This book took me unfortunately months to read as I could not source the physical or audio, so it was consumed in irregular bursts on my desktop, thus prolonging it and most likely taking a star in my rating. My preferred format is listening to Karin Slaughter'sbooks. They are quite old and this library professional will not pay for audio!
I found this instalment was quite busy with lots of names and intertwined relatives to keep up with, which I'm never a fan of, but as always, I'll turn this around by enjoying the characters. A group of religious zealots are running a dodgy farming community, welcoming drifters and addicts to their fold. Of course all along the reader can't help but shake their heads at the crazy ideals, their judgmental ways of those who don't follow the almighty as they do.
A girl is found dead in the woods, buried alive. Sara, Jeffery and Lena becoming intricately involved in this oh so messy story which includes all types of abuse, a lot of this hidden behind religion and righteous awful people. Particularly their menfolk looking down upon women. Chief of Police Tolliver handling these crazies well knowing things are never as they seem.
The characters are what I love here. Jeffery and Sara coming together after his indiscretion, Sara finding it very hard to move on, never letting Jeffery forget what he did to her while navigating their newfound togetherness. Always there for her man, doing all she can in the
Lena and her terrible domestic violence situation, a woman that we assume should know better who has tragically become a statistic regardless of the fact she is an experienced detective with many years under her belt. The scenes where she helps a woman in the same situation are heartbreaking, as we witness these two women playing the game of mentor/survivor/victim. Another quality character is Nan, and her relationship with Lena always a source of comfort in Lena's tragic and messy life.
This series will also be gruesome, readers need to be aware of this, but KS fans will be aware of this. I am now one book away from Will Trent. How good is this?
Recommended to fans of the author, and those who don't mind some harsh and gritty reading.
I read this using the Overdrive library system via the library at which I work.