This is very different from previous books I’ve read by this author. . For me it was very much a book of 2 parts and to be honest, I found the first half a tough slog. After the initial excitement dies down, the reader spends a lot of time alone with Andy & I found her a tiresome travelling companion. Her chapters consist of very little dialogue as she interacts with few people. Instead we listen in on her every thought & emotion. She covers the same ground over and over again in an endless loop of fear and despair. I had to keep reminding myself she was 31 as her behaviour & emotional maturity was more in keeping with those of a teenager. I'd give this book a 3 stars. I miss the Will Trent series.

I love the Sara / Will series and the Good Daughter was one of my top reads last year. Pieces of her is good but just doesn't seem to hang together as well as Karins other works. I found Andrea's character a bit annoying and the whole premise a bit fanciful.

I found the prologue unnecessary as it underlies the whole concept of this book and felt that, for some, the beginning might be a little dull. However, it does mean we feel we know the two main characters reasonably well before the action starts. And when the action does begin it runs like a roller-coaster. The bumpy ride takes us along many twists and turns, with an untold number of surprises and false guesses.
Although we think we understand how some people can be overwhelmed and controlled by others, Slaughter's characters really had me horrified at the possibility of just how easy it is for one person to manipulate the thoughts and actions of others. Just as you think you can predict the characters and the plot you are confronted by something different.
Overall, to be highly recommended for lovers of modern-day action thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Pieces of Her is a dual timeline thriller. Our focus is mainly on Andy who finds herself thrust into danger when she is caught up in a shooting incident. Andy and Laura, her mother, come face to face with the gunman – they are the last two standing but Laura steps in front of her daughter to confront the shooter.

She tries to persuade him to shoot her in order that Andy may go free. As she speaks to the gunman Laura is also urging Andy to run for freedom. There is a flurry of activity and before Andy can know what is happening the shooter is dead and her mother stands over his body. Self defense she claims yet the incident has been caught on film and any suggestion that Laura may have been a vulnerable victim is gone – it looks like she has used combat skills to eliminate a threat.

This all takes place very early in the story but Andy finds herself querying if she even knows who her mother is. There are clearly secrets which Laura has buried deep and of which Andy has no knowledge. Andy’s story is uncovering the pieces of the puzzle as to who her mother really is.

I mentioned this was a dual timeline story. Alongside Andy’s flight from a crime scene on a quest to understand Laura better there is also a story thread running which introduces new characters – this part of the tale is set in 1986.

Readers will know that the two story threads will eventually intertwine and that there will be some overlap to explain why an industrial accident in the 80’s has an impact on a random shooting in the present day.

While you read it can be perplexing to randomly spring to a different story and you have to trust in the skill of the author to know that everything shall make sense in the end. But when the author is Karin Slaughter you know that the author has all the skills to weave a deft tale which rewards the reader.

Pieces of Her was often surprising and a highly enjoyable reading experience.

I was hooked from page one and had started to clear my diary for the following 24 hours so I could follow Andy and Laura’s journey after their unfortunate wrong place wrong time encounter with a gun man. But then the book shifted to Laura’s back story which went on for just a little bit too long that I just wanted it to end so I could see what Andy was doing in the present. This went on throughout the book but I accepted the style of writing and again couldn’t put the book down. Excellent writing and characters that are perhaps a little bit unbelievable at times but are full of endearing traits. Can not wait for Karins next book.

Karin is such a talented author - each time she releases a new book I worry I won't like it as much as the previous one, but I shouldn't. This is gripping but also really moved me. Thank you.

The book begins with a killing in a restaurant and then goes back 32 years and tells the story of Jane’s life, who she is and what happened with her. I enjoyed reading this book and it kept me interested, though not as much as other books by this author.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK!

Very good thriller - enjoyable and action-packed

This is the second Karin Slaughter book that I've read and, although I enjoyed it, I probably preferred The Good Daughter. This novel concerns itself with Laura, a speech therapist, and her daughter, Andrea, who suddenly find themselves embroiled in the death of a killer. There's quite a lot of complications behind what happens next and I shall not reveal those here. The novel is peppered with flashbacks to 31 years previously to explain some of Laura's background and how she has got herself into the present situation. The book also heavily involves the daughter, Andrea and her quest for answers in 2018.

There's a good deal of characterisation with several important characters involved and the plot moves long quite well although I enjoyed the present-day scenario more than the flashbacks. There's also a lot of introspection by all the main female characters, probably more than I needed. As thrillers go, it's very successful and well worth a look.

Thank you for providing me with a copy of this book. Gripping as always from Karin and a very good read. Well recommended

Wow.

I’ll admit it now, days passed between the moment I agreed to take part in this tour and the day I picked the book to read it. For this, I am glad. I relied on the title, the author’s name, and my intuition, not remembering the blurb at all. I entered a dark room, and when I got out, I was not the same person!

