Call number
MYST SLA
Collection
Genres
Publication
William Morrow (2017), Edition: Reprint, 592 pages
Description
It's the most dangerous case of Will Trent's career. He knows this from the moment he sets foot in the abandoned Atlanta warehouse where a body lies on the floor--the body of an ex-cop. Bloody footprints leading away from the scene reveal that another victim, evidently a woman, was carried away ... and has vanished into thin air. And, worst of all, the warehouse belongs to the city's biggest and most high-profile athlete--a local hero protected by the world's most expensive lawyers. A hero married to Will's ex-wife. A hero whom Will's superiors at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation have spent the last six months investigating for rape.But for Will--and also for Sara Linton, the GBI's newest medical examiner--the case is about to get even worse. Because an unexpected discovery at the scene reveals a personal link to Will's troubled past ... and the consequences will wreak havoc on his life and the lives of those he loves, those he works with, and those he pursues.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member atticusfinch1048
The Kept Woman – A Will Trent Classic
Karin Slaughter once again proves why she is one of the world’s best crime thriller writers with The Kept Woman, proves that once again she is on top of the genre. With her Will Trent series, she once again brings back the much loved Atlanta investigator and
When a body is discovered in an empty warehouse, that is waiting to be converted, it is the body of an ex-cop in Atlanta, not a good cop either so there could be plenty of people to investigate. When bloody footprints are discovered they know that a female victim has vanished from the scene.
Will rapidly learns whatever happens in this case it is going to revolve around him, Angie and Sara, will he be able to hold himself together? Sara trying to support her man, while Angie is doing what Angie does best, messing with his head, while making sure that she is fine. What makes this book so brilliant is the way that Slaughter has written the interplay amongst the characters, and all the women in Will’s life are certainly far stronger willed than him.
As Will investigates the case, it brings him back into the corrupt world of sports agents, and a case that got away from him, and he would love to put back on track. Once again we are in the dark world of murder, money and rape, with child abduction thrown in for good measure.
Karin Slaughter has once again delivered a dark and twisted thriller that hits all the buttons the reader lovers from her books. The way in which Slaughter weaves the current investigation with previous cases once again proves how well planned her books are. Slaughter realises that in true police work there are no isolated cases, some run in to each other and influence an investigation.
The Kept Woman is classic Karin Slaughter that draws the reader in and holds them hostage all the way to the end when you are left breathless and panting. This leaves you wanting more, asking questions of Will, Angie and Sarah, and at times as a man I too want to just shout at Will to get his act together!
I cannot recommend The Kept Woman highly enough as it is classic Will Trent.
Karin Slaughter once again proves why she is one of the world’s best crime thriller writers with The Kept Woman, proves that once again she is on top of the genre. With her Will Trent series, she once again brings back the much loved Atlanta investigator and
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this time places him very much front and centre of the story, more than he would like to be anyway.When a body is discovered in an empty warehouse, that is waiting to be converted, it is the body of an ex-cop in Atlanta, not a good cop either so there could be plenty of people to investigate. When bloody footprints are discovered they know that a female victim has vanished from the scene.
Will rapidly learns whatever happens in this case it is going to revolve around him, Angie and Sara, will he be able to hold himself together? Sara trying to support her man, while Angie is doing what Angie does best, messing with his head, while making sure that she is fine. What makes this book so brilliant is the way that Slaughter has written the interplay amongst the characters, and all the women in Will’s life are certainly far stronger willed than him.
As Will investigates the case, it brings him back into the corrupt world of sports agents, and a case that got away from him, and he would love to put back on track. Once again we are in the dark world of murder, money and rape, with child abduction thrown in for good measure.
Karin Slaughter has once again delivered a dark and twisted thriller that hits all the buttons the reader lovers from her books. The way in which Slaughter weaves the current investigation with previous cases once again proves how well planned her books are. Slaughter realises that in true police work there are no isolated cases, some run in to each other and influence an investigation.
The Kept Woman is classic Karin Slaughter that draws the reader in and holds them hostage all the way to the end when you are left breathless and panting. This leaves you wanting more, asking questions of Will, Angie and Sarah, and at times as a man I too want to just shout at Will to get his act together!
I cannot recommend The Kept Woman highly enough as it is classic Will Trent.
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LibraryThing member nbmars
The Kept Woman is the 8th book in the Will Trent series by the never-disappointing Karin Slaughter.
As this book begins, Will Trent, Special Agent of the Georgia FBI, has been dating Sara Linton, a doctor and widow of a police officer, for eighteen months. But he is still technically married to
“Angie would go away. She would have a little fun, then a little more fun, then a little too much fun, which would necessitate her going back to Will so that she could recharge. Or hide out. Or whatever she needed to do in order to reset herself. That was what Will was for. He was her safe harbor. She had never anticipated that a fucking red-headed dinghy would drop anchor in her calm waters.”
In this book, Sara, the “red-headed dinghy,” officially joined the GBI as a medical examiner two weeks before. She is now Will’s colleague as well as his lover. Will, Sara, and Will’s partner Faith all report to Deputy Director Amanda Wagner, who has ties to each of them that transcend the job.
