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Andrea Oliver #1
Pieces of Her
What if the person you thought you knew best turns out to be someone you never knew at all . . . ?
Andrea knows everything about her mother, Laura. She knows she’s spent her whole life in the small beachside town of Belle Isle; she knows she’s never wanted anything more than to live a quiet life as a pillar of the community; she knows she’s never kept a secret in her life. Because we all know our mothers, don’t we?
But all that changes when a trip to the mall explodes into violence and Andrea suddenly sees a completely different side to Laura. Because it turns out that before Laura was Laura, she was someone completely different. For nearly thirty years she’s been hiding from her previous identity, lying low in the hope that no one would ever find her. But now she’s been exposed, and nothing will ever be the same again.
The police want answers and Laura’s innocence is on the line, but she won’t speak to anyone, including her own daughter. Andrea is on a desperate journey following the breadcrumb trail of her mother’s past. And if she can’t uncover the secrets hidden there, there may be no future for either one of them. . . .
Andrea knows everything about her mother, Laura. She knows she’s spent her whole life in the small beachside town of Belle Isle; she knows she’s never wanted anything more than to live a quiet life as a pillar of the community; she knows she’s never kept a secret in her life. Because we all know our mothers, don’t we?
But all that changes when a trip to the mall explodes into violence and Andrea suddenly sees a completely different side to Laura. Because it turns out that before Laura was Laura, she was someone completely different. For nearly thirty years she’s been hiding from her previous identity, lying low in the hope that no one would ever find her. But now she’s been exposed, and nothing will ever be the same again.
The police want answers and Laura’s innocence is on the line, but she won’t speak to anyone, including her own daughter. Andrea is on a desperate journey following the breadcrumb trail of her mother’s past. And if she can’t uncover the secrets hidden there, there may be no future for either one of them. . . .
476 pages, ebook
First published August 21, 2018
About the author
Karin Slaughter
127 books73.8k followersKarin Slaughter is the author of more than twenty instant NEW YORK TIMES bestselling novels, including the Edgar–nominated COP TOWN and standalone novels THE GOOD DAUGHTER, PRETTY GIRLS, and GIRL, FORGOTTEN. She is published in 120 countries with more than 40 million copies sold across the globe. PIECES OF HER is a #1 Netflix original series starring Toni Collette. The Will Trent Series is on ABC (and streaming on Hulu in the U.S and Disney+ internationally). THE GOOD DAUGHTER and FALSE WITNESS are in development for film/tv. Slaughter is the founder of the Save the Libraries project—a nonprofit organization established to support libraries and library programming. A native of Georgia, she lives in Atlanta.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 10,651 reviews
September 17, 2018
Karin Slaughter has been a relatively recent discovery for me. I really enjoyed her dark gritty The Good Daughter, especially the way she slowly paints in the relationship and backstory between the two female protagonists. It was a nasty, powerful read.
Pieces of Her is another slow-paced book about two women - this time a mother and her daughter - but I found the slowness here extremely dull. And the plot seemed a little ludicrous, honestly (though also tamer than expected). Rather than a gritty thriller that concentrated on the family dynamics Slaughter seems to do best, we got a strange terrorist backstory that introduced a number of forgettable characters.
The beginning sees Andy and her mother, Laura, going to lunch for Andy's 31st birthday. Laura has recently come out of intense rounds of chemotherapy to treat her breast cancer, while unambitious Andy is struggling to figure out her life plan after a series of failures. When a shooter opens fire in the cafe, Laura tells him to shoot her next. He doesn't, and instead Laura quickly and coldly kills him.
Caught on camera delivering the killing blow without emotion, first the police, and then Andy, start to ask questions about Laura's past and who she really is. After that, everything spirals out of control and gets bigger and bigger. Andy makes a number of discoveries that offer up more questions than answers: Who is Laura? What is she hiding? Is someone after them?
The story leaps between the present and thirty years ago, revealing a past of murder, scheming and secret identities. Unfortunately, though, I just don't think Pieces of Her contained any of the emotion or urgency I would have expected from this author.
The reveals are anticlimactic, the plot boring and convoluted, and none of the characters made much of an impression on me. To be honest, I think that's what it really comes down to: the story was unconvincing because my detachment from the characters kept me at a distance. Andy's naivete at 31 years old is frustrating and quite annoying at times, and I felt like a lot of character development was sacrificed for the sake of throwing in the detailed terrorist backstory.
I'll still read Slaughter's future books but this one was definitely more miss than hit.
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Pieces of Her is another slow-paced book about two women - this time a mother and her daughter - but I found the slowness here extremely dull. And the plot seemed a little ludicrous, honestly (though also tamer than expected). Rather than a gritty thriller that concentrated on the family dynamics Slaughter seems to do best, we got a strange terrorist backstory that introduced a number of forgettable characters.
The beginning sees Andy and her mother, Laura, going to lunch for Andy's 31st birthday. Laura has recently come out of intense rounds of chemotherapy to treat her breast cancer, while unambitious Andy is struggling to figure out her life plan after a series of failures. When a shooter opens fire in the cafe, Laura tells him to shoot her next. He doesn't, and instead Laura quickly and coldly kills him.
Caught on camera delivering the killing blow without emotion, first the police, and then Andy, start to ask questions about Laura's past and who she really is. After that, everything spirals out of control and gets bigger and bigger. Andy makes a number of discoveries that offer up more questions than answers: Who is Laura? What is she hiding? Is someone after them?
The story leaps between the present and thirty years ago, revealing a past of murder, scheming and secret identities. Unfortunately, though, I just don't think Pieces of Her contained any of the emotion or urgency I would have expected from this author.
The reveals are anticlimactic, the plot boring and convoluted, and none of the characters made much of an impression on me. To be honest, I think that's what it really comes down to: the story was unconvincing because my detachment from the characters kept me at a distance. Andy's naivete at 31 years old is frustrating and quite annoying at times, and I felt like a lot of character development was sacrificed for the sake of throwing in the detailed terrorist backstory.
I'll still read Slaughter's future books but this one was definitely more miss than hit.
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October 11, 2018
“She had always believed—vehemently, with great conviction—that the only way to change the world was to destroy it.”
If you didn’t know before, you certainly will now—I’m a Karin Slaughter junkie with a capital J and a #slaughtersquad chick-a-dee (with the cat ears to prove it *wink*). It was over a decade ago that I picked up my first Grant County novel and found myself instantly enamored with Slaughter’s brand of dark. My love for the blood and guts splattering her crime-lines, enmeshed with the thriving emotionality driving the multi-faceted beings present on the page, have landed me in perpetual countdown mode—tracking the days from one Slaughter fix to my next.
A slight departure from her previous work, Pieces of Her is an exploration of the mother-daughter relationship. I think so often we only see our mothers as just that. We don't acknowledge who they were before taking on that pivotal role or even seek it out—we compartmentalize them in a way. To Andy, her mother Laura has always been the confident, reliable, even-keeled woman who’s happy living life in a small beach-side town. After 31 years, what would ever make her think anything different?
Karin Slaughter, who shockingly enough could probably find work as a standup comedian, if this whole writing thing hadn’t of panned out, (I finally had the chance to meet her and she was HILARIOUS!)—always delivers an edgy opening. It's pretty much guaranteed she'll get the pages good and bloody, while simultaneously grabbing your heart and holding it captive as she sets out to unravel the mystery at hand.
A few horrific scenes, and a plea from her mother to run, puts Andy behind the wheel of an 80’s wagon headed cross-country, destination unknown. Similar to a fledgling pushed out of the nest, and forced to make a go of it, Andy is unsure of herself. Trying to remain calm, while making quick decisions, lands her in a few debacles on her quest to find the answer to the very question burning a hole in the pages: who is Laura? It’s a few chance meetings, disguised as coincidences, that offer some quirkiness to the storyline and a longing for Andy to figure her life out—to stop just existing.
“To coincidences.”
The timeline flips consistently from Andy’s time on the road to a period in 1986, leaving the reader to wonder how the two will eventually collide. As the page count diminishes, it becomes clear—this isn't just an exploration of the mother-daughter relationship. It's also a look at what drives the cult mentality. Through her cast of characters, Karin Slaughter juxtaposes the mindset of the puppet caught in the web of deceit with the mastermind pulling the strings. The innate ability some twisted individuals have to identify the hurt in another and exploit it is mind-boggling to me. Payback certainly is a bitch though, isn’t it? If ever there was an empowering ending, it’s this one.
“We’ll talk about it in hell.”
Bloody pulp, sinew and multiple bodies destined for holes in the ground—don’t let it scare you away. Karin Slaughter's signature gore and violence isn’t done simply for shock value. It's one tool in her vast arsenal, used to plant the reader in that very scene. Sure, it might be uncomfortable at times, but there’s no doubt, you’re going to be living in that exact moment, experiencing those raw emotions. Isn’t that why we all read? So, brush off any trepidation you might have and prepare to wash your hands after handling these blood-drenched pages.
*Thanks to William Morrow for providing my copy.
September 29, 2019
My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
4.5 Stars!!
Can you ever truly escape your past?
Andrea Cooper and her mother, Laura are having lunch and celebrating Andrea's thirty-first birthday at the Rise n’Dine restaurant at the mall of Belle Isle.
Just as they are about to finish up their lunch...
Suddenly it feels like the world explodes.
People are screaming and crying, trying to take cover. Andrea’s mother tackles her to the ground. What happens next shocks Andrea to her core. When it's over, Andrea tries to make sense of what happened. Laura Oliver is a quiet middle-aged speech pathologist. She's been a great mother to Andrea. She's not the type of person who keeps secrets.
But it turns out Andrea may not have known her mother at all.
Why is her mother telling her not to speak to the police? She wants her to claim she can’t remember what happened. “ Promise me, don’t talk to the police”. Then on top of everything else, her mother wants her to move out. She wants her to leave that same night. She says she needs space. Andrea is confused. Why is her mother acting so angry and cold towards her? Andrea wonders what she did wrong. But as she's packing up to leave that evening something else happens that changes everything....and sends Andrea spiraling in a whole new direction.