There is so much to say and so little I wish for you to know before you experience Pieces of her that I have no idea what to write. This is going to be messy, vague, raw, but at least you can be sure you get the honest view of someone who wonders why on earth she did not read anything from Karin Slaughter sooner!!!

Andrea. Andy. A person, a woman, a daughter. The girl next door. The nice neighbor who sometimes forget to take out the trash on garbage day. Andy has nothing you look for in an action thriller. She is not ready for danger, for blood, for secrets. Yes, her job keeps her close to the police force without actually being part of it. She sits on the bench. It seems she’s been doing this for thirty-one years. In fact, Andy is so clueless at times you’ll want to shake some sense into her. I did! But it’s part of the game…

Then a shooting happens, forcing her suburban mother to show a face Andy didn’t know, and everything falls apart. Literally.

Karin Slaughter’s Pieces of Her is a magnificent and riveting exploration of what makes us who we are, what makes us tick, which hardships make us grow. She doesn’t shy away from putting her characters in situations where you want to scream orders to put them out of danger, she reminds the reader that they have no control over what unfolds between the pages. Numerous times, I wished for Andy to make different choices, to stand up for herself, to muster the courage to help her mother. But what do I know? How would I react? Who am I to judge?

Through past and present, two voices tell a tale of choices (mostly BAD ones!) and their consequences. Don’t think it is an easy ride. I was confused during more than half the novel, wondering where the author was taking me, unable to connect the dots between timelines that seemed to have nothing in common but still tainted each other. I drove me mad. It takes a lot to drive me mad. My kindle never stopped recalculating my reading time as I was going faster and faster, eager for answers to appear, for someone to take my hand and let me know what was going on.

But just as Andy learned, no one was around for this. So, clue after clue, one question after the other, I let doubt wrap me in a tight blanket, I let myself be shaken to the core by a beautifully plotted work of fiction with enough adrenaline to leave me breathless and burning calories from my couch!!!

Mother/daughter bounds are fascinating, and very different in each family. But I could feel the love and the protection of a mother, the need and affection of a daughter, and this broke my heart more than once. Yes, I might be biased when it comes to mommies, but I think this is why Piece of Me had an even stronger grip on me. I just couldn’t let go until things were right again. But what does right mean? Especially when you are running.

Andy doesn’t know what she is running from. Laura knows what is chasing them. Make sure your heart is ready before picking Pieces of Her, or it’ll take a piece of you! This novel is a puzzle in its truest form, you can’t finish it because some parts will always be missing. A torn-up picture and you swear when you realize you don’t have all the faces. A corpse without vital parts. Pieces of Her dissects the past and the present, two lives, love in different uniforms, right, wrong, and everything in between.

You didn’t hate someone unless part of you still loved them.

Highly addictive, beware you’ll always carry Pieces of Her with you, even long after finishing it.

I don't think there is a Karin Slaughter book that I haven't enjoyed and I have to say I find her a very versatile writer, from her Grant county series to her Will Trent series and from her stand- alones like the historic Cop Town to last year's The Good Daughter. And, I have to say Pieces of Her is among the best of them. It is complex, gritty, thought provoking and get's right to the heart of the emotions of the two main female protagonists.
A brilliant read!
Blurb
You’ve known her your whole life…
Andrea Oliver knows everything about her mother Laura. She knows she's always lived in the small town of Belle Isle; she knows she’s a pillar of the community; she knows she's never kept a secret in her life.
but she’s hiding something…
Then one day, a trip to the mall explodes into a shocking act of violence and Andy suddenly sees a completely different side to Laura.
and it could destroy you both…
Hours later, Laura is in hospital, her face splashed over the newspapers. But the danger has only just begun. Now, Andy must go on a desperate race to uncover the secrets of her mother's past. Unless she can, there may be no future for either of them…
What I think
What I found so appealing about this book was the puzzle. Just like the pieces of the title, I spent the entire novel trying to work out how these pieces of Andrea's mother fit together. It was strangely mesmerising. The reason for that, I think, is that as Andrea tries to piece together who her mother is, we see her growing and developing In Pieces of Her, Slaughter has again created two strong female protagonists and what makes them each so appealing is that they are so different and yet so alike. Both are striving to be themselves- to shake off the constraints that they've inherited and, for Andrea, the road trip she takes is her coming of age story.
I loved the way that Slaughter took us back in time through flashback and, so tantalisingly, dotted in clues throughout Andrea's journey. The suspense was delicious, the writing beautifully poignant and the subject matter, although hard to digest at times, was compelling.
Slaughter's plotting is second to none. With skill and aplomb, she filled in the gaps, yet simultaneously, left enough out to keep me hooked. She is the master of red herrings and I loved it.

Best book I've read this year,brilliant. As with all really good books you are drawn in by the first few paragraphs.
A daughters journey to find the truth about her mother, the mother's own journey .
Pieces of Her is a great,descriptive title for a great book.

