist who writes about bloodthirsty killers and other evildoers…Suspenseful and powerful.“—The Sarnia Observer
“Slaughter’s sharp plotting, her delicate way of exposing her characters’ personalities and her unflinching treatment of violence are paramount in Undone…one of her strongest novels.“—The Olympian
FRACTURED
Delacorte Press – July 29, 2008
Karin Slaughter dazzled readers and critics alike with Triptych, her New York Times bestselling suspense novel set in metropolitan Atlanta. Now the #1 internationally bestselling author returns to the damaged landscape she knows so well in a bold new novel—at once a powder keg of suspense, a gritty portrait of a cop’s life, and a searing exploration of a shocking crime and its aftermath…
With its gracious homes and tree-lined streets, Ansley Park is one of Atlanta’s most desirable neighborhoods. But in one gleaming mansion, in a teenager’s lavish bedroom, a girl has been savagely murdered. And in the hallway, her horrified mother stands amid shattered glass, having killed her daughter’s attacker with her bare hands.
Detective Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is here only to do a political favor; the murder site belongs to the Atlanta police. But Trent soon sees something that the cops are missing, something in the trail of blood, in a matrix of forensic evidence, and in the eyes of the shell-shocked mother. Within minutes, Trent is taking over the case—and adding another one to it. He is sure that another teenage girl is missing, and that a killer is on the loose.
Armed with only fleeting clues, teamed with a female cop who has her own personal reasons for hating him, Trent has enemies all around him—and a gnawing feeling that this case, which started in the best of homes, is cutting quick and deep through the ruins of perfect lives broken wide-open: where human demons emerge with a vengeance.
Praise for Karin Slaughter and FRACTURED
#1 Bestseller in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands
“A superior crime novel… [Slaughter is] fiercely focused and one of the most talented young crime novelists.”—The Washington Post
“Heart-pounding…. Slaughter brings the same raw energy and brutal violence that distinguishes her Grant County Series (Beyond Reach, etc) to this new series with chilling results, while Trent and Mitchell, a pair of complex and deeply flawed heroes, will leave fans clamoring for the next installment.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Slaughter brings breakneck pacing and emotional intensity to what could well be a series compelling enough to rival her Grant County novels. In addition, she ups the ante by starkly revealing the great emotional divide that separates those who have experienced severe trauma from those untouched by tragedy.”—Booklist
“An excellent exploration of the universal hopes, fears and dangers that swirl in the microcosm of a city.”—Library Journal
“Volcanic heroes and villians, who act both surprisingly and logically…Slaughter has the courage to detonate her biggest bombshells early on, keeping even the wariest readers off-balance.”—Kirkus Reviews
“[Slaughter] excels in wrong-footing our expectations…The result is a superior, deeply satisfying thriller.”—Evening Standard (U.K.)
“Hold on tight—you’re in for an exhilarating ride.”—Romantic Times
“Startling twists… [The detectives’] quirky relationship—as much as the increasingly intriguing investigation—fuels this fun read.”—People
“Fractured dazzles because it works on the level of both plot and character…. [And] the combination is unbeatable.”—Cleveland Plain-Dealer
“Unexpected twists and intriguing characters.”—Entertainment Weekly
“A rich, complex thriller…The combination of witty and insightful social observation, fully realized characters, rising suspense and sudden violence makes Fractured difficult to put down.“—Nashville Scene
“As Slaughter skillfully adds twist after twist to an already intricate plot, she peels back the layers of her characters to show their fears, their doubts and their motivations…These elements alone would make a satisfying police procedural, but in Slaughter’s novels there are always deeper issues at stake. Once again, she returns to her recurring theme of violence and the way it affects our lives, whether we live in a crack neighborhood, or the suburbs or Ansley Park. In Slaughter’s fictional world, no one is safe from violence and its ripple effects. Just like in real life.”—Atlanta Journal Constitution
“It’s hard to imagine an opening scene more vivid.“—Booknews from The Poisoned Pen
MARTIN MISUNDERSTOOD
Audio Original
Written by Karin Slaughter
Narrated by Wayne Knight
BBC Audiobooks America – July 8, 2008
Martin Misunderstood tells the story of Martin Reed, an average man who wonders how he has wound up with such an abysmally empty existence. Working as a senior accountant at Southern Toilet Supply and still living with his nagging mother, his sole source of excitement is the crime novels he cherishes. So immersed is Martin in these escapes he fails to notice the crimes going on all around him. When first one, then another, of his co-workers is brutally murdered, Martin steps in to help the investigation, bringing his amateur detecting skills to bear. But Martin realizes too late that what he has mistaken for the glow of the spotlight, is actually the harsh glare of interrogation.
