Reviews tagging 'Gore'

False Witness by Karin Slaughter

43 reviews

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.

---

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. 

---

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

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. 

---

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

---

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

annabeedell's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Read the trigger warnings before deciding if you want to read this book or not. It took a little to get into, but once I was hooked, I couldn't put it down. I was also not prepared for all of the heavy content/violenc/why it has trigger warnings.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Death, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Body horror, Drug use, Gore, Rape, and Gun violence

Moderate: Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol

Minor: Dementia, Grief, Suicide, and Vomit

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

---

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

laurenhamann's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Rape, Murder, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexism, Gore, Death, Blood, and Adult/minor relationship

professorbadger's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.25

It’s hard to know how to rate a “genre” book, since they’re usually not going to be the same as something more literary. Do I compare this to other mystery/suspense, or to all books I’ve ever read? 

If it’s the former, this is about as good as it gets. Karin Slaughter is one of the best, the plot held together, and the characters were particularly moving. I cried at the end. Two big warnings (1) the material is very, very dark (child abuse, child sexual abuse, and drug addiction levels of dark) and (2) the Covid talk is nonstop (do I really need to know every time a character puts on a mask or uses hand sanitizer?). But if you’re prepared for those things and in the mood for a suspense novel, this is a great choice. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Gore, Rape, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts

rachaelallyn's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Blood, Bullying, and Eating disorder

kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit

Moderate: Dementia, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Panic attacks/disorders