I love the author's previous works and this one certainly didn’t let me down. Somehow the author has done it again! Combining relatable, real characters that seem to jump off the page, eerie settings that create an atmosphere so you feel like you’ve climbed into the book, and captivating writing you always know you’re in for a wild ride. That, and the fast-moving and interesting story the author keeps you on your toes and pulls you into the book.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review.

Brilliant book
Cover to cover it had me turning the page and I couldn't read it fast enough!
Fabulous
Love the cover too
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion

There is a reason why Karin Slaughter is so high on many reader's 'must buy' list, her quality of prose and compelling plots make her a must read. Her books are compulsively devoured, when I pick up one of hers I am a single book reader, no side books for me!

So why should you pick up 'False Witness'?

She pulls one of the most alarming bait and switches that I had read in a long time, she pulls the rug from under you with just one sentence.

The prologue is dense and compelling, introducing a household which has seen better days, Callie and Trev, a small boy both anxious and worried about the impending return of Buddy, the head of the home.

What follows I will not spoil, so, treading carefully, I will need to be sitting down to read it and possibly have a stiff drink. Because then, the story plunges headlong into Leigh's life and you can't really see where the prologue comes in and then, like being sideswiped by a truck, the plot explodes again.

And then, the panic for Leigh and Callie really sets in.

How would you feel as a someone staggering through the latter stages of a divorce , with a prickly teen living with her father, keeping your professional career as a defender on an even keel, to be faced with a blast from the past in a most unwelcome way?

Leigh has to decide whether her hard fought for career, her family and her sanity can be sacrificed on the alter of her new clients hubris-she cannot reveal what she knows about her new client without exposing herself.

However, charming, handsome, rich and well connected Andrew is firstly, not someone who takes no for an answer, and secondly, someone who always gets what he wants.

In Leigh, has he met his match?

Apart from the sheer speed of this labyrinthine plot, the way in which Karin creates these realistic women, who face challenges from societal expectations of them, their family who don't care and men who constantly take what they want without recourse is so relevant, so poignant that you can feel the rage filter into your bloodstream.

The Me Too movement which is speaking up, holding men accountable for their actions is examined in detail through this court case. The way that men now pass themselves off as allies whilst not acknowledging their own behaviour is skilfully interwoven into the narrative without being a sociological lecture, she recognises and holds to account the way in which society makes women the passive recipient of actions which they make themselves vulnerable to, by dint of being women.

The sexualisation of children, the casual way in which they claim access to their bodies, and feel free to joke about their development causes life long damage in young girls. And the pandemic has made the rates of domestic violence, rape and sexual abuse sky rocket because they are trapped in with their abusers, social services referrals are way, way behind in their investigations and will we ever have enough funding to place men at the center and teach them how not to behave, rather than try to teach our daughters how not to be a victim?

Accountability, responsibility and restorative justice lie at the heart of 'False Witness', no character is without need of redemption, they are presented with flaws, scar tissue and regret, the same as most of the readers are. I found the way in which addiction was portrayed was so realistic, it was in no way glamourized and highlighted, for me, the way that the long term consequences of addictive behaviour as a coping mechanism for unresolved trauma is often glossed over.

Another winning novel from Karin, a stand alone thriller with a beating social issues driven heart, there is so much to enjoy in the pages of 'False Witness'

Gripping book. Two very different sisters, one secret. Two ways of dealing with the problem. A disturbing but gripping book. Excellent. 5* rating.

Most people know Karin Slaughter for her Grant County and Will Trent series but I have to say I absolutely adore her stand alone books. I never know what I’m getting or how the hell it’s going to end. As usual with her, this book starts with a bang. The first chapter is chilling and definitely threw a surprise in straight off the bat. Once the book got going though I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. After such an explosive start it slows right down again and it took me a few chapters to get back into a rhythm. I was also a bit confused about Leigh’s career choice considering her past.

