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299th out of 3,395 books
—
7,810 voters
A Faint Cold Fear (Grant County #3)
by
Karin Slaughter (Goodreads Author)
An apparent student suicide has brought medical examiner Sara Linton to the local college campus, along with her ex-husband, police chief Jeffrey Tolliver. But a horribly mutilated corpse yields up few answers. And a suspicious rash of subsequent "suicides" suggests that a different kind of terror is stalking the youth of Heartsdale, Georgia -- a nightmare that is coming t...more
Paperback, 448 pages
Published
July 27th 2004
by Harper
(first published September 10th 2003)
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May 15, 2013
Cat Case
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
re-read,
read-in-2013
Insert all of the "I am reading this series again" intros that I've already written twice. The first time I read this one I didn't like it at all; I think I gave it one star and called that a gift. I am not sure what I didn't like... I have a feeling that it was all of the decisions Lena made through out the story. Drove me insane first time 'round, but this time not so much. I still feel like the Sara and Jeffrey fighting is there just to be there and serves no purpose other than them not getti...more
Karin Slaughter's books are very character intense. She's just as interested in the murder mystery aspect of the novel as she is her characters' development and how they deal with what's going on around them. Although I don't really like any of the characters in her novels, I am interested in their lives. One of the problems with novels like this is after awhile you have to wonder why bad things (like murder) always keep happening to them. I mean, how many times can you have your primary charact...more
1 like · like · see review
Feb 15, 2013
Vivisection
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
procedural-mysteries,
psychological-mysteries
I think I'm going to have to give back my English Lit degree. I don't know how I got to book three in this series without realizing that half the characters are named after characters in Wuthering Heights. Really? Hareton Earnshaw? Cathy and "Eddie" Linton?
It's useless to argue that I'm just reading this series out of boredom because I am clearly working my way through the Grant county series. With this novel, however, I am losing some of my like and respect for the characters. I like Jeffrey a...more
It's useless to argue that I'm just reading this series out of boredom because I am clearly working my way through the Grant county series. With this novel, however, I am losing some of my like and respect for the characters. I like Jeffrey a...more
I'm gradually becoming a solid fan of Karin Slaughter's mystery novels. In this one the lead characters are Sara Linton, medical examiner, and Jeffrey Tolliver, Chief of Police, of a small college town in Georgia. The college plays a large role in the story; it's supposedly a school for dorky types who don't fit in at the better known large universities in Georgia. Judging from the scene at one dorm party, though, these kids don't seem very nerdy at all.
As this gripping story begins, the body of...more
As this gripping story begins, the body of...more
4 likes · like · see review
I give high ratings to Karin Slaughter because I really enjoy her books, even though I'm a bit of a literary snob and don't generally read contemporary fiction. I have spent the past few years reading a lot of non-fiction and her writing has been my reason for returning to fiction.
These books have a 'Murder She Wrote' element to them, wherever her main character -Sara Linton, pediatrician/smalltown medical examiner- is murder just happens to show up. This wouldn't be such a problem for me as a...more
These books have a 'Murder She Wrote' element to them, wherever her main character -Sara Linton, pediatrician/smalltown medical examiner- is murder just happens to show up. This wouldn't be such a problem for me as a...more
Her books essentially have every main character being raped, killed, or beaten... The themes of how women are abused is a prevailing theme, and I have to wonder if this author has experienced this and is trying to work thru it by her writings..... I just don't buy it. Lena's sister is killed and she is near death and then in violent relationships as she resorts to drinking post trauma........ Sara was raped when younger and stabbed, HER sister is attacked and loses a baby... just too much to be...more
1 like · like · see review
Wie auch in ihren ersten beiden Büchern 'Belladonna' und 'Vergissmeinnicht' sind Sara, die Kinderärztin und nebenberufliche Gerichtsmedizinerin und Jeffrey, ihr Ex-Mann und Polizeichef die Hauptfiguren dieses Romans. Hinzu kommt noch Lena, Ex-Polizistin, die in 'Belladonna' auf grausamste Art und Weise gefoltert und missbraucht wurde. Die psychischen Folgen dieses Verbrechens und ihre Auswirkungen auf Lena werden von der Autorin erschreckend anschaulich dargestellt. So entsteht eine Art 'Paralle...more
Actual Rating: 3.5
