Husbands and wives. Mothers and daughters. The past and the future. Secrets bind them. And secrets can destroy them. The author of Pretty Girls returns with an electrifying, emotionally complex thriller that plunges its fascinating protagonist into the darkest depths of a mystery that just might destroy him. With the discovery of a murder at an abandoned construction site, Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is brought in on a case that becomes much more dangerous when the dead man is identified as an ex-cop. Studying the body, Sara Linton—the GBI’s newest medical examiner and Will’s lover—realizes that the extensive blood loss didn't belong to the corpse. Sure enough, bloody footprints leading away from the scene indicate there is another victim—a woman—who has vanished . . . and who will die soon if she isn’t found. Will is already compromised, because the site belongs to the city’s most popular citizen: a wealthy, powerful, and politically connected athlete protected by the world’s most expensive lawyers—a man who’s already gotten away with rape, despite Will’s exhaustive efforts to put him away. But the worst is yet to come. Evidence soon links Will’s troubled past to the case . . . and the consequences will tear through his life with the force of a tornado, wreaking havoc for Will and everyone around him, including his colleagues, family, friends—and even the suspects he pursues. Relentlessly suspenseful and furiously paced, peopled with conflicted, fallible characters who leap from the page, The Kept Woman is a seamless blend of twisty police procedural and ingenious psychological thriller -- a searing, unforgettable novel of love, loss, and redemption.
I had the pleasure of listening to this on a road trip with my husband. I love buddy reading with him, especially in real time together, so we can discuss little things and ideas as we get to them throughout the book. This story was intense. I have only read Pretty Girls by her and from that alone I should have expected this. She is what her name sake suggests, a Slaughter"er". She slaughters your mind and everyone in her books are open game to be slaughtered in the most vicious and corrupt ways. She did an excellent job building up all this history between characters, which made the deaths even more personable and scandalous. My only downfall which was a compliment in the long haul was with the fluff and length of the story. After finishing it, I now understand why it was necessary. It built this intricate web of connections and lies, but while I was in the story at points I just wanted to get to the juicy part already. Her violent scenes play like a movie, which is what drew me back to her writing after Pretty Girls. I would sit back and watch the suspenseful scenes unfold instead of just listen. She has an art with portraying the detail and I don't know whether to love that or be scared. This was perfect as a stand alone and didn't leave anything in question, but it was so good I will be adding the rest of this series to my TBR list.