Praise for MARTIN MISUNDERSTOOD
Winner of the 2009 Independent Book Publishers Association’s Benjamin Franklin Award for Best Fiction Audiobook
"A riveting, darkly humorous tale narrated by Seinfeld’s “Newman” —Wayne Knight!
“Zany music sets the tone for this exclusive audio original by top crime writer Karin Slaughter. MARTIN MISUNDERSTOOD is the portrait of a loser, an avid fan of mysteries and mystery writers who is oblivious to murders happening nearby—until he becomes a prime suspect. Slaughter sketches larger-than-life characters using only a few ordinary, hilarious, and revealing details, and narrator Wayne Knight (Newman on “Seinfeld”) gives each an energetic, gloomy, or appropriately over-the-top personality. Knight channels the 36-year-old crushingly unhappy Martin, who lives with his horror of a mother. He presents a man bossed by his underlings and taunted by his childhood friend, a man who has a turkey-wattle chin and “an unnatural talent for explicating actuarial data.” A little mystery packed with lots of fun.”—AudioFile
BEYOND REACH
Delacorte Press – July 31, 2007
Published internationally as SKIN PRIVILEGE
Karin Slaughter returns to Grant county, Georgia where the lightning-fast plot, vivid forensic detail, and heart-stopping suspense will thrust readers into the darkest corners of their own imaginations—and push Slaughter to the top of the national bestseller lists.
Sara Linton—resident medical examiner/pediatrician in Grant County, Georgia, has plenty of hardship to deal with, including defending herself in a heartbreaking malpractice suit. So when her husband, Police chief Jeffery Tolliver, learns that his friend and coworker detective Lena Adams has been arrested for murder and needs Sara’s help, she is not sure she can handle the pressure of it all. But soon Sara an Jeffery are sifting through evidence, peeling back the layers of a mystery that grows darker by the day—until an intricate web of betrayal and vengeance begins to unravel. And suddenly the lives of Sara, Lena, and Jeffery are hanging by the slenderest of threads.
