The Last Widow, by Karin Slaughter {Book Review}

The reading slump and the struggle is real at the moment! I have been going through these ups and downs during lockdown…read read read….followed by not touching a book for 2 weeks. This in turn gives me anxiety, because my #ToBeRead stack is not getting smaller! All that seemed to improve when I picked up The Last Widow though. I have been wanting to read a Karin Slaughter book for ages, so I was thrilled when I spotted this on sale (R99) at Bargain Books a few weeks ago. Will Karin cure my reading slump?? Let’s find out….

What is The Last Widow about?

A mysterious kidnapping

On a hot summer night, a scientist from the Centers for Disease Control is grabbed by unknown assailants in a shopping center parking lot. Vanished into thin air, the authorities are desperate to save the doctor.

A devastating explosion

One month later, the serenity of a sunny Sunday afternoon is shattered by the boom of a ground-shaking blast—followed by another seconds later. One of Atlanta’s busiest and most important neighborhood’s has been bombed—the location of Emory University, two major hospitals, the FBI headquarters, and the CDC.

A diabolical enemy

Medical examiner Sara Linton and her partner Will Trent, an investigator with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, rush to the scene—and into the heart of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to destroy thousands of innocent lives. When the assailants abduct Sara, Will goes undercover to save her and prevent a massacre—putting his own life on the line for the woman and the country he loves.

My Review

Characters and Story line

I really found the characters in this book really interesting and well developed. They had strong personalities and I felt like they were really developed as soon as I started reading. So it all made a lot of sense when I realised that this was in fact the NINTH book featuring Will Trent. Even though this is the 9th book it reads well as a standalone, so don’t let that put you off.

That being said….I was surprised to realise that Will was the protagonist in the book, as Sara’s story and personality impacted me more. However, I still really am fond of Will too.

The story line….going in, the synopsis does not give you (well me) too much to go on. I had no idea what I was in for or what to expect….If the undercover operation was going to be about drugs, trafficking or something even more sinister.

My thoughts

This is a loooooong book, so be prepared for that. Some times, I felt like while I was reading, it felt like I wasn’t moving….like I was reading for ages, but I’d only be on chapter 2. I know this sounds like a bad thing, but it really wasn’t. Yes the book is thick and detailed, but it takes place over the course of 3 days….so there was a  lot of information to get through, almost on an hourly basis. That in no way detracts from the my experience with this book. Karin Slaughter is a talented writer and I’ve never been so engrossed in a super ‘wordy’ book before!

The Last Widow is absolutely action packed and suspenseful from page 1. Once you get on this roller coaster, you will not want to get off! In fact, you will beg them to go faster. lol

There were a few (very few) parts I glossed over, but for the most part, I enjoyed reading the multiple POV’s from the same starting point.

My rating

The Last Widow has a Goodreads rating of 4.08 stars out of 5. I am in agreement with that, and rate it a solid 4 stars myself. I’m docking a star probably due to the length and the information overload at times. Otherwise a great read….I love Karin’s writing style and am currently reading her latest book, The Silent Wife. So far I am thoroughly enjoying it. Look out for that review coming soon…..

Have you ever read a Karin Slaughter book before? Honestly, her writing has sparked a love of reading again and I realise I’ve been sleeping on this author. I need to read ALL her books!