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The Good Daughter #1
The Good Daughter
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Mystery & Thriller (2017)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, Charlotte 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, Charlotte 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.
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, Charlotte 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, Charlotte 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.
656 pages, ebook
First published August 8, 2017
About the author
Karin Slaughter
119 books71.4k followersKarin Slaughter is the author of more than twenty instant NEW YORK TIMES bestselling novels, including the Edgar–nominated COP TOWN and standalone novels THE GOOD DAUGHTER, PRETTY GIRLS, and GIRL, FORGOTTEN. She is published in 120 countries with more than 40 million copies sold across the globe. PIECES OF HER is a #1 Netflix original series starring Toni Collette. The Will Trent Series is on ABC (and streaming on Hulu in the U.S and Disney+ internationally). THE GOOD DAUGHTER and FALSE WITNESS are in development for film/tv. Slaughter is the founder of the Save the Libraries project—a nonprofit organization established to support libraries and library programming. A native of Georgia, she lives in Atlanta.
Facebook: Facebook.com/AuthorKarinSlaughter
Website: http://www.karinslaughter.com/
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Facebook: Facebook.com/AuthorKarinSlaughter
Website: http://www.karinslaughter.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karinslaugh...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 14,816 reviews
February 6, 2019
Full review:
Anyone who knows me well knows that I’m a Grade-A, Karin Slaughter junkie. I can’t get enough of her stuff; it’s like crack for nerds who like all the dark things in their reading repertoire. I began devouring her books right around my 18th birthday and have continued to do so for almost 10 years. She’s the only living author that I have continued to read for such an extended period of time; I tell you all this so that you are aware just how good these books truly are. I’m going to keep my review spoiler free for The Good Daughter, but the following paragraphs will have some spoilers for her previous series, mainly the Grant County books. If you haven’t read them and are planning to, or if you’d rather skip the backstory, I’d recommend skipping the section between the stars.
*********************************************
If I may I would like to share my journey (so far) with Karin Slaughter, as I have had so many people ask me on Goodreads why I am obsessed with her books and how I fell in to reading them. I was lucky enough to grow up with an aunt who’s a librarian in Georgia and has continually connected me with authors she knew are just phenomenal. She was the first person who understood my need for consuming mysteries, thrillers, and all-around dark themed novels; the fact that I was able to pick up Blindsighted right as my mother was going through a scary breast cancer diagnosis and treatment was not lost on me. The Grant County series wasn’t just another set of books to teenage Chelsea; they were a “real” place that I could escape to when my mom’s tumors were being cut out of her body or while the chemo ravaged her body. I could go someplace else where all that wasn’t happening, but also where these people understood darkness, suffering, and pain. This is why I think it’s so important that people write books containing such dark content.
I blew threw the Grant County series; I literally read them all back to back and couldn’t get enough. I grew up in Atlanta and went to Auburn University, so if there has been a more relatable series written for myself I can’t think of what it might be. When I turned the last page of Beyond Reach and I saw what Slaughter had done, I’ll be honest, I was ready to rage and rant and throw books and cuss people out. HOW COULD YOU KILL MY BELOVED?!?!?!?! When I was ready to make the transition into the Will Trent series, I thought I would be done. No way could this woman make me love another man with Sarah. How dare she? I’ll admit, it took me a bit of warming up to Will but then it hit me; the reason I had so many feelings about these books was due to the dang characters! Finally, I blew threw the remaining Will Trent novels with ease and care for this new family I’d accumulated. I also loved her standalone novels of late and thought they were a fantastic way for new fans to dip their toes in the great expanse of the Slaughter kingdom. So that brings us up to speed for The Good Daughter.
*********************************************
If I’m being honest, it’s always nerve wracking to pick up a new book by your favorite author, especially once they’ve been writing long term. What if it isn’t as good as those before? It’s a real fear; so many authors burn out or try to keep writing the same story over and over while losing their viewers. That fear was unnecessary here; you heard me, this one gets Chelsea’s “Holy Guacamole” stamp of approval! Being another standalone, I wasn’t really sure what the feel would be here, as each of her solitary novels are all quite different. Cop Town had the feel of historical crime fiction that was heavily character driven and tied in to the past of some familiar previous characters, while Pretty Girls was a highly disturbing thriller wrought with tension and graphic content. I believe the reason I was so drawn in by The Good Daughter was due to the nostalgic vibe it gave off.
As a massive Grant County fan I was delighted to discover that TGD had such similar structure to Grant County and it’s characters while simultaneously establishing it’s own groove. We are presented with an estranged couple we desire to reconcile set in a small town off of Atlanta with major drama that is kept within that close circle. I did really enjoy that we were able to follow a family of lawyers this time; it gave a fresh spin on the procedural formula that seems to work so well for the author. This story did have a little more action than some in the past, but as we all know the reason to read any book by KS is due to her master characterization skills. The lady can write some relatable, intriguing, and empathetic characters! Once again, this aspect was portrayed at it’s best and I can’t applaud how well the different personalities shined through in the writing.
Speaking of, THIS is how you develop the people telling your story. THIS is how you write inclusive, diverse crime fiction. THIS is how you incorporate graphic content in a respectful manner that furthers the story and emotionally ties the reader to the characters. There was no awkward writing in of a few diverse characters to cover the writer’s backside. Characters covering various forms of minorities are present here, but it’s done so in a way that feels right. It feels like real life and what we all desire from mainstream fiction. Tough, timely issues are covered here, such as the life of a transgender woman in the deep south, the using and abuse of a child with diminished mental capacities, and the long, seemingly impossible journey to healing and restoration after such a brutal incident as described in the prologue were all just pieces of what made this book such a strong contender for my Top 10 reads of 2017.
I’ll shut up now, as I’ve done enough damage, but my hope is that you’ll give this book a chance, even if it doesn’t sound like your typical read. To answer many folks question, I felt this one wasn’t quite as gratuitously graphic and violent as Pretty Girls, but it definitely is founded on a highly disturbing, brutal attack. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a procedural that makes you feel things that we, as humans, should never grow numb to. I apologize for the lengthy review and hope you enjoy this read as much as I did. You won’t find characters written quite like this anywhere else.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy; it was a pleasure to provide my honest thoughts here.
Anyone who knows me well knows that I’m a Grade-A, Karin Slaughter junkie. I can’t get enough of her stuff; it’s like crack for nerds who like all the dark things in their reading repertoire. I began devouring her books right around my 18th birthday and have continued to do so for almost 10 years. She’s the only living author that I have continued to read for such an extended period of time; I tell you all this so that you are aware just how good these books truly are. I’m going to keep my review spoiler free for The Good Daughter, but the following paragraphs will have some spoilers for her previous series, mainly the Grant County books. If you haven’t read them and are planning to, or if you’d rather skip the backstory, I’d recommend skipping the section between the stars.
*********************************************
If I may I would like to share my journey (so far) with Karin Slaughter, as I have had so many people ask me on Goodreads why I am obsessed with her books and how I fell in to reading them. I was lucky enough to grow up with an aunt who’s a librarian in Georgia and has continually connected me with authors she knew are just phenomenal. She was the first person who understood my need for consuming mysteries, thrillers, and all-around dark themed novels; the fact that I was able to pick up Blindsighted right as my mother was going through a scary breast cancer diagnosis and treatment was not lost on me. The Grant County series wasn’t just another set of books to teenage Chelsea; they were a “real” place that I could escape to when my mom’s tumors were being cut out of her body or while the chemo ravaged her body. I could go someplace else where all that wasn’t happening, but also where these people understood darkness, suffering, and pain. This is why I think it’s so important that people write books containing such dark content.
I blew threw the Grant County series; I literally read them all back to back and couldn’t get enough. I grew up in Atlanta and went to Auburn University, so if there has been a more relatable series written for myself I can’t think of what it might be. When I turned the last page of Beyond Reach and I saw what Slaughter had done, I’ll be honest, I was ready to rage and rant and throw books and cuss people out. HOW COULD YOU KILL MY BELOVED?!?!?!?! When I was ready to make the transition into the Will Trent series, I thought I would be done. No way could this woman make me love another man with Sarah. How dare she? I’ll admit, it took me a bit of warming up to Will but then it hit me; the reason I had so many feelings about these books was due to the dang characters! Finally, I blew threw the remaining Will Trent novels with ease and care for this new family I’d accumulated. I also loved her standalone novels of late and thought they were a fantastic way for new fans to dip their toes in the great expanse of the Slaughter kingdom. So that brings us up to speed for The Good Daughter.
*********************************************
If I’m being honest, it’s always nerve wracking to pick up a new book by your favorite author, especially once they’ve been writing long term. What if it isn’t as good as those before? It’s a real fear; so many authors burn out or try to keep writing the same story over and over while losing their viewers. That fear was unnecessary here; you heard me, this one gets Chelsea’s “Holy Guacamole” stamp of approval! Being another standalone, I wasn’t really sure what the feel would be here, as each of her solitary novels are all quite different. Cop Town had the feel of historical crime fiction that was heavily character driven and tied in to the past of some familiar previous characters, while Pretty Girls was a highly disturbing thriller wrought with tension and graphic content. I believe the reason I was so drawn in by The Good Daughter was due to the nostalgic vibe it gave off.
As a massive Grant County fan I was delighted to discover that TGD had such similar structure to Grant County and it’s characters while simultaneously establishing it’s own groove. We are presented with an estranged couple we desire to reconcile set in a small town off of Atlanta with major drama that is kept within that close circle. I did really enjoy that we were able to follow a family of lawyers this time; it gave a fresh spin on the procedural formula that seems to work so well for the author. This story did have a little more action than some in the past, but as we all know the reason to read any book by KS is due to her master characterization skills. The lady can write some relatable, intriguing, and empathetic characters! Once again, this aspect was portrayed at it’s best and I can’t applaud how well the different personalities shined through in the writing.
Speaking of, THIS is how you develop the people telling your story. THIS is how you write inclusive, diverse crime fiction. THIS is how you incorporate graphic content in a respectful manner that furthers the story and emotionally ties the reader to the characters. There was no awkward writing in of a few diverse characters to cover the writer’s backside. Characters covering various forms of minorities are present here, but it’s done so in a way that feels right. It feels like real life and what we all desire from mainstream fiction. Tough, timely issues are covered here, such as the life of a transgender woman in the deep south, the using and abuse of a child with diminished mental capacities, and the long, seemingly impossible journey to healing and restoration after such a brutal incident as described in the prologue were all just pieces of what made this book such a strong contender for my Top 10 reads of 2017.
I’ll shut up now, as I’ve done enough damage, but my hope is that you’ll give this book a chance, even if it doesn’t sound like your typical read. To answer many folks question, I felt this one wasn’t quite as gratuitously graphic and violent as Pretty Girls, but it definitely is founded on a highly disturbing, brutal attack. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a procedural that makes you feel things that we, as humans, should never grow numb to. I apologize for the lengthy review and hope you enjoy this read as much as I did. You won’t find characters written quite like this anywhere else.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy; it was a pleasure to provide my honest thoughts here.
August 8, 2017
A quick note to let you guys know that the publication date has moved up to August 8th for various exciting reasons that will become clear later on.
I also want to talk a little bit about the story. (With extremely, incredibly light spoilers in that I tell you who some of the characters are, but not what happens, especially when the aliens come and impregnate the men ha ha okay I'm just kidding about that, but you've been warned!)
With the GOOD DAUGHTER, I decided to do another stand-alone because the Will Trent/Sara Linton story I've been thinking about isn't quite there yet in my head, so I was looking to do something different in order to give myself brain space for both stories to work themselves out.
I really enjoyed writing from the point of view of non-investigators in PRETTY GIRLS, because it was a challenge to figure out how to put Claire and Lydia in the middle of the action in a believable way, and have them make choices that a normal person would make (as opposed to choices that would just easily further the plot but don't make a lot of sense for a real human being who is afraid for their life). So I decided to write about a family of lawyers (I know, how did I not just kill them all on the first page). At first I was a little hesitant about writing another sister story, because I didn't want to be the "sister story woman" (which sounds like the title of a great Amish TV show) but I am the youngest of three sisters, so I know what sisters are like, and also, I write about murder in every book and no one thinks of me as the murder woman (though I understand having a last name like "Slaughter" does beg the question).