As she tries to figure out just who her mother really is, Andrea learns more about herself as well. But is she strong enough for what's ahead?
Will Andrea be able to save her mother? And herself?
Karin Slaughter excels at storytelling. Her novels are known for their heart-pounding intensity, twists and turns, and well-developed characters. This was an exciting and intense read that had me gripped, wondering what was going to happen next.
The majority of the story alternates between Andrea's mother’s point of view in the past and Andrea’s point of view in the present. I liked the length of the chapters and found it easy to follow the alternating viewpoints.
"Pieces of Her" was a well-paced intriguing read with some very startling and unexpected twists. As usual, the author has written an exciting story loaded with suspense and fascinating characters.
I am a proud member of the "Slaughter Squad" and I can't wait to read what the author writes next.
I'd like to thank William Morrow for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
4.5 Stars!!
Can you ever truly escape your past?
Andrea Cooper and her mother, Laura are having lunch and celebrating Andrea's thirty-first birthday at the Rise n’Dine restaurant at the mall of Belle Isle.
Just as they are about to finish up their lunch...
Suddenly it feels like the world explodes.
People are screaming and crying, trying to take cover. Andrea’s mother tackles her to the ground. What happens next shocks Andrea to her core. When it's over, Andrea tries to make sense of what happened. Laura Oliver is a quiet middle-aged speech pathologist. She's been a great mother to Andrea. She's not the type of person who keeps secrets.
But it turns out Andrea may not have known her mother at all.
Why is her mother telling her not to speak to the police? She wants her to claim she can’t remember what happened. “ Promise me, don’t talk to the police”. Then on top of everything else, her mother wants her to move out. She wants her to leave that same night. She says she needs space. Andrea is confused. Why is her mother acting so angry and cold towards her? Andrea wonders what she did wrong. But as she's packing up to leave that evening something else happens that changes everything....and sends Andrea spiraling in a whole new direction.
As she tries to figure out just who her mother really is, Andrea learns more about herself as well. But is she strong enough for what's ahead?
Will Andrea be able to save her mother? And herself?
Karin Slaughter excels at storytelling. Her novels are known for their heart-pounding intensity, twists and turns, and well-developed characters. This was an exciting and intense read that had me gripped, wondering what was going to happen next.
The majority of the story alternates between Andrea's mother’s point of view in the past and Andrea’s point of view in the present. I liked the length of the chapters and found it easy to follow the alternating viewpoints.
"Pieces of Her" was a well-paced intriguing read with some very startling and unexpected twists. As usual, the author has written an exciting story loaded with suspense and fascinating characters.
I am a proud member of the "Slaughter Squad" and I can't wait to read what the author writes next.
I'd like to thank William Morrow for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 17, 2023
This book is the story of the relationship between the mother and her daughter.
Andrea Cooper and her mother, Laura, are leading a peaceful life in the small beachside town of Belle Isle. One fine day a regular trip to the mall turns into a violent episode when Andrea witnesses someone getting murdered. She was shell-shocked by how her mother responded in the face of danger. She understands that she knows nothing about her mother's past and who she was before she conceived her.
This book tells Andrea's journey to discover her mother's past, which she has desperately tried to hide.
What I learned from this book
1) Love
Karin Slaughter tells us the intricate and complex details of the relationship between a mother and her daughter. It is said that a mother's love is the purest form of love in this world. The author tries to view this love from a different angle that many readers won't be that familiar with.
2) What is wrong with being normal?
Andy tells her mother that being normal is not enough in this world, especially in a highly competitive environment like NYC. She says only the extraordinary can survive in such an environment.
We can also see Laura trying her best to make her daughter correct her faulty way of thinking.
3) Why do patients who are suffering from a disease or in a convalescent stage behave in a crazy manner?
I have seen many bystanders getting scared and standing perplexed without knowing what to do when they see their loved ones behaving differently when they are hospitalized due to some disease. We can see Andy also facing a similar situation after a hospital episode in this book.
My favourite three lines from this book
What could have been better?
The narration gets a little slow after the fantastic beginning, and some readers might get bored in the central part of this novel. The narration picks up pace towards the end, and most readers will be generally satisfied with the book.
Rating
4/5 Karin Slaughter is an author who never disappoints when it comes to the case of thrillers. Even though the thriller elements are a little less than in her other books, this book will satisfy most readers.
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Andrea Cooper and her mother, Laura, are leading a peaceful life in the small beachside town of Belle Isle. One fine day a regular trip to the mall turns into a violent episode when Andrea witnesses someone getting murdered. She was shell-shocked by how her mother responded in the face of danger. She understands that she knows nothing about her mother's past and who she was before she conceived her.
This book tells Andrea's journey to discover her mother's past, which she has desperately tried to hide.
What I learned from this book
1) Love
Karin Slaughter tells us the intricate and complex details of the relationship between a mother and her daughter. It is said that a mother's love is the purest form of love in this world. The author tries to view this love from a different angle that many readers won't be that familiar with.
"Love doesn't keep you in a constant state of turmoil. It gives you peace."
"For women, once you're a mother, you're always a mother."
2) What is wrong with being normal?
Andy tells her mother that being normal is not enough in this world, especially in a highly competitive environment like NYC. She says only the extraordinary can survive in such an environment.
We can also see Laura trying her best to make her daughter correct her faulty way of thinking.
"Andy ran her hands up and down her face as if she could erase herself from this conversation. She knew she was talented and smart. The problem was that in New York, everyone else had been talented and smart, too. Even the guy working the counter at the bodega was funnier, quicker, more clever than she was.
Laura insisted, "There's nothing wrong with being normal. Normal people have very meaningful lives. Look at me. It's not selling out to enjoy yourself."
3) Why do patients who are suffering from a disease or in a convalescent stage behave in a crazy manner?
I have seen many bystanders getting scared and standing perplexed without knowing what to do when they see their loved ones behaving differently when they are hospitalized due to some disease. We can see Andy also facing a similar situation after a hospital episode in this book.
"There had to be a reason Laura was acting like this. Stress. Anesthesia. Grief. Fear. Pain. Any one of these things could bring out the worst in a person. All of them wrapped together could make them go crazy.
That was it.
Laura just needed time.”
My favourite three lines from this book
“You’ve fallen into the habit of feeling low. You can get used to anything, especially bad things. But the only direction now is up. You can't fall off the floor."
“How could she still love someone who had tried to destroy her?”
“Age is a cruel punishment for youth.”
What could have been better?
The narration gets a little slow after the fantastic beginning, and some readers might get bored in the central part of this novel. The narration picks up pace towards the end, and most readers will be generally satisfied with the book.
Rating
4/5 Karin Slaughter is an author who never disappoints when it comes to the case of thrillers. Even though the thriller elements are a little less than in her other books, this book will satisfy most readers.
—————————————————————————
You can also follow me on
Instagram ID - Dasfill | YouTube Channel ID - Dasfill | YouTube Health Channel ID - Dasfill - Health | YouTube Malayalam Channel ID - Dasfill - Malayalam | Twitter ID - Dasfill1 | Snapchat ID - Dasfill | Facebook ID - Dasfill | TikTok ID - Dasfill1
April 18, 2018
3.5 Stars
How well do you know someone?
Andrea Cooper thought she knew her Mother, Laura. Her mother is a speech therapist who is a pillar of the community. She is liked and known by most people in their town. But one day at lunch, their whole lives are turned upside down. In the face of danger, Laura jumps into action and Andrea (and the rest of the world) gets to see another side of her Mother. Just who is this woman? Certainly not the woman that Andrea has known her entire life!
From that moment on, Andrea learns that there is more to her Mother than meets the eye. Mainly who she is and the "truth" about her past.
I can't say much more without giving away any spoilers. I will say this is the first Karin Slaughter book that I did not devour. It was slow going for me initially. At first I thought "Oh no! I'm not really digging this..." but then it got better! Although, it did get better, I found this book to be not quite as enjoyable as her other books. Having said that, this is still an enjoyable book. I just found this lacked the edge of your seat, pulse pounding, I-can't-put-this-book-down feel that I experienced from her other books. I found this to be a little bit of a departure from her other books. This story is told in alternating timelines with the chapter headings clearly labeled so you know what "time" and what character you are reading about.
The last third of the book was my favorite! Things really picked up and began to make sense which made the book more enjoyable. As the past and present collided- personal secrets, family secrets, hidden agendas, lies, and deceptions become known.
As with all of Slaughter's book, this book is well-written. It was not the roller coaster ride I am used to being on while reading a Slaughter book but it was still enjoyable and entertaining. A departure form her police procedural crime books. Although there is crime here and a HUGE mystery to solve, it didn't have the same feel as her other books, which I think some readers will really like and others may not. I liked that she did something different. I had to remind myself not to compare this book to her Grant County or Will Trent books. This is one of her stand-alone novels.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper Collins/William Morrow Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost
How well do you know someone?
Andrea Cooper thought she knew her Mother, Laura. Her mother is a speech therapist who is a pillar of the community. She is liked and known by most people in their town. But one day at lunch, their whole lives are turned upside down. In the face of danger, Laura jumps into action and Andrea (and the rest of the world) gets to see another side of her Mother. Just who is this woman? Certainly not the woman that Andrea has known her entire life!
From that moment on, Andrea learns that there is more to her Mother than meets the eye. Mainly who she is and the "truth" about her past.
I can't say much more without giving away any spoilers. I will say this is the first Karin Slaughter book that I did not devour. It was slow going for me initially. At first I thought "Oh no! I'm not really digging this..." but then it got better! Although, it did get better, I found this book to be not quite as enjoyable as her other books. Having said that, this is still an enjoyable book. I just found this lacked the edge of your seat, pulse pounding, I-can't-put-this-book-down feel that I experienced from her other books. I found this to be a little bit of a departure from her other books. This story is told in alternating timelines with the chapter headings clearly labeled so you know what "time" and what character you are reading about.
The last third of the book was my favorite! Things really picked up and began to make sense which made the book more enjoyable. As the past and present collided- personal secrets, family secrets, hidden agendas, lies, and deceptions become known.
