After That Night by Karin Slaughter (Will Trent 11)

After That NightSynopsis:

Sara doesn’t think about that night.

About the attack.

About the way it tore her world apart.

About the man who did it, now safely behind bars.

She thought that night was over. Until a new victim appears…

And now a young woman’s life depends on Sara uncovering exactly what happened after that night…

My Rating: 5/5

My Review: Will and Sara are back and unfortunately for Sara when she sees to a young rape patient named Dani Cooper she has no idea that it will unleash her own tragic past. When Dani dies from her injuries Sara is determined to get to the bottom of who was responsible having no clue that she would be directly in the firing line. She ends up testifying against Tommy McAlistair and soon realises that there are links between Dani and her own brutal rape many years before.

The end result is that Will along with his partner Faith go behind their boss Amanda’s back to try and get to the bottom of it all. This also opens old wounds for Will as he is faced with speaking to his Aunt Eliza whom he loathes but has to work with to help Sara. The story progresses with multiple moving parts and frankly I didn’t want to put this one down. This was pretty gut wrenching in parts but was very well written and I found myself just continuously turning pages and getting completely lost in the story.

Whilst the underlying theme throughout the book may not sit well with some people (sexual assault/rape) I feel like it was done well and as this is something that has formed part of Sara’s character over many years it is fitting to see her working through this element of her past. Overall another brilliant book which I thoroughly enjoyed

The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter

The Good Daughter Synopsis:

Twenty-eight years ago, Charlotte and Samantha Quinn’s childhoods were destroyed by a terrifying attack on their family home. It left their mother dead. It left their father – a notorious defence attorney – devastated. And it left the family consumed by secrets from that shocking night.

Twenty-eight years later, Charlie has followed in her father’s footsteps to become a lawyer. But when violence comes to their home town again, the case triggers memories she’s desperately tried to suppress. Because the shocking truth about the crime which destroyed her family won’t stay buried for ever…

My Rating: 5/5

My Review: This has been sitting in my to read pile for some time and I decided to finally opick it up and boy am I glad I did. The story starts by looking back in time to the loves of Samantha and Charlotte (Charlie) Quinn. Their Dad Rusty is a lawyer well known around town as he defends murders and rapists , and their mother Gamma is very unique but a doting and loving Mother. What happens to the family on night years ago leaves their Mother dead and the two girls devastated and traumatised.

Fast forward nearly 30 years later and we see Charlie still living near to her father and working as a defence lawyer. Something bad then happens to Charlie and she is literally catterpaulted into a horrendous situation which not only affects her, but the town she lives in and the people living there. I admit the first quarter of the book I was trying to get to grips with everything going on but as each element of the story unfolded I became utterly absorbed in the book and literally couldn’t stop reading. This truly does pack a punch and seems to pack suspense, drama, fear, adrenaline and sadness all into one story!

This story itself is pretty complex but is done in such a way that you are completely invested in the characters and their own battles that emerge. I can honestly say this was an exceptionally good read and one that I finished and was left wanting more. I sincerely hope we get to see these characters again as they were quite simply amazing!

The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter (Will Trent, #10)

The Silent Wife Synopsis:

He watches.

A woman runs alone in the woods. She convinces herself she has no reason to be afraid, but she’s wrong. A predator is stalking the women of Grant County. He lingers in the shadows, until the time is just right to snatch his victim.

He waits.

A decade later, the case has been closed. The killer is behind bars. But then another young woman is brutally attacked and left for dead, and the MO is identical.

He takes.

Although the original trail has gone cold – memories have faded, witnesses have disappeared – agent Will Trent and forensic pathologist Sara Linton must re-open the cold case. But the clock is ticking, and the killer is determined to find his perfect silent wife….

