Kisscut by Karin Slaughter
Series: Grant County #2
Published by HarperCollins on September 30, 2003
Pages: 339
Source: Library
Narrator: Kathleen Early
Length: 12 hours, 43 minutes
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Saturday night dates at the skating rink have been a tradition in the small southern town of Heartsdale for as long as anyone can remember, but when a teenage quarrel explodes into a deadly shoot-out, Sara Linton -- the town's pediatrician and medical examiner-- finds herself entangled in a terrible tragedy.

What seemed at first to be a horrific but individual catastrophe proves to have wider implications. The autopsy reveals evidence of long-term abuse, of ritualistic self-mutilation, but when Sara and police chief Jeffrey Tolliver start to investigate, they are frustrated at every turn.

The children surrounding the victim close ranks. The families turn their backs. Then a young girl is abducted, and it becomes clear that the first death is linked to an even more brutal crime, one far more shocking than anyone could have imagined. Meanwhile, detective Lena Adams, still recovering from her sister's death and her own brutal attack, finds herself drawn to a young man who might hold the answers. But unless Lena, Sara, and Jeffrey can uncover the deadly secrets the children hide, it's going to happen again...

Review:

Kisscut by Karin Slaughter is the second book in the Grant County series, following Blindsighted. I thought that one was WHOA intense, but this one is intense in a different way entirely. Again, very gritty. And again, tough to read in several parts. But this one has crimes involving children and young people and I felt some serious loathing toward the bad-guy characters while I was reading, way down deep in my core.

The crimes in this case and the situations surrounding the crimes in this case were jaw-dropping. My jaw dropped over and over while I was reading this. I was nearly-continuously shocked by twists and reveals, and I love that edge-of-my-seat feeling so much. I hated these awful crimes but I absolutely loved that I experienced such large emotions while I was reading.

Aside from the crime-aspect of this story, I again found that I loved how Sara, Jeffrey, and Lena let their personal lives spill over into their work lives-whether they mean to or not-because they all have relationships that intersect. I am amazed at the characterization in this series. These three investigators make me feel things. I really, truly want them all to be okay in their lives outside of work, and I just want to be upfront about the fact that I think I like the personal lives-aspect of the book even more than the crime portion. I just feel so compelled by the way Sara and Jeffrey are walking on eggshells and gasping for air in their marriage, but they’re working on trying to mend it–while also working together on the most stressful types of cases imaginable, in a small, Southern town. I also have a soft spot in my heart for Lena (especially with regard to her relationship with her uncle) even though I’m not entirely sure how much I actually like her as a person. She’s so rough around the edges, but I understand why. Even though Lena has blurred the lines between her personal life and her work life far too much to be professional in this story, I choose to think that her intentions are probably good.

I’m curious and excited to see what happens with all three of these characters, and I’m watching them all very closely because I feel so attached to them.

Check out my other reviews in the Grant County Series:

Blindsighted | Kisscut | A Faint Cold Fear | Indelible
Faithless | Beyond Reach

Audiobook Notes:

I borrowed the audiobook from my local library as soon as I finished with the first book  because I enjoyed the narration so much and because once I started reading, I didn’t want to stop the story. Once again, Kathleen Early narrates and I liked this second audiobook installment even more than the first.

Title: Kisscut by Karin Slaughter
Series: Grant County #2
Narrated by: Kathleen Early
Publisher: HarperAudio
Length: 12 hours, 43 minutes, Unabridged