JDCMustReadBooks

By Karin Slaughter

Series:  Will Trent #6

ISBN; B005X0JUBW

Publisher: Dell

Publication Date: 1/29/2013

Format:  Audio

My Rating:  5 Stars

Karin Slaughter, the queen of Atlanta crime thrillers delivers, CRIMINAL, another 5-Star gripping, suspense novel with the sixth installment in the Will Trent series. (right up there in same category as COP TOWN, another 5 star winner "must read!

Criminal hooked me from page one to the end, Will Trent (love him) of the GA Bureau of Investigation is in a new relationship with Dr. Sara Linton, (former Grant County Medical Examiner from Broken, 2010) when there is an abduction of a 19- yr old college student, Ashleigh Snyder.

When his boss, Deputy Director Amanda Wagner, tells him to stay away from the case, Will knows something is up but unsure the connection. GA Tech sophomore Ashleigh Snyder has gone missing. Not only has she banished Will to the airport in a dead-end patrol of men's rooms, he also finds her hanging around the Techwood apartments, geographically close to Ashleigh's place.

OMG - Will learns his father (horrible SOB) has been paroled after serving 30 years of a life sentence. And now girls are going missing again! No wonder the guy is troubled with a dad like this! He learns a little more about the strange relationship he has with his boss Amanda Wagner and his dad’s past. (a shocker)!

There are two different stories going on thirty years apart. Flashing back to 1975, with alternating chapters, Amanda is a rookie with the Atlanta Police Department along with Evelyn Mitchell who later becomes the mother of Faith Mitchell (GA Bureau of Investigation-Fallen, 2011), Will’s GBI partner.

Poor Will is struggling. He wants to get closer to his girlfriend doctor Sarah Linton. But as he learns more about suspect in these disappearances he closes himself off from everyone, including Sarah and his stupid ex-wife Angie, shows up - which I despise. Poor Will cannot catch a break!

In 1975, during racism and sexism, Amanda and Evelyn refuse to abandon the case of several missing prostitutes, despite warnings from other (male) detectives to back off. Slaughter seamlessly shifts between past and present for a suspenseful ride, keeping you turning into the wee hours of the morning to learn the fate of all involved. When the two stories connect, what a powerful explosion!

Having read COP TOWN first, I fell in love with the kick-ass edgy strong women, the characters, the city (as lived in Atlanta for most of my career), and last but not least -- Karin’s compelling writing style and outstanding research– what a dynamic storyteller!

I am currently playing catch up and reading Karin's earlier books in the famous Will Trent series between all my new ARCs. Finally, I received my answers about the intriguing Special Agent Will Trent character and his history.

I did not relocate to Atlanta until the early 90s, and was so engrossed in the history of the 70s, with all its police brutality and political battles and always enjoy catching up with all the familiar landmarks and characters!

Can’t wait to read them all!