I also wanted to go back to writing about a small town, as I haven't really done that since Grant County. I grew up in a small town, and I do most of my writing in a beautiful, small mountain town (Pikeville is not you, Blue Ridge!) so I know what it's like so be in a place where everyone knows you--or thinks they know you, and how that can at times be rewarding and at other times be incredibly stifling.
A lot of times my stories tend to reflect what I'm not seeing in other books that I read, or what I really like in books that I've read (I'm thinking of you, Liane Moriarty!), so one of the other goals in this book was to write about a woman who really, really loves her husband. I am so proud of the way that Will and Sara's relationship has evolved, and I love the respect that they have for each other, because I think more than anything, that's what women crave in a partner: someone who respects their opinion, who they are, what they feel. You could go all the way back to the Knight's Tale in Canterbury Tales to understand this long-standing desire. So, I took the opportunity to write about a woman who adores her husband, but can't quite stop screwing things up. And why she keeps screwing up goes to the heart of one of the many mysteries in this story.
Long-time readers will know that I also try to be inclusive in my writing and discuss how the world is for people with disabilities, so I took the opportunity in the GOOD DAUGHTER to write a bit about the struggle for someone who has mobility issues and how often times, small towns are not equipped to handle them (whether through lack of funding or lack of care).
Another character I was very eager to write about is Rusty Quinn. A few years ago when Go Set a Watchman came out, I was at dinner with a bunch of authors (for Thrillerfest in NYC) and the NY Times had just released an excerpt where it was revealed that Atticus Finch was not the saint that many of us were led to believe. Greg Isles and I got into a heated discussion about whether or not an educated man in a small Southern town would behave and think the way that the "new" Atticus did. He was firmly on the side of educated men, and I was firmly on the side of a more nuanced approach (perhaps because I had just read a book on the lynching of Leo Frank, and seen photos of some of Georgia's most upstanding citizens--lawyers, judges, p0liticians--standing proudly beside his hanged body). At any rate, I wanted to write about a complicated man, not the saint that Scout worships in To Kill a Mockingbird, and not the casual racist she sees in Watchman. Rusty is a good man, but he has his flaws, chief among them the belief that he always does what is right. Now, as with a lot of people, what "right" means tends to be whatever he feels justified in doing. The question of whether or not he is a good man, or a good flawed man, is another one I mull over in the book.
Well, I think that's all I can say without dropping some massive spoilers. So I will leave you with my heart-felt thanks to the GoodReads community (many of whom I've shared some wonderful communications with) and hope that you love this story as much as I do. I know every author says that their favorite book is the last one they wrote, but I cannot express to you how happy I am with the themes and relationships and the fast pacing and the tension that I managed to weave through this novel.
Please come see me on my tour!
Karin Slaughter
I also want to talk a little bit about the story. (With extremely, incredibly light spoilers in that I tell you who some of the characters are, but not what happens, especially when the aliens come and impregnate the men ha ha okay I'm just kidding about that, but you've been warned!)
With the GOOD DAUGHTER, I decided to do another stand-alone because the Will Trent/Sara Linton story I've been thinking about isn't quite there yet in my head, so I was looking to do something different in order to give myself brain space for both stories to work themselves out.
I really enjoyed writing from the point of view of non-investigators in PRETTY GIRLS, because it was a challenge to figure out how to put Claire and Lydia in the middle of the action in a believable way, and have them make choices that a normal person would make (as opposed to choices that would just easily further the plot but don't make a lot of sense for a real human being who is afraid for their life). So I decided to write about a family of lawyers (I know, how did I not just kill them all on the first page). At first I was a little hesitant about writing another sister story, because I didn't want to be the "sister story woman" (which sounds like the title of a great Amish TV show) but I am the youngest of three sisters, so I know what sisters are like, and also, I write about murder in every book and no one thinks of me as the murder woman (though I understand having a last name like "Slaughter" does beg the question).
I also wanted to go back to writing about a small town, as I haven't really done that since Grant County. I grew up in a small town, and I do most of my writing in a beautiful, small mountain town (Pikeville is not you, Blue Ridge!) so I know what it's like so be in a place where everyone knows you--or thinks they know you, and how that can at times be rewarding and at other times be incredibly stifling.
A lot of times my stories tend to reflect what I'm not seeing in other books that I read, or what I really like in books that I've read (I'm thinking of you, Liane Moriarty!), so one of the other goals in this book was to write about a woman who really, really loves her husband. I am so proud of the way that Will and Sara's relationship has evolved, and I love the respect that they have for each other, because I think more than anything, that's what women crave in a partner: someone who respects their opinion, who they are, what they feel. You could go all the way back to the Knight's Tale in Canterbury Tales to understand this long-standing desire. So, I took the opportunity to write about a woman who adores her husband, but can't quite stop screwing things up. And why she keeps screwing up goes to the heart of one of the many mysteries in this story.
Long-time readers will know that I also try to be inclusive in my writing and discuss how the world is for people with disabilities, so I took the opportunity in the GOOD DAUGHTER to write a bit about the struggle for someone who has mobility issues and how often times, small towns are not equipped to handle them (whether through lack of funding or lack of care).
Another character I was very eager to write about is Rusty Quinn. A few years ago when Go Set a Watchman came out, I was at dinner with a bunch of authors (for Thrillerfest in NYC) and the NY Times had just released an excerpt where it was revealed that Atticus Finch was not the saint that many of us were led to believe. Greg Isles and I got into a heated discussion about whether or not an educated man in a small Southern town would behave and think the way that the "new" Atticus did. He was firmly on the side of educated men, and I was firmly on the side of a more nuanced approach (perhaps because I had just read a book on the lynching of Leo Frank, and seen photos of some of Georgia's most upstanding citizens--lawyers, judges, p0liticians--standing proudly beside his hanged body). At any rate, I wanted to write about a complicated man, not the saint that Scout worships in To Kill a Mockingbird, and not the casual racist she sees in Watchman. Rusty is a good man, but he has his flaws, chief among them the belief that he always does what is right. Now, as with a lot of people, what "right" means tends to be whatever he feels justified in doing. The question of whether or not he is a good man, or a good flawed man, is another one I mull over in the book.
Well, I think that's all I can say without dropping some massive spoilers. So I will leave you with my heart-felt thanks to the GoodReads community (many of whom I've shared some wonderful communications with) and hope that you love this story as much as I do. I know every author says that their favorite book is the last one they wrote, but I cannot express to you how happy I am with the themes and relationships and the fast pacing and the tension that I managed to weave through this novel.
Please come see me on my tour!
Karin Slaughter
August 9, 2017
This is the second thriller I've read lately that opens with a shitstorm of drama. In the best kind of way, of course. But The Good Daughter is, in some ways, much darker than Stillhouse Lake, and in other ways slower and more character-driven.
It's not a bad thing. Slaughter more closely resembles my beloved Tana French in style, making her books more about the detectives or, in this case, lawyers than about the actual crime/mystery. It's a clever technique that always ensures I'm invested, whether or not I can figure out the twists and whodunnits. The very best mystery/thrillers, in my opinion, are about so much more than the twists and whodunnits.
The Good Daughter is essentially a deeply emotional, character-driven family drama, set to the backdrop of two brutal crimes. The first happened years ago - two armed men forced their way into the home of young Samantha and Charlotte, murdering their mother and turning their lives completely upside down. The girls, now adult women and lawyers, are left with both the physical and mental scars; it is hard for the sisters to be around each other without serving as a reminder of the horrendous night that ruined everything.
The second crime, twenty-eight years later, is a school shooting that Charlie finds herself a witness to. When Sam returns to town, both of them are caught up in the case. It seems pretty obvious what happened - mentally slow teenager, Kelly, is caught literally with the smoking gun in front of two dead victims. But how much can Kelly be held responsible? Is everything as it seems? And, Charlie must ask herself: what, exactly, did she really see that day?
I don't know which story was most compelling - the gradual unveiling of what happened all those years ago, the investigating of the shooting and the dark secrets behind it, or the complex relationship between Sam and Charlie; the web of guilt, bitterness and love that they are tangled up in.
I should warn potential readers that there are some very disturbing and gory scenes of violence and . Slaughter doesn't gloss over details and there were some parts that had me cringing. If you are particularly sensitive to this, I wouldn't recommend The Good Daughter for you. But I was able to get past it.
My one main complaint about the book was that Slaughter does like to waffle on a little too much in parts. Some conversations between Sam, Charlie and Rusty go on for pages and pages without really adding anything. Though Tana French is occasionally prone to over-detailing, so I'm forgiving of it. Other than that, though, I thought it was a great read. Both drawn-out and complex, but also dramatic and compelling. The author gets the balance just right.
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It's not a bad thing. Slaughter more closely resembles my beloved Tana French in style, making her books more about the detectives or, in this case, lawyers than about the actual crime/mystery. It's a clever technique that always ensures I'm invested, whether or not I can figure out the twists and whodunnits. The very best mystery/thrillers, in my opinion, are about so much more than the twists and whodunnits.
The Good Daughter is essentially a deeply emotional, character-driven family drama, set to the backdrop of two brutal crimes. The first happened years ago - two armed men forced their way into the home of young Samantha and Charlotte, murdering their mother and turning their lives completely upside down. The girls, now adult women and lawyers, are left with both the physical and mental scars; it is hard for the sisters to be around each other without serving as a reminder of the horrendous night that ruined everything.
The second crime, twenty-eight years later, is a school shooting that Charlie finds herself a witness to. When Sam returns to town, both of them are caught up in the case. It seems pretty obvious what happened - mentally slow teenager, Kelly, is caught literally with the smoking gun in front of two dead victims. But how much can Kelly be held responsible? Is everything as it seems? And, Charlie must ask herself: what, exactly, did she really see that day?
I don't know which story was most compelling - the gradual unveiling of what happened all those years ago, the investigating of the shooting and the dark secrets behind it, or the complex relationship between Sam and Charlie; the web of guilt, bitterness and love that they are tangled up in.
I should warn potential readers that there are some very disturbing and gory scenes of violence and . Slaughter doesn't gloss over details and there were some parts that had me cringing. If you are particularly sensitive to this, I wouldn't recommend The Good Daughter for you. But I was able to get past it.
My one main complaint about the book was that Slaughter does like to waffle on a little too much in parts. Some conversations between Sam, Charlie and Rusty go on for pages and pages without really adding anything. Though Tana French is occasionally prone to over-detailing, so I'm forgiving of it. Other than that, though, I thought it was a great read. Both drawn-out and complex, but also dramatic and compelling. The author gets the balance just right.
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June 18, 2018
*4.5 stars*
All hail the queen of crime fiction—Karin Slaughter has done it again. This clever author has penned another compelling and tantalizingly twisted thriller in her signature no-holds-barred approach. Not that I doubted her brilliance for even a second; there’s a reason she’s been one of my very favorites since stepping foot in Grant County more than a decade ago.
As readers we all find ourselves hanging on to an author’s every word for different reasons. For me, Karin Slaughter has always been an author who delivers on both fronts—the deliciously dark and depraved madness, counterbalanced perfectly with touches of wittiness and tenderness. The emotionality, actions and thoughts of her characters feel genuine—like they could step right off the page. I find myself wanting to be around these people, to dig into their psyches and unearth exactly what makes them tick.
The Good Daughter starts off with a bang or a shotgun blast to be more exact. One fateful afternoon—at a remote farmhouse in the small Georgia town of Pikeville—changes the trajectory of the Quinn family. It's another series of gunshots, 28 years later, that brings the estranged Quinn sisters, Charlie and Sam, back together. A few instances of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, combined with their father’s criminal defense cases following him home, spells torment for the two women. There’s a host of family dynamics at play here—none more prominent than the sisterly bond ravaged by tragedy, guilt and secrets.
“Neither one of us will ever move forward if we are always looking back.”
If you’ve had the pleasure of reading a Slaughter novel, you know she has a tendency for getting the pages good and bloody. I can appreciate, gore isn’t something everyone wants to subject themselves to—I’m not sure what this even says about me, but I kind of like it. I’m blaming the dark side of my heart on the healthy diet of horror flicks my dad started me on at a very young age—there’s not much at this point that makes me queasy or uncomfortable. The thing is, the blood and guts served up by Karin Slaughter comes across as more than just shock-inducing antics. Personally, I find that the carnage and violence allows the reader to fully immerse themselves in the experience and really feel what’s happening on the page. Whether it freaks you out or makes you cringe in disgust, isn’t that the beauty of reading—to confront an entirely different reality?
