I very much enjoyed After That Night by Karin Slaughter which is the 11th in the Will Trent series. I must have missed one or two I think as I think I knew Will and Sara Linton were together but had forgotten how much I like their relationship and the way they complement each other.

The underlying plot here is shocking though I’ve read similar books. It’s a reminder that sociopaths somehow manage to find one another and also raises the nature vs nurture debate.

After That Night
by Karin Slaughter
Series: Will Trent #11
Published by HarperCollins - AU
on 05/07/2023
Source: Harper Collins
Genres: Crime Fiction
ISBN: 1460760948
Pages: 422

Goodreads

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.

There’s a focus on rape cases here, which could be triggering for some. Indeed it is for Sara and the book opens in the past with Sara trying to save a young dying woman who claims she’s been raped. We then move to the present and the accused – from a wealthy family – has escaped criminal charges, but the girl’s parents have taken him to the civil court… which is when Sara comes across people from her past.

Not only does she see similarities between the case before the court, and her own but someone who was there at the time of her own rape intimates that there’s a link. And when Sara, Will and Will’s GBI partner Faith find more cases that involve tragic deaths after young women are stalked, harassed then raped, they go off the books delving into Sara’s past and those around at the time.

As I mentioned, I’ve read similar books so kinda guessed where this was going – though Slaughter throws in a nice twist at the end – but the real joy here are the characters she gives us. Sara, Will and Faith feel very real and Slaughter’s able to effortlessly connect readers to them in a way that made me feel as if I was there with them.

After That Night by Karin Slaughter was published in Australia by Harper Collins and is now available.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.