The Waitress

by K.L. Slater

My job as a waitress means I’m used to watching everything – and used to lying. Soon I’m posing as someone’s girlfriend… But what does he really want from me?

When I slip on my waitress’s uniform I become a different person. And I’m good at what I do. I instantly identify Trent as the most important man in the room, and I catch his eye as I serve canapes to his rich clients. We share a little smile… and later that evening, he asks me to pretend to be his girlfriend.

Of course I accept. It’s the perfect way for me to escape my own past. He just needs me to watch certain people. It seems easy.

Soon I’m living in his opulent home, wearing a new wardrobe of designer clothes. Then I discover there was a woman here before me. Saskia. Nobody will talk about her…

Suddenly I don’t feel safe anymore. If I leave, I’m no longer protected. But if I stay here, in this silent apartment of secrets, will anyone miss me if I disappear?

A completely compelling and twisty page-turner from number 1 bestselling author K.L. Slater. Fans of Lisa Jewell and Freida McFadden will be hooked by The Waitress.

What everyone is saying about K.L.

‘OMG!!!! WHAT DID I JUST READ!!!! I DID NOT EXPECT THAT!!! MIND BLOWN MUCH!!! Wow!!!… had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end… omg the twists!!! I DID NOT see any of them coming!!!… What an ending!!! One of the most gripping unputdownable nerve-wracking psychological thrillers I have EVER read!!!’ Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Oh. My. Goodness. What a book!… It kept me awake when I should have been asleep… I couldn’t put it down!… Kept me hanging onto every single word… I just needed to know what happened.’ Stardust Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I was hooked from the first page and finished this book in one sitting… I devoured this book, I could not put it down, I just had to keep on reading… I was sat on the edge of my seat. As for the ending OMG it was a shock… I loved it.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This. Book. Is. Amazing. I dropped everything and read it in two sittings. It’s addictive, it’s dark and twisty, it’s deceitful, you think you’ve worked out what’s going on and nope… twisty again… Everyone needs to read this.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Absolutely brilliant! I sat and read the book in a day and did not want to put it down!… I even text my mum when I was halfway through telling her it was a book she NEEDED to read!!… Without a doubt 5 stars – I LOVED it!!!’ Donna’s Book Blog, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I want to take it and scream from the rooftops. I want to make everyone I know read a copy. I want to knock on doors and leave this book in mailboxes… Enthralling, fast-paced and dark… I read this one into the night, I left the book open on my bed so I could try and absorb more as I slept… if you want a hair-raising thriller, then look no further.

Genres: Audiobook, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Suspense

Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 17, 2026

About the author

Kim is the number one bestselling author of sixteen psychological crime thrillers. She has sold over two million copies of her books worldwide. She has also written four Carnegie-nominated Young Adult novels as Kim Slater for Macmillan Children’s Books. Kim has an MA in Creative Writing and lives with her husband in a small Nottinghamshire village.

Publishers: Bookouture, Sphere, Grand Central, Audible
Agent: Camilla Bolton at Darley Anderson

Author website: www.KLSlaterAuthor.com
Twitter: @KimLSlater
Facebook: KL Slater Author
Instagram: KLSlaterAuthor

Reviews

[Hannah Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

BRODEH.

[Cara Wilson · Rating 1 out of 5]

BRODEH. That is all.

[Jayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

No tip for "The Waitress"!

WHY?
I listened to the audiobook.

The storyline unfolded from multiple POVs.

Although Claudia Jessie's narration was good, it was frequently difficult to remember who was saying what.

A full-cast narration would have significantly helped this book.

Also, the storyline lacked the sizzle and thrills of K.L. Slater's earlier releases.

Not sure if the book eventually delivered. DNF at 40%.

Fortunately, this was an Audible Plus freebie, so no credit was wasted.

[Kelly Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The overall story was good. The sister was a little frustrating. I did not see the twist at the end coming.

