Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the early read! Every July, I look forward to the new Karin Slaughter novel. She is one of my favorite thriller writers and I just finished her latest, False Witness, which is one of her standalones. It is the story of two sisters with a past. Harleigh, or Leigh as she is now known, is a well- respected defense attorney. Her sister Callie is a drug addict, living day by day. Leigh is called into the office late on a Sunday night to meet a new client, Andrew. He seems to know her, though it takes her a few minutes to recognize him. She knew him as Trevor – she and her sister used to babysit him before his father disappeared. Turns out that Leigh and Callie know more about the disappearance than they ever let on. What does Andrew want? What are Leigh and Callie going to do about it? As usual, there are lots of twists and turns. And Andrew is truly frightening – I spent some time being anxious while reading this one. Like I said, Karin Slaughter is one of my favorite thriller writers – she writes about smart, strong women; her mysteries are always timely and well-plotted; and she knows exactly how to keep you turning the pages. If you are already a fan, make sure you pick up False Witness. If you haven’t read Karin Slaughter yet, definitely give her a try!

I wasn’t sure I was ready to read a book set during the pandemic, but I requested this from Netgalley anyway because I love Slaughter‘s work and I’ve never been disappointed by anything she’s written. This book was no exception. I was hooked from the first chapter. The suspense and plot twists in this book are phenomenal. I was shocked at every turn.

Although this book is written as a thriller, it offers so much more. The friendship and love between Leigh and her sister, Callie, was beautiful. I love flawed characters and these two are perfect examples of how well that can work in a story. Not every heroine needs to be faultless.

This title also touches on addiction and the tragedy of it. Those parts were so well done. If you know and love anyone struggling with addiction, this will resonate with you. The portrayal was very humanizing.

The trauma this pair of sisters were forced to endure during their childhood was heart breaking. Seeing the different paths each sister took and how some tragic differences made such large impacts on their adult lives was very eye opening.

This book is definitely not for the squeamish, it’s a heavy hitting book. I still highly recommend this one.

This was such a captivating and suspenseful thriller! I’m embarrassed to say that this was my first Karin Slaughter read but it definitely won’t be my last!

It was an engrossing read that had such a riveting premise that felt incredibly realistic! I loved that way that Slaughter strategically scattered the twists throughout the story and I also throughly enjoyed her fantastic character development.

Even though this one was a big longer than I typically prefer, it was totally unputdownable and I enjoyed every minute of it!

Great cat and mouse thriller by Karin Slaughter. Thanks net galley and Harper collins Canada for the arc. Loved how the pandemic was incorporated into this book. First time I’ve read a new novel that had it included so well. Loved how the sisters looked after each other in this book. Her books always keep me up late into the night reading. Very addicting.
4.5/5 stars

It seems like the Slaughter stand alones keep getting more and more dark, more and more disturbing. Could it be that she’s going for shock value just for the sake of being edgy?

Whoa!!! That beginning...yikes. So infuriating and disgusting. Didn’t know if it was too awful to keep reading or finish so I could see where it was gonna go.

It took me longer than usual to finish this one. Aside from the graphic language and sexual violence, the story of the sisters was so very sad! And nope, don’t buy what the two teenagers completed on their own. No way. No how.

This one is was ok, but probably wouldn’t recommend to anyone simply because it’s not a book for everyone.

Quick Synopsis: False Witness centers around Leigh Collier, who has worked really hard to be a successful defense attorney, and everything seems fine until she is asked to defend a wealthy man who is accused of rape. She soon realizes that there is a reason why she is given this case and now she must confront her deep dark buried past, including asking the help from her estranged sister, Callie.

My thoughts: This was my first book by Karin Slaughter and oh boy, what a wild ride! I went into this book blind, not knowing what to expect. The plot was so twisty, diabolical but good! Leigh and the accused were like playing mind games and definitely had me at the edge of my seat! This case also caused Leigh and Callie in such a difficult situation and I was rooting for them the entire time!

I liked that the story is set during pandemic time which is relatable - mask wearing, hand sanitizers, social distance, etc …

This story is dark, brutal and has graphic scenes of drug use and violence. The ending was an unexpected one but perfect.

I switched back and forth between the digital copy and audiobook, and I enjoyed both! The narrator did an incredible job and her voice was distinct enough to distinguish between different characters.

