The Silent Wife

Will Trent #10

by Karin Slaughter

The New York Times bestselling author of Pieces of Her and The Last Widow returns with another electrifying Will Trent thriller.

Investigating the killing of a prisoner during a riot inside a state penitentiary, GBI investigator Will Trent is confronted with disturbing information. One of the inmates claims that he is innocent of a brutal attack for which he has always been the prime suspect. The man insists that he was framed by a corrupt law enforcement team led by Jeffrey Tolliver and that the real culprit is still out there—a serial killer who has systematically been preying on women across the state for years. If Will reopens the investigation and implicates the dead police officer with a hero’s reputation of wrongdoing, the opportunistic convict is willing to provide the information GBI needs about the riot murder.

Only days ago, another young woman was viciously murdered in a state park in northern Georgia. Is it a fluke, or could there be a serial killer on the loose?

As Will Trent digs into both crimes it becomes clear that he must solve the cold case in order to find the answer. Yet nearly a decade has passed—time for memories to fade, witnesses to vanish, evidence to disappear, and lies to become truth. But Will can’t crack either mystery without the help of the one person he doesn’t want involved: his girlfriend and Jeffrey Tolliver’s widow, medical examiner Sara Linton.

When the past and present begin to collide, Will realizes that everything he values is at stake . . .

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

482 pages, Paperback

First published June 23, 2020

About the author

Karin Slaughter is one of the world’s most popular storytellers. She is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than twenty- five novels, including the Edgar nominated COP TOWN and standalone novels PRETTY GIRLS and FALSE WITNESS. An international bestseller, Slaughter is published in 120 countries with more than 40 million copies sold across the globe. PIECES OF HER, based on her novel, debuted at #1 worldwide on Netflix as an original series in 2022. Her bestselling thriller series, Will Trent, is now a television and streaming sensation in its 4th season. THE GOOD DAUGHTER will soon be a limited series starring Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy, and further projects are currently in development for film/TV. Karin 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/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karinslaugh...

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally we got a real,gripping, gory, gritty, graphic, disturbing, dark and unputdownable Will Trent story that we’ve been waiting for. Don’t get me wrong, the brilliant, ultra talented author always gives us one book at a year but last two books were like regular, fast pacing thrillers and I missed the real essence, dysfunctional dynamics of Will’s world.

But this book brought that missing essence by meticulously merging past and present, that means without coming clean, facing their pasts, the characters cannot move on because they’re stuck with the ghosts of their old lives.

Quick summary of the book’s plot line: Brutal attacks on women by serial killer start to occur, which is bearing same MO of a rapist who has been locked for life 8 years ago and who has insisted that he has been innocent. Now a dangerous serial killer/ rapist out there to hunt the innocent women. And the prisoner Daryl Nesbitt who has been put behind the bars for the past allegations of brutal rape murders demands to see Will and longtime partner Faith Mitchell and during their meeting he insists he’s been framed by the corrupted cops.

Of course Nesbitt points at: Jeffrey Tolliver, Grant County’s Chief Officer for wrongly accusing him of two violent rape attacks, the same officer who has been brutally murdered and the deceased husband of Will’s girlfriend, medical examiner Sara Linton. These accusations open up can of worms and force to face both Will and Sara with the skeletons they hid in their locked closet doors, questioning their intimate relationship.

The book is divided between two different timescales: We go back to 8 years ago to witness Jeffrey’s investigation progress, seeing young Sara and we move back to the present to witness Faith, Will, Sara who’s racing against time to solve the murderers and catching the killer.

Overall: it was gripping, thrilling, action packed , captivating novel and even though from the beginning I have some questions about Sara and Will’s relationship: at this book we see a clear picture about what holding them to move on and what they are scared of.

And Faith is always one of my favorite characters of this book. Her partnership with Will, their opposite characteristics, their banters and the way of special, quirky communication between them are adorable, giving us dark humorous parts when we need to take break and relax after reading breathtaking, depressing, dark chapters of the book.

The only thing disturbed me was detailed and long parts which made me slowed down. But instead of that, for so long this was one of the best Will Trent books I’ve read so long and I also enjoyed promising ending, looking forward to read the next one sooner.

[Susanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well Played Karin Slaughter, Well Played.

Oops You did it again
You played with my heart..

My oh My.. what a wild, crazy, heart stopping, laugh out loud, tearfilled ride “The Silent Wife” turned out to be. Going in, I had no idea what to expect. What I got was Jeffrey. My Jeffrey. Jeffrey Tolliver. Be Still My Heart.

Sara Linton, is now an Atlanta resident, where she is the medical examiner at the GBI and the girlfriend of Will Trent, who is an investigator with the GBI. Sara, however, was once a resident of Grant County, when she was married to the Chief of Police, Jeffrey Tolliver, before he was murdered.

When Will Trent, his partner Faith Mitchell and Sara are called into investigate a crime at a prison, old cases of Jeffrey’s are called into question: murders of young women at Grant Tech. His reputation and that of the Grant County PD are on the line. Unfortunately for Will, Faith and Sara, the only officer who can shed light on the situation is a very pregnant Lena Adams, now a Detective with the Macon PD. Can you say Meow?!

To make matters much worse, the GBI discovers several other victims with the same MO whose deaths have occurred in the years since the original murders, leaving the team racing to find a serial killer in their midst.

Told in both the Past (with Jeffrey) and the Present (with Will and Sara), what happens here is seriously intense. Heartstopping, thrilling, terrifying and sometimes, extremely violent. Karin Slaughter knows how to scare a girl. Although I guessed the who and the why fairly early on, it did not detract from my enjoyment in any way whatever.

Then there’s Jeffrey. A huge part of me loved revisiting Jeffrey. How could I not? He has my heart and he always will. That said, this Karin Slaughter novel tore me in two. I really like Will Trent. A lot. I love his partnership with Faith and laughed hysterically at their antics in this novel. I also like Will with Sara, although, I personally don’t think she’s good enough for him. (Sorry NOT Sorry!!). That said, I absolutely LOVE Jeffrey Tolliver. Yes, I am one of those women. When he died my heart was RIPPED OUT of my chest. It is something that I have not gotten over to this day. When I started reading this book and realized that Karin Slaughter was drudging it all back up AGAIN, with Will, Sara, LENA and JEFFREY.. My stomach churned and turned and I felt ill. I finished this novel two days ago and I am still a mess over it all and will be for a long time. It is to Karin Slaughter’s credit that she is able to pull all of these emotions out of me.

“The Silent Wife” is a spellbinding, intense, mystery thriller that is a must read for Karin Slaughter fans. I personally suggest reading all of the Grant County and Will Trent novels in order before reading this so that you can experience the characters and the raw emotions that Karin Slaughter brings to the table. Kudos to Ms. Slaughter for slaying me yet again.

Thank you to my book buddy Kaceey for being there for me throughout. I started bingeing this series last September and she has been there for me every step of the way. She has laughed and supported my love and utter despair over Jeffrey, my anger and frustration at Sara, my adoration of Will and Faith and my defense of Lena. I would not have gotten through this series without you. We read this one together and it was the best!