If you know me at all or have taken the time to peruse my reviews, you might know, the other half of my dark heart is composed of an optimistic lover of love. So, naturally, I found myself falling for Ben and his nerdy ways early on. Part of the overall intrigue for me was tied to finding out what could have pushed Ben and Charlie so far apart. My lips are sealed, other than to say, when the full story came out, my heart ached for them.
Not only did this book reiterate why I adore this author’s work so much, but something about the small-town setting and this cast of characters made me reminisce about Grant County—a series I’ve read more than any other in my life—and stirred up a desire to make another visit sometime soon.
I cannot wait to see what this writer’s vivid imagination dreams up next. Let the countdown begin for my next Slaughter fix.
All hail the queen of crime fiction—Karin Slaughter has done it again. This clever author has penned another compelling and tantalizingly twisted thriller in her signature no-holds-barred approach. Not that I doubted her brilliance for even a second; there’s a reason she’s been one of my very favorites since stepping foot in Grant County more than a decade ago.
As readers we all find ourselves hanging on to an author’s every word for different reasons. For me, Karin Slaughter has always been an author who delivers on both fronts—the deliciously dark and depraved madness, counterbalanced perfectly with touches of wittiness and tenderness. The emotionality, actions and thoughts of her characters feel genuine—like they could step right off the page. I find myself wanting to be around these people, to dig into their psyches and unearth exactly what makes them tick.
The Good Daughter starts off with a bang or a shotgun blast to be more exact. One fateful afternoon—at a remote farmhouse in the small Georgia town of Pikeville—changes the trajectory of the Quinn family. It's another series of gunshots, 28 years later, that brings the estranged Quinn sisters, Charlie and Sam, back together. A few instances of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, combined with their father’s criminal defense cases following him home, spells torment for the two women. There’s a host of family dynamics at play here—none more prominent than the sisterly bond ravaged by tragedy, guilt and secrets.
“Neither one of us will ever move forward if we are always looking back.”
If you’ve had the pleasure of reading a Slaughter novel, you know she has a tendency for getting the pages good and bloody. I can appreciate, gore isn’t something everyone wants to subject themselves to—I’m not sure what this even says about me, but I kind of like it. I’m blaming the dark side of my heart on the healthy diet of horror flicks my dad started me on at a very young age—there’s not much at this point that makes me queasy or uncomfortable. The thing is, the blood and guts served up by Karin Slaughter comes across as more than just shock-inducing antics. Personally, I find that the carnage and violence allows the reader to fully immerse themselves in the experience and really feel what’s happening on the page. Whether it freaks you out or makes you cringe in disgust, isn’t that the beauty of reading—to confront an entirely different reality?
If you know me at all or have taken the time to peruse my reviews, you might know, the other half of my dark heart is composed of an optimistic lover of love. So, naturally, I found myself falling for Ben and his nerdy ways early on. Part of the overall intrigue for me was tied to finding out what could have pushed Ben and Charlie so far apart. My lips are sealed, other than to say, when the full story came out, my heart ached for them.
Not only did this book reiterate why I adore this author’s work so much, but something about the small-town setting and this cast of characters made me reminisce about Grant County—a series I’ve read more than any other in my life—and stirred up a desire to make another visit sometime soon.
I cannot wait to see what this writer’s vivid imagination dreams up next. Let the countdown begin for my next Slaughter fix.
September 29, 2019
My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
4.5 Stars!!!!
After reading the description and the prequel for this novel, I knew I had to read it soon. This book was INTENSE! It honestly had me feeling ALL THE FEELS. I really did both laugh and cry while reading this novel. "The Good Daughter" had me in its clutches from page one until the very end, and I'm still feeling the after-effects.
The book opens in 1989. Samantha Quinn is fifteen years-old and her younger sister, Charlie is thirteen. The Quinn family are living in an old farmhouse after someone burned their house down with a Molotov cocktail. The attack was likely someone angry at lawyer father, Rusty Quinn who often defends men many lawyers would never represent.
But not even two weeks later, another attack of violence and brutality changes the lives of everyone in the Quinn family forever.
Twenty-eight years later, Charlie Quinn has followed in her father's footsteps and is now a lawyer in small town Pikeville. But that's where the similarities between Charlie and her father end. Charlie passed up jobs with big firms in the city. She moved back and decided she wanted to help normal, everyday people who found themselves in trouble and didn't have someone smart enough, or even who cared enough to try to get them out of trouble.
Charlie's husband, Ben is a prosecutor and she is a defense attorney. Her father, Rusty Quinn defends robbers, drug dealers, and murderers. The people in town either loved him or hated him. It depended on whether or not they or their family members had ever needed his services.
Charlie is tough and can be quite impulsive. She'll often act without thinking of the consequences. For example: shoving a man who slapped his wife in the grocery store, antagonizing a group of thugs, or going alone to rough areas of town in the middle of the night.
"Charlie would sprint head first into a buzz saw if given the right set of circumstances".
But when Charlie witnesses a horrific act of violence, old feelings and memories rise to the surface, forcing her to face things that she tried hard to suppress. But most secrets don't stay buried forever. You may think you can put your secrets in a "box on the shelf" but eventually those boxes either burst open on their own or you open them up to deal with them.
"Just like before, her heart stopped beating. Her throat closed. Her vision tunneled. Everything looked small, narrowed to a single, tiny point."
I know I've said this before and it has happened before, but I did NOT want to put this book down. I was up until after 4am reading. I needed to know what was going to happen next.
"The Good Daughter" is the kind of novel that evokes a wide variety of emotions, leaving you feeling like you've been hit by a truck. At times it was so intense that I really was holding my breath in anticipation of what was coming next....
I will warn readers, that there are some parts that are very difficult to read, the subject matter can be quite upsetting. However, I was able to skim those parts without missing much of the story-line.
After an author has written so many books, I feel like it must be very difficult to come up with new plots that twist and turn. But Karin Slaughter does it. She can stop me in my tracks with one twisty sentence. I don't think I saw any of the twists coming. The main characters and the supporting characters were fantastically well-developed. They all added something to the story.
I wanted to discuss this book with everyone. "The Good Daughter" is an addictive and compelling psychological thriller with a mind-bending and thoroughly engrossing plot.
Highly recommended!
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for an advanced readers copy of this book for me to read in exchange for my honest review.
4.5 Stars!!!!
After reading the description and the prequel for this novel, I knew I had to read it soon. This book was INTENSE! It honestly had me feeling ALL THE FEELS. I really did both laugh and cry while reading this novel. "The Good Daughter" had me in its clutches from page one until the very end, and I'm still feeling the after-effects.
The book opens in 1989. Samantha Quinn is fifteen years-old and her younger sister, Charlie is thirteen. The Quinn family are living in an old farmhouse after someone burned their house down with a Molotov cocktail. The attack was likely someone angry at lawyer father, Rusty Quinn who often defends men many lawyers would never represent.
But not even two weeks later, another attack of violence and brutality changes the lives of everyone in the Quinn family forever.
Twenty-eight years later, Charlie Quinn has followed in her father's footsteps and is now a lawyer in small town Pikeville. But that's where the similarities between Charlie and her father end. Charlie passed up jobs with big firms in the city. She moved back and decided she wanted to help normal, everyday people who found themselves in trouble and didn't have someone smart enough, or even who cared enough to try to get them out of trouble.
Charlie's husband, Ben is a prosecutor and she is a defense attorney. Her father, Rusty Quinn defends robbers, drug dealers, and murderers. The people in town either loved him or hated him. It depended on whether or not they or their family members had ever needed his services.
Charlie is tough and can be quite impulsive. She'll often act without thinking of the consequences. For example: shoving a man who slapped his wife in the grocery store, antagonizing a group of thugs, or going alone to rough areas of town in the middle of the night.
"Charlie would sprint head first into a buzz saw if given the right set of circumstances".
But when Charlie witnesses a horrific act of violence, old feelings and memories rise to the surface, forcing her to face things that she tried hard to suppress. But most secrets don't stay buried forever. You may think you can put your secrets in a "box on the shelf" but eventually those boxes either burst open on their own or you open them up to deal with them.
"Just like before, her heart stopped beating. Her throat closed. Her vision tunneled. Everything looked small, narrowed to a single, tiny point."
I know I've said this before and it has happened before, but I did NOT want to put this book down. I was up until after 4am reading. I needed to know what was going to happen next.
"The Good Daughter" is the kind of novel that evokes a wide variety of emotions, leaving you feeling like you've been hit by a truck. At times it was so intense that I really was holding my breath in anticipation of what was coming next....
I will warn readers, that there are some parts that are very difficult to read, the subject matter can be quite upsetting. However, I was able to skim those parts without missing much of the story-line.
After an author has written so many books, I feel like it must be very difficult to come up with new plots that twist and turn. But Karin Slaughter does it. She can stop me in my tracks with one twisty sentence. I don't think I saw any of the twists coming. The main characters and the supporting characters were fantastically well-developed. They all added something to the story.
I wanted to discuss this book with everyone. "The Good Daughter" is an addictive and compelling psychological thriller with a mind-bending and thoroughly engrossing plot.
Highly recommended!
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for an advanced readers copy of this book for me to read in exchange for my honest review.
December 29, 2017
If you ever find yourself in need of a good criminal defense lawyer, Rusty Quinn is the man. He is notorious for the acquittals his clients have received. Legendary for his beliefs that all people deserve the best legal defense possible, no matter what their station in life or the crime they've been accused of. With Rusty on your side you'll be singing his praises as well.
"Sunshine is for everyone, Sunshine come back again
Come all without, Come all within
You ain't seen nothin like the Mighty Quinn"
Rusty also enjoys quoting literary greats, so I'll use one here.
F.Scott Fitzgerald once said:
"Show me a hero, and I'll write you a tragedy."
That sentiment certainly applies to Karin Slaughter's book, The Good Daughter.
Twenty Eight years ago tragedy knocked on the Quinn Family's door. For the survivor's, those old wounds will never completely heal. Today in the Quinn family home town, tragedy has struck again. There has been a school shooting. The accused shooter is a teenage girl and as she is taken to the local hospital, Rusty chases the ambulance there in order to secure his role as her defense attorney. This book is the weaving together of what really happened 28 years ago and the truth behind this latest school shooting.
Slaughter Daughter is sensational.
excerpts are spoiler(ish)
"Sunshine is for everyone, Sunshine come back again
Come all without, Come all within
You ain't seen nothin like the Mighty Quinn"
Rusty also enjoys quoting literary greats, so I'll use one here.
F.Scott Fitzgerald once said:
"Show me a hero, and I'll write you a tragedy."
That sentiment certainly applies to Karin Slaughter's book, The Good Daughter.
Twenty Eight years ago tragedy knocked on the Quinn Family's door. For the survivor's, those old wounds will never completely heal. Today in the Quinn family home town, tragedy has struck again. There has been a school shooting. The accused shooter is a teenage girl and as she is taken to the local hospital, Rusty chases the ambulance there in order to secure his role as her defense attorney. This book is the weaving together of what really happened 28 years ago and the truth behind this latest school shooting.
Slaughter Daughter is sensational.
excerpts are spoiler(ish)
October 10, 2017
It's 1989 and Samantha and Charlotte Quinn's lives are about to change forever. Their father Rusty is a lawyer, and he represents some of the worst criminals in small town Pikeville. Some of them have committed crimes so bad that they're now on death row.
Someone in the community clearly has it in for Rusty, the family home is burned to the ground, and as we meet the family, they're living in an old farmhouse, that's seen better days. However, before they even get a chance to make this place a home, something truly horrific takes place, an attack of such terrible proportions that it's really hard to read. The attack leaves their mother dead and the girls are taken into the woods at gunpoint. One girl runs for her life, her sister is unable to!
When a second horrific crime hits this small community 28 years later, the secrets of the earlier tragedy are slowly revealed, and they will have repercussions for the Quinn family as well as the community at large.
OMG, this was such an intense read that at times I could barely breathe. The events that take place are not for the squeamish, but are essential to the storyline as a whole, it's not gratuitous violence for the sake of it, on the contrary, it very much serves a purpose. It's intense, and it's shocking, but Karin Slaughter writes with such skill - this is crime writing at its best. She'll have you glued to every word, and ensure that you invest every ounce of your being in her characters. Excellent!
