At the beginning of the year I read and reviewed Long Bright River, which had been garlanded with praise and awards for its 'unflinching look at America's opioids crisis and literary reinvention of the thriller'. I took issue with the latter part of this description particularly, exemplifying as it does a snobbery on the part of critics who seem to only take notice of so-called genre fiction when more literary writers attempt it (often badly, I argued). False Witness, for me, was everything that Long Bright River tried to be but didn't quite manage, but given that Karin Slaughter is a writer of crime novels it's unlikely the critics will be showering this with praise. Which is a crying shame because, with this book, Slaughter exemplifies the ways in which the genre allows for coruscating explorations of social and political issues.

Like Long Bright River, False Witness has at its heart two key themes: the opioids crisis, and the legacy of childhood and familial abuse. Unlike that book, though, these themes are paired with a heart-stopping thriller plot taking place against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic and, as is becoming standard for Slaughter's novels, an acute eye on feminist politics. While her earlier novels (especially those in the Grant Country series such as Kisscut and Blindsighted) have been criticised for an almost-voyeuristic dwelling on violence against women, her later work has engaged more acutely with what that violence actually means within the context of a patriarchal society that damages men and women alike. The details of the abuses suffered by the female characters in False Witness make tough reading but, as in the two standalones that I think of as beginning Slaughter's more politically conscious era, Pretty Girls and The Good Daughter, they're not there merely to titillate the reader but to ask difficult questions about gendered violence.

A standalone, False Witness would make a great introduction to the work of Karin Slaughter and is an outstanding, albeit often difficult, read which treats the subject of addiction humanely. Is April too early to call it for my crime novel of the year?

I've always enjoyed Karin Slaughters books but this standalone novel- False Witness, was very unsettling, the subject matter features rape & pedophillia which was never going to be easy reading but Karin Slaughter does manage to write her characters in such a brilliant way that you want to immerse your self in their lives, for example when Lawyer, Leigh gets a new client to defend, Andrew, your flesh will actually crawl over the maliciousness that drips from him and when Leigh soon finds her precarious life being threatened you really feel for her. I've always thought if you really find yourself being disturbed by a fictional character then the author has really done an excellent job and Karin Slaughter has excelled with this book but I do miss Will Trent.

False Witness is a dark gripping enthralling thriller that as usual with this author is well written , exciting with depth and a cast of characters that some will appall you and other have you cheering them on.
Told in the past and the now Covid present we have sisters Leigh and Cassie, we learn of a childhood full of cruelty neglect and depravity. Where as Leigh has pulled herself out of her past with grit and determination and is now a defence attorney, Cassie has sunk lower and lower into the depths of drug addiction.
Leigh is suddenly told she must act as defence to Andrew a man charged with rape and horrific assault. Leigh realises who Andrew is from her past and he soon makes it clear he know about a horrific act Leigh and Cassie performed when they were children. Using his knowledge to blackmail Leigh he is determined to be found not guilty at any cost.
Leigh and Cassie although terrified are determined one way or another to fight back.
I don’t wish to give any spoilers away, I feel it’s important to learn about these two and their history for yourself. It will be a journey that Is heart pounding, desperately sad but by the end uplifting and an ending that you’ll be willing these amazing woman to have.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

A true honour to be invited to read a book by my favourite author, Karin Slaughter.

Straight from the off this story based in 2021 includes covid, and perfectly so. i dont think any author can overlook the pandemic if their book is set in 2020/21. Slaughter does it brilliantly at first, and any reader in the future will experience the full covid lifestyle. However it soon becomes too much, its all the time and it’s relevance unclear and very tedious. While Karin does explain her reasons at the end of the book, her goal could have been achieved without a reference to covid on every page. The story has nothing to do with covid-19 but that’s the most mentioned, talked about subject of the book.

Not my favourite Slaughter book, it didnt grip me as many others did, it took a few days to read the whole book,i just found i could only read so long and needed a break, the story takes a long time to build with way too many references to covid. I was at 50% when i started to feel gripped and excited to see what was happening.

A good book overall, 3 stars as always well written, with more twists and turns than the spaghetti junction. Any Slaughter fan will delve in to the delights of a new book and come out breathless and invigorated.

