For reasons that I can no longer remember, I originally gave up on Karin Slaughter after her 2004 Grant County series novel, Indelible - this is a mistake which will be quickly remedied.

The Last Widow is the ninth book in her Atlanta GBI series, which seems to follow on from Grant County, but despite not having read the intervening ten books and assorted novellas I fell straight back into the narrative.

Dr Sara Linton and GBI Agent Will Trent are en route to an emergency when they stop to help at the scene of a fatal car accident, but things are not as they seem, and the situation quickly deteriorates for both Sara and Will. Torn apart, they need to summon the strength to deal with a white supremacist militia group, and to quickly discover what they want with a CDC scientist.

The Last Widow is fast paced but loses nothing for the urgency with which it is told. It’s well written, terrifyingly relevant to current events, and gripped me from start to end. The only bad bit was that it ended, but at least I’ve added another ten books to my reading list.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Round of applause to Karin Slaughter for another amazing book!!!!
Ever since reading her first book I’ve been hooked and I was so happy to read this and very thankful for an advanced copy.
The pace of the book is great, it gives us information about every character introduced to the book and it gives you more insights on the relationship between Sara and Will. I also enjoyed reading about the way the family feel about Will and the way they deal with this.
The plot of the book is amazing. It’s fast paced and definitely a page turner. It was very interesting as it brings in modern day tragedy. I spent so many late nights reading to see what happens.
I cannot wait for the next instalment as it did leave us on a little cliffhanger between Sara and Will. Once again thank you for the advanced copy. Well done Karen

After thoroughly enjoying Karin Slaughter’s ‘The Good Daughter’ I was very excited to learn of Karin’s latest offering. In reality I did not realise it was part of a series, a series that I hadn’t had any knowledge about. Ordinarily I would not jump into a series anywhere else but with the first book, but I am so glad I didn’t forego this based on that outlook.

Firstly to assuage anyone’s concern that this can’t be read as a standalone, let me assure you that it can. Although, having said that, I would urge any reader to start the series from the start (at least I wish I had). But if that is not possible, then definitely jump in right now, it is definitely worth it.

‘The Last Widow’ reminded me of how great writing can be. Everything about this book is great. Brilliant plot, complex characters, real emotion and a style of writing that brings everything together in a flowing, encapsulating manner.

Now, for me to go back to the beginning of the Will Trent series.

Thanks NetGalley and HarperCollins for a review copy.

Thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Wow! Another great read from Karin Slaughter who brings us back Sarah Linton and Will Trent, a fast paced thriller with lots of twists., once you start this book you do not want to put it down. This is book nine in the series,
The story starts with the opening chapter being told in full by several characters, the plot is different, though as always it’s easy to empathise will Sarah and Will and feel their pain throughout the story, Sarah is one of two woman that have been kidnapped by a terrorist group.
Lots of tension, action and a great ending, leaving of course the anticipation of another book. 5 stars

Oh wow it is such a long time since the last Will and Sarah book. I have read all of this series and the Grant County and Will Trent series. I was not disappointed with this book and and it certainly is one you can't put down

Karin Slaughter is one of my all time favourite authors, and this, the 9th in the Will Trent series did not disappoint. Will and Sara (Dr Sara Linton, Will’s girlfriend) are thrown in at the deep end when they rush to help the victims of a car accident. But the details of the car accident are not quite as they first appear. Long story short, expect bombs, kidnappings, white supremacists, pedophiles and look out for The Message.

So, this book is definitely not for the faint hearted, that said, it’s tense, gripping, edge of your seat stuff that’s hard to put down. But it also feels quite close to home and very topical, current affairs being how they are at the moment brings the storyline hammering home, which alongside tense and gripping ranks The Last Widow both front and centre and uncomfortable ‘to boot’. But these are just more reasons why you should read it.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Widow by Karin Slaughter
This book is the ninth in the Will Trent series and I have not read any of the others. It works effectively as a stand-alone and I did not feel as if I was missing out on any important details. The opening of the novel deals with an abduction and it is not until very much later in the book that it becomes clear why this woman has been targeted. Will Trent and Dr Sara Linton are then on their way to deal with an explosion at the nearby hospital when they encounter an accident. She is taken hostage and the next part of the novel unfolds with various characters and what is happening to them. As the timeframe overlaps there are repeated descriptions of the same scenes with the same dialogue which I found a little frustrating. I also found some of the detailed descriptions late in the book dragged and I found myself skim reading.
Many thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.

Fast moving, violent and graphic, certainly not for the faint hearted, this is a typical Karin Slaughter book.
When a scientist is kidnapped and no ransom received it leaves the GBI (Georgia Bureau of investigation) wondering why.
Will and Sara both work for GBI and are a couple. When two bombs go off locally with loss of life they rush to help. However on the way they stumble on a car accident, all is not what it seems and Sara is taken hostage.
The big question is are events related? How can Will find Sara and get her back alive. Events move really quickly and will keep you hooked throughout.

Great to see the return of Will and Sara.

