When a murder takes place and a body is found, usually it is
identified correctly. Especially when the mother of the deceased is
making the identification. In FRACTURED, however, we have unusual
circumstances, odd couplings and varied situations from the
get-go.

Abigail Campano comes home to the worst thing any mother could
imagine: an intruder. Thinking, naturally, that he murdered her
daughter, who is lying dead in the hallway, Amanda fights him off
and kills him. At this point, the plot takes off in several
different directions.

Amanda Wagner is assigned to this case with another detective, Will
Trent, from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). The local
authorities in Atlanta already are miffed at being overridden by
the state detectives. Additionally, Will and the father of the dead
or missing victim have history. Both men grew up in the Atlanta
orphanage system, and there is lots of bad blood between them that
surfaces time and time again.

Many questions must be answered, especially concerning the identity
of the young man presumed to be the killer, who Abigail strangled.
Additionally, we have the identity of the dead young woman at the
Campano home to determine. Both girls were supposed to be at school
during the time of the break-in and murder.

Paul and Abigail had less than a storybook marriage, although they
had a great deal of money and the outward trappings of success. A
car salesman, Paul married Abigail, whose family comes from "old
Atlanta money." Unfaithful regularly in their marriage, Paul's
infidelities come under speculation by Abigail, who wants to know
if he's done something to upset someone.

The GBI has their hands full, few leads and little time to solve
this mystery. There is a missing car, a missing murderer, a missing
kidnapper and lots of clues that are troublesome. Why was the other
girl killed instead of Emma Campano? Why was the young man still in
the house? Why was there evidence of sexual activity on the
underclothes of the victim? Who was the young man Abigail
killed?

Karin Slaughter assembles a plot very differently from other
writers in the thriller genre. The reader is expected to think
beyond the information given, to expand their knowledge beyond the
facts and written word. It actually is a surprising and refreshing
tribute to her audience. As we tour Atlanta, we meet accessories,
other inconsequential characters and those from whom we can tie up
the loose ends of this crime.

What will the hostilities between Paul and Will, and Will and
Amanda, reveal? Why was the Campano daughter kidnapped at all? I
suggest that you take three or four hours and dig into FRACTURED.
When you are done, you may just want to go back and try some of her
previous novels.