When the story begins, they are called to a crime scene in an abandoned Atlanta nightclub owned by a prominent sports figure, Marcus Rippy. Will had just spent the last seven months trying to get Rippy convicted of rape, to no avail. Faith asks Will, “What’s a dead ex-cop doing inside Marcus Rippy’s club less than two weeks after he walks on a rape charge?” None of them believe in coincidences.
Discussion: As in her other books, Slaughter seamlessly integrates into her story commentary on sexual abuse, child abuse, battered women, gender relationships, and the outlook for the impoverished, with a fierce compassion that insists you don’t look away from what happens outside of the perhaps sheltered lives of the readers of her books.
In this story, Slaughter also tackles the phenomenon of highly paid, very powerful sports figures who can get away with a great deal of misbehavior (including toward women) because of their financial “value” to a team and the city in which the team plays. With their very expensive lawyers and cadre of paid-off politicians and enforcement officers, sports figures don’t have much to worry about from accusations of misconduct by young women of little resources, especially if the woman was anything less than a saint.
Slaughter also turns a sympathetic eye to the team wives, with a perceptive assessment of their situations:
“She was thin. Too thin, but maybe that came with the territory. The other wives on the team were always cleansing or dieting or going to spinning classes or plastic surgeons to get things sucked and filled and pinned back up so they could compete with the groupies who swarmed their husbands. They need not have bothered. Their husbands were not attracted to the groupies because they were hotter than their wives. They were attracted the them because they were groupies.
It was a hell of a lot more fun to be with somebody who thought you were perfect than it was to be with a woman who wouldn’t put up with your shit.”
Sometimes, being the wife of a sports player also coincided with being battered, and there wasn't much hope of escape:
“The most life-threatening time for a battered woman was when she tried to leave her abuser. The only thing that shifted the odds was having another man around to protect her.”
Either way, the woman was not her own person; she was a kept woman, hence the title of this book.
One passage is worth quoting to show the layered ways Slaughter portrays the abuse of women and children, and her outrage and sadness over the continued existence of these problems. Will and his partner Faith are discussing how Angie “took care of” kids when Angie was in the police force:
“Will said, ‘Angie worked vice. The young ones - she kind of took them under her wing.’
Faith: ‘And gave them pills to sell?’
Will rubbed his jaw. ‘Angie knows what it’s like to be stuck in that kind of situation with no one looking out for you.’
‘You’ve lost me,’ Faith said. ‘I don’t see the compassionate side of turning a ten-year-old into a drug mule.’
‘Which is worse: selling Oxy or selling sex?’
‘Those are the only two choices?’
‘For kids like that, stuck in the system, changing schools and foster homes five times a year, never knowing where they’re gonna sleep from one night to the next?’ He sounded emphatic. ‘Yeah, those are the choices.’”
Will should know; he had been in that system himself, as had Angie, which is one reason why he has stuck by her so steadfastly. Sara loves him for it, but is terrified at the same time; when Angie is in trouble, will he stick with Sara? Or can he not resist the pull Angie has exerted over him their whole lives?
Evaluation: Slaughter is not only an ardent and tireless advocate for the underclasses, but an excellent writer of thrillers. Her stories are consistently engaging and often gripping. Her characters are multi-faceted and her knowledge of the justice system is exceptional.
Can this be read as a standalone? Probably, but it would be more rewarding to read her books in sequence so you can pick up all the nuances of the evolving relationships.
The Will Trent Series in Order:
Triptych - 2006
Fractured - 2008
Undone - 2009
Broken - 2010
Fallen - 2011
Snatched - 2012
Criminal - 2012
Unseen - 2013
The Kept Woman - 2016
As this book begins, Will Trent, Special Agent of the Georgia FBI, has been dating Sara Linton, a doctor and widow of a police officer, for eighteen months. But he is still technically married to
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Angie Polaski, who has been “flitting in and out of Will’s life like a mosquito since he was eleven years old.” To Will, Angie has been like an older sister, a twisted lover, and a hateful wife. As for Angie, she both loves Will and hates him, and doesn't want to let him go. At the very least, she wants to be the one who decides. And above all, she does not want him to feel what he does for Sara Linton. As Angie reflects on Will's role in her life and the threat to it that Sara posed:“Angie would go away. She would have a little fun, then a little more fun, then a little too much fun, which would necessitate her going back to Will so that she could recharge. Or hide out. Or whatever she needed to do in order to reset herself. That was what Will was for. He was her safe harbor. She had never anticipated that a fucking red-headed dinghy would drop anchor in her calm waters.”
In this book, Sara, the “red-headed dinghy,” officially joined the GBI as a medical examiner two weeks before. She is now Will’s colleague as well as his lover. Will, Sara, and Will’s partner Faith all report to Deputy Director Amanda Wagner, who has ties to each of them that transcend the job.
When the story begins, they are called to a crime scene in an abandoned Atlanta nightclub owned by a prominent sports figure, Marcus Rippy. Will had just spent the last seven months trying to get Rippy convicted of rape, to no avail. Faith asks Will, “What’s a dead ex-cop doing inside Marcus Rippy’s club less than two weeks after he walks on a rape charge?” None of them believe in coincidences.
Discussion: As in her other books, Slaughter seamlessly integrates into her story commentary on sexual abuse, child abuse, battered women, gender relationships, and the outlook for the impoverished, with a fierce compassion that insists you don’t look away from what happens outside of the perhaps sheltered lives of the readers of her books.
