I love Karen Slaughter, but this was not my favorite of her books. The main characters were very damaged, and that showed in everything they did. I want to at least like my hero or heroine, but neither of these two were redeeming in my eyes. The Grant County series far surpasses this novel.
Karin Slaughter absolutely knocks it out of the park with this one! She is one of my few pre-order authors because she has maintained a remarkably high standard of quality over many books. Generally I prefer her Grant County series books over the standalones, but False Witness is one of her finest works.
The story is about two adult sisters whose lives were shaped by a traumatic event from their childhood. As adults, they struggle to deal with the shame and stress of keeping their actions that night a secret. Callie is a drug addict, and although Leigh is at first glance moderately successfuly, she engages in self-sabatoging behaviors in her career and in her relationships. Leigh is a defence attorney, and her new client has knowledge of their past that threatens to blow up Leigh and Callie's fragile lives.
What sets Karin Slaughter apart from other thriller writers is her ability to create characters who feel real and evoke empathy in the reader despite the characters' (or perhaps because of their) flaws. Though most pages focus on Leigh and Callie, the other people in their lives such as Leigh's husband Walter and the veterinarian who Callie sometimes works for are equally engaging. I also enjoy the way Slaughter gently includes her perspective on current events. As evidenced by the references to characters putting on and taking off masks, she does this in a way that feels organic and is not disruptive to the story.
Long time readers will love this book. Since it is a standalone, False Witness could also serve as an introduction for a new reader to all Karin Slaughter does well.
The story is about two adult sisters whose lives were shaped by a traumatic event from their childhood. As adults, they struggle to deal with the shame and stress of keeping their actions that night a secret. Callie is a drug addict, and although Leigh is at first glance moderately successfuly, she engages in self-sabatoging behaviors in her career and in her relationships. Leigh is a defence attorney, and her new client has knowledge of their past that threatens to blow up Leigh and Callie's fragile lives.
What sets Karin Slaughter apart from other thriller writers is her ability to create characters who feel real and evoke empathy in the reader despite the characters' (or perhaps because of their) flaws. Though most pages focus on Leigh and Callie, the other people in their lives such as Leigh's husband Walter and the veterinarian who Callie sometimes works for are equally engaging. I also enjoy the way Slaughter gently includes her perspective on current events. As evidenced by the references to characters putting on and taking off masks, she does this in a way that feels organic and is not disruptive to the story.
Long time readers will love this book. Since it is a standalone, False Witness could also serve as an introduction for a new reader to all Karin Slaughter does well.
This was my first Karin Slaughter book and I don't foresee it being my last. It was a gritty, dark thriller with love and hope mixed in.
Here are some parts of the book that I loved. One was the sisterly bond. The love they had for one another, no matter what, was beautiful. Another part was what women go through when it comes to sexual harassment. It was something touched on throughout the book and I was glad to see it there since it is something women struggle with constantly. I also enjoyed the other characters such as Walter and Dr. Jerry. They both hold a special place in the book. Then, on the flip side, is Andrew. What a creepy piece of work that was nicely put together. Also, there was the details on drug addiction. I never really understood it myself but Slaughter goes in detail about how it works and makes me a bit more sympathetic to the situation.
A few points I didn't like was for one, too much detail when it come to some of the points throughout the book. Like the drug addiction. Sometimes it seemed to keep coming up on going on with the same information. So much so that I would glaze over those parts. Another is the pedophilia. Even though it needed to be discussed, I was really squeamish and uneasy during those parts. The last thing would be how easily the sisters would give in a situation. They were made out to be tough after all they went through but would collapse at a given moment with just words being said. It seemed more of a convenience to the story than the true nature of the characters. All of these are just minor things I didn't care for and ultimately loved the book.
Here are some parts of the book that I loved. One was the sisterly bond. The love they had for one another, no matter what, was beautiful. Another part was what women go through when it comes to sexual harassment. It was something touched on throughout the book and I was glad to see it there since it is something women struggle with constantly. I also enjoyed the other characters such as Walter and Dr. Jerry. They both hold a special place in the book. Then, on the flip side, is Andrew. What a creepy piece of work that was nicely put together. Also, there was the details on drug addiction. I never really understood it myself but Slaughter goes in detail about how it works and makes me a bit more sympathetic to the situation.
A few points I didn't like was for one, too much detail when it come to some of the points throughout the book. Like the drug addiction. Sometimes it seemed to keep coming up on going on with the same information. So much so that I would glaze over those parts. Another is the pedophilia. Even though it needed to be discussed, I was really squeamish and uneasy during those parts. The last thing would be how easily the sisters would give in a situation. They were made out to be tough after all they went through but would collapse at a given moment with just words being said. It seemed more of a convenience to the story than the true nature of the characters. All of these are just minor things I didn't care for and ultimately loved the book.
