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Pieces of Her

Written by: Karin Slaughter
Narrated by: Kathleen Early
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Publisher's Summary

The number one international best-selling author returns with an electrifying novel of devastating secrets and hidden lives that probes the fraught relationship between daughters and mothers and the lengths we go to protect those we love.

What if the person you thought you knew best turns out to be someone you never knew at all? Andrea Cooper knows everything about her mother, Laura. She knows Laura has spent nearly her whole life in the small beach town of Belle Isle, Georgia; she knows Laura's never wanted anything more than to lead a quiet, normal life in this conventional community; she knows Laura's a kind and beloved speech pathologist who helps others; she knows Laura's never kept a secret in her life. Andrea knows that Laura is everything she isn't—confident, settled, sure of herself. Feeling listless, with no direction, Andrea, unlike Laura, struggles to find her way.

But Andrea's certainty is upended when a visit to the mall is shattered by an act of horrifying violence that reveals a completely different side of Laura—a cool woman who calmly faces down a murderer. It turns out that before Andrea's mother was Laura, she was someone completely different. For nearly 30 years, she's been hiding from the woman she once was, lying low in the hope that no one would ever find her. But now she's been exposed, and nothing will ever be the same again.

The assailant was a mentally troubled teenaged scion of Georgia law enforcement royalty, and now the police want answers about what really happened in those terrifying moments at the mall. Though she's being scrutinized at every level of the criminal justice system and her innocence is on the line, Laura refuses to speak to anyone, including her own daughter. She pushes Andrea away, insisting it's time for her to stand alone and make a life for herself. To save her mother, Andrea embarks on a desperate journey following the breadcrumb trail of her mother's past. Andrea knows that if she can't uncover the secrets hidden there, there may be no future for her mother...or her.

Filled with intriguing turns, surprising revelations, and a compelling cast of characters, Pieces of Her is Slaughter's most electrifying, provocative, and suspenseful novel yet.

©2018 Karin Slaughter (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What the critics say

"Once listeners start Karin Slaughter's new mystery, stopping won't be an option. From the first words, Kathleen Early's narration snares us in a labyrinthine web of lies, deceits, betrayals, and truths that span decades.... Slaughter's clever plotting and Early's high-voltage performance will keep listeners glued to their listening devices." (AudioFile)

What listeners say about Pieces of Her

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    4 out of 5 stars

Kathleen Early shines once again as the narrator!

I really enjoy Karin Slaughter as an author, her books include great character studies of “real” people in vivid detail. But the real standout once again in Kathleen Early’s narration. She brings a sense of raw power and emotion to life through her spoken words. I love that she seems to be the go to narrator for Slaughter and can’t wait for her to take me on my next literary journey! #Audible1

17 people found this helpful

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Could have been better

The book would have been better had it been 15 chapters instead of 20. How a female author could write such a weak, pathetic character like Andrea this day and age is beyond me. Fingers crossed for new Will Trent soon!

10 people found this helpful

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This is the book that never ends; it just goes on

We are currently suffering through what we hope is the last 20 minutes of this book to see how the loose ends tie up. But it is a struggle. Repetitive, confusing. Jumping frm past to present, it has turned into a turgid eulogy instead of a suspensful conclusion. Do not recommend.

9 people found this helpful

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Very good and very quirky

The appeal to this book wasn't instant but it grew quickly and significantly. The main character is presented as quirky. The social element of her is presented/written so well it was felt painful at times. The writer made the character endearing and I found myself rooting for her in an oddly personal way. Great weaving of a past and present story.

9 people found this helpful

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Karin Slaughter as usual is enjoyable to listen to

I enjoyed listening to this book, and did not feel as others that the character of Andrea was that unbearable.
As a parent of young adults, I can see how some younger people can feel stuck and unable to make quick decisions.
Just because the older generations were forced into life at a younger age doesn't mean that it was the best choice for everyone.
Andrea grew as she needed to and that is what mattered most.
I really do like to listen to Kathleen Early's voice, her voice had a beautiful cadence to it that I really enjoy. I find that some narrators can put me off of books, but not Kathleen, I like her voice very much.
I am glad when narrators do more than one title for an author, gives some continuity to the authors work, at least for me.
#Audible1

6 people found this helpful

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  • SMM
  • 2018-09-14

Excellent and Exciting Story

This book was great and exciting from beginning to end. Awesome, I was impressed with ever word

5 people found this helpful

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Slow pace but good story

The story line and characters are all good in this novel but the pace is, at times, agonizingly slow. There are detailed descriptions of feelings and actions throughout and at times these are unnecessary to the story and are tedious. A stronger edit would have helped

3 people found this helpful

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Another good audiobook

Solid 4 stars! Really enjoyed the story, the characters and plot twists-not that they were necessarily shocking or hard to guess, but the details kept it interesting. Enjoyed the author’s writing style.

3 people found this helpful

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Riveting

Loved this book. I just had to keep listening. I jog/walk when I listen so I got lots of exercise with this one. So many twists and turns. Just when you think you have it figured out, along comes another turn of events. #Auudible1

3 people found this helpful

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So you think you know me?

I could read Karen Slaughter books everyday! Another amazing ride! Mother's are more than nurturing.