In this story, Slaughter also tackles the phenomenon of highly paid, very powerful sports figures who can get away with a great deal of misbehavior (including toward women) because of their financial “value” to a team and the city in which the team plays. With their very expensive lawyers and cadre of paid-off politicians and enforcement officers, sports figures don’t have much to worry about from accusations of misconduct by young women of little resources, especially if the woman was anything less than a saint.
Slaughter also turns a sympathetic eye to the team wives, with a perceptive assessment of their situations:
“She was thin. Too thin, but maybe that came with the territory. The other wives on the team were always cleansing or dieting or going to spinning classes or plastic surgeons to get things sucked and filled and pinned back up so they could compete with the groupies who swarmed their husbands. They need not have bothered. Their husbands were not attracted to the groupies because they were hotter than their wives. They were attracted the them because they were groupies.
It was a hell of a lot more fun to be with somebody who thought you were perfect than it was to be with a woman who wouldn’t put up with your shit.”
Sometimes, being the wife of a sports player also coincided with being battered, and there wasn't much hope of escape:
“The most life-threatening time for a battered woman was when she tried to leave her abuser. The only thing that shifted the odds was having another man around to protect her.”
Either way, the woman was not her own person; she was a kept woman, hence the title of this book.
One passage is worth quoting to show the layered ways Slaughter portrays the abuse of women and children, and her outrage and sadness over the continued existence of these problems. Will and his partner Faith are discussing how Angie “took care of” kids when Angie was in the police force:
“Will said, ‘Angie worked vice. The young ones - she kind of took them under her wing.’
Faith: ‘And gave them pills to sell?’
Will rubbed his jaw. ‘Angie knows what it’s like to be stuck in that kind of situation with no one looking out for you.’
‘You’ve lost me,’ Faith said. ‘I don’t see the compassionate side of turning a ten-year-old into a drug mule.’
‘Which is worse: selling Oxy or selling sex?’
‘Those are the only two choices?’
‘For kids like that, stuck in the system, changing schools and foster homes five times a year, never knowing where they’re gonna sleep from one night to the next?’ He sounded emphatic. ‘Yeah, those are the choices.’”
Will should know; he had been in that system himself, as had Angie, which is one reason why he has stuck by her so steadfastly. Sara loves him for it, but is terrified at the same time; when Angie is in trouble, will he stick with Sara? Or can he not resist the pull Angie has exerted over him their whole lives?
Evaluation: Slaughter is not only an ardent and tireless advocate for the underclasses, but an excellent writer of thrillers. Her stories are consistently engaging and often gripping. Her characters are multi-faceted and her knowledge of the justice system is exceptional.
Can this be read as a standalone? Probably, but it would be more rewarding to read her books in sequence so you can pick up all the nuances of the evolving relationships.
The Will Trent Series in Order:
Triptych - 2006
Fractured - 2008
Undone - 2009
Broken - 2010
Fallen - 2011
Snatched - 2012
Criminal - 2012
Unseen - 2013
The Kept Woman - 2016
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LibraryThing member SheTreadsSoftly
The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter is a very highly recommended mystery/police procedural.
Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is back. After failing to get a conviction in the case of basketball superstar Marcus Rippy, who was acquitted of rape charges, Will is now investigating the
When a Glock found at the scene is discovered to be registered to Angie Polaski, the search is on for Angie - or for her body. She and Will are still married... but it's complicated and they rarely see each other unless Angie wants something. In any event, suddenly Will's past is thrust into the case, and Angie's past is closely tied to Will's. To further complicate matters, the building is the future home of the All Star, a nightclub owned by basketball star Marcus Rippy. Construction was suspended for Rippy's rape trial, but now it is due to start again in a couple weeks.
Slaughter does an excellent job presenting the complicated investigation as the clues are discovered and leads are checked out. Part way through The Kept Woman, the action shifts to a week earlier which provides an insight into information the investigators aren't privy to yet. This really ratchets up the tension and makes the pace feel even more frantic. Will's personal demons seemed to be coming to the surface as he is conflicted over Angie's presence in his life, however marginal, versus his love for Sara.
Incredible writing, realistic, complicated characters, incredible tension, and a fast pace make reading The Kept Woman addictive. There are plenty of twists to surprise you, and questions for which you will be desperate to find answers. While it is a police procedural, it also is a psychological thriller that explores choices and consequences as well as the lasting effect of psychological damage experienced as a child.
Although The Kept Woman it is part of a series, you can read this on its own and follow the plot just fine.
Disclosure: My advanced reading copy was courtesy of the publisher for review purposes.
Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is back. After failing to get a conviction in the case of basketball superstar Marcus Rippy, who was acquitted of rape charges, Will is now investigating the
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murder of Dale Harding at a construction site with his partner Faith Mitchell. His lover and GBI medical examiner Dr. Sara Linton is also on the case, as is Amanda Wagner, the GBI deputy director. Harding was a despicable man, but he used to be a detective with the Atlanta PD. There is a whole lot more blood on the scene than could have possibly been Harding's. It is also not his blood type and evidence points to it coming from a woman, so potentially there is a witness or more than one murder happened.When a Glock found at the scene is discovered to be registered to Angie Polaski, the search is on for Angie - or for her body. She and Will are still married... but it's complicated and they rarely see each other unless Angie wants something. In any event, suddenly Will's past is thrust into the case, and Angie's past is closely tied to Will's. To further complicate matters, the building is the future home of the All Star, a nightclub owned by basketball star Marcus Rippy. Construction was suspended for Rippy's rape trial, but now it is due to start again in a couple weeks.