My Rating: 4/5

My Review: So having caught up with Will and Sara in book 9 I went straight on to book 10 and this one was no less graphic than the last. I personally love books that are dark and gritty but some may find the subject matter uncomfortable as rape and the depravity that comes with it is not in short supply here. It seems that the GBI have an issue at hand as a convicted rapist who is serving time in prison is claiming his innocence. Not only that but he is claiming that Sara’s dead husband Jeffrey Tolliver is responsible.

In all honesty you do need to have read the other books in the series for this one to have an impact. This feels like an unravelling of things especially for Sara’s current partner Will. When another woman is raped and left for dead, everybody soon realises that this is the same MO as the man currently serving the sentance for those historic crimes. This is a no holds barred book in both description and storytelling and isn’t for the feint hearted. That’s not to say the author is at fault as she has always said she will always write honestly about violence againt women.

The storyline drills down into the personal lives of Sara and Will too as we see them both struggling with Jeffrey being brought into the forefront of their lives. This book was as usual written impecibly with that dark and edgy style that Karin Slaughter is famous for. A great read and once again getting me prepped and ready for book 11!

The Last Widow by Karin Slaughter (Will Trent, #9)

The Last Widow Synopsis: She might be the first victim, but she won’t be the last.

Three…

A woman is abducted in front of her child.

Two…

A month later, a second is taken in explosive circumstances.

One…

But the web is bigger and darker than anyone could imagine.

The clock is ticking to uncover the truth.

My Rating: 4/5

My Review: It’s been a long time since I read a Will Trent book by Karin Slaughter and was looking forward to catching up with both Will and Sara. Having read this latest book I also realised how much I love both Faith, Will’s partner and Amanda his boss. The book starts with Michelle and her daughter being snatched following a shopping trip to the mall. Following a few weeks of investigation they find nothing it’s like they have vanished off the face of the planet. A few weeks after the kidnap Will and Sarah witness an accident which quickly turns into something much worse.

When Sara is snatched Will’s world literally turns upside down and he is left feeling bereft and absolutely determined to find her. This story is gritty and fast paced with truly despicable people at the heart of the case. I realised that I was truly gripped and wouldn’t put the book down until I had finished once I got through the first half. The second half has some very nail biting moments that had me wondering just how it was going to turn out.

I absolutely loved this book and it was a great way to get back into the series. I am just glad that I have the next book ready and lined up ready to read.

A Home at Cornflower Cottage by Tilly Tennant

61047827 Synopsis: Amelie has lived in Cornflower Cottage since she was born. She did her homework at the scrubbed kitchen table and helped her mum hang washing from the line on the old oak tree in the garden. And when her beloved parents died, Cornflower Cottage became Amelie’s armour against the world.

The trouble is that Cornflower Cottage is too big for just her. With a broken boiler and a leaking roof, Amelie knows she must do something to make ends meet. When she meets Xander, a scruffy, brown-eyed nature documentary maker living out of his backpack in a nearby hotel, Amelie rents him a room, hoping a lodger will solve her problems.

She soon realises that her troubles are only just beginning. Xander’s muddy clothes all over the cottage and early morning jaunts to photograph otters are going to take some getting used to. But when an argument turns into a heart-to-heart, she finds herself confessing how lonely she has been.

Before long, laughter echoes round the cosy farmhouse kitchen once more and sparks begin to fly. But when a face from Xander’s past appears at Cornflower Cottage Amelie’s happy home is shaken once more. Xander has changed Amelie’s quiet country life forever. Should she open her heart to someone who has hidden things from her? Or let him leave, and lose the love that makes her house a home?

My Rating: 4/5

My Review: It’s been a fair while since I read a Tilly Tennant book and this one sounded up my street so I dove in. Amelie is living in her childhood home following the death of her parents. She is determined to never leave and is constantly struggling. Cornflower Cottage is her safe place and one that she is determined to keep. The problem is that the house is falling apart and her job doesn’t exactly pay tons so she decides to take drastic action.

