Fractured

This was a really enjoyable read. I liked the way the author keeps the mystery of the story unfolding and at the same time is able to give us delicate and intimate snapshots of the main characters and what makes them who they are.
Will Trent, talented investigator, is perhaps the least well drawn, though what makes him interesting is his major flaws - his dyslexia, his background as an orphan, his unstable partner in life whom he's in love with. His partner in the investigation, Faith, is, in my view, the best character in the whole book because we see all her conflicts and weaknesses - she doesn't like Will, she feels out of her depth, she's a single mum desperate to find a relationship that lasts. There is also Amanda Wagner, Will's show more boss, who is aloof yet disciplined and seems to rule the department with an iron hand and yet she has a soft spot for Will.
The murder is gripping, and the desperate search for clues as to the whereabouts of the missing girl will keep you reading chapter after chapter. show less

This was a really enjoyable read. I liked the way the author keeps the mystery of the story unfolding and at the same time is able to give us delicate and intimate snapshots of the main characters and what makes them who they are.
Will Trent, talented investigator, is perhaps the least well drawn, though what makes him interesting is his major flaws - his dyslexia, his background as an orphan, his unstable partner in life whom he's in love with. His partner in the investigation, Faith, is, in my view, the best character in the whole book because we see all her conflicts and weaknesses - she doesn't like Will, she feels out of her depth, she's a single mum desperate to find a relationship that lasts. There is also Amanda Wagner, Will's show more boss, who is aloof yet disciplined and seems to rule the department with an iron hand and yet she has a soft spot for Will.
The murder is gripping, and the desperate search for clues as to the whereabouts of the missing girl will keep you reading chapter after chapter. show less

This wasn’t structured with quite the same level of twists and turns as the first in the series, but I was never bored, and I liked how the case tied into Will Trent’s past and his dyslexia, allowing for more insight into his character at the same time as you’re engaged in the suspense of whether or not they’ll track down the missing girl in time.

You also get a few glimpses of beloved little Betty, Will’s dog, as well as Will’s messy personal life with Angie that has sort of gone up a level here. I wouldn’t have minded finding out a bit more about Angie considering the events of book one involving her, still, since strictly procedural wouldn’t work for me, I do appreciate that we go home with these characters, even if it show more is only briefly, seeing Faith out with a man or with her son adds to your understanding of who she is on the job and makes it that much easier to jump on board with her introduction to the series.

Also, I’ve read too many epilogues that feel unnecessary so I really liked that this one offered welcome follow-up that closed out the story in a satisfying way. show less

Sometimes, all you could do was pray for the strength to carry on.

A very fitting quote that applies well to the entire scope of Fractured. This book is INTENSE. The action and suspense starts immediately and doesn't let up as a family clings to the tiniest glimmer of hope that their daughter will be found alive. The book begins with a tragic crime in the Campano home. Right away there are twists in the plot and shocking surprises I never imagined. The emotion radiated off the pages, amping up the suspense, the anxiety of the family, the frustration of Detective Will Trent and other law enforcement personnel, etc.

Karin Slaughter really shines when it comes to writing crime drama from the law enforcement perspective and I think it's show more because her characters always give it that extra edge. She doesn't know how to write a cookie cutter character. Be it a villain, a hero, or just a one scene witness, he/she will be as complex, emotional, and thought provoking as possible. This is why I keep returning to her books.

Fractured is the second book in the Will Trent series and so far, I'm deeply intrigued by his mysterious personality. We're given a glimpse into his childhood and gain a little more understanding as to why he seems so broken and lonely. I really like his investigative style and his eye for detail. He picks up on clues at the scene that might not stand out to others, but yet he struggles with a learning disability that he's hiding from his superiors. He's walking a constant tight rope as far as his job is concerned and this time, the life of a 17-year-old girl hangs in the balance. I also enjoyed getting to know Amanda and hope that we will see her work with Trent again in future books. She's another character with multiple layers to explore.

