I originally reviewed this for Shelf Awareness for Readers, and am reprinting it here with permission.
Fans of Karin Slaughter’s Will Trent series know that his boss at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Amanda Wagner, is a ball buster. In this sixth installment, the author goes back in time to show why Amanda is so hard on Will, and how she used to be quite a different person.
The story alternates between the mid-1970s, when several prostitutes disappear and are feared dead, and the present, when something similar occurs. Amanda was a rookie Atlanta PD cop investigating the original crimes and fears the original perpetrator is back, but she keeps Will away from the case, much to his frustration. Turns out she has very good reasons, because discovering the truth could destroy him.
Faithful series readers might at first lament that this book doesn’t focus on Will and his budding relationship with Dr. Sara Linton, the heroine of many of Slaughter’s previous novels. They should soon, however, appreciate the author’s decision to give Amanda a fleshed-out history that will change preconceived notions about a character who’s often been seen as unpleasant. One of only two females in the police department in 1975, twenty-five-year old Amanda was far from the confident woman she is today, at times too meek in her reaction to maddeningly sexist colleagues. But this makes her arc realistic, as she eventually finds her footing when she realizes she’s good at her job.
While Will is somewhat on the peripheral, the story is ultimately about him. We know his childhood in foster homes was tough, but the additional details Slaughter reveals here about his origins are even more shattering.
Thanks to the nice people at Authors on the Web, I can give away TWO copies of this book. To enter, leave a comment telling me a lie you once told someone because you wanted to protect that person from the truth. It could be a small, harmless lie, or you could just lie to me and make up something right now.
The giveaway is open until next Monday, August 6, 9 p.m. PST. US/Canada addresses only. Winners will be randomly selected, and have 48 hours to claim the books.
Ready, get set, lie your teeth off!
9 Comments
Ronnie Sowell
July 30, 2012 at 8:51 amThe same lie I tell my wife everyday:
“I got the honey-do list done, but didn’t have time to take a nap or enter any contests on the internet.”
techeditor
July 30, 2012 at 9:11 amI insisted we had plenty of money to fly to California when my husband’s brother died.
Paulette
July 30, 2012 at 3:42 pmI got all 15 correct on the 15 Iconic TV posters…
Tom Piccirilli
July 30, 2012 at 3:43 pm“Don’t be afraid to become a professional writer. There are plenty of benefits, much love will be strewn upon you like rose petals upon Egyptian temple floors, and your agent and editor will fill you with nothing but boundless confidence.”
Pop Culture Nerd
July 30, 2012 at 4:32 pmHahahahahaha! Good one, Tom.
Sarah RH
July 31, 2012 at 10:00 pmI told my ex “That’s not a new purse. I just haven’t used it yet.” =) LOL
Anita Yancey
August 1, 2012 at 9:43 amI told my mother-in-law that I really liked her cooking. But the truth is she is a terrible cook, and even burns most things. I keep asking my husband how he survived growing up on her food, and he just says I had to.
Carol M
August 3, 2012 at 3:09 pmI can finish the New York Times crossword puzzle in five minutes!! lol
Marge
August 5, 2012 at 3:02 pmI have told people…”I love the gift”. I can’t seem to hurt their feelings.
Thanks for the giveaway.