Karin Slaughter consistently writes in-depth, exciting books and this definitely fit the bill. This is a part of a long-running series, however it reads well as a stand-alone too. The characters are authentic and well-drawn and the plot moves along quickly. I had the twist figured out early on, but this did not take away from my overall enjoyment.

** spoiler alert ** I received an #ARC of this book from #Netgalley and I am glad I had the opportunity to read it! This is part of the Will Trent series. The usual characters are in it- Amanda the boss, Faith Will’s partner, Sara Will’s love but what makes this story unique is that the author has a “then” and “now” plotline. In this we get to see Sara working a case with her former husband Jeffrey. Karin Slaughter always has a great plot that keeps me reading. One thing I really appreciate about her books are the crime and justice statistics she includes. I get to learn while reading her stories. I have a suggestion for the editor though. I figured out who the murderer was at 20% in. Having him sobbing oddly and one other detail should be downplayed. It stuck out and made me think- this might be the guy.

Karin Slaughter does it again with this on the edge of your seat Will Trent addition. You can feel Sara's pain and emotions in this one. A mystery involving girls going missing, old lovers, and new methods of torture both physically and emotionally. Trigger warning. This one hooked me till the end. #thesilentwife #netgalley

Karin Slaughter's latest in the Will Trent series - never disappoints.  As a fan of anything Karin writes, another excellent book.

Somehow this author's work has escaped my attention until now, even though I love reading thrillers.  Although I'm late to the party, I will add this author to my "must read" list immediately!  This book is part of a series about a detective and a medical examiner, but the writing is so skillful that I didn't feel lost in the plot.  The story moves back and forth between the past and the present, as the characters link recent rape/murders to similar past crimes.  The sections describing the past include characters from another series by the author.  It sounds very confusing but the author keeps everything clear and understandable.  I was able to figure out the murderer just before the characters did. The author writes rather graphic murder scenes that I found intriguing rather than off-putting.  The characters are well-drawn and felt true-to-life.  I want to read more by this author and discover more about her characters.  Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for providing an ARC.

*I am grateful to NetGalley for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for my review. All opinions however, are my own" 

I must say I absolutely LOVE Karin Slaughter and if the Will Trent or Grant County series was turned into a book series I would binge watch it to no end. The Silent Wife was no different. About 1/3 of the way into the book I figured out who the killer was, but it didn't detract from the suspense and the build up as Will and Sarah found out who it was as well. And she brought Jeffrey back in a way! My heart! *swoons*. I was thrilled with this one, and cannot wait until she comes out with another one in this series, although if she kills off Wilbur like she did Jeff, I will revolt!

This is typical Karin Slaughter, great read full of twists and a huge shocking reveal at the end!  She is one of my favorite writers for thrillers.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.
Very readable, edge of your seat thriller. It was many times a little too graphic for me but I couldn't put it down. Will and Sara are characters I could revisit again and again. Absorbing and never lagged despite its length.

What could be better than another book featuring Sara Linton, and Will Trent?   Weaving the relationship of these two with the other memorable characters in this 10 book series and a serial killer Karin Slaughter once again captures the attention of the reader for a diverting read.  I so look forward to another book in this well plotted series.

With THE SILENT WIFE, bestselling author Karin Slaughter delivers an extraordinary procedural thriller that’s all at once brutal, poignant and utterly mesmerizing.

Slaughter opens with the shocking assault of college student Beckey Caterino—a crime from years past investigated by medical examiner Sara Linton’s late husband, Police Chief Jeffrey Tolliver.

Beckey’s brutal attack—along with the rapes and murders of other women—arise following a prison riot as an inmate insists that he was set up to take the fall by Tolliver and his corrupt team. He claims the real perpetrator is out there still, preying on women across the state. And when another woman is found viciously murdered, it looks to be substantiating proof.

Will Trent and his partner, Faith, must revisit the nearly decade-old cases if they’re to catch what looks to be a serial killer. Worse yet, Will must seek the help of the woman he loves (Sara), despite opening a wound he fears has not yet healed. Their investigation takes shocking turns with consequences that weigh heavily emotionally, and which undoubtedly change the lives of everyone involved.

As always, Slaughter is unflinching in her portrayal of crime, making it all too real and terrifying. Through past and present alternating chapters, we uncover the dreadful fates that befell the women, and experience the strain of Sara and Jeffrey’s relationship leading up to his death.

