This is the first book I've read by Karin Slaughter and I'm looking forward to reading more of her books and I thoroughly enjoyed False Witness.
The main character is a successful female lawyer who is asked to represent an alleged serial rapist who turns out to have Known her and her sister when they were children. Old secrets are disinterred and the gruesome story proceeds form there.
I also liked the contemporary feel to the book as it made references to Covid -19, mask wearing, social distancing etc.
Having read most of the books written by my favourite authors such as Michael Connelly, Jo Nesbo, James Lee Burke, Lee Child, C.J .Sansom etc it's good to have another author's back catalogue to explore.

Trigger warnings - sexual abuse, rape and drugs

A new author for me but I really liked the premise of this book - Leigh and Callie are sisters, pushed apart by their shared experience more than 20 years earlier, whilst they were still teenagers.
No one knows what the sisters did and how far they went to protect each other - apart from the new client that Leigh’s boss at her legal firm has for her....why does he want Leigh to represent him?

I found this story quite harrowing at times, with some very graphic descriptions in it. I did enjoy the way the author kept me guessing by adding in plot twists really cleverly throughout. I will be looking for more of Karin’a books.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Netgalley and this is my honest review.

Wow, Karin Slaughter certainly knows how to make an impact, even just in the first chapter! I found this more of a change of pace than the Sara and Will novels, just as much crime but a much different perspective, no less gripping however.

I think one of the things Karin Slaughter does really well is writing characters that are flawed and do the wrong thing but she still makes you root for them despite that. Except the villains anyway, with those she manages to stir up very different emotions. There are a lot of thrillers that do twists really well but are a bit lacking with having characters you can get really involved with, Karin Slaughter manages to blend both story and characters brilliantly and that is one of the reasons why I could never recommend her books highly enough.

Loved this! The story keeps on keeping you guessing - how on earth is all this going to come good?! A brutal assault leads to an unobserved death, and huge consequences far down the line. Every character is beautifully written, and their secrets kept right till the end. There is not a single person in this novel who doesn't have a part to play in deepening the story, piling layer upon layer of reasoning, rationale, guilt, fear and fury. Don't start reading at bedtime, you won't be able to put it down.

False Witness feels more of a quiet and thoughtful novel than Karin Slaughter's other offerings. This gives time to explore Leigh and Callie's relationship. To be too intense would also detract from the seriousness of abuse at various levels.

The relationship between the sisters is touching, real, and complicated. I enjoyed watching it unfold.

Karin Slaughter fans won't be disappointed by the skillful depictions of violence and its consequences. Some fans may find this novel a little sedate, though.

The Covid references and practises weren't pervasive and didn't put me off reading. I understand many want escapism but I feel this novel is referencing Covid as part of our new normal.

Such a thoughtful, clever, quietly devastating thriller from the absolute queen of this genre. Defense lawyer Leigh Coulton has a good life: her career is on the up, her divorced was civilised, her teen daughter is doing well in school. So when she is requested to defend a wealthy local businessman accused of rape - it takes Leigh only moments to realise her world is about to come crashing down around her. Leigh knows this man, Andrew Trevor Tennant, because she killed his father when she was a teenager - and no one has ever found out. The only person Leigh can turns to for help is her younger sister Calli - who as a teen was groomed and repeatedly raped by the man's dad. Today Calli is a junkie who lives from day to day as a down and out. This cat and mouse chase between the sisters and Tennant, his girlfriend and their private investigate is superbly written. There are some gruesome scenes (this is after all a Karin Slaughter thriller folks!) which aren't for the faint hearted but justified within the plot. I was a bit irritated by the covid backdrop and the constant referrals to masking up etc but apart from that it was an excellent read.

False Witness by Karin Slaughter
I give this book 4.5 stars.

Meet Leigh and her sister Callie. One night, two decades ago, they did something terrible. And the result was a childhood tarnished by secrets, betrayal and violence.
Years later, Leigh now a successful lawyer – is forced to take on a new client who knows the truth about what happened 23 years ago. He knows what Leigh and Callie did. And unless they stop him, he's going to tear their lives apart …

This is a gripping,dark suspense thriller (my favourite kind of book).l was drawn in right from the start by the deep and riveting storyline, l completely felt for the two main characters whose stories were so tragic .The well written narrative develops and unwinds at a perfect pace so you just can’t put it down!
A highly recommended superb read from an author l love.
Thank you Netgalley,Karin Slaughter and Harper Collins UK for my chance to read and review this book.

If you like thrillers and mysteries then this one is for you. Karin Slaughter has written this novel really well taken into account all the topics explored within the story. Loved every minute of it.

** ARC provided by Netgalley via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ***

This is another stand alone novel from Karin Slaughter, ideal for those who haven't delved into the Grant County/Will Trent series. In my opinion, Karin Slaughter is the best writer in this genre and she has never disappointed me. This book adds to the list of novel by Slaughter where she keeps you guessing right until the very end.