Thank you to HarperCollins, William Morrow, Edelweiss and Karin Slaughter for the arc.

Published on Goodreads on 7.5.20.

[Meredith (Trying to catch up!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A really gritty, violent love story.”

The Silent Wife is a dark, suspenseful, and violent thriller. But a love story?

Love stories do play a central role, but the Will Trent series is really about the characters, their relationships, and friendships, and the horrible crimes they investigate. Most significantly, all of the characters are survivors.

A murderer dangles evidence that demonstrates that he has been wrongfully convicted. His revelation leads to the realization that a depraved serial killer has been on the loose for eight years, brutally raping and terrorizing his victims. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation investigates, forcing them to take a closer look at some of their own.

This is one of the most brutal books in the series. The details are graphic, the crimes are sickening and hard to read about. This book is not for the faint of heart. The presence of Will, Faith, Amanda, and Sara, along with some characters in the past from Grant County, make it readable.

This book is not as much about the killer (their identity is made pretty obvious early on), but more about the victims who survived being raped and tortured. Their lives have been stolen, and every day is a struggle for them to get through. As Slaughter writes, it’s an “honest telling of survivors, fighters, mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, friends, and rogues.”

The other main focus is on the characters who are at the heart of this series: Will, Sara, Faith, and Amanda, with some ghosts from the past making appearances.

The narrative is split between Sara and Will in the present, and Jeffrey (yes, Jeffrey Tolliver!!) in the past!

Will and Sara are at a crossroads, continuing the pattern of not talking about their relationship. Faith is still battling being a single mother, and Amanda is still not sharing. I love Faith’s sense of humor--she is such a fun character, and her one-liners were much needed to lighten the tone of this book.

This book can be read as a standalone, but really the whole series needs to be read to appreciate the characters and their relationships.

I loved and appreciated KS’s author’s note. Her wit and humor and love for these characters and series shine through.

I reread the ending 5 times. After binging this series over the last four months, I am not ready for a break from Will, Sara, Faith, and Amanda, and one of my favorite book dogs, Betty. While waiting for the next book in the series, I will be catching up on all the KS books that I have not read. Hopefully, they will fill the void!

4.5 stars

Thank you to Harper Collins for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Paromjit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karin Slaughter's latest addition to her Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) agent Will Trent and medical examiner, Dr Sara Linton, series is a dark, unsettling and disturbing nightmare of a affair. GBI have been called in to to investigate the murder of inmate, 38 year old Jesus Vasquez, at the penitentiary during a riot, when they are offered information on the perpetrators by another prisoner, Daryl Nesbitt. He claims that he is innocent of the brutally devastating attacks, sexual assaults and murders of women in Grant County, pointing the finger at the then Chief of Police, Jeffery Tolliver, Sara's dead husband, and his fellow police officer, Lena Adams, as responsible for a corrupt investigation. Nesbitt says he can prove he is innocent, that there have been at least eight other women murdered since his imprisonment, by the real serial killer, furnishing GBI with newspaper articles on their deaths, demanding they investigate in exchange for revealing who killed Vasquez.

Will and Sara's relationship develop tensions, fears and insecurities as Sara is plunged into her past, the trauma of Jeffery's original investigations, a bitter period where she had been divorced from the handsome Jeffery after his infidelities, before she later married him again as she had never stopped loving him. GBI and Sara begin to look at the deaths of the women, beginning with the most recent, Alexandra McAllister, thought to have been an accident. Lena, loathed and not trusted by the GBI in the slightest, is now pregnant informing them she has shredded her notebooks, making it difficult to uncover the truth of her and Jeffery's actions that led to Nesbitt being identified as the killer. It soon becomes alarmingly clear that the serial killer has continuing raping and killing women through the years, becoming more adept at disguising the deaths as accidents. His MO though has remain the same, stalking the women, stealing hair accessories from his victims as trophies, hitting them on the head with a hammer, drugging them, rape and sexual assault, paralysis, leaving their bodies in the surrounding woods.

GBI find themselves up against a killer that is smart, deliberate, methodical, a risk taker, relishing hiding in plain sight, continuing to prey on women relentlessly, with never a flicker of remorse. Sara's personal relationship with Tolliver comes under the spotlight, the past taking up so much of her head space in the present, impacting on her relationship with Will, and having her examining the different natures of the men she had fallen in love with. The highlights in Slaughter's terrifying narrative of extreme violence and rape against women, is the sliver of hope in the theme of survival through the worst of horrors and trauma that could befall a woman, and the undeniable love portrayed between Sara and Will. This is brilliant, if tortuously dark and disturbing, storytelling that I highly recommend to crime and thriller readers. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are basically crack to me so you’re not going to get a super balanced or neutral review here. I probably also shouldn’t be making drug jokes right after reading Dopesick, but I don’t have a better way to describe it! Karin Slaughter’s books just do it for me—as soon as I finish one I’m immediately looking around to see if there’s another. Luckily we got The Silent Wife less than a year after The Last Widow, and honestly:



I had to double check, but I believe this is the first police/crime thriller I’ve read since the George Floyd protests, at least where the protagonists are almost entirely members of law enforcement. It’s interesting to revisit a beloved series with this different point of view, almost as if I’m seeing some things for the first time. While there may have been time for some tweaks, based on the international publication days I’m assuming pretty much all of The Silent Wife was written without this added layer of scrutiny. Therefore I was really pleasantly surprised with how well the material holds up.

Slaughter has never been one to hold back, especially when depicting some of the realities for women and non-white members of the community and police force. Spoiler for Triptych: Hell the first villain that we see Will Trent chase down is a rapist cop. But I was also glad to see that she didn’t gloss over prison mistreatment and all kinds of systemic corruption. It was a bit of a reality check, though, to see my beloved Will and Faith toeing the ‘Thin Blue Line’, even if they did so reluctantly.

The Silent Wife is definitely a book about cops—I mean duh it’s a police procedural. But if you’re hesitant to see any glamorization of the law enforcement given the uptick in violence against protestors and the constant over-policing of communities of color, this one definitely isn’t going to make anyone feel all warm and fuzzy towards the boys in blue.

Which brings us to the elephant in almost every room of the Trent series, Jeffery. One of the best ways Slaughter is able to pass a critical eye over some of her previous books, special attention to several of the *ahem* questionable members of the Grant County Police force of the past, is through utilizing flashbacks. In the case Trent and Mitchell are following-up on, they’re led towards one of former Chief Jeffery Tolliver’s prior cases. Every piece of information they collect is a knock against him and the people who worked under him. It’s yet another Jeffery-shaped strain put on Sara and Will’s relationship, but it’s also tough for anyone who’s carrying a badge to admit when mistakes are made at any level. I did love seeing Jeffery again, even in this manner, and even though it meant seeing Lena (🤮) once more. But after 16 books I feel like I finally understand a crucial piece of their symbiotic relationship.