#FalseWitness #KarinSlaughter #NetGallery #NewIn2021
#bookreviews

I always look forward to the latest Karin Slaughter and was excited to receive a review copy of “False Witness” which is a stand alone read and not connected to her latest Will Trent series which I’ve loved over recent years..
This book was definitely an edge of your seat thriller which hooked me in from the beginning and kept me interested with its many twists and turns.
Leigh is a defence lawyer who is working for an expensive law firm. When she is called on to defend a brutal rapist she is shocked to discover that her new client has stepped out of her past. When she was a teenager she used to babysit him and when she moved on from the job her younger sister, Callie, took over. However something incredibly traumatic happened to the girls at this time which catapulted Leigh away earlier to study law in Chicago and these long ago events have left Callie as a heroin addict.
Andrew, the accused is not a nice person and he seems to know a lot about Leigh and Callie’s past and the events of long ago and is prepared to use this knowledge to threaten Leigh, her daughter and husband as well as Callie.
The sisters must do everything they can to protect their loved ones but are in an incredibly difficult situation. The outcome is definitely not certain and I kept turning the pages over a bank holiday weekend, keen to find out how the situation was going to end.
Leigh and Callie were sympathetic characters but many of the others in the book were pure evil, including their own mother and of course Andrew, himself.
I liked the descriptions of the relationship between the sisters, Leigh’s perceived guilt for her part in the awful events of the past and her desire to look after and protect her younger sister are understandable. Even Callie has a strength of character despite being a drug addict- her love of animals and ability to help Dr Jerry, the vet, demonstrate this.
My only quibble would be the pandemic setting. There were many references to masks and hand sanitizer as well as Covid illness. Having lived through this for the last year, I don’t really want to read about it. I read for escapism and do not want to be reminded of the current situation in the course of a novel.
Putting that aside this was an enjoyable and entertaining read which held my attention until the very last page.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

I am a dedicated Karin Slaughter fan and, with The Good Daughter, The Silent Wife, Pieces of Her and The Last Widow being some of the most authentic, thought provoking and exciting books I've read in recent years, my expectations for False Witness was high. Sadly, I was left a little disappointed and rather bewildered. I can only assume that the need to keep this book firmly established in the pandemic and being as true to 2020 as possible has taken energy and focus from the areas in which Karin Slaughter's books normally excel. The pace was erratic, characters did things that simply did not make sense - or perhaps it was just that the characters were not as developed as usual so I felt like I didn't know them as well as I should; dialogue didn't flow as usual and the way some of the characters' stories ended was either predictable or just downright odd. I am used to reading K.S's books and being hit with twists, drama, suspense and breathtaking conclusions whereas, this time, I felt like I was being batted from one implausible moment to another. For the first time reading any of her books, I didn't mind when I finished it.
All of that aside, this is still an intriguing story that sets the scene at the start for some breakneck action later on; the book has an excellent premise and characters to both love and loathe. I will anticipate the next book with all the enthusiasm and excitement as normal and mentally categorise this one as 'good, but not one of my favourites'.

I haven't read Karin Slaughter since I was expecting my daughter years ago! When I saw the opportunity to read her latest novel - I was thrilled. Thank you to Harper Collins and Net Galley for my copy in return for an honest review😊

TW

Sexual abuse, paedophilia, violence, graphic descriptions

She is just as brilliant as I remember - her writing draws you in and like an episode of CSI and wondering what is going to happen next. This story follows two sisters, Harleigh (Leigh) and Callie and their opposing lifestyles. Leigh is a successful lawyer and Callie is struggling with a drug addiction.

After a series of very specific murders, a secret is uncovered that Leigh and Callie wanted to keep buried in the past. However, they both find themselves and the people they love in the middle.

Slaughter combines key contemporary issues of sexual violence, Covid-19, drug abuse and mental illness within her novel allowing her characters a realism that readers can emotionally connect with. As always the relationship between her characters is incredibly nuanced and every action is purposeful to the plot - even if you don't always know it.

I would have given this five stars but I do think some of the other characters could do with a little more development - like Sidney's backstory would have added some much needed context. It's still bugging me why she would behave in the manner that she does.

That being said, Slaughter keeps you engaged and drives the plot forwards at a thrilling pace. I would definitely recommend all fans of Slaughter and this genre to pick up a copy. I will be ordering the books that I have missed from my last soiree into reading her novels.

I enjoyed The Silent Wife and was anticipating to read this new one, sadly I was a bit disappointed. There are more than a few trigger warnings mentioned that I had to put the book down and pick it back up. The rest of the story is police procedural and suspenseful. I will continue to read more of Karin Slaughter’s books! Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins, and the author for a gifted copy. This is my honest review.

Yes yes yes.

A new Karin Slaughter novel is always the highlight of my reading calendar. She's my favourite author, and never fails to disappoint.

FALSE WITNESS was no exception to the highly skilled, thrilling reading experience I've come to expect from the Queen of crime writing.