*I received my copy from Goodreads and have given an honest review in exchange*
Someone in the community clearly has it in for Rusty, the family home is burned to the ground, and as we meet the family, they're living in an old farmhouse, that's seen better days. However, before they even get a chance to make this place a home, something truly horrific takes place, an attack of such terrible proportions that it's really hard to read. The attack leaves their mother dead and the girls are taken into the woods at gunpoint. One girl runs for her life, her sister is unable to!
When a second horrific crime hits this small community 28 years later, the secrets of the earlier tragedy are slowly revealed, and they will have repercussions for the Quinn family as well as the community at large.
OMG, this was such an intense read that at times I could barely breathe. The events that take place are not for the squeamish, but are essential to the storyline as a whole, it's not gratuitous violence for the sake of it, on the contrary, it very much serves a purpose. It's intense, and it's shocking, but Karin Slaughter writes with such skill - this is crime writing at its best. She'll have you glued to every word, and ensure that you invest every ounce of your being in her characters. Excellent!
*I received my copy from Goodreads and have given an honest review in exchange*
October 25, 2017
2.5 I am giving this three stars because I kept reading, and did want to find out what happened. This was, however, much more graphic than I am comfortable with, and I resented the fact that it was repeated three different times in the book. While I know it was told from different viewpoints, and more details were uncovered in each telling, I thought it could have been done differently. Felt manipulated in the repetition of this horrific telling,as if it was used only for shock value. An additional plot line that brings the sisters back together, I felt became kind of lost, and became mostly a vehicle to further the main story.
I did like the characters, though I found much of this story unbelievable, that is within the parameters of the story. I can do unbelievable if it fits, which this did not. The last quarter of the book was a convoluted untangling of the storyline, where too much happens in a short space of time. Once again some of this had me rolling my eyes.
I have loved this authors books in the past, so my expectations were much higher. I did enjoy parts of this but as a whole, and after thinking it through for a day, I was disappointed. Another sisters read, with mixed results by the readers.
ARC from edelweiss.
I did like the characters, though I found much of this story unbelievable, that is within the parameters of the story. I can do unbelievable if it fits, which this did not. The last quarter of the book was a convoluted untangling of the storyline, where too much happens in a short space of time. Once again some of this had me rolling my eyes.
I have loved this authors books in the past, so my expectations were much higher. I did enjoy parts of this but as a whole, and after thinking it through for a day, I was disappointed. Another sisters read, with mixed results by the readers.
ARC from edelweiss.
August 16, 2017
This is not a series! I just found this out today. Also you do not need to read Last Breath which is a novella. I think this was listed as a series just to get you to buy the novella.
I think this was a cheap shot. Also very disappointed because I loved this book and was so looking forward to this being a series.
This is a stand alone. Did anyone else think this was a series or is it just me?
I just loved this book. I love Karin Slaughter and she has one hell of a good imagination. I just don't know how she comes up with all those jaw dropping twists. This is a very dark, gritty and graphic read. It is a very tough subject matter. It is very well written and like all of her books the characters were done so well. This had nail biting suspense and I could not put it down so make sure you have lots of time when you read it. Last night I was up till 5:30 in the morning reading this. This book is one of my faves for this year. Actually I think it comes in first place. This is not for the faint of heart. You have to be able to put up with anything. This book was very chilling and horrific. It was so good. This is a psychological thriller.
I am going to try keep this part spoiler free.
Rusty Quinn is a lawyer who works for criminals on death row. He is Charlotte's and Samantha's father. Something horrific happens to his family with very graphic scenes. My heart really went out to Charlotte and Samantha. What these girls went through was so traumatic and heart breaking. Charlotte loves ice cream and after everything she went through she goes to a neighbor's house to get help and asks for some ice cream. She had two bowls of it. Haha! I had to laugh at this because I thought it was cute and had to laugh at this moment because I went through a lot of nail biting suspense and it helped to be able to breathe after everything that happened.
The story goes to the past and the present. There are two stories that happened in this book. 28 years later Charlie follows in her Dad's footsteps and becomes a lawyer. She witnesses a horrific and chilling crime. It is a nightmare and Charlie has tried so hard to bury her past but this crime was so traumatic that it brought back everything in her past. I felt so bad for her.
Charlotte and Sam wanted to forget their past that they both stayed far away from each other so that their past would not be remembered.
I thought the characters were done so well. I loved Charlie. She got on my nerves a couple of times but I thought she was a very strong character. Sam was a very strong character too. I did not like Rusty. I thought he was very self centered.
This book is not for the faint of heart. I am going to repeat everything that I said earlier. You have to be able to handle everything if you are thinking of reading this book. It is very tough subject matter and I don't want you to come after me asking why I didn't warn you. Haha! I dare you to read it though if you think you can handle it. Aaah! This book was so good.
I do recommend this book to those that love a dark, gritty and graphic thriller.
November 17, 2017
I have officially drank the Karin Slaughter kool-aid. It's not that I had an aversion to reading a book by Karin Slaughter, it's just that I kind of kept putting it off. Boy, what a mistake! This book was OUTSTANDING. It was chilling, explosive, and shocking. Those are just three words that I could use to describe this book. It was also so much more. In all honesty, I don't feel there is much more that I can add to the overwhelming amount of positive reviews that already exist for this novel, but I will try.
This book opens with a pretty horrifying event. Samantha and her sister, Charlie bore witness to their mother's death. Not only that, they are then led out into the woods by the men who had just killed their mother with a rifle. What happens next will be a defining moment in both Charlie's and Sam's lives forever. That day will also hold a secret that will take 28 more years to uncover.
“Nothing ever truly faded. Time only dulled the edges.”
There were so many things that I loved about this book..and absolutely nothing that I didn't. This was a plot-driven book. My favorite type of book. More importantly, this was a plot-driven book with characters that I liked. Characters that I cared about and felt invested to from the beginning of the book. I felt such extreme pain and anguish from the trauma these sisters had suffered. However, I also had that much more respect and admiration for them as it was also a testament to their strength.
The relationship between the sisters was a complicated one. When two people experience such a severe trauma together, it can create a unique bond. However, it can also be a constant reminder of said trauma. Therefore, in this book we see a lot of push/pull in their relationship. I felt this only added an extra dimension to this already well-crafted novel.
As mentioned above, this was the first book that I have read by Karin Slaughter. She is a master at her craft. This tale was expertly woven and won't be something I soon forget. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a taut, face-paced thriller.
Trigger Warning: There is some content in this book of an extremely violent and graphic sexual nature. I understand that it can be very upsetting to some and therefore, wanted to provide some sort of warning..
For more information on The Good Daughter and Karin Slaughter please visit: Karin Slaughter's Website
Also, here is an interview with Karin Slaughter on The Good Daughter: Interview
June 30, 2017
This is a superb, dark and brutal novel from the talented Karin Slaughter set in Pikeville, North Georgia. Two tragic set of events occur 28 years apart and their catastrophic repercussions on a family and their community are observed. Rusty is a notoriously able lawyer who believes that justice should be for everybody, such as defending innocent black people, and others deemed beyond the pale, like rapists. This has made Rusty a host of enemies, seen the family home burn down and bring fresh danger to his wife, the fiercely intelligent and double PhD genius, Gamma, and his two young daughters, Samantha and Charlotte, known as Charlie. Two masked men enter the family home, shoot Gamma dead, leaving Sam for dead, buried in a grave, though a bloodied Charlie manages to get away. This is a story that transcends the most violent of crimes, its about family, loss, love, sibling relationships, regret, survival, damage and forgiveness.
Twenty eight years later, the savage events that ripped the family apart have taken their toll on Sam and Charlie. The two sisters have not seen each other for twenty years after Sam's anger led to an estrangement. Sam is a highly successful New York patent lawyer, has lost her beloved husband, Anton, and hasn't seen her father for decades. Charlie's marriage to Ben is on the skids, she works from the same building as Rusty as a lawyer, and she has made the terrible mistake of indulging in a one night stand with a stranger, with whom she left her phone. She is in the process of collecting her phone at her old school when all hell lets loose. Charlie is traumatised once again as she finds herself in the midst of a distressing double school shooting that includes a young child. The perpetrator is a girl with learning issues called Kelly. With rising tensions, flaring tempers, fear, rage, and intense media coverage, Sam returns to Pikeville amidst a disturbing set of circumstances. She provides legal counsel for Kelly at her arraignment after Rusty persuades Sam that Kelly is the unicorn he has been searching for. The stage is set to see the original family trauma under a new light as the truth begins to emerge and to discover if it is remotely possible that Kelly is not the killer she is painted to be, in direct contradiction to the evidence available.
Karin Slaughter has written a brilliant novel that incorporates the worst of humankind, a veritable Pandora's box of horror and despair, and the faint wisps of hope for Sam and Charlie. The complex characterisations are astonishingly good and feel desperately authentic. The novel captures the small town meanness that can run through a conservative rural community and its young people, and the atrocious behaviour and actions that result. The strength and wisdom of Rusty, given all that happens, along with his ability to protect his daughters the only way he knew how, is awe inspiring. I will never forget the role that ice cream plays for Charlie in the novel, given all the feel good factor that surrounds it. A fantastic read that I highly recommend. Thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
Twenty eight years later, the savage events that ripped the family apart have taken their toll on Sam and Charlie. The two sisters have not seen each other for twenty years after Sam's anger led to an estrangement. Sam is a highly successful New York patent lawyer, has lost her beloved husband, Anton, and hasn't seen her father for decades. Charlie's marriage to Ben is on the skids, she works from the same building as Rusty as a lawyer, and she has made the terrible mistake of indulging in a one night stand with a stranger, with whom she left her phone. She is in the process of collecting her phone at her old school when all hell lets loose. Charlie is traumatised once again as she finds herself in the midst of a distressing double school shooting that includes a young child. The perpetrator is a girl with learning issues called Kelly. With rising tensions, flaring tempers, fear, rage, and intense media coverage, Sam returns to Pikeville amidst a disturbing set of circumstances. She provides legal counsel for Kelly at her arraignment after Rusty persuades Sam that Kelly is the unicorn he has been searching for. The stage is set to see the original family trauma under a new light as the truth begins to emerge and to discover if it is remotely possible that Kelly is not the killer she is painted to be, in direct contradiction to the evidence available.
Karin Slaughter has written a brilliant novel that incorporates the worst of humankind, a veritable Pandora's box of horror and despair, and the faint wisps of hope for Sam and Charlie. The complex characterisations are astonishingly good and feel desperately authentic. The novel captures the small town meanness that can run through a conservative rural community and its young people, and the atrocious behaviour and actions that result. The strength and wisdom of Rusty, given all that happens, along with his ability to protect his daughters the only way he knew how, is awe inspiring. I will never forget the role that ice cream plays for Charlie in the novel, given all the feel good factor that surrounds it. A fantastic read that I highly recommend. Thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
November 2, 2017
Whew! That was a lot to take in.
Deeply disturbing intense read filled with drama, suspense, and unspeakable trauma. The Good Daughter is not for the faint hearted.
Teenage sisters Sam and Charlie experience a traumatic and torturous event. What happens to them scars them both literally and figuratively for life. Nearly 30 years later, the past they worked so hard to bury comes back to haunt them as they deal with the fall out of a school shooting. Buried secrets emerge about Sam and Charlotte’s past, putting them once again in imminent danger.
The first chapter sucked me in and I could not put this book down. There are some extremely hard parts to read as there are scenes filled with brutally graphic violence, including rape. The narrative is split between Charlie and Sam’s POV’s. As a result, the reader has to reread these horrific scenes multiple times as we not only understand what happened to Sam and Charlie, but also see how they had to alter their memories in order to survive.
What I liked about The Good Daughter was that it was more than just a thriller; it was about dramatic family dynamics. Sam and Charlie were both well developed characters, and I enjoyed their grit and sharp tongues. Despite being hard to read at times, I was fully engrossed in The Good Daughter. I recommend this book but with caution as the violent scenes are very hard to read and process. This was my first book by Karin Slaughter, and it definitely will not be my last!
Deeply disturbing intense read filled with drama, suspense, and unspeakable trauma. The Good Daughter is not for the faint hearted.
Teenage sisters Sam and Charlie experience a traumatic and torturous event. What happens to them scars them both literally and figuratively for life. Nearly 30 years later, the past they worked so hard to bury comes back to haunt them as they deal with the fall out of a school shooting. Buried secrets emerge about Sam and Charlotte’s past, putting them once again in imminent danger.