My biggest complaint has to do with the previous book, The Last Widow. That one was insane. A suicide cult, an assault on a government building by an armed militia, presumably HUNDREDS dead, and not even a mention of any of that?? I swear, it’s like that book happened in a vacuum. Nearly every other previous plotline was woven into this book one way or another, but I can’t understand why she left that book out. Maybe she’s saving it? I’ll be kind of annoyed if it’s never brought up again.

All that said, Ms. Karin, ma’am. I will follow you anywhere, read anything you write and try to force your books on everyone I know. 💙


*Thanks Jordan for an early copy!!!!!

**For more book talk & reviews, follow me on Instagram at @elle_mentbooks!

[Miranda Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whewww! This was my first full-length Karin Slaughter book and it did NOT disappoint.

This book takes place across two timelines.

There's present-day Atlanta, Georgia - where we follow the police investigation of a woman who's been brutally attacked.

The trail is cold but when Will Trent (the investigator) gets a call to the local prison, he realizes that there's far more to the case than he ever expected.

There was a string of murders about 10ish years ago across cities that suddenly (and horrifically) begin to spell out a pattern.

Meanwhile, in the past, we follow Jeffery as he stumbles upon the original set of murders. Two victims, a short timespan and possible connections and far-reaching implications.

The more present-Will unravels this secret, the sicker it becomes.

Overall - I really enjoyed this book.

It did feel a little weird to jump in on this series at book 10 but at the same time there was enough background given that it wasn't too much of a leap. (Though, the quick rundowns of all the relationship stuff did slightly make my head spin).

The mystery aspect of this book was fantastically done - I had absolutely no idea where the book was taking me but I was 110% there for it.

The way Slaughter set up all of those dominoes for this story - fantastic. The grand reveal - completely and utterly satisfying. Loved the tension and the build.

I was slightly thrown by the relationship dynamic between Sara and Will - it felt more like drama for drama's sake but ultimately I was okay with how it played out.

A huge thank you to William Morrow and Karin Slaughter books for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

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[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nineteen years ago, Karin Slaughter wrote the first book in her Grant County series and she has been my favorite ever since. Karin Slaughter fans know that the books began with the Grant County Series and then the Will Trent Series came along with Sara doing a crossover and the rest is history folks. If you have not read these two series, I highly recommend them. Be warned - they are dark, full of heinous crime, full of love, full of suspense, full of medical and investigative jargon, and simply my favorite page turners of all time. She has had some awesome stand-alone books as well. Okay, I am done fangirling and gushing....

Atlanta, Georgia - A young woman is brutally attacked and left for dead. After investigation, the case unfortunately turns cold. That is until GBI investigator Will Trent is at a crime scene in a state penitentiary and a prisoner says he recognizes the MO - after all, he was committed for the same type of crime years ago. He always claimed he was innocent, he always blamed/claimed Jeffrey Tolliver, put the wrong man behind bars.

As Will and his team begin to investigate, ghosts of the past come back. The biggest one being Jeffrey Tolliver, Sara's dead husband (Sara and Will are a HOT item, in case you have not read the books). There is a lot of history that is about to be dug up. To give some background, as I previously mentioned, Sara Linton is Will's girlfriend but was once the pediatrician and medical examiner of Grant County where she was married, divorced and married again to Jeffrey Tolliver, who was the Chief of Police.

This book was a roller coaster ride for many reasons. Told through the past and present, readers got to see Jeffrey Tolliver again! This was fun and bittersweet all at the same time. Boy did I want to punch Slaughter in the face after she ripped my heart out at the end of the Grant County series. Like King, she is not afraid to kill her darlings. It was a nice walk down memory lane. Plus, we got more information on the crimes, the investigation, and saw things from Jeffrey's POV. LOVED IT!

In the present day, we see Will, Faith, Amanda, Sara, and even Lena. We also see their investigation, the strain the investigation puts on Will and Sara's relationship (how could it not?) and even learn the truth. Amanda still wants things ASAP! Faith continues to be a funny, strong, single mother, investigator and partner to Will. Will continues to be Will and Sara continues to be Sara. Which are all great things. We also get to see members of Sara's family and I continue to love Sara's Mothers love and wise words.

"My precious child, her mother said. Let me carry the burden of your hate. Let me do that for you so that you can move on."

But along the way, this was a love letter for fans of both series. A bloody, dark and suspenseful love letter! Bless her heart! I loved every single page of this book.

"With Jeffrey, Sara had known that there were dozens, possibly hundreds of other women who could love him just as intensely as she did. With Will, Sara was keenly aware that she was the only woman on earth who could love him the way that he deserved to be loved."

Just as Will Trent deserves to be loved, Karin Slaughter deserves to be loved for writing this book! I found this book to be well thought out, perfectly paced, and engrossing. As present and past collided in this book, things just got better and better, not to mention, more riveting, more dangerous and darker! Just the way I like it!

Most books work as a stand-alone. Not this one. Not really. You NEED to read them all. That’s right start with the Grant County Series and then move on to the Will Tent Series. Fans of Slaughter and these series will not be disappointed.

In case I did not make myself perfectly clear – This book was AWESOME!

p.s. READ the Author’s note. You’re welcome!

Thank you to HarperCollins, William Morrow, Edelweiss and Karin Slaughter for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Michael David (on hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been nineteen years since Karin Slaughter released her first book in the Grant County series. Now, in the connected Will Trent series, she has written the best book since 2012’s “Criminal”.

Past and present collide when GBI investigator Will Trent and his partner, Faith Mitchell, go from looking at a deadly prison riot to looking into the brutal attack of a woman. When Will’s girlfriend, medical examiner Sara Linton, gets the chance to perform a second autopsy on a new victim, it becomes clear that this latest string of attacks may be connected to the ones that happened earlier...in Grant County...when Sara’s then ex-husband, Jeffrey Tolliver, was chief of police. There may be a serial rapist and murderer on the loose. To make matters more complicated, it is called into question whether or not Jeffrey and rookie cop Lena Adams were corrupt in their handling of the Grant County case.

I cannot explain how much I was anticipating this book, and I’m happy to report that it did NOT disappoint! Not only do we get to read more about the characters we love in the present day (Will, Sara, Sara’s family, Faith, and Amanda), we also get Jeffrey! He is very much alive in the past timeline...a particular period that we never saw Jeffrey and Sara in. Oh, and we get Lena in past and present. I can’t stand her at all, and I hope karma knocks on her door one of these days.

This book (and both series) is dark, and not for the faint of heart. It’s graphic in its descriptions of violence (I will never look at a hammer the same way again), medical procedures, and harm to women. It’s also a dialogue-driven, emotional journey of characters we feel like we really know. The underlying tone is romance. The love that Sara and Will have for each other is like no other I have read. Sara’s path from Jeffrey to Will is heartbreaking and wonderful all at the same time. As she so eloquently puts it:

“With Jeffrey, Sara had known that there were dozens, possibly hundreds of other women who could love him just as intensely as she did. With Will, Sara was keenly aware that she was the only woman on earth who could love him the way that he deserved to be loved.”

