Narrator Kathleen Early has become the voice of author Karin Slaughter’s series and stand-alones. She dramatically brings to life the main characters, Leigh Coulton and her younger sister, Calli, who are haunted by a violent act from their past. Leigh is now a criminal defense attorney, while Calli has become a drug addict. From beginning to end, listeners are bombarded with graphic depictions of violence, an addict’s daily challenges, and the impact of the COVID pandemic on life and work. Early does an excellent job of differentiating the characters, particularly the males young and old. Through pace and tone, she drives the nonstop intensity. This is a relentless, dark, disturbing story. E.Q. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

★ 05/31/2021

In 1998, teen sisters Callie and Leigh, the heroines of this superb thriller from bestseller Slaughter (The Silent Wife), murder Buddy Waleski, who sexually abused them for years while they babysat his son, Trevor, in Chicago. They leave the Waleski kitchen spotless after cleaning up any evidence of the murder and hide Buddy’s body. In 2021, Callie, who became addicted to heroin after a gymnastics accident left her in constant pain, and Leigh, a defense attorney, unexpectedly confront the past after Leigh’s boss assigns the case of an alleged serial killer to her. During their first meeting, Andrew Tenant tells Leigh he’s actually the little boy she once babysat—Trevor Waleski—and implies that he knows the sisters killed his father. Callie and Leigh work urgently to determine how and what he knows. Breaking into the abandoned former Waleski house, Callie finds a crawl space with cameras aimed both at the kitchen where Buddy’s murder occurred and the living room couch where Callie was repeatedly raped as a 12-year-old by Buddy. If Leigh doesn’t secure a not guilty verdict, the pathological Andrew threatens to retaliate by releasing his father’s videos to the media and murdering her 16-year-old daughter. A shocking tragedy at the end will keep readers transfixed. Slaughter is writing at the top of her game. Agent: Victoria Sanders, Victoria Sanders & Assoc. (July)

"Cunningly conceived and written . . . Deeply satisfying." — Washington Post on False Witness

"Annnnd she does it again. Slaughter's latest high-stakes thriller follows a defense attorney whose dark past is coming back to haunt her — all thanks to a new client she's called in to represent days before his trial. There's deception, sabotage, violence, family secrets . . . all the stuff you could want from a fictional page-turner, really." — theSkimm on False Witness

“Slaughter offers us a high-stakes thriller that handles the tragedy of addiction with empathy and grace. Her heroines are believable, flawed and courageous.” — Oyinkan Braithwaite, award-winning author of My Sister, The Serial Killer, on False Witness

“Karin Slaughter’s False Witness is a twisty, searingly contemporary mystery steeped in a dark past, and she weaves a story that catches your breath and keeps you gasping and guessing until the end.”  — Stacey Abrams, author of While Justice Sleeps

"Slaughter doesn’t save her twists for the end, instead peppering them throughout the intricately layered story amid stomach-churning near misses and gripping character revelations. Equal parts hyperrealistic thriller and epic tragedy, Slaughter’s latest is pitch-perfect storytelling." — Booklist (starred review) on False Witness

"[False Witness] will keep readers transfixed. Slaughter is writing at the top of her game." — Publishers Weekly (starred review) on False Witness

“Slaughter skillfully and assuredly relates the violence of a sociopath, while creating an emotional connection to lives touched by tragedy and addressing current events.” — Library Journal on False Witness

"Slaughter reliably delivers high-stakes thrillers, but False Witness is the author at her best, weaving a multi-layered, addictive story with characters you won’t soon forget." — The Augusta Chronicle on False Witness

"In the enthralling False Witness, Slaughter ramps up her storytelling skills to explore how two sisters cope with the aftermath of a crime. False Witness works well as a psychological exploration of its characters, as a legal thriller and as a family drama. . . . Slaughter’s mastery at suspense is at full throttle . . . A thriller that kicks into high gear from the first page to a stunning ending." — Sun-Sentinel (South Florida) on False Witness

“Karin Slaughter is a master of the thriller genre and her genius comes through on every page, in every character, through every plot twist. False Witness is so suspenseful, it’s tension palpable, and the action so visual, I can’t wait to see its brilliance in film.” — Francesca Momplaisir, critically-acclaimed author of My Mother’s House

"Written during the pandemic, False Witness, a standalone thriller by bestselling author Karin Slaughter, tackles many issues exacerbated and spotlighted during Covid like food insecurity, the housing crisis, inmate treatment in prison, racism, misogyny, and the overwhelming demands on women. Leigh, a female defense attorney whose latest client's engagement wasn't exactly a coincidence and, in fact, requires her to get him acquitted or risk her own secrets being exposed, will surely find her own place on the screen like the protagonist of Slaughter's bestselling novel Pieces of Her, coming soon to Netflix." — GMA.com