The first chapter sucked me in and I could not put this book down. There are some extremely hard parts to read as there are scenes filled with brutally graphic violence, including rape. The narrative is split between Charlie and Sam’s POV’s. As a result, the reader has to reread these horrific scenes multiple times as we not only understand what happened to Sam and Charlie, but also see how they had to alter their memories in order to survive.
What I liked about The Good Daughter was that it was more than just a thriller; it was about dramatic family dynamics. Sam and Charlie were both well developed characters, and I enjoyed their grit and sharp tongues. Despite being hard to read at times, I was fully engrossed in The Good Daughter. I recommend this book but with caution as the violent scenes are very hard to read and process. This was my first book by Karin Slaughter, and it definitely will not be my last!
November 24, 2017
A solid 4 star read. This was a really interesting novel and I'm glad I picked it up.
TW: graphic murder, graphic rape, and miscarriages
I really enjoyed this story. I found it to be a strong psychological thriller as my head was constantly twisting between what is true and what is meant to be misleading. I will say, certain points were slow to trudge through and there was perhaps more dialogue than absolutely necessary, but nonetheless, it was a worthwhile read. I think I maybe would have liked a little more action as so much of this story is conversation, other than the thrilling start and climax. My favorite part was probably the character dynamics. The relationship between two sisters and their father is very unique and unlike any I have read before. I think this book is worth the read for the characters alone.
One of the main character is disabled, which I was happy to see be a decent part of the story as diversity in adult thrillers is often non-existent. One of the protagonists is legally blind, walks with a cane, and has suffered some form of lasting effects on the brain from trauma. I would love to hear thoughts on this portrayal from disabled reviewers, but I felt satisfied. Her disability is a present part of the entire story, she is portrayed as a very successful and capable figure, and there were some quotes about the struggles of being disabledthat I found to be thought provoking.
On the other hand, there is a trans side character, though I'm not entirely sure they were handled with much care. There is a character that continues to refer to the trans character as their deadname/incorrect pronouns and it's never addressed. There are also a few jokes about the character's past and transition. I was unable to find anything on this from trans reviewers, but I was left with a bad taste in my mouth concerning the whole thing. Also, there are some comments about the intelligence/mental capabilities of one character that I felt some may take offense to in regards to words like, "slow" "mental deficits" etc.
I do think I was hoping this book would offer a little bit more for me, but I still really enjoyed it. Would recommend to any adult thriller enthusiasts!
TW: graphic murder, graphic rape, and miscarriages
I really enjoyed this story. I found it to be a strong psychological thriller as my head was constantly twisting between what is true and what is meant to be misleading. I will say, certain points were slow to trudge through and there was perhaps more dialogue than absolutely necessary, but nonetheless, it was a worthwhile read. I think I maybe would have liked a little more action as so much of this story is conversation, other than the thrilling start and climax. My favorite part was probably the character dynamics. The relationship between two sisters and their father is very unique and unlike any I have read before. I think this book is worth the read for the characters alone.
One of the main character is disabled, which I was happy to see be a decent part of the story as diversity in adult thrillers is often non-existent. One of the protagonists is legally blind, walks with a cane, and has suffered some form of lasting effects on the brain from trauma. I would love to hear thoughts on this portrayal from disabled reviewers, but I felt satisfied. Her disability is a present part of the entire story, she is portrayed as a very successful and capable figure, and there were some quotes about the struggles of being disabledthat I found to be thought provoking.
On the other hand, there is a trans side character, though I'm not entirely sure they were handled with much care. There is a character that continues to refer to the trans character as their deadname/incorrect pronouns and it's never addressed. There are also a few jokes about the character's past and transition. I was unable to find anything on this from trans reviewers, but I was left with a bad taste in my mouth concerning the whole thing. Also, there are some comments about the intelligence/mental capabilities of one character that I felt some may take offense to in regards to words like, "slow" "mental deficits" etc.
I do think I was hoping this book would offer a little bit more for me, but I still really enjoyed it. Would recommend to any adult thriller enthusiasts!
October 19, 2018
Read this without realizing it was the same author as "Pretty Girls" and thought they were equally dark... well that explains it!
Explicit sexual violence which was a bit too much for me but still an interesting character-driven mystery.
Not my fav. Not sure if I should read more from this author.
P.S. DO NOT GET THE AUDIOBOOK. The whispering then screaming was so annoying especially since I often listen to audiobooks in the shower... it was not fun.
Explicit sexual violence which was a bit too much for me but still an interesting character-driven mystery.
Not my fav. Not sure if I should read more from this author.
P.S. DO NOT GET THE AUDIOBOOK. The whispering then screaming was so annoying especially since I often listen to audiobooks in the shower... it was not fun.
June 16, 2019
”I love you, I know that you love me, but every time we see each other, we see what happened, and neither one of us will ever move forward if we are always looking back.”
I finished this book ages ago but never really managed to write a review about it. *sighs* I guess sometimes life just happens and you have your hands full! *lol* Well anyway, I still decided to write a short review because even though I finished this book a while ago, I’m still thinking about it and I don’t know about you, but for me that’s always a good sign. XD
So, “The Good Daughter” was supposed to be a thriller and I expected to be scared and shocked by it, what I certainly didn’t expect was to feel so connected to all of the characters though. They all had some package to carry; they all had a past that ate away at them and they all tried to deal with it somehow.
”The truth can rot you from the inside. It doesn’t leave room for anything else.”
And boy, did their truth rot them from the inside! If I had to describe this book with a few words than I’d probably go for: haunting, unsettling and brutal. I mean alone the first scene with the happenings at their home is building up such a haunting atmosphere that I was hooked right from the start. I loved that we got Charlie’s and Sam’s POV and that they alternated while they narrated the story and it was devastating to find out about their past. >_< For a book that’s a thriller this actually pulled quite a lot at my heartstrings. XD
”I’m not saying anything about how stupid it is to smoke after having two heart attacks and open-heart surgery.”
“That is called paralipsis, or, from the Greek, apophasis,” Rusty informed her. “A rhetorical device by which you add emphasis to a subject by professing to say little or nothing about it.” He was tapping his foot with glee. “Also, a rhetorical relative of irony, whom I believe you went to school with.”
I guess it might have been their family dynamic and that you could see how much they cared about each other. The loss of their mother had left scars and the things that happened in the forest left even more scars and seriously at some point I couldn’t help myself anymore and actually cried for the characters. Which definitely was a first for me because I can’t remember ever crying while I read a thriller. *lol* Karin Slaughter did a marvellous job at portraying a dysfunctional family that functions against all odds.
”If you fall in front of those bitches, they’ll laugh at you. They might try to do something worse, and I’ll have to kill them.”
“Use my cane if it comes to that. It’s metal.”
I mean take Sam and Charlie, they both have their own lives, go to work and live from day to day, but their past never truly leaves them. It shaped them and made them who they are and no matter what they do, they can’t escape it. Still, they are there for each other, they got each other’s back and this even though they didn’t see each other for years and became enstranged while they lived apart.
”My body is useless! My brain is – “ She threw her hands into the air. “Gone! Everything I was supposed to be is gone. I can’t see. I can’t run. I can’t move. I can’t process. I have no sense of ease. I get no comfort – ever. And I tell myself every day – every single day, Charlotte – that it doesn’t matter because you were able to get away.”
It was so good to see this sisterly representation and even though Rusty might have been quite a strange father, this still didn’t keep me from loving his character to bits and pieces. He was definitely one of a kind and he had his heart at the right place. He might have not always been able to convey his feelings but I’m sure he did what he could; he tried to be a good father and wanted his girls to be happy and safe.
Rusty said, “A father’s job is to love each of his daughters in the way they need to be loved.”
There’s a lot of truth in this quote because everyone is different and if you’re a parent you have to learn to handle the needs of each and every single one of your kids. They have different talents, different personalities and different preferences so you have to react to their individuality.
Conclusion:
I guess I could write even more about the plot, but to me it felt like the plot was just some sort of frame to explore the spiritual and human abyss of the acting characters. Karin Slaughter told a haunting story of a family that survived against all odds and she did it with a lot of finesse and persuasiveness. “The Good Daughter” lives from its powerful atmosphere and doesn’t shy away from tackling difficult topics and this ultimately and inevitably made it a great read for me! ;-)
_________________________
It’s been a while I last read a Karin Slaughter book but I think now’s the right time to go for another one of her thrillers.
Being the scaredy-cat that I am, I definitely have to be in the right mood and mind-set to read one, so here I go!
Let’s hope I won’t get nightmares from it. *lol*
Karin, please be gentle with me! XD
*borrows a soft toy from my kid and starts to read*
I finished this book ages ago but never really managed to write a review about it. *sighs* I guess sometimes life just happens and you have your hands full! *lol* Well anyway, I still decided to write a short review because even though I finished this book a while ago, I’m still thinking about it and I don’t know about you, but for me that’s always a good sign. XD
So, “The Good Daughter” was supposed to be a thriller and I expected to be scared and shocked by it, what I certainly didn’t expect was to feel so connected to all of the characters though. They all had some package to carry; they all had a past that ate away at them and they all tried to deal with it somehow.
”The truth can rot you from the inside. It doesn’t leave room for anything else.”
And boy, did their truth rot them from the inside! If I had to describe this book with a few words than I’d probably go for: haunting, unsettling and brutal. I mean alone the first scene with the happenings at their home is building up such a haunting atmosphere that I was hooked right from the start. I loved that we got Charlie’s and Sam’s POV and that they alternated while they narrated the story and it was devastating to find out about their past. >_< For a book that’s a thriller this actually pulled quite a lot at my heartstrings. XD
”I’m not saying anything about how stupid it is to smoke after having two heart attacks and open-heart surgery.”
“That is called paralipsis, or, from the Greek, apophasis,” Rusty informed her. “A rhetorical device by which you add emphasis to a subject by professing to say little or nothing about it.” He was tapping his foot with glee. “Also, a rhetorical relative of irony, whom I believe you went to school with.”
I guess it might have been their family dynamic and that you could see how much they cared about each other. The loss of their mother had left scars and the things that happened in the forest left even more scars and seriously at some point I couldn’t help myself anymore and actually cried for the characters. Which definitely was a first for me because I can’t remember ever crying while I read a thriller. *lol* Karin Slaughter did a marvellous job at portraying a dysfunctional family that functions against all odds.
”If you fall in front of those bitches, they’ll laugh at you. They might try to do something worse, and I’ll have to kill them.”
“Use my cane if it comes to that. It’s metal.”
I mean take Sam and Charlie, they both have their own lives, go to work and live from day to day, but their past never truly leaves them. It shaped them and made them who they are and no matter what they do, they can’t escape it. Still, they are there for each other, they got each other’s back and this even though they didn’t see each other for years and became enstranged while they lived apart.
”My body is useless! My brain is – “ She threw her hands into the air. “Gone! Everything I was supposed to be is gone. I can’t see. I can’t run. I can’t move. I can’t process. I have no sense of ease. I get no comfort – ever. And I tell myself every day – every single day, Charlotte – that it doesn’t matter because you were able to get away.”
It was so good to see this sisterly representation and even though Rusty might have been quite a strange father, this still didn’t keep me from loving his character to bits and pieces. He was definitely one of a kind and he had his heart at the right place. He might have not always been able to convey his feelings but I’m sure he did what he could; he tried to be a good father and wanted his girls to be happy and safe.
Rusty said, “A father’s job is to love each of his daughters in the way they need to be loved.”
There’s a lot of truth in this quote because everyone is different and if you’re a parent you have to learn to handle the needs of each and every single one of your kids. They have different talents, different personalities and different preferences so you have to react to their individuality.
Conclusion:
I guess I could write even more about the plot, but to me it felt like the plot was just some sort of frame to explore the spiritual and human abyss of the acting characters. Karin Slaughter told a haunting story of a family that survived against all odds and she did it with a lot of finesse and persuasiveness. “The Good Daughter” lives from its powerful atmosphere and doesn’t shy away from tackling difficult topics and this ultimately and inevitably made it a great read for me! ;-)
_________________________
It’s been a while I last read a Karin Slaughter book but I think now’s the right time to go for another one of her thrillers.
Being the scaredy-cat that I am, I definitely have to be in the right mood and mind-set to read one, so here I go!
