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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
I did like it. As every Karin Slaughter book I've read, it's smart and with an underlying tone of horror and darkness. It definitely isn't my favorite one of hers, but I'm definitely going to continue with the series.
Karin Slaughter delivers another page turner with the second installment in the Grant County series. I thought the crimes in the first book couldn't be topped but I was wrong. If anything, I think the crimes in this book are even more disturbing and it scares me a little to think of what the author may come up with for the next book. As with the first book, the story is presented in third person from the POV of three of Grant County's residents: Sara, the local pediatrician and part-time coroner, Jeff, the Chief of Police, and Lena, the local police force's sole female detective.
The story picks up approximately four months after the horrific events of the first book and Sara, Jeffrey, and Lena are all trying to go on with life as usual. One of the things that I like about these books is that it never takes long to get to the meat of the story which, in the mystery genre of course means the crime/murder. There is no time wasted here with multiple chapters setting things up before the main event. By the end of the first chapter the you-know-what has hit the fan and our three main characters are left reeling. While I like Sara and Jeffrey I am more divided on my feelings about Lena. Most of the time I found myself not liking her very much (which I feel guilty about due to book one) but then there would be moments when I would feel incredibly sympathetic for her. But all the characters have an air of genuineness to them and the human drama is as engrossing as the solving of the crime itself. Sara and Jeffrey are attempting to figure out their relationship and Lena is wrestling with her own personal demons.
The plot and pacing are both quite good as the author systematically adds more and more information and layers to the drama. There were characters that I was afraid would be involved in the crimes that ended up not being involved and others that I never would've suspected who were. The ending was a little frustrating but, unfortunately, probably all too realistic.
I am definitely a new fan of Ms Slaughter's writing. She kept me up reading for two nights straight so really, what choice do I have?
The story picks up approximately four months after the horrific events of the first book and Sara, Jeffrey, and Lena are all trying to go on with life as usual. One of the things that I like about these books is that it never takes long to get to the meat of the story which, in the mystery genre of course means the crime/murder. There is no time wasted here with multiple chapters setting things up before the main event. By the end of the first chapter the you-know-what has hit the fan and our three main characters are left reeling. While I like Sara and Jeffrey I am more divided on my feelings about Lena. Most of the time I found myself not liking her very much (which I feel guilty about due to book one) but then there would be moments when I would feel incredibly sympathetic for her. But all the characters have an air of genuineness to them and the human drama is as engrossing as the solving of the crime itself. Sara and Jeffrey are attempting to figure out their relationship and Lena is wrestling with her own personal demons.
The plot and pacing are both quite good as the author systematically adds more and more information and layers to the drama. There were characters that I was afraid would be involved in the crimes that ended up not being involved and others that I never would've suspected who were. The ending was a little frustrating but, unfortunately, probably all too realistic.
I am definitely a new fan of Ms Slaughter's writing. She kept me up reading for two nights straight so really, what choice do I have?
I’ve just discovered the Grant County series and now can’t put them down.
This book was a fantastic second book in the series. Again, not for the squeamish. Author delivers some wonderful writing and characters that carry over from the first book. Now, I’m off to start book #3...
Thank you Karin Slaughter, for writing such intriguing stories
This book was a fantastic second book in the series. Again, not for the squeamish. Author delivers some wonderful writing and characters that carry over from the first book. Now, I’m off to start book #3...
Thank you Karin Slaughter, for writing such intriguing stories
Gewoon niet. Uitgelezen, maar alleen omdat de stapel boeken die ik mee heb op vakantie gestaag slinkt.
This installment disturbed on the same level as the darkest episodes of Law & Order: SVU. I won't reveal why but there is much MUCH more going on than what there originally seems to be immediately following the shooting in the first chapter. Police Chief Jeffrey Tolliver is canoodling with his ex-wife and current maybe-girlfriend/Medical Examiner Sara Linton at the roller skating rink when a situation develops outside. A 13-year-old local girl is shouting and brandishing a gun at another teenager, a boy, who she begs to "stop". Jeffrey makes a split second decision, waging whether or not she will actually shoot to kill her target, and takes her out before she can do anything. While he's dealing with the would-be gunfight, Sara discovers a dismembered newborn in the rink's bathroom and they later assume that the girl was a jilted lover, enraged over having birthed their child just be publicly ignored by the boy. The first surprise comes when Sara begins the autopsy is that the girl's been through genital mutilation and they all realize that this won't be such a clearcut case and that while the father is likely the teenage boy who was threatened, they have to keep searching for whoever the mother may be.
