Kisscut by Karin Slaughter Narrator: Kathleen Early
Series: Grant County #2
Published by HarperAudio on February 10, 2015
Genres: Suspense
Length: 12 hours and 39 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
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Saturday night dates at the skating rink have been a tradition in the small southern town of Heartsdale for as long as anyone can remember, but when a teenage quarrel explodes into a deadly shoot-out, Sara Linton - the town's pediatrician and medical examiner - finds herself entangled in a terrible tragedy.
What seemed at first to be a horrific but individual catastrophe proves to have wider implications. The autopsy reveals evidence of long-term abuse, of ritualistic self -mutilation, but when Sara and police chief Jeffrey Tolliver start to investigate, they are frustrated at every turn.
The children surrounding the victim close ranks. The families turn their backs. Then a young girl is abducted, and it becomes clear that the first death is linked to an even more brutal crime, one far more shocking than anyone could have imagined. Meanwhile, detective Lena Adams, still recovering from her sister's death and her own brutal attack, finds herself drawn to a young man who might hold the answers. But unless Lena, Sara, and Jeffrey can uncover the deadly secrets the children hide, it's going to happen again...
So, first, I want to say, this story can trigger some people. This is a crime novel, which means you read some pretty horrible stories. Personally, I like being in a world where the bad guys are always caught and justice is served. But that also means I end up reading some pretty horrific stories (I’m also a horror reader, so it takes a lot to really get me). I will say, the stuff I read about in this story really took me aback.
Trigger warning for the book, not the review: teenage pregnancy which doesn’t end well, female genital mutilation and suicide by cop.
Kisscut is one of the tougher Karin Slaughter stories I’ve read. For a small town county in Georgia, there are some really horrific things going on in this Grant County series (probably why the Will Trent series is set in Atlanta). I don’t want to go into what happens in this story, because they are pretty disturbing and I don’t want to give spoilers or to trigger anyone. Just know the story is very well written. I think she tackles some really difficult subjects very well.
We also get more character/story development in the realms of Sara and Jeffrey, and in Lena coping with what happens in the first book, Blindsighted. I like how Slaughter gives us the lives of the main characters while also getting these very intense crime stories. She has the perfect amount of both.
While you could read this without having read the first book, I wouldn’t recommend it. Each story does build on the previous story, so to get the best experience, I would start with the first book.
Narration
I love the narration of Kathleen Early. She does such a fabulous job with these books which go to some really dark places. I love all the voices she gives to the characters. In this one, there’s several teenagers, which she voices just as well as the adults and you can hear how young they are in the way they speak. She is perfect for this series.
Listen to a clip:
About Kathleen Early
Kathleen Early has performed on Broadway, as well as performing off-Broadway and at a number of regional theaters. She has made forays into the film and television world, winning a Beverly Hills Film Festival Outstanding Female Performance Award for her part in Trip in a Summer Dress. She was most recently seen as Dr. Dasiy Pepman on Grey’s Anatomy, and will be Nurse Kathy on the upcoming series Miami Medical.
About Karin Slaughter
Karin Slaughter is one of the world’s most popular and acclaimed storytellers. Published in 120 countries with more than 35 million copies sold across the globe, her nineteen novels include the Grant County and Will Trent books, as well as the Edgar-nominated COP TOWN and the instant NEW YORK TIMES bestselling novels PRETTY GIRLS, THE GOOD DAUGHTER, and PIECES OF HER. Slaughter is the founder of the Save the Libraries project—a nonprofit organization established to support libraries and library programming. A native of Georgia, Karin Slaughter lives in Atlanta. Her standalone novels PIECES OF HER, THE GOOD DAUGHTER, and COP TOWN are in development for film and television.
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I started listening to audiobooks when a new book in a series was coming out and I wanted to get a refresher, but didn’t have time to read all the books (I think it was Anita Blake). I fell in love. I stayed with strictly re-reading books that I’d already read for a long time. I eventually tried an audiobook for something that I hadn’t read first and was hooked there too. Now, I listen to audio for both re-reads and first time. I have some series that I’ve given up reading and only listen. I try to get any many books/audiobooks from the library to help save on my budget. Books on CD and the newer digital downloads from the library really allow me to listen more. I then purchase my favorites (because who can wait in line for your favorite book??) and less mainstream books from Audible or some other online retailer.
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Excellent review, Melanie? You’ve set it up perfectly. This series is definitely not for the faint hearted. I’m excited that you’re listening to the books, too, as Early is just great.
This series seems to be darker than even the Will Trent series, which surprises me. I am really enjoying it. I only have the one left to listen to before moving back to Will Trent. While I’ve enjoyed this series, I do miss Will Trent. He’s such a fun character, in a weird way.
everything about kisscut appeals to me. i’ve read some of karin’s work, but not this one….yet
I started with the Will Trent series. Will Trent is a spin off from this series. I started with Will Trent and then switched to this one in the middle of the series. I have one book left in this series, then I’ll go back to Will Trent. I’ve really enjoyed both. This one is surprisingly darker.
I appreciate the warning that these can get a bit gruesome, but I do love that the mystery and the characters are developed well and build on what came before.
I do really love this series, but it can trigger some people. I like to live in a fantasy world where the criminals are always caught.
I love this author and narrator so much!! I’m glad you are enjoying it too.
Such a fun series. I’ve really been enjoying them. Once I’m caught up with Will Trent, I’ll try some of her other stuff.
Love your review! I love Karin Slaughter. I haven’t read her books in a while now, but I do love her. And an audiobook of one of her book sounds great. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I just started reading Karin Slaughter late last year, but I’ve been flying through her books. I’m really enjoying her work.
I enjoy crime fiction. Thanks for the warning about listening to book one first.
I’m really loving this series. Karin Slaughter write wonderful characters. The mystery is always good too.