Slaughter does an excellent job presenting the complicated investigation as the clues are discovered and leads are checked out. Part way through The Kept Woman, the action shifts to a week earlier which provides an insight into information the investigators aren't privy to yet. This really ratchets up the tension and makes the pace feel even more frantic. Will's personal demons seemed to be coming to the surface as he is conflicted over Angie's presence in his life, however marginal, versus his love for Sara.
Incredible writing, realistic, complicated characters, incredible tension, and a fast pace make reading The Kept Woman addictive. There are plenty of twists to surprise you, and questions for which you will be desperate to find answers. While it is a police procedural, it also is a psychological thriller that explores choices and consequences as well as the lasting effect of psychological damage experienced as a child.
Although The Kept Woman it is part of a series, you can read this on its own and follow the plot just fine.
Disclosure: My advanced reading copy was courtesy of the publisher for review purposes.
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LibraryThing member Beamis12
Wow! This one had the pacing of a runaway tree, revelations fast and furious. Will Trent and Sara Litton, trying to make a go of it, both scarred from past events. Bodies found in a warehouse, one an ex-cop, another an apparent drug addict. A warehouse that is owned by an very rich, talented
Amazing hack stories to the characters, and a big connection to the past. The above the law status of elite athletes who live in and of another world. Handlers, fixers, manipulators and those who will do anything to keep the money train rolling. Secrets, one big one, and a stellar ending. Some graphic violence but a riveting story.
ARC from Netgalley.
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basketball star who was recently the main suspect in a rape case. But the big zinger, is that it all related back to Will's wife, the very troubled and troubling Angie. Amazing hack stories to the characters, and a big connection to the past. The above the law status of elite athletes who live in and of another world. Handlers, fixers, manipulators and those who will do anything to keep the money train rolling. Secrets, one big one, and a stellar ending. Some graphic violence but a riveting story.
ARC from Netgalley.
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LibraryThing member Twink
I read Karin Slaughter's first book, Blindsighted, back in 2002. After I turned the last page, I knew I wanted to read more from this author. Slaughter didn't disappoint me. I've read every book since, including her new release, The Kept Woman.
Slaughter has two series, The Grant County books and
Will and his partner Faith (both work for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation) are called out to a murder at a construction site. The body is discovered to be that of a retired cop. Forensics indicates that there's another possible victim, but where's the body? Adding to the pressure - the construction site belongs to a high profile athlete who has run afoul of the GBI in the past. The project has the blessing of politicos and the pressure to solve the case is high.
Why do I love Karin Slaughter's book so much? Characters. Dr. Sara Linton has been a constant from the first book. She's strong, but vulnerable, smart, capable and likeable. Will Trent. Ahh, well who doesn't love a walking wounded lead. (Who just happens to be pretty hot) As the books have progressed, Slaughter has slowly released details about the shadowy pasts of some of the characters - both the ones we love and the ones we love to hate. She doesn't skimp on character building - the 'negative' players' lives are just as fleshed out. This latest book gives us lots of background that we've been waiting for.
Plotting. I was happily devouring The Kept Woman, pretty sure I knew the direction the story was going. And then about halfway through, Slaughter sucker punched me. Totally did not see it coming. And within that second half are revelations Slaughter fans have been waiting for. Secrets and more secrets. Running parallel to the personal side of things is a helluva great central plot. Gritty, dark and dirty. Non stop action. Great dialogue and settings. Seriously, Slaughter can do no wrong in my eyes.
And the ending. The case is neatly wrapped up by the final pages, but the doozy of a last line leaves the door open for the next chapter in this fantastic series. This reader can't wait to see what happens next. Five stars for me. If you're not familiar with this series, I strongly suggest starting with the backlist. You won't fully appreciate The Kept Woman without context.
Slaughter has two series, The Grant County books and
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the Will Trent novels, as well as some stand-alones. The Kept Woman is the 8th book in the Trent series.Will and his partner Faith (both work for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation) are called out to a murder at a construction site. The body is discovered to be that of a retired cop. Forensics indicates that there's another possible victim, but where's the body? Adding to the pressure - the construction site belongs to a high profile athlete who has run afoul of the GBI in the past. The project has the blessing of politicos and the pressure to solve the case is high.
Why do I love Karin Slaughter's book so much? Characters. Dr. Sara Linton has been a constant from the first book. She's strong, but vulnerable, smart, capable and likeable. Will Trent. Ahh, well who doesn't love a walking wounded lead. (Who just happens to be pretty hot) As the books have progressed, Slaughter has slowly released details about the shadowy pasts of some of the characters - both the ones we love and the ones we love to hate. She doesn't skimp on character building - the 'negative' players' lives are just as fleshed out. This latest book gives us lots of background that we've been waiting for.
Plotting. I was happily devouring The Kept Woman, pretty sure I knew the direction the story was going. And then about halfway through, Slaughter sucker punched me. Totally did not see it coming. And within that second half are revelations Slaughter fans have been waiting for. Secrets and more secrets. Running parallel to the personal side of things is a helluva great central plot. Gritty, dark and dirty. Non stop action. Great dialogue and settings. Seriously, Slaughter can do no wrong in my eyes.
