Faithless

• Author: Karin Slaughter
• Genre: Mystery/Thriller
• Publication Date: October 4, 2006
• Publisher: Books on Tape
• Series: Grant County #5

CONTENT WARNING: mention of infidelity, mention of sexual abuse, abortion, domestic violence, addiction, homophobia, violence

The victim was buried alive in the Georgia woods–then killed in a horrifying fashion. When Sara Linton and Jeffrey Tolliver stumble upon the body, both become consumed with finding out who killed the pretty, impeccably dressed young woman. And for Sara and Jeffrey, a harrowing journey begins, one that will test their own turbulent relationship and draw dozens of lives into the case.

Lena Adams is one of them. A Grant County detective for years, she has her own reasons for being drawn to this case and a fierce drive to see justice done. For these three people, who have each seen the darkest side of human nature, the body of the murdered girl is but the first in a series of shocking and sordid revelations.

Now, as Jeffrey and Sara narrow the field of suspects, they must confront their own doubts and indiscretions, while Lena Adams sees herself reflected in the frightened eyes of a battered woman who may be the key figure in the case. As Faithless builds to a stunning and unforgettable climax, Karin Slaughter masterfully brings together strands of interlocking lives, family secrets, and hidden passions with one astounding truth: the identity of a killer who is more evil and dangerous than anyone could have guessed.

One of the perks of sticking with a series is that you kind of know what to expect from the author. And since the majority of the story takes place in the same small town region, the same cast is featured in all the books. So in addition to the central case/cases in each book, we also get to follow the lives of Sara, Jeffrey, and Lena. 

As Sara and Jeffrey are struggling with a new complication in their budding relationship, they quite literally stumble over an extremely difficult case. Naturally, it overlaps with at least one of their own personal lives, adding an extra layer of emotional investment in the case. It was intriguing to see how they interact with each other over the course of the story. 

Lena is dealing with her own relationship from hell, and this case hits especially close to home for her. She’s still struggling to portray a tough, self-sufficient persona, much like she used to be before her traumatic attack, and refuses to ask for help or admit what’s actually going on in her life. But it interferes with her ability to stay objective during the case, since some of it overlaps with what is occurring to characters central to the case. While part of me wanted to just reach in and shake her, screaming “JUST TELL SOMEONE!” another part of me wanted to wait it out and see her make the right choice, trusting her to do it.

It was difficult watching the characters struggle as well as hearing the particulars of the case. I think for this one, listening to the audiobook was a plus, since Clarinda Ross, the narrator, did such a great job with the Southern drawl. It was easy to differentiate between the characters, and I loved seeing the action speeding up as the story went on. I’m eager to start the next book, and simultaneously dreading the end of this fabulous series. 

People who have sat around with me while I’m reading, especially when there’s a surprising reveal, a shocking plot twist, or an unexpected event often look up in alarm when I gasp audibly. The gasp factor is directly related to the number of times I audibly gasp during a reading, and there isn’t an upper limit.

Gasp Factor: 5