I was soon sucked in though and this dark story is full of twists and turn and is so tense. I had no idea how or even if they were going to get themselves out of this situation. The more I read the more I fell in love with poor damaged Callie and I adored her relationship with vet Dr Jerry. The characters are written so well and most of them aren’t particularly likable and make so many questionable decisions but they worked so well together. I have to admit the ending definitely made me cry.

4.5 rounded up to 5

If you enjoyed The Good Daughter I thought this had similar vibes.
Just be warned that this book has a TW for paedophilia, rape, abuse, drugs, mentions of covid and it is a tough read at times.

I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I am quite a huge Karin Slaughter fan so when I saw this book on Netgalley I had no option but to request it, being able to have access to this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review was one of the best things this year!

Karin never ceases to amaze me with her wonderful, mind puzzling novels, she always knows how to keep the readers on the edge of their seats. I was wondering the extent Leigh would go to protect her family and as I thought, she'd do just about anything!

This was a rollercoaster of a ride, it kept me guessing from start to finish. It was drama from start to finish - just what I like.

Karin Slaughter is an incredible writer, and False Witness does not disappoint. Leigh Coulton is a lawyer in a high end law firm, separated with a teenage daughter Maddy. However all this hides the truth of her childhood, murder, a drug addicted younger sister and a paedophile. All of these deep secrets have been buried for a long time. That is, until , Leigh gets a phone call one evening from the senior partner, she needs to take over a case for a very important client who will only have Leigh as his lawyer. Bit by bit all the different parts of Leigh’s life are about converge and she doesn’t know what to do. An incredible psychological thriller from this amazing writer.

Brilliant Book! This is my first Karin Slaughter book and now I'm wondering what's taken me so long. I loved it from start to finish.

I see some people have complained about covid references, however I think it's just a timely fact of our world right now, everyone else seems to skip it out so i don't see them harm in a few authors actually addressing it, it took nothing away from the story whatsoever in my mind, and wasn't exactly full of it, just an occasional reference. Do not let this put you off an excellent book.

The subjects covered are heart breaking, gruesome, intense and overwhelming, it really deals with the grittiness of abuse and dives deep into the way some people are forced into certain ways of life after experiencing such trauma.

Definitely off to read Karin's books form the start! Give it a try.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins Uk for a copy of this book in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Sisters Leigh and Callie have suffered at the hands of paedophile Buddy Waleski, whilst babysitting his son Trevor.  Now, as adults, they are still living the nightmare, struggling to shake the trauma. 
 
Leigh is a lawyer and has been asked to represent a man accused of rape; he has asked for her specifically.  But there is something about him, the way he moves his mouth, his mannerisms…and his modus operandi, that is familiar to Leigh.  She learns that Andrew Tenant is actually Trevor, Buddy’s son.  His behaviour becomes more erratic as time progresses as he tries to get to Leigh, Callie and the people that matter to them.  As a child he had a cruel streak, but now he is demonstrating psychopathic tendencies.   
 
The author ensures that that you’re left in no doubt about the subject matter, whether this is rape, paedophilia, drug addiction.  It is a fairly gruesome read but dealt with in a knowledgeable and empathetic manner.  For example, Callie and Dr Jerry’s relationship in the veterinary surgery with the drug addiction and how she was able to get hold of drugs – this made it seem almost pure with Callie giving more money back to Dr Jerry.  Also, instead of him giving the expected lecturing role, he would treat her in a very childlike manner with his animal facts.  Quite beautiful and very clever.
 
I really enjoyed the book, though I did find that it took me a long time to read it.  It could have been condensed as there were parts that were fairly repetitive.  I would rate it 4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟 and would certainly recommend.

Once again another biased review... I love anything Karin Slaughter writes.

Following the story of two sisters, one seemly flawed and struggling with drug addiction and the other a successful attorney as she is tasked with defending a sex offender, it explores themes of addiction, sisterly love, abusive homes, poverty, sex abuse, justice, child abuse, murder and secrets (so plenty of the usual Karin Slaughter trigger warnings) this however felt different to her previous reads, there were so many layers to the sister's relationship, and the moments of pure sacrifice and love had me in tears on several occasions.

