Promotional Information

In a sleepy Georgia town medical examiner Sara Linton discovers the mutilated body of a woman who had also been viciously raped. Sara's police chief and ex-husband is in charge of the investigation. A few days later a second victim is found and they realise they have to find a violent sexual predator and serial killer. (Temporary)

About the Author

International bestseller Karin Slaughter grew up in a small south Georgia town and has been writing since she was a child. She is the author of twelve books that have sold over 30 million copies worldwide in 32 languages. She lives in Atlanta. To find out more about Karin Slaughter visit her website at www.karinslaughter. com or catch up with her on www.facebook.com/AuthorKarinSlaughter

Reviews

"Don't read this alone. Don't read this after dark. But do read it"
*Daily Mirror*

"This gripping debut novel, filled with unremittingly graphic forensic details, is likely to have Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs glancing nervously in their rearview mirrors because rookie Karin Slaughter is off the starting grid as quickly as Michael Schumacher and is closing on them fast"
*Irish Independent*

"Chilling but thrilling"
*OK!*

"Slaughter ... brings the story to a shattering climax"
*Sunday Telegraph*

"Wildly readable... [Slaughter] has been compared to Thomas Harris and Patricia Cornwell, and for once the hype is justified ... deftly craf ted, damnably suspenseful and, in the end, deadly serious ... Slaughter 's plotting is brilliant, her suspense relentless"
*Washington Post*

This debut novel's title refers to the extreme dilation of the pupils that results in the inability to see through open eyesone of the symptoms of belladonna ingestion. It also refers to authorities in a small Georgia town who must track down a serial killer who uses the drug to control his victims as he rapes and tortures them before the kill. As Sara Linton, the town's pediatrician and coroner, and Jeffrey Tolliver, chief of police and Sara's ex-husband, work furiously to find the killer, they realize that they must also face the secrets of their pasts, secrets to which they had turned a blind eye for many years. Only then can they see the killer in their midst. This is an extremely mature first novel, with well-developed characters and a finely tuned plot; it also has a creepy killer and enough gory details to satisfy any Thomas Harris fan. The slightly too-neat ending paves the way for a sequel, which is already planned for 2002. Recommended for all public library thriller collections.Rebecca House Stankowski, Purdue Univ. Calumet Lib., Hammond, IN Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

"Don't read this alone. Don't read this after dark. But do read it" * Daily Mirror *
"This gripping debut novel, filled with unremittingly graphic forensic details, is likely to have Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs glancing nervously in their rearview mirrors because rookie Karin Slaughter is off the starting grid as quickly as Michael Schumacher and is closing on them fast" * Irish Independent *
"Chilling but thrilling" * OK! *
"Slaughter ... brings the story to a shattering climax" * Sunday Telegraph *
"Wildly readable... [Slaughter] has been compared to Thomas Harris and Patricia Cornwell, and for once the hype is justified ... deftly craf ted, damnably suspenseful and, in the end, deadly serious ... Slaughter 's plotting is brilliant, her suspense relentless" * Washington Post *