Undone - Book Review

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Undone (also titled Genesis in the UK and Australia) is the third novel in Karin Slaughter's Will Trent series, published in 2009. This psychological thriller is darker and more intense than the previous books in the series, continuing to develop the complex characters of Will Trent, Faith Mitchell, and Sara Linton—a character who crosses over from Slaughter’s earlier Grant County series. In Undone, Will and Faith are confronted with a sadistic and chilling case involving kidnapped women who have been subjected to extreme torture. The novel not only pushes the limits of suspense and crime-solving but also delves deeply into personal trauma, emotional scars, and the darker aspects of human behaviour.

Undone opens with a horrific car accident that brings Dr. Sara Linton, a former medical examiner from the Grant County series, back into the fold. Sara, still grieving the death of her husband, Jeffrey Tolliver, has moved to Atlanta to start a new life. While working at Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Hospital, she encounters a critically injured woman who has been tortured in ways that point to an extremely sadistic perpetrator.

The woman, Anna Lindsey, was abducted, held captive, and tortured before escaping, only to be hit by a car in her bid for freedom. Sara quickly realizes that Anna’s injuries are more than just from the accident, and her medical expertise alerts her to the fact that Anna has been through prolonged and deliberate suffering. This case pulls Sara into the orbit of Will Trent and Faith Mitchell, who are investigating a series of similar disappearances.

Will and Faith, now partners in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), are brought in to track down a dangerous and elusive serial killer. The investigation reveals that Anna is just one of several victims and that the others may still be alive—but time is running out. The perpetrator’s methods are horrifyingly cruel, involving prolonged imprisonment, torture, and psychological abuse of the women he captures.

As Will and Faith dig deeper, they uncover connections to a string of unsolved disappearances and must work against the clock to save the remaining victims before it’s too late. Throughout the investigation, Will grapples with his personal demons, while Faith faces a medical crisis that threatens to derail her ability to work the case.

Will Trent: At the centre of Undone is Will Trent, an emotionally complex and brilliant investigator who continues to evolve throughout the series. Will’s severe dyslexia, which he keeps hidden from most of his colleagues, remains a significant part of his character. His condition complicates his work, but his exceptional ability to read people and interpret evidence makes him a standout investigator.

In Undone, Will’s personal life takes on new dimensions, particularly his strained relationship with his on-again, off-again lover, Angie Polaski. Angie, who also comes from a traumatic background, remains a toxic presence in Will’s life. Their relationship is marked by dysfunction, and while Will tries to keep his focus on his work, Angie’s reappearance in his life destabilizes him emotionally.

Will is also grappling with the scars of his past. Having grown up in foster care, where he was abused and neglected, Will has learned to hide his vulnerabilities beneath a calm, analytical exterior. However, Undone reveals that beneath his professional competence, Will still carries deep-seated wounds, and the darkness of the current case forces him to confront his own fears and insecurities.



Will’s dynamic with Sara Linton adds a new layer of complexity to the story. Although they come from different worlds—Sara from the more rural Grant County and Will from the streets of Atlanta—there is a mutual understanding between them. Both are deeply scarred by their pasts, and this shared sense of loss and resilience creates an emotional connection that begins to develop over the course of the novel.

Faith Mitchell: Faith Mitchell, Will’s partner in the GBI, plays an equally important role in Undone. Faith is a tough, no-nonsense detective, but in this novel, her personal life takes centre stage as she faces a health crisis. Early in the story, Faith collapses and is rushed to the hospital, where she discovers she has Type 2 diabetes. This diagnosis not only threatens her ability to continue her work but also forces her to confront her own physical vulnerability.

Despite her illness, Faith is determined to stay on the case. Her struggle with managing her condition adds depth to her character, revealing her resilience and determination. Her relationship with Will also evolves in Undone. While they started off as uneasy partners in Fractured, their bond deepens here. Faith comes to trust and rely on Will, and their partnership becomes one of mutual respect and understanding.

Faith’s role as a mother also plays a key part in the story. Her teenage son, Jeremy, becomes a source of concern as Faith grapples with balancing her responsibilities as a parent with the demands of the job. This tension highlights the challenges faced by working mothers in high-stress careers and adds an emotional layer to Faith’s character.

Sara Linton: In Undone, Dr. Sara Linton makes her first appearance in the Will Trent series, following the conclusion of the Grant County series. Sara is still mourning the death of her husband, Jeffrey Tolliver, and her grief is palpable throughout the novel. She is trying to move forward with her life, but the emotional weight of her loss hangs over her.

Sara’s role in the investigation brings her into contact with Will and Faith, and her medical expertise becomes crucial to the case. While she initially tries to keep her distance from the emotional intensity of the investigation, Sara is drawn deeper into the horrors of the case, and her involvement with Will begins to hint at a possible new chapter in her life.

The budding connection between Will and Sara is subtle but significant. Both characters are broken in different ways, and their shared trauma creates a bond that slowly develops as the series progresses. However, in Undone, their relationship is more professional than personal, though there are hints of a deeper connection that will be explored in later books.

One of the central themes of Undone is trauma—both personal and inflicted. Will, Sara, and Faith each carry emotional and physical scars from their pasts, and the novel delves into how they cope with these wounds. Will’s traumatic childhood, Sara’s grief over Jeffrey’s death, and Faith’s health struggles all serve as emotional backdrops to the story, adding depth to the characters.

The novel also explores the trauma of the victims in the case. The women who have been kidnapped and tortured represent the darker aspects of human cruelty, and their stories highlight the theme of survival. Anna Lindsey’s escape from captivity is a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit, even in the face of unimaginable suffering.

The perpetrator in Undone is a sadistic killer who thrives on exerting control over his victims. The novel explores the dynamics of power and control, not just in the context of the killer’s actions but also in the relationships between characters. Will’s struggle to control his emotions and his relationship with Angie is an example of how personal control can slip away when dealing with unresolved trauma.

Similarly, Faith’s health crisis forces her to confront her lack of control over her own body. The theme of powerlessness runs throughout the novel, as the characters grapple with forces beyond their control—whether it’s a killer on the loose, a deteriorating relationship, or a medical condition.

Sara Linton’s journey in Undone is one of healing. Still reeling from the loss of her husband, Sara’s involvement in the case forces her to confront her grief head-on. Throughout the novel, she struggles with the desire to move on while feeling tethered to her past. Her interactions with Will