If you’re new to the world of Karin Slaughter, I would highly suggest starting at the very beginning of the Grant County series (Blindsighted) and working your way through. It will make the emotional punch all the more satisfying. I had tears at the end of this one. I’ll leave it to the reader to determine if those were tears of joy or sorrow.

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read (and not particularly liked) other books by this author. This is the first Will Trent book I have read. It’s part romance novel and part police procedural with a lot of descriptions of very violent rapes. I wasn’t expecting either of those features. The book could have been 250 pages shorter if it had excluded the Sara/Will relationship drama, but that is probably what fans of the series are looking for. I will not read more of the series.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I won this in a Goodreads giveaway, so wowza! Thanks to Harper Collins for the lovely ARC. I was so excited when I got this in the mail, since I love Karen Slaughter and this is her twentieth book. It is also part of the GBI (Georgia Bureau of investigation) series with agent Will Trent and coroner Sara Linton. A couple at work and at home, these two are my favorite characters in a mystery series. Why doesn't someone make a tv show of these stories already?

The Silent Wife didn't disappoint either. Hurled headlong into the action, I read with trepidation as a college student takes an early morning run. She is angry at her roommates for eating all of her healthy food and hopes to get rid of some of her angst by exercising. Before she leaves, Becky realizes that someone has taken her broken hair clip that was her mother's. Her roommate knows how important the clip is to Becky and swears she didn't take it. Anyone who knows about serial killers and their penchant for keeping souvenirs (which is all of us at this point) knows that this is foreshadowing.

Fans of the Grant County series will be thrilled to learn that this a step back in time to an earlier murder case with Chief Tolliver. The "Chief" as an annoying GBI friend calls him, Jeffrey is working on a potential serial killer case. Sara and his marriage has just fallen apart because of his infidelity. This case and the new murder are connected and it's up to Will and Sara to figure it out. Meanwhile, Sara is confronted with her past feelings for her deceased husband and Will's jealousy. This is a magnificent continuation of Sara and Will's story and a shocking murder mystery. Slaughter, well named, has done it again!

[Sheyla ✎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my Gosh!! A new Will Trent novel <3.

Will is one of my favorite male characters. He is so broken and so smart at the same time.

Surprisingly, I adored Sara Linton too. In general, we tend to be harder on the female characters. Thinking things like "she is making the wrong choice", "she is putting herself in danger unnecessarily", "she is acting mean for no reason" or maybe it's just me that expects to read more about smarter, interesting and powerful women characters. Luckily, I never have to complain about Sara. She is perfect for Will. She makes him more confident and even though it takes him a while to open up, she gets him to do it. Also, her own traumas and the way she has handled herself through all of it, makes me respect her. Or maybe because she is a doc is why I like her so much. Who knows, it may be all of it.

Getting back to The Silent Wife, Karin Slaughter wields her magic wand and we get to be back in Grant County, with a younger Sara and Grant County's Chief officer, Jeffrey Tolliver.

How you might ask? simple a serial killer.

At the beginning of the book, a prison riot brings the GBI to investigate. While gathering information, an inmate, Daryl Nesbit, wants to talk to Will and Faith. He says he is innocent of a crime and he has the proof. Women have gone missing after he was put in prison and he blames Jeffrey and Lena Adams for letting the serial killer run free.

By several POV's and by intercalating past and present chapters, we get a bigger picture of what truly happened. The identity of the serial killer was shocking but maybe not too much. It all made sense.

Karin's writing is always raw and gritty. True evil is out there in the world and she knows how to bring it into her fictional world in a masterful way.

In regards to the characters, I already drooled over Will and Sara at the beginning of my review, so I will say that Faith is another strong female character. Being in her head is always entertaining and I do love her relationship with Will as a partner and as his friend. Amanda as their boss is the cherry on top. She seems to be one step ahead of everyone every single time. I know the majority of readers love Jeffrey. I'm in the minority. I was never a Jeffrey fan. I thought Sara deserved better. However, he annoyed me very little in this one.

One thing I want to make clear in case I haven't done it in my prior reviews is that I HATE Lena. I hope she gets what she deserves. She is a horrible person and doesn't learn from her mistakes. Really sad for her husband.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

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[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*
I have been reading Karin Slaughter's books for years. I was a huge Jeffrey Tolliver fan! (I mean who wasn’t?)💁🏻‍♀‍ but grew to love Will Trent as he tried to fill Jeffery's shoes and our hearts.

But what happens when worlds collide and we have both Will and Jeffery in one book!? You say it can’t be done? Well only the very talented Karin Slaughter delivers the goods flawlessly!

I love all the characters Ms. Slaughter brings to life and this series has not faltered in the least over the years!

If you are new to this author or this series I recommend going back to the beginning and reading all her intertwining series in order. It’s so worth it.

These are not light thrillers either. There is always a dark edge to each but fits the storyline perfectly.

A buddy read with Susanne that we both devoured!

Thank you to Edelweiss and William Morrow for an ARC to read and review.

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will Trent and Faith Mitchell of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are called to a Georgia prison following a riot and death of an inmate. Whilst there, prisoner Daryl Nesbitt asks to see them and accuses Detective Jeffrey Tolliver of fitting him up for brutal two rape attacks which he is serving time for. Jeffrey is now dead and was the former husband of medical examiner Dr Sara Linton who is in a relationship with Will. The unfolding drama puts a great strain on both of them and their relationship. The story is told in two different timelines from Jeffrey’s perspective eight years ago with the original investigation and Will, Faith and Sara’s in the present day.

The two different timescales works extremely well and they dovetail effortlessly . This is a tricky thing to get exactly right and shows the skill of the author. This is a very twisty tale, there are moments when it’s very creepy and scary and the plot is extremely gritty. The attacks on women are savage and although its made crystal clear just how depraved the perpetrator is, this is not gratuitous but it is hard hitting. It’s well written, the characters are very good, some of them are damaged by their past but this makes them more intriguing because they are flawed and complex. I like the occasional dark humour which is a welcome release from the storyline. I did guess who the perpetrator is but it does not spoil the ending of the book in any way.

However, it took me a long time to get into the book (maybe 25%) as I feel it’s over detailed and a bit longwinded in places. Then something seems to change and the tempo increases and from that point on I couldn’t put the book down.

With thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC.

[Jonetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

GBI Detective Will Trent and his partner Faith Mitchell are called to the scene of the aftermath of a prison riot. While investigating the murder of one of the inmates, another comes forward insisting he can help identify the killers and an inside scheme involving contraband but will cooperate only if they will investigate the assault of a young woman eight years ago that he was accused of committing. It’s a case that involved Jeffrey Tolliver and his team in Grant County and this prisoner is accusing him of deliberately framing him. The case will challenge Will in so many ways, especially as he’ll have to include Sara Linton, the medical examiner and his girlfriend who was married to Tolliver until five years ago when he was murdered.