Praise for Karin Slaughter and BEYOND REACH
One of Publishers Weekly‘s Best Books of the Year
“Powerful and complex…The way Slaughter gradually unspools her fascinating story, all the way up to its shocking conclusion, will have readers captivated. Another fine, dark novel from Slaughter.”—Chicago Sun-Times
“Slaughter’s latest page-turner offers both wrenching emotional highs and lows and a gripping plot, but what gives it emotional heft is its unwavering focus on the grim social ills of the rural South….A shocker of an ending.”—Booklist
“The last 50 pages will leave you breathless.”—USA Today
“Powered by Slaughter’s nonstop intensity.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Bone-chilling….Expertly shifting back and forth in both time and point of view, Slaughter builds the suspense to a perfect crescendo, connecting every loose plot strand in a devastating and unforgettable climax…A timely and unsettling read.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Sharp forensic detail and a series-altering surprise.”—Entertainment Weekly
“If you are one of those readers who pages ahead to see what’s gonna happen, do NOT do that with Karin Slaughter’s latest tour-de-police-force, Beyond Reach. Seriously, the ending is such a surprise it left me momentarily speechless… From a medical-examiner procedural aspect, Slaughter’s novels are as gripping as anything from Kathy Reichs or the early Patricia Cornwell, and when she gets into the intricacies of relationships she hits the ball right out of the park. Additionally, there’s enough gruesome medical detail to make genre junkies line up for the next installment.”—BookPage, Mystery of the Month
“Slaughter delivers a shocking, unforgettable twist that is devastating…Storytelling at its enjoyable, unsettling best.”—Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“[Slaughter’s] plotting is twisted and flawless. If you have followed the series like I have, when you finish the last page your jaw will drop. I guarantee it.“—Tulsa World
“This one is going to blow you away. In a season where plenty of mysteries promise hot action and complex plots, Beyond Reach reaches way beyond both. Karin Slaughter delivers a book that you can’t put down and that, once finished, you won’t forget.”—The Globe and Mail
“Slaughter delivers another intense thriller filled with multiple mysteries and nonstop action. The husband and wife duo of Dr. Sara Linton and Police Chief Jeffrey Tolliver are memorable characters whose intellect matches their emotions for one another.”—Romantic Times, Top Pick!
TRIPTYCH
Delacorte Press – August 15, 2006
From Atlanta’s wealthiest suburbs to its stark inner-city housing projects, a killer has crossed the boundaries of wealth and race. And the people who are chasing him must cross those boundaries, too. Among them is Michael Ormewood, a veteran detective whose marriage is hanging by a thread—and whose arrogance and explosive temper are threatening his career. And Angie Polaski, a beautiful vice cop who was once Michael’s lover before she became his enemy. But unbeknownst to both of them, another player has entered the game: a loser ex-con who has stumbled upon the killer’s trail in the most coincidental of ways—and who may be the key to breaking the case wide open.
In this gritty, grippin firecracker of a novel, the author of the bestselling Grant County, Georgia, series breaks thrilling new ground, weaving together the threads of a complex, multilayered story with the skill of a master craftsman. Packed with body-bending switchbacks, searing psychological suspense and human emotions, Triptych ratchets up the tension one revelation at a time as it races to a shattering and unforgettable climax.
Praise for Karin Slaughter and TRIPTYCH
#1 Bestseller in the United Kingdom
“Triptych delivers the breathless tension that’s a hallmark of Slaughter’s work…Fascinating and appealing…As with most of Slaughter’s books, the ending contains enough slam-bang action to keep you pinned to your seat.“—San Francisco Chronicle
“Slaughter’s gift for building multi-layered tension while deconstructing damaged personalities gives this thriller a nerve-wracking finish.“—USA Today
“A compelling, bleak tale about the intertwined fates of three men…The plotting and characterization are gripping as always—with a couple of big twists in there for good measure.”—Romantic Times
“One of 2006’s most remarkable achievements…This is easily the best thing Slaughter has written, a novel of power and substance that is shocking and painful at times, but also gripping and resonant. Triptych launches a major new phase in Slaughter’s career, and it’s a delight to behold.”—Philadelphia Inquirer
“Karin Slaughter writes with a razor…Slaughter is better than Cornwell can ever hope to be. Triptych elevates her to the top of my list of favorite crime writers.“—Cleveland Plain Dealer
“It is next to impossible to put the book down…Masterfully constructed fiction.“—Winston-Salem Journal
“A surprising and satisfying end. Slaughter unflinchingly digs into what lies beneath the surface in the excellent Triptych.“—Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
“This is one of those rare books that made me moan out loud: ‘oh no…oh, no…no, no…’ and then tell the first person I saw about what had just happened and how much I wish it hadn’t… If it’s not too much of a spoiler, I could say this book has it all: mystery, suspense, romance… edge-of-your-seat denouement… And I purposely won’t say what else… Wait and see for yourself, because you will without a doubt read—and enjoy—Triptych.“—Kirkus Reviews
“This will keep you up turning pages!“—OK! Magazine
“Diabolically clever.“—BookPage
“[An] intricately plotted page-turner of a novel.”—Booklist
“Triptych offers high-intensity thrills…Slaughter expertly provides numerous shocking plot twists, exploring edgy relationships…Almost impossible to put down. If you’re not familiar with Slaughter, you’re due for a real grisly treat—this is a superb outing from one of America’s best crime fiction stylists.“—Lansing State Journal
FAITHLESS
Delacorte Press – August 30, 2005
The critics agree: no one writes suspense like Karin Slaughter, whose thrillers featuring medical examiner Sara Linton and her ex-husband, police chief Jeffrey Tolliver, have propelled her to the top of bestseller lists the world over. Now Slaughter fuses her unmatched grasp of forensic science and a mastery of complex relationships in a riveting tale of faith, doubt, and murder.
