Kisscut

A Novel

By: Karin Slaughter

Narrated by: Patricia Kalember

Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's Summary

Saturday night dates at the skating rink have been a tradition in the small southern town of Heartsdale for as long as anyone can remember; but when a teenage quarrel explodes into a deadly shoot-out, Sara Linton, the town's pediatrician and medical examiner, finds herself entangled in a terrible tragedy.

What seemed at first to be a horrific individual catastrophe proves to have wider implications. The autopsy reveals evidence of long-term abuse, of ritualistic self-mutilation, but when Sara and police chief Jeffrey Tolliver start to investigate, they are frustrated at every turn.

The children surrounding the victim close ranks. The families turn their backs. Then a young girl is abducted, and it becomes clear that the first death is linked to an even more brutal crime, one far more shocking than anyone could have imagined. Meanwhile, detective Lena Adams, still recovering from her sister's death and her own brutal attack, finds herself drawn to a young man who might hold the answers. But unless Lena, Sara, and Jeffrey can uncover the deadly secrets the children hide, it's going to happen again.

©2002 Karin Slaughter (P)2002 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"The undertone of violence is pervasive, even at quiet moments...amplifying Slaughter's equation of intimacy with menace and placing her squarely in the ranks of Cornwell and Reichs" (Publishers Weekly)
"With the same graphic detail found in her first novel and in those by Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs, Slaughter has again written a fast-paced thriller for those not faint of heart." (Library Journal)
"This is just the ticket for readers who like their crime fiction on the dark side." (Booklist)

CAUTION!

While this author's imagination is a nice change from "the killer did unimaginable things" and leaving it at that, the topic to this particular book (child rape/exploitation/porn), its treatment, and the unresolved finale was too much for me. A topic such as this need closure, not possible continued revisitation. And the villan seems to "leap tall buildings in a single bound." The author lost one reader w/ this one and its handling.

Old Timer

This book set a record for loosing and confusing me; about three minutes. Whether the remainder of the book rehabilitates its horrid opening, I can not comment. I will leave that to others.

Great read, I can't put her books down.

What made the experience of listening to Kisscut the most enjoyable?

very exciting book

Who was your favorite character and why?

Chief Toliver, seems very smart

What about Patricia Kalember’s performance did you like?

well done

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

I would recommend all of Karin's books. They are very exciting and I love the feeling of not wanting to put a book down because you want to know what happens next. That doesn't happen very often.

disappointing

Heroines should never be wimpy,emotional on the job or think it alright to become emotionally vulnerable to a teenage boy. My heroines need grit and substance. I could not even finish the book as I was gagging on the interaction between a grown, supposedly professional woman of the law and a sly troubled child!! Sorry Karin Slaughter but I shall not be reading any of your books again for awhile.

Amazing

I have been loving this series, this book talks about dark themes that are very real, big trigger warning for rape and abuse, it does get detailed and can be very difficult for people. I felt like crying in some parts because it was so sad and realizing things like this does happen is even harder.

My Ears.....

I couldnt listen more than a few minutes. Love Karen Slaughter stories, but the narrator really ruined it for me. I'm sure she's a wonderful narrator, but I'm picky.

Exciting and sad story

Loved the story but the music sound effects were in a word - weird. The narrative was a bit choppy but the story keeps you engaged.

disturbing

It was a very disturbing story line and horrible ending. Narrator was very good at different voices and accents.

Kisscut review

I love Karin Slaughter, and loved this book, but the quality was awful. There was a very,very loud static at times, to the point where I missed parts of the book. Very disappointed in the quality as this is something I have purchased, and it was difficult to hear at times.

Too dark

As a fan of Karin, this story was just to dark and twisted for my tastes.