Oh, this brought back so many memories, both good and bad. I loved the Grant County series (essential to read before starting this one!!!) with all its boils and interesting characters. I had a love/hate relationship with Jeffrey throughout but came to adore him by the last book. He’s not at his finest here as the story shifts between the past and present, focusing on the case from eight years ago and one that Will and Faith are investigating that's remarkably similar. It’s also not a retread of old ground as the assault occurred during that time when Sara and Jeffrey had divorced and weren’t on civil terms. Jeffrey is remembered with such a halo in present day that it was jarring to recall that time when he most definitely hadn’t earned that distinction and had a much different reputation.

The case was intriguing but what really enthralled me was the personal angles involving Will and Sara’s relationship and the turmoil involved in having to confront his insecurities about Jeffrey’s memories and her unresolved feelings. It’s riveting stuff, raw and discomforting most of the time. And don’t get me started about the confrontation between Lena Adams, Will and Faith. That scene will stand as a classic. The narrator’s performance, always stellar, was just beyond outstanding as she nailed so many of the main characters’ personalities and nuances. I’ll never read this series again because of what Kathleen Early brings to the audio version. I had really high expectations for this book and it still beat them. It was 18+ hours of audiobook bliss.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)

[jv poore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Karin Slaughter writing Will Trent: of course it's awesome.

[Sandra Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoiler Free Review:
Eight years ago, most Grant County authorities were confident they had locked a serial rapist and murderer away for life. Recent brutal cases of misogynistic attacks on women bearing the same horrifying MO suggest the serial killer is still out there preying on women. The convicted inmate's declaration of innocence and disturbing accusations of dirty cops add fuel to the flame indicating a deadly mistake and gross injustice may have occurred. In a race against time, GBI Agent Will Trent and team, including girlfriend Medical Examiner Sara Linton, begin the monumental task of sifting through disturbing past GC cases in search of an illusive missed detail that links past with present. As a result, ghosts from the past escape, old wounds flare, and painful memories surface straining the fragile relationship between Will and Sara. That is all I can say about this story without huge spoilers. Do yourself a favor by going into this story blind. It'll spear you straight through the heart if you do!

The Silent Wife is another raw, gutsy, graphic, glorious addition to the Will Trent series. The riveting story unfolds through alternating periods of past and present that served to keep me burning through pages to reach the end. I admire and appreciate Slaughter's gift for setting scenes that pull readers in via all five senses, but consider yourself forewarned that graphic crime scenes may be disturbing to read as they are brutally realistic leaving no doubt the author has once again done her homework right down to the most meticulous detail. This author's signature sharp prose and intimately woven plot lines propel characters and readers forward at a frantic life or death pace. Readers can count on being plummeted into the chaos of characters' minds while finding themselves charged with unmasking a deadly predator hiding in plain sight . . . before he kills again. Those familiar with the Grant County series will recognize past characters they love . . . or love to hate. There's not much more I can say about this author's characterizations without sounding like a broken record. They're amazingly accurate, detailed, dimensional, and alive with main characters who are deeply flawed, vulnerable and so unbelievably real that my heart aches for them whenever I'm back in their world.

The Silent Wife is everything I hoped it would be and more. I started it with anticipation, read with trepidation, and finished it with cautious optimism. It's gritty, graphic, emotional, heartbreaking, and what does it say about me that I can't wait for the next book? I applaud Slaughter for shining a light on assault survivors who struggle to escape the darkness and overwhelming sense of loss and grief to find their path forward again. Their strength and will to live are an amazing inspiration to all. Needless to say, The Silent Wife has a place of honor on my All-Time Favorites Shelf. I'll even venture to say it's the best of the series thus far! This story embodies everything I love about suspense thrillers . . . and complicated love stories. Highly Recommended!
*Special thanks to publisher William Morrow for an arc of this book via edelweiss.plus
**Review posted at: Cross My Heart Reviews

[Bridgett · Rating 4 out of 5]

“With Jeffrey, Sara had known that there were dozens, possibly hundreds of other women who could love him just as intensely as she did. With Will, Sara was keenly aware that she was the only woman on earth who could love him the way that he deserved to be loved.”

The Silent Wife is, at its heart, a romance story. An admittedly gritty, depraved, disturbing romance story...but a romance story, nevertheless.

So, let's talk about #10 in the Will TrenT series step-by-step, shall we?

First, while this could certainly be read as a standalone, I wholeheartedly recommend going back to the very beginning...to Grant County with Jeffrey, Sara, Lena, and the gang. Start with Blindsighted and go from there. Once you've finished the Grant County series, start Will's series with Triptych. I assure you, you won't be disappointed. These two series are some of the best I've ever read. No, I didn't love book nine, The Last Widow, but this novel felt much more like the Karin Slaughter I know and love. Even Amanda was mostly tolerable in this story.

Second, the characters are beautifully rendered. Yes, Sara is on my last nerve and has been for awhile. I also wasn't particularly fond of her dialogue during chunks of this novel...sentiments like "my love," or "my darling," just do not fit with the woman we've come to know over the years. Sometimes I wish Will would ditch Sara and go for Faith, who is hilarious and heartfelt. And yes, fellow Slaughter fans, it's true...Jeffrey Tolliver is back. I just can't help but love him, warts and all. Of course, with Jeffrey comes Lena...and Lena is yuck.

Third, the novel offers two timelines...one follows Jeffrey and the Grant County police force as they navigate their way through some very twisted, gnarly crime scenes. The second trails Will and the rest of the GBI team as they are led to re-investigate the very same 2001 transgressions.

Fourth, the red herrings are expertly accomplished. Although I had my suspicions, I wasn't positive who the antagonist was until it was revealed in the book's final pages. I did end up guessing correctly (a single sentence gave it away), but not once was I absolutely certain.

Finally, I have to tell you...this book is heavy. The subject matter is real, it's timely, and it's important...but it's so damn heavy. Please be aware of the numerous triggers before attempting to read this story.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: violent rape, forcible sodomy, necrophilia, and mutilation of a corpse

I deducted half a star due to many instances of repetitive material and several long-winded passages. The first 25-30% of the book is, unfortunately, pretty slow. I also have to mention...other reviewers have probably already discussed it...but there is a fairly long passage devoted to one character's menses.

Was it a little odd? Most definitely.
Was it also amusing? Most definitely.

I couldn't help but chuckle, as so many of the character's thoughts mirrored my own. Having said that, if reading about menstruation makes you uncomfortable, you could easily skip those pages, as they don't add any context to the story except, perhaps, a bit of humor. But let me tell you...a bit of humor was genuinely welcomed, as this was not an easy read.

