The Kept Woman (Will Trent, #8)

Title: The Kept Woman (Will Trent, #8)

Author: Karin Slaughter

Published in: 2016

Date read: 16th June 2024

Score: 5/5

Genre: Crime, Detective, Thriller

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"The Kept Woman," published in 2016, is a chilling and complex thriller by Karin Slaughter, serving as the eighth novel in her popular Will Trent series. It reunites GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigation) agent Will Trent with medical examiner Dr. Sara Linton, plunging them into a gruesome murder investigation with deeply personal and unsettling connections.

The story begins with the discovery of a brutally murdered former police detective at a major construction site in downtown Atlanta, on the grounds of what was once the iconic Atlanta Braves baseball stadium. The site is being redeveloped into a massive mixed-use complex, adding a unique and expansive backdrop to the crime.

Will Trent is called to investigate the homicide. The scene is particularly disturbing, and as he delves into the case, he uncovers layers of corruption, secrets, and a web of relationships that extend far beyond a simple murder. He soon discovers that the victim had been involved with a high-profile, influential man – a powerful attorney with significant political connections – who appears to have kept a secret second life.

As the investigation progresses, the case takes a deeply personal turn for Sara Linton. The victim's former life and connections lead directly to her own past and threaten to expose secrets she believed were long buried. This forces Sara to confront painful memories and make difficult choices, blurring the lines between her professional duty and her personal history. The intricate and often fraught relationship between Will and Sara is further tested by the pressures of the case and the echoes from their respective pasts.

The "kept woman" of the title refers to a key figure in the mystery, whose identity and role are central to understanding the victim's death and the larger conspiracy at play. Slaughter masterfully crafts a narrative filled with twists and turns, exploring themes of hidden lives, betrayal, abuse of power, and the long-lasting impact of past traumas.

Will Trent, with his keen observational skills and ability to see what others miss, navigates the complexities of the case, facing resistance from powerful figures and internal conflicts within the police force. The novel is characterized by its gritty realism, psychological depth, and the author's unflinching portrayal of violence and its consequences. The climax is a tense and dangerous confrontation where the true nature of the "kept woman" is revealed, and Will and Sara must fight not only for justice but for their own survival, as the secrets unearthed threaten to consume them.

Comments:
Truly is one of her best (if not the best) in this series.

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)