Review of This Is Why We Lied: A Will Trent Thriller by Karin Slaughter

Karin Slaughter is one of the best authors of mystery and I have to admit she knows how to create great stories, complex plots, memorable characters and present and depict societal evil. In This Is Why We Lied, she goes back to the elements familiar to readers but also develops the story of one of the series ‘ main characters, Will Trent. It is with great pleasure that I welcome listeners both old and new familiar to the world of Will Trent; this novel is a thrilling and emotionally centered addition.

Plot Overview

‘This Is Why We Lied’ is a complex crime thriller, where a fairly ordinary case turns into a flight of One Lie/Consequence after another. Meet Will Trent an investigator with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation who is summoned to solve what seems like an easy murder. But as he continues the investigation he stumbles on a number of interrelated mysteries that make him doubt all he had learnt about everyone concerned.

The structure of the story is complex, while Slaughter does a good job in creating several story arcs which intertwine at the climax of the novel. The author of the novel does an excellent job at creating suspense in the story; at the same time, however, there are moments of character reflection which are perfectly reasonable within the context of the book and serve to give the story more depth. It takes the readers through a ride that in one instance they are moved, and in the next they are crying or feeling sympathetic, then they are smiling, surprised, and in some instances, become outraged.

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Characterization

Another thing that will appeal to a reader of This Is Why We Lied is complex characterization. Will Trent as always is an extremely complex character in this book. Here Slaughter identifies himself with his main character, investigating Tony’s fears, virtues as well as internal struggle. The further the plot, the more complicated Will’s character is, as he is personally connected to the case he investigates. Another significant theme of the novel is a love story that connects the main character with his long-term girlfriend, Sara Linton, which helped the reader to have a glimpse of light and a common man amidst demons in investigation.

A character also included is Sara Linton who acts as a medical examiner and the female lead of the story holding a different and elaborate view of the whole occurrence. By depicting Sara, Slaughter does show understanding and the closest thing to perfect realism possible; she is a woman with a crush on her past efforts but is now in the middle of many a full-blown struggle. One of the strong sides of the novel is the relationship between Will and Sara which seems to be depicted very natural and emotionally close.

The rest of the characters are also equally as developed and each character has their own part in creating intensity and suspense of out story. Additionally, the people implicated in the case range from the possible suspect, probable culprits for the crime as well as relatives of the victims are well portrayed by Slaughter. These characters are not mere thumbnails on which the plot’s raw materials are painted; they are important characters with their own goals, concerns, and wants.

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Themes and Motifs

This Is Why We Lied covers many of the themes that are important to Slaughter as a writer. It could be said that trust, betrayal, secrets and what happens when they are kept are some of the major themes of the novel. This is a work of exploring the destiny of failed illusions as a product of false representations in society and to oneself. Slaughter is really precise in describing situations in which the black and white distinctions are difficult to perceive and where the difference between sinners and saints is far from clear.

Another main trend, which can unarguably be mentioned, is the theme of trauma experience both as a personal and shared experience. Slaughter does not pull any punches when describing the psychological and emotional toll that her characters contend with and the issues they face are well depicted by the author. Power relationships and coercive control are also touched in the novel especially where it addresses the issue of domestic violence and how it influences a person. I also found the theme of family, as in the traditional sense, and the sense of the family one creates, thread through the entire tale. Family ties and friendship are the key elements of the work where the characters’ relationships are defined by biological kinship or events they have had to survive. Slaughter singles out that such relationships may be a source of power and may be a source of pain; and this, in turn, shows how the nature of relationships impacts the character’s decisions.

Pacing and Structure

The speed of This Is Why We Lied is something which I also liked. Still, to say that Slaughter does not sustain pacing of More Bath Than Blood would be unjustified, the author is comfortable when it comes to arranging and developing the story: fast, with crucial moments that can be either full of action or too quiet in a row. It maintains this balance to the extent that the reader focuses on the story as was planned by the author thereby creating suspense without compromising on the situation.

There are some structural aspect that are also worthy of consideration in the novel. The author uses obvious shifts in point of view to make the reader consider every aspect of the events described from different characters’ point of view. Hence, this technique is most useful in creating suspense to the reader while the broader perspective of the game is revealed. The application of flashbacks is done well enough to give necessary histories of characters without interrupting the events in the present.