As with all of Slaughter's book, this book is well-written. It was not the roller coaster ride I am used to being on while reading a Slaughter book but it was still enjoyable and entertaining. A departure form her police procedural crime books. Although there is crime here and a HUGE mystery to solve, it didn't have the same feel as her other books, which I think some readers will really like and others may not. I liked that she did something different. I had to remind myself not to compare this book to her Grant County or Will Trent books. This is one of her stand-alone novels.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper Collins/William Morrow Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost
July 22, 2018
This was not at all what I expected. Instead of the usual clever, multilayered plot with deftly drawn characters, there's this overdone, disconnected, extremely unlikely tale that's more like an airport thriller than her usual works. The main character is tiresome in the extreme and while her mother is much more interesting, there wasn't enough to either to elicit any real emotion. And the thing with Mike? What the hell was that even about?
It's not just that the author has broken out of her mould, I loved her other standalone The Good Daughter, but that she's lost what makes her writing so good: the dark mystery, the complex characters, the genuine feeling of the relationships...
It's not going to stop me reading her books, but it's a long way from her best.
ARC via Netgalley
It's not just that the author has broken out of her mould, I loved her other standalone The Good Daughter, but that she's lost what makes her writing so good: the dark mystery, the complex characters, the genuine feeling of the relationships...
It's not going to stop me reading her books, but it's a long way from her best.
ARC via Netgalley
June 28, 2022
EXCERPT: Andy squeezed her eyes shut. Immediately, the images started scrolling like one of Gordon's vacation slide shows.
Laura holding up her hand.
The long blade slicing into her palm.
Wrenching the knife away.
Backhanding the blade into the man's neck.
Blood.
So much blood.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: What if the person you thought you knew best turns out to be someone you never knew at all?
Andrea Cooper knows everything about her mother Laura. She knows she's spent her whole life in the small town of Gullaway Island; she knows she's never had any more ambition than to live a quiet life as a pillar of the community; she knows she's never kept a secret in her life.
But one day, a trip to the mall explodes into violence and Andrea suddenly sees a completely different side to Laura.
Twenty-four hours later, Laura is in hospital, shot by an intruder who's spent thirty years trying to track her down. Now, Andrea must go on a desperate journey to follow the breadcrumbs of her mother's past. If she can't uncover the secrets hidden there, there may be no future for either of them.
MY THOUGHTS: Karin Slaughter includes the following by Emily Dickinson in her book. It perfectly describes how I felt on reading Pieces of Her.
'I felt a cleaving in my mind -
As if my brain had split -
I tried to match it - seam by seam -
But could not make them fit.
The thought behind, I strove to join
Unto the thought before -
But sequence ravelled out of sound
Like balls - upon a floor.'
I started out loving Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter. I loved the premise of the book, 'What if the person you thought you knew best turns out to be someone you never knew at all?' I mean, really, how well do we know our parents? We know what they choose to reveal to us. Usually no more.
I loved the opening chapter. I was firmly hooked, and said so. But as the book progressed, I lost interest. Not enough to make me abandon the read, but neither was it the reading frenzy I usually experience when reading this author.
Between the title and the opening chapter, I was expecting something deliciously dark. It wasn't to be. The chapters alternate between 2018 and 1986. It is like reading two different stories and it takes an inordinately long time to make the connection between the two. I didn't feel emotionally invested in any of the characters. Andy is extremely immature and her dithering monologues became extremely wearing and repetitive, as was much of the book. Laura's story also became extremely repetitive, and it seemed like a very long read.
So from the initial excitement, this read deteriorated into a grind for me, and I was relieved to finally close the cover on Pieces of Her.
😍😍.5 or perhaps 😕😦.5 might be more appropriate
THE AUTHOR: Karin Slaughter is one of the world’s most popular and acclaimed storytellers. Published in 120 countries with more than 35 million copies sold across the globe, her eighteen novels include the Grant County and Will Trent books, as well as the Edgar-nominated Cop Town and the instant New York Times bestselling novels Pretty Girls and The Good Daughter. Slaughter is the founder of the Save the Libraries project—a nonprofit organization established to support libraries and library programing. A native of Georgia, Karin Slaughter lives in Atlanta. Her Will Trent series, Grant County series, and standalone novel Cop Town are all in development for film and television.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to HarperCollins Publishers, Australia via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Laura holding up her hand.
The long blade slicing into her palm.
Wrenching the knife away.
Backhanding the blade into the man's neck.
Blood.
So much blood.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: What if the person you thought you knew best turns out to be someone you never knew at all?
Andrea Cooper knows everything about her mother Laura. She knows she's spent her whole life in the small town of Gullaway Island; she knows she's never had any more ambition than to live a quiet life as a pillar of the community; she knows she's never kept a secret in her life.
But one day, a trip to the mall explodes into violence and Andrea suddenly sees a completely different side to Laura.
Twenty-four hours later, Laura is in hospital, shot by an intruder who's spent thirty years trying to track her down. Now, Andrea must go on a desperate journey to follow the breadcrumbs of her mother's past. If she can't uncover the secrets hidden there, there may be no future for either of them.
MY THOUGHTS: Karin Slaughter includes the following by Emily Dickinson in her book. It perfectly describes how I felt on reading Pieces of Her.
'I felt a cleaving in my mind -
As if my brain had split -
I tried to match it - seam by seam -
But could not make them fit.
The thought behind, I strove to join
Unto the thought before -
But sequence ravelled out of sound
Like balls - upon a floor.'
I started out loving Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter. I loved the premise of the book, 'What if the person you thought you knew best turns out to be someone you never knew at all?' I mean, really, how well do we know our parents? We know what they choose to reveal to us. Usually no more.
I loved the opening chapter. I was firmly hooked, and said so. But as the book progressed, I lost interest. Not enough to make me abandon the read, but neither was it the reading frenzy I usually experience when reading this author.
Between the title and the opening chapter, I was expecting something deliciously dark. It wasn't to be. The chapters alternate between 2018 and 1986. It is like reading two different stories and it takes an inordinately long time to make the connection between the two. I didn't feel emotionally invested in any of the characters. Andy is extremely immature and her dithering monologues became extremely wearing and repetitive, as was much of the book. Laura's story also became extremely repetitive, and it seemed like a very long read.
So from the initial excitement, this read deteriorated into a grind for me, and I was relieved to finally close the cover on Pieces of Her.
😍😍.5 or perhaps 😕😦.5 might be more appropriate
THE AUTHOR: Karin Slaughter is one of the world’s most popular and acclaimed storytellers. Published in 120 countries with more than 35 million copies sold across the globe, her eighteen novels include the Grant County and Will Trent books, as well as the Edgar-nominated Cop Town and the instant New York Times bestselling novels Pretty Girls and The Good Daughter. Slaughter is the founder of the Save the Libraries project—a nonprofit organization established to support libraries and library programing. A native of Georgia, Karin Slaughter lives in Atlanta. Her Will Trent series, Grant County series, and standalone novel Cop Town are all in development for film and television.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to HarperCollins Publishers, Australia via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
September 8, 2022
“She had always believed—vehemently, with great conviction—that the only way to change the world was to destroy it.”
Andrea Oliver's mother, Laura, is the perfect small-town mum. Laura lives a quiet but happy life in sleepy beachside Belle Isle. She's a pillar of the community: a speech therapist, business owner and everybody's friend. And she's never kept a secret from anyone. Or so Andrea thinks. When Andrea is caught in a random violent attack at a shopping mall, Laura intervenes and acts in a way that is unrecognisable to her daughter. It's like Laura is a completely different person - and that's because she was. Thirty years ago. Before Andrea. Before Belle Isle.
I'm a big Karin Slaughter fan and this one didn't disappoint. I found the pace a little slower than her other work, but it was no less gripping or engaging.
The opening chapters are brilliant. I really enjoy books with different time perspectives and this one was fantastic. Karin Slaughter always creates interesting and well written characters and this book was no exception. I really enjoyed watching the character development of both Andy and Laura. The story held my intrigue all the way through.
Pieces of Her, is a well written story that is suspenseful and hard to put down. It proves that no secret ever really remains a secret forever, no matter how hard we try to run from the truth.
Andrea Oliver's mother, Laura, is the perfect small-town mum. Laura lives a quiet but happy life in sleepy beachside Belle Isle. She's a pillar of the community: a speech therapist, business owner and everybody's friend. And she's never kept a secret from anyone. Or so Andrea thinks. When Andrea is caught in a random violent attack at a shopping mall, Laura intervenes and acts in a way that is unrecognisable to her daughter. It's like Laura is a completely different person - and that's because she was. Thirty years ago. Before Andrea. Before Belle Isle.
I'm a big Karin Slaughter fan and this one didn't disappoint. I found the pace a little slower than her other work, but it was no less gripping or engaging.
The opening chapters are brilliant. I really enjoy books with different time perspectives and this one was fantastic. Karin Slaughter always creates interesting and well written characters and this book was no exception. I really enjoyed watching the character development of both Andy and Laura. The story held my intrigue all the way through.
Pieces of Her, is a well written story that is suspenseful and hard to put down. It proves that no secret ever really remains a secret forever, no matter how hard we try to run from the truth.
July 23, 2018
Karin Slaughter gives us a thriller that explores the role of the mother and the mother-daughter relationship. Andrea 'Andy' Cooper is an unambitious woman who has largely gone through the motions of living. She never completed college and she has barely been engaged in any personal relationships. Unhappy in New York, she returned home to nurse her mother, Laura, through the worst of her breast cancer treatment. She has no impetus to create an independent life for herself, and is secure in the knowledge that she knows Laura inside out, a pillar of the community, an ordinary woman and everyday mom. Whilst in a diner, a young shooter, Jonah Helsinger, blasts away a mother and daughter, lining up a frozen and immobile Andy as his next target when Laura steps in front of her, telling him to kill her instead. What follows next is captured on mobile video footage that goes viral nationwide, showing a composed Laura killing Helsinger with his knife whilst suffering serious injuries herself. Andy is shell shocked at this picture of her mother as a ninja, with the media referring to Laura as a killing machine. Who is this woman masquerading as her mother?
