After That Night – Will Trent Series #11

Author: Karin Slaughter
Genre: Crime Fiction
432 pages
Publisher: William Morrow, 2023

Synopsis
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 review
After That Night is the 11th installment in the Will Trent series from Karin Slaughter. Slaughter is undeniably a fantastic storyteller and her novels are intense, dark, and gripping. While this wasn’t my favorite in the series, it’s still a hard-hitting police procedural and advances the overarching character backstories. It took me a bit longer than usual to become fully absorbed in the plot, and although I enjoyed the insights into the main characters, the police work only intensifies in the final 20% of the book. I also found the ending somewhat hard to believe.

We’re often inclined to suspect men of committing heinous acts, and while there’s no shortage of male wrongdoing in this story, Slaughter skillfully introduces a quietly deranged and unlikeable female character. Crafting female sociopaths requires skill, and when they emerge as perpetrators, manipulators, or masterminds behind violent crimes, it’s truly shocking. I must admit I didn’t see this twist coming!

Slaughter has crafted a fantastic range of characters, from the wealthy, arrogant, and entitled to the relentless and determined, as well as the greedy and corrupt. The villains are truly horrific and cunning, going to mind-boggling lengths to carry out their crimes. Thankfully, Faith Mitchell—one of my favorite characters in this series—injects some much-needed levity into the dark narrative. I even found myself laughing at the image of Mitchell’s fridge door and kitchen cabinets covered with a makeshift crime board created from her daughter’s craft supplies.

After That Night is not an easy read – Slaughter’s books rarely are. She’s one of my top authors, and I’m always excited to be drawn into the complex web of crime and deception. I can’t wait to dive into This Is Why We Lied, the next and latest book in the series.

My recommendation: read it!