The case is brutal, the investigation is fascinating, and the aftermath is deeply affecting. Through the story, Slaughter poignantly explores the stigma of rape and the long-lasting effects of trauma. She also evolves Will and Sara’s relationship, as they struggle to find solid ground amidst the turmoil of the case.

I’m such a fervid fan of Slaughter’s books because they truly feel to have it all—perfect pacing with thoughtful, twisty plots that come alive through well-drawn characters. They balance the very real horrors we sometimes see in the world with relationships and interactions that have depth and rouse emotion and relatability.

This one is one of her best—a chilling whodunit you won’t be able to put down.

The 10th book in the Will Trent series continues with another gripping mystery. While investigating the death of a man in the state penitentiary they hear about a serial killer who still may be on the loose. A prisoner, Daryl Nesbit says another woman who looks exactly like the woman he was imprisoned for eight years earlier has been killed. I had read none of the previous books. Although this works as a standalone, I wish I had had more background on the investigative team of Faith Mitchell and Will Trent.

‌ ‌ ‌Will trent is reopening a string of murder & rape cases from eight years ago. The cases were considered solved,  the suspect arrested.  New evidence has been submitted, raising questions about the former investigators. The former lead investigator and chief, Jeffery Tolliver may have gotten it all wrong. 
Sara Linton was the assisting medical examiner eight years ago, and then married to Tolliver. Reopening this case, years after Jeffery's death brings up emotions and grief that Sara isn't prepared for. 
Will and Sara need to clear Tolliver's name and catch a sadistic killer, who has started killing again. 

I've always loved Slaughter's Will Trent series, so this book is no exception. The turbulent love story between Sara and Will is still carried out in the series, but now we get a little more about Saras previous marriage. 
This book describes in depth how an autopsy is preformed, as well as exumming of a body. I learned things I haven't in other books, which Slaughter is good at. The choice of murder and rape methods is cringeworthy, which I've come to expect in her books. Nothing is left to the imagination, and you feel like you are helping to solve the crime.

What could be better than a story with Sara, Will, and Jeffrey???  I loved the past and present storylines in this one and loved the past and present characters all in one book.  Well done.  And the mystery and investigation was superb.

Another great book from Karin Slaughter and it was so good going back to Grant County. I didn't want the book to finish and am looking forward to the next book in the Will Trent series.

Excellent addition to The Grant County - Will Trent series.  Karen Slaughter is an excellent storyteller.  Love her novels and this one doesn't disappoint.  It dives right in addressing women's issues and violence against women.  Very timely.  Great plotting and as always great character development.  Many twists and turns and a surprise ending.  Loved it. Don't miss it!

Slaughter's 20th novel, The Silent Wife, is a page-turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat while making you want to hide in your closet from the serial killer that is on the loose.

What I Loved

The thrills and chills in this story made me want to hide in a closet until it was safe to come out.  Slaughter uses pieces of real crimes in each of her novels, and these valid case details provide an authentic feel to the very thrilling and creepy events that move the story forward.  What also adds to the suspense is the chapter length.  They are longer earlier in the story and become much shorter towards the end. This increase in the pace creates an increase in the suspense until the grand release of the story's conclusion.

The attention to detail and the way even ordinary events are described is so precise and elicit just the right response from me.  Even the little things (such as how Will reacts to Faith's daughter putting the battery he was showing her into her mouth to Will asking Sarah to join him for pizza after a long, hard day and a horrible fight that Sarah apologized for) hold within their descriptions a keen observational truth.  The little things make such a significant impact on the story in balancing it out between the gruesome crime plot and the characters' storylines.  Slaughter explains that she looks at the plot lines separately but feels the romance/personal plot helps balance the harshness of the crime.  She believes that they need to have equal weight, and she succeeds in doing that.  Even the way she handles autopsies is in keeping with what she has witnessed in real life and not as you see on tv shows, which often show the doctor and police exchanging witty banter and not the solemn respect for the deceased that takes place.

The depth of character development is nearly unparalleled in other books of this genre.  Will and Sara are characters I wish I could meet in real life. They are sincere and genuine.  How do you not sympathize with characters like that?  All of Slaughter's characters have faults – they are good or bad depending on the situation, which only added to my ability to feel like I know them and respond intensely to the story as it plays out. Slaughter's favorite character is one of the support characters, Amanda.  She finds it refreshing that Amanda is mean but loyal and always has her teams' back. Slaughter is also fond of Faith, though she must do a lot of research on her because she does not have any kids of her own. She marvels at mommy blogs and takes inspiration from the posts to learn about what Faith experiences.  That method of research works.  I am a mom, and I never once questioned the sincerity or believability of Faith's plight as she juggles between work and family.

