Fallen [Hardcover]

Karin Slaughter’s new book, Fallen, begins shockingly, with Special Agent Faith Mitchell of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation finding her life abruptly plunged into chaos. Her mother has been charged with looking after Faith’s child, Emma, but Faith comes home to discover her baby locked in a shed. In the house, a safe is open, a gun missing, and Faith encounters a grim blood-covered scene, with a man lying dead. And there are two intruders: more death swiftly follows. Questions are plentiful: what were the killers seeking? What does the carnage have to do with the investigation of Ex-Atlanta Police chief Evelyn Mitchell, being undertaken by Faith’s partner Will Trent? And where is her missing mother?

Karen Slaughter is a bestselling American author with a dedicated following. She is the celebrated creator of such kinetic crime fiction novels as Blindsighted and Kisscut, and is streets ahead of her rivals in the fine art of chilling the blood. What's more, she is clearly determined that each successive book should build upon the innovations of its predecessor, as her latest once again demonstrates. No doubt the fast-moving Fallen will not be appreciated by those who like their crime fiction more sedate and comforting. But those of us not sharing those views (and with a taste for stronger fare) are in for the usual pulse-increasing ride in the company of up-against-it Special Agent Faith Mitchell. Given that Slaughter is a prolific writer, it is a mark of her skill that there is no sign of her narrative skills showing the slightest sign of exhaustion. --Barry Forshaw

PRAISE FOR THE CRIME FICTION OF KARIN SLAUGHTER

"Karin Slaughter is one of the best crime novelists in America.""--The Washington Post "

"Crime fiction at its finest."--Michael Connelly

"Slaughter writes like a razor . . . better than Cornwell can ever hope to be.""--The Plain Dealer"

"Slaughter will have you on the edge of your seat.""--The Seattle Post-Intelligencer"

"One of the boldest thriller writers working today."--Tess Gerritsen

"Move over, Catherine Coulter--Slaughter may be today's top female suspense writer."--"Library Journal" (starred review) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

The gripping new thriller from the double #1 bestseller.

On an ordinary spring day, Special Agent Faith Mitchell of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation returns home to a nightmare. Expecting to find her mother minding Faith's new baby daughter Emma, she is horrified to discover Emma locked in the shed, her mother's safe open, her gun missing and a trail of blood to the front door.

Without waiting for back-up, Faith enters the house to a scene of carnage. It has been torn apart and a man lies dead in a pool of blood. She stumbles across two more intruders, and within minutes they too are shot dead. And when the Atlanta police force turns up, Faith has some difficult questions to answer. But she has some desperate questions of her own. What were the killers searching for? Ex-Atlanta police chief Evelyn Mitchell was once under investigation by Faith's partner Will Trent. Is her mother directly involved this time, and where is she now?

With Faith suspended from duty, Will, together with the help of Dr Sara Linton, must piece together the fragments of a brutal and complicated case - and catch a deeply troubled and vicious murderer with only one thing on his mind. To keep on killing until the truth is finally revealed...

On an ordinary spring day, Special Agent Faith Mitchell of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation returns home to a nightmare. Expecting to find her mother minding Faith's new baby daughter Emma, she is horrified to discover Emma locked in the shed, her mother's safe open, her gun missing and a trail of blood to the front door.

Without waiting for back-up, Faith enters the house to a scene of carnage. It has been torn apart and a man lies dead in a pool of blood. She stumbles across two more intruders, and within minutes they too are shot dead. And when the Atlanta police force turns up, Faith has some difficult questions to answer. But she has some desperate questions of her own. What were the killers searching for? Ex-Atlanta police chief Evelyn Mitchell was once under investigation by Faith's partner Will Trent. Is her mother directly involved this time, and where is she now?

With Faith suspended from duty, Will, together with the help of Dr Sara Linton, must piece together the fragments of a brutal and complicated case - and catch a deeply troubled and vicious murderer with only one thing on his mind. To keep on killing until the truth is finally revealed...

Praise for Karin Slaughter

'Without doubt an accomplished, compelling and complex tale, with page-turning power aplenty' Daily Express

'Brilliantly chilling' heat

'Confirms her at the summit of the school of writers specialising in forensic medicine and terror' The Times

'Criminally spectacular' OK!

'Slaughter's plotting is relentless, piling on surprises and twists ... A good read that should come with a psychological health warning' Guardian

'Beautifully paced, appropriately grisly, and terrifyingly plausible' Time Out

'A fast-paced and unsettling story ... A compelling and fluid read' Daily Telegraph

'A great read ... crime fiction at its finest' Michael Connelly

'Don't read this alone. Don't read this after dark. But do read it' Daily Mirror

Fiction

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Karin Slaughter grew up in a small south Georgia town and has been writing since she was a child. She is the author of the international bestsellers Blindsighted, Kisscut, A Faint Cold Fear, Indelible, Faithless, Skin Privilege, Triptych, Fractured, Genesis and Broken. She is also the author of the darkly comic novella, Martin Misunderstood and the editor of and contributor to Like a Charm, a collaboration of British and American crime fiction writers. She lives in Atlanta. To find out more about Karin Slaughter visit her website at www.karinslaughter.com