  "Slaughter has written a wickedly sharp and arresting tour de force that blends a riveting plot and emotional subterfuge with the kind of propulsive prose that makes False Witness absolutely unputdownable." — Lauren Francis-Sharma, author of Book of the Little Axe, on False Witness

"A shared secret comes back haunt two sisters who are forced to confront a dark and terrifying reality. Rich characters and deft plotting make this an unputdownable story that will move you to the core. This is Slaughter's best yet." — Camilla Läckberg, internationally bestselling author, on False Witness

"Slaughter’s latest stand-alone could very well be one of your favorite books of 2021 . . . It delivers on so many levels—from the gut-punch of the first chapter through to the heartbreaking last page—this is Slaughter at her very best." — Seattle Book Review on False Witness

“All of Slaughter’s books . . . are satisfyingly surprising and plausible, but it’s Slaughter’s prodigious gifts of characterization that make her stand out among thriller writers.”

— Washington Post

“Slaughter’s eye for detail and truth are unmatched.”  — Gillian Flynn 

“If you’re into mystery thrillers, then you’re into Karin Slaughter.”  — theSkimm

“Her talent is the equivalent of an Edgar Allan Poe or a Nathaniel Hawthorne . . . An exemplary storyteller, weaving her words with skill and intelligence. She will be recognized as one of the great talents of the 21st century and will hold an honored place in the realm of world literature.” — The Huffington Post

“Expect from a Karin Slaughter crime thriller . . . just the right amount of twists, turns, shocks, surprises and domestic thrill and shrill.”   — Parade

“[The Last Widow] does what all great Slaughter books do: keeps you on the edge of your seat. It’s a chilling whodunit for our times.” — Parade on The Last Widow

“There’s never a dull moment in Georgia with Karin Slaughter on the literary rampage.” — Washington Post on The Last Widow

“One of the boldest thriller writers working today.” — Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author

"Fiction doesn’t get any better than this.” — Jeffery Deaver, New York Times bestselling author

“Slaughter’s work is like a professional athlete coming to the playground to show the kids how it’s done. With her themes, tensions and metaphors, she has a talent for classic literature that is often missing in recent fiction.” — RT Book Reviews

Slaughter offers us a high-stakes thriller that handles the tragedy of addiction with empathy and grace. Her heroines are believable, flawed and courageous.

"In the enthralling False Witness, Slaughter ramps up her storytelling skills to explore how two sisters cope with the aftermath of a crime. False Witness works well as a psychological exploration of its characters, as a legal thriller and as a family drama. . . . Slaughter’s mastery at suspense is at full throttle . . . A thriller that kicks into high gear from the first page to a stunning ending."

"Slaughter reliably delivers high-stakes thrillers, but False Witness is the author at her best, weaving a multi-layered, addictive story with characters you won’t soon forget."

Karin Slaughter is a master of the thriller genre and her genius comes through on every page, in every character, through every plot twist. False Witness is so suspenseful, it’s tension palpable, and the action so visual, I can’t wait to see its brilliance in film.

"Annnnd she does it again. Slaughter's latest high-stakes thriller follows a defense attorney whose dark past is coming back to haunt her — all thanks to a new client she's called in to represent days before his trial. There's deception, sabotage, violence, family secrets . . . all the stuff you could want from a fictional page-turner, really."

"Slaughter doesn’t save her twists for the end, instead peppering them throughout the intricately layered story amid stomach-churning near misses and gripping character revelations. Equal parts hyperrealistic thriller and epic tragedy, Slaughter’s latest is pitch-perfect storytelling."

Karin Slaughter’s False Witness is a twisty, searingly contemporary mystery steeped in a dark past, and she weaves a story that catches your breath and keeps you gasping and guessing until the end.” 

"Cunningly conceived and written . . . Deeply satisfying."

If you’re into mystery thrillers, then you’re into Karin Slaughter.” 

All of Slaughter’s books . . . are satisfyingly surprising and plausible, but it’s Slaughter’s prodigious gifts of characterization that make her stand out among thriller writers.”

"Fiction doesn’t get any better than this.

One of the boldest thriller writers working today.

[The Last Widow] does what all great Slaughter books do: keeps you on the edge of your seat. It’s a chilling whodunit for our times.

"Slaughter has written a wickedly sharp and arresting tour de force that blends a riveting plot and emotional subterfuge with the kind of propulsive prose that makes False Witness absolutely unputdownable."