The complexity of the story kept me on my toes and eager to know what comes next.  This comes from the fact, as Slaughter described it, that female crime thriller novelists tend to write more psychologically.  And just as I love psychological thrillers, this is the aspect of Slaughter's books I gravitate to and appreciate the most. The mind is such a fantastic tool, and when it processes events and feelings abnormally, it becomes such a horrific weapon.

To Read or Not to Read
If you only read one thriller this year, it needs to be The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter.
 
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is book #10 in the popular Will Trent series by Karin Slaughter. There is alot of back story in the plot concerning past relationships and  previous murder investigations. The Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) is called to a prison to investigate a death of a prisoner during a riot. Will Trent and the medical examiner, Dr. Sara Linton, are processing the crime scene and speaking with inmates. An inmate wants to volunteer information about the prisoners brutal death.  The inmate, Daryl Nesbitt, wants to make a deal concerning his "false imprisonment". Nesbitt a convicted pedophile, is awaiting prosecution for several murders of women in Grant County. He claims that Sara's deceased husband, Chief of Police, Jeffery Tolliver, and his officer Lena Adams are responsible for a corrupt investigation. There are many twists and turns with the story and that will keep you guessing until the very end. Great characters and storyline.

I had never read a Karin Slaughter book before and I was pleasantly surprised. I devoured the book in two nights! Edge of your seat, page turning, couldn't put it down - all of that! 

Will Trent, GBI investigator, is called in to investigate a prison riot when an inmate claims to have been framed by corrupt law enforcement officers, namely Jeffrey Tolliver. He claims the real killer is still out there. Problem is, Tolliver is dead with a hero's reputation and to complicate matters more Will's girlfriend, Sara, is Tolliver's widow. Soon, another young woman is murdered in a similar manner - is it a coincidence or is a serial killer still out there?  

Told from multiple perspectives - Will, Sara, victims, and even flashbacks to Tolliver and the original case years ago, the books is action packed and swift moving. Definitely opened up to a new author to me and now I have many, many books to catch up on.

Karin Slaughter is a well-established and highly respected force in the thriller genre for good reason. Her releases are predictably well-crafted, and her characters are engaging and fully fleshed. Her most recent novel, The Silent Wife is the tenth in a series that revisits the GBI in Atlanta with investigator Will Trent. In this outing, Trent is brought in to advise on a killing in the local prison. One of the prisoners claims to have information that he wants to trade in order to get his own case re-opened. With outside help, the inmate has been collecting articles about recent rapes and murders that resemble ones that he was suspected of committing. Trent is forced to re-examine the Caterino case, an assault that was reportedly botched by the original officers. One of those accused of incompetence is the deceased Chief of Police from a nearby town. Unfortunately, this man also happens to be the former husband of Sara, Will’s current girlfriend with whom he is having issues. Since Sara worked as part of the medical examiner’s team for Caterino’s case, the couple needs to work closely to look for any current connections despite their difficulties. The book spends a good deal of time delving into their romantic entanglement, and the delicate matters of jealousy and bereavement. Sara is also deeply affected by an undisclosed victim who survived a vicious attack from the same perpetrator, but who did not come forward at the time. Her own trauma history informs her decision to respect the girl’s privacy despite urgently needing her recollections to tie the serial cases together. The Silent Wife travels back and forth between the two time periods, essentially resurrecting the Chief character of Jeffrey Tolliver. His role in the mismanagement of past reverberates to the present, and his protection of his officers at the time likely led to continued attacks. Slaughter manages to describe Tolliver’s fatal flaws in ways that retain empathy for the man despite highlighting the damage resulting from his errors. The novel has a satisfying conclusion that draws logically from earlier hints in the plot but remains unpredictable and surprising. In this accomplished writer’s hands, The Silent Wife maintains a nice balance between a gripping page-turner and a deep exploration of beloved characters. It is a work that is sure to please Slaughter’s many ardent fans anxiously awaiting the next Will Trent installment.

Thanks to the author, HarperCollins and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Wow! Karin Slaughter's The Silent Wife is not ab easy read, but it is unflinching, honest writing that kept me reading and made me think. Another winner, and a damn thoughtful read to boot. Very highly recommended.