Genesis (Will Trent, #3)

Title: Genesis (Will Trent, #3)

Author: Karin Slaughter

Published in: 2009

Date read: 2nd September 2023

Score: 5/5

Genre: Crime, Detective, Thriller, Psychological

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Genesis" by Karin Slaughter is the third novel in her Grant County series, preceding the "Will Trent" series but featuring characters who later cross over. It's a dark and intense thriller that delves into medical horror and the abuse of power.

The story opens with Dr. Sara Linton, a paediatrician and the ex-wife of Police Chief Jeffrey Tolliver, responding to a horrific incident at the local college. A young woman, presumed dead, is discovered in a bathroom stall, having bled out after giving birth to a baby that is nowhere to be found. The scene is incredibly disturbing, pointing to extreme violence and a desperate attempt to conceal the truth.

As Sara begins to investigate the medical aspects of the case, Police Chief Jeffrey Tolliver and his detective Lena Adams lead the criminal investigation. They quickly discover that the victim is a student with a troubled past. What initially appears to be a tragic and isolated incident soon unravels into something far more sinister and widespread.

The investigation leads them to a secretive and powerful cult-like group that operates under the guise of an alternative medical facility or community. This group, led by a charismatic but twisted individual, preys on vulnerable young women, exploiting them for their bodies and their babies in horrific ways. The women are kept in isolation, subjected to inhumane conditions, and used for forced pregnancies, with the infants then sold or adopted through illicit channels.

As Sara, Jeffrey, and Lena dig deeper, they uncover a terrifying network of abuse and corruption that reaches beyond the immediate community. The cult is adept at hiding its tracks and manipulating its victims, making it difficult for the authorities to gather evidence and find the missing babies.

The novel builds to a horrifying climax as the team closes in on the cult's compound, leading to a brutal confrontation. Sara's medical expertise becomes crucial, as does Jeffrey's unwavering determination to uncover the truth and bring the perpetrators to justice, even as they face immense personal danger. "Genesis" is a grim and unflinching exploration of exploitation, the violation of bodily autonomy, and the lengths to which people will go to conceal unspeakable crimes.

Comments:
Great story, a strange way to resurrect the Grant County stories.

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)