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backpackingbookworm's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
4.5
I didn't realise when I requested Girl, Forgotten that it was a sequel to Pieces of Her (Karin Slaughter is an auto-request author for me, I don't even bother reading the book blurbs). That being said, Pieces of Her was one of my least favourite Slaughter novels so I went into this one with some trepidation. Andy was such an annoying character that I didn't think I could handle 14 hours of reading/listening to her make more stupid decisions.
However, always happy to be proven wrong and this is one such case.
Where Andy was weak and pathetic in book one, newly recruited US marshall, Andrea, is the complete opposite (which I found hard to believe but hey, happy to roll with it if means she's grown a damn backbone). For the majority of the novel, she was smart, savvy, and switched on - something I love to see in female law enforcement. While I couldn't see at first why this book wasn't written as a stand-alone, it soon became clear when the backstory started falling into place.
Sent to the hometown of her manipulative and imprisoned father, Andrea is set two tasks - one public and one secret - 1) protect the esteemed judge who is receiving death threats and 2) find evidence that her father was responsible for raping and murdering a young girl from his culty friendship group forty years prior to prevent his release.
As per the author's usual style, this book may be long but it is by no means filled with fluff. Every sentence is relevant and you're constantly left pondering certain actions or revelations. Slaughter knows when to take it slow (setting the scene and introducing new characters) and when to ramp it up, making this one a rollercoaster thriller that leaves you constantly questioning people's true motives.
The intertwining storylines were brilliantly plotted; I was particularly invested in the flashbacks leading up to Emily's murder and her own investigation into who raped her while she was drugged and got her pregnant. I wanted answers just as much as she did and while I wasn't overly enamoured by the outcome, I thought the motives were strong and believable.
It was the sequel I never knew I needed that concluded with me only craving more. The ending sets us up for a third instalment so I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for that.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for sending me a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Rating breakdown
Plot/narrative - 4.5
Writing style/readability - 4.6
Characters - 4.3
Diverse themes - 4.4
Ending - 4.6
Overall - 4.5
However, always happy to be proven wrong and this is one such case.
Where Andy was weak and pathetic in book one, newly recruited US marshall, Andrea, is the complete opposite (which I found hard to believe but hey, happy to roll with it if means she's grown a damn backbone). For the majority of the novel, she was smart, savvy, and switched on - something I love to see in female law enforcement. While I couldn't see at first why this book wasn't written as a stand-alone, it soon became clear when the backstory started falling into place.
Sent to the hometown of her manipulative and imprisoned father, Andrea is set two tasks - one public and one secret - 1) protect the esteemed judge who is receiving death threats and 2) find evidence that her father was responsible for raping and murdering a young girl from his culty friendship group forty years prior to prevent his release.
As per the author's usual style, this book may be long but it is by no means filled with fluff. Every sentence is relevant and you're constantly left pondering certain actions or revelations. Slaughter knows when to take it slow (setting the scene and introducing new characters) and when to ramp it up, making this one a rollercoaster thriller that leaves you constantly questioning people's true motives.
The intertwining storylines were brilliantly plotted; I was particularly invested in the flashbacks leading up to Emily's murder and her own investigation into who raped her while she was drugged and got her pregnant. I wanted answers just as much as she did and while I wasn't overly enamoured by the outcome, I thought the motives were strong and believable.
It was the sequel I never knew I needed that concluded with me only craving more. The ending sets us up for a third instalment so I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for that.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for sending me a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Rating breakdown
Plot/narrative - 4.5
Writing style/readability - 4.6
Characters - 4.3
Diverse themes - 4.4
Ending - 4.6
Overall - 4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Rape, Terminal illness, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
bookishnookish's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
It was only the need to know who the culprit was on this book that kept me going. This was a 15+ hours mystery that could have been at least 5 hours shorter had it not been for the overly generous descriptions of absolutely everything.
Andrea was lacking in character. When the book started, I had high hopes for her because she is actively doing better than her best to be the top of her male dominated class. She was confident and came across as a badass. Then she got her first case and all that confidence was left in the first few pages. She fumbled, mumbled, and was tongue-tied so often that it took all my patience to get through those passages. I really do wish she were a badass throughout the book. She did have some daring parts in the book(aka the fire parts) . However, as the MC, she was quite inconsistent.
The subject matter at the centre of the book was also a huge trigger for me constantly, especially the treatment of the victim, because that is what she was, by everyone around her was absolutely appalling.
I was going to put 3 stars, but then I got to the millennials drinking latte line and I just absolutely had it. That one line showed me that I am the wrong demographic for the author's novels.
(TW: sexism, ageism, rape, suicide, cult, abuse, anorexia, murder)
Andrea was lacking in character. When the book started, I had high hopes for her because she is actively doing better than her best to be the top of her male dominated class. She was confident and came across as a badass. Then she got her first case and all that confidence was left in the first few pages. She fumbled, mumbled, and was tongue-tied so often that it took all my patience to get through those passages. I really do wish she were a badass throughout the book. She did have some daring parts in the book
The subject matter at the centre of the book was also a huge trigger for me constantly, especially the treatment of the victim, because that is what she was, by everyone around her was absolutely appalling.
I was going to put 3 stars, but then I got to the millennials drinking latte line and I just absolutely had it. That one line showed me that I am the wrong demographic for the author's novels.
(TW: sexism, ageism, rape, suicide, cult, abuse, anorexia, murder)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Classism
becksreadsbooks's review
dark
mysterious
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Cancer, Drug use, Homophobia, Self harm, Suicide, Terminal illness, Dementia, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship
bookwormandtheatremouse's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
asourceoffiction's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
This grabbed me right from the start when we see, very quickly, how common victim-blaming and woman-shaming were in the '80s. I was immediately emotionally invested in solving Emily's murder, and I could tell that hers was going to be a desperately sad story.
As the plot develops and time is split brilliantly between 1981 and the present day, the treatment of women becomes very uncomfortable. The investigations begin to mirror each other in each timeline, and it is a stark reminder of how little has changed; the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade renders the book chillingly prescient.
This is a tale of monsters, and the power they wield that comes from a lifetime of entitlement and patriarchy. I found myself even questioning the motives of the men who were clearly on the right side, though thankfully there are some brilliant male characters to be found as well. But this idea formed a constant connection to Nick Harp in Pieces of Her, and I loved the allusions to that story dotted throughout this one.
Andrea Oliver is a great protagonist to follow; she's finding her own way and by no means has her shit together, which makes her so relatable. She is also, clearly, a badass, and I can't wait to see what comes next after the intriguing ending to this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, and Toxic friendship