After finally finishing Karin Slaughter's Grant County series last year, Stormi and I had always planned on starting the companion Will Trent series. I never stopped to think how hard it would be to get my hands on a copy since the TV series recently started but I FINALLY managed to snag a large print copy at one of my local libraries. So read on to see my thoughts and then hop over to Stormi's at Storm Reads to see her's.
TITLE: Triptych (Will Trent #1)
AUTHOR: Karin Slaughter
PUBLISHER:: Delacorte Press
PUBLISHING DATE: August 16, 2006
SOURCE: Library
PAGES: 393
FROM GOODREADS: In the city of Atlanta, women are dying—at the hands of a killer who signs his work with a single, chilling act of mutilation. Leaving behind enough evidence to fuel a frenzied police hunt, this cunning madman is bringing together dozens of lives, crossing the boundaries of wealth and race. And the people who are chasing him must cross those boundaries too. Among them is Michael Ormewood, a veteran detective whose marriage is hanging by a thread—and whose arrogance and explosive temper are threatening his career. And Angie Polaski, a beautiful vice cop who was once Michael's lover before she became his enemy.
But another player has entered the game: a loser ex-con who has stumbled upon the killer's trail in the most coincidental of ways—someone who may be the key to breaking the case wide open...
MY THOUGHTS: So Triptych is your basic police procedural mystery and as I have read quite a few Slaughter books by now, I expected it to be gory and full or twists and turns. I wasn't wrong in that aspect but I was a bit shocked by how montonous I found this one. Several women in Atlanta have been killed in similar ways hinting at a serial killer on the loose. The local police officer. who I disliked right from the start, is looking into the matter and Will Trent, an famous or maybe infamous is a better description, is assigned to assist. The men do not really like each other, possibly due to the fact they have both had a relationship with the same woman in the past, and lots of ego-filled posturing occurs. The investigation is further complicated by the presence of an ex-con who may or may not be linked to the killings and possibly in more ways than one.
So, I have to ask. Does Karin Slaughter have an issue with female law enforcement? ANgie, the main female officer in this book, is almost a carbon copy of Lena, along with her hot-mess of a life, who was prominent in the Grant County series. And I couldn't stand Lena so there was no hope for Angie right from the start. I also found Will Trent kind of dull and reallly hope the series picks up in the next installment. The mystery was decent but it was written as to where you pretty much see what is going on as it progresses and the narrative basically just explains what you've already been told.
As I mentioned, I do plan in continuing with a few more books because I know this series is well-loved. I just hope some things change and that I find them more enjoyable that this one.
RATING: 3 PAWS
This first book is really weird. Most of the books are weird but they get better focused on Will and his story and cases, and that gets weird too. I really love them and I would almost say this one is an outlier.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart
I hope the next one is better!!! Please let it be better!
ReplyDeleteI've never read Karin Slaughter either, but I think that would bug me if she doesn't write interesting female law enforcement characters.
ReplyDeleteI've heard great things about this series but never tried it. A bit saddening that female characters are not more original compared to her other books though. Great honest thoughts though. Thanks for sharing! :D
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