The victim was buried alive in the Georgia woods—then killed in a horrifying fashion. When Sara Linton and Jeffrey Tolliver stumble upon the body, both become consumed with finding out who killed the pretty, impeccably dressed young woman. And for Sara and Jeffrey, a harrowing journey begins, one that will test their own turbulent relationship and draw dozens of lives into the case.
Lena Adams is one of them. A Grant County detective for years, she has her own reasons for being drawn to this case and a fierce drive to see justice done. For these three people, who have each seen the darkest side of human nature, the body of the murdered girl is but the first in a series of shocking and sordid revelations.
Now, as Jeffrey and Sara narrow the field of suspects, they must confront their own doubts and indiscretions, while Lena Adams sees herself reflected in the frightened eyes of a battered woman who may be the key figure in the case. As Faithless builds to a stunning and unforgettable climax, Karin Slaughter masterfully brings together strands of interlocking lives, family secrets, and hidden passions with one astounding truth: the identity of a killer who is more evil and dangerous than anyone could have guessed.
Praise for Karin Slaughter and FAITHLESS
#1 Bestseller in the United Kingdom and Germany
“Slaughter’s best yet…Her novels smolder with reality…She makes her characters as real as any you’ll encounter in today’s popular fiction…[and] she writes with confidence and precision as well as passion…She’s one of the best crime novelists in America.“—The Washington Post
“Armchair thrill-seekers much prefer the works of Karin Slaughter to, say, bungee jumping down a glacial crevasse…Slaughter will have you on the edge of your seat.“—Seattle Post-Intelligencer
“Smart…[a] muscular thriller.“—Entertainment Weekly
“Faithless, Karin Slaughter’s fifth novel, confirms her at the summit of the school of writers specializing in forensic medicine and terror….Slaughter’s characters talk in believable dialogue, she’s excellent at portraying the undertones and claustrophobia of communities where everyone knows everyone else’s business, and even better at creating an atmosphere of lurking evil.“—Times (London)
“The people in Faithless are so real and so well developed that the reader can’t help but feel empathy for them, and thus we are drawn even deeper into the ingenious plot.“—Chicago Sun-Times
“A superb journey into hearts of darkness…A briskly moving, superbly plotted novel.“—South Florida Sun-Sentinel
“Slaughter turns a compassionate eye on a brace of female victims and still manages to come across as the toughest cookie in Georgia.“—Kirkus Reviews
“An excellent thriller series…Slaughter once again displays her mastery of the fast-paced thriller that is not for the faint of heart. Highly recommended.“—Library Journal
“A tasty mix of melodrama and mayhem…The book’s climactic scene…is without question one of the sharpest and most tautly written set pieces to come along in a while.“—San Francisco Chronicle
“A compulsively readable narrative.”—Booklist
“Relationship issues take center stage in Slaughter’s latest compelling mystery…Strong characters and their myriad psychological issues and edgy interplay make for another engaging read by one of the genre’s fastest-rising stars.”—Romantic Times
“Grabs you by the throat and never lets go until you have read the last word…A very powerful novel.”—Mystery News
“Gripping…A literate, readable story where the characters are multilayered and flawed.”—Atlanta Journal-Constitution
INDELIBLE
William Morrow – July 27, 2004
Two armed men enter the police station in tiny Heartsdale, Georgia, and open fire. When the shooting stops, an officer is dead, Police Chief Jeffrey Tolliver is seriously wounded, and the survivors—including a class of grade-school children and medical examiner Sara Linton—are held hostage.