In a nutshell, this was one heck of an amazing story! A must read if you like a twisty, disturbing and fast-paced thriller!


CW: Substance and alcohol abuse, violence, rape,


Pub. Date: July 20th. 2021

***Thank you William Morrow Books, Blackstone Publishing, author Karin Slaughter and NetGalley for this gifted reading and listening copy.***

From my blog: Always With a Book:

I absolutely love Karin Slaughter’s books, as dark and chilling as they tend to be, and this latest one is no exception. It was one of my most anticipated reads for this month and it totally delivered, as I suspected it would.

This latest story is a stand-alone, which I know Karin Slaughter more for. I have only read one of the books in her series, but her stand-alones to me are where she excels! And this one is all about sisters – my absolute favorite kind of relationship to read about. Callie and Leigh have a dark secret that manages to creep into their present.

This story delves into some pretty heavy, dark topics, topics that might be off-putting to some, but if you are a regular reader of this author, you know what you are likely getting into. If you are new to this author – be warned, this book is not for the faint of heart.

What I loved is that the twists start almost from the get-go and never stop. There are some pretty shocking ones and some minor ones, but they manage to keep you on your toes and flipping the pages. It’s a fast-paced book and between the twists and the pace, I was all in. I also loved the character development. I felt that over the course of the book – and let me just say – this is a big book! – we really get to know them. They are flawed and fallible and you can’t help but want to root for them, even though they make some questionable choices.

As she had done with her previous few novels, the author actively chose to mark the time of this book. She set it during the pandemic, though it is set in the latter part of it, not at the onset. While this is not a main focus of the book, it does play a hand in how certain things are done and I think the author handled it well. She does address her reasoning for including this in her author’s note, so be sure to read this.

This was such a complex, at times violent, crime novel, and yet, it’s also an emotional story at times, too, diving into the complex dynamics of the sibling relationship and the emotional toll that addiction takes on those we love. Being a fan of this author, I loved it, but I know this book might not be for everyone, so proceed with caution. If you like thrillers with a dark, gritty vibe, pick this one up.

Beautiful, disturbing, lyrical, thrilling, heart-pounding...all of these describe Karin Slaughter's latest stand-alone title. If you're the survivor of childhood sexual or physical abuse, then this book may not be for you. However, Slaughter's storytelling skills are strong enough to take us on the double journey of two heroines - sisters - who suffer at the hand of the same pedophile and who must face their past by coming up against his son in a legal battle. The layers of suffering and the psychology of why young girls don't report their abusers is laid bare. The fact that other adults knew about the abuse as it was going on, and did nothing, is all too true to life.

The race to the ending will give you an adrenaline rush as great as Callie's heroin. Even when I knew how the book *had* to end, I still couldn't keep turning the pages and I read this book in 24 hours. I just couldn't put it down.

I know editors everywhere have been saying on social media that they don't want to "see" books with the pandemic in them; well, that doesn't apply to Slaughter. She incorporated the nuances of the pandemic and how it's sliced through everyone's lives just like a knife to a femoral vein. It added just another layer of horror to the story.

Her writing never disappoints. Callie and Leigh could be you, me, our sisters, our mothers, our aunts. This is one story that will stay with you for a long time.

i really enjoyed this book. Kept you on the edge of your seat most of the time and also was very informative about many things including drug addiction

Warning: this book contains triggers (sexual assault)

This thriller is a dark story about two sisters who have grown up dealing with childhood trauma but who have dealt with this trauma in very different ways. Now they are forced to deal with everything.

The story moves quickly and it kept me riveted until the end. There is a lot of violence compared to some thrillers/murder mysteries and the story covers many dark and horrible situations. The main characters are well developed and I felt compassion for them. I really liked how the dealt with Covid restrictions and that the author included them in the story.

The story kept me turning the pages to the wee hours and if you like dark psychological thrillers/murder mysteries than you will really like this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Killer Crime Club for the ARC of this book.

Kindle Copy for Review from Net Galley, Killer Crime Club, HarperCollins Canada, William Morrow and Custom House.

I received an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

She seemed like a normal woman. She has a civil divorce with a good job as a divorce attorney and a daughter who is doing well in school. A quiet unpretentious life but all is not what it seems.

Secrets from her childhood start to surface as her past will soon come to life. Betrayal and violence are a part of her past and someone knows her secrets.