I've mentioned before that these books aren't for everyone. The violence is graphic and the subject matter is definitely adult: issues dealing with teenage sex, sexual exploitation of a minor, rape, and other violence. As always, theses tough issues are realistic and not just thrown in for shock value.

I'll be moving on to book three! show less

Fractured is the second book in the Will Trent series, and this was a good follow-up to a stellar first book. The case featured in this one was quite dark, and with lots of twists and turns, made me question who I thought was guilty. I love how the author throws these subtle red herrings into the story making you question everything and everyone.

While I don't dislike Angie, and I understand that we will probably learn a lot more about the horror inflicted on them during their childhoods, I was actually glad to see her take a back seat in this one and have Faith introduced as Will's new partner. Faith is a smart and interesting and her character really developed throughout the story. This case was particularly personal for Will and I show more liked how he re-examined his own learning and education through this book through the characters and situations he meant. If I'm being obscure, I'm trying really hard not give anything away.

And happily, the scenes with Betty make me smile in a book that was actually quite dark. I'm glad the author realized we needed some levity when tackling the subject matter in this book. This book made me want to hug my daughter a little bit harder and longer (or maybe just not let her go at all). show less

A woman comes home to find a man with a knife hunched over what she believes to be the dead body of her teenage daughter. She did what she felt she had to do, and fought back, killing him. But all was not as it appeared.

This is the first Karin Slaughter book I have read, and I loved every second of it. Slaughter's writing style reminds me a lot of Lisa Gardner's, which is a huge compliment from me because I adore her books also. The story was gripping and I genuinely couldn't figure out who did it. I'm not used to being unable to figure it out - usually my overly-analytical brain doesn't give up until it's done, but I think that the plot for this book was so enthralling that I couldn't think of anything at all, I was far too engrossed. show more

Slaughter really seems to care a great deal about her characters. Throughout the book, I really felt like I got to know them and actually developed some deep feelings towards them. I was actually really saddened when I turned the last page; I just wanted to stay there with them. I'm already looking into the next book in the series because I feel like I can't stay away from my beloved Will Trent for much longer.

I can't speak too much about the writing style. I simply wasn't paying attention to it. I know that she is considered to write quite vigorously and can be quite a tough read, but I didn't find this at all. I found this book to almost turn the pages itself. I was reading, and then before I knew it, I was at the end. It took me two days to read over 500 pages and I think that really speaks volumes for how much it captivated me and how easy to read I found this book. It was a sophisticated book, though, and that's for sure.

Both the plot and characters were incredibly realistic. This is important to me (although I can't say why). The plot itself was captivating and really leaves you wanting more. Everything ties in nicely with everything else, and despite all loose ends being tied at the end, it wasn't perfect. And that lack of perfection at the ending really adds to the realism of the story. Slaughter writes as though she's just telling a tale of something that happened in real life, and I think that when writing a thriller, the scariest and most captivating of tales are those that we can see really happening to our neighbour, our father, ourselves. It is brilliant.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book and am so excited to read the next in the series. show less

Abigail Campano walks into her house to find her daughter Emma dead, a man still standing over her with a knife. Without thinking about danger to herself she attacks the man, choking him to death. When the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Will Trent arrives, he reads the devastating scene in a completely different way. Someone is dead, but it isn't Emma. It appears that Emma has been kidnapped. Will is paired up in this investigation with Atlanta Police Detective Faith Mitchell, who despises Will for her own personal reasons.

This is the second book of the Will Trent series and the one where Faith makes her debut. Having read this series previously, I enjoyed seeing how far their work relationship has evolved over the years. Will is a show more completely different type of investigator than I'm used to. He's tall and ungainly, has a pet Chihuahua named Betty, the “social skills of a feral monkey”, and he's been keeping his dyslexia a secret for years.

I've started to listen to the entire series in audio and Phil Gigante does a sensational job with his narration. The author does a remarkable job of mixing mystery and suspense with outstanding character development. Fractured kept me on the edge of my seat and I'm anxious to read the next book in the series, Undone. show less