Triptych (Will Trent #1)

Book Review: Triptych (Will Trent #1)

How do I even begin to wrap my thoughts around this book? This is my first time diving into Karin Slaughter’s Will Trent series, and while I’ve always been a fan of her standalones (which I absolutely LOVE), this one was a bit of a different experience. Slaughter’s standalones are brilliant thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, and while Triptych does have that same tension, it unfolds much more slowly.

The plot in Triptych takes its time to unravel, which, in some ways, made it an intriguing read. I have to say that Part I was the absolute strongest. Karin Slaughter is a master at crafting a gripping introduction, and this one had my jaw on the floor from the get-go. It set the stage for a dark and twisted ride that I couldn’t put down.

However, the middle section felt like a bit of a drag. By that point, we already knew who the killer was, and I found myself just waiting for the moment when the truth would hit. It’s hard not to feel impatient when you know there's a monster walking the streets, and it made the pacing feel a little slower than I’d hoped.

That said, the build-up was still effective, and Slaughter does an incredible job with the slow burn of tension. By the end, all the pieces came together in a satisfying way, with the final revelations making up for the quieter middle.

Overall, Triptych is a solid start to the Will Trent series, and it’s got all the hallmarks of a great Karin Slaughter novel: a strong, jaw-dropping opening, complex characters, and a psychological depth that keeps you invested. Even though I found parts of it a bit slower, I’m still eager to see where the series goes. Definitely a 4.5-star read for me!