With unexpected and horrifying events occurring that hint at Laura's clandestine past, they bring a whole heap of danger in the present, as a disorientated Andrea initially heeds Laura's advice to leave town, go to a storage unit and then head to Idaho until it is safe for her to return. Andy is to make no contact with her or Gordon, the black lawyer she considers to be her father. However, Andy's intense curiosity about Laura has her picking away and peeling away at her mother's past that slowly begins to be revealed through the dual narrative of a younger Laura. Andy's foray into the past brings danger to her and others. It pushes Andy from a woman who has merely reacted to events in her life, to a more independent person as she is forced to handle a world that has gone crazy on her. What Andy does know indisputably about Laura is that she will not let anything happen to her beloved daughter, and she will go to any lengths to protect her. Will this allow her to accept the pieces of Laura she comes to know?
At first when I had read this latest offering from Karin Slaughter, I was not sure how I felt about it. Upon reflection, the more I thought about it, the more I liked it. The focus on the maternal instinct, how far will a mother go for a child is beautifully illustrated here. Whilst perhaps far fetched here and there, I was willing to let that go for the fascinating creation of Laura and her dramatic past and that of Andy, walking on territory that she could never have forseen. I think it would be well nigh impossible to say that we know all the pieces of anyone we are close to, and true to that adage, Andy does not find out everything about her mother. An interesting, different but nevertheless gripping psychological thriller. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
With unexpected and horrifying events occurring that hint at Laura's clandestine past, they bring a whole heap of danger in the present, as a disorientated Andrea initially heeds Laura's advice to leave town, go to a storage unit and then head to Idaho until it is safe for her to return. Andy is to make no contact with her or Gordon, the black lawyer she considers to be her father. However, Andy's intense curiosity about Laura has her picking away and peeling away at her mother's past that slowly begins to be revealed through the dual narrative of a younger Laura. Andy's foray into the past brings danger to her and others. It pushes Andy from a woman who has merely reacted to events in her life, to a more independent person as she is forced to handle a world that has gone crazy on her. What Andy does know indisputably about Laura is that she will not let anything happen to her beloved daughter, and she will go to any lengths to protect her. Will this allow her to accept the pieces of Laura she comes to know?
At first when I had read this latest offering from Karin Slaughter, I was not sure how I felt about it. Upon reflection, the more I thought about it, the more I liked it. The focus on the maternal instinct, how far will a mother go for a child is beautifully illustrated here. Whilst perhaps far fetched here and there, I was willing to let that go for the fascinating creation of Laura and her dramatic past and that of Andy, walking on territory that she could never have forseen. I think it would be well nigh impossible to say that we know all the pieces of anyone we are close to, and true to that adage, Andy does not find out everything about her mother. An interesting, different but nevertheless gripping psychological thriller. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
September 15, 2018
It seemed like any other day. Andy was having lunch at the mall with her mother, Laura, celebrating Andy's 31st birthday. They were briefly interrupted when the relative of a former patient of Laura's stopped by with her daughter to thank Laura for all of her help. Then, without warning, gunfire erupted, and the woman and her daughter were shot to death.
As the gunman approached Andy, screaming at her to "do her job," Laura leapt into action. Andy watched her mother move to protect her, disarm the gunman, and then finish him off, coldly, as if she were simply a "killing machine." She knows she is in shock from the trauma of the events, but Andy cannot believe what she saw with her own eyes. Could her mother really have done what she saw her do?
"None of it made sense. Her mother was a fifty-five-year-old speech therapist. She played bridge, for chrissakes. She didn't kill people and smoke cigarettes and rail against the pigs."
In the aftermath of the incident and another encounter which endangers her life, Laura sends Andy away, telling her to flee the small Georgia town Laura has lived in forever. Andy doesn't know what to think, as she cannot get her mind around what she saw her mother do, and the fear that other incidents will follow. But more than that, she can't figure out who her mother really is, and what secrets she's been hiding from her for perhaps her entire life?
What would you do if you found out your mother wasn't the person you thought she was? In Pieces of Her , Karin Slaughter shows you that not only what we don't know might put us in danger, but makes you wonder how you deal with someone who you never really knew.
I have many friends who have been reading Slaughter's books for a long while, but I was wowed by my first experience with her last year, after reading The Good Daughter (see my review). That book really knocked my socks off, but this one? Not so much.
While I found the premise of this book interesting, it never really took off for me. First of all, Andy's character vacillates between near catatonia, where she can't answer anyone's questions or move forward in any way, and there are a number of times where she says one or two words and then can't finish her sentences. Page after page of that gets old, especially when it happens more than once. (One character even asks her if she can speak in full sentences.)
The book picked up speed in the last third, and Slaughter threw in some twists and turns, but the shift in narration between present and past kept either portion of the plot from really picking up momentum. I know others enjoyed this more than I did, so I wouldn't dissuade you from picking this up if you're a diehard Slaughter fan, but for me, this was a thriller that didn't quite thrill. This won't keep me from reading more of her books, but hopefully they'll get my heart racing like The Good Daughter did!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html.
As the gunman approached Andy, screaming at her to "do her job," Laura leapt into action. Andy watched her mother move to protect her, disarm the gunman, and then finish him off, coldly, as if she were simply a "killing machine." She knows she is in shock from the trauma of the events, but Andy cannot believe what she saw with her own eyes. Could her mother really have done what she saw her do?
"None of it made sense. Her mother was a fifty-five-year-old speech therapist. She played bridge, for chrissakes. She didn't kill people and smoke cigarettes and rail against the pigs."
In the aftermath of the incident and another encounter which endangers her life, Laura sends Andy away, telling her to flee the small Georgia town Laura has lived in forever. Andy doesn't know what to think, as she cannot get her mind around what she saw her mother do, and the fear that other incidents will follow. But more than that, she can't figure out who her mother really is, and what secrets she's been hiding from her for perhaps her entire life?
What would you do if you found out your mother wasn't the person you thought she was? In Pieces of Her , Karin Slaughter shows you that not only what we don't know might put us in danger, but makes you wonder how you deal with someone who you never really knew.
I have many friends who have been reading Slaughter's books for a long while, but I was wowed by my first experience with her last year, after reading The Good Daughter (see my review). That book really knocked my socks off, but this one? Not so much.
While I found the premise of this book interesting, it never really took off for me. First of all, Andy's character vacillates between near catatonia, where she can't answer anyone's questions or move forward in any way, and there are a number of times where she says one or two words and then can't finish her sentences. Page after page of that gets old, especially when it happens more than once. (One character even asks her if she can speak in full sentences.)
The book picked up speed in the last third, and Slaughter threw in some twists and turns, but the shift in narration between present and past kept either portion of the plot from really picking up momentum. I know others enjoyed this more than I did, so I wouldn't dissuade you from picking this up if you're a diehard Slaughter fan, but for me, this was a thriller that didn't quite thrill. This won't keep me from reading more of her books, but hopefully they'll get my heart racing like The Good Daughter did!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html.
November 4, 2018
Explosive, Hair-raising, and Fast-Paced!
Karin Slaughter is a master at suspense.
Be prepared to get goosebumps..
I was first introduced to Karin Slaughter when I read her grizzly, suspense novel, The Good Daughter. I was floored. Instantly, I became a die-hard Slaughter fan. You can find my review of The Good Daughter here .
This is my second read by her, and this one was even better. It was more shocking. It was more thrilling. It was just more of everything in a terrifyingly good way.
Andrea is a devoted daughter to Laura, her mother. When Laura received a diagnosis of breast cancer, Andrea was there to support her every step of the way. Eating together in a diner, a gunman comes in. Andrea is terrified, but Laura.. isn't. She reacts in a calm, almost placid way. Laura effortlessly kills the gunman in a militaristic fashion, that suggests Andrea knows absolutely nothing about her mother. Besides, how well do you really know anyone?
This book had me plowing through the pages. I couldn't eat, sleep, or drink without wanting to return to my reading cocoon. This novel satiated me in a way that few can. Not only was Pieces of Her filled with gripping suspense, but it also brought up a lot of discussion worthy topics for book club. Karin Slaughter expertly delves into the minds of her characters, giving the reader a candid, up-close and personal look into the protagonist's brain. In addition, Pieces of Her effortlessly weaves between two different timelines in a technique that can either be done brilliantly or terribly. It was done with ease and adroitness. Karin Slaughter also maintains a delicate balance between pulp and an appropriate amount of violence.
I can't sing enough praise about this read. If you can, you should definitely make some time for it. Pieces of Her will be ranking among my top ten of 2018.
Karin Slaughter is a master at suspense.
Be prepared to get goosebumps..
I was first introduced to Karin Slaughter when I read her grizzly, suspense novel, The Good Daughter. I was floored. Instantly, I became a die-hard Slaughter fan. You can find my review of The Good Daughter here .
This is my second read by her, and this one was even better. It was more shocking. It was more thrilling. It was just more of everything in a terrifyingly good way.
Andrea is a devoted daughter to Laura, her mother. When Laura received a diagnosis of breast cancer, Andrea was there to support her every step of the way. Eating together in a diner, a gunman comes in. Andrea is terrified, but Laura.. isn't. She reacts in a calm, almost placid way. Laura effortlessly kills the gunman in a militaristic fashion, that suggests Andrea knows absolutely nothing about her mother. Besides, how well do you really know anyone?
This book had me plowing through the pages. I couldn't eat, sleep, or drink without wanting to return to my reading cocoon. This novel satiated me in a way that few can. Not only was Pieces of Her filled with gripping suspense, but it also brought up a lot of discussion worthy topics for book club. Karin Slaughter expertly delves into the minds of her characters, giving the reader a candid, up-close and personal look into the protagonist's brain. In addition, Pieces of Her effortlessly weaves between two different timelines in a technique that can either be done brilliantly or terribly. It was done with ease and adroitness. Karin Slaughter also maintains a delicate balance between pulp and an appropriate amount of violence.