It only took about 20 pages before something happened, and it shocked me enough to the point where it felt surreal, and that maybe I had misread. While it’s certainly possible that this was the whole point, it was so unexpected and upsetting. And then it seemed like this certain aspect of the entire plot was shoved underneath the rug and only addressed if it was necessary to drive the emotional plot between Sara and Jeffery forward. I sincerely hope that what happened will be a...more
It only took about 20 pages before something happened, and it shocked me enough to the point where it felt surreal, and that maybe I had misread. While it’s certainly possible that this was the whole point, it was so unexpected and upsetting. And then it seemed like this certain aspect of the entire plot was shoved underneath the rug and only addressed if it was necessary to drive the emotional plot between Sara and Jeffery forward. I sincerely hope that what happened will be a...more
A Faint Cold Fear is well paced, with solid plotting that moves the story forward as the investigation twists around the characters. It starts with a suprising crime scene that gives an impression that quickly changes with the arrival of Sara who uses the injuries, described in detail, to determine that not all is as it seems. There is a lot of violence in this book - some overt, some hidden but Karin handles it well - it's never gratuitious but contributes to the story. There are enough victims...more
Plot summary: Sara Linton is called out to an apparent suicide at the local college. But when her sister is brutally attacked and two other suspicious suicides follow, it becomes apparent to Sara and her ex-husband, Police Chief Jeffrey Tolliver, that things are not as they first appear. Lena Adams, formerly one of Jeffrey's detectives, is now working as a campus security guard, and may possess vital information. Will Sara and Jeffrey be able to persuade Lena to talk before more deaths occur?
Tho...more
Tho...more
I really struggled to finish this book for a number of reasons. Firstly there is practically no character development. In the last book, Lena wasa screwed up and Jeffrey and Sara were flirting about not knowing how to commit to their relationship. In this book, nothing had changed! I got bored of Lena shrugging people off and yelling for them not to touch her, and I got frustrated with Sara and Jeffrey falling in love and then arguing and running in the other direction! Either kill Lena off or g...more
2 likes · like · see review
I was in two minds whether to read this book because I didn't really enjoy Kisscut. If you are new to Karin Slaughter (as I was) then I highly recommend that you read the books in order starting with Blindsighted because both Kisscut and A Faint Cold Fear make reference to the earlier books and if you read them out of order, then some of the suspense may be spoilt for you.
I think its time to have a break from Karin Slaugter now and I shall eagerly anticipate picking my next book.
Back to A Faint...more
I think its time to have a break from Karin Slaugter now and I shall eagerly anticipate picking my next book.
Back to A Faint...more
Grant County Georgia medical examiner and pediatrician Sara Linton is called to a crime scene while with her pregnant sister Tessa. Tessa wanders off to relieve herself while Sara joins her ex-husband police chief Jeffrey Tolliver. It appears that the victim is a male college student Andy Rosen and that it was an apparent suicide. Both Sara and Jeffrey think there is more to his death. When Tessa does not return Sara and Jeff search for her. Sara finds her just in time and they whisk her off to...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This is where I really began to despise the character of Lena Adams. Oh, I know, there are reasons that she is the way she is. I know that she had a horrible childhood, that her sister has been murdered, that she's never trusted anyone, blah blah blah. And most of us have been involved in unhealthy relationships at one time or another, to varying degrees. But this chick just can't stand to be happy.
Add to that the fact that the men in her life keep wanting to rescue her from herself and you have...more
Add to that the fact that the men in her life keep wanting to rescue her from herself and you have...more
Not very good
First the positives:
The over-arching storyline of A Faint Cold Fear is really a pretty good story. I did want to know who did it so I read until the very end.
Now, the negatives:
A shotgun IS NOT a rifle. They are both long guns, but they are different. This is not specialized knowledge. Ask anyone who knows a thing about guns and they'll explain the difference. It's not hard. I can't believe no one caught that at the publishing house, either.
I also cannot believe that any college ca...more
First the positives:
The over-arching storyline of A Faint Cold Fear is really a pretty good story. I did want to know who did it so I read until the very end.
Now, the negatives:
A shotgun IS NOT a rifle. They are both long guns, but they are different. This is not specialized knowledge. Ask anyone who knows a thing about guns and they'll explain the difference. It's not hard. I can't believe no one caught that at the publishing house, either.
