The Silent Wife – Will Trent Series #10

Author: Karin Slaughter
Genre: Crime Fiction
496 pages
Publisher: William Morrow, 2020

Synopsis
Investigating the killing of a prisoner during a riot inside a state penitentiary, GBI investigator Will Trent is confronted with disturbing information. One of the inmates claims that he is innocent of a brutal attack for which he has always been the prime suspect. The man insists that he was framed by a corrupt law enforcement team led by Jeffrey Tolliver and that the real culprit is still out there—a serial killer who has systematically been preying on women across the state for years. If Will reopens the investigation and implicates the dead police officer with a hero’s reputation of wrongdoing, the opportunistic convict is willing to provide the information GBI needs about the riot murder.

Only days ago, another young woman was viciously murdered in a state park in northern Georgia. Is it a fluke, or could there be a serial killer on the loose?

As Will Trent digs into both crimes it becomes clear that he must solve the cold case in order to find the answer. Yet nearly a decade has passed—time for memories to fade, witnesses to vanish, evidence to disappear, and lies to become truth. But Will can’t crack either mystery without the help of the one person he doesn’t want involved: his girlfriend and Jeffrey Tolliver’s widow, medical examiner Sara Linton.

When the past and present begin to collide, Will realizes that everything he values is at stake . . .

My review
The Silent Wife is the 10th installment in the Will Trent series and is yet another impressive addition. Over the years, I’ve followed the series, and each new book feels like reconnecting with old friends, uncovering more about their lives. Although I haven’t read the Grant County series, I found it fascinating to learn more about Sara Linton’s past, especially her relationship with her late husband, Jeffrey Tolliver. Slaughter’s writing remains raw and gritty, unafraid to confront the darkest aspects of human nature. She masterfully weaves true evil into her stories, showcasing her exceptional storytelling. Her books are consistently gripping, well-crafted, and truly thrilling.

Slaughter’s books are often challenging reads, given their frequent depictions of violence against women and children. Yet, amid the harrowing narrative of extreme violence and assault, there’s a powerful thread of resilience—showing the strength to survive unimaginable horrors and trauma. The bond of undeniable love between Linton and Trent adds a layer of hope to the darkness, and one of my favorite characters, Faith Mitchell, consistently brings humor and wit to the intense plot, adding a much-needed touch of levity to the storyline.

The Silent Wife is both intensely engaging and graphically dark. While love stories play an important role, the heart of the Will Trent series lies in its characters, their relationships, friendships, and the chilling crimes they tackle. This story is brilliantly crafted, deeply dark, and disturbing storytelling, and I highly recommend it to fans of crime and thriller genres. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series, After That Night.

My recommendation: read it!