Ratings73
Average rating3.9
// Random thoughts. \
Georgia is the setting of the book and home to some of the grisliest depictions of violence I have ever read. Sara, the county's coroner and pediatrician, is called to a scene of absolute horror. The police are baffled; there is no evidence left at the scene, and the diner in which the murder took place had no cameras. It's immensely evil. It's beyond dark. The scene descriptions are unwavering and intense.
Enter Jeffery, the chief detective and ex-husband of Sara (who got caught cheating), is searching for any shred of evidence so he can put the murderer away. Lena, an officer who is related to the first victim, will stop at nothing to catch the culprit as well. One after another, murders take place, and Sara is seemingly in the middle of each. Is it someone related? Someone from her past? Or just a coincidence?
Quick note: Whenever a hospital scene begins in a Karin Slaughter book, get ready; it's going to get emotional, graphic, or both. Did I mention not to eat anything while reading this book?
If the psychopath is trying to get caught, they are doing a bad job at it. The disturbing clues left on the bodies point in so many directions. I mean, can we get a little levity between chapters? This is not your average CSI episode, folks. There are only about four red herrings, so your pool of possible suspects is small. Even if you guess who it is, it does not stop you from being shocked at some of the connections towards the end.
The characters internal monologues are top-tier. The author knows what you are thinking in certain situations, so she internalizes questions that are probably brewing in your head into her characters. You then have a front-row seat to witness how the character reacts to what is happening. Do they lie about it, skirt the truth, or draw a line that is somewhere in between? It's exciting, and that's just one of the reasons I love her writing style.
Flash forward: The ending is great. A will they, won't they, that feels so realistic. I am incredibly excited and somewhat nervous to start the next one. I might need a palate cleanse. Something really light. Oh, and a hug.
The trigger warnings are strong with this one. Please be warned, it deals with some extreme depravity.
──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗── Extra