Let’s hope I won’t get nightmares from it. *lol*
Karin, please be gentle with me! XD
*borrows a soft toy from my kid and starts to read*
October 12, 2018
(My amazing friend Amy, at A Court of Crowns and Quills, gave this to me as a birthday gift!) 💕
“Nothing ever truly faded. Time only dulled the edges.”
Friends, I’m going to be real with you all upfront; this is a really fucked up book. Before I even start my review, I’m going to list all the content and trigger warnings: graphic rape, pedophilia, penetration using an object, graphic deaths, mention of suicide, loss of a loved one, police brutality, racist comments, hurtful ableist comments, misgendering, arson, a school shooting, extreme bullying, miscarriages, grey-area cheating, and a lot of violence. Please use caution and make sure you are in a safe mindset before picking this story up, and before reading my review.
I also want to state that I haven’t been reading thrillers lately. This has been my first crime thriller in a few years, actually. But regardless, Karin Slaughter really blew me away. I knew going in that she is a very beloved thriller author, and now I can totally see why. This story, as dark as it is, is so intelligently and expertly crafted. The twists were hard to see coming, the parallels left me haunted, and the ending was so very brutal.
This is a story about two sisters who are still grieving from a harrowing, unspeakable, horrible event that happened to them twenty-eight years ago. The book starts out with a flashback chapter, where we quickly learn that a home invasion is happening, because the girls’ father is a very liberal lawyer in a very conservative and small town.
➽ Charlie - Has stayed close to her father and is still living in the town that has never made her feel welcome, but especially after that dark day. Charlie is a lawyer, currently separated from her husband, while grieving so many losses, and just happened to have her first one-night stand.
➽ Sam - Moved far away from the town that hurt her and her family. Sam is a very successful lawyer in New York, but she keeps a great distance from her sister and father. She is also disabled, uses a cane at times, really has to focus on her speech, and has limited vision. Sam is grieving all alone, while trying to forget everything she has left behind.
These two sisters haven’t seen each other in a decade, but a new terrible event in their small hometown brings them both back together. And they both, unwillingly, become completely tangled up in a new case that could send a possibly innocent girl to death row. I loved both of these sisters so very much. I will say that I probably enjoyed Charlie’s point of view a little more, but I liked Sam’s character more.
Another thing I want to briefly touch on is that Charlie and Sam’s father’s best friend, Lenore, is a transwoman. There are flashbacks to before Lenore had transitioned, and her deadname is used. I don’t remember any “hurtful” comments, but there are a few careless comments, that do involve misgendering, so please use caution. I really did love this character so much, and I was happy with the inclusion, but it could have been done a lot more respectfully. Also, I am cis, but I would love to hear from trans reviewers about how they feel.
I don’t want to give anything away, because the secrets and mysteries are what make thrillers so much fun to read, but I’m going to try to tell you why this ended up being a four star read, but I’m going to be very vague. But maybe skip over this paragraph if you want to go completely blind into this story. Rusty actually irritated me throughout the novel, but he did have his redeeming parts where I actually started to like him. But the ending, and his secret really pissed me off. Like, infuriated me. I get he thought what he was doing was protecting, but it wasn’t, it was fucked up. The other thing was I really didn’t like the way Kelly’s story ended. It just left me feeling depressed, and heartbroken, and I really wish Charlie would have taken her under her wing or something. I hate seeing sad cycles continue to be sad, and I just wish I could have gotten a little more happiness, especially for a character who needed happiness so badly. Basically, the first 80% of this book is an easy five star read, but the ending left me a little too sad to give it.
Overall, I really loved my first Karin Slaughter book. I think this book would be perfect for the spooky, Halloween season (as long as you are in a safe mindset)! I think this was expertly crafted and it really did keep me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I fell so hard in love with these two main characters, even though my heart was breaking constantly for them. But this story blew me away, left me breathless, and I can’t wait to pick up another book by this author!
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Buddy Read with Paloma, Stephanie, & BookishBotanist! ❤
September 2, 2017
You said it, George Takei! I seriously cannot get over this book.
Over the last few months I've seen a number of friends on Goodreads waxing poetic about Karin Slaughter. I like a good crime novel/thriller, so I figured I'd need to check her out at some point. Then I heard about her newest book, The Good Daughter, so I thought, "Let's give this the old look-see, shall we?"
DAMN, Karin Slaughter. You knocked my freaking head off with this one.
It was a fairly typical night for teenage sisters Charlotte (Charlie) and Samantha (Sam) Quinn of Pikeville, Georgia. Well, as typical as it could be considering their house had been burned down by people who didn't like that their father, the local defense attorney, had gotten a rape suspect acquitted, not to mention all of the other criminals he represented. But as the girls and their mother waited for their father to come home, a terrifying attack occurred, one which left physical and psychological damage, causing scars real and emotional, and forging secrets that changed everything.
Twenty-eight years later Charlie has pulled her life together as best as she could, and is now a lawyer like her father. Despite all that occurred that night, and the abuse she dealt with later, she never could leave Pikeville, which isn't always the easiest thing to deal with. And then she finds herself a witness to a shocking, senseless act of violence which traumatizes the entire town. Not only does her role in the incident—and her reaction to it—put her back in the spotlight again, but it causes the memories of that night 28 years ago to resurface, memories which threaten to tear her life and her family—and perhaps others—completely apart.
"...she was such an idiot that again and again she expected her father to be the kind of person who worried about his daughter the way he worried about pimps and gangbangers and murderers."
The Good Daughter gets your adrenaline pumping from the very beginning, and quickly entangles you in the lives of the Quinns and the people of Pikeville. My heart was beating so fast at times while reading this book, because Slaughter is the kind of storyteller who makes you feel you are right there in the middle of the everything as it is happening. Some of the violence is disturbing and distressing, but it's never gratuitous.
The characters aren't entirely sympathetic, so you don't know exactly who to trust, and you know there will be surprises along the way. I just hoped and prayed that Slaughter wasn't going to choose one particular path down which to take her story, and I was really glad she didn't. But so many times as I was reading, I kept thinking to myself, "Yes! This is how you tell a story. This is how a thriller should be."
Was it entirely surprising? Perhaps not. But this book packed a real punch, and has definitely left me with a new favorite author. If you like this genre and can deal with some violence, pick up The Good Daughter. I can't stop thinking about this one and how much I was blown away by it, and I can't wait to get into Slaughter's other books, because if they're this good?
Wow. Just, wow.
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
June 15, 2020
this is an extremely well-written story. and i think because of that, this didnt feel like a mystery/thriller to me, but more of an investigation on how a crime affects one family in a small town and how they feel those effects three decades later.
i was much more interested in the dynamics between the two sisters, charlotte and her husband, samantha and her father, and the quinn family vs the small geogia town. yes, the two crimes play a major role in the story, but i felt as if the focus was more on the characters and their reactions to the situation. this isnt a bad thing - the writing just has more of a general fiction feel to it - thats all.
and honestly, my only complaint would be the length. this is such a long book that could have easily been condensed. i also think the chapters should have been shorter. 20-30 page chapters make any story feel like its dragging. readers who dont mind a slow-paced and drawn-out narrative should be fine with this, but i personally prefer my crime stories to have a faster pace.
all things consider, this is still an enthralling and well-developed story. its definitely landed KS on my author radar.
↠ 3.5 stars
i was much more interested in the dynamics between the two sisters, charlotte and her husband, samantha and her father, and the quinn family vs the small geogia town. yes, the two crimes play a major role in the story, but i felt as if the focus was more on the characters and their reactions to the situation. this isnt a bad thing - the writing just has more of a general fiction feel to it - thats all.
and honestly, my only complaint would be the length. this is such a long book that could have easily been condensed. i also think the chapters should have been shorter. 20-30 page chapters make any story feel like its dragging. readers who dont mind a slow-paced and drawn-out narrative should be fine with this, but i personally prefer my crime stories to have a faster pace.
all things consider, this is still an enthralling and well-developed story. its definitely landed KS on my author radar.
↠ 3.5 stars
August 2, 2018
Maybe not quite as graphic and shocking as some other Karin Slaughter offerings, but still pretty intense. She always takes a gruesome series of events and steps it up a notch. Definitely an author to approach carefully if you are easily queasy.
I was enthralled by the story and the characters. There was a whole lot of "you think you know a person", but you realize every so often there is a lot that is not what it seems. Frequent flashbacks help to reveal new clues that bring two seemingly straightforward mysteries to shocking conclusion. There is enough here to keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing.
One of the storylines I thought kind of seemed obvious in where it was going. Usually with these stories I have guesses that tend to be proven wrong. In this case, they stayed pretty close to what I was expecting. The other storyline didn't quite turn out how I expected. However, the unexpected one was a bit confusing. I sort of get what happened, but the events around the resolution were odd.
So, with the last two paragraphs in mind, I would say it was a very interesting story with some fascinating characters but kind of a so-so ending. If you are a thriller or Slaughter fan, I think you will find something here to enjoy.
I was enthralled by the story and the characters. There was a whole lot of "you think you know a person", but you realize every so often there is a lot that is not what it seems. Frequent flashbacks help to reveal new clues that bring two seemingly straightforward mysteries to shocking conclusion. There is enough here to keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing.
One of the storylines I thought kind of seemed obvious in where it was going. Usually with these stories I have guesses that tend to be proven wrong. In this case, they stayed pretty close to what I was expecting. The other storyline didn't quite turn out how I expected. However, the unexpected one was a bit confusing. I sort of get what happened, but the events around the resolution were odd.
So, with the last two paragraphs in mind, I would say it was a very interesting story with some fascinating characters but kind of a so-so ending. If you are a thriller or Slaughter fan, I think you will find something here to enjoy.
September 5, 2017
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!
When discussing Karin Slaughter, Gillian Flynn is quoted as saying "I'll follow her anywhere." What Gillian doesn't know is that she will have to step in line behind ME!!!
Cop Town was my first Karin Slaughter book and it started my love affair with her books. I binge read her Grant County and Will Trent Series. She had me twisted up and crying in parts especially at the end of her Grant County series. I couldn't read Pretty Girls fast enough. If she decided to re-write a phone book, I would stand in line to read it. Yes, I am gushing...but her books are KICK ASS!!! I have honestly not read a book by her and been disappointed. She is at the top of her game and I believe she is only getting warmed up. I look forward to years and years of reading her novels. Did I say she is my favorite Author? My husband actually said "I'm happy and excited for you." when we picked up "The Good Daughter" at our local library.
Having said that, her books are not for everyone. There is violence, horrible, horrible things happen to people. This may be hard for some people to stomach. But violence is not kind, it is not sweet and it is not pretty. Violence is graphic and raw, Slaughter does her research and consults with a lot of professionals when she writes her books. She does not write her scenes to titillate but to show how gruesome crimes and attacks can be. Her scenes are realistic not gratuitous. Plus, lets not all forget that she is an awesome writer. She writes complex characters and if you have read her series you will know that she has incredible character development as those series progress. I do believe she could make quantum physics sound interesting to me. How can a woman who likes to post photos of baby animals on Facebook write such books? She is brilliant. I could wax on all day about her but I will just give you the gist of this story:
Charlotte and Samantha Quinn's father is a defense attorney who represents some questionable people. His recent case involved a rape acquittal and the young rape victim committed suicide rather than live with what happened to her. Emotions were high and raw. Their father was not the most popular person in town. Their home was recently burned down and the family had re-located to a farm house. One evening the girls were at home with their Mother when two masked men entered the home. As the blurb goes "Two girls are forced into the woods at gunpoint. One runs for her life. One is left behind..."
Charlotte grows up to become an attorney herself and lives in the same hometown as her father. She finds herself at the scene of a school shooting and her past comes back with a vengeance. An estranged family member also comes back as well. Secrets are revealed, the "what really happened that night" is revealed. The "hows", the "whats" and the "whys" become known to all parties. Whew!
That is it. I am not going to give any more of the story away. GET OUT THERE AND READ THIS BOOK ALREADY!!!!!!!! Then see if you don't want to read more and more by Slaughter!
There is a reason that Karin Slaughter has such a HUGE fan base. She writes amazing books. Her writing is intelligent, thought out and well paced. There is NEVER a dull moment. She has layers to her plots. She has fantastic character development. I also like that her characters have flaws and are not always likable and may make mistakes and use poor judgement. In essence that is what makes her characters feel so real to me. She has fantastic pacing and I have literally sat at the edge of my seat reading her books.
