False Witness

This is the kind of thriller that hits all the right notes without feeling predictable. It concerns two sisters, one a trial lawyer working in a successful, upmarket law firm in Atlanta and the other an addict of no fixed address. When the lawyer is hired by a man they both babysat many years ago, to defend him against rape charges they have to work together to prevent their past from destroying their future.

Slaughter had a lot of fun creating a man so evil he often began to feel like a comic book villain, but she's skilled enough to make it feel plausible. Where this thriller shines in her portrayal of the characters and in the relationships they have with each other. She knows how to pace a novel and how to alternate scenes of grim show more poverty or gruesome violence with moments of tenderness or connections between the characters. It raises the stakes considerably. The book is also set in 2020, with all the masks and distancing that entailed, adding a interesting bit of grounding to a story that was, but never felt, unlikely. show less

Most women who have been sexually abused at one time or other in their lives (and many more have been victims than openly relate their stories) will recognize the patterns of abusers and their victims in this book. For those who prefer warnings such as “This Book Has Triggers!,” consider yourself very justifiably warned.

At the end of the story, in an Author’s Note, Slaughter tells readers that she wants her fiction to hold up a mirror to society, and as she has said elsewhere, to address in particular the pervasive culture of violence against women. Major themes of this book also include the agonizing culture of addiction, and the changes wrought by Covid-19. Importantly, she writes:

“Covid has exposed the ever-widening chasm show more between the haves and have-nots, spotlighted the housing crisis and food insecurity, focused attention of the lack of proper funding for schools, hospitals and elder care, exposed a bankruptcy of trust in our government institutions, exacerbated the horrendous treatment of inmates in our jails and prisons, exponentially worsened xenophobic, misogynistic, and racist hate speech, heightened racial inequalities, and as usual, has grossly over-burdened the lives of women; all topics that I’ve attempted to touch on within the pages of the book you now hold in your hands.”

She does indeed do all of this. So while the book is very well written as all of her books are, it is extremely difficult to read because all of the painful injustice, especially that experienced by women, will resonate with so many readers.

The story begins in the summer of 1998, when we meet some of the main characters. Most of the book however takes place in 2021, when we learn the repercussions of the events that took place earlier.

Leigh Collier is a defense attorney in a high-priced Atlanta law firm, divorced from Walter, whom she still loves, and with whom she remains friends. They have a 16-year-old daughter Maddy, who lives with Walter in the suburbs. As the present-day story begins, Leigh has just been handed a rape case that goes to trial in eight days. The 33-year old man accused of rape, Andrew Tenant, suddenly dropped his previous lawyer and specifically asked for Leigh. Because his wealthy family had ties to the top name partner in Leigh’s firm, she is told by her boss that she must take this case.

Leigh has defended rapists before. She explains that “as a defense attorney, you negotiated for unlawful restraint or a lesser charge that would keep your client off the sex offender registry and out of jail and then you went home and took the longest, hottest shower you could tolerate to blast off the stink.”

She assured her boss, Cole Bradley, before even knowing who the defendant was, that she could deal with it. “I’ve handled dozens of assault cases over the years. The majority of my clients are factually guilty. The prosecutor has to prove those facts beyond a reasonable doubt. You pay me a hell of a lot of money to find that doubt.”

And in fact, it is money that makes all the difference. Leigh mused that she rarely considered guilt or innocence: “Most of her clients were guilty as hell. Some of them were nice. Some were assholes. None of it mattered because justice was blind except when it came to the color green.”

Leigh’s task is ironically made somewhat easier by the unfortunate fact that, as juror studies have shown, in rape trials, jurors tended to be more judgmental toward women. Women are assessed by the way they look and the way they dress. Making matters worse, women are traumatized by feelings of self-blame and shame that affect their performance in court. Men, on the other hand, exude a righteous posture of innocence and outrage over women who “led them on.”