In this story we follow Leigh and Callie as they try to save themselves from a sadistic monster who is using their past to jeopardise their future and also roaming the lives of those closest to them in the process.

Set against the backdrop of COVID-19 I was skeptical about reading about something that we've all been living through for over 12 months now. I thought it would just be too much reading about it in a medium that I turn to to escape reality. But it was subtle and realistic and woven in so well that it just felt normal. Which is saddening for our real world prospects, but also a relief for the reading of this book!

The ending is heartbreaking but necessary, and I enjoyed reading about the sister dynamics and the family dysfunction Leigh has.

Overall a fantastic read that I will be recommending to everyone - as per usual with any Slaughter! :)

I am a huge Karin Slaughter fan and The Silent Wife was one of my favourite reads of last year. Sadly I was very disappointed with False Witness. The elements that make Slaughter an outstanding thriller writer were all there- great plot and characters - but there is too much referencing of the pandemic. I think this is the first novel I've read that is set during the pandemic and it's not what I want from a novel. I read to escape, to be transported elsewhere, for beautiful and moving writing. If I want to read about the pandemic I'll read a newspaper or non fiction. It felt like the author referenced face masks and hand sanitiser in almost every scene and so for me it took attention away from plot and characters. However, if this is something you can overlook as a reader I'm sure you'll enjoy this and Slaughter's extensive back catalogue.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC.

3.5

In their teens Leigh and her sister Callie were shockingly connected to Andrew Trevor Tennant. Leigh now has to defend Andrew in a rape case with other charges waiting in the wings if he is found guilty. The story is told from the perspectives of Leigh and Callie.

There are aspects of this book that are really good such as the premise of being between a rock and a very hard place and mutually assured destruction. The storyline is harsh, gritty, sleazy and violent. There are some descriptions that don’t hold back which may be a bit too much for some people however, it demonstrates the reality of violent victims assaults. The characters are portrayed well, you certainly feel the cold, calculated and malevolent manipulation of Andrew, the fear, guilt and panic of Leigh and Callie’s troubles and pain. Their inner turmoil and emotions are keenly felt especially the weight of the past pressing them down. There’s some tension where you hold your breath and parts that are shocking. The tempo ramps up towards the end and it has a good conclusion.

Now for the not so good parts. There is so much over-detailing especially at the start with everything from pictures on the wall to Covid rules - these are laboriously repeated on many occasions but I think a year into the pandemic we’ve all grasped hand sanitising, masks and social distance so the point does not need hammering home. There are thoughts and points that are repeated to the point where it sidetracks you from the plot and it becomes exhausting and you glaze over. Well I do. There’s back tracking onto things we already know and it’s as if the author is spelling everything out which frankly, I don’t need.

Overall, there is a good, hard hitting story in here but it’s overwhelmed. It really grieves me to only give this book three stars as I usually really like Karin Slaughter’s books and I will always want to read her novels but this one is not for me.

With thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, Harper Fiction for the arc in return for an honest review.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have really enjoyed everything this author has written and this was no exception. Great storyline, great characters and will have you hooked from the beginning

3.5 Stars


This is the first book I have read by Karin Slaughter and I have to say it was quite a page turner. Particularly the last 30% when the story really heats up. It was interesting to read something set in current times. Complete with masks, hand sanitiser and covid protocols. The pandemic is woven seamlessly into the story anchoring it firmly in 2020/21. Although not a major player, it hovers in the background throughout the book.

Leigh is a not altogether likeable character, she's too self contained and single minded. But she is also fiercely loyal to those she loves. Her tendency towards self sabotage effects all her relationships. It is only as the past unfolds that the reader comes to understand and to empathise with Leigh.

Her sister Callie, is also self destructive, a drug addict who uses drugs to avoid real life and the memories of a dysfunctional and painful childhood. There is an innocence, a childlike quality about Callie which helps to makes her an appealing character. Despite her addiction she is as fiercely loyal and loving as her older sister. Both women will do anything to protect each other and their family.

The relationship between the sisters is complicated and nuanced. Tainted by the past one is consumed by guilt, the other by her drug addiction.

The villain of the piece is inextricably caught up in the past that the sisters long to forget. Andrew is a little one dimensional, an evil psychopath with no redeeming features. His mental torture of Leigh is well done and lends an air of menace and impending disaster to the pages.

My main criticism of the book is that all the characters except for the sisters are good or evil with little light or shade to their personalities.

All in all False Witness is page turner that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a tense crime drama.

TW violence, child abuse, sexual violence.

Superb. It quickly becomes apparent that Leigh is basically totally screwed in a situation that seemingly has no good exit. She's going to have to learn to ask for help and risk everything she's painstakingly built to protect her daughter, sister and husband. It's really dark in places but wonderfully unpredictable and I loved it.