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Writing Style

The author of this book is very gifted with words – the prose is, at the same time, descriptive and meticulous. In her narratives she is very keen and accurate in the way she paints the setting and the characters. Whether Slaughter is painting the picture of a crime scene , a dramatic interrogation scene or a moment of contemplations , her writing style is crisp and interesting. Her speech language is also one of the highlights, as it covey the distinctive and socially true representations of characters’ personalities.

The overall mood of the novel is rather dark & gritty, which reflects the nature of the themes addressed in the book. Though, the story also has some light and positive aspects in it especially the relationship between Will and Sara. Such moments are actually used to make the characters more edgy and realistic while offering a break from the high-energy situations in the novel.

Emotional Impact

Although one of the most compelling components of the book This Is Why We Lied is emotional appeal. Slaughter is good at work that deals with real people and personalities and this aspect is something that she does will and to great effect. It is vitally more than a plain thriller because the author has treated the issues of trauma, loss, and human relationships as the core issues of the human soul. It is psychological as feelings run high, and the audience will have a lot at heart as far as the characters are concerned.

The novel also gives a theme of redemption and forgiveness, and the possibility of self-forgiveness and of forgiving others. Slaughter does not provide clear-soultion for such problem but rather, she portrays the real and hardworking picture of those processes. This makes the narration emotionally charged a little more and is definitely both a good & deep read for reflection.

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Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Complex Characters: Slaughter is the master of developing the company’s multi-dimensional and realistic, though not perfect, characters. Two characters stand out here as rather well fleshed out: Will Trent and Sara Linton whose private lives also contribute to the themes of the book.
2. Gripping Plot: It can be summarized that the plot of the novel is complex yet it has many moments that keeps the reader interested. Slaughter is great at foreshadowing and the reader almost cannot putting the book down.
3. Thematic Depth: By reading This Is Why We Lied one can identify some of the key themes of the novel, which include deceit, trust, trauma, and the effects of secrets. All these themes intertwined with the plot so as to give the narration multiple dimensions.
4. Emotional Resonance: The human relations and the after-effects of abuse portrayed in the novel are touching and are depicted with force. Slaughter writes in a way that makes the reader sympathize which makes the story rather touching.
5. Effective Use of Multiple Perspectives: The changes in the points of view add a good insight on the events in the story and adds to the novel’s element of mystery. This applies the use of narrative technique in a very efficient way so that the readers are able to comprehend the characters as well as the storyline.

Cons:

1. Pacing Issues in the Middle: Nevertheless, there are times especially on the middle portion that indicate a halt in the pace of the story. Some readers may find these sections a bit boring but these sections are necessary in the development of the characters and advancement of the story line.
2. Dark Themes May Be Overwhelming: It is worth noting that the novel contains many thematic complexities, which are also rather heavy topics: abuse, trauma, et cetera, so some viewers might find these too overwhelming. Although, these issues addressed here are depicted in an artistic and sensitive manner, reading through it may prove to be quite a stressful experience.
3. Complex Plot Might Confuse Newcomers: While the authors’ fans will have no issues with the plot’s twists and a number of characters, the readers who did not get acquainted with Will Trent series yet may state that the plot is too complicated and there are too many characters to keep track of. Though Slaughter goes a little further to ensure that a new reader gets a good insight into the characters and the relationship between them, a reader who has been following the series will appreciate the layers that he/she is privileged to seen or rather read.
4. Lack of Resolution for Some Subplots: There are a few sidelines which are not tied up as sufficiently well as the main conflict of the plot is solved. This may annoy a reader who would want a clear end for all the issues that are developed within the book.
5. Graphic Content: Like most of Slaughter’s literary products, the novel contains some form of violence and graphic content that may cause discomfort among the readers. Cautious should be exercised by anyone who feels that such material may offend him or her in anyway.

Conclusion

This Is Why We Lied is an engaging Contribution to Karin Slaughter’s Will Trent series, it is well-written, thrilling, heart-warming and intellectually stimulating. It may not be for everyone simply because of what it entails, it is recommendable for enthusiasts of such work and for people who fancy good characterization and plot development. Another strength of Slaughter is her capacity to analyze and examine actions and emotions of the characters; the secrets and lies in this novel puts it in a class of its own in the thrillers. Although it has a few inconsistencies in the pacing of the story and some of the narrative arcs are not given proper closure, This Is Why We Lied is a great read with a strong and shocking story listeners won’t soon forget.

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