This case is different, however. Not only is Tenant suspected in three other rapes, but Leigh quickly realizes she does in fact know who Andrew is. Worse yet, he knows who she is and seems to know exact details about what she did in the past. As those secrets unfurl, we learn just how dangerous this situation is for Leigh.

Leigh’s sister Callie is also involved. Callie is a self-admitted junkie, and in the course of telling her story Slaughter conveys many facts about the science of addiction, and statistics about users and what they take. Slaughter notes that COVID raised the stakes:

“A lot of people turned to illicit comforts during the pandemic. Jobs were lost. Food was scarce. Kids were starving. The number of overdoses and suicides had gone through the roof. All the politicians who had expressed deep concern about mental health during the lockdowns had shockingly been unwilling to spend money on helping the people who were losing their minds.”

Leigh and Callie understand well the depth of the threat represented by Andrew Tenant. They know that their fates and even their lives, as well as the lives of those they love, depend on whether they can counter the plans made by Andrew, who always seems one step ahead of them.

In fact, the tension is so intense, it took me several days to get through the last few pages of the book. That has never happened to me before! show less

There have been some really great books published this year. Then Karin Slaughter comes out and resets the bar with False Witness.

Leigh Collier clawed her way out of her troubled upbringing to graduate from a top law school and work at a prestigious Atlanta law firm. She has a sixteen-year-old daughter that she adores and a husband she loves even after their separation. This life she has built is threatened when she is called in on a Sunday night by a partner in her firm to represent Andrew Tenant, who has been accused of a violent rape and has just fired his attorney on the eve of trial. She can’t understand why he has requested her to represent him until she meets him and realizes how she and her younger sister are connected to him. show more Now secrets she thought were buried 23 years ago are threatening to come to light. Leigh is forced to turn for help to her younger sister who she hasn’t seen in years.

Leigh frantically searches for a way out of the mess, but at each step the danger becomes greater and a solution further out of reach. Younger sister Callie faces her own demons and knows that finding a way out for her and Leigh is the only thing that matters.

The plot moves relentlessly forward as you get to know more and more about the characters and feel for them each time a new development drops on them like an anvil.

Slaughter pulls you in so firmly that when she drops a bombshell you are literally stunned. She carefully plants the breadcrumbs that lead to an explosive revelation that bursts in your mind and you are instantly able to trace back all the signs that pointed to this outcome in a moment of perfect clarity.

Slaughter writes in a way that is akin to virtual reality. You see through her characters’ eyes, feel what they are feeling and fear what they fear. She doesn’t shy away from describing the evil that people do to one another, particularly to women, and the ways that they often get away with it. Her plotting is outstanding and keeps you racing forward as you hope for the best and fear the worst.

Every year that Slaughter has a book come out, the race is for second place. She’s simply the best.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. show less

False Witness by Karin Slaughter is a very highly recommended intense, gritty, complex, and excellent standalone crime thriller. Slaughter has done it again; this one of the best thrillers of the year. Right at the start False Witness was unputdownable. It grabbed my attention immediately and only continued to get better as the complications multiplied.

Leigh and Callie Collier are sisters who have been running away from their abusive childhood for years. In the summer of 1998 when the two were teens, Callie was viciously attacked by the father of the boy she was babysitting. Fighting for her life, Callie fought back. When called, Leigh immediately came to help her sister deal with the clean up of the situation. Now Callie is an addict, show more trying to numb her pain while Leigh is an attorney who has recently join a large Atlanta law firm, although she tries to sabotage her happiness. Although she is separated from her husband, Walter, the two still care for each other and amicably parent their daughter Maddy. When Leigh receives a phone call from one of the firm's partners while at her daughter's play, she is perplexed why she as a lower level attorney, was called. When she arrives at the firm, however, Leigh realizes why the client, Andrew Tenant, fired his attorney and asked for her. He recognizes her as the sister of his babysitter twenty-three years ago. It becomes clear immediately that Andrew is a violent psychopath, guilty of the current brutal murder as well as others, and wants her on the case for reasons beyond her legal prowess.