In a tense standoff that could erupt at any mment into more bloodletting—with her ex-husband on the threshold of death—Sara must search for answers and an escape in the memories of a time at the start of their relationship when another brutal, shocking crime shattered their small-town world. Because the sins of the past have caught up with Sara and Jeffrey … with a vengeance.
Praise for Karin Slaughter and INDELIBLE
“Slaughter excels…You get a lot of bangs for your bucks in Karin Slaughter’s new thriller…Indelible will give considerable pleasure.”—Washington Post Book World
“Indelible is a really hard book to put down.”—New Orleans Times-Picayune
“Harrowing…Compelling…Solidly—and uniquely—plotted…There’s not a false note…Slaughter balances the chilling violence of the present with a quieter, but no less frightening turmoil of the past…She unflinchingly looks at contemporary morality with aplomb…Indelible again proves the superb indelible mark Slaughter is making on mystery fiction.“—Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
“Truly pleasurable…Slaughter comes out gunning in Indelible…She rewards fans with the backstory on two recurring characters—pediatrician Sara Linton and her ex-husband, Jeffrey Tolliver…Indelible is skillfully told in both the then and the now, and quite scary on both fronts.“—New York Daily News
“Slaughter skillfully maintains the tension…[She] meticulously peels away layer after layer of her characters in this well-crafted thriller.“—Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Thrilling…One of the most riveting writers in the field today…She knows precisely how to take the reader into the darker corners of the human psyche: it’s not a comfortable place to be…Slaughter is adept at unsettling the reader in a whole host of ways…Tolliver and Sara’s faltering relationship is richly drawn…[and] is complimented by the author’s polished and consummate handling of the torturous plot.“—Sunday Express (London)
“Gripping…[with] complex characters with credible relationships. Slaughter’s tightly disciplined rhythm and occasional sly humor keep readers hooked right up to the end.“—Publishers Weekly
“The most significant new voice in American crime fiction.“—Sydney Daily Telegraph (Australia)
“One of the hottest names in thriller writing.“—OK! magazine
“Like a trick rider who gallops around the circus ring standing astride two stallions, Slaughter balances two equally wicked plots…She has a bighearted way with her highly flawed characters and a knack for grisly detail.“—Entertainment Weekly
“Amazingly, Slaughter manages between past and present stories while maintaining suspense in both.“—Kirkus Reviews
“Slaughter takes [the Grant County series] to a new level of excellence.”—Amazon.com
LIKE A CHARM
A Novel in Voices
William Morrow – May 11, 2004
Desire leaves a man destroyed…A young girl’s curiosity reveals secrets better left hidden…Jealousy drives a woman mad…An obsession with numbers precipitates a deadly revenge…Ambition leads to a curious exchange…An uncanny likeness changes two lives forever…The hand of fate lies buried in the past…
An unforgettable novel in sixteen parts by some of the most prestigious crime writers working today.
One bracelet, sixteen charms…
From nineteenth-century Georgia, where the bracelet is forged in fire, to wartime Leeds, the seedy underside of London’s Soho, a Manhattan cab, the frozen cliffs of Nova Scotia, and back to Georgia, each story takes the reader on a gripping journey of murder, betrayal, and intrigue.
