After That Night (Will Trent, #11)

Title: After That Night (Will Trent, #11)

Author: Karin Slaughter

Published in: 2023

Date read: 29th August 2024

Score: 5/5

Genre: Crime, Detective, Thriller

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"After That Night" by Karin Slaughter is the eleventh book in the Will Trent series, though it heavily features Sara Linton and acts as a direct sequel to events that occurred in earlier Grant County novels, particularly "Blindsighted" (also known as "A Faint Cold Fear").

The plot begins with Dr. Sara Linton being called to the emergency room to treat a young woman who has been brutally attacked. As Sara examines the victim, she realizes that the horrific injuries echo a trauma from her own past: a violent night more than a decade ago when she and a close friend were victims of a brutal sexual assault. This unsettling connection forces Sara to relive the agonizing memories of that night, and the subsequent cover-up and injustice that allowed the perpetrators to walk free.

As the current investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that the attack on the young woman is not an isolated incident, and the methods used by the assailant bear striking similarities to the crimes from Sara's past. With the help of her husband, Will Trent, and his partner Faith Mitchell, Sara delves back into the unsolved case that has haunted her for years. They uncover new evidence and revisit old suspects, including a prominent family in the community who were instrumental in burying the truth.

The narrative weaves between the present-day investigation and flashbacks to Sara's past, revealing the full extent of the horror she endured and the profound impact it had on her life. "After That Night" is a gripping and emotionally charged thriller that explores themes of trauma, justice, resilience, and the long-lasting consequences of violence, as Sara confronts her past demons to bring a long-overdue reckoning to those responsible.

Comments:
The only negative that I have about this (and some books around it) is that when I am reading a "Will Trent" book, I want to read about Will Trent. I am pleased that Sara is back, but sometimes...I want to read more about Will.

Rant over...this is an amazing book that answers so many questions about Sara's past and fills in blanks that had, until now, been overlooked.

Books that we've read by Karin Slaughter (18):
Blindsighted (Grant County, #1) (2001), Kisscut (Grant County, #2) (2002), A Faint Cold Fear (Grant County, #3) (2003), Indelible (Grant County, #4) (2004), Faithless (Grant County, #5) (2005), Triptych (Will Trent, #1) (2006), Skin Privilege (Grant County, #6) (2007), Fractured (Will Trent, #2) (2008), Genesis (Will Trent, #3) (2009), Broken (Will Trent, #4) (2010), Fallen (Will Trent, #5) (2011), Criminal (Will Trent, #6) (2012), Unseen (Will Trent, #7) (2013), The Kept Woman (Will Trent, #8) (2016), The Last Widow (Will Trent, #9) (2019), The Silent Wife (Will Trent, #10) (2020), After That Night (Will Trent, #11) (2023), This Is Why We Lied (Will Trent, #12) (2024)