I also cannot believe that any college ca...more
Out of the Karin Slaughter novels I have read this is my least favorite. Don’t get me wrong it was enjoyable because of the characters I have come to know. These characters are well written and I enjoyed the next chapter in their fictional lives.
In this book a suspicious suicide occurs sending out the town Medical Examiner Sara Linton. She is called out while with her pregnant sister. This particular death might have remained a suicide if it wasn’t for the stabbing of Sara’s sister at the crime...more
In this book a suspicious suicide occurs sending out the town Medical Examiner Sara Linton. She is called out while with her pregnant sister. This particular death might have remained a suicide if it wasn’t for the stabbing of Sara’s sister at the crime...more
I won't rehash the plot, as that has been done before. I will simply give my opinion.
A Faint Cold Fear is the third in Karin Slaugher's Grant county series. It is well written and follows the same main characters as were introduced in the first book of the series, Blindsighted. All of their personal stories are furthered and continued to hold my interest; however, I did feel that there was too much focus on Lena. I find her character traits to be less and less believable, and frankly, I'm beginn...more
A Faint Cold Fear is the third in Karin Slaugher's Grant county series. It is well written and follows the same main characters as were introduced in the first book of the series, Blindsighted. All of their personal stories are furthered and continued to hold my interest; however, I did feel that there was too much focus on Lena. I find her character traits to be less and less believable, and frankly, I'm beginn...more
Prima che una signora che prende il mio stesso Pullman mi prestasse questo libro (grazie signora!!) non conoscevo quest'autrice, ma questo libro mi ha fatto venire voglia di leggere gli altri due libri di Karin Slaughter. Perché? Prima di tutto, non coindivido affatto le critiche che questo libro ha ricevuto, non è un capolavoro,certo,e probabilmente la trama ha qualche difetto,ma per chi ama leggere thriller ( e io ne ho letti davvero tanti ) posso certamente affermare che in giro c'è molto di...more
Seeing how the people in this series deal with what is dealt to them in each book is what makes the story. This one is no different we still have the main characters dealing with brutal attacks from the past. What is interesting is that we see if from 3 or 4 different perspectives, the victim, the guy who thought he should have been able to keep her safe, and the doctor that has to deal with the aftermath, and the friend / co-worker. Seeing the reperccussions and similar things happen shaking th...more
I could swear I've read this one before. I liked it, but it felt familiar. I might have read another book of the series.
Karin's descriptive powers are a delight. At the beginning, she elaborates on the effects of a young man with body piercings who has jumped/fallen/been thrown from a bridge. It is a particularly gruesome end result.
I enjoyed the basic story line which starts by depicting what looks like a suicide by someone who seems capable of the act. It turns out to be a more complicated sto...more
Karin's descriptive powers are a delight. At the beginning, she elaborates on the effects of a young man with body piercings who has jumped/fallen/been thrown from a bridge. It is a particularly gruesome end result.
I enjoyed the basic story line which starts by depicting what looks like a suicide by someone who seems capable of the act. It turns out to be a more complicated sto...more
This is one of the worst books I have read in a long time.
I would love to give it a lower star but it probably was better than that. I got into Karin slaughter as a good friend knows I am into Guts, Gore and Bloodletting, the more macabre the better. This failed in *EVERY* aspect. I was not even concerned over Tessa - or whether she would lose the baby, save for how long she [Slaughter] was going to drag it out for? Answer - too bloody long.
It was my own fault, I should have deleted it off the c...more
I would love to give it a lower star but it probably was better than that. I got into Karin slaughter as a good friend knows I am into Guts, Gore and Bloodletting, the more macabre the better. This failed in *EVERY* aspect. I was not even concerned over Tessa - or whether she would lose the baby, save for how long she [Slaughter] was going to drag it out for? Answer - too bloody long.
It was my own fault, I should have deleted it off the c...more
I REALLY enjoy reading Slaughters books. In this book the main characters are still Jeffrey and Sarah, although this occurs in what is I'm assuming the mid-point of their relationship. They've been divorced but are dating again. I like that both have flaws and that they aren't the "perfect couple". It reads more realisticaly. However, as much as I enjoy the books I find it hard to believe that so much death and mayhem could be visited on one couple - and their friends.
