Karin Slaughter Books In Order

Publication Order of Andrea Oliver Books

Publication Order of Grant County Books

Publication Order of Will Trent Books

Publication Order of Georgia Books

Publication Order of Good Daughter Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of The MatchUp Collection Books

Publication Order of First Thrills Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Karin Slaughter Biography:

Her last name really is Slaughter, and even as a small child, she was fascinated by the macabre. This interest set her apart from most of the other little girls in her small hometown of Jonesboro, Georgia, where her father ran a local car dealership. Karin Slaughter didn’t mind being different, though; even as a child, she was too busy reading to care what other people thought. Slaughter was different in other obvious ways, too.

She was expelled from her Christian primary school for tearing a Bible apart, for instance; and one of her first boyfriends was an undertaker-in-training. She was also influenced by the gruesome events occurring in the world around her. She grew up in the 70’s and 80’s, during a time when Atlanta, located just up the road from Jonesboro, was reeling from a string of child murders.

Slaughter says that her carefree childhood was interrupted by the changes brought about by the fear that spread through her community. The experience sparked an interest in how communities respond to crime. Slaughter is still a Southern girl: she lives in Atlanta and says that stereotypes about the South make her ‘absolutely furious’.

She sets most of her books in the South, apparently adhering to the old saw that writers should ‘write what they know’. In fact, one of her popular series of books, known as the Grant County Series, is set in a fictional Georgia town much like the one in which Slaughter grew up. Karin Slaughter confesses that she’s an avid fan of crime fiction and reads several books every week. She doesn’t read crime fiction when she’s writing, though, choosing to focus on other genres instead.

Some of her favorite non-crime fiction authors include Flannery O’Connor, John Steinbeck and Stephen King. One of her favorite books–ever– is Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi. She first read it as a young woman, and is still fascinated by the book’s insight into the inner workings of the Manson family.

Grant County Series:

According to Slaughter, Heartsdale, Georgia, the scene of her Grant County series, is a composite of all the southern towns she knew as a girl. The series begins with Slaughter’s first book, Blindsighted, which involves the experiences of part-time coroner Sara Linton and her ex-husband, Heartsdale Chief of Police Jeffery Tolliver. The book was a huge success, selling well and winning a place on the Crime Writer’s Association’s short list for the ‘Best Thriller Debut of 2001’.

The book’s action begins when a young professor is found dead and gruesomely mutilated. The horror grows as more women are murdered. Blindsighted also introduces Lena Adams, the town’s only female police officer–and the sister of the killer’s first victim. Lena, emotionally involved, favors vigilante justice, and complicates Chief Tolliver’s handling of the case.

Other books in the series continue to follow crimes investigated by Linton, Tolliver and Adams. They include Kisscut, A Faint Cold Fear, Indelible, Faithless, and Beyond Reach. Slaughter has commented that Kisscut was the hardest book she’s ever written because of the darkness of the subject matter.

The Will Trent Series:

Slaughter sticks with Georgia as the setting for the Will Trent Series, but moves the action to the big city of Atlanta, where Will Trent and his partner, Faith Mitchell, explore life’s seamy side as special agents with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Actually, Trent has been familiar with the seamy side since he was abandoned as an infant and raised in the emotionally-impoverished Atlanta Children’s Home.

Trent is a man with scars, and his long-term romantic relationship with Angie Polaski is flawed. Still, he’s a good agent, and so is his partner, Faith, who hated him until she was forced to work with him. Triptych, the first book in the series, features a woman-killer who leaves his calling-card by mutilating his victims in a specific way. Triptych’s characters are complex and flawed, and Slaughter’s unflinching tale of gore can be difficult to get through.

As crime author Tess Gerritsen said, Slaughter “takes us to the deep, dark places other novelists don’t dare to go”. The other books in the series, Fractured and Snatch, continue to develop the characters of Will Trent and Faith Mitchell as they confront chaos perpetrated on citizens of Atlanta by criminals and serial murderers.

Georgia On Her Mind:

The Georgia Series combines the worlds of Grant County and Will Trent. Sara Linton has moved from Heartsdale to the big city and encounters Faith Mitchell–and her partner Will Trent–in the hospital. This series presents the best of two worlds for Slaughter fans. Books in the Georgia series include Fallen, Broken, and Undone.

Slaughter’s Thriller Recipe:

Much has been made of the idea that Karin Slaughter ‘writes like a man’. Her writing is realistic and unsparing, and she goes out of her way to make sure that the details are true to life. Research is the key: Slaughter makes it a practice to read autopsy reports, and when she was writing the Will Trent series, she interviewed female law enforcement officers about their coming-of-age experiences in the 1970’s.

And because she is a native and long-time resident of Georgia, Slaughter’s ear for dialect and feel for place are unflinchingly realistic. Some reviewers have commented that her books have a political agenda, but Slaughter insists that she doesn’t use her fiction as a forum for ‘preaching’. Instead, she says that any agenda is imposed by the location in which her books are set. Much of her writing is set in the 1970’s, an era when times were changing. In fact, Maynard Jackson was elected the first mayor of Atlanta–a milestone for any Southern city–during this time period.

