Karin Slaughter writes thrillers that you can't put down no matter how much you want to escape the horrific subject matter. This was probably the most brutal of the Will Trent series to date, with the possible exception of the first one. I've read horror novels that were less terrifying. That said, it's well-written, captivating, gut-wrenching, and practically perfect. It is simultaneously the worst and best book I‘ve read this year.