The Last Widow by Karin Slaughter, a review

The Last Widow’s Back-of-Book Description

New York Times bestselling author Karin Slaughter brings back Will Trent and Sara Linton in this superb and timely thriller full of devious twists, disturbing secrets, and shocking surprises you won’t see coming.

 

A mysterious kidnapping

On a hot summer night, a scientist from the Centers for Disease Control is grabbed by unknown assailants in a shopping center parking lot. The authorities are desperate to save the doctor who’s been vanished into thin air.

 

A devastating explosion

One month later, the serenity of a sunny Sunday afternoon is shattered by the boom of a ground-shaking blast—followed by another seconds later. One of Atlanta’s busiest and most important neighborhoods has been bombed—the location of Emory University, two major hospitals, the FBI headquarters, and the CDC.

 

A diabolical enemy

Medical examiner Sara Linton and her partner Will Trent, an investigator with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, rush to the scene—and into the heart of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to destroy thousands of innocent lives. When the assailants abduct Sara, Will goes undercover to save her and prevent a massacre—putting his own life on the line for the woman and the country he loves.

My Thoughts

You guys! I was walking through a grocery store a few months ago with no intention of buying anything other than necessities, but I walked past the books and saw “Karin Slaughter” so I had to stop and look. And then I couldn’t help myself – I had to throw it in the cart. I just like her stories so much I didn’t want to miss out. I don’t remember even realizing at the time that this was a Will Trent book!

In a book review of The Kept Woman, I mentioned being a big fan of this author’s series on the character Will Trent. I have read all of them leading up to this, the 9th book, and have loved every single one! That being said, she does a good job of making them all stand alone, in case you haven’t read them all. I repeat – you don’t have to have read the others to fully enjoy this as a single book.

Most (if not all) of her books are crime/detective thriller/suspense books, that focus on a crime and the detectives working to solve it. The Last Widow is no different – a big crime was committed and the Georgia Beaurea of Investigation has reason to believe that another, bigger one is in the works.

The story is told from a few different points of view (which I like). This results in a few repetitive paragraphs at the beginning, as the same events are being described by two or three characters, with subtle nuances when they interpret something differently.  This repetitive aspect doesn’t last long, though because eventually the characters are split up and you find yourself dying to know what they are experiencing.

The action is exciting and quick. It’s also – without giving away too many spoilers – incredibly timely, given recent events in the U.S. There is a small romantic subplot in that two of the main characters are dating; I think this adds a nice layer to the story.

Each character feels real and rounded out. I know I may be a bit biased in this area since I have read other books that involve them, but to my credit, it’s been several years. And I really do feel like she gives enough detail and back story that even knew readers would feel like they’re real, complete people.

Her writing is so efficient. Unlike the last book I read, every single sentence in The Last Widow was moving the story forward in some way.  And I was so wrapped up in the action of the story, I honestly wasn’t paying that much attention to stand-out quotes and witty lines.

Favorite Quotes From The Last Widow

“That’s the problem with loving someone, Will. They make you weak.”

 

“Sara could’ve said they were boys playing dress-up. But this was not a game.”

 

“People didn’t believe in you unless you convinced them that you believed in yourself.”

 

“At this point it was a distinction without a difference.”

In Conclusion

Everything Karin Slaughter writes is gold. And The Last Widow is no exception. I loved it and I give it 5 stars. Her writing is incredible, the plot is plausible (especially given recent American events – it seems extremely realistic) and the suspense is perfect. A total page-turner.

As I mentioned before it reads just fine as a standalone crime thriller/suspense, so I would recommend this for anyone who likes that genre. I read this in less than a week – I just couldn’t put it down! So if you’re looking for an action-packed suspense novel, consider this one for sure. 

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This post was proofread by Grammarly