Praise for LIKE A CHARM
“A diverting introduction to fifteen of the more interesting crime writers now at work.“—The Washington Post
A FAINT COLD FEAR
William Morrow – September 16, 2003
The third pulse-pounding novel in the Grant County series from New York Times bestselling author Karin Slaughter.
Sara Linton, medical examiner in the small town of Heartsdale, Georgia, is called out to an apparent suicide on the local college campus. The mutilated body provides little in the way of clues — and the college authorities are eager to avoid a scandal — but for Sara and police chief Jeffrey Tolliver, things don’t add up.
Two more suspicious suicides follow, and a young woman is brutally attacked. For Sara, the violence strikes far too close to home. And as Jeffrey pursues the sadistic killer, he discovers that ex-police detective Lena Adams, now a security guard on campus, may be in possession of crucial information. But, bruised and angered by her expulsion from the force, Lena seems to be barely capable of protecting herself, let alone saving the next victim…
Praise for Karin SlaughTer and A FAINT COLD FEAR
“Well-plotted…very satisfying…One of those rare books that keeps delivering surprises right up to the very last page.“—San Francisco Chronicle
“[A] solid, uncompromising plot…not for the faint of heart…No one—not even the reader—has time to catch their breath.”—Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
“Her writing is taut and [her] suspense unrelenting.”—Cleveland Plain Dealer
“[Slaughter] writes of our society’s ugliest realities with skill, anger, sensitivity, and compassion…Few young writers show more promise.”—Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Satisfyingly chilling…in the coldly captivating tradition of Cornwell and Reichs…Slaughter provides grisly variations on the themes of sibling rivalry, sexual abuse, and campus politics in a story not for the faint of heart.”—Publishers Weekly
“A solid entry in this series that maintains the author’s standards…A very unusual twist at the end adds a chilling new dimension to the plot. And Slaughter’s concern for her characters makes us want to visit Grant County again.”—Bergen Record
“Slaughter keeps baring her living characters’ psychic wounds in scene after scene with a remarkable intensity the reigning postmortem specialists, Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs, can’t match.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Slaughter [doesn’t] shy away from the more grisly aspects of forensics, both at crime scenes and in autopsies, though nothing compares to the emotional angst A Faint Cold Fear explores.”—Philadelphia Inquirer
“An engrossing work, with a well-drawn cast of characters and a nicely tuned plot.“—Irish Times
“Engrossing. [with] meticulous characterizations.“—People
“Slaughter spares no details…engrossing.“—The Mirror (London)
“Slaughter knows how to ratchet up the psychological tension in a compelling plot with an unexpected twist…Chilling and addictive reading.”—Booklist
KISSCUT
William Morrow – September 3, 2002
Saturday night dates at the skating rink have been a tradition in the small southern town of Heartsdale for as long as anyone can remember, but when a teenage quarrel explodes into a deadly shoot-out, Sara Linton—the town’s pediatrician and medical examiner—finds herself entangled in a terrible tragedy.
What seemed at first to be a horrific but individual catastrophe proves to have wider implications. The autopsy reveals evidence of long-term abuse and ritualistic self-mutilation, but when Sara and police chief Jeffrey Tolliver start to investigate, they are frustrated at every turn.
