Kisscut

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars | 11,903 ratings

Price: 21.25

Last update: 01-02-2025


About this item

Gillian Flynn says, "Karin Slaughter is simply one of the best thriller writers working today."

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 but 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...


Top reviews from the United States

  • B.G. Ritts
    5.0 out of 5 stars Slaughter has written another intense story...
    Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2002
    Karin Slaughter has said in interviews that she wants to be a better writer with each book. She has clearly done that with Kisscut. I think it has tighter plotting, characters that are more human (even the evil parts), and a stronger narrative than in Blindsighted, her first book. While I don't think the plot is better in this book, the development of the story is. Just when I 'knew' the story was cruising to a certain place (and who and what and how), some unexpected turn of events jumped off the page -- more than once.
    We get to see more of small town life in Grant County. Sara, doctor and part-time medical examiner, and Jeffery, the police chief, are still central characters in Kisscut, but Lena, one of Jeffrey's detectives, is brought to the fore in this book and has her inner self laid bare. There are enough references to the first book's story to give a good idea of what happened without giving everything away. Without being Lena, I'd say that her thoughts and perceptions are congruous with how a person could behave and react to her experiences.
    The rest of this gives away just about everything except names, with each paragraph telling more. If you do not want to know about the plot and 'who done it', skip to the last paragraph.
    Kisscut has child pornographers who think it is appropriate to physically and sexually abuse children -- and they have no guilt or remorse about it. I'm not sure there is a way to write about that and have it seem comprehensible, because in my mind there is no understanding intentionally hurting children. I know it happens, though, because I know adults to whom this was 'normal' while they were growing up. The author has made her perpetrators believable, sympathetic characters at the beginning of the book.
    Ms. Slaughter took the bold step of making women (yes, plural) the primary 'evil doers'. Of course, after the warped attentions that her Blindsighted tormentor inflicted on his victims, we shouldn't be surprised at the ugliness springing from the human mind that this author conjures to put on paper -- although in person she appears to be an engaging young woman who couldn't possibly think of, let alone know, anything about the dark side of humanity.
    While I'm sure Kisscut was plotted out before this last year's revelations about the molestations by priests of the Roman Catholic Church, having a minister who is involved in this mayhem on children is certainly a timely addition -- and another reminder that you can't trust someone just because of his or her position or profession.
    There is some brightness to report. It looks like Sara and Jeffery could be getting back together.
    Ms. Slaughter has once again written a book that is not easy on the emotions, but is highly readable. Get Kisscut and settle in for a fine, intense story on the printed page.
  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good book, but not for everyone.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2024
    Very interesting well written story, but tough subject matter.
  • vivian
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow
    Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2024
    This was an incredible story, almost the kind of thing you see on a cop TV show but way better. So glad I picked up this series, can't wait for the next one. Great book for those who love cop chasing/who done its!!
  • Rhonda
    3.0 out of 5 stars What's with all the throat clearing?
    Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2013
    This is the second in the Grant County series. After having read the first, Blindsighted, I dove right into the second. The plot is good. It does revolve around some very sensitive topics, incest, child pornography, rape, kidnapping, etc., but the story is well written and compelling. The continuing side stories involving the three main characters is also compelling.

    I like the writing style and the flow of the story. It's fast moving and there are plenty of plot twists. I like the recurring characters and will read the next in the series, "A Faint Cold Fear."

    With all that said, I did have an issue with this book, that being the amount of "throat clearing." The phrases, "he cleared his throat" and "she cleared her throat" started to stick out. I became irritated enough that I finally used the search feature on the Kindle for PC app just to see how often throats were cleared. It turns out that there are 21 instances of throat clearing in this 448 (actually 420, as the last 28 pages are acknowledgments, etc) page Kindle book. That's a throat cleared every 20 pages. Throat clearing appears to be a bit of a crutch for Slaughter. I was irritated enough that I gave Kisscut 3 stars instead of 4.

    All-in-all, I liked it and I would recommend this series. I have already started the 3rd Grant County book.
  • josh portwood
    5.0 out of 5 stars Dark side of Humanity
    Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2024
    First, let me say this book was amazing. It's a lot different than the first book and darker, albeit in a different sort of way. This book really leaves you with a wow feeling, you know sick people are out there, but Slaughter's writing really makes it hit home. This plot also had lots of things to pull and the author kept you reaching for more and wondering what was next right until the very end. Speaking of the end, I am not sure I liked it, but I guess I can't really say why because it will give away spoilers and I would have a lot to talk about. This book, made me feel dirty. One things I will say is, I am not a fan of Lena and I know, most people will say she has been through a lot, so give her a break. Well, I don't agree with that. Lena is a not a good person and I don't say that because this book really showed how she struggled with what happened to her, which was awesome btw. A lot of authors would have quickly moved on, but not slaughter and man was this struggle hard to watch. No, I say it don't like because what Nan said to her was spot on, Lena wasn't a good person before hand and clearly has a lot of problems. I wonder if we will get to why as we move along. I think Jeffrey's concerns are valid too and his concerns were valid before she went through what she did. I feel bad for saying this, but I don't like her character, much like I don't like Angie from the Will Trent series. Doing bad things because bad things were done to you or because you have been through difficulties does not excuse your bad behavior. For me. this was something Slaughter really pulled at because there are lots of examples of it in this story. I know its not that simple, but as I said, I didn't like Lena as soon as she was introduced in book. Yeah she has a lot of problems and some are very legit, but her biggest issue is herself and she refuses to see it. I digress, as for the book, it really makes you think about the ugly side of humanity.

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