Karin Slaughter didn’t ease into this one. Right away, we’ve got a dead baby, a teenager threatening a classmate with a gun, a shooting, and an autopsy that could give you nightmares. Buckle up, Buttercup. You’re in for a wild ride.
This isn’t my first Karin Slaughter novel, and I still don’t really like Lena. (I must have missed the book where she was injured, so maybe I should give her a break.) The subject matter here is deeply disturbing on several levels, but what horrified me the most was the self-mutilation aspect. I won’t say too much, but once you understand the meaning behind Kisscut, it chills you.
The violence and graphic details are uncomfortable, but they’re not gratuitous. Slaughter walks a fine line between shock and empathy, pushing readers to confront the horror while also feeling compassion for the characters trying to survive it. The story may be set in Small Town, USA, but the darkness here runs extraordinarily deep.
I think the realism is what makes this book unforgettable and why I’ll definitely keep reading the Grant County series. That said, I’m giving myself a little breather first. Maybe a nice, light James Patterson-style murder spree before diving back into Karin Slaughter’s brand of psychological devastation.
Because Kisscut isn’t a book you just read. It’s one that haunts you.