And the ending. The case is neatly wrapped up by the final pages, but the doozy of a last line leaves the door open for the next chapter in this fantastic series. This reader can't wait to see what happens next. Five stars for me. If you're not familiar with this series, I strongly suggest starting with the backlist. You won't fully appreciate The Kept Woman without context.
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LibraryThing member Dianekeenoy
I've only read two of Karin Slaughter's books, Blindsighted and now, The Kept Woman. I really do need to read them all! The book starts and you have to hang on for dear life because there are no slow spots to go and get a snack! While I'm sure I would have enjoyed this book even more if I had read
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the Will Trent books in order, this book does just fine as a stand alone. Will and his partner Faith are called out to a construction site where they find the body of a murdered retired cop. The construction site belongs to a high profile athlete who recently walked away from rape charges and there are bloody footprints leading away from the murder scene that could belong to someone from Will's past. And... you're off and running as fast as you can to keep up! Good luck! Recommended! Show Less
LibraryThing member Loried
I won a copy of The Kept Woman, and I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to try out one of Karin Slaughter's books for the first time. I usually feel compelled to read books in a series in order, but I made an exception for this one. I'm sure people who read the previous books
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appreciated it more, but I found it was fine to read as a stand-alone. I liked the complexity of the story as well as the switch in perspective half way through. I was surprised that the change in perspective made me sympathetic to one of the more villainous characters. A lot of the subject matter of the book was about abuse, rape and corruption, and I found it somewhat disturbing and depressing. I don't know if this is typical of her other books, and I would need to investigate this before continuing with the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member ChrisWay
Overall I liked this book, but I felt the second half was much stronger and more interesting then the first. The girlfriend character was a bit annoying because she seemed unbelievable and overly sweet. I much preferred the other more evil female characters because they gelt more developed and real.
LibraryThing member CInacio
The first (and only) novel I had read by Karin Slaughter was “Blindsighted” with my book club a few months back. It was a riveting, but an incredibly twisted book that had me calling my mom every night to keep me company on the walk home from work. As much as I couldn’t put the book down, I
“The Kept Woman” completely surpassed my expectations. In some ways, it wasn’t as graphically disturbing as “Blindsighted,” but Slaughter still threw curve ball after twisted and disturbing curve ball. Beginning at the scene of a cop’s brutal murder in an abandoned club owned by a mega talent agency, the main detective Will Trent discovers that his estranged wife is involved and presumed dead… while his new girlfriend and medical examiner Sara is standing right next to him.
Will’s past as an orphan plays a major part in his actions and responses, forcing him to deal with his inability to communicate with Sara or let go of his ex, Angie. Discovering that Angie had a daughter added to her humanity and softened her character, but her love for her daughter seemed a little exaggerated particularly when she clearly had no concept of love or family. While the characters’ own love triangle was interesting and connected them to the case on a deeper level, it was the entangled talent agency with their slew of celebrity athletes that really moved this story forward. The athletes’ relationships and perverse sense of entitlement that allowed them to think they could get away with anything was very relevant and realistic in today’s world.
In the spirit of not spilling any spoilers, this novel had me gasping at the cruel and sick turns until the very end. Any fan of psychological thrillers needs to read this novel. My only disappointment is with myself because I didn’t realize that it was a series. It’s hard to find a great series and despite having skipped ahead to “The Kept Woman,” I’m ready to go back and start from the beginning of the Will Trent Series.
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was a little nervous to begin reading “The Kept Woman.“The Kept Woman” completely surpassed my expectations. In some ways, it wasn’t as graphically disturbing as “Blindsighted,” but Slaughter still threw curve ball after twisted and disturbing curve ball. Beginning at the scene of a cop’s brutal murder in an abandoned club owned by a mega talent agency, the main detective Will Trent discovers that his estranged wife is involved and presumed dead… while his new girlfriend and medical examiner Sara is standing right next to him.
Will’s past as an orphan plays a major part in his actions and responses, forcing him to deal with his inability to communicate with Sara or let go of his ex, Angie. Discovering that Angie had a daughter added to her humanity and softened her character, but her love for her daughter seemed a little exaggerated particularly when she clearly had no concept of love or family. While the characters’ own love triangle was interesting and connected them to the case on a deeper level, it was the entangled talent agency with their slew of celebrity athletes that really moved this story forward. The athletes’ relationships and perverse sense of entitlement that allowed them to think they could get away with anything was very relevant and realistic in today’s world.
In the spirit of not spilling any spoilers, this novel had me gasping at the cruel and sick turns until the very end. Any fan of psychological thrillers needs to read this novel. My only disappointment is with myself because I didn’t realize that it was a series. It’s hard to find a great series and despite having skipped ahead to “The Kept Woman,” I’m ready to go back and start from the beginning of the Will Trent Series.