Overall, 4.5 stars

Available August 4th

**Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

[Alan Cotterell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
Karin Slaughter (KS) is one of my auto buy authors, anything she writes I have to read. because she always transfers me from my world and drops me into a world that it you can see, feel, and smell. Whether it is small town America or large City, wherever she puts you she is in control. It can be dull (Not usually for long), exciting or terrifying as she wants it to be.
The Silent Wife is the 20th book and it is a continuation of the Will Trent series. As always KS writes with brutal honesty, the descriptions of the crimes can often, be so disturbing that you may need to take a breath before moving on. This book can be read on its own, but it has even more meaning read in order as part of the series.
Most of the characters have evolved over the last 20 years and feel like old friends. The new characters are well developed, as you belt through the story. Before starting this clear your diary as this is a fast-paced book. It will keep you racing through the chapters to discover how the killer is found, the way the details of investigation, medical examinations, police procedures, thought processes are described is brilliant. A word of warning though, be aware that the level of gore and violence in this book is on another level. Not for the faint hearted.
The book does jump backwards and forwards in time, as the extreme violence and rape against women is investigated, but it is managed well. At no point did I wonder which time period we are in. I loved revisiting the old town and its characters, plus small-town nuances. Quite nostalgic.

As with “most” of KS books its gruesome, gritty and violent, with a good dollop of romance thrown in. You must read this, you won’t regret it, as long as you can cope with the nightmares anyway. Strongly recommend reading all the others in the series, mainly as it is an awesome series.

[Provin Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s no secret that I love Karin Slaughter‘s books! I finally got the chance to go back to Grant County and see what Will and Sarah have been up to. I was pleasantly surprised when Jeffrey‘s memory took up many chapters of the book bringing him almost back to life as well.

The book starts off extremely high paced and violent as we enter a riot currently happening in the state penitentiary. It only got more intriguing from there. This was a long one, but definitely worth the journey. I know I’ll be looking forward to the next Grant County book, where I hope Sarah returns to her BMW loving roots and allows Will to be the Porsche man.

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an excellent read, even though I don't like the prologue that much because Beckey ran despite her roommate's warning of the time and purposely chose the poor neighborhood instead of the wealthy one. I would rather she chose the wealthy one because it's not an obvious location where bad things happened. Sara and Jeff's argument was so good to read! I need to read Grant County series soon because I enjoyed getting to know Jeffrey in this story. Definitely fascinating to follow Will's thoughts, his emoticons texting, and especially the plans he had with Sara after an argument. Will, a lovesick? Aww he's so sweet. I'm not sure if I hold my breath more when Sara performed her medical examiner's job or when the attacks against women occurred. They were equally detailed and graphic.


This book started with a prologue following Beckey, freshman in college. She was out for a run at 5am after an all nighter at the campus' library because she was upset that her roommate ate all of her foods. Angry while lacked of sleep and food, she made a wrong turn and ended up being killed by an unexpected killer. Then the story began, in the present day, with Will and Faith on their way to a prison to investigate a murder. The prisoners started a riot and a murder was committed where one man ended up dead. The second view was Faith, Will's partner, both are Special Agent to the Georgia Bureau Investigation. One inmate blamed the late police chief of Grant County, Jeffrey, for putting him in jail when he's innocent of the charges. Now he's offering to give police one week to solve the murder of Beckey and the recent victim in exchange for his inside information in the prison and a lesser charges from his collection of charges. The third view was Jeffrey back at Grant County before he died. He and Sara brought the girl in the woods Beckey back from near death. The fourth view was Sara, Medical Examiner and Will's girlfriend but also Jeffrey's wife before he died. The fifth view was Gina, 43 as she searched her whole house and even in her car for her favorite scrunchie. Gina provided the view of the victim as it happens. The story was told from the past in Grant County and present in Atlanta, 8 years apart (author's note will explain it).


The Silent Wife was well written and a suspenseful read! Readers who have read Grant County series before reading this book will enjoy it a bit more. I didn't but the author did the recap very well so I able to understand the story fine. Those cliffhangers at the end of each chapter was so painful to wait. And it's worse when I have to put my book down to run errands. (Dried paper towels to reuse them haha my cousin did that too. Leslie Truong was a Vietnamese last name but somehow her mom's first name was Bonita meaning beautiful in Spanish. I'm assuming Leslie was adopted). Using a calculator to count up the f's she would give was funny, a great line! There were many funny lines. Will's dislike of public speaking was so like me. The view of the victim in action was cringe worthy! Interesting to learn about exhumation. I couldn't guess who the killer was so it was good when it came to light. Another fantastic read from my new favorite author! (Yay! I have now read and reviewed 3 of her books! Only 17 more books to read! 😍) Highly recommended this book!

xoxo, Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details

Thank you William Morrow Books for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well before I start, I have to confess to reading all the books in this series. I even started from book one again before reading this and found myself crying in the same places I did the first time around!!

The GBI are investigating the murder of an prison inmate Jesus Vasquez, who was murdered in a riot. Fellow inmate Daryl Nesbit claims he is innocent of his crimes of sexual assaults and murders. He claims he was set up by the police and that the perpetrator is still committing crimes. He will tell them who killed Jesus if they investigate his case!! He is stating that the police are dirty and set him up.

Sarah and Will are working on the connections between the murder victims and we go back in time to when Jeffrey was alive and working on the original case with Lena.

Whenever I see a Karin Slaughter book I never read the blurb first as I know it will be an amazing read with twists galore and this one had more twists than a rollercoaster and OMG the killer reveal is out of this world. I had to read it twice to let it sink in!!

If I could only read one author, Karin Slaughter would be the one!!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange o review.

[Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, twenty years, twenty books - congratulations to Karin Slaughter on this milestone. This is a fantastic book and addition to the Will Trent series (and the Grant County series). I was hooked from the first chapter and on the edge of my seat by the end of the book!


In Grant County women were stalked and murdered. Thankfully the killer is caught and behind bars. That is the "flashback" scenario to Grant County - "The Past". Fast forward to "The Present" - Atlanta, where a prison altercation brings the inmate (who was imprisoned for said murders in Grant County) to the attention of the GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigation). Another crime has been committed and this inmate claims the he was framed and he was not the murderer all those years ago.

"An inmate passed me this note ... he wants to make a deal."

I know that this book is touted as a stand-alone, especially with regards to the Grant County series but honestly, I think you are doing yourself a bit of a disservice by not reading that series and I don't know how anyone could read this one without having read the prior books in the Will Trent series. But, that is me. I am a bit of a stickler for reading a series in order ...


There is sort of a "Team Will" or "Team Jeffrey" club/following in these books. I was definitely TW (Team Will), as I had already started THAT series first, but when I copped on (excuse the pun) that Sara already had a role in the Grant County (TJ) series, I had to go back and read that. Even on finishing that series, I am still TW - I love him. I love his insecurities, his love for Sara. Would he drive me daft in real life - he probably would but, hey, that is what a relationship is all about ... "give and take".

"I can do it if you want."

OMFG!!! Swoon ...


This one deals with a distressing subject matter and Ms Slaughter does not shy away from any details regarding same. In fact, at times, I found it all a bit too gruesome and gory. But it is not gratuitous and I think the author dealt with it in a very sympathetic manner. I love her Author's note at the end of the book but do not dare read it until you have finished the book!!