Highly recommend!
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
When discussing Karin Slaughter, Gillian Flynn is quoted as saying "I'll follow her anywhere." What Gillian doesn't know is that she will have to step in line behind ME!!!
Cop Town was my first Karin Slaughter book and it started my love affair with her books. I binge read her Grant County and Will Trent Series. She had me twisted up and crying in parts especially at the end of her Grant County series. I couldn't read Pretty Girls fast enough. If she decided to re-write a phone book, I would stand in line to read it. Yes, I am gushing...but her books are KICK ASS!!! I have honestly not read a book by her and been disappointed. She is at the top of her game and I believe she is only getting warmed up. I look forward to years and years of reading her novels. Did I say she is my favorite Author? My husband actually said "I'm happy and excited for you." when we picked up "The Good Daughter" at our local library.
Having said that, her books are not for everyone. There is violence, horrible, horrible things happen to people. This may be hard for some people to stomach. But violence is not kind, it is not sweet and it is not pretty. Violence is graphic and raw, Slaughter does her research and consults with a lot of professionals when she writes her books. She does not write her scenes to titillate but to show how gruesome crimes and attacks can be. Her scenes are realistic not gratuitous. Plus, lets not all forget that she is an awesome writer. She writes complex characters and if you have read her series you will know that she has incredible character development as those series progress. I do believe she could make quantum physics sound interesting to me. How can a woman who likes to post photos of baby animals on Facebook write such books? She is brilliant. I could wax on all day about her but I will just give you the gist of this story:
Charlotte and Samantha Quinn's father is a defense attorney who represents some questionable people. His recent case involved a rape acquittal and the young rape victim committed suicide rather than live with what happened to her. Emotions were high and raw. Their father was not the most popular person in town. Their home was recently burned down and the family had re-located to a farm house. One evening the girls were at home with their Mother when two masked men entered the home. As the blurb goes "Two girls are forced into the woods at gunpoint. One runs for her life. One is left behind..."
Charlotte grows up to become an attorney herself and lives in the same hometown as her father. She finds herself at the scene of a school shooting and her past comes back with a vengeance. An estranged family member also comes back as well. Secrets are revealed, the "what really happened that night" is revealed. The "hows", the "whats" and the "whys" become known to all parties. Whew!
That is it. I am not going to give any more of the story away. GET OUT THERE AND READ THIS BOOK ALREADY!!!!!!!! Then see if you don't want to read more and more by Slaughter!
There is a reason that Karin Slaughter has such a HUGE fan base. She writes amazing books. Her writing is intelligent, thought out and well paced. There is NEVER a dull moment. She has layers to her plots. She has fantastic character development. I also like that her characters have flaws and are not always likable and may make mistakes and use poor judgement. In essence that is what makes her characters feel so real to me. She has fantastic pacing and I have literally sat at the edge of my seat reading her books.
Highly recommend!
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
September 8, 2017
Wow!! Just WOW!!! Karin Slaughter keeps getting better. This book broke my heart, gave me anxiety, and made me cry several times. It had several "cringe/gasp" worthy moments. The writing was off the charts. I LOVED IT!!!
July 12, 2022
This DRAGGED from the end of the prologue until the last few chapters, but i have to give karin slaughter props for still managing to write something that can get under my skin after pretty girls.
(cw: rape, murder, miscarriages, loss of a loved one from cancer, and gun violence)
(cw: rape, murder, miscarriages, loss of a loved one from cancer, and gun violence)
November 30, 2017
4.25* Stars. (rounded down)
Abso-fraking-Awesome! This was one heck of a read.
The Good Daughter was my first introduction to Karin Slaughter and I can say without hesitation, it won’t be my last.
Charlie Quinn and her sister Sam live in Pikesville, GA and they endure the most horrific event as kids. Something so bad, it changes their lives forever. It’s frightening and terrifying. Unthinkable actually.
As an adult, Charlie once again finds herself in the wrong place at the absolute worst time. They say lightning doesn’t strike twice. But in Charlie’s case, they are wrong. She just happens to be somewhere where there is gunfire and she tries to save the victims, instead of herself. This crime’s impact on Charlie and the rest of her family is astounding, as Rusty, Charlie’s dad, takes on the defense of the shooter.
What this book does is phenomenal. It pulls out details slowly, with devastating, and sometimes grotesque, detail. Not just of one crime, but of the original crime that happened twenty-eight years ago, as well as of the crime that happened in present day. What felt real about this book were the characters. Good or bad, love or hate them, characters like this exist all around us whether we want to admit it or not and Ms. Slaughter nailed it.
“The Good Daughter” is a brilliant, complex and wickedly twisted novel. That said, it is also a graphic, horrifying and violent read. I was totally engrossed all the while closing one eye when the book got a little hard to read. I can’t honestly say why I have never read a Karin Slaughter novel before, but I can say that this will not be my last.
Published on Goodreads, Twitter and Instagram on 11.29.17.
Disclaimer: This book contains graphic sexual violence about which I caution the readers in advance. Please be advised that my enjoyment of this novel does not in any way condone the actions of certain characters in this novel.
Abso-fraking-Awesome! This was one heck of a read.
The Good Daughter was my first introduction to Karin Slaughter and I can say without hesitation, it won’t be my last.
Charlie Quinn and her sister Sam live in Pikesville, GA and they endure the most horrific event as kids. Something so bad, it changes their lives forever. It’s frightening and terrifying. Unthinkable actually.
As an adult, Charlie once again finds herself in the wrong place at the absolute worst time. They say lightning doesn’t strike twice. But in Charlie’s case, they are wrong. She just happens to be somewhere where there is gunfire and she tries to save the victims, instead of herself. This crime’s impact on Charlie and the rest of her family is astounding, as Rusty, Charlie’s dad, takes on the defense of the shooter.
What this book does is phenomenal. It pulls out details slowly, with devastating, and sometimes grotesque, detail. Not just of one crime, but of the original crime that happened twenty-eight years ago, as well as of the crime that happened in present day. What felt real about this book were the characters. Good or bad, love or hate them, characters like this exist all around us whether we want to admit it or not and Ms. Slaughter nailed it.
“The Good Daughter” is a brilliant, complex and wickedly twisted novel. That said, it is also a graphic, horrifying and violent read. I was totally engrossed all the while closing one eye when the book got a little hard to read. I can’t honestly say why I have never read a Karin Slaughter novel before, but I can say that this will not be my last.
Published on Goodreads, Twitter and Instagram on 11.29.17.
Disclaimer: This book contains graphic sexual violence about which I caution the readers in advance. Please be advised that my enjoyment of this novel does not in any way condone the actions of certain characters in this novel.
August 21, 2017
This was absolutely phenomenal!! If I could I'd give this 10 stars I would!!!
The Good Daughter is my second novel that I have read by Karin Slaughter and hands down... ladies and gentleman I think I must admit that I have a problem and am an official Slaughter addict.
Honestly, I can't give this novel enough praise that it truly deserves. THIS is how you truly write crime fiction. Karin Slaughter is extremely talented and holy cow does she have a dark imagination. But, I LOVE IT!! Karin has climbed her way into my dark obsessive heart of crime novels and she can stay there! This could not have gotten any better.... addicting, jaw-dropping twists, dark, raw, and emotional.
This story begins with us looking at the heart-breaking event that happens for the Quinn family. Samantha and Charlotte are sisters living with their mother Gamma and father Rusty. Rusty is a lawyer who works on death row for the small town this family lives in. Hold on to your stomach.. because the opening scene is horrific and I think I lost my heart after the first 10 pages of this story.
The novel alternates between the past and present. Sam moves away from the small town.. running away from her past... from her father... and sister Charlotte and tries to move forward with becoming a lawyer herself.
But... of course something turns her world upside down bringing Sam back to her old town... bringing her demons to life again alongside facing Charlie and Rusty after all these years.
Wounds are slowly opened for Sam, Charlie, and Rusty showing us the raw and brutal story of what happened 28 years ago.
Oh my gosh... this was just so fan--- f.. ing tactic! Go read this NOW! This has become one of my top stellar reads for 2017.
The Good Daughter is my second novel that I have read by Karin Slaughter and hands down... ladies and gentleman I think I must admit that I have a problem and am an official Slaughter addict.
Honestly, I can't give this novel enough praise that it truly deserves. THIS is how you truly write crime fiction. Karin Slaughter is extremely talented and holy cow does she have a dark imagination. But, I LOVE IT!! Karin has climbed her way into my dark obsessive heart of crime novels and she can stay there! This could not have gotten any better.... addicting, jaw-dropping twists, dark, raw, and emotional.
This story begins with us looking at the heart-breaking event that happens for the Quinn family. Samantha and Charlotte are sisters living with their mother Gamma and father Rusty. Rusty is a lawyer who works on death row for the small town this family lives in. Hold on to your stomach.. because the opening scene is horrific and I think I lost my heart after the first 10 pages of this story.
The novel alternates between the past and present. Sam moves away from the small town.. running away from her past... from her father... and sister Charlotte and tries to move forward with becoming a lawyer herself.
But... of course something turns her world upside down bringing Sam back to her old town... bringing her demons to life again alongside facing Charlie and Rusty after all these years.
Wounds are slowly opened for Sam, Charlie, and Rusty showing us the raw and brutal story of what happened 28 years ago.
Oh my gosh... this was just so fan--- f.. ing tactic! Go read this NOW! This has become one of my top stellar reads for 2017.
October 31, 2017
3.5* Rounded up!
True to Karin Slaughter - A disturbing, chillingly and violent book. Two teenage sisters, Samantha and Charlie experience a violent event that will change the course of their lives. Years later as adults they are completely estranged from each other.
Wrong place at the wrong time places Charlie in the line of fire...literally!
Gunfire is heard, followed by screaming. Charlie doesn’t hesitate. She runs straight to the victims to assist. When a young teen is arrested for the shooting, Charlie’s dad quickly offers to be her legal representation. Not only does he feel she may not be guilty, but in fact she may be totally innocent! His unicorn!
“Neither one of us will ever move forward if we are always looking back “
As the sisters reunite to assist their father in his courtroom fight, old wounds are reopened. New light is shown on parts of the past that the sisters had thought was long buried.
For all fans of Karin Slaughter, you know you are going to be given a book filled with graphic violence and jaw dropping shockers! This one was no different. I did feel at times this book lost some focus and was not as sharp as it could have been. Though this was not a favorite from Ms. Slaughter I‘ll be looking forward to her next release.
A traveling sister read with Norma, Diane, Jennifer, and Jan!
For our full traveling sister review please visit Norma and Brenda’s fabulous blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
True to Karin Slaughter - A disturbing, chillingly and violent book. Two teenage sisters, Samantha and Charlie experience a violent event that will change the course of their lives. Years later as adults they are completely estranged from each other.
Wrong place at the wrong time places Charlie in the line of fire...literally!
Gunfire is heard, followed by screaming. Charlie doesn’t hesitate. She runs straight to the victims to assist. When a young teen is arrested for the shooting, Charlie’s dad quickly offers to be her legal representation. Not only does he feel she may not be guilty, but in fact she may be totally innocent! His unicorn!
“Neither one of us will ever move forward if we are always looking back “
As the sisters reunite to assist their father in his courtroom fight, old wounds are reopened. New light is shown on parts of the past that the sisters had thought was long buried.
For all fans of Karin Slaughter, you know you are going to be given a book filled with graphic violence and jaw dropping shockers! This one was no different. I did feel at times this book lost some focus and was not as sharp as it could have been. Though this was not a favorite from Ms. Slaughter I‘ll be looking forward to her next release.
A traveling sister read with Norma, Diane, Jennifer, and Jan!
For our full traveling sister review please visit Norma and Brenda’s fabulous blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
October 10, 2018
Definitely more graphic - gritty - and violent than my normal steady reading diet - but I was prepared. If I’m going to do ‘graphic-gritty-violence- *Karin Slaughter* is high on my list of authors to choose.
Read what I had to say about “Pretty Girls”..... the only other book I’ve read by Slaughter.... ( I think...lol.... which was a few years back I believe).... but I remember that book from beginning to end and how I felt - changes I went through as I lost an entire night’s sleep like it was yesterday. NO BOOK to this day has ever frightened me more. Physically aching SCARED.... so I couldn’t read Slaughter often - but the 2nd half of that book moved me to no end!!!! I remembered loving the book - I think more than many readers ( and I did understand readers upset to toss it out the window)....
