A review by asourceoffiction
Girl, Forgotten by Karin Slaughter

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! 
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