[Kelly H · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a 3.75 for me. Kept me entertained while getting ready for work and en route to work, but would I tell all my friends to read it? Nahhh. One of those “just call the cops already” thrillers, but I played along AND I will say the end did have a twist I was not expecting.

[Aloha4Ever · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay, but a lot of things made no sense. Like what motivated Trent to seek out these random women to employ? Why would he trust a woman he had just met to do spy-work for him? And why on earth did he allow two different women to blackmail him??

K.L. Slater’s books have mostly been misses for me in recent years. But I keep reading in the elusive hope that I’ll strike gold again. This book was included in my audible plus membership, so at least I didn’t use a credit.

[Beccy · Rating 2 out of 5]

there is a reason it was a free audible original lol - kept me somewhat entertained on my 400km drive but it was tedious and I did want to drive off the state highway at least twice, think Claudia Jessie saved it if I’m honest

[Tierney Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Had me gripped from start to end. I'm not sure why some reviewers are so down on it.

The multiple POV approach isn't confusing *at all*. Just 3 POVs, with 3 different voices. Mainly tho, this is Alicia's story, and she's a strong lead, whose depth is revealed and layers peeled back as we go along.

Sure, the sister is the weakest of the 3 leads, and you might want to smack some sense into her, but her role makes sense in the whole context.

A super climax, a neat twist, and *excellently* performed by Claudia Jesse (so good, I've tracked down 2 other audio stories featuring her)

[Annabelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh dear, definitely not one of K.L. Slater’s best, very disappointing.

[Stacy B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐️

[Amy Morris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sure it's just me, but the abused woman who stays/lets the man come back in her life, OMG I just can't. I know this happens in real life. I don't understand it but I know it is too common to be believed. But man, I just cannot even in yet another book plot.

The rest of it was just ridiculous. No way she goes from being a server on the catering staff to the penthouse, with someone in power having her make event decisions and business insights, as if he didn't already have staff to do those tasks. Please. Also, the author decides not to tell you why the MC is in the situation she's in until essentially the whole story and all the tension is already over. Essentially they just reveal the MC's motivation in an epilogue. As a result, I couldn't get on board or root for the MC at all.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alicia leaves her young son with her sister and moves to London, determined to reinvent herself and escape a past she won’t confront. At The Orbit, an exclusive high rise for the elite, she slips easily into the background, watching everything. When its charismatic owner, Trent Connors, offers her a lucrative arrangement to pose as his girlfriend, she accepts a deal that quickly becomes more complicated than either of them intended. As she settles into this glossy new life, the cracks beneath its surface begin to show, while her sister back home hides a far more dangerous secret that is slowly closing in.

The book didn’t quite meet the author’s usual standard for me. Aside from Alicia, several characters felt underdeveloped, and the plot was fairly predictable, with only one twist that surprised me. I’m typically fully absorbed in this author’s work, but this time the story didn’t have the same depth or momentum that normally keeps me turning the pages.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, opinions expressed are my own.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

A good story with an overall good plot.

It was very much 1 note, not a lot of tension/suspense. Saw most of it coming.

[Kitty Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first read of 2026! Love this author!

[Julier · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like after finishing the audio. I didn't like any of the characters. Alicia was so worried about her baby but she knew where he lived and could see him? She was manipulating and dishonest. Alicia makes sure Trent might have to face the law for the young woman's ACCIDENTAL death. All he did was lie about being there when it happened. But she doesn't have a problem with Trent pushing someone off a building? Just because she wanted him dead, too. makes her an accomplice! no respect for her, either!

[Paul Botterill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. It was suspenseful and thrilling.

[CL · Rating 5 out of 5]

How far would you go to protect your family. Hired by one man to sabotage another. The mark plays into her scheme and now she has a chance to free herself from both and make a good life for her and her family.

[Heather Hughes · Rating 1 out of 5]

This story didn’t make sense at all, not invested in the characters, the main character was unlikeable. Disappointing

[Lee Young · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fast forwarded to the end just to see what happened to Alicia.

Short book, but it could’ve been even shorter. VERY tedious at times.

[Buggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Enjoyed the beginning, things got more mediocre as it went on. Ending was anticlimactic.

[Michelle Confere · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was just ok. The story line was intriguing enough but the MC is supposed to be some super sleuth, and she just ended up being annoying. Who leaves their 2 year old to move hours away at the demands of someone else instead of calling the police? She was a private detective who clocked him as a cheater and when he threatens her, she just takes it? Makes no sense to me. Also when the boyfriend has the sister pinned in the bathroom, she calls the MC who is hours away instead of the police?! Make it make sense. Not the best Slater book.

[Gayle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unexpected, delightful plot twists but moves slowly, heavy on descriptions of every breath, dress, room, emotion. Characters are two-dimensional, predictable--the sleazy mobster business guy, the Machiavellian real estate titan, the abused girlfriend, the clever fairytale heroine who outwits the villains with the help of the empowering sisterhood of older women.

[Travis Loran · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were times when I was confused in this book. I do feel as if the ending felt super rushed and every character changed their behaviors which did not feel natural.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up - a lot of descriptions of clothes and the building and cologne but kept me curious

[Danielle Crocker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! Mystery and a strong female main character. A great, lovely quick listen on audible. Twisty but easy to follow.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

shallow, unpolished, boring...

[Taylor Grosshans · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.6/5… Ehhhh

[Edie Kennard · Rating 3 out of 5]

K.L. Slater is a veteran of the "domestic noir" genre, and The Waitress delivers exactly what fans expect: secrets, shifting loyalties, and a high-gloss setting that feels just a bit too perfect. However, while the premise is addictive, the execution occasionally feels like a retread of familiar thriller tropes.

The Hook: High Stakes and Glittering Lies
The "fake dating" trope is usually reserved for rom-coms, but Slater twists it into something much more sinister. Alicia is a compelling protagonist because she isn't "innocent"—she’s a woman running from a dark past, making her the perfect unreliable narrator.

The Setting: The Orbit is a character in itself—a claustrophobic, high-end high-rise that perfectly encapsulates the "gilded cage" feel.

The Conflict: The dual-timeline/dual-perspective structure keeps the tension high. While Alicia is playing a dangerous game in London, her sister’s storyline back home provides a slow-burn sense of dread that balances the fast-paced glamour of Trent Connors' world.

Why it’s a 3/5
Despite the strong setup, the middle section of the book sags under the weight of some predictable "thriller logic."

Suspension of Disbelief: The deal offered by Trent Connors—a massive salary and a luxury apartment just to play a girlfriend—is a bit of a stretch, even for a psychological thriller.

The "Twist" Fatigue: If you read a lot of Slater or Freida McFadden, you might spot the "big reveal" coming from a mile away. The book relies heavily on characters making questionable decisions to keep the plot moving, which can be frustrating for readers who prefer a more grounded mystery.

The Ending: While the climax is explosive, it feels somewhat rushed compared to the meticulous buildup of Alicia’s lies.

Final Verdict
The Waitress is a solid, popcorn-style thriller. It’s the perfect "beach read" or "airplane book"—fast-paced and engaging enough to keep you turning pages, even if it doesn't reinvent the genre. It’s a story about the masks we wear and the price we pay for a "better life," though it lacks the emotional depth to make it truly haunting.

Read this if: You love stories about the dark side of the ultra-wealthy and don't mind a few far-fetched plot points. Skip this if: You prefer gritty, realistic police procedurals or are tired of the "unreliable narrator" trope.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those thrillers where you don’t know who’s using who but everyone is not to be trusted. We meet a young woman who is waitressing at a party but the real reason she is there is to meet Trent the owner of the new building and a man she needs to get under the skin of in order to save her own. Will she get close enough or does he already have plans of his own for her. The difference is she is doing this for her son and will stop at nothing to make sure he is safe! Don’t miss.

[Sharon Raskay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! It is a little different than some of her books, but it is much better than some of her books! I would have given the book a 5, but I did not find the ending as twisty as others did!