book review: Broken by Karin Slaughter

This is my first Karin Slaughter book I bought at its regular price at a local bookstore as I could not find a used copy yet in the usual booksale outlets.

Broken presents a more extensive interaction between Sara and Will. Sara comes home to Grant for Thanksgiving but is suddenly caught in the midst of a suicide investigation. After getting a hard time, she calls GBI and she gets Will Trent. Together, they get enmeshed in uncovering the secrets of the deaths while Will gets in the tension between them, Lena, and the whole police force.

I think this novel wraps up everything the could possibly have ties with Jeffrey. However, it does not say whether Sara will opt to return to her small town or remain in Atlanta to be near Will. Alas, until the end, Will is still "married" even if Angie has left him.

I bought my first Karin Slaughter novel because it was funny that a crime novel is authored by someone who has that last name. Immediately, I wanted to finish Kisscut. Eventually, I found her other books at the secondhand bookstores. One time, while I was paying for Beyond Reach, another customer at the counter said she was a fan of Karin Slaughter, too. I smiled and then I wanted to wring her neck when she said she was not sure if the novel was where Jeffrey died! WTF! I had no inkling that would happen.

Some sites mentioned that some fans did not want to read next novels because they hated that she killed off Jeffrey at the time when the Sara-Jeffrey tandem was getting loved. Personally, I think Jeffrey was killed too soon but that bound to happen because he was getting too boring. He was becoming predictable and together with Sara, not much could still be done. I am speculating that Karin Slaughter did not think she'll be that big so with the demand for her writing, she has to churn out something new and interesting all the time.

In Broken, I sense she just had to write some sense of closure for herself and her readers. That's how I interpret the scene when Sara loses the necklace with Jeffrey's ring. Yet, there is a sense of tiredness as well. Towards the middle, it becomes obvious as to who has done it and towards the end, it's just telling. As usual everyone gets their justice.

I look forward to reading Fallen to complete the Will Trent series. Faith's character seems to be more interesting than Sara because she's Sara's anti-thesis. Will is Jeffrey's foil, too. Will is faithful and imperfect! I think I like Will and Sara actually. Hahaha.

So, now I need to save up so I can buy Martin Misunderstood and Like a Charm and Fallen.