Books › Faithless
Faithless
First published 2005 · 639 pages
A relentless, dread-soaked descent into the darkest corners of human nature and the messy complexities of those trying to stop it.
What it feels like
Reading this thriller feels like walking into a suffocating, deeply shadowed forest where every snapped twig signals danger. It is a relentlessly propulsive experience that grips you by the throat from the first horrifying discovery and refuses to let go. The atmosphere is dread-soaked and claustrophobic, steeped in the oppressive heat of the rural South and the chilling reality of buried secrets. The prose is unflinching, delivering forensic details with clinical precision while simultaneously peeling back the raw, messy emotional layers of its deeply flawed protagonists. It is a dark, heavy read that explores the devastating intersections of faith, trauma, and survival. This book will thoroughly delight readers who crave gritty, character-driven suspense that never shies away from the brutal realities of violence or the complicated relationships of those fighting for justice.
- Mood
- dread-soaked
- claustrophobic
- tense
- chilling
- Tone
- unflinching
- gritty
- intense
- clinical
- empathetic
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- religious extremism · trauma and survival · toxic relationships · the burden of justice · buried secrets
- The writing
- Sharp, visceral, and unsparingly detailed, balancing forensic precision with deep psychological insight.
- The arc
- Begins with a visceral shock and spirals into a suffocating web of interpersonal tension and mounting dread before culminating in a devastating climax.
- Who it's for
- Fans of dark, character-driven thrillers who appreciate gruesome forensic details paired with deeply flawed, complex protagonists.
Content notes
- graphic violence
- sexual assault
- domestic abuse
- religious abuse
- claustrophobia
About the book
"Brilliant plotting, relentless suspense," raved the Washington Post. "A new synonym for terror," crowned the Detroit Free Press. The critics agree: no one writes suspense like Karin Slaughter, whose thrillers featuring medical examiner Sara Linton and her ex-husband, police chief Jeffrey Tolliver, have propelled her to the top of bestseller lists the world over. Now Slaughter fuses her unmatched grasp of forensic science and a mastery of complex relationships in a riveting tale of faith, doubt, and murder.The victim was buried alive in the Georgia woods--then killed in a horrifying fashion. When Sara Linton and Jeffrey Tolliver stumble upon the body, both become consumed with finding out who killed the pretty, impeccably dressed young woman. And for Sara and Jeffrey, a harrowing journey begins, one that will test their own turbulent relationship and draw dozens of lives into the case.Lena Adams is one of them. A Grant County detective for years, she has her own reasons for being drawn to this case and a fierce drive to see justice done. For these three people, who have each seen the darkest side of human nature, the body of the murdered girl is but the first in a series of shocking and sordid revelations.Now, as Jeffrey and Sara narrow the field of suspects, they must confront their own doubts and indiscretions, while Lena Adams sees herself reflected in the frightened eyes of a battered woman who may be the key figure in the case. As Faithless builds to a stunning and unforgettable climax, Karin Slaughter masterfully brings together strands of interlocking lives, family secrets, and hidden passions with one astounding truth: the identity of a killer who is more evil and dangerous than anyone could have guessed.From the Hardcover edition.
Description from Open Library.
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