The characters of Leigh and Callie are skillfully portrayed as realistic and complex characters. Opposites in many ways, they both experienced a difficult childhood with their mother and their own actions. They both feel like real people and their relationship is as complicated as their history, but they are always there for each other and share a bond. Their devotion to each other and their willingness to risk everything to protect the other sister is clearly depicted through out the novel, both in their past and present. Andrew is a particularly creepy, evil, and frightening character who will make your skin crawl. As you learn what seems to be his plan, what he is demanding, some other fact will come to light and predicting what will happen next, what he is planning, is impossible.

This is a masterfully written novel. As the plot unfolds, the complications add up and the already convoluted twisty plot becomes even more intricate. The nail-biting suspense grows with each chapter. The narrative alternates between point-of-view of Leigh and Callie. Both narrative threads are equally compelling. While reading the thoughts and perspective of one sister, you will be wondering what is happening to the other sister. And you will not be able to predict the twists and the direction this novel is taking. For readers who need to know, you should be forewarned that this is a violent novel, and it should also have a language warning.

Slaughter has incorporated the pandemic into the plot and some current events were mentioned in False Witness. I say this because I normally I like novelists to leave current events and opinions out of the plot and have been known to lower a rating due to that. Strangely enough, even though I took note of this, it didn't bother me this time. The novel is just that good. Once I finished the novel and got to the note at the end, Slaughter address this issue and why she did it.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of HarperCollins
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2021/07/false-witness.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4125748418 show less

After I finish a Karin Slaughter novel, I always say 'oh, that was her best one yet'. But with this newest novel - False Witness - I really do think that it's going to be hard to top.

From the outside looking in, Leigh Collier has a 'normal' life - she's a successful lawyer, has a daughter and an amicable relationship with her ex. That's what everyone sees...but Harleigh has a dark past with secrets she has tried to bury in more than one way. Then, one of her law firm's partners assigns her to defend a wealthy man accused of rape. He has asked for her specifically. And when Leigh meets him, the past coming roaring into the present. "He saw what you did. He knows who you are…

The prologue is a gut punch scene from the past and sets the show more premise and tone for the story that's going to unfold. Harleigh is part of it - but so is her younger sister Callie. The relationship between the sisters is complicated and quite emotional, but unbreakable. Where Leigh has taken her life is in the opposite direction from Callie's life. Callie is an addict and has been for many, many years. Now, they're both part of the narrative, but I have to say - my heart and my hopes were with and for Callie. She was so well drawn. There's much more to her than her addictions. The scenes in Dr. Jerry's veterinary practice were so good. (And I loved Dr. Jerry) Their mother Phil is the epitome of lousy parenting both then and now. But it was the client - Andrew - that gave me the heebie jeebies. He is evil, manipulative and downright terrifying. And he's playing a scary cat and mouse game with Callie and Leigh.

Slaughter's plotting is, as always, brilliant. I couldn't predict how the story would unfold. (I love that!) Slaughter adds in additional characters, twists and a turn I didn't see coming. The tension is ramped up so high, I had to put the book down and walk it off before returning to rapidly turning pages. The ending? Not everything I wanted, but it was just right.

There's a lot of food for thought and social commentary throughout False Witness with sexual abuse, sexual harassment and drug use at the top of the list. Covid 19 is also a part of the book, with the timeline set squarely in the last year.

Gentle readers - this book contains many triggers and descriptive writing and may not be the book for you.

