Leigh Coulton has worked hard to build what looks like a normal life. She has a good job as a defense attorney, a daughter doing well in school, and even her divorce is relatively civilized – her life is just as unremarkable as she’d always hoped it would be.
Then a case lands on her desk – defending a wealthy man accused of rape. It’s the highest profile case she’s ever been given – a case which could transform her career if she wins. But when she meets the accused, she realizes it’s no coincidence that he’s chosen her as his attorney. She knows him. And he knows her. More to the point, he knows what happened twenty years ago, and why Leigh has spent two decades running.
Whew, what a ride! Karin Slaughter can certainly write a crime thriller. With a last name like hers, what else would she write? False Witness is fast-paced and intricately plotted, and her characters are flawed and authentic. If you’re a fan of legal thrillers and psychological suspense and don’t mind gruesome murder scenes, (think Scott Turow, John Grisham, Nancy Grace, Mary Higgins Clark, Lee Child, John Sanford) you’re going to love this one. The frequent references to Covid-19 were annoying, though, and detracted from the plot. 4.5 stars. How do writers come up with this stuff? 4.5 stars.