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LibraryThing member judithrs
The Kept Woman, Karin Slaughter. 2016. Oh, goody, another Will Trent and Sara Linton novel! Unfortunately, Angie, Will’s psychopathic wife is right in the middle of the plot. A good chunk of the books is taken up with her. Will is called to the scene of a murder; apparently Angie is dead. Will is
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determined to find out what happened but is ordered off the case because the murder site is owned by a wealthy pro basketball star that Will has prosecuted for rape. The plot is complicated with some real surprises. Lots of violence. Plenty of bad language, and enough interplay between Will and Sara to make wading through Angie’s sordid life worth it. Show Less
LibraryThing member pennsylady
I went from book 1 directly to book 8 and actually made the transition easily.
The plot contained interesting elements but some major characters (ex. Sara Linton) seemed so immature at times. That would be her sisterly disclosures.
I listened to 13 audio discs.
Although profanity was probably needed
I was surprised and uncomfortable at the integral part it played.
That, of course, is a personal opinion.
I respect the fact that others may regard it as colorful and/or necessary.
Myself, I'm not anxiously awaiting book 9.
The plot contained interesting elements but some major characters (ex. Sara Linton) seemed so immature at times. That would be her sisterly disclosures.
I listened to 13 audio discs.
Although profanity was probably needed
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to define each character and it certainly was descriptive,I was surprised and uncomfortable at the integral part it played.
That, of course, is a personal opinion.
I respect the fact that others may regard it as colorful and/or necessary.
Myself, I'm not anxiously awaiting book 9.
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LibraryThing member Olivermagnus
The Kept Woman is the eighth book of the Will Trent series. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents have been called to a crime scene in an abandoned Atlanta nightclub owned by Marcus Rippy, a well known basketball star who has managed to evade a rape prosecution. They immediately recognize the
The first part of the book focuses on the initial murder investigation. The second part goes back ten days and is narrated by Angie. This is where we find out what really happened in the warehouse that night. One of my very favorite books in the series is Criminal, which takes us right into the mind of Will's boss, Amanda Wagner. In Kept Woman, Karin Slaughter does a fantastic job of taking the reader right into the mind of Angie, a character most fans have loathed throughout the series.
This book can be read as a standalone but I don't recommend it. There's just too much backstory on the relationship between Will, Angie and Sara that is more easily understood if you've read the earlier books. The author seamlessly integrates into her story commentary on sexual abuse, child abuse, and battered women. In Kept Woman she also explores highly paid, very powerful sports figures who can get away with abuse of women because of their financial value to a team. I can't think of another author who writes the kind of books Karin Slaughter does. Her novels are plotted with unexpected twists and turns that are never predictable. She creates characters readers love to love, and love to hate. Fans of the series will definitely want to read this electrifying addition to the series.
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dead body as a former cop. Much of the blood at the crime scene did not come from him. Will's girlfriend, Sara Linton, is now working for the GBI. They have a complicated relationship because Will is a still married to Angie Polaski, a girl he met growing up in State run foster care and who has caused him nothing but pain and trouble. Eventually, they find Angie's fingerprints and blood evidence that makes them think she is most likely dead. But where is the body and where has the person gone after losing so much blood? The first part of the book focuses on the initial murder investigation. The second part goes back ten days and is narrated by Angie. This is where we find out what really happened in the warehouse that night. One of my very favorite books in the series is Criminal, which takes us right into the mind of Will's boss, Amanda Wagner. In Kept Woman, Karin Slaughter does a fantastic job of taking the reader right into the mind of Angie, a character most fans have loathed throughout the series.
This book can be read as a standalone but I don't recommend it. There's just too much backstory on the relationship between Will, Angie and Sara that is more easily understood if you've read the earlier books. The author seamlessly integrates into her story commentary on sexual abuse, child abuse, and battered women. In Kept Woman she also explores highly paid, very powerful sports figures who can get away with abuse of women because of their financial value to a team. I can't think of another author who writes the kind of books Karin Slaughter does. Her novels are plotted with unexpected twists and turns that are never predictable. She creates characters readers love to love, and love to hate. Fans of the series will definitely want to read this electrifying addition to the series.
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LibraryThing member techeditor
THE KEPT WOMAN is the eighth in Karin Slaughter's Will Trent series. I also read the first book (Triptych) in this series. I won't be reading the six books in between.
Here's the simple reason why: Will Trent and his series concentrate too much on Angie Polaski. And that aggravates me.
Polaski is
Trent is with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. He is investigating a case of apparent murder, with a couple of unidentified bodies. Throughout THE KEPT WOMAN it appears that Polaski is dead, then it doesn't, then it does, then it doesn't.
Will this series ever be rid of her?
I love Slaughter's writing and am anxious to read more of her books. But she has taken this Angie-Polaski-the-ball-buster theme too far. I'm sick of reading about her.
I won this book through librarylovefest.com.
Here's the simple reason why: Will Trent and his series concentrate too much on Angie Polaski. And that aggravates me.
Polaski is
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Trent's wife but not in the normal sense. She flits in and out of his life, and she just causes trouble. So how can such a character last? Yet seven books later, here she still is. Trent is with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. He is investigating a case of apparent murder, with a couple of unidentified bodies. Throughout THE KEPT WOMAN it appears that Polaski is dead, then it doesn't, then it does, then it doesn't.
Will this series ever be rid of her?
I love Slaughter's writing and am anxious to read more of her books. But she has taken this Angie-Polaski-the-ball-buster theme too far. I'm sick of reading about her.
I won this book through librarylovefest.com.