At first Amelie decides to try the extra shifts at the local hotel she works in but it soon becomes apparent that isn’t going to cut it. That is until she meets Xander who is pretty much lodging at the hotel Amelie works in. Before she knows it she has offered Xander and his girlfriend lodging at her cottage. Her boyfriend Decker isn’t pleased to find that Amelie has rented out a room at the cottage but frankly I was glad as I couldn’t stand him. As a character he was just one big red flag!!! This was a nice feelgood and easy read which reminded me why I enjoy Tilly’s books. This was certainly a pleasure to read and I would reccomend it for sure.

Below Ground by Michael Wood (Matilda Darke 11)

Below Ground

Synopsis: A MISSING DETECTIVE

DCI Matilda Darke has been kidnapped and her nemesis, Steve Harrison appears to be behind it. He’s currently residing in the supermax of Wakefield Prison and spends twenty-three hours a day in his cell, so how could he possibly be responsible?

A SERIAL KILLER WITH A VENGEANCE

As Matilda’s team race to find her, they’re alerted to a body found in an abandoned car on the outskirts of Sheffield. With forensics scouring the woodland for clues, the last thing they expect is for the body count to rise.

A RACE AGAINST TIME

Meanwhile the search intensifies for the DCI when a video of her kidnapping is leaked to the media. And as she desperately tries to uncover what has led to her being held captive in an underground cell, she’s about to find out how much danger she’s truly in.

If Matilda’s team don’t find her soon, they might not find her at all…

My Rating: 4/5

My Review: I’m now up to date with the books in this series and as much as I enjoyed this I’m still wondering where the series will go from here. This latest instalment sees Matilda in the thick of it as she is snatched. This means the team are doing their utmost to find her without alerting the media.

In addition they get a case when a body is found which as usual is never just one thing…that one body turns to two and then three. There is plenty going on to keep the reader interested and it made a pleasant change to read about Matilda being on the other side of the fence and seeing what she does to utilise her survival instinct.

Overall another good read I’m just confused about where this series will go. Sometimes I think some storylines are better off wrapped up and finished with as there are only so many times it can be reused.

Silent Victim by Michael Wood (Matilda Darke 10)

Silent Victim

Synopsis: A CENSURED DETECTIVE WITH NO LEADS

DCI Matilda Darke and her team have been restricted under special measures after a series of calamitous scandals nearly brought down the South Yorkshire police force.

A BRUTAL ATTACK WITH NO WITNESSES

Now Matilda is on the trail of another murderer, an expert in avoiding detection with no obvious motive but one obvious method.

A DEPRAVED KILLER WHO LEAVES NO TRACES

When his latest victim survives the attack despite her vocal cords being severed, Matilda is more convinced than ever of the guilt of her key suspect. If only she had a way to prove it…

My Rating: 4/5

Following the last book this one felt much more like the older ones and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sadly, the team are still struggling and as suich Matilda isn’t even working any more which is an odd start to the book. However with a serial rapist on the loose and a victim who survived the attach she is asked to come back to help with the case. Matilda is joined by some of the old team and together they begin to work towards finding this killer.

The storyline was actually pretty decent but once again things from Matilda’s past are still haunting her and she is certainly not safe for the forseable future. This element of the storyline is wearing a little and I am hoping in the coming books there will be some sort of a conclusion to it all. That aside this case was worked like normal with the team giving their all! This was a really good read and then as usual Wood throws in a banger of a cliffhanger ending. Thankfully I have the next book ready to go as if I didn’t I’m not entirely sure I would have been happy!