"Written during the pandemic, False Witness, a standalone thriller by bestselling author Karin Slaughter, tackles many issues exacerbated and spotlighted during Covid like food insecurity, the housing crisis, inmate treatment in prison, racism, misogyny, and the overwhelming demands on women. Leigh, a female defense attorney whose latest client's engagement wasn't exactly a coincidence and, in fact, requires her to get him acquitted or risk her own secrets being exposed, will surely find her own place on the screen like the protagonist of Slaughter's bestselling novel Pieces of Her, coming soon to Netflix."

Expect from a Karin Slaughter crime thriller . . . just the right amount of twists, turns, shocks, surprises and domestic thrill and shrill.”  

Slaughter’s work is like a professional athlete coming to the playground to show the kids how it’s done. With her themes, tensions and metaphors, she has a talent for classic literature that is often missing in recent fiction.

Slaughter’s eye for detail and truth are unmatched.” 

"A shared secret comes back haunt two sisters who are forced to confront a dark and terrifying reality. Rich characters and deft plotting make this an unputdownable story that will move you to the core. This is Slaughter's best yet."

"Slaughter’s latest stand-alone could very well be one of your favorite books of 2021 . . . It delivers on so many levels—from the gut-punch of the first chapter through to the heartbreaking last page—this is Slaughter at her very best."

Her talent is the equivalent of an Edgar Allan Poe or a Nathaniel Hawthorne . . . An exemplary storyteller, weaving her words with skill and intelligence. She will be recognized as one of the great talents of the 21st century and will hold an honored place in the realm of world literature.

There’s never a dull moment in Georgia with Karin Slaughter on the literary rampage.

All of Slaughter’s books . . . are satisfyingly surprising and plausible, but it’s Slaughter’s prodigious gifts of characterization that make her stand out among thriller writers.”

"A shared secret comes back haunt two sisters who are forced to confront a dark and terrifying reality. Rich characters and deft plotting make this an unputdownable story that will move you to the core. This is Slaughter's best yet."

"The emotionally sophisticated characters work through the brutality of their jobs in this dynamic psychological thriller and police procedural that will please readers of Slaughter’s “Grant County” series. For fans of Meg Gardiner, David Baldacci, and Carrie Smith."

Slaughter adds depth to her best-selling series with the investigations of old and current cases, while also advancing the key personal relationship. Another slam dunk.

★ 07/02/2021

Slaughter's latest stand-alone thriller (following The Silent Wife) tells the story of Leigh and Callie Collier, two sisters trying to run away from their childhood filled with uncertainty and abuse that culminated in murder. When they were in their teens, the sisters babysat a young boy whose father abused them both. They killed their abuser, cleaned up the crime scene, and hid the body. Leigh escaped and went to college, then built a family and a successful career as a criminal defense attorney. Callie, after a gymnastics injury, became addicted to drugs, living only for the next high with no hope or will for anything better. When the son of the man they murdered so many years ago hires Leigh as his defense counsel after being charged with a brutal rape, the sisters know they have to stop running and confront their past, no matter the cost. VERDICT Slaughter skillfully and assuredly relates the violence of a sociopath, while creating an emotional connection to lives touched by tragedy and addressing current events. Her latest will be a favorite for thriller lovers, as well as fans of Jennifer Hillier, Michael Koryta, and Alafair Burke.—George Lichman, Rocky River, OH

★ 2021-06-16
A master of the no-holds-barred law enforcement thriller turns to legal intrigue, with shattering results.

A week before he’s to stand trial for the aggravated assault and rape of DataTel district manager Tammy Karlsen, car-dealership scion Andrew Tenant fires his lawyer and asks for a new one: Leigh Collier, a rising star at an Atlanta white-shoe firm. Originally baffled by the request, Leigh quickly realizes that her new client has a special reason to have asked for her: He’s recognized her from a magazine photo as the older sister of Callie, the babysitter who killed his father, Buddy Waleski, when his latest pedophile assault on her turned violent 23 years ago. In fact, the truth is even darker than that. Leigh was an active participant in the killing. Now she's determined to do everything she can to torpedo the defense she's preparing for Andrew, who’s accused of stabbing Tammy Karlsen in exactly the way Callie stabbed his father, while persuading both her client and her watchful senior partner that she’s doing her utmost to represent him. As she learns more and more particulars about the case and her client, Leigh realizes that her plan doesn’t go nearly far enough. Andrew is guilty of this assault and others, but he doesn’t just want her to get him off: He plans to blackmail her into complying with a potentially endless series of demands. How can she strike back at a monster who holds all the cards? Only by tapping into the depthless power of sisterhood with Callie, who’s descended into addiction but still loves Leigh with a ferocity that makes the pair of them as dangerous as the man who’s targeted them.

Combines disarming sensitivity to the nuances of the tangled relations among the characters with sledgehammer plotting.