Television: A New Medium:

Soon Slaughter’s stories will be coming to television. Yellow Bird has acquired the rights to the Will Trent Series, and is planning to produce three films based on the books. Yellow Bird is the Swedish production company that produced television films based on Stieg Larsson’s book, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and its two sequels. Fittingly, Yellow Bird plans to produce the Will Trent films on location in Atlanta.

24 Responses to “Karin Slaughter”

1. JEANNIE BLOM: 3 months ago

   Will Trent is so misrepresented in the new tv series…terrible.

   Reply
   • Bill: 3 months ago

     It was only one show….give it a chance.

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     • Rena: 2 months ago

       Now it’s two, and too many things about the characters is way off from the books.

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   • Stephanie: 4 weeks ago

     I agree. It’s a shame that the amazing characters that Karin has created have turned into such laughable representations on tv. Will looks nothing as described and seriously, what is with his awkward accent?

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   • Rocky Spencer: 3 weeks ago

     while the series is different from the books, it is good in it’s own way…it is well written, and it’s easier to deal with then Tom Cruise playing Jack Reacher…the characters in the books are so much more developed, that I don’t think they would work as well in a weekly series, but they have at least done a pretty good job of writing the series…it is rather entertaining to compare the books to the episodes and see the modifications.

     Reply
2. Sue: 3 months ago

   Love all Karin Slaughter’s books. Amanda Wagner is my favorite character. Love the interaction between Amanda and Will.

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3. Lorraine Reed: 6 months ago

   I love the will Trent series I’ve read the last book which is the silent wife and you promised us another where can I get it is it published yet I’m in love with this series thank you so much

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   • Brandi: 6 months ago

     I was wondering if there will be more in the will Trent series & if so, any idea how long it will be before release? I’m almost done with the last one & am anxious for more. Not sure where I’ll turn for good reading until it comes out.

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4. MAE BAYLY: 7 months ago

   I am a huge fan of the Will Trent series. Question. I just finished “The kept Woman” for the second time. Will Angie Polaski be in any more of the ‘Will Trent’ series. Thanks.

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5. Carla Ward: 7 months ago

   I just finished listening to stand alone novel False Witness as an audiobook, and found myself deep in its sympathetic yet unsentimental story of flawed but compelling protagonists. They are who they are, and come by their flaws honestly. It’s an amazing book, not the least for its gritty, honest portrayal of child sex abuse, child neglect, psychopathy, and addiction. Gripping to the last page.

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6. Janice: 8 months ago

   Read every book – best series is Will Trent Please write more on this….

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7. RS Rogers: 9 months ago

   Thank you! I have read most of your books and wait breathlessly for your next. You keep us at the edge continually, waiting for the next twist, then finish with a satisfying ending that finally allows us breathe easily again. Please don’t stop writing!

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8. Jeanine: 10 months ago

   Love all her books!!

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9. Angelique Schwegmann: 10 months ago

   I’m an avid Karin Slaughter fan – Pretty girls was my first book I read by the author , after that I simply had to read ever one of her novels .
   She certainly keeps you so engrossed in her books that you simply cannot put it down till the end .
   Love her gripping story telling !

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10. Henry Lord: 1 year ago

    I have read a number of Karin’s books and they have all be excellent reads. I look forward to reading more of her books. I like reading books that I don’t know how it will end.

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    • Barbara Nathan: 9 months ago

      I just finished False Witness and I can’t remember ever reading a book so scary. I had to put the book down at certain intervals to catch my breath. Karin, you did it again. This is a home run. Thanks

      Reply
11. Darla Deats: 1 year ago

    I am absolutely enchanted with Ms. Slaughter’s writing. Keeps one mesmerized. And Kathleen Earley (whose mother is a close friend of mine) is quite talented in her voice narrative and a pleasure to listen to.

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12. Joanne Therese TENBOSCHl: 1 year ago

    I randomly read one of her books and was hooked.I read a couple more before I realised there was an order, so I had to go back to the beginning… I love her stories and the connection with some of her characters..Im a fan, bring on the Movie versions but I hope they dont spoil the stories by cutting a lot out..

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    • Rose: 10 months ago

      Love all your books,totally hooked,can’t wait for the next one, love will trent

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13. Mark Minchey: 1 year ago

    So far,”last widow”is the only book I’ve read by karin. I was blown away! I will soon gobble up her other works.

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14. Kenneth Simpson: 4 years ago

    Cant wait to read the follow on from ‘The Kept woman’ Hurry up please Karen Gripping stuff

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15. Sax Charles: 8 years ago

    Great reads and great entertainment. Best to read them in order (by date). Don’t worry about jumping around each series. Karin Slaughter ties these books together & develops each character so well, you feel like you are part of the cast. Just finished Unseen, and I’m ready for the next one. Sax

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16. Cheryl: 8 years ago

    I’ll look forward to the Will Trent Series to be produced by Yellow Bird. I’ve watched many of their Swedish productions and enjoy them very much. This is going to be fun!!!

    Reply
17. Kim Staton: 9 years ago

    Are “Snatched” and “Broken” available in written books or only audio and kindle? I Can’t find them.

    Reply