Well written, easy to read...more
Well written, easy to read...more
This marks my third book by Karin Slaughter in five days and I can safely say that she holds no punches when it comes to her characters. She puts them through the meat grinder and no one is safe. The crimes this time around are more "normal" as compared to the first two books, if anything that ends up with people dying can ever be called "normal". Sara and Jeffrey seem stretched to the breaking poing and are left trying to figure out if they really can ever move past old mistakes. Then there's L...more
I heard this young woman present at the National Book Festival on 25Sep2010. She is a good presenter, relaxed and with a good sense of humor, and made me want to read her books. This book kept me reading to the end, because I suspected who the killer was. However, I was wrong, so therefore I consider this to be a good mystery. I perceive a major flaw, however, unless I am just not reading it intelligently enough. There were about 5 murders, and when the killer reveals himself, he says that one o...more
The characters in Karin Slaughter's Grant County books are absolutely and genuinely fascinating. That's one of the reasons I promised myself to read these books in order, so that I can better understand where they're coming from. There's so much happening in the lives of Lena, Sara and Jeffrey and these three truly carry these stories. Unfortunately here the plot-line of "A Faint Cold Fear" wasn't that particularly interesting (rather uninspired & weak - in my opinion). Indeed, the genial wr...more
I'm voraciously reading all of K. Slaughter's books; I think they're all great. The fact that I live in a rural south Georgia town probably has something to do with why I like her so much. I finally found out WHICH small GA town she is from: Jonesboro. Now it's kind of like of bedroom community of Atlanta, but she assures us that when she grew up it was small and rural.
She included a couple of "southernisms" in this book that I thought were good. Police Chief describing crime scene: "Being in th...more
She included a couple of "southernisms" in this book that I thought were good. Police Chief describing crime scene: "Being in th...more
Jul 10, 2012
Marijn Vanbelle
added it
Een lichte koude huivering
Op de campus van een universiteit vinden drie studenten de dood. Vermoed wordt dat ze zelfmoord hebben gepleegd, maar de omstandigheden zijn zeer geheimzinnig. Terwijl kinderarts en lijkschouwer Sara Linton de lichamen onderzoekt, wordt haar hoogzwangere zus Tessa door een onbekende aangevallen.
Sara's ex-man Jeffrey Tolliver leidt het onderzoek en dat brengt de nodige spanningen tussen hen teweeg. Ook oud-rechercheur Lena Adams is bij de zaak betrokken. Sinds haar ontsl...more
Op de campus van een universiteit vinden drie studenten de dood. Vermoed wordt dat ze zelfmoord hebben gepleegd, maar de omstandigheden zijn zeer geheimzinnig. Terwijl kinderarts en lijkschouwer Sara Linton de lichamen onderzoekt, wordt haar hoogzwangere zus Tessa door een onbekende aangevallen.
Sara's ex-man Jeffrey Tolliver leidt het onderzoek en dat brengt de nodige spanningen tussen hen teweeg. Ook oud-rechercheur Lena Adams is bij de zaak betrokken. Sinds haar ontsl...more
Because I've "read ahead" in the series and know a bit about major events to come, this feels like the first book where Slaughter shows us where she's heading with these characters and this series. Another very dark book, filled with despair and moments where characters seem headed off the the rails.
Great plotting (one of Karin Slaughter's strengths) and lots of surprises and shocking descriptions. The ending is stunning. But reading about these characters---especially Lena--just makes me weary....more
Great plotting (one of Karin Slaughter's strengths) and lots of surprises and shocking descriptions. The ending is stunning. But reading about these characters---especially Lena--just makes me weary....more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Confused by the ending (spoiler) | 6 | 43 | Mar 29, 2013 08:03am |
Karin Slaughter (born 1971), is a US author who debuted with her novel Blindsighted in 2001. It became an international success, made the Dagger Award shortlist for "Best Thriller Debut" of 2001, and has been published in 23 countries.
Slaughter was born in a small southern Georgia community, and now resides in Atlanta. She is widely credited with first coining the term "investigoogling" in 2006.
More about Karin Slaughter...
Slaughter was born in a small southern Georgia community, and now resides in Atlanta. She is widely credited with first coining the term "investigoogling" in 2006.
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Mar 10, 2013 06:19am