I will be rereading this again soon. brilliant read.

I did really enjoy the concept of this book - but unfortunately for me there were too many covid references and for some people that could be triggering.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about Karin Slaughter and this was actually my first read of hers and I’m glad to say that she didn’t disappoint. Well written with characters that you truly feel for and you just have to keep on reading to find out what happens next.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read many Karin Slaughter books and each one has been incredible, and this standalone novel is no exception. Well written (as always), exciting and gripping.

It's been a while since I have read a Karin Slaughter book and wow I'd forgotten how utterly brilliant this writer is, this is actually the first book I have read that mentions and is set in the dreaded covid pandemic. Not only does Slaughter spin the story out she also goes into great detail about the different subjects catered to the book which I think gives the story more depth.

Leigh and Callie have a chilling secret from back when they were liittle more than children, a secret that has destroyed both of their life's and now the past has caught up them in such an unexpected way, the sisters will do anything in their power to keep that secret buried. Gritty and gory and totally absorbs the reader. Fantastic!

This is a standalone book from thriller writer Karin Slaughter. Now with a name like Slaughter you would think the book would be violent, traumatic and gruesome and guess what? You wouldn't be wrong.

If paedophilia, rape, drug abuse, murder and violence are your triggers then you really should stay away from this book, otherwise dive straight in because you are in for one bumpy ride from the beginning to the end, just make sure you leave time in your life to read it because it is very difficult to put down once you start.

It is a very well written and compelling read that I totally recommend!

False Witness by Karin Slaughter

Karin Slaughter can do no wrong!

Firstly, this is the first book that I’ve read that references COVID and all the new and strange habits we’ve all adopted, which I thought was pretty cool. But this book is not about COVID. It’s about 2 sisters who are trying to escape from a rich, blackmailing psychopath who’s trying to bring them down because of what they may or may not have done to his molester of a father.

The story is a classic Karin Slaughter book that takes you on a super engaging ride. It’s addictive and readable and pretty perfect from my perspective. As per usual. Karin Slaughter smashes it.

5 stars

Firstly I have to come clean and say I am a big fan of Karin Slaughter so was really looking forward to reading this book - and I wasn’t disappointed. This story of two sisters who came from an incredibly dysfunctional family, together with something that happened in their childhood draws you in from the first chapter. Yes this is a tense, well written crime thriller but beware, there are moments of wonderful emotion (I actually cried on a number of occasions) which you would expect from a standard crime thriller. This has been a pleasure to read and I’m now looking forward to reading the next one!

New author for so looked forward to reading. It had me from the first page with lots of twists and turns. Difficult to put down as just wanted to get to the end. Bit dark and deep but it’s was a good read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Uk for the read

The description for this book doesn’t give much away, but it’s worth stating from the offset that this is a truly dark tale full of triggers for sexual abuse, paedophillia and drug abuse. It’s tough going at times, and after the first chapter (which, objectively, I have to say is an amazing first chapter with a killer twist) I was unsure I was in the right headspace for it. But I carried on.

And, this book does have a beautiful way of showing that even in the darkest places there can be some humour, hope and love. But it’s no walk in the park.

It’s a story of two sisters, forever bonded by family ties but almost estranged, the women have grown up to live very different lives. Leigh is a successful defence lawyer with a teenage daughter in private school. Callie, on the other hand, drifts in and out of work and battles a heroin addiction after suffering a sports injury when she was young.

“Pain could be its own addiction. Callie had lived with it for so long that when she thought of her life before, she only saw tiny bursts of light, stars barely penetrating the darkness.”

But the two aren’t only bonded by blood. They have a secret. The girls did something very bad when they were teenagers, and Leigh’s latest client wants the truth to come out.