A body had been found in the woods ...

Was there enough Sara and Will "alone" time? No, I didn't think so but, honestly, the story was so compelling that I did not mind ... too much. You know, scratch that, I did mind! There should have been way more Will and Sara "together" time ...

... and eventhough Will is not a smooth talker, when he does say something loving to Sara, I just want to squeeze him and take care of him! I love Will - did I mention that already?

He had been waiting for the right time.

We waited 12 months for this book. Surely, if she is in semi-lockdown, writing, we should have a new book within a few months... wishful thinking. No pressure there at all, Karin.

I was lucky to meet Karin at a book signing in The Netherlands some years ago. She has a huge following over here in the Benelux - so much so, that her books seem to be released in Dutch before the English-version release. No, my Dutch is not THAT good. I waited for the English version. I had hoped to meet her again this past June but that was not to be ... fingers crossed for next year - when she is promoting her new book (hint, hint).

I don't want to put in many quotes (much as I want to). We get to catch up with the characters from the Grant County series... Lena Adams (no idea what to make of her - I still don't like her but I was a teeny weeny bit sympathetic towards her in this one. Faith sure as hell wasn't!!

"Even a broken clock is right twice a day."

As with any favourite author, I have the Hardcover and even ended up ordering the Grant County series in paperback ...

Will had told Sara that he'd never once thought of her as anything but strong. He was kind that way. He was physically impressive. He was razor-sharp. But Will was not the kind of man who commanded attention ...

What's not to love about Will - maybe he could be a bit better in the "communication" department?



It is not really a spoiler - just a quote that I loved but you are better off just reading it yourself in the book.

With Jeffrey, Sara had known that there were dozens, possibly hundreds of other women who could have him just as intensely as she did. With Will, Sara was keenly aware that she was the only woman on earth who could love him the way he deserved to be loved.

...

I had "guessed" the bad guy about halfway through... not usually like me! A few friends who have read it already said they did too. Aren't we the smart ones?

I know I am not saying too much about the plot/storyline. Just read it and if you haven't yet read anything by this author, please do. She is fabulous and judging by her IG and FB pages, she seems like a fun person too.

We catch up with our favourite characters from previous books ...

Amanda (still a ball-breaker) - I LOVE HER!


Faith (would love her to get a HEA)!


The problem is that when you finish an excellent book you are sort of stuck in limbo, wondering what to read next ... something "light" maybe!

And ANY author that can drop Springsteen into the storyline is a hit for me!! And Will loves Bruce ergo, I love Will!!! There's logic for you!


I have one small gripe ... Sara uses a "term of endearment" for Will ... I hate it! I am someone who hates terms of endearment anyway! If Himself called me "darling", "sweetheart", "honey bunch", I might leave him!! (joking ... sort of). It just does nothing for me and kinda makes me gag a bit when I read it in the books ... I know, I am pathetic and fickle!.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Normally I zip through mysteries - but every time I get a new Karin Slaughter book, I need to set aside at least a couple of days to process and enjoy. The Will Trent/Sara Linton books in particular are always intense, hardboiled, and intellectually involving, providing lots of thrills while giving you lots of serious issues to chew on. This book is no exception. The Silent Wife met all my (VERY high!) expectations.

I am a former criminal prosecutor and Karin Slaughter, for my money, is one of the most technically accurate and realistic crime writers around. She gets everything from forensics to lingo to motive exactly right, and even as she infuses each story with drama, she never sacrifices accuracy or requires a ridiculous suspension of disbelief.

This book begins with a murder of an inmate, but like most Will Trent/Sara Linton books, takes the reader down a tangled and fascinating path to issues and characters you never saw coming. In this case, a hunt for a serial rapist and murderer who has gone free for years. As with other Karin Slaughter books, you shouldn’t read this unless you like your books hardboiled and gritty. There is also some very tough violence and explicit medical and post-mortem details. But these are always given for a reason and her writing is second to none.

Fans of this series will especially enjoy the fact that Jeffrey Tolliver has a big part in this story, and you will see him again through flashbacks as he worked on the old investigation. It is especially interesting that this book takes a different approach to Tolliver than some of the past books did. There is also somehow a really touching love story in the middle of all the horror this book describes.

Karin Slaughter has always done a particularly good job with sexual assault issues in her books, helping readers gain an understanding of sexual violence long before #MeToo became a commonly understood phrase. This book is particularly great at addressing these issues and showing the difference in perception of sexual assault then and now, and the many problems and prejudices that still currently exist, and the fact that rapists don’t usually look or act the way we have been conditioned to believe they do.

This was at times a very tough book to read, but it was excellent. Thanks to HarperCollins, NetGalley and Karin Slaughter for another great entry in this series - which luckily Slaughter assures us will continue!

[Danielle-Gemma&#x1f49c; · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the things that makes a great read for me is you get lost in a different world, in the story that is being told

All week I’ve felt really poorly, not able to concentrate to read…. But whether I managed 10 pages or 100 in a sitting this book blew my mind and transported me to that perfect reading destination.

I don’t want to say too much about the premise of this book, but I loved the story being told from the two different times. I loved finding out about a character I’ve read so much about (I didn’t read the series in order and haven’t read them all). That is another great thing that although it’s a series you don’t have to read them all in order!

Cannot wait to find and read more of her books! Fully fully recommend x

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Jeffery Tolliver way back when. Slaughter’s depiction of him in this book kind of shocked me at first. I guess my memory of Jeffery was enhanced over time and I just plain forgot the corrupt things he did as sheriff and the hurt he caused Sara. Besides, now there’s Will Trent.

Lots of history dredged up in this book. Lena, you still piss me off. I don’t know what Jeffery saw in you, but I think he was wrong. Faith, you’re great. You’re the perfect partner. Sara, you divorced Jeffery for certain reasons. Stop idolizing him eight years after his death. Besides, now you have Will Trent.

Graphic descriptions of the abuse of females here. If you’re a female and you’ve ever felt like prey or have been preyed upon, the realism will hit you hard. Graphic descriptions of autopsies as well. Gritty, and I mean grit the size of boulders. Slaughter never pulls her punches.

Great addition to the series. Eager to see what Karin Slaughter comes up with next.

[Eline Van Der Meulen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited when I saw Jeffery played a part in this book!
https://elinevandm.wordpress.com/2022...

[Maechtje · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Silent Wife, no. 10 in Karin Slaughter's Will Trent series, packs a punch. Its high-adrenaline, fast-paced plot can't really hide a couple of gaping plot holes and a whole lot of cops being unprofessional.

As much as I enjoyed reading this installment, there are a couple of things that put it lower on the list than some of Slaughter's previous novels (I much preferred 2019's The Last Widow). Here we get flashbacks to the past, so we see Sara's relationship with Jeffrey (they're estranged after he cheated) and Will side by side. After six Grant County books and ten Will Trent books, can I just say that being in a relationship with Sara Linton seems like a lot of hard work with little payoff? Sara's never been my favourite character but I don't mind her when she's in full corpse-cutting mode and she was downright badass in The Last Widow. It's when she starts whining about her relationship that I start rolling my eyes.