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LibraryThing member BookDivasReads
Will Trent is an agent for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). He finally is in a relationship with a good woman, has a good relationship with his GBI partner, and is dealing with the strange supervisory/surrogate-mother deal with his boss. The only problem Will continues to have is his
Will Trent has overcome many obstacles in his life. He was abused as a child and foster-child. He married at a young age to a woman that was and continues to be a bully and emotionally abusive towards him and everyone else. He has a good career and has learned to cope with his untreated dyslexia. He has a stable relationship with a mature and loving woman, Sara Linton. The only major obstacles to his happiness are finding and divorcing his estranged wife and getting the rape charges to stick against a prominent and wealthy Atlanta professional athlete. Just when Will doesn't think his life could get any better, or worse, he's called to a crime scene with a dead retired police officer and evidence that his estranged wife has been seriously injured, if not murdered, at the same location. Now Will, his GBI partner Faith Mitchell, his lover and newly-hired GBI pathologist Sara Linton, and his boss, Amanda Wagner, must all work around the clock to uncover why the retired police officer was murdered and where is Angie. Will they be able to find her before it's too late or is this just another game that Angie's playing to mess with Will's head?
I found The Kept Woman to be a rather fast-paced and engrossing read. The only reason I put this book down was due to rapidly worsening migraine headache. Ms. Slaughter has the ability to pull me into each of stories from the first page and keep my attention to the last line on the last page. Did I like The Kept Woman? YES! This story has a lot of dark themes: physical child abuse, sexual child abuse, child prostitution, drug abuse, prostitution, rape, incest, marital abuse, dirty police officers, and murder. Added into this mix is the elite world of professional athletes and their ability to get anything covered up with the right amount of money. There are plenty of bad guys in this story, Angie Polaski, a group of professional athletes, some bad/dirty police officers, and everyone professionally associated with the professional athletes and cover-ups of their misdeeds. The Kept Woman provides stories within stories within stories and they all seemed to be tied to events in the past, some over 30 years in the making. I could go on and on about this book but I'll simply end with Read This Book! Seriously, if you enjoy reading mystery thrillers or psychological thrillers then this is definitely a book you'll want to read. Although this is the eighth book (tenth if you count the novellas) in the Will Trent series, it is possible to read this book and not feel as if you've missed out on the backstory and at the same time make you want to go back and read all of the previous books. I look forward to the next installment in this series, but while I'm waiting I'll just have to reread the entire Will Trent series. (Yes, this series is just that good.)
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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estranged wife, Angie Polaski...well, that and a rape case that seemed to disintegrate before his eyes in Karin Slaughter's latest, The Kept Woman.Will Trent has overcome many obstacles in his life. He was abused as a child and foster-child. He married at a young age to a woman that was and continues to be a bully and emotionally abusive towards him and everyone else. He has a good career and has learned to cope with his untreated dyslexia. He has a stable relationship with a mature and loving woman, Sara Linton. The only major obstacles to his happiness are finding and divorcing his estranged wife and getting the rape charges to stick against a prominent and wealthy Atlanta professional athlete. Just when Will doesn't think his life could get any better, or worse, he's called to a crime scene with a dead retired police officer and evidence that his estranged wife has been seriously injured, if not murdered, at the same location. Now Will, his GBI partner Faith Mitchell, his lover and newly-hired GBI pathologist Sara Linton, and his boss, Amanda Wagner, must all work around the clock to uncover why the retired police officer was murdered and where is Angie. Will they be able to find her before it's too late or is this just another game that Angie's playing to mess with Will's head?
I found The Kept Woman to be a rather fast-paced and engrossing read. The only reason I put this book down was due to rapidly worsening migraine headache. Ms. Slaughter has the ability to pull me into each of stories from the first page and keep my attention to the last line on the last page. Did I like The Kept Woman? YES! This story has a lot of dark themes: physical child abuse, sexual child abuse, child prostitution, drug abuse, prostitution, rape, incest, marital abuse, dirty police officers, and murder. Added into this mix is the elite world of professional athletes and their ability to get anything covered up with the right amount of money. There are plenty of bad guys in this story, Angie Polaski, a group of professional athletes, some bad/dirty police officers, and everyone professionally associated with the professional athletes and cover-ups of their misdeeds. The Kept Woman provides stories within stories within stories and they all seemed to be tied to events in the past, some over 30 years in the making. I could go on and on about this book but I'll simply end with Read This Book! Seriously, if you enjoy reading mystery thrillers or psychological thrillers then this is definitely a book you'll want to read. Although this is the eighth book (tenth if you count the novellas) in the Will Trent series, it is possible to read this book and not feel as if you've missed out on the backstory and at the same time make you want to go back and read all of the previous books. I look forward to the next installment in this series, but while I'm waiting I'll just have to reread the entire Will Trent series. (Yes, this series is just that good.)
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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LibraryThing member bostonterrio
I love when a mystery keeps the reader guessing and this book delivers that. Funny thing about this series is that even though the characters tend to get under my skin there is something that keeps drawing me back to them.
LibraryThing member Carlathelibrarian
This book was a solid 5 star read for me. I loved the Sara Linton series written by Karin Slaughter and the only thing better is Sara with Will Trent. They are the most unlikely couple that just seem to work, albeit working hard at it, despite all their differences.