Karin Slaughter continues her trademark focus on contemporary American social and political issues with this, her latest exhilarating standalone crime thriller. She documents the impact of the pandemic, everyday safeguarding procedures, the enormous and unbearable death toll, the lost jobs, food scarcity, the starving kids, and the politicians unwilling to provide the resources to address the desperate needs of the nation. She portrays the country's drug crisis in her humanising portrayal of 37 year old heroin addict, Callie, a child gymnast and cheerleader, suffering a broken neck, her life blighted by constant back pain, and as a child experiences the terror of being groomed and regularly sexually assaulted by a violent paedophile, Buddy Waleski, whilst babysitting his 10 year old son, Trevor.

In 1998, after being physically attacked and fearing for her life, Callie nicks Buddy's femoral artery with a kitchen knife, a shocked and traumatised Callie calls her older sister, Leigh, on the cusp of leaving to study Law in Chicago, who deals with the situation. Both cannot escape the reverberations of that event, Callie burying the past deep with the help of drugs, her tragedy being being that of self knowledge, whilst Leigh is trapped in a cycle of self sabotage and guilt. 20 years later, Leigh is a defense attorney at the prestigious law firm of Bradfield, Canfield and Marks. She is separated from her beloved husband, Walter, and desperately missing her daughter, 16 year old Maddy, staying with her husband. Leigh, her family, and Callie are to find themselves gravely endangered when the past raises its ugly head, as Leigh finds herself representing wealthy sexual predator, a rapist client, 33 year old car salesman and manipulative psychopath, Andrew Tenant, who turns out to be a grown up Trevor intent on destroying all their lives, knowing what happened to his father, facing a trial on charges of kidnap and sexual assault.

Slaughter excels in her characterisations, capturing the complex sibling relationship between Leigh and Callie, their undoubted love for each other, there is nothing they will not do to protect each other. Through their lives, and those of Tenant's victims, the author provides a damning indictment of male behaviour when it comes to young girls and women, the sense of entitlement, the daily sexual harrassment, stalking, the paedophiles, child abuse, the brutal sexual assaults, domestic violence, and the murders. Men acting with impunity, all too aware they are unlikely to be made to pay, in a society and justice system where women are disbelieved, or presumed to be asking for it, and deserving of what happens to them. This is a dark, riveting and intelligent novel, one of the highlights for me was the understanding and compassionate vet Dr Jerry that Callie works for. This is so much more than a crime read, and is likely to appeal to existing Slaughter fans and other crime and mystery readers. Highly recommended. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.

Another complicated family relationship.


This was a good read.

Thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish and could not get enough of.

This is a must read for anyone who enjoys a good thriller!!
Absolutely loved the characters, the plot, the tension -  impossible to put it down.
Certainly recommended!

Karin Slaughter never disappoints! This was an exciting legal thriller that literally kept me on tenterhooks! Loved it!

This is an excellent crime thriller. It was a real page turner and it had me gripped all the way through. I loved the characters and particularly their relationship dynamics. This will be a book I will be highly recommending!

Defence Attorney Leigh meets her new client to discuss his case and is surprised to find that she knows him from the past when he was a little boy and she was his babysitter. Since she was a teenager she has been trying to forget him and his family because of an incident that altered all their lives.
This is a good thriller with some nasty characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK Harper Fiction for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

False Witness,Karin Slaughter's latest novel,is a hard-hitting tale with themes that many potential readers might find disturbing or distressing.

The book starts with an explicit sex scene that is more than it first appears and has devastating ramifications for years afterwards. It then switches to defence attorney Leigh Collier being offered a high profile case 20 years later by her Boss at the prestigious law firm she works for. She's a bit bemused to hear that the client,who she doesn't recognise, has specifically asked for her claiming to know her. The client is accused of a savage rape with more similar cases in the pipeline and as the past clashes with the present Leigh and her family find themselves at risk. Also involved is Leigh's sister Callie, drifter,junkie and much else.

As ever with Karin Slaughter the book is a wild ride with explicit violence, quite a bit of sex,snarky humour ,twists , turns,great characters,mostly deeply flawed, and plenty of "industrial language". It's not for everyone,it's quite raw and often brutal but if you're already a Slaughter fan you'll know what to expect. If you've never read one of her books I'd say as a benchmark if you enjoy Tarantino movies you'll enjoy this,if you don't you really,really won't, I loved it.

Another hit for Karin Slaughter,it's well-written,a real blast,funny,horrific,sad,savage,crude,clever and even very moving in places.