The children surrounding the victim close ranks. The families turn their backs. Then a young girl is abducted, and it becomes clear that the first death is linked to an even more brutal crime, one far more shocking than anyone could have imagined. Meanwhile, detective Lena Adams, still recovering from her sister’s death and her own brutal attack, finds herself drawn to a young man who might hold the answers. But unless Lena, Sara, and Jeffrey can uncover the deadly secrets the children hide, it’s going to happen again…
Praise for Karin Slaughter and KISSCUT
“A great read…This is crime fiction at its finest.”—Michael Connelly
“Creepiness spreads like kudzu in Slaughter’s small-town setting.”—Washington Post Book World
“Karin Slaughter has immediately jumped to the front of the line of first-rate thriller writers.”—Rocky Mountain News (Denver)
“The tension in Karin Slaughter’s Kisscut is almost palpable, which is why it isn’t the book to choose if you want an early night. But it is the type of thriller that is almost impossible to put down…Slaughter hits all the buttons, providing an original and well-plotted story that doesn’t let up until the final sentence.”—Orlando Sentinel
“Horrifying and heartrending…gruesome yet riveting…This is a great read.”—Tulsa World
“Karin Slaughter is a fearless writer. She takes us to the deep, dark places other novelists don’t dare to go. Kisscut will cement her reputation as one of the boldest thriller writers working today.”—Tess Gerritsen
“Chilling…This is a novel that has staying power.”—Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
“With Blindsighted, Karin Slaughter left a great many thriller writers looking anxiously over their shoulders. With Kisscut, she leaves most of them behind…It succeeds brilliantly.”—John Connolly
“Just as remarkable as its predecessor…Slaughter has the talent to write ‘literary’ fiction but has chosen to write what we loosely call thrillers.”—Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Engrossing…[with] meticulous characterizations.”—People
“A tension-filled narrative with plenty of plot twists…just the ticket for readers who like their crime fiction on the dark side.”—Booklist
“Though her forensics and investigative writing place her in a league with Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs, Slaughter’s tweaking of the human condition is key to making her a uniquely original voice in the world of mystery and suspense.”—Jackson Clarion Ledger
“A fast-paced thriller for those not faint of heart.“—Library Journal
“[Karin Slaughter is] a new synonym for terror.”—Detroit Free Press
“Slaughter prepares an obstacle course of unflinching twists and turns that are anything but routine. Nor does she let up on the story’s acceleration…She makes each character deeply flawed and complex…In Kisscut, Slaughter looks unflinchingly at contemporary moral issues with polish and professionalism.”—Tallahassee Democrat
“Karin Slaughter deserves all the praise she gets for her razor-sharp plotting and forensic detail. But for me the hook is in her characters and relationships. They are right on the mark.“—Mark Connelly
“Breakneck plotting and not-for-the-squeamish forensics…It’s not easy to transcend a model like Patricia Cornwell, but Slaughter does so.“—Kirkus Reviews
“Slaughter may well be the next Thomas Harris—she has the remarkable imagination, but also the remarkable empathy and intelligence. I cannot wait to visit her world again.“—Laura Lippman
“The undertone of violence is pervasive, even at quiet moments, amplifying Slaughter’s equation of intimacy with menace and placing her squarely in the ranks of Cornwell and Reichs. Forecast: Slaughter’s much-praised first novel, Blindsighted, put her on the thriller map. Kisscut, a featured alternate selection of the Literary Guild, Doubleday Book Club, Mystery Guild and BOMC, could make her a bestseller.”—Publishers Weekly
“This taut, chilling thriller showcases Karin Slaughter’s skill at plotting, pace, and narrative, and will linger in the reader’s mind long after the stunning denouement.”—Amazon.com
BLINDSIGHTED
William Morrow – September 4, 2001
The sleepy town of Heartsdale, Georgia is jolted into panic when Sara Linton, the town’s pediatrician and coroner, finds Sibyl Adams, a young college professor, dead in the local diner. As well as being viciously raped, Sibyl has been cut: two deep knifewounds form a lethal cross over her stomach. But it’s only when Sara starts to perform the postmortem that the full extent of the killer’s brutality becomes clear.
Police chief Jeffrey Tolliver—Sara’s ex-husband—is in charge of the investigation, and when a second victim is found crucified only a few days later, he has to face the fact that Sibyl’s murder wasn’t just a personal attack. What he’s dealing with is a sadistic rapist turned killer who is terrorizing rural Grant County.
Jeffrey isn’t alone in his search. Lena Adams, the county’s sole female detective, wants to see justice done since her sister was the first victim. Sara, too, cannot escape the terror. A secret from her past could hold the key to finding the killer—unless he finds her first.