Our main characters are Leigh and her estranged sister Callie who we follow in the present day as well as looked back into their past. Really, anymore information than that does Slaughter a discredit, let her tell you about it and you won't regret it!

I am giving up at 40%.

It is an interesting idea but the actual writing is repetitive and dull, especially now we have wandered into Callie's narrative. At least Leigh's held early and increasing tension.

COVID is used like a character in its own right. After over a year I get the gist of the protocols surrounding COVID. I think being mentioned once or twice is fine as a reminder of the setting but I was bored of it pretty quickly.

I don't particularly like either Leigh or Callie so while I feel the tension, I am not overly invested in the outcome to be honest.

The writing and descriptions of the various crimes are all graphic and brutal. I don't mind this but it seems like it is being used as substitute for having a more eventful plot.

It also reads in quite a 'listy' manner. Instead of giving one or two examples to support an idea, there are pages. For example, Callie goes through the list of animal patients with Jerry. Almost immediately she goes back through all of them again to explain their real status to the reader. Then we go back through all the drugs each takes and how she manages them. It was so long, added nothing to the plot and was a bit condescending. If it had just been explained that she takes animals drugs then I am capable of understanding.

I also found the plot up to this point repetitive. We read first hand about Buddy, then got an overview from Leigh. Then we got full chapters full of the details. If there had been other subplots or events to focus on then maybe this wouldn't have bothered me but again, I got the gist the first two times...

Not for me this one at all, it just feels like it needs a good edit.

Holy h%^*, Karin Slaughter just wrote her next PRETTY GIRLS, and it’s mind blowing good! Starts with a bang and ends with a boom!!! If you are like me and love dark, brutal, and disturbing, but oh so delicious thrillers, THIS IS YOUR BOOK! A Well written, intense, dark, unputdownable, fast paced roller coaster ride through hell, but one you’ll enjoy througoiuy the twisty, dark ride! I cannot say enough about this book, but I highly, highly recommend!! Grab today, don’t delay, but word of advice, clear your schedule and do not start prior to bed time!

I will make sure to buzz around and use low Amazon reviewer number!

What an amazing book, not that I expected anything less from Karin Slaughter. The plot itself was so well created and the relevance to today’s COVID situation was so brilliant. It made me sob my heart out. Fabulous book

This has been a read filled with tension and suspense and I have been completely hooked. I have adored the way this has been written and fully engaged in this novel.

When Leigh is asked to defend a potential rapist who she believes may be guilty she is compromised, she has no choice in defending him as he is someone from her past who could destroy both Leigh and her sister Callie.
The book is dark and tense wondering how Leigh will deal with the dilemma and can she save her sister again.

A good story, but I found it much too violent for my liking, and I couldn't find any sympathy for the main characters.

As teens, Leigh and her sister Callie have both done babysitting stints for Andrew Trevor Tennant while his dad, Buddy Waleski and his mum, Linda are working. One night Buddy attacks Callie and she manages to nick his femoral artery. While he is incapacitated, Callie phones her big sister, Leigh who cleans up.

20 years later and Callie is a drug abuser and Leigh is a defence lawyer. Leigh has separated from her husband, Walter and their 16 year old daughter, Maddy lives with Walter.

Leigh is asked by her boss to defend a rapist, someone who knows her. She never expects it to be Andrew Tennant, who she babysat for. Leigh soon finds out that Andrew knows what happened all those years ago and is planning on destroying hers and Callie’s lives.

This is an extremely emotional book to read but at the same time, the story has you gripped. Karin Slaughter excels at writing sensitive subjects in her stories and this one is no different, it has murder, drugs, torture and child abuse. You can’t not feel a range of emotions for the main characters, Leigh and Callie and feel absolute revulsion for Buddy and Andrew. A truly powerful story.

This is one harsh, violent, gritty read.
Quite a lot of detail packed into this one and for me it lost a bit of the pace because of it. Found myself crawling through it. Lots of covid reference too which one of the reasons I read is to forget the covid situation.

The prologue in this book is fantastic. Such tight powerful writing and a twist I didn’t see coming.
I was so excited to read more.
However as each page in chapter 1 spoke more and more about the pandemic. I gave up.
Sorry but I just don’t want to read about it in fiction.

Karin Slaughter is an expert at racking up the tension - and keeping it there.

When Leigh Collier is called on by the head of her firm to defend a man accused of rape, she doesn't realise that his presence will raise demons she thought long buried.

A tense, chilling novel, which will keep you reading till the last page. Don't miss it.

Leigh is a lawyer, focused, compartmentalised and keeping a secret she really doesnt want to think about. Her younger sister, Callie, is a mess, especially since an accident put her in almost constant pain. And then she is assigned a case that brings everything back to the both, something neither wanted to revisit ever again.

As you would expect from this author, very strong story lines, believable characters and a pace that keeps you on the edge of your seat. One of those books you don’t want to finish too quickly but are desperate to know how the story can possibly be resolved. I occasionally felt a bit frustrated with Leigh’s character, but then I’ve never been in a position like this thankfully. Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.