Publication List – Michael Wood


   1. For Reasons Unknown (2015) Matilda Darke 1
   2. Outside Looking In (2016) Matilda Darke 2
   3. A Room Full of Killers (2017) Matilda Darke 3
   4. The Hangman’s Hold (2018) Matilda Darke 4
   4.5. Victim of Innocence (2019) Matilda Darke 4.5
   5. The Murder House (2020) Matilda Darke 5
   6. Stolen Children (2020) Matilda Darke 6
   7. Time Is Running Out (2021) Matilda Darke 7
   8. Survivor’s Guilt (2021) Matilda Darke 8
   9. The Lost Children (2022) Matilda Darke 9
   10. Silent Victim (2022) Matilda Darke 10
   11. Making of a Murderer (2023) Matilda Darke 11
   11. Below Ground (2023) Matilda Darke 12
   12. Untitled Matilda Darke 12 (2024) Matilda Darke 13

13. The Mind of a Murderer Dr Olivia Winter 1

The Lost Children by Michael Wood (Matilda Darke 9)

The Lost ChildrenSynopsis: APRIL 2020: LOCKDOWN

DI Brady has been tracing victims of systemic abuse at a local children’s home after a high-profile accusation pitched it into the spotlight – a case that couldn’t be more personal.

As Matilda and her team piece together the disturbing picture of the history of the home, it soon becomes clear that this is much bigger than they ever suspected.

But nothing prepares them for what they uncover next…

The Lost Children is an utterly gripping crime thriller weaving a breakneck tale of a vast network of secrets and lies, a relentless detective determined to sabotage it, and a murder that shatters two decades of silence.

My Rating: 3/5

** WARNING** If you plan on reading the series in order and are not yet at this stage in the series please do not read the review as it will inevitably contain spoliers

I have been binge reading and enjoying the Matilda Darke series and although this book was no different, in one respect I feel like the disbelief is just getting worse. This team has been to hell and back and it seems like they are continuing to be the unluckiest people in Sheffield.

The storyline does feature historical sexual abuse of children but I think it was handled as best as it could be. The writing was, as ever, extremely good and the story flowed well. However, for me I just want the team to get their teeth into a juicy case and work the case as they normally do without somebody within the team either being killed off or being the victim of something horrific. Like I said I am really enjoying the books and the series but I feel like it either needs to be wrapped up and ended or continued in the most normal way and let the team work a case without being on the receiving end.

Survivor’s Guilt by Michael Wood (Matilda Darke 8)

Survivor's Guilt Synopsis: A TEAM TORN APART

Nine months ago DCI Matilda Darke survived a bullet to the head. The brutal attack claimed dozens of lives, including those she loved most, and the nightmares still plague her every waking thought.

A MEMORY SHE’D RATHER FORGET

Now, she’s ready to get back on the job. But a new terror awaits. A woman is found murdered and her wounds look eerily similar to several cold cases. Desperate to find a lead, DCI Darke and her team must face a terrifying truth: a serial killer is on the loose in Sheffield.

A THREAT CLOSE TO HOME

Matilda has led countless murder investigations before but the lingering emotional scars from her ordeal and the uneasiness within her once-tight team have left tensions high. As the body count rises, Matilda realises that this might just be where it all ends.

My Rating: 3/5

** WARNING** If you plan on reading the series in order and are not yet at this stage in the series please do not read the review as it will inevitably contain spoliers

My Review: Okay, I am in a quandry here. I am binge reading this series and think the author is extremely talented and has created a series full of characters that I love. I am invested as a reader and of course as an avid reader I am able to put aside those times when storylines go a little outside the realms of belief. However….this time I just can’t put that aside for this latest book.

The last book was a huge shock to the system and with the devastation that happened to the team following the last case I was already reeling. So when we are brought a new storyline with prostitutes being murdered it gives the team (what’s left of them) the chance to get their teeth back onto something. I like the fact that the characters that I love didn’t just fall right back into their normal ways and are all struggling to get back on an even keel. Nearly all the remaining characters have their own battles following the shootings nine months earlier.

The storyline was written well as ever and I enjoyed the book immensley until the killer was revealed. I mean look, I like it when author’s aren’t afraid to do things that aren’t necessarily fan favourites as they normally have good reasoning for it, but this time I think it suspends belief a little too much for my liking. I mean how much bad luck can one team have? That alone was a shocker but this latest storyline just felt too contrived. I am really hoping that the next book takes us back to a new level of normal (at least as far as this particular team and set of characters goes).