Thank you Netgalley / Blackstone Audio, for the ALC and William Morrow Books, #partner for the advanced copy of After That Night in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: William Morrow Books / Blackstone Audio
Published: August 22, 2020
Summary:
After that night, nothing was ever the same again
Fifteen years ago, Sara Linton’s life changed forever when a celebratory night out ended in a violent attack that tore her world apart. Since then, Sara has remade her life. A successful doctor, engaged to a man she loves, she has finally managed to leave the past behind her.
Until one evening, on call in the ER, everything changes. Sara battles to save a broken young woman who’s been brutally attacked. But as the investigation progresses, led by GBI Special Agent Will Trent, it becomes clear that Dani Cooper’s assault is uncannily linked to Sara’s.
And it seems the past isn’t going to stay buried forever.
My thoughts:
This is book we didn’t know we needed but man am I glad we got! And once again, I cannot get over what a plotting genius Karin Slaughter is!
While this book can certainly be read as a standalone, if you have read both the Grant County series and all the Will Trent books up to this point, you know there have been hints about this storyline that have been dropped all along. We knew something happened to Sara, we’ve gotten bits and pieces of it but not the whole history and I’m so glad to finally have gotten the entire story. All along I’ve said one of my favorite parts of these two series has been the phenomenal character development that has been an integral part of this series. This is part of Sara’s story that makes her who she is today.
As usual, we have a dark and gritty story, made all the more intense because part of it involves what happened to Sara, having her have to relive that horrible trauma over and over again. What I love about these books is that Karin Slaughter doesn’t hold anything back, yet she also doesn’t do anything gratuitously. Yes, these books can be graphic and they do involve violence against women, especially this one. But I love how she is able to also balance the heavy with the light – there are moments of humor thrown in to break things up at just the right time.
This has easily become one of my favorite series. While it’s not always an easy read, I find I am completely captivated by the story. It’s an intense read, one I cannot put down once I start it and then once I finish, I’m already looking forward to the next one!
Audio thoughts:
I absolutely love the narration of this series, especially since Kathleen Early continues to narrate! She manages to be so consistent with the voices from book to book that I feel like reconnecting with old friends when I pick up a new book in this series. It’s amazing and I do hope she continues to narrate for as long as the series goes on. Her pacing is spot on and she infuses just the right amount of tension and emotion into her voice as needed.
Books in this series:
5.5 Snatched
6.5 Busted
11. After That Night
