Customer Reviews

Skin Privilege

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you have already read "Beyond Reach" by Karin Slaughter, dont bother to buy this book "Skin Privilege" because it is the same book, just has another title. I read all of her books and couldnt for the life of me understand how I could have missed this one called "Skin Privilege". Then I finally read a review of what it was about and realized, gosh, I am glad I didnt buy it. I had already read it! I absolutely hated the ending however.

Combine tight plotting with vivid forensic detail and heart-stopping suspense, and brace yourself for a roller-coaster ride.

This is no simple case of murder and it looks like Detective Lena Adams is the only suspect. But what is really going on in Reece? Lena's boss, Jeffrey Tolliver police chief of Heartsdale and his wife Dr Sara Linton, travel to Reece to try to aid Lena.

To write more about the story might spoil reading the novel itself. There are plenty of twists and turns, lots of bad guys and from underneath it all some of the mysteries of Lena's past emerge. Fans of Ms Slaughter's earlier novels will be familiar with these characters and while reading the earlier books isn't necessary it will add an extra dimension of understanding and appreciation of the plot.

Highly recommended.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

I sure wish I had read the reviews first. It is the same book as Beyond Read. Just a different title. Beyond Reach is good, so that makes this book good as it is the same.

Cheap shot of the publisher to do that to Karin Slaughter fans. I have learned my lesson. Will always read reviews first.

Prior to this book, I had enjoyed reading Karin Slaughter novels. Unfortunately, I wont be buying or reading anymore of her books. She broke the golden rule - I won't spoil it by mentioning it in this review, but let's just say that any good author knows that what she did is not on. I wont be buying the next book in the Grant County series, and I wont be buying anymore of her books. Didn't like it at all, even before I read the ending.

The small town in question is Reece, in Georgia, where Police Detective Lena Adams, working partner of Heartsdale Police Chief Jeffrey Tolliver, now lives after a traumatic childhood in Reece. She reluctantly returns to Reece when she learns that her Uncle Hank who raised both her and her twin sister after the death of their mother, is in a very bad way from drug usage. He was a recovering drug user for many years but appears to have succumbed to temptation once again. Other business brings Chief Tolliver and his doctor wife, Sara Linton to Reece, where they are concerned that there is no trace of Lena. What follows is a frightening example of a small town closing ranks against them and their questions and a terrifying episode of extreme violence, murder, torture and corruption by drug dealers who control the whole town and its' occupants.

THIS WAS HOT....
I've never been to America and have no idea what poverty stricken small towns that are not on the map are like but Karin Slaughter paints such vivid pictures in your minds that you have a clear visual of exactly what she's talking about. I felt the oppressive poverty, depressive hopelessness and violence that brews in such a place.
Her main characters are three dimensional and even the secondary characters have complexities that make them real people. I think the books character development as a whole is superb.
The author switches between a narrating the present by following Lena's boss and his wife and about a week in the past by giving account of Lena's activities in the Reece since her arrival. There is perfect synchronicity between these and the merging of the two later is so seamless that you forget there ever were two timeframes to begin with. Normally you have to work out at the back of your mind (as you read) where you are, who's talking now, etc. This is one of the best uses of this writing technique I have come across.
I could not help but empathise with most people in this town because of their life experiences. My heart went out to Harry, Lena's uncle who raised his nieces through the blur of meth (Methamphetamine) which caused her mother to abandon them, such a slave was she to her addiction. The victims and sometime members of the skinheads gangs who control people's lives with an iron fist. Most of the members having become part of this community in their troubled teens in search of love and acceptance and desire to escape abusive childhoods. The downward spiral of a community in the grips of drug abuse, bigotry and corrupt legal systems makes this tale both moving and riveting.
You could not have seen the ending coming it is so shocking. Now I really need to read the next instalment. When writer advisers say the ending should be explosive, this is what they mean.

NOT SO HOT:
I learnt a lot about narcotics and their impact in individuals and communities amongst other things (which I sensed was close to the author's heart). I just found that she tended to give lectures that were too long in places. Especially in explaining the technicalities and chemical composition of meth and the origins and histories of skinhead culture. There was just far too much information than I would have liked and had the premise of the book not be so absorbing I and the pace page turning, I may read this in a much longer time span than 3 days

OVERALL:
This is my first Karin Slaughter read and I bought it because a bookstore owner recommended her over and over again. I'm only sorry that I took this long in making that decision. I kept thinking this reminds me of Patricia Cornwell's early Scarpetta books which i was once addicted to, only this is even better. This is awesome crime writing. By the way I was also warned that her books are grisly and perhaps they are, especially if you read the prison inmate scenes. This was not a problem for me and I actually finished the book thinking (where's the grizzle?). But if you are a sensitive type you may find descriptions of putrefying bodies and arms getting tossed aside or wrists chopped off too much for you. So now I warn you.

No spoilers from my review by the way, BUT I will honestly and cannot recommend this book! What sort of ending was that? If I had a clue, I probably wouldn't have read it! Honestly! Garbage ending.

I have to agree with some that the ending to this book was a big no-no. And I swore that I would not read a single book by her again. However, when my co-worker gave me her new book, Undone, Karin Slaughter redeemed herself. In her new book, she combines her two series. You must read her new book. Even though what she did in her last book was not acceptable, she makes it up with her new book. I would recommend you get a copy of her book, Undone. You will not be disappointed.