I can't sing enough praise about this read. If you can, you should definitely make some time for it. Pieces of Her will be ranking among my top ten of 2018.
September 10, 2019
Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter is a 2018 William Morrow publication.
I love Karin Slaughter’s books, but I haven’t picked one up in a long while. I’d love to get back to her series- "Grant County and Will Trent"- sometime in the near future, but for now, one of her stand alone books was the best choice for me.
Unfortunately, it looks like I made the wrong decision with this one. The story grabbed my attention right away with an active shooter and the unusually calm and almost professional way Laura handled the situation had me intrigued. But, as the story progressed, that momentum tanked and never recovered. I did complete the book, but it was a real chore to do so, and I found the conclusion most unsatisfying.
This is not Slaughter’s best work by a long shot. I’m all for an author trying a different tact. I encourage it, to be honest, and while this one certainly has a different tone from her other books, this plot isn't remotely original.
Actually, it was tired and predictable. As a matter of fact, I just finished a book with a similar theme. The mother/daughter dynamic, if that was what Slaughter was going for, also fell flat for me. So, I’m a little bummed about this one because I was really craving a rip -roaring Slaughter style thriller. Sigh.
It pains me to give a KS book a low rating but, sadly, this one missed the mark all the way around for me.
2 stars
I love Karin Slaughter’s books, but I haven’t picked one up in a long while. I’d love to get back to her series- "Grant County and Will Trent"- sometime in the near future, but for now, one of her stand alone books was the best choice for me.
Unfortunately, it looks like I made the wrong decision with this one. The story grabbed my attention right away with an active shooter and the unusually calm and almost professional way Laura handled the situation had me intrigued. But, as the story progressed, that momentum tanked and never recovered. I did complete the book, but it was a real chore to do so, and I found the conclusion most unsatisfying.
This is not Slaughter’s best work by a long shot. I’m all for an author trying a different tact. I encourage it, to be honest, and while this one certainly has a different tone from her other books, this plot isn't remotely original.
Actually, it was tired and predictable. As a matter of fact, I just finished a book with a similar theme. The mother/daughter dynamic, if that was what Slaughter was going for, also fell flat for me. So, I’m a little bummed about this one because I was really craving a rip -roaring Slaughter style thriller. Sigh.
It pains me to give a KS book a low rating but, sadly, this one missed the mark all the way around for me.
2 stars
January 15, 2019
I don't review Karin Slaughter books.
There is absolutely no way I can be unbiased or objective when it comes to this author. I love her wicked imagination.
Read the book.
There is absolutely no way I can be unbiased or objective when it comes to this author. I love her wicked imagination.
Read the book.
September 23, 2022
This book was very exciting at the beginning, especially the scene at the diner and shortly after. It was hard to stop listening as I absolutely wanted to know Laura's story! 15 hours later I felt there was too much filler and 1hr 28min epilogue (!!!) was really pushing it so much that I didn't care how it would end. The author should've left her readers wanting more, not less.
December 14, 2018
3.4 Stars* (rounded down)
Have you ever been eagerly awaiting an author’s new novel (whose books you recently discovered) only to be slightly disappointed? You waited a bit for it to come out, you read the reviews and had that feeling that it wouldn’t be quite to your liking but just had to read it anyhow (or listen to it as the case may be). Yeah, that is what happened here.
For those of you who like Karin Slaughter’s books, you know that they are going to be gruesome and gory, and you think you’re prepared? Well hold on to your hats because out of the 3 prior novels I’ve read this one took the cake. I almost tossed my cookies a few times because this one was so bad. So awful that I almost dnf’d at 30%, but I kept going. The problem however wasn’t just the goriness, it was the storyline itself that frustrated me. And that is what we are here to talk about right? So here goes.
Andrea is a thirty-one year old living at home with her mother in Carrollton, working as a dispatcher at the Police Station. Social situations are not her strong suit. In fact, she pretty much freezes up and can’t speak at all when spoken to or when she gets nervous. Her mom Laura has always been solid as a rock. The person she can count on. When at lunch together one day, a shooter attacks - Laura does the only thing she can to protect her daughter, she kills him. Thereafter, things go awry and Andrea discovers that nothing is as it seems. Soon, Andrea is off on a wild goose chase during which she discovers things about her mother’s past that she never imagined.
An exploration of the bonds between mothers and daughters and the discovery of one sense of self, “Pieces of Her” is a novel that I enjoyed, but didn’t love. While I understood the message and truly enjoyed the second half, the violence and gore in the first half of the novel took a lot away from the storytelling and left me highly disappointed. In addition, the character of Andrea really bothered me - I felt she had some issues for which she needed help and that she never got the attention she needed from her mother which was surprising based on the bonds of the mother / daughter relationship. That aside, I think the second half of the book was so strong and it saved this novel for me. This book explored several different themes (none of which I want to spoil). This was a departure for Ms. Slaughter - one I think many readers will enjoy.
Thank you to audible for a copy of this novel.
Published on Goodreads on 12.14.18.
Have you ever been eagerly awaiting an author’s new novel (whose books you recently discovered) only to be slightly disappointed? You waited a bit for it to come out, you read the reviews and had that feeling that it wouldn’t be quite to your liking but just had to read it anyhow (or listen to it as the case may be). Yeah, that is what happened here.
For those of you who like Karin Slaughter’s books, you know that they are going to be gruesome and gory, and you think you’re prepared? Well hold on to your hats because out of the 3 prior novels I’ve read this one took the cake. I almost tossed my cookies a few times because this one was so bad. So awful that I almost dnf’d at 30%, but I kept going. The problem however wasn’t just the goriness, it was the storyline itself that frustrated me. And that is what we are here to talk about right? So here goes.
Andrea is a thirty-one year old living at home with her mother in Carrollton, working as a dispatcher at the Police Station. Social situations are not her strong suit. In fact, she pretty much freezes up and can’t speak at all when spoken to or when she gets nervous. Her mom Laura has always been solid as a rock. The person she can count on. When at lunch together one day, a shooter attacks - Laura does the only thing she can to protect her daughter, she kills him. Thereafter, things go awry and Andrea discovers that nothing is as it seems. Soon, Andrea is off on a wild goose chase during which she discovers things about her mother’s past that she never imagined.
An exploration of the bonds between mothers and daughters and the discovery of one sense of self, “Pieces of Her” is a novel that I enjoyed, but didn’t love. While I understood the message and truly enjoyed the second half, the violence and gore in the first half of the novel took a lot away from the storytelling and left me highly disappointed. In addition, the character of Andrea really bothered me - I felt she had some issues for which she needed help and that she never got the attention she needed from her mother which was surprising based on the bonds of the mother / daughter relationship. That aside, I think the second half of the book was so strong and it saved this novel for me. This book explored several different themes (none of which I want to spoil). This was a departure for Ms. Slaughter - one I think many readers will enjoy.
Thank you to audible for a copy of this novel.
Published on Goodreads on 12.14.18.
August 31, 2022
2.5*
Once I saw Karin slaughter’s latest, Girl Forgotten I instantly grabbed the audio not realizing it was book two of a series. Oopsie! I never read book one. So stop the music!! I needed to bring myself up to speed on the characters! Back to book one! And Susanne kindly gifted me this audio.
Andrea and her mother are out having a quiet lunch when a man with a gun charges into the restaurant and starts shooting. As everyone dives for cover Laura somehow single-handedly brings down the shooter. Leaving Andrea to wonder, how did my mom (miss suburbia speech pathologist) do that!?
Everything escalates rapidly, and Andrea is on her own to discover the truth about who her apparent super-hero mother really is!
Told in two timelines. Andrea in the present, Laura in the past.
Personal mini-rant: The author made some comments regarding nursing care in the height of the AIDS pandemic that were absolutely offensive to the entire profession. (As a working R.N. I include myself.) It took everything I had to put that aside and continue this read.
Probably my least favorite book she has put out. I still have Girl Forgotten on my shelf waiting for me to start, but I may need to read a few in between to just cleanse my palate. This author has always been a favorite of mine. Perhaps this book (hopefully not the series) just isn’t for me.
A buddy 🎧 with Susanne.
Once I saw Karin slaughter’s latest, Girl Forgotten I instantly grabbed the audio not realizing it was book two of a series. Oopsie! I never read book one. So stop the music!! I needed to bring myself up to speed on the characters! Back to book one! And Susanne kindly gifted me this audio.
Andrea and her mother are out having a quiet lunch when a man with a gun charges into the restaurant and starts shooting. As everyone dives for cover Laura somehow single-handedly brings down the shooter. Leaving Andrea to wonder, how did my mom (miss suburbia speech pathologist) do that!?
Everything escalates rapidly, and Andrea is on her own to discover the truth about who her apparent super-hero mother really is!
Told in two timelines. Andrea in the present, Laura in the past.
Personal mini-rant: The author made some comments regarding nursing care in the height of the AIDS pandemic that were absolutely offensive to the entire profession. (As a working R.N. I include myself.) It took everything I had to put that aside and continue this read.
Probably my least favorite book she has put out. I still have Girl Forgotten on my shelf waiting for me to start, but I may need to read a few in between to just cleanse my palate. This author has always been a favorite of mine. Perhaps this book (hopefully not the series) just isn’t for me.
A buddy 🎧 with Susanne.
August 1, 2018
Predictable and Long!
I’ve been a long time fan of Karin Slaughter, although it’s been a few years since I’ve read one of her books. Having never read a standalone novel of hers, I was excited to delve into ‘Pieces of Her’.
Mother-daughter, Laura and Andrea, are enjoying a quiet lunch, when a teenage gunman enters the mall diner, and starts firing. Small-town mum, Laura, not only manages to disarm the killer, but also stabs him in the neck with his own knife. This action, starts a chain-of-events that has Andrea questioning who her mother really is.
The first chapter was exhilarating and heart-pounding, and had me rearing-to-go, but the next 30% struggled to hold my attention, forcing me to put the book aside for a couple of days. The pace did pick up after that and I finished the book over the course of a few hours, but nothing regarding the suspense, or the outcome, was particularly unexpected or new.