However it take me a while to get into this, felt it was a bit slow to start, though it’s a thrilling, if sometimes an uncomfortable read once it gets going.

Thank you Harper Collins and Netgalley for the arc of this book and the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

As soon as I saw that this was a Linton/Trent book, I had to rush off and reread the earlier ones in the series. Theirs is such a tortured/sexy love story. After I'd gorged myself on the old books I read the new one in pretty much one go. Slaughter is a master of character. Her dialogue and inner thoughts are always spot on and she writes real people, alongside thrilling crime - rare to find. I loved the new one and was so happy to be thrown back into the characters' lives (happy is an odd word for reading about a gruesome, crime filled world but you know what I mean). Highly recommend - but start with the earlier ones for maximum ahhhhh.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK, Netgalley and Karin Slaughter for the chance to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

An exciting, absorbing and frighteningly real thriller, this novel is an example of why Ms Slaughter is one of the world’s most acclaimed authors.

Told in the third person with multiple narrators, the story begins with the abduction of Michelle Spivey in a shopping centre car park. It then jumps forward to a month later and the rest of the book takes place over a tense three days.

Two explosions rock the Emory University Campus. Will Trent, a special agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and girlfriend Sara Linton, a doctor and medical examiner with the GBI, race to help after feeling the earth shake and seeing the plumes of smoke rise. On their way there they come across a car accident and stop to help. Too late they realise these aren’t innocent victims, they’re part of the team who attacked the campus. Not only that but with them is Michelle Spivey who is terrified and bleeding. In the ensuing fight Will is seriously injured and Sara is taken.

But why is the FBI so tight lipped about what they know? What are the Independent Patriot Army planning? Why do they need Michelle, a scientist with the Centres for Disease Control? Finding themselves embroiled in the complex case, the team race against the clock to save Sara, rescue Michelle, and prevent whatever atrocity the IPA has planned.

Wow! I needed some time to catch my breath after finishing this book. It was quite a ride. The multilayered plot deals with topical threats and issues that give the book an added sense of realism and made it a chilling read.

The characters were well written and very real. I loved Sara, Will and Faith and thought they each added different but complementary aspects to the story. The relationship between Sara and Will helped create an extra layer of desperation and tension that I enjoyed too. When it comes to protagonists Dash and Gwen are two of the most despicable people I’ve read. Their callous, cruel, deluded and reprehensible actions and beliefs made them hard to read at times but also very real. They are exactly the kind of people you can believe would get caught up in such cowardly and heinous acts. The ones I felt pity for were their children and the young, vulnerable people they’d manage to convince to follow them and were entangled in things they didn’t really understand.

When I requested this book I didn’t realise it was part of the Will Trent series, which I’d heard of but never got around to reading. Despite not having read the previous eight books in the series I never felt like I was missing anything as there is enough backstory given that you understand the relationships and what has led to this point in the character’s stories. That being said, I would no doubt have had a deeper understanding of the characters and past events if I’d read the other books and reading this has made me even more eager to read the series from the start.

The Last Widow is expertly written and thoroughly researched. It is a story told with candor and a spectacular, absorbing, eye-opening, intelligent and affecting thriller. Despite the dark and serious topics there is humour woven throughout the book and there were many scenes that had me laughing out loud, as well as ones that were harrowing and heartbreaking. I raced through this book and found myself unable to tear myself away. I was desperate to discover the answers to my questions and see how it would end.

I have been a fan of Karin Slaughter since I read Blindsighted many years ago, but I haven’t read any of her books in a while. This book reminded me why I love her work and I now want to read everything she’s written as soon as possible.

Sara Linton is in the right place at the wrong time, while Wil Trent is in the wrong place at the right time. Sara is taken and Wil has to find her even though this seems an impossible task.
Another excellent gripping book by Karen Slaughter.
A group led by an extremist with a plan to make the world listen and follow his ideals for the future of mankind has taken Sara into his compound in the mountains. Millions could be in danger if his plan succeeds. Can Wil save Sara and stop this disaster? Read and find out and enjoy every page.

This was a totally absorbing book about white supremacists who want to go back to the time of the Pilgrims when white men were at the top of the tree, women and non whites at the bottom. Various government bodies are trying to track them down but sharing of information between them is sparse. Very gruesome in parts but the non stop action did not allow you to dwell. Another great story from Karin Slaughter.

The next instalment of Sara and Will is just as gripping as those before it. This book is fast paced and gripping, right from the first page I was hooked and couldn’t put the book down! Character development is excellent, both with familiar characters and the new. There are plenty of opportunities for the next instalment and I cannot wait!

At first I wasn’t sure about this book, but then I remembered what an amazing writer Karin Slaughter is, and the reputation of the Sara Linton stories are. I found the beginning a little off putting when it felt like you were reading the same bit multiple times, but then the reason for this made sense. I am looking forward to reading many of these in the future and have already told a number of people to read this book and indeed the complete series so far.

Another blockbuster

The Last Widow sees the return of Will Trent and Sara Linton in an action-packed ninth novel featuring this couple as the main characters.