Put simply, echoing many of the blurbs on the back cover, Slaughter owns crime fiction. Each story starts with a bang (literally, in this case) and unravels into sinister chaos, building towards a pinnacle that I can't wait to get to. She also writes with a "no character left behind" technique, wherein she dips in and out of focus on any of the main characters or settings, delving into each psyche and history before moving on to the meat of the scene, making sure that the reader has all of the information and then some in order to get a full, smart, high-action experience.
Put simply, echoing many of the blurbs on the back cover, Slaughter owns crime fiction. Each story starts with a bang (literally, in this case) and unravels into sinister chaos, building towards a pinnacle that I can't wait to get to. She also writes with a "no character left behind" technique, wherein she dips in and out of focus on any of the main characters or settings, delving into each psyche and history before moving on to the meat of the scene, making sure that the reader has all of the information and then some in order to get a full, smart, high-action experience.
Karen Slaughter is one disturbing author. She chills me to the bone.
the storyline in this one is just so fucked up and the thing that makes it the worst is that it could actually and probably has happened before.
2.5/5 (audiobook)
Karin Slaughter managed to suck me in again with this warped tale telling the story of child abuse, neglect, child pornography, suicide, murder, and so much more.
Slaughter delicately integrated the first Grant County novel, Blindsighted, throughout this story without overwhelming the reading with information.
As I get deeper into this series, as I expected when I saw how long the series is, I feel like a lot of what is happening in Grant is dramatic, and for being what is described as such a small county, and it seems unlikely that all of this would happen.
But, with that being said, Slaughter's books still topic my guilty pleasure reading list.
Karin Slaughter managed to suck me in again with this warped tale telling the story of child abuse, neglect, child pornography, suicide, murder, and so much more.
Slaughter delicately integrated the first Grant County novel, Blindsighted, throughout this story without overwhelming the reading with information.
As I get deeper into this series, as I expected when I saw how long the series is, I feel like a lot of what is happening in Grant is dramatic, and for being what is described as such a small county, and it seems unlikely that all of this would happen.
But, with that being said, Slaughter's books still topic my guilty pleasure reading list.
3.5 stars
*This book has literal content warnings for everything. If you are a sensitive reader, I would not recommend.
CW: Child abuse, paedophilia, child pornography, FGM, child mutilation
In the second book in the Grant County series, a date night for Sara and Jeffrey turns deadly when a shooting leaves a 13-year-old dead. Further investigation uncovers a recurring crime beyond Jeffrey's worst imaginings..
This books is dark af and I cannot stress that enough. I think of myself as a very tough reader and I'm generally okay with reading dark and gruesome things (unless it's animal torture - that's my line) but this had me really shocked and repulsed in parts.
I liked the investigation in this though I don't think I was left feeling overall satisfied with what happened in the same way as I was with Blindsighted. We see some character development between Jeffrey and Sara in this book - particularly with their relationship (though I have to say I found it a little weird the jumps from the investigation into child pornography and then the two of them rekindling their sexual intimacy, WEIRD).
I hate to say it but I really do not like Lena as a character. She's someone who is obviously deadly with a HUGE amount of trauma following the first book, as well as grief for her sister who died but she was just plain nasty at times in Kisscut and she is quite blatantly homphobic at times which I wonder if it will be challenged at some point in a later book.
*This book has literal content warnings for everything. If you are a sensitive reader, I would not recommend.
CW: Child abuse, paedophilia, child pornography, FGM, child mutilation
In the second book in the Grant County series, a date night for Sara and Jeffrey turns deadly when a shooting leaves a 13-year-old dead. Further investigation uncovers a recurring crime beyond Jeffrey's worst imaginings..
This books is dark af and I cannot stress that enough. I think of myself as a very tough reader and I'm generally okay with reading dark and gruesome things (unless it's animal torture - that's my line) but this had me really shocked and repulsed in parts.
I liked the investigation in this though I don't think I was left feeling overall satisfied with what happened in the same way as I was with Blindsighted. We see some character development between Jeffrey and Sara in this book - particularly with their relationship (though I have to say I found it a little weird the jumps from the investigation into child pornography and then the two of them rekindling their sexual intimacy, WEIRD).
I hate to say it but I really do not like Lena as a character. She's someone who is obviously deadly with a HUGE amount of trauma following the first book, as well as grief for her sister who died but she was just plain nasty at times in Kisscut and she is quite blatantly homphobic at times which I wonder if it will be challenged at some point in a later book.
A dark and graphic crime drama that certainly isn’t for the fainthearted, Kisscut is another immersive thriller from my favourite crime writer which will leave you aching from the raw emotions and twisted plot.
For a second novel, Kisscut proves that Karin Slaughter has guts. It has to be one of her most disturbing books to date in terms of subject. I won’t go into what that is too much for those who haven’t read it yet (but there are a few slight spoilers as it’s difficult not to approach the wider subject), but I will just say that it’s something I regard as the worst thing a human can possibly do.
