I am usually a big fan of Karin Slaughter’s work, loving the Grant County and Will Trent series of books. In the meantime she often writes standalone novels which I generally look forward to greatly and are in some respects more enjoyable than the two series she is world.famous for. But for some reason, this time I found this standalone to be something of a disappointment.

False Witness is excellently written and meticulously researched as you would expect, however sadly for some reason I found it very difficult to relate to or even like any of the characters involved and it was really difficult to get into the novel. I am sure this is a one-off and I will find future Karin Slaughter novels as good as ever, but this one was not for me I’m afraid.

My thanks go to Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction for allowing me to read a copy for review.

This is the first book I have read which is set against the backdrop of the pandemic, which makes it feel very immediate and realistic. The story is about a terrible crime committed by two teenage sisters in the past which they have tried and failed to put behind them. One sister, Leigh, has become a successful lawyer, the other, Callie, a drug addict living on the fringes of society, with the past firmly behind them until Leigh takes on a rape case which connects them to the events of two decades ago. The story is dark, compelling and suspenseful and the reader is kept engaged throughout. With thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advance copy to review.

A satisfying rollercoaster of a book with plenty of drama and tension. Raises lots of questions about how choices made as adolescents do and should shape our lives. Kept me up late reading to the end.

I can't believe I hadn't read any of Karin Slaughter's previous work before because 'False Witness' is absolutely brilliant. I don't usually prefer reads that are written in a contemporary setting as it doesn't feel like a delicious escape from the day-to-day, however, the landscape of 'False Witness' being placed during the COVID pandemic was very interesting; the descriptions on how people were navigating their lives in this 'new normal' was comforting in a weird way in terms of how people learn to adapt.

Interestingly, this isn't just a focus on crime, Slaughter also explores American social and political issues; we are exposed to the drug crisis in the US and how it can start with an injury to then a long-term battle with addiction. However, this isn't the main plot, so don't let that put you off!

Slaughter's in-depth narrative is astounding and extremely clever; the twists and turns were truly melded and supported with information that Slaughter drip-fed throughout. I especially found her description of the sibling relationship between Callie and Leigh astounding and relatable. I ended up feeling very attached to both characters and didn't want it to end, which was surprising as I initially felt overwhelmed with how long the novel is. That being said, due to the writing style, there's certainly a pace to the book which makes you race through it without realising.

There were times where I couldn't help but sign in exasperation at the reminders of male behaviour when it comes to sexual harassment alongside the daily routines that we perform when we feel threatened at night or in a dodgy area/lack of lights. Slaughter hadn't explicitly pointed these things out but it was peppered amongst the daily routines of Leigh and Callie, just like it is ours.

I can't recommend this book enough; it's dark, clever and absolutely brilliant writing for me, it's more than just a thriller/crime read. I loved it and wish I was reading it again for the first time!

Thank you HarperCollins UK and Netgalley for this ARC!

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This book was instantly gripping and I binge read it in two days. I was desperate to find out all of the secrets and I was left totally shocked at times. The characters were well written and I thought the author captured well the intricate relationship those who have been abused have with their abusers; the confusion, jealously, love, hate, enjoyment and dislike. Great story and very enjoyable read 5/5.

Karin Slaughter continues to get better and better and I cannot put her books down! She writes with such enthusiasm and passion and everything is incredibly realistic, it’s like you are actually there in the novel. Her plots twist and turn and keep you guessing until the very end. I cannot wait to read her next novel.

An interesting concept and I liked the focus on the present and past mysteries, but the descriptions of living through a pandemic took me out of the story when I was looking to immerse myself in the pages to escape it.

Another fast and furious compelling read from Slaughter, this one set in Covid times. Dark and distressing in places as it covers some difficult themes. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is one of the most anxiety inducing books I have read in a long time!
In the present Leigh is a successful lawyer, her sister a drug addict who tries to hold it together but fails. Leigh is called to work on a specific case that links back to their childhood in a horrifying twist.
The emotional and empathetic writing around those events made the horrors bearable to read about even as you check your door locks and hold your children closer.
The tension surrounding the drip fed revelations by the client in the present day and the revisitations to past events by both women from their own perspectives alongside the way they try to handle the threat will keep your heart racing and your brain screaming for the right outcome.
A fantastic read.

WOW!!! What a book, I absolutely loved it. I could not put this book down and it had me gripped from the first page. I have read a lot of Karin Slaughter books and just when you think she can't get any better, I can honestly say this is her best yet. Totally blew me away!

Dark thriller which I found engaging but quite depressing.

Taking place during the current pandemic in Atlanta, this novel centres around two sisters, Leigh and Calli, one a low-flying lawyer in a big firm, the other an addict. Their past comes back to haunt them in a story involving rape, murder and other violent acts. The book is character-driven rather than packed with action scenes. It’s not particularly uplifting at any point but engages the reader successfully: you want to know how it all plays out - and I learned a lot about how addiction works. Recommended especially if you’re a fan of Karin Slaughter.