Michelle Spivey is a specialist in diseases, but first and foremost, she is a mother. So, when threatening men appear in a parking lot when she is with her young daughter, her first thought is to save her child. However, the men want her not the girl and snatch her into oblivion. A month later, Michelle turns up in the middle of a major incident centred around the local hospital. Will and Sara have rushed to assist but Sara is also abducted, and Will is lucky to escape with his life. He vows to find her, and so starts the chase.

Karin Slaughter is a master storyteller, and this thriller confirms that well-deserved reputation. She is sometimes thought of as incorporating too much violence and being very non-pc, but I find this refreshing in these days when some people take offence at any minor infringement of perceived social norms.

This far into the series, both Will and Sara feel like old friends, so it's very easy to empathise with them and feel their pain. And there's a lot of pain in this book, including not only adults but children as well so, if you are in the least bit squeamish, my suggestion would be to avoid this particular publication.

The group which has kidnapped both Michelle and Sara have a single-minded objective which is not revealed until the very last pages. Having said that the plot is cohesive and bounces along rapidly, encouraging the reader to turn just one more page. It’s a great read and one to be 100% recommended to anyone who enjoys this genre.

mr zorg

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

It feels like I've been waiting a lifetime for this book but boy was the wait worth it! It's incredibly dramatic, scarily realistic and adrenaline-fuelled story. There's a lot of scientific stuff in it though which I found super hard to follow, but I also feel like I've learned a few things too.

Will Trent and Sara Linton are two of my top favourite characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading and their characters were completely flawless in this new addition to the Will Trent series. Sara, with her caring and loving nature, really makes you feel her emotions, from being scared, fierce, in turmoil, sad and in places, happy. Will, with his usual silent ways was ever the mystery but that make him all the more tantalising to follow. The secondary characters, Faith and Amanda, who we know from previous books, weren't really in this a lot but they had great roles!

This whole storylie was epic, deadly and had that horrific sense of realism - making you feel like this sort of terrorism can actually happen. It's a thrill seeking read, quite gut-twisting and emotional, and it flowed perfectly from scene to scene. Dash, Carter, Novak, Hurley, Gwen, Lance, Dobie... all those characters that we follow in this book makes your insides turn with fear. They're bad, in the worst possible way.

As always, this author's penmanship was INCREDIBLE!! Her style draws the reader in, keeps them hooked and then, right at the very end, spits you back out and you're left reeling after all the events that took place. I'm in complete awe of this author and have been reading her work since my teens. And she just gets better and better, more imaginative and more in-depth detail with each book she produces.

Now, for the wait for book #10. I'm excited, are you?

Another brilliant read by Karin Slaughter. I didn't get what I expected from the title, so was a little surprised when I got into it and realised what THE LAST WIDOW was about. Utterly gripping, speedily paced and lots of twist turny bits. The only bits that didn't grab me were the descriptions of fighting and killing scenes, but that's just me. I'm not squeamish, I just don't find them interesting and always get a bit frustrated with them because I think they hold up the action, but apart from that....a must read! Thank you to Karin Slaughter, Harper Collins and Net Galley for my advance copy.

Perfection!
I've loved all but one of Karins books (Pieces of Her)
I was not at all disappointed with The Last Widow. I keep nagging my mother to read her books so I can talk to her about them.
I spent the night in reading this one and did not regret one second of time spent on it

5 Stars from me

Such an epic read - I really can see this one as a standalone film, it has everything: love, lust, fear, threat, cults, family, loss, abuse, a shootout, WMD, kidnapping and more heros than you can shake a stick at.

The Last Widow is exciting, fast paced, a bit cheesy and I loved it!

I still remember reading the book from Karin Slaughter where Jeffery was killed and thinking 'what has she done!', at that point Sara was a bit of a nothing character for me and Jeffery was the star of the show, I just couldn't see where she could take the books from there. But suffice it to say, Will Trent more than fills Jeffery's shoes and he makes for a fascinating male lead.

I would say this would make a fabulous holiday read as you need to suspend belief a little bit and immerse yourself in the pages - go on, you won't regret it!

Synopsis: From the No.1 bestselling author comes a gripping new crime thriller featuring Will Trent and Sara Linton.

It begins with an abduction. The routine of a family shopping trip is shattered when Michelle Spivey is snatched as she leaves the mall with her young daughter. The police search for her, her partner pleads for her release, but in the end…they find nothing. It’s as if she disappeared into thin air.

A month later, on a sleepy Sunday afternoon, medical examiner Sara Linton is at lunch with her boyfriend Will Trent, an agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. But the serenity of the summer’s day is broken by the wail of sirens.

Sara and Will are trained to help in an emergency. Their jobs – their vocations – mean that they run towards a crisis, not away from it. But on this one terrible day that instinct betrays them both. Within hours the situation has spiralled out of control; Sara is taken prisoner; Will is forced undercover. And the fallout will lead them into the Appalachian mountains, to the terrible truth about what really happened to Michelle, and to a remote compound where a radical group has murder in mind…