The subject hits hard and completely broke my heart, but I couldn’t think of a better author to use such a disturbing story so well. Slaughter doesn’t avoid giving gruesome details to merely create a distressing plot without any substance, but she knows the boundaries perfectly. There’s just enough detail to shock readers but not enough to come across as too much or as insensitive, as Slaughter takes the time to see the situation from various perspectives.
I think it’s incredibly brave for Slaughter to approach the subject at all, and while it’s the kind of crime that will feel like a punch in the gut to all readers, it’s important that she does because this happens and is happening all around the world. And as it does in Grant County, it can happen right in front of you without you having any idea because nothing is straight forward when it comes to a case like this one.
That’s what I loved so much about this instalment, as Slaughter goes on to explore the sometimes very narrow line between victim and perpetrator. Lena sees something in Mark because of their shared experience, despite their very different circumstances. There certainly isn’t any time for sympathy, but I think it’s important to discuss this Stockholm Syndrome effect of victims blurring the line between what’s right and wrong when they’ve been subjected to something so disgusting for so long.
With such a hard-hitting premise, it’s hard not to be emotionally invested in this story, especially when the characters that Slaughter has created are so well developed. And it is these characters who will help you through it. Despite all of their flaws, they all have so much compassion and I love every one of them.
As the second book in the Grant County series, Slaughter does a great job of making this work as a standalone while also brilliantly developing the story and relationships that carry on from Blindsighted. I was really eager to see how Lena would cope with the events of the first book and I think her trauma is handled so well. I also find it really interesting to see how Sara and Jeffrey’s relationship progresses as I’ve read a couple of the Will Trent books so I know what’s to come. I’ve only ever known Jeffrey as the ex-husband so I didn’t expect to see some romance re-blossoming. But now I’m just waiting for that big twist to hit which makes me excited but also very emotional.
Kisscut is another exceptionally written book and I can’t wait to see where Slaughter’s story goes next. But although it works as a standalone, I wouldn’t recommend this one to those who haven’t read any of her books before, and it definitely comes with some trigger warnings. Even as a fan of Slaughter’s, you’ll never be ready for the pain that this book will make you feel, but I come away from it with so much respect for her as an author.
Bring on A Faint Cold Fear!
For a second novel, Kisscut proves that Karin Slaughter has guts. It has to be one of her most disturbing books to date in terms of subject. I won’t go into what that is too much for those who haven’t read it yet (but there are a few slight spoilers as it’s difficult not to approach the wider subject), but I will just say that it’s something I regard as the worst thing a human can possibly do.
The subject hits hard and completely broke my heart, but I couldn’t think of a better author to use such a disturbing story so well. Slaughter doesn’t avoid giving gruesome details to merely create a distressing plot without any substance, but she knows the boundaries perfectly. There’s just enough detail to shock readers but not enough to come across as too much or as insensitive, as Slaughter takes the time to see the situation from various perspectives.
I think it’s incredibly brave for Slaughter to approach the subject at all, and while it’s the kind of crime that will feel like a punch in the gut to all readers, it’s important that she does because this happens and is happening all around the world. And as it does in Grant County, it can happen right in front of you without you having any idea because nothing is straight forward when it comes to a case like this one.
That’s what I loved so much about this instalment, as Slaughter goes on to explore the sometimes very narrow line between victim and perpetrator. Lena sees something in Mark because of their shared experience, despite their very different circumstances. There certainly isn’t any time for sympathy, but I think it’s important to discuss this Stockholm Syndrome effect of victims blurring the line between what’s right and wrong when they’ve been subjected to something so disgusting for so long.
With such a hard-hitting premise, it’s hard not to be emotionally invested in this story, especially when the characters that Slaughter has created are so well developed. And it is these characters who will help you through it. Despite all of their flaws, they all have so much compassion and I love every one of them.
As the second book in the Grant County series, Slaughter does a great job of making this work as a standalone while also brilliantly developing the story and relationships that carry on from Blindsighted. I was really eager to see how Lena would cope with the events of the first book and I think her trauma is handled so well. I also find it really interesting to see how Sara and Jeffrey’s relationship progresses as I’ve read a couple of the Will Trent books so I know what’s to come. I’ve only ever known Jeffrey as the ex-husband so I didn’t expect to see some romance re-blossoming. But now I’m just waiting for that big twist to hit which makes me excited but also very emotional.
Kisscut is another exceptionally written book and I can’t wait to see where Slaughter’s story goes next. But although it works as a standalone, I wouldn’t recommend this one to those who haven’t read any of her books before, and it definitely comes with some trigger warnings. Even as a fan of Slaughter’s, you’ll never be ready for the pain that this book will make you feel, but I come away from it with so much respect for her as an author.
Bring on A Faint Cold Fear!