What they did isn’t much of a mystery as it’s revealed in the very first chapter, but it’s still best discovered for yourself. Really, this book is less of a crime thriller and more an exploration of the trauma that abuse can cause, the way lives can be forever changed and ripped apart. It’s not the most cheerful read – it’s downright depressing in places – but it’s also peppered with a little quirky humour, and authentic characters who are brave and empathetic.

This book is one of the first books I’ve read which is set in current times, Covid and all. There’s a lot of references to “masking up”, sanitiser and all the trivial parts of pandemic life we’ve become used to over the past year.

“Someone in the computer room coughed, and everyone winced, then immediately turned accusatory, eyes darting around as if they wanted to burn the culprit at the stake.”

For me personally, it was too close to reality and I don’t want it in my fiction. It is explained more in the author’s note and I understand why the author did it – I just kind of wish I’d been prepared for it going in. She says:

“As horrible as these last eighteen months have been, the ensuing crisis has provided a foundation for the kind of socially conscious storytelling that has come to define my work”

And I have to admire that. As well as crafting a highly emotive tale of trauma and abuse, Slaughter offers a deeper exploration on the impact of Covid-19 on the legal system and on those living on the edge of society, struggling with addiction. This wasn’t the easiest read, but it is eye-opening, emotional and everything you’d expect from a top-notch author.

Nothing bad happens to the cat…

Back when they were teenagers, sisters Callie and Leigh committed a terrible crime, although they had good justification for it. Since then, Callie has spiralled into drug addiction, partly because of this early experience, and partly from getting hooked on pain medication after an accident that has left her with all kinds of physical problems. Leigh, on the other hand, has lifted herself out of their deprived beginnings, becoming a lawyer now working in a prestigious firm. One day she is asked to defend a man who has been charged with a horrific rape. She doesn’t recognise Andrew at first, but he recognises her – and he knows what she and Callie did that night. And it soon becomes clear he’s enjoying the power this gives him over both sisters…

I’ll admit it straight away – I found the subject matter of this sordid and the graphic descriptions of rape, extreme drug abuse, violence and gore more than distasteful. The constant, casual use of the foulest of foul language didn’t help matters. By the time I finished I felt that I needed to scrub my mind out with a brillo pad to get rid of the slime. Slaughter and I are clearly not kindred spirits.

Trying to be objective, it is well written for the most part and the characterisation of the two sisters is done well, even if that meant that I disliked both of them to the point of not wishing to spend time in their company and not caring what happened to them. Andrew, the rapist client of Leigh, is a stock psychopath from central casting, caricatured way past the point of credibility. But all three of them are merely vehicles for Slaughter to use her clearly well-practised shock tactics on the reader. The plot is entirely secondary to the horrors she shows us along the way, from repeated descriptions of both child and adult rape of the most violent kind, to the lovingly detailed and very lengthy descriptions of Callie’s drug taking, including how best to inject oneself through an abscess to get the thrill of added pain, to violent beatings in which she lingers on the crushed bones, detached eyeballs, etc., etc.

Apart from my general disgust, the real problem from a literary point of view is that it’s incredibly repetitive. We revisit the original event many, many times – not gradually learning more, we already know what happened, but just going over it again and again which, since it involves child rape, I could seriously have lived without. We are told the same things about Callie’s physical problems every time her name is mentioned, and yet, despite their apparently debilitating effects, they never stop her when she wants to beat up someone much larger than herself or climb over a fence or in some other way channel Superwoman – heroin must be a miracle drug! Slaughter incorporates Covid, so we get masking and social distancing thrown at us constantly, as if we haven’t all heard enough about that in real life already. The whole book could have been cut by at least a third simply by removing the worst of the repetitions. If she had also removed the foul language and the loving instructional handbook on how to get the most out of drug abuse, I reckon she could have lost another hundred pages. Take out the graphic descriptions of rape and violence and we’re down to novella length…

Nope, not for me, though since she has a massive following I don’t expect that will bother her too much. If you haven’t already gathered, trigger warnings for just about everything you can think of and several things you probably can’t. But, on the upside, nothing bad happens to the cat.

NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, HarperCollins.