With thanks to the publisher for the copy received. Pieces of Her is only the second book that I have read by Karin Slaughter. Like this, that was a standalone novel. I am aware that she has a huge fan base and after reading this book, which left me at times with my heart racing and had me chewing on my knuckles I know why. And I know I have a huge back catalogue to enjoy.
It took me a while to get used to both of the main characters. Andy has some major issues, I couldn’t tell if it was lack of confidence or depression and at times she really annoyed me. But there was one moment in this book that my opinion changed completely and I was rooting for her. I don’t think I was meant to laugh but I did. I didn’t know what the situation was with Laura, I felt that she was pushing Andy away for her own safety but didn’t know why. The reason I came up with was totally wrong, and the real reason isn’t revealed until much later.
The narrative switches back and forth throughout the entire novel. The chapters are fairly long and the second half of the novel was when I was chewing on my knuckles, anxious to get back to find out more.
I’ve thought for a long time that a female author is better at creating a character that feels really evil. There are two characters in this novel that made me cringe every time they appeared. Karin Slaughter has proved me right in my thinking and has also showed that she is one of the best.

Set in the US (Georgia – though we find ourselves in various US States throughout) the reader becomes embroiled in world of destruction, control, manipulation, family relationships, disfunction, secrets, abuse, lies, politics, pain, anger, regret, emotional scars and the search for justice … oh so good! 🙌🏻

I was instantly intrigued by the prologue and the #killerhook snuck in craftily in chapter 1 and that was it…I wasn’t putting this #badboy down! There was a dual timeline which I first thought were two completely separate threads – It took me ages to figure things out (though it is in the blurb 🙈🤣) and man, when everything was revealed I was gobsmacked! Such a clever storyline with fantastically written characters – I absolutely knew that the author had nailed it once again! BOOM! 👊🏻

I want to talk about each and every character, because even the throwaway characters added to the story! I will mention Laura as there were times I was like “WTF is up with this lady?” – she had many layers to her and we learned more and more as the story unfolds. I still don’t know how likeable I found her, but she is a fighter, determined and I think she absolutely believed that every decision she made was for the best. I won’t say anymore, as I don’t want to mistakenly give away a spoiler! But WOW! Just WOW!

I have to say, that Andy had to be my favourite character – LOVED her! A force who was fighting to survive whilst unravelling the secrets which had trouble at her heels! Bloody brilliant! She took everything that was thrown at her and would not back down! Fabulous!!

I just LOVED everything about this book – the baddies were chilling, you don’t know who to believe/trust, the storyline was riveting – basically everything I had hoped it would be and more! Would I recommend this read? OMFG 😱 you bet your sweet arse I would! An adrenaline fuelled read that had me racing through the pages, questioning everything and everyone and the OMG-moments totally caught me off guard! Now THAT is a great read! If you don’t believe me, follow the rest of the tour here:

Really intriguing and gripping story, that unfolds across two timelines. One of those books that you can't stop reading once you get into it.

I love Karin Slaughter's writing style and how she's developed and matured over the years, from her early days of the Grant County series and through the Will Trent series. Pieces of Her is her fourth full length standalone novel. It's cleverly written over two timelines thirty-two years apart which are not at all confusing, you won't get them mixed up, although the plotline itself is quite complicated.

In the first chapter we meet Laura who is undergoing chemo for breast cancer, and her daughter Andrea, at a restaurant chatting about Laura's illness and that Andrea should move out of the family home and get a place of her own. Andrea's life is stale and stagnant and needs something to give her a push to the next chapter in her life. While they are chatting, a gunman opens fire on people around them and Laura is caught in the gunfire. Andrea is like a frightened rabbit and can't move from behind her mother and is almost shocked into a stuttering silence when Laura speaks with the shooter and one of them ends up dead.

Andrea's life then takes off in a completely different orbit as she tries piecing her life together, questioning her mother's past and now facing much danger. The story goes back to events over thirty years ago and we start to understand the events then with what is happening in Laura and Andrea's life today.

This is a fast paced crime story, sometimes graphic and gory but always gripping. At times it's heart stoppingly fast and intense with chases and danger at every turn.

Another great book by Karin Slaughter, Pieces of Her explores the complexity of a mother/daughter relationship. How far will the mother go for her child is clearly represented throughout. A great read.

whatever can i say new about Slaughter's work - professional and effective, i read fast - it's tough and slick - and she deserves every reader she has. this is another strong addition to the club of her fans ...

I'm a big Karin Slaughter fan and this book does not disappoint!

It's not as gruesome as some of Slaughter's previous books and instead delves deeper into characters and backstories. It's very character driven with a clever and interesting story unfolding over two different decades from the different perspectives.

A thrilling and pacey read which I'll be recommending to others. 5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Karin Slaughter for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was slightly worried that this wouldn't live up to Karin Slaughter's previous books, but I was hooked from the start and finished it the same day. Fast-paced, unpredictable and totally gripping!