Fractured: A Novel

A Will Trent Thriller

By: Karin Slaughter

Narrated by: Kathleen Early

Don’t miss the next Will Trent thriller, This Is Why We Lied, coming this August!

WATCH WILL TRENT ON ABC!

“Breathless tension!” raved the San Francisco Chronicle. “One of [the year’s] most remarkable achievements,” crowed the Philadelphia Inquirer. Karin Slaughter dazzled readers and critics alike with Triptych, her New York Times bestselling suspense novel set in metropolitan Atlanta.Now the #1 internationally bestselling author returns to the damaged landscape she knows so well in a bold new novel—at once a powder keg of suspense, a gritty portrait of a cop’s life, and a searing exploration of a shocking crime and its aftermath…

With its gracious homes and tree-lined streets, Ansley Park is one of Atlanta’s most desirable neighborhoods. But in one gleaming mansion, in a teenager’s lavish bedroom, a girl has been savagely murdered. And in the hallway, her horrified mother stands amid shattered glass, having killed her daughter’s attacker with her bare hands.

Detective Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is here only to do a political favor; the murder site belongs to the Atlanta police. But Trent soon sees something that the cops are missing, something in the trail of blood, in a matrix of forensic evidence, and in the eyes of the shell-shocked mother. Within minutes, Trent is taking over the case—and adding another one to it. He is sure that another teenage girl is missing, and that a killer is on the loose.

Armed with only fleeting clues, teamed with a female cop who has her own personal reasons for hating him, Trent has enemies all around him—and a gnawing feeling that this case, which started in the best of homes, is cutting quick and deep through the ruins of perfect lives broken wide-open: where human demons emerge with a vengeance.

QUESTIONS

Didn't like the characters's personalities (Amanda, Will and Tom). Why so difficult? The story was different.

Kept Me Interested

Karen Slaughter writes excellent mystery novels to keep the listener wanting to know what happens next. She also uses narrators that are easy to listen to.

A TYPICAL KARIN SLAUGHTER BOOK — TERRIFIC!!!

I believe I am reading Ms. Slaughter’s books out of order. In the other books I’ve read, Will Trent and Faith Mitchell are already partners — partners who trust and rely on each other and who are a cohesive team, who often knows what the other is going to say before they say it.

Other readers have stated they found this book to be slow. I didn’t find it to be slow at all. In fact, I’m glad it went at the pace it did because this is the first in the whole series of “Will Trent” books. This book really lays the groundwork for the rest in the serious. This book really explains Will’s personality, his insecurities, why he has them and where he came from in life. It explains his approach to police work. He’s dyslexic, but brilliant. The dyslexia is a big contributor to his insecurities, but the many techniques he uses to compensate makes him an excellent police detective. It also allows him to see and understand others who have insecurities and allows the more “human side” of himself show.

The only character I don’t like in this series, is Trent’s wife ANGIE. She is a horrible person who puts Will through hell every chance she gets, seemingly on purpose and with glee. I’m so glad when in book three in the series) I think it’s three), Will finally breaks away from Angie and all her meanness. She delights in emotionally hurting Will, always questioning her love for him, and twisting the knife every chance she gets.

Each book in the Will Trent series (in my opinion) gets better and better. Now that I’ve finished this book, I understand Will AND Faith and their dynamics much more than I did. This book explains the very rocky start they had working together.

I can’t say enough good things about the narrator, Kathleen Early. I have about 300 books in my Audible library, and Ms. Early is BY FAR my favorite narrator (on a very short list of four favorites, Ms. Early is in spot #1). It is SHE that makes the characters in Ms. Slaughter’s books come alive — she changes effortlessly from character to character, each having a different cadence and speech pattern and with their own unique personality, warts and all.

I LOVE how Ms. Early makes the characters Faith and Amanda into two TOUGH females (often snarky characters😊), yet also two women who show their softer sides from time to time. In later books, one of the main characters, Sarah, is a strong, competent doctor, yet her voice is more gentle, more educated.

Ms. Slaughter’s writing and Ms. Early’s narration — they are a match made in heaven! The book I read immediately before this one (Beyond Reach), was an excellent book, but had a different narrator. There just wasn’t the same “magic” for me. I kept thinking throughout how much better the story would have been if Ms. Early had been the narrator (no disrespect meant to the other narrator). She did a decent job, but it’s hard to “settle” when you’ve had the BEST.

If you are somewhat new to Ms. Slaughter’s writing and think you may want to read the “Will Trent” series, this is THE book to start with as it is the first in the series.👍

But, if you are shocked or offended by colorful language, be prepared (in all the books). If very vivid descriptions in certain areas make you squeamish, this may not be the author for you.

Complex and fun to read.

I started my Will Trent journey with the television show. Needless to say books always bring more complexity and depth. I enjoyed the plot and the depth of exploration into each character - they are definitely like people you might know. Worth reading for sure!

Great story and characters.

This story really helps you better understand Trent. You also are introduced to his partner Faith.