A major problem I had with the novel was the character of Andrea. She was the most immature thirty-one year old I’ve ever encountered. Honestly, I spent the first half of the novel waiting for the reveal that she was intellectually disabled, or had a developmental disorder. Being in her POV was the equivalent of nails on a chalkboard. At one point her father tells her to pack a toothbrush for her overnight bag?! Even more mind-boggling is that she worked as a 911 operator (thankfully we never see it), yet she’s practically mute, her parent’s both mollycoddle, and make all her decisions, and her first response to any given situation is to hide and cry. Why not make her twenty-one? Still young for her age but more believable. When forced to finally stand on her own two feet, Andrea had one line that was a real zinger, and a couple of badass moments, otherwise I’m not sure I would’ve been able to stomach her to the end.
Laura too, was problematic. The book summary goes to great lengths to describe her as the perfect mother, neighbour, friend, pillar-of-the-community, yet we’re given little evidence of this as the shooting takes place only a few pages in. Consequently her character comes across as cold and unfeeling right from the get-go.
In short, ‘Pieces of Her’ was more character, than action driven, and my failure to care whether or not Andrea or Laura made it out alive, meant this was a miss for me. Plot-wise, an average thriller, but if someone asked me for a book recommendation for 2018 crime suspense, this one would be pretty far down my list. Still a fantastic author who has written some incredible books.
I’ve been a long time fan of Karin Slaughter, although it’s been a few years since I’ve read one of her books. Having never read a standalone novel of hers, I was excited to delve into ‘Pieces of Her’.
Mother-daughter, Laura and Andrea, are enjoying a quiet lunch, when a teenage gunman enters the mall diner, and starts firing. Small-town mum, Laura, not only manages to disarm the killer, but also stabs him in the neck with his own knife. This action, starts a chain-of-events that has Andrea questioning who her mother really is.
The first chapter was exhilarating and heart-pounding, and had me rearing-to-go, but the next 30% struggled to hold my attention, forcing me to put the book aside for a couple of days. The pace did pick up after that and I finished the book over the course of a few hours, but nothing regarding the suspense, or the outcome, was particularly unexpected or new.
A major problem I had with the novel was the character of Andrea. She was the most immature thirty-one year old I’ve ever encountered. Honestly, I spent the first half of the novel waiting for the reveal that she was intellectually disabled, or had a developmental disorder. Being in her POV was the equivalent of nails on a chalkboard. At one point her father tells her to pack a toothbrush for her overnight bag?! Even more mind-boggling is that she worked as a 911 operator (thankfully we never see it), yet she’s practically mute, her parent’s both mollycoddle, and make all her decisions, and her first response to any given situation is to hide and cry. Why not make her twenty-one? Still young for her age but more believable. When forced to finally stand on her own two feet, Andrea had one line that was a real zinger, and a couple of badass moments, otherwise I’m not sure I would’ve been able to stomach her to the end.
Laura too, was problematic. The book summary goes to great lengths to describe her as the perfect mother, neighbour, friend, pillar-of-the-community, yet we’re given little evidence of this as the shooting takes place only a few pages in. Consequently her character comes across as cold and unfeeling right from the get-go.
In short, ‘Pieces of Her’ was more character, than action driven, and my failure to care whether or not Andrea or Laura made it out alive, meant this was a miss for me. Plot-wise, an average thriller, but if someone asked me for a book recommendation for 2018 crime suspense, this one would be pretty far down my list. Still a fantastic author who has written some incredible books.
July 16, 2018
I might have had too high of expectations going into this one because I loved the author's previous book, The Good Daughter. There's nothing significantly wrong with this novel, but I also can't help but feel like there's nothing new or different that make the story stand out.
Andrea Cooper is basically drifting through life. All hell breaks loose when Andrea is at the mall with her mother, Laura, and a gunman starts shooting. In these moments of chaos, she discovers a different side to her mother. And whatever secrets Laura has been hiding pose a serious threat to both of their lives.
By far, the part of the book I enjoyed the most was the present day action which focused on Andrea. It was a good combination of mystery as you wondered what Laura's deal was and thriller as Andrea was forced to always be on her toes. Unfortunately, I did not care for the flashback scenes as you get to see what led up to present day events. It was confusing at first and I never felt heavily interested in the plot although it did get slightly better the more you read. It felt like a ripped from the headlines type plot and while that might work in a Law and Order type show, here it just felt lackluster. It was also disappointing to finish the book and not feel like I 100% understood the Laura character. While I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this book, I would still consider it a solid read and look forward to whatever Karin Slaughter churns out next!
I won a free copy of this book in a giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
Andrea Cooper is basically drifting through life. All hell breaks loose when Andrea is at the mall with her mother, Laura, and a gunman starts shooting. In these moments of chaos, she discovers a different side to her mother. And whatever secrets Laura has been hiding pose a serious threat to both of their lives.
By far, the part of the book I enjoyed the most was the present day action which focused on Andrea. It was a good combination of mystery as you wondered what Laura's deal was and thriller as Andrea was forced to always be on her toes. Unfortunately, I did not care for the flashback scenes as you get to see what led up to present day events. It was confusing at first and I never felt heavily interested in the plot although it did get slightly better the more you read. It felt like a ripped from the headlines type plot and while that might work in a Law and Order type show, here it just felt lackluster. It was also disappointing to finish the book and not feel like I 100% understood the Laura character. While I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this book, I would still consider it a solid read and look forward to whatever Karin Slaughter churns out next!
I won a free copy of this book in a giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
October 14, 2018
I love Karin Slaughter's books and usually devour them quickly. This one took me a week to read. A week. It just didn’t draw me in and hold me there. I’m also struggling to write this review.
The introduction to Andrea “Andy” Oliver and her parents, Laura and Gordon, provided history and insight into their current relationships. Andy was a puzzle for me. She’s 31, lives above her mother's garage, and works nights in a 911 dispatch center. She doesn’t answer when spoken to, is indecisive, alone, stagnant. I kept wondering if Andy had some mental disorder or if she was medicated or doing illegal drugs. Yet, she’s not stupid. She has cared for and helped her mother through cancer treatment. She lived independently in New York City for six years prior to her mother asking her to come home. So, while I was filled with doubts about Andy, an event occurs that reveals much more about Andy's mother and gave me a whole new set of questions about Laura. Current events are set in 2018, and events in Laura's past are set in 1986. Confusion mounted and doing the math with dates and ages didn’t help.
The writing is up to Slaughter's usual standard. The plot requires patience as it plays out slowly until later in the book as reveals are made. Andy and Laura are difficult characters to understand because, as the title indicates, you only get “pieces of her.” I found this book enjoyable, but I wasn’t wowed like previous Slaughter books.
The introduction to Andrea “Andy” Oliver and her parents, Laura and Gordon, provided history and insight into their current relationships. Andy was a puzzle for me. She’s 31, lives above her mother's garage, and works nights in a 911 dispatch center. She doesn’t answer when spoken to, is indecisive, alone, stagnant. I kept wondering if Andy had some mental disorder or if she was medicated or doing illegal drugs. Yet, she’s not stupid. She has cared for and helped her mother through cancer treatment. She lived independently in New York City for six years prior to her mother asking her to come home. So, while I was filled with doubts about Andy, an event occurs that reveals much more about Andy's mother and gave me a whole new set of questions about Laura. Current events are set in 2018, and events in Laura's past are set in 1986. Confusion mounted and doing the math with dates and ages didn’t help.
The writing is up to Slaughter's usual standard. The plot requires patience as it plays out slowly until later in the book as reveals are made. Andy and Laura are difficult characters to understand because, as the title indicates, you only get “pieces of her.” I found this book enjoyable, but I wasn’t wowed like previous Slaughter books.
May 9, 2018
3.5 stars
When we first meet Laura Oliver & her daughter Andrea, they seem to have a close, dependent relationship. But make no mistake. These are 2 very different women. Laura is an elegant, self assured speech therapist in a small community outside Savannah. Andy is mousy & introverted, working night shift as a police dispatcher. She comes across as paralyzed, incapable of making any decision that would help her climb out of her rut & get a life.
It’s Andy’s 31st birthday & they are celebrating in a diner when a traumatic event changes everything. I won’t go into details but suffice to say Andy see a side of her mother she never knew existed. So does the rest of the world as cell phone video of the incident quickly goes viral. In short order, Andy finds herself on the run, armed only with a list of cryptic instructions given to her by Laura.
In alternate chapters set in 1986, we meet a woman named Laura who lost everything that ever mattered to her. She knows who is responsible & travels to Oslo to make him pay in spectacular fashion. She does a bang-up job. Among the victims is a wealthy American businessman & over the course of chapters set in this time period, we spend time with his uber-dysfunctional family as they come to grips with the fallout.
In the present Andy is on a dangerous road trip that will lead to jaw dropping discoveries about her own identity as well as her mother’s past. It’s only as we gradually understand the historical story line that it’s implications in the present begin to sink in. And the hits keep coming right up to the final page.
This is very different from previous books I’ve read by this author. What hasn’t changed is her ability to deliver an intricate plot, stunning twists & events that push you to the edge of your comfort zone. But for me it was very much a book of 2 parts & to be honest, I found the first half a tough slog. After the initial excitement dies down, the reader spends a lot of time alone with Andy & I found her a tiresome travelling companion. Her chapters consist of very little dialogue as she interacts with few people. Instead we listen in on her every thought & emotion. She covers the same ground over & over again in an endless loop of fear & despair. I had to keep reminding myself she was 31 as her behaviour & emotional maturity was more in keeping with those of a teenager.
The chapters detailing events from 1986 are much more intriguing. We know it has to somehow link with Laura Oliver’s past & part of the challenge is trying to figure out her real identity. In these passages, we begin to see the similarities between Andy & her mother’s younger self. As the book hit the second half, tension ramps up in both time lines & the past crashes into the present. And at the risk of entering *spoiler* territory, I’m happy to report both women eventually grew a spine. The second half saved the book for me as the scope of the plot became apparent & more, interesting characters took up the story.