2 people found this helpful

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  • shelley
  • 2018-08-22

OUTSTANDING BOOK!!

This is a fabulous book! If you've read the publisher's summary you're half way there. Andrea (Andy) and her mother (Laura) are out in an upscale mall eating when a young man comes in shooting. After killing two and injuring another he turns his weapon on Andy. Laura steps in and disarms the man and then with no thought to her own safety and injured, she kills him.
This book is written very different than Slaughter's other books. It is told from two different timeframes and it's not clear to begin with but eventually becomes clear who is common to both. And Why.
It's when the two timelines finally come together that this book really takes off.
The character of Andy goes through a metamorphosis from beginning to end. When the story begins Andy is unambitious, never finished college or really chased a dream. By the middle of the book, well you begin to see a new person emerging.
Laura is the protective mother who will go to any length to keep her child safe.
The characters are so very well fleshed out. They are believable down to the smallest detail of their lives.
Kathleen Early does an outstanding job narrating. This book has my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATIONS.
If you found this review helpful please indicate so.
Thank You.

543 people found this helpful

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  • Whispera
  • 2018-08-26

Usually a fan, but

I couldnt stand being inside the head of such an immature, clueless person...for so long! ...continuously ruminating about every single decision. Like another reviewer, i wanted to slap her in frustration. Very disappointed on this one and had to return it.

147 people found this helpful

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  • C. Dyess
  • 2018-08-31

Horrible!

I don’t usually write reviews but this book was terrible. I wanted to like it. It has past and present stories going on and is terribly boring and drags on and on! Narrator is good, story...boring!

112 people found this helpful

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  • Kindle Customer
  • 2018-08-27

This was bad.

Several times I wanted to just throw this book out. But, I trudged through until the very end. Andy was so aimless, lazy and just stupid I had a hard time believing any human could reach age 31 and be that useless. Laura, who had raised this useless person had to have been the worst mother ever!
Even at the end I was still disgusted by Laura's self centered disregard for other people's lives.
Very disappointed with this book. I can't believe Karen Slaughter could write such tripe.

110 people found this helpful

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  • Suzanne
  • 2018-12-01

I wanted to like this one...

I have enjoyed a good number of Karin Slaughter books, and expect to again in the future. This one just didn't work for me. The characters didn't really develop reasonably, some just caricatures, and the story wasn't compelling. I'm sure the author had a kernel of a good idea, but it wasn't successful in my opinion. I don't even know why I finished it - long car ride, or I would have abandoned it. When I finally checked out some of the other non-positive reviews I saw similar comments. Still a fan of the author, but not this book.

95 people found this helpful

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  • BZGroup
  • 2018-11-11

Death by Listening

I wished I would have stopped listening but I just kept hoping it would get better. The narrator did a good job with what she had to work with. I feel terrible for writing a bad review but I listened to the entire thing and dreaded that it kept droaning. This is the longest it has taken me to listen to a book and I can never get that time back.

89 people found this helpful

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  • Feviegirl
  • 2018-08-29

Disappointed

I've read many of Karin Slaughter's books, and have really enjoyed them all. This one, however, missed its mark with me. Laura (in flashbacks) and Andrea (in present day) were just too unlikable for too much of the book. Spineless, overly dependent, sometimes plain stupid...anyway, it irritated me. Kathleen Early always does an amazing job, and her voice kept me going until the end, which irritated me also. How could mom could still be under Nick's spell after all of his cruelties and abuse? Ick.

75 people found this helpful

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  • Candice L Cameron
  • 2018-08-22

The best yet!! Karen Slaughter at her best!!

This book was everything I wanted and so much more. I love the storyline it was new, it was refreshing, it was Karen slaughter. Although I found the main character to be a bit annoying but I understood why! I listen to this 16 hour book in one day I couldn't put it down it was captivating is so original. I truly I was so please with this book I honestly just wanna reread all of Karin slaughter work. I can't wait to the next one comes out!

68 people found this helpful

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  • Mary R.
  • 2018-08-26

Very disappointed, tedious, predictable

I’ve loved every book Karen Slaughter has written until this one. A tedious, drawn out story about a weak, indecisive daughter and her psychologically damaged mother.
Couldn’t wait for it to end.

37 people found this helpful

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  • Booger
  • 2018-08-31

Great plot...but tired of constantly sobbing female characters

This is a good book. I don’t regret buying it. I love karin slaughter’s writing and have read almost all of her books. My only complaint is the weakness of her female characters. Most of us girls can get through tough situations and tense conversations without “sobbing” “tears pouring down our faces” “vomiting bile” and my least favorite “wailing”.
If you read this book and have a drinking game where any time a female cried, sobbed, wailed, crumpled to the ground in shock, or couldn’t speak for long periods of time from shock...you would need to go to the ER for alcohol poisoning.
I have seen an unfortunate trend lately in books to have the women be weak sobbing creatures who are desperate for a drink and an embrace from pretty much any man. All good thrillers with female leads don’t have to be some broken alcoholic woman like out of Girl on a Train...I’m not a hard core femanist by any means but I hate weakness. Especially weakness with little to no character development. When there are paragraphs upon paragraphs about how Andy can’t even speak....seriously...

32 people found this helpful