In this story, Angie Polaski,
In this story, Angie Polaski,
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Will's estranged wife and lifelong survivor pal, appears to have been murdered. When the GBI are asked to investigate a retired cop killing, all the blood, gun left behind as well as the contents of a purse lead to Angie. Of course there is no body, so Will goes a little crazy in his search for either a living or dead Angie. This causes problems between him and Sara as well as his boss at the GBI. The story starts there and does a flashback section of where the problems Angie encounters started. Then of course, everything ties together and races to a satisfying conclusion. If you have not read any of the Will Trent series, you may be a little lost, but will still enjoy the story. I do not want to give away any of the story, but suffice it so say, we finally get Angie's story. She was always in the periphery of Will's life, now we know more about her past and how she got to where she is. Another reviewer described this story as "a raw, gritty, emotional monster of a read" and I couldn't agree more. It will stir your emotions both good and bad as there are some tough storylines here that need to be out in the open. This story grabbed me from the beginning and did not end until it came to an unexpected yet great ending. A must read for fans of thriller and suspense. Show Less
LibraryThing member decaturmamaof2
I'm a big fan of Karin Slaughter's excellent work, and "The Kept Woman" has only reinforced my opinion. For followers of the Will Trent story, this is a fast-paced, heartwrenching, bare-knuckled ride. The characters are believable, as are the scenarios. Slaughter presents an unflinching look at the
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ugly underbelly of policework in Atlanta. Show Less
LibraryThing member jfe16
The discovery of the body of ex-cop in an empty Atlanta warehouse throws Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Special Agent Will Trent into the middle of a devastating crime. The case links to his troubled past and the unfolding investigation promises to throw the investigators into chaos.
Eighth in
Personal drama has a tendency to overshadow the unnecessarily convoluted plot as it distances the reader from the characters; so, too, does the excessively vulgar language that has a tendency to pull them out of the telling of the tale. However, readers who manage to wade through all of melodrama will find a gem of a story about power and money and its use in an attempt to absolve people from responsibility for their actions.
I received a free copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program
Eighth in
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the Will Trent series, this dark and gritty look at domestic violence and the control one person holds over another doesn’t skimp on the depravity. It’s on track and important when it isn’t the tired, beaten-to-death story of Will and Angie that has an unfortunate tendency to drift into the realm of trashy soap opera. The dissection of the Will/Angie relationship has definitely run its course; readers know his childhood was both tortured and difficult and that this dysfunctional, psychotic woman uses him for her own purposes. Angie’s behavior here . . . and Will’s browbeaten, hardly-able-to-function, angst-ridden responses . . . add nothing to the importance of the domestic abuse story; rather, they come off as both embarrassing and unpalatable. Enough already.Personal drama has a tendency to overshadow the unnecessarily convoluted plot as it distances the reader from the characters; so, too, does the excessively vulgar language that has a tendency to pull them out of the telling of the tale. However, readers who manage to wade through all of melodrama will find a gem of a story about power and money and its use in an attempt to absolve people from responsibility for their actions.
I received a free copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program
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LibraryThing member amandanan
I figured out who was in the building almost from the get, which made me want to deduct a star. But, Slaughter magnificently weaved all the clues together in a way that had me completely wrong about the why.
LibraryThing member standhenry
This book makes me want to join the GBI just so I can meet Will Trent. Oh wait, he's not real. The writing is so well done and there are just enough details to make the reader feel immersed in the heat of the action. Descriptions are clever, such as, "Going outside was like walking straight into
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the mouth of a yawning dog." Yep, that perfectly describes the Atlanta humidity this summer. The Kept Woman is the 8th book in the series, but can stand alone. It has suspense, drama, romance, and even unicorns. I hope Karin Slaughter is already writing the next Will Trent book! Show Less
LibraryThing member KatherineGregg
Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is working on a murder case that involves a dead ex-cop. As the case unfolds, Will learns that a star athlete with a murky past, as well as his estranged wife, are involved in the case. There are twists and turns along the way and it is filled with
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suspense. Show Less
LibraryThing member Lcmcsr
"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."
The world of Will Trent is skillfully created by Ms. Slaughter and each
The world of Will Trent is skillfully created by Ms. Slaughter and each
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character is carefully connected to the other characters. Make no mistake! Each sentence means something. Each scene means something. The breadcrumbs are scattered around for the reader to discover . . . or not. Just when I thought I couldn't dislike the character of Angie any more, she tops her worst behavior by a mile. Genius storytelling. Show Less
LibraryThing member DebTat2
I think i am in love with Will Trent, this series of books are only topped by the Chelsea Cain Archie and Gretchen series.
Both leave you wanting more, They grip you from start to finish but I'm sad to say its not my favourite to date.
Even though you could pick this book up and start as a new Karin
For fans of Chelsea Cain and Mo Hayder these are a must read.
Hope you enjoy them as much as i have :-)
Both leave you wanting more, They grip you from start to finish but I'm sad to say its not my favourite to date.
Even though you could pick this book up and start as a new Karin
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Slaughter there is a definitive order to the series and each book makes references to previous events in the other books.For fans of Chelsea Cain and Mo Hayder these are a must read.
Hope you enjoy them as much as i have :-)
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Awards
Southern Book Prize (Winner — 2017)
Pages
592
ISBN
006243022X / 9780062430229