Just a heads up: there are scenes that will make some readers uncomfortable. Emotional & physical abuse are central to the story line & while you may not like some of the characters, it’s clear they are products of their experiences.
So how to rate this. I settled on 3.5 stars (3 for the first half, 4 for the second). While this may not be my favourite book by Ms. Slaughter, she sets the bar pretty high & I’ll definitely read whatever twisted tale she comes up with next.
When we first meet Laura Oliver & her daughter Andrea, they seem to have a close, dependent relationship. But make no mistake. These are 2 very different women. Laura is an elegant, self assured speech therapist in a small community outside Savannah. Andy is mousy & introverted, working night shift as a police dispatcher. She comes across as paralyzed, incapable of making any decision that would help her climb out of her rut & get a life.
It’s Andy’s 31st birthday & they are celebrating in a diner when a traumatic event changes everything. I won’t go into details but suffice to say Andy see a side of her mother she never knew existed. So does the rest of the world as cell phone video of the incident quickly goes viral. In short order, Andy finds herself on the run, armed only with a list of cryptic instructions given to her by Laura.
In alternate chapters set in 1986, we meet a woman named Laura who lost everything that ever mattered to her. She knows who is responsible & travels to Oslo to make him pay in spectacular fashion. She does a bang-up job. Among the victims is a wealthy American businessman & over the course of chapters set in this time period, we spend time with his uber-dysfunctional family as they come to grips with the fallout.
In the present Andy is on a dangerous road trip that will lead to jaw dropping discoveries about her own identity as well as her mother’s past. It’s only as we gradually understand the historical story line that it’s implications in the present begin to sink in. And the hits keep coming right up to the final page.
This is very different from previous books I’ve read by this author. What hasn’t changed is her ability to deliver an intricate plot, stunning twists & events that push you to the edge of your comfort zone. But for me it was very much a book of 2 parts & to be honest, I found the first half a tough slog. After the initial excitement dies down, the reader spends a lot of time alone with Andy & I found her a tiresome travelling companion. Her chapters consist of very little dialogue as she interacts with few people. Instead we listen in on her every thought & emotion. She covers the same ground over & over again in an endless loop of fear & despair. I had to keep reminding myself she was 31 as her behaviour & emotional maturity was more in keeping with those of a teenager.
The chapters detailing events from 1986 are much more intriguing. We know it has to somehow link with Laura Oliver’s past & part of the challenge is trying to figure out her real identity. In these passages, we begin to see the similarities between Andy & her mother’s younger self. As the book hit the second half, tension ramps up in both time lines & the past crashes into the present. And at the risk of entering *spoiler* territory, I’m happy to report both women eventually grew a spine. The second half saved the book for me as the scope of the plot became apparent & more, interesting characters took up the story.
Just a heads up: there are scenes that will make some readers uncomfortable. Emotional & physical abuse are central to the story line & while you may not like some of the characters, it’s clear they are products of their experiences.
So how to rate this. I settled on 3.5 stars (3 for the first half, 4 for the second). While this may not be my favourite book by Ms. Slaughter, she sets the bar pretty high & I’ll definitely read whatever twisted tale she comes up with next.
September 13, 2018
Different is good, and Pieces of Her IS good!
I am a Karin Slaughter fan. I thought a few of her previous books were graphically violent just for the sheer shock value, but Slaughter remains a masterful story-teller. I also like her stand-alone books better than her series. While I adore Amanda and Will, too much more of Sarah's perfection would make me ill. Every book has a reader for them and those who adore Slaughter's series most likely will find this book too different for their tastes. I, however, loved it. Aside from Cop Town, Pieces of Her is my favorite Slaughter book - and to think that I almost didn't read it because of the negative reviews. :(
Slaughter creates a scenario that is plausible. Not every woman in America is a ball of fury, strong and has their life together. I live in the "rust belt" where there are very few strong, "life-together" women and most of the 20-30 year old women that I know are exactly like Andrea. They are struggling, never have been made to stand on their own two feet and, barring some major life-altering event, this is exactly the way they will stay. A handful of the women in their 50's are exactly like Laura. I know because I am one of them. We marched, we rallied, we protested and we fought. Not all of us have had a personal experience with a "cult" but we knew people who did and we personally saw far too many of them in the news. Now, we are mothers, lead boring lives but there are pieces of us that are not like other people. We want change but we live in a world that is different now. Our kids don't understand us - they think they do - but they don't. They can't. They didn't experience Watergate, Vietnam, the PLO, the SLO, Beirut, Civil Rights and more. We fought so they wouldn't have to - maybe they should have to! Which is, to an extent, the point of this story! I think many missed it. They wanted a good crime novel. They wanted a good guy and a bad guy. This, however, is a story that can teach you something if you try just as Cop Town did.
If you've already made up your mind to only like Slaughter's very safe series, then this is not the book for you. IF, however, you would like to have your mind opened, explore a different perspective of a different time and era; IF you understand that growth comes from change - and Andrea did grow - then this is a book for you. I remain a Slaughter fan and I am a fan of this book!
I am a Karin Slaughter fan. I thought a few of her previous books were graphically violent just for the sheer shock value, but Slaughter remains a masterful story-teller. I also like her stand-alone books better than her series. While I adore Amanda and Will, too much more of Sarah's perfection would make me ill. Every book has a reader for them and those who adore Slaughter's series most likely will find this book too different for their tastes. I, however, loved it. Aside from Cop Town, Pieces of Her is my favorite Slaughter book - and to think that I almost didn't read it because of the negative reviews. :(
Slaughter creates a scenario that is plausible. Not every woman in America is a ball of fury, strong and has their life together. I live in the "rust belt" where there are very few strong, "life-together" women and most of the 20-30 year old women that I know are exactly like Andrea. They are struggling, never have been made to stand on their own two feet and, barring some major life-altering event, this is exactly the way they will stay. A handful of the women in their 50's are exactly like Laura. I know because I am one of them. We marched, we rallied, we protested and we fought. Not all of us have had a personal experience with a "cult" but we knew people who did and we personally saw far too many of them in the news. Now, we are mothers, lead boring lives but there are pieces of us that are not like other people. We want change but we live in a world that is different now. Our kids don't understand us - they think they do - but they don't. They can't. They didn't experience Watergate, Vietnam, the PLO, the SLO, Beirut, Civil Rights and more. We fought so they wouldn't have to - maybe they should have to! Which is, to an extent, the point of this story! I think many missed it. They wanted a good crime novel. They wanted a good guy and a bad guy. This, however, is a story that can teach you something if you try just as Cop Town did.
If you've already made up your mind to only like Slaughter's very safe series, then this is not the book for you. IF, however, you would like to have your mind opened, explore a different perspective of a different time and era; IF you understand that growth comes from change - and Andrea did grow - then this is a book for you. I remain a Slaughter fan and I am a fan of this book!
February 6, 2019
4.5/5 stars - This was my 4th Karin Slaughter, and it's further cemented her as one of my favorite...if not my favorite author. Most of her books focus on the relationship between two women, and this centers around a mother and daughter. This was easily the least violent/scary of her books, but I adored it. Video review will be up in a week or two :)
March 22, 2022
Andrea (Andy) Oliver was living in New York, trying to make it in the theater world when her mother Laura was diagnosed with cancer. She returned home to Bell Isle, Georgia to help during her treatment and recovery. It’s been three years and she’s still there, struggling to figure out a career direction. She and her mother meet one morning at a diner and find themselves in an explosive situation that changes their lives forever. Andy thought she knew everything about her mother but now she’s discovering that woman had another life before she became the suburban one she’s known. Laura’s freedom is on the line and she pushes Andrea out the door with a few cryptic instructions and the command to “run.”
What did I just read? I thought the story was going in one direction and then it pulled up stakes and took me on a journey I struggled a long time to understand. It took a bit to put the “pieces” together to form a somewhat clearer picture of Laura but not with much help from Andy who made so many mistakes along the road I wearied of yelling at her. The story transitions back and forth between July 1986 and August 2018 and I felt completely lost when it made that first pivot. But it got pretty clear after that and it was a race to figure out who was trying get to Laura in the present day.
I’ve had this audiobook for a while and decided to listen to it before watching the new Netflix series. It is completely different than what I expected, in a good way. Andy’s odyssey to figure out her family’s identity while following Laura’s instructions was a haphazard one that covered a lot of geography and confrontations with people I wasn’t certain were friends or foes. The narrator delivered a great performance, providing wonderful distinctions for a host of characters, so much so that I always knew who was front and center. It’s a complicated, twisty path with a provocative ending. I enjoyed this story, even when it was most uncomfortable.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
What did I just read? I thought the story was going in one direction and then it pulled up stakes and took me on a journey I struggled a long time to understand. It took a bit to put the “pieces” together to form a somewhat clearer picture of Laura but not with much help from Andy who made so many mistakes along the road I wearied of yelling at her. The story transitions back and forth between July 1986 and August 2018 and I felt completely lost when it made that first pivot. But it got pretty clear after that and it was a race to figure out who was trying get to Laura in the present day.
I’ve had this audiobook for a while and decided to listen to it before watching the new Netflix series. It is completely different than what I expected, in a good way. Andy’s odyssey to figure out her family’s identity while following Laura’s instructions was a haphazard one that covered a lot of geography and confrontations with people I wasn’t certain were friends or foes. The narrator delivered a great performance, providing wonderful distinctions for a host of characters, so much so that I always knew who was front and center. It’s a complicated, twisty path with a provocative ending. I enjoyed this story, even when it was most uncomfortable.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
May 18, 2019
Some mothers lie. Some are really good at it.
This seems to have all the ingredients for a tasty feast, not the least of which is having Karin Slaughter doing the cooking. Even so, having sat down for the meal, there wasn't much on the table to make my eyes light up, nor to entice my tummy to say "Howdy!". It simply didn't have the flavor of typical Slaughter fare, in my opinion. It took me forever to finish it. A decent read, just not a rave.