Sisters Callie and Leigh murdered a man - Buddy - who abused them as children babysitting for him.
Callie grew up to be a drug addict and Leigh, a lawyer.
Now a serial killer is at large and Buddy’s son is a suspect. He employs Leigh as his defence lawyer, to win his case and prove his innocence.
So ensues a game of cat and mouse.
Slaughter really gives the narrative time to breathe and we get to know and care about the sisters.
But this thriller is also pacey and full of twists and turns.
It might not be the novel for those who prefer plot to character development but it really worked for me. I was rooting for Callie and Leigh, and a surprise ending came as a bit of a bombshell.
Recommended: every Karin Slaughter novel is a bit different, but this is another good one.

This is Karin Slaughter at her best!!

Unbelievable book!! Absolutely loved this one, might even go as far and say it´s the best one yet from Karin!

From the moment you start reading you are compelled to keep going, an absolutely masterful storyline, completely up to date, as this was written during the Covid pandemic with compelling characters with whom you connect with immediately.

I´m not going to give away the storyline but you are taken on a rollercoaster of emotions which leave you breathless and in awe of the writing.

I can´t praise this book enough. You simply have to read it!

My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for giving me the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy.

It’s been a good few years since I’ve read a Karin Slaughter novel and I’m not sure why. This is a belter of a book. With a lot of the novel set during the Covid pandemic there are regular references to how this affected peoples lives, but neatly intertwined within the storyline, almost as an aside. I had my doubts about all the pandemic references but the book is set during the worst of the time and I accepted it as part of our history. The main theme of the book is child abuse and how it affected two girls, sisters. Both are riddled with guilt but deal with it in very different ways.

Briefly, babysitter Callie endures months of sexual abuse by Buddy, but one day she fights back. Thinking she has killed him she calls her sister Leigh to help her. But Buddy isn’t dead and Leigh finishes the job. After hiding the body and cleaning up the girls carry on with their lives. However, their lives are very different. Callie goes off the rails becoming a drug addict whilst Leigh goes off to college and becomes a lawyer. But they are always inextricably linked - by what they did and by their love for each other. When their lives are threatened again, this time by Leigh’s client she is defending on a rape charge, the sisters are reunited. But for how long?

My heart broke for both the girls, but particularly Callie who struggles her whole life, with pain, self loathing, drug addiction... The author has documented their thoughts and feeling in a manner that will touch even the most hardened of hearts. Ok so they are not angels but their early lives were traumatic. Whereas the two men, Buddy and Andrew, are both despicable individuals I really hated. This is simplifying the story but without giving spoilers I can’t say much more. A really great book 5*

My thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the chance to read this ARC.

Very interesting storyline, you will be rooting for the two main characters despite their faults. My favourite character though was the vet, what a wonderfully written depiction of a minor character. There were, however, times in the book that I found myself almost bored, some of it is quite repetitive and you just long for the story to progress at a quicker rate. Despite this, the book is a good read and I'm sure will be a bestseller.

This book doesn’t mess around it throws you right into the drama of a horrific incident that sets the novel up for a dark and sometimes explicit but definitely gripping read. This book is brutal. Its brilliantly addictive and fast paced storyline, alongside really well thought out characters, make it one of the best thrillers I’ve read for a while. What this book also manages to do though alongside being a cracking good thriller it also gives a social commentary on life in America particularly during the pandemic which in itself is fascinating as a backdrop to the story.

Leigh and her sister Callie are not bad people – but one night, more than two decades ago, they did something terrible. And the result was a childhood tarnished by secrets, broken by betrayal, devastated by violence.
Years later, Leigh has pushed that night from her mind and become a successful lawyer – but when she is forced to take on a new client against her will, her world begins to spiral out of control.
This is a great story with lots of twists and suspense.

Massive fan of Karin Slaughter and thought this was her best stand alone book

Two sisters - completely different life styles
Brought back together due to there past
loads of twists and turns, hidden secrets

Absolute nail biter of a book

READ IT

Thank you netgalley, Karin Slaughter and Harper Collins UK

This is a dark book without a single important character likely to be endearing. The two main characters are sisters, Harleigh and Callie. They were abused as babysitters at an age when they shouldn’t have been in charge of the boy later known in the book as Andrew, another psychopathic criminal. One becomes a defence lawyer, a job to which she is totally unsuited. The other remains a drug addict. It is a book about murder, drugs and deceit. It is fairly obvious how it is going to end. When reading it, the best approach is to skim. There is endless detail about drug addiction and the Georgia legal system which fills the book out but adds little to the story. By the time Andrew is an adult, he, like his father, is an abusive and manipulative sexual predator. He is added to the list of unattractive characters.

I am always excited about a new book from Karin Slaughter. She has never written a bad book, but this is up there as one of her best! The plot was well paced and the characters were exceptionally well written! In fact Callie may be one of the best written character's in history. She was absolutely real to me. I loved it even though it kept me up well into the wee hours!