Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

False Witness by Karin Slaughter

60 reviews

bookmouse_67's review against another edition

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Vomit, Chronic illness, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Addiction, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence

mermaidkatie's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Great writing that comes at you like a runaway freight train, likable heroines, but good lord the violence is graphic and horrible and I am going to have a hard time getting the images out of my head. So, be warned. It is really graphic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Kidnapping, Addiction, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, and Violence

sydapel's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

I'm incredibly conflicted. I really admire Slaughter's ability to create high intensity thrillers that examine topics like childhood trauma and sexual assault, all within the lens of a strong sister relationship. It's done very well here, but I cannot come to a conclusion about whether I enjoyed it. It's possible I've become too soft fo stories like this,.but the climatic scene was extremely upsetting and at times I struggled to understand with the characters' intentions. However, it was gripping and Slaughter manages to create two really compelling main characters. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Murder, Sexual assault, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Drug use, and Rape

Moderate: Cursing, Bullying, and Alcoholism

Minor: Abortion

becksreadsbooks's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Murder, Stalking, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual violence

heavenprotsman's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I love Karin Slaughter and will ready pretty much anything she publishes. False Witness felt very different from every other book.

This was a DARK crime novel. It covers disturbing and triggering topics and some parts I had to stop and take a second before continuing. Leigh and Calli are trying to move on from their devastating past, until it confronts them head on and they're left to face consequences. 

My main problem with this one was the overkill of COVID-19 details. The mention of masks every other page was so unnecessary and tacky. I know Karin said she wrote this book in this specific time period to show what issues society is facing, especially the MeToo and women's issues, and I appreciate that, but it didn't really work. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Violence

ekmook's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Violence

danaleelin's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, and Vomit

briannenicholle's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Violence

justnei's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

This is the story of two sisters who have lived drastically different lives, stemming from a traumatic childhood. One sister is a drug addict, the other a lawyer. Callie and Leigh love each other despite their different lives, and this theme was particularly touching to me throughout the book. The only part of this book I enjoyed was the relationships between characters. Dr. Jerry and Callie was a second favourite to Callie and Leigh. The love and support that filled their relationship was soothing in otherwise emotionally turbulent and extremely violent book. The sisters lives are thrown into chaos when their past comes to their present to haunt them, and what follows are disturbing, detailed accounts of violence against women. A few years ago, Karin Slaughter books were morbidly fascinating to me. Now, they are so far from my cup of tea I know I'll likely never pick up another one. The ending of this book was so incredibly depressing to me, I wish I had never read it. 

Lastly, my biggest nitpick. I hated how much the author referenced covid. It felt like she was describing the pandemic to someone who has lived on a different planet and had no idea what's been happening on earth since early 2020.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Murder, Stalking, Rape, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Child abuse

nodogsonthemoon's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Violence, and Vomit