She is hired by a wealthy man who is accused rape as he knows her secret as they have met before. It will be a high profile case that could change her career if she can get him acquitted.

A compelling read that will keep you in suspense.

I went into this book being a little torn. On the one hand, I've loved everything that Ms. Slaughter has ever written. On the other, the topic at hand is a difficult one for me, especially this time of year. But I powered through it and whoo boy am I glad I did. "False Witness" tells the story of Leigh, an Atlanta lawyer who takes the case of a rapist, who happens to be someone from her past. It was, like many of Slaughter's other novels, gritty and disturbing in the best of ways. I DID not put it down until I finished it, and though my own pain, loved every minute of it. I will continue to read everything Ms. Karin Slaughter puts out because she is just fantastic.

Defense attorney Leigh Collier has a dark secret, which comes back to threaten the life she has worked so hard to build and risk bringing it all down around her.

It starts with a call from a partner at her law firm. A wealthy man accused of rape has asked for Leigh to take on his case at the very last minute.

Leigh recognizes the accused as the boy whom both she and her younger sister Callie babysat as teens. Andrew keeps alluding to Callie and the past, hinting that he knows things he couldn't possibly know - or could he?

Both sisters seek a way out, but it is fragile Callie who ultimately succeeds.

"False Witness"
by Karin Slaughter
Another amazing thriller by one of my favorite authors!
Leigh Collier, a lawyer in Atlanta, is chosen to defend a wealthy client who has been accused of multiple counts of rape. At the meeting, she realizes that she knows the defendant and secrets from her past may be uncovered. Leigh and her sister, Callie, become immersed in a battle to save themselves as well as Leigh's daughter and husband. A must read!

This story is very different from Karin Slaughter’s usual tales. Leigh is tough - she’s a lawyer, after all - but she’s also a wonderful mother, in love with her husband, and watches out for her sister, whom she constantly worries about, due to her addiction. But Leigh’s got a secret that could ruin her perfect life, and someone is determined to share that secret. Not everyone will survive.

It’s hard to read about many of the themes in this book - drug addiction, rape, murder, pedophilia. Slaughter does a terrific job of throwing in little zingers that take the story down a whole new path.

I've been a Karin Slaughter fan for years and the books just keep getting better and better. I love how she also makes them timely and relevant, talking about current hot topics/issues in society. There was a lot going on, but I enjoyed that and the ending surprised me, which is always good. I hate when it's so easy to figure out. Another great read from Karin. Now I have to wait for her next one again :)

This was a great mystery, but really needs a trigger warning for women who have been sexually assaulted or abused. Some descriptions were pretty descriptive.

A lot of books shy away from being set during any particular time and I enjoyed that this one didn’t shy away from that. Most books maybe throwing in a Facebook reference, which could link it to the last 10 or so years, but that’s about it. This one was set firmly during the pandemic, had references to #metoo, TikTok, etc. and I really appreciated that.

I think the strength of Karin Slaughter’s female characters are what really sets her apart in the thriller world. They always have robust internal worlds, which unfortunately is hard to come by when authors want to create the most salacious story. And the two main characters in this were complicated and relatable in their own ways.

Basically, I flew through this book despite a few predictable moments. Karin Slaughter is a master at pacing thrillers and it gets truer every time I read another book of hers.

(As always with her books, there are a lot of trigger warnings and gore so proceed with caution)

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Content warning: violent sexual abuse, child sexual abuse

Karin Slaughter is not shy about tackling societal problems in her novels, and this one is no different. Estranged sisters Callie and Leigh are being targeted by a violent sexual predator who happens to also be a person from their past. It brings up past demons and actions that Leigh had thought were hidden. Leigh is a defense attorney, having to defend this predator and bend to his will. Callie is an addict. The plot is typical Slaughter, a great thriller, leaving you guessing until the end. I will always read (and love) Karin Slaughter's books.

Readers should be aware that the book depicts, with considerable detail, violent rape, child rape, and drug addiction.

Intricately plotted, intensifying and haunting, this one kept me up at night. While it started out pretty tame, for Karin Slaughter, I should have known better. I was quickly pulled in to the creepy and disturbing world of attorney Leigh Coulton as she represents someone from her past she thought she'd never see again, someone who is holding secrets that threaten to destroy her and everything she holds dear. Menacing, complex and violent, this is not for the faint of heart.