This seems to have all the ingredients for a tasty feast, not the least of which is having Karin Slaughter doing the cooking. Even so, having sat down for the meal, there wasn't much on the table to make my eyes light up, nor to entice my tummy to say "Howdy!". It simply didn't have the flavor of typical Slaughter fare, in my opinion. It took me forever to finish it. A decent read, just not a rave.
July 20, 2018
Pieces Of Her by Karin Slaughter was a thriller narrated in two different time lines by a mother and daughter. A violent encounter with a killer in a restaurant has a devastating effect on their relationship and Laura tells her daughter Andrea that she must leave town. The story then goes back in time 32 years to a woman Called Jane who is working with a group of terrorists.
Although I enjoyed parts of this book, I found it disjointed and I didn't enjoy it as much this authors previous books.
I would like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Although I enjoyed parts of this book, I found it disjointed and I didn't enjoy it as much this authors previous books.
I would like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2024
3 /5 ★'s
So, this was a fascinating book from the jump. Within a few chapters, I found my jaw on the floor at a "twist" of sorts. It hooked me in quickly. However, it felt unnecessarily long — almost like the author wanted that higher word count over adding more sustenance.
From the start, you ask yourself, "What is going on here?". Then, soon after, you are thrown into the wild ride of this book! You get many different perspectives and have to try and figure out how they will match up eventually.
The story you follow at the start of the book is confusing, captivating, and well...thrilling. Then, when you get to the main chunk...it becomes...less than that for me.
As is the case with most thrillers, I can't say much before spoilers will come out. The journey was fascinating...but not necessarily thrilling. Now, I'm very excited to watch the Netflix show made after this book. Personally, I think watching these events play out on screen will be far more entertaining.
I felt significant feelings for the characters... but I didn't truthfully "click" with them on a deeper level. I found myself underwhelmed with some of the "twists" even though they were good in a way. I think the build-up is what killed it for me. There was too much build-up with nowhere near enough bang to make it worth it.
I did enjoy reading it! I am excited to see it come to life... it might make me like it all the more.
It probably won't be the best thriller you read, but it will work!
So, this was a fascinating book from the jump. Within a few chapters, I found my jaw on the floor at a "twist" of sorts. It hooked me in quickly. However, it felt unnecessarily long — almost like the author wanted that higher word count over adding more sustenance.
From the start, you ask yourself, "What is going on here?". Then, soon after, you are thrown into the wild ride of this book! You get many different perspectives and have to try and figure out how they will match up eventually.
The story you follow at the start of the book is confusing, captivating, and well...thrilling. Then, when you get to the main chunk...it becomes...less than that for me.
As is the case with most thrillers, I can't say much before spoilers will come out. The journey was fascinating...but not necessarily thrilling. Now, I'm very excited to watch the Netflix show made after this book. Personally, I think watching these events play out on screen will be far more entertaining.
I felt significant feelings for the characters... but I didn't truthfully "click" with them on a deeper level. I found myself underwhelmed with some of the "twists" even though they were good in a way. I think the build-up is what killed it for me. There was too much build-up with nowhere near enough bang to make it worth it.
I did enjoy reading it! I am excited to see it come to life... it might make me like it all the more.
It probably won't be the best thriller you read, but it will work!
June 22, 2019
A touch less gritty, but still as dark and edgy. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I’ve only read two Karin Slaughter books, Pretty Girls and The Good Daughter. They were written seamlessly and shocked me to the core. I was a little afraid (in a good way) of Pieces of Her, wondering if it would have that same shock value. It was slightly, really just a touch, more tame, while still retaining its edginess, which was just the right sort of shocking for me, I’m thrilled to say!
Laura is Andrea’s mom, living in tiny Gullaway Island. She’s a speech therapist, both well-known and well-loved in town, and a friend to all. Andrea has always found her mom to be direct and honest. Until Andrea finds out otherwise.
On a quick Saturday afternoon trip to the mall, violence erupts, and Andrea sees Laura differently. It seems that Laura had a different life thirty years prior, one she’s kept completely hidden. But now the truth about her has been exposed, and everything changes as a result.
Twenty-four hours after all that? Laura’s in the hospital, shot by someone who’s been looking for her for over thirty years.
Wow, this was an in-depth and engaging mystery, and I loved every ounce of it! At its core, it’s a study on mother-daughter relationships, and I absolutely loved how this aspect of the story evolved.
Overall, Pieces of Her is a thoughtful, shocking, twisty, graphic (at times), novel; however, the characters truly make this story stand out. I’ll think about them long after I turned the last page.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
I’ve only read two Karin Slaughter books, Pretty Girls and The Good Daughter. They were written seamlessly and shocked me to the core. I was a little afraid (in a good way) of Pieces of Her, wondering if it would have that same shock value. It was slightly, really just a touch, more tame, while still retaining its edginess, which was just the right sort of shocking for me, I’m thrilled to say!
Laura is Andrea’s mom, living in tiny Gullaway Island. She’s a speech therapist, both well-known and well-loved in town, and a friend to all. Andrea has always found her mom to be direct and honest. Until Andrea finds out otherwise.
On a quick Saturday afternoon trip to the mall, violence erupts, and Andrea sees Laura differently. It seems that Laura had a different life thirty years prior, one she’s kept completely hidden. But now the truth about her has been exposed, and everything changes as a result.
Twenty-four hours after all that? Laura’s in the hospital, shot by someone who’s been looking for her for over thirty years.
Wow, this was an in-depth and engaging mystery, and I loved every ounce of it! At its core, it’s a study on mother-daughter relationships, and I absolutely loved how this aspect of the story evolved.
Overall, Pieces of Her is a thoughtful, shocking, twisty, graphic (at times), novel; however, the characters truly make this story stand out. I’ll think about them long after I turned the last page.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
October 26, 2018
I'm very conflicted about what I should rate this book. I very much enjoyed Karin Slaughter's writing style but I absolutely ABHORRED the main character, Andrea. She made me want to tear my hair out. She floundered around for most of the book and made the WORST decisions. She had zero common sense. UGH. I hate her so much. The mystery itself was much different than what I expected after having read Pretty Girls. This was more political (I'm not sure if that's the right word to use) than psychological. I preferred the flashback scenes over any scene with Andrea. I'm having trouble finding the words to explain just how much I hated this character. I almost gave this book two stars because of her. I've never wanted to lower a rating due to hating a character, but I guess there's a first for everything. I decided to give it three stars solely because I like Karin Slaughter's writing and the end result of the mystery was interesting.
March 3, 2022
4.25 tense stars
There's a tense opening scene with a shooting in a diner and Andrea sees a very different side of her mother Laura as she confronts and incapacitates the shooter.
There's another scuffle at the house late that night and soon Laura has sent Andrea away, fleeing to a safehouse until it's safe to come home. What on earth is going on and who is Laura anyway?
The rest of the story is Andrea trying to unravel her mother's life and trying to stay out of harm's way. We learn Laura's backstory along the way.
This one is vintage Karin Slaughter and I read it quickly to get ready for the Netflix series! Finished just in time. Strong female characters and I was hoping that maybe Sara Linton would have a guest appearance or that Will Trent might investigate the case.
P.S. Who wrote this Goodreads blurb? Several factual errors ....
There's a tense opening scene with a shooting in a diner and Andrea sees a very different side of her mother Laura as she confronts and incapacitates the shooter.
There's another scuffle at the house late that night and soon Laura has sent Andrea away, fleeing to a safehouse until it's safe to come home. What on earth is going on and who is Laura anyway?
The rest of the story is Andrea trying to unravel her mother's life and trying to stay out of harm's way. We learn Laura's backstory along the way.
This one is vintage Karin Slaughter and I read it quickly to get ready for the Netflix series! Finished just in time. Strong female characters and I was hoping that maybe Sara Linton would have a guest appearance or that Will Trent might investigate the case.
P.S. Who wrote this Goodreads blurb? Several factual errors ....
August 5, 2018
Fast-paced. Intense. Confusing, yet stimulating. This book was all of that, and based on the one other book I've read of Karin Slaughter's, those are some of her trademarks.
"Pieces of Her" is the newest thriller from Karin Slaughter, and having recently become addicted to her thrilling story-telling, I immediately snapped up this one when I saw it in the bookstore.
The title might sound a bit gory and refrain some people from reading it, but rest assured that "Pieces of Her" isn't as bloody and macabre as one might assume - although there is blood! The title refers more to the fact that Andy, the protagonist, turns out to not know her mother after all, and slowly, pieces of her past come to the surface and reeducates Andy on the one person she thought she knew inside out.
So this is a book about how someone we think we know is not at all that person. It's a book that reads as a puzzle, of which you will only see the full picture once you approach the end. I liked my reading experience of this one a lot; Karin Slaughter did not disappoint! Although there was a twist I thought I saw coming, but which didn't come after all - and I can't help but think that that twist would have made this book phenomenal. (I'm hypothesizing now...).
Needless to say, this was a THRILLING read that will keep you guessing and wondering, but in the end leave you with satisfying answers and a feeling that you've been through quite a journey.
"Pieces of Her" is the newest thriller from Karin Slaughter, and having recently become addicted to her thrilling story-telling, I immediately snapped up this one when I saw it in the bookstore.
The title might sound a bit gory and refrain some people from reading it, but rest assured that "Pieces of Her" isn't as bloody and macabre as one might assume - although there is blood! The title refers more to the fact that Andy, the protagonist, turns out to not know her mother after all, and slowly, pieces of her past come to the surface and reeducates Andy on the one person she thought she knew inside out.
So this is a book about how someone we think we know is not at all that person. It's a book that reads as a puzzle, of which you will only see the full picture once you approach the end. I liked my reading experience of this one a lot; Karin Slaughter did not disappoint! Although there was a twist I thought I saw coming, but which didn't come after all - and I can't help but think that that twist would have made this book phenomenal. (I'm hypothesizing now...).
Needless to say, this was a THRILLING read that will keep you guessing and wondering, but in the end leave you with satisfying answers and a feeling that you've been through quite a journey.
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