An easy five stars for this reader. I'm hoping there's a new Will Trent book in the works as well. show less

Moving between past and present and the different narrative voices of Leigh and Callie, the story reveals, often in disturbingly graphic detail, how their early years were blighted by a mentally disturbed, neglectful and often violent mother. Then, during their very early teens, how both were subjected to sexual abuse but whilst Leigh managed to fend off her abuser, Callie was groomed and then repeatedly raped over a period of time. From the start it’s clear that, although there’s an unbreakable bond between these two sisters, their relationship is complex and frequently ambivalent. One of the main strengths of the story for me was the many ways in which the author captured not only the positive aspects of their sisterly bond, but show more also the dysfunctional ones. I’m sure we all recognise those instinctive, inappropriate responses which usually have deep roots in historic, unresolved feelings of guilt and resentment. Both characters were so well-portrayed that, even when I found myself feeling frustrated by some of their frequently self-destructive behaviour, I felt able to empathise with them, often feeling angry on their behalf that no one in authority had offered them the support and protection they’d needed when they were younger.
In fact, whether likeable or intensely disagreeable, major or minor, each of the characters in the story felt multi-faceted, credible and crucial to the integrity of the complex plot-development. However, my one caveat is that, in order to fully engage with the story, I did need to work hard to suspend my disbelief that two young girls would be capable of so successfully covering-up the crime they committed, an act on which the central premise of the storyline is based!
The themes explored in this novel include paedophilia, rape, kidnapping, torture, family breakdown, addiction, drug-dealing, parental neglect and abuse, mental illness and psychopathic behaviour and, in her familiar style, Karin Slaughter pulls no punches in describing all these scenarios in graphic detail. Inevitably this made for an at times very disturbing, shocking and thought-provoking read and there were moments when I felt I could hardly bear to carry on feeling so immersed in such a dark and terrifying world. Although there was perhaps a little too much repetition of descriptions of some of the violent acts, I think that, on balance, the explicit detail was not gratuitously included, instead it served to evoke some of the realities of the pain and fear felt by victims of violent assaults. Fortunately, I found enough glimpses of lightness and humour to offer some temporary moments of relief from the darkness!
In her novels Karin Slaughter always includes reflections on the contemporary political, economic and social topics and concerns which are the background to her characters’ lives and, with the present-day story being set against the background of the pandemic, this story provided her with an extra dimension for such reflections. However, I felt that there was far too much repetition about the day to day minutiae of Covid safeguarding protocols, to the extent that not only did I frequently feel irritated by the frequent references to them (each of us is all too familiar with what they are!) but also felt that they added nothing to the developing story, in fact often quite the opposite because they detracted from its hard-hitting power. As did the amount of detailed information she included on the huge death toll, the economic consequences, the rapidly rising unemployment figures, the failures of the politicians and, more generally, on issues such as drug addiction, the everyday sexual harassment experienced by women, sexual abuse, male violence and predatory behaviour, to name just a few themes. Whilst I always appreciate some social commentary to provide the background to characters’ lives and the wider influences which are affecting them, there were just too many occasions when I felt the author’s reflections verged on the polemical, thereby losing much of their impact for this reader and serving only as a source of irritation! I think it also affected the pacing of the story by adding a degree of unevenness to what should have been an inexorable mounting of tension within the narrative arc of this disturbing novel.
With thanks to Readers First and the publisher for providing an uncorrected ARC in exchange for my honest review. show less

Leigh is navigating the COVID19 pandemic as well as anyone, co-parenting her daughter, Maddy, with her not-quite-ex-husband Walter and helping her addiction-troubled sister, Callie, too. Leigh is known as a great defense lawyer, one who brilliantly uses her outside-the-box thinking to get her clients off the hook. But Leigh has just met a new client who knows all about a secret crime that Leigh and Callie are guilty of, down to the last detail. And he's going to use that connection not just to get his own acquital but to blackmail Leigh into damaging his victims even further.

I'm a Karin Slaughter fan-girl, so it's little surprise that I enjoyed this one. I think it's the best of her stand alone novels yet. Even though her subject matter show more is rough, you can stay with it because the writing is just so good. She has mastered the art of internal dialogue and pacing.

I do want to say that I feel this book would be very triggering for those that have suffered sexual abuse or who struggle with addictions. show less