Praise for Karin Slaughter and BLINDSIGHTED
One of the Washington Post’s and South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Best Books of the Year
A People magazine “Pick-of-the-Week”
Shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey Memorial Dagger Award for Best First Crime Novel
“A novel that blows your socks off…Read the first chapter and just try to put it down.”—Rocky Mountain News (Denver)
“If you’re looking for an unflinching suspense thriller…this is the one.”—George P. Pelecanos, author of Right as Rain
“Shockingly good . . . beautifully and believably rendered. Slaughter may very well be the next Thomas Harris.”—Laura Lippman, author of The Sugar House
“Taut and tight and tinged with terror.”—Houston Chronicle
“Slaughter’s plot has more twists than a Slinky factory and the characters’ relationships are sharply drawn.”—People, starred review
“Deftly crafted, damnably suspenseful and, in the end, deadly serious…Blindsighted hits the bull’s eye…The publisher is comparing Slaughter to Thomas Harris and, for once, the hype is justified.”—The Washington Post
“Just when you think nothing could equal the mind-blowing madness of Thomas Harris’s The Silence of the Lambs or the cutting-edge squeamishness of Patricia Cornwell, up pops Karin Slaughter…Blindsighted’s horror is some of the strongest you’ll read this year, Slaughter’s prose is to die for.”—Jackson Clarion-Ledger (Ms.)
“One of the boldest thriller writers working today…She takes us to the deep, dark places other novelists don’t dare to go.“—Tess Gerritsen
“A noirish thriller that veers into the Southern gothic tradition complete with the brooding atmosphere…Slaughter allows the reader few moments of rest as she keeps the tale moving at breakneck speed, still taking sharp hairpin curves with ease.“—Orlando Sentinel
“Gripping…Rich with likable, believable characters and plot twists that will take your breath away.“—Cleveland Plain Dealer
“Karin Slaughter is an impressive new landmark on the thriller map.“—Val McDermid
“Riveting…Tautly plotted.“—Chattanooga Times
“Blindsighted is an excellent book, with characters you care about and a plot with enough twists and shocks to keep you turning the pages long after bedtime. Karin Slaughter goes straight on my must-read list.”—Peter Robinson, author of Friend of the Devil
“This is storytelling at its finest, written in perfect pitch. A scary, sure-fire winner.“—John Westermann, author of Exit Wounds
“Karin Slaughter deserves all the praise she gets for her razor-sharp plotting and forensic detail. But for me the hook is in her characters and relationships. They are right on the mark.“—Michael Connelly
“Slaughter is off to a fine start…in this bloody, fast-paced thriller.“—St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“A very promising debut by a very talented writer. I recommend it highly.”—Deadly Pleasures Magazine
“Karin Slaughter’s debut is taut, mean, nasty and bloody well written.”—Stella Duffy, author of Beneath the Blonde
“Pitch perfect. Karin Slaughter is a new force to be reckoned with.”—Steve Hamilton, author of A Cold Day in Paradise
“Scary, shocking and perfectly suspenseful…Will propel the Georgia native right onto the ‘must read’ list for suspense fans.”—BookPage
“What a terrifying book! Disturbing, original, haunting.”—Ellen Conford
“Blindsighted is everything a book should be, and Karin Slaughter is a significant new voice in American crime fiction.“—Jane Haddam, author of True Believers
“Blindsighted is an extraordinary debut. Slaughter has created a ferociously taut and terrifying story.“—Denise Mina, author of Garnethill and Exile
“Engaging…marks the debut of a promising young author.“—Publishers Weekly
“An extremely mature first novel, with well-developed characters and a finely tuned plot.“—Library Journal
“Gruesome forensics, inventive plotting, strong/imperiled heroine . . . Perfect escapist fare.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Karin Slaughter lives up to her name with Blindsighted, and readers won’t be able to put it down.”—Bustle