And then there's Lena. I know a lot of Slaughter's fan base hate her with a passion but I adore her. Yes, she's a mess. Yes, she screws up constantly. But for all her faults she's driven, smart and brave. She goes through so much that I find myself rooting for her. There's a scene in this book which has Lena being vicious, which, I guess, was added to make her look bad, but all I could think when I read it was HELL YEAH YOU TELL 'EM. Before talking to her Faith is all "I don't care if she's guilty but I'm going to nail her to the wall because she's mean to Sara" (because everyone in this book is an unprofessional jerk); afterwards, basically they just decide not to talk to Lena anymore because she's a big ol' meanie, or something, and she's never mentioned again. It makes NO sense.

And speaking of unprofessional - Jeffrey's always been a bit of a jerk, but with enough charm to keep everyone from noticing. Here, not so much. He's volatile, he breaks the rules, he cheats on his wife. He's a Monet of a character: looks good from a distance but up close, he's a mess. I also like that his solution to "hey, one of my staff keeps breaking the rules and not listening to what I say" is "better make her a detective. That'll show her." Meanwhile, Will keeps picking fights with another character because fragile masculinity, which is always a good way to solve crimes.l

All of that is down to personal preference but where the book really lost me is at how predictable it is, which isn't something I'm used to coming from this author. I had the culprit picked out pretty much at their first appearance. It's also overly gory and while I respect the way she tackles the subject of rape, just once I'd like to read a Slaughter book without sexual assault in it. Then there's the plot holes. The initial crime gets a big set-up but is never mentioned again. Lena's involvement is introduced with a lot of bombastic gasping but kind of peters out.

Does all of that matter? Honestly, I don't know. I enjoyed myself, finished the book in record time. It's the same volatile mix of adrenaline, familiar favourites and blood, guts and gore that we've come to expect. At the end of the day, I had fun reading it. It's just that there's a lot about this book that doesn't add up.

[Mackey · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a HUGE Karin Slaughter fan, I could not wait to read her newest book, The Silent Wife. I know - I KNOW - that I am going against everyone's opinion in rating this so low but I have reached my limit with Slaughter's series. Her stand alone book, Coptown, still remains on my list of favorite all time reads and most likely always will. Will Trent is one my very favorite characters - ever! And he most likely always will be. I simply adore his quirkiness, his struggle with dyslexia, his love for Sarah, ALL of him. However....

I never was a fan of Slaughter's first series featuring Jeffrey, Sarah and her southern, clingy family and, especially, Lena. I thought for sure when Jeffrey was killed - BY LENA - and Sarah was merged into the Will Trent series that I never would have to deal with Jeffrey or Lena again but noooo, Slaughter has said they are her favorite characters and, even dead, she resurrects them.

At this time, when the entire nation is roiling over militarized police forces, cops who are crooked or covering up crimes, cops who stand behind the "thin blue line" even if it means a crime unsolved or a death has no justice, WHY would an author write a book about this and somehow twist it so that the cop still goes unpunished and the other cop still comes out looking like the knight in shiny armor!? WHY!?! This type of glorification of their misdeeds, even in fiction, continues the brainwashing of collective minds everywhere. Yes, we all make mistakes but when you cover up the mistake and the real criminal continues to kill and rape for years then it is not just a "mistake" but a horrific crime in itself! That is the bottom line of this book. Cops will do what cops will do because that is what cops do and Slaughter thinks this is okay and apparently thinks it's quite laughable if you read her Author's Notes at the end of the book. So I'm done. I've made excuses for her violence in the past but no more. It is gratuitous and unnecessary. She very lazily gives us the a killer at the end of the book that is so obvious it is a joke. "Oh, here, the killer is the most obvious person in town - hahahaha." After twenty years I expect better but perhaps after twenty years I should expect that Slaughter has written all of the new material she has to offer and is done. I know that I am.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know how you wait and wait and wait for a book on hold from the library, and then it’s just – meh?
That is definitely NOT the case with Karin Slaughter’s The Silent Wife. This novel, the tenth in the Will Trent series, is essentially unputdownable. I would offer this caveat, however, to anyone who has been the victim of violent sexual or physical assault, in any type of abusive relationship, or if reading this type of material upsets you – this book contains graphic descriptions of the victims of rape and murder.

I did, in fact, put it down on several occasions, but it was not because of the narrative describing the crime scenes or the postmortems. I found some of the relationship issues to be stressful. But it’s really good writing! This book isn’t solely about present-day crimes and investigations. Slaughter takes us back eight years to Grant County when Sara Linton and Jeffrey Tolliver were divorced and still fighting. A death at the state prison dredged up a prisoner convicted of a crime that involved Chief Tolliver and Dr. Linton. Suddenly, Sara is confronted with all sorts of memories and feelings going back to that case and the man she had once loved. That leaves Will, her present partner, feeling confused and threatened.

Will Trent, an investigator with the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, (GBI) and his partner Faith Mitchell become enmeshed in both cases, working endless hours because the man arrested years ago in Grant on charges unrelated to the rape and murder of the college women insists he was wrongly suspected because the crimes are still being committed. What unfolds in the span of only a few days is nothing short of incredible investigatory police work. I know, it’s fiction, but it’s mesmerizing.

It felt strange to revisit Grant County. I wish I could recall more about Sara and Jeffrey’s relationship and about Lena Adams. I found that I could only recall the very basics. So it was both reaffirming and disheartening to discover some of the things that are unveiled in these pages. For Sara, and I think for Will, the revelations may be what they need to move on and move forward to the next chapter in their lives together.

I found my fondness for Faith growing more and more throughout the story. She is one sharp cop with good instincts and such dedication. She and Will have forged a magnificent working partnership; they really have each other’s backs. Will, too, seems more mature and less self-conscious about his shortcomings than in earlier books. The focus was more about the story and less about Will, and I appreciated that. For anyone who has not read this series, please DO NOT start with this book! Start at the beginning. You’ll be glad you did. Actually, start with Grant County. Things will make much more sense.

The Silent Wife displays the unspeakably horrific, sadistic side of human nature. It also reveals the unrelenting, determined, passionate desire for justice by law enforcement officers and others who truly care about the safety and well being of their fellow human beings.

And when you’ve finished this book, take time to read the Author’s Note. It’s important. Thank you, Karin Slaughter. Your writing, although difficult to read at times because you speak the truth, is necessary to make the world aware of the critical issue of violence against women.

5 stars

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading a couple of books in Will Trent series I sort of know what the author has in store. Still it was gruesome and some readers might find this book unpleasant to read.

The Silent Wife started strong with a college student murdered while out jogging early one morning. There were other crime on women cases despite not all similar had investigators question if they were connected.

Flashbacks to Grant County (series) will probably please many longtime fans, but I haven't read them so I had no connection with the characters.

Mystery was good and complex but it was too wordy and could've been a lot shorter.