So here I was again - a few years later. I bought this book when it first came out. I knew I wanted to read it.... but I waited until I felt certain I was ready.
Halloween month inspired me - and I’m not even particularly a fan. It was fine when our children were little for a few years. Today - I almost don’t even notice the day. But.... for whatever reason Halloween was my excuse. Not that I needed on.
Zillions of reviews are out there - does anyone really need another? So....I’ll do what I love best when I wake at 3 ish am other than snuggling reading a downloaded ebook in bed — and that is to chit chat with YOU GUYS....
I’m like the energizer bunny when I first wake up. Paul says I have too much morning energy. I simply love quiet early mornings. Favorite reading time —not to worry - my battery wears out later in the day and I’m sound asleep by 7:30 or 8 pm most nights these days.
A few notes from me .... my mini chatter review:
......I loved it from the get go: We get introduced to three prime female characters FAST.... and are HOOK.... but the violence in the beginning STRETCHES out - layers upon layers that ( my opinion)> if you can keep an emotional arms length distance from it - YOU’LL be fine. But....if you TAKE IT IN TOO MUCH....it’s one of the most disturbing scenes our souls would ever want to image. I kept an arms distance ( throughout), UNLIKE what happened to me in “Pretty Girls”.
I told ya - I was prepared this time around for Karin Slaughter.
.......What I LIKE about this author ( with my limited experience of 2 books), is between the riveting blood thirsty suspense - is her sensitivity and understanding of the complexities of family from deep love and grief to choices made as in ‘reacting’ as a way to comfort and survive. Basically she has a great read on a wide scope of humanity....good and evil. Karin is a wise woman and it shows through her writing. Her ability to develop her characters are so vivid - you almost could believe they real people.
........Terrific storyteller!
QUESTION.... Have any of her books made it to the big screen? I can see BOTH this and “Pretty Girls” as a movie.
Thank you to any of you who read this far ..... a lot of morning chatter!
Read what I had to say about “Pretty Girls”..... the only other book I’ve read by Slaughter.... ( I think...lol.... which was a few years back I believe).... but I remember that book from beginning to end and how I felt - changes I went through as I lost an entire night’s sleep like it was yesterday. NO BOOK to this day has ever frightened me more. Physically aching SCARED.... so I couldn’t read Slaughter often - but the 2nd half of that book moved me to no end!!!! I remembered loving the book - I think more than many readers ( and I did understand readers upset to toss it out the window)....
So here I was again - a few years later. I bought this book when it first came out. I knew I wanted to read it.... but I waited until I felt certain I was ready.
Halloween month inspired me - and I’m not even particularly a fan. It was fine when our children were little for a few years. Today - I almost don’t even notice the day. But.... for whatever reason Halloween was my excuse. Not that I needed on.
Zillions of reviews are out there - does anyone really need another? So....I’ll do what I love best when I wake at 3 ish am other than snuggling reading a downloaded ebook in bed — and that is to chit chat with YOU GUYS....
I’m like the energizer bunny when I first wake up. Paul says I have too much morning energy. I simply love quiet early mornings. Favorite reading time —not to worry - my battery wears out later in the day and I’m sound asleep by 7:30 or 8 pm most nights these days.
A few notes from me .... my mini chatter review:
......I loved it from the get go: We get introduced to three prime female characters FAST.... and are HOOK.... but the violence in the beginning STRETCHES out - layers upon layers that ( my opinion)> if you can keep an emotional arms length distance from it - YOU’LL be fine. But....if you TAKE IT IN TOO MUCH....it’s one of the most disturbing scenes our souls would ever want to image. I kept an arms distance ( throughout), UNLIKE what happened to me in “Pretty Girls”.
I told ya - I was prepared this time around for Karin Slaughter.
.......What I LIKE about this author ( with my limited experience of 2 books), is between the riveting blood thirsty suspense - is her sensitivity and understanding of the complexities of family from deep love and grief to choices made as in ‘reacting’ as a way to comfort and survive. Basically she has a great read on a wide scope of humanity....good and evil. Karin is a wise woman and it shows through her writing. Her ability to develop her characters are so vivid - you almost could believe they real people.
........Terrific storyteller!
QUESTION.... Have any of her books made it to the big screen? I can see BOTH this and “Pretty Girls” as a movie.
Thank you to any of you who read this far ..... a lot of morning chatter!
March 12, 2020
This story is really really dark and difficult to read, but the writing is so great. I read Pretty Girls in October last year and I really really loved it, but it was one of the toughest reading experiences I've had due to the graphic nature of the story. I knew this one would be no different, this story is incredibly graphic and vile and really hard to read about, at times I couldn't really handle it and had to set it aside, but the mystery of this story kept me flipping pages. This story has trigger warnings for: extremely disturbing graphic violence, rape, rape of a child, school shootings, miscarriage, and I'm sure there are even more that I am forgetting. As I said, it's not an easy book to stomach, but the story is really fascinating and the writing is just damn good.
This story follows two sisters: Sam and Charlie. The story opens with a horrific scene of them as children when their mother is brutally murdered right in front of them, and then we see some equally horrific things happen to them.. and then we jump forward 28 years into the future where we are following Charlie who is a lawyer who has taken after her Father. She is involved in a school shooting while she's on the campus of a middle school, and then the story really takes off from there.
I really love stories that follow sisters, so I was really fascinated to Sam and Charlie's story because of that and that's the same reason I enjoyed Pretty Girls so much. I felt so many emotions for rage and sadness for both Sam and Charlie while reading this, at times it all felt like a bit too much, but these characters are so fleshed out and so real and their story is so haunting and disturbing but it's hard to look away from. There's also some really great plot twists that I didn't see coming toward the end and wow.
The only reason I knocked off a star is because this story can really drag at times. The first chapter starts off so intense and so strong, but then I feel like the story drags for about 200-250 pages, and then it really picks up in the last 200 pages and I was flying through the ending of this book trying to get answers. I do think the ending of the book is worth the wait, but there were definitely chunks of this book that just felt unnecessary and made the page count so much longer.
But overall, I really loved it, even though I found it difficult to stomach at times. You can't deny that Karin Slaughter just knows how to write a good thriller with some truly devastating and tragic characters who have been through a lot.
This story follows two sisters: Sam and Charlie. The story opens with a horrific scene of them as children when their mother is brutally murdered right in front of them, and then we see some equally horrific things happen to them.. and then we jump forward 28 years into the future where we are following Charlie who is a lawyer who has taken after her Father. She is involved in a school shooting while she's on the campus of a middle school, and then the story really takes off from there.
I really love stories that follow sisters, so I was really fascinated to Sam and Charlie's story because of that and that's the same reason I enjoyed Pretty Girls so much. I felt so many emotions for rage and sadness for both Sam and Charlie while reading this, at times it all felt like a bit too much, but these characters are so fleshed out and so real and their story is so haunting and disturbing but it's hard to look away from. There's also some really great plot twists that I didn't see coming toward the end and wow.
The only reason I knocked off a star is because this story can really drag at times. The first chapter starts off so intense and so strong, but then I feel like the story drags for about 200-250 pages, and then it really picks up in the last 200 pages and I was flying through the ending of this book trying to get answers. I do think the ending of the book is worth the wait, but there were definitely chunks of this book that just felt unnecessary and made the page count so much longer.
But overall, I really loved it, even though I found it difficult to stomach at times. You can't deny that Karin Slaughter just knows how to write a good thriller with some truly devastating and tragic characters who have been through a lot.
September 25, 2017
When I see a new Karin Slaughter book coming out I get all excited. I'll beg and steal (I kid!) to get my greedy hands on a copy. I totally got denied an ARC copy of this one and I think I whined for 2 weeks. (Total first world problems)
I sucked it up after my husband told me to shut the hell up and requested it from my lovely library. Then proceeded to be almost late for work because I couldn't stop reading it.
Two sisters had their entire life changed twenty eight years ago. They and their mother were attacked by two turds that their father had defended. The attackers were worried that since the whole town hated the father so much that someone burned the family's house down and that might make the girls dad come after them for some legal fees. People are stupid.
Charlie (the youngest sister) stayed in North Georgia and now another tragedy has struck in their small town in the form of a school shooter. Charlie herself is in the school when it happens and it starts bringing back memories of that day from years ago.
I'm sitting here trying to decide how to review this book without giving anything away. I'm at a loss (which is totally the usual for me). I'll just fangirl over this author for a minute..I've read Karin Slaughter for years. If someone asks me my favorite authors I always name her as one of the tops. I've not fallen in love with everything she has written, but that's okay...I'll still cut a bitch to get to one of her books. This book was just what I wanted and if you haven't read anything by her I think this might be a good place to start. She does not step away from gruesome details so put on your big girl or boy panties and buckle in.
A couple of my favorite passages that I remembered to mark..
"If you fall in front of those bitches, they'll laugh at you. They might try to do something worse, and I'll have to kill them."
"Use my cane if it comes to that It's metal."
"A possum stared at me though the door all night."
"That's Bill." Charlie turned on the giant television. "He's my lover."
"Possums can transmit leptospirosis, E. coli, salmonella. Their scat can carry a bacteria that causes flesh-eating ulcers."
"We're not into the kinky stuff."
I sucked it up after my husband told me to shut the hell up and requested it from my lovely library. Then proceeded to be almost late for work because I couldn't stop reading it.
Two sisters had their entire life changed twenty eight years ago. They and their mother were attacked by two turds that their father had defended. The attackers were worried that since the whole town hated the father so much that someone burned the family's house down and that might make the girls dad come after them for some legal fees. People are stupid.
Charlie (the youngest sister) stayed in North Georgia and now another tragedy has struck in their small town in the form of a school shooter. Charlie herself is in the school when it happens and it starts bringing back memories of that day from years ago.
I'm sitting here trying to decide how to review this book without giving anything away. I'm at a loss (which is totally the usual for me). I'll just fangirl over this author for a minute..I've read Karin Slaughter for years. If someone asks me my favorite authors I always name her as one of the tops. I've not fallen in love with everything she has written, but that's okay...I'll still cut a bitch to get to one of her books. This book was just what I wanted and if you haven't read anything by her I think this might be a good place to start. She does not step away from gruesome details so put on your big girl or boy panties and buckle in.
A couple of my favorite passages that I remembered to mark..
"If you fall in front of those bitches, they'll laugh at you. They might try to do something worse, and I'll have to kill them."
"Use my cane if it comes to that It's metal."
"A possum stared at me though the door all night."
"That's Bill." Charlie turned on the giant television. "He's my lover."
"Possums can transmit leptospirosis, E. coli, salmonella. Their scat can carry a bacteria that causes flesh-eating ulcers."
"We're not into the kinky stuff."
September 19, 2017
Holy crap, this book was INTENSE! By the end of the prologue, I was breathless. And the intensity didn't stop. Karin Slaughter’s pacing of this book is fantastic. Tension-tension-tension-tension!
I love the Quinn family. Defense attorney dad, Rusty, and genius mom, Gamma, have two teen daughters, Sam and Charlie. I find it hard to call them dysfunctional because they make everything work for them. They are funny, quirky, unique. The brutality unleashed on this family might be called unthinkable, but in reality it happens somewhere every day. Slaughter pulls no punches with the violence. It’s not gratuitous; it is necessary for the story.
This book got into my head and my heart from the first page. My emotions were pulled every which way. I laughed and cried. I feel the need to thank Karin Slaughter for letting me come down off the adrenaline slowly at the end.
Karin Slaughter just keeps getting better and better, and this is her best yet.
I love the Quinn family. Defense attorney dad, Rusty, and genius mom, Gamma, have two teen daughters, Sam and Charlie. I find it hard to call them dysfunctional because they make everything work for them. They are funny, quirky, unique. The brutality unleashed on this family might be called unthinkable, but in reality it happens somewhere every day. Slaughter pulls no punches with the violence. It’s not gratuitous; it is necessary for the story.
This book got into my head and my heart from the first page. My emotions were pulled every which way. I laughed and cried. I feel the need to thank Karin Slaughter for letting me come down off the adrenaline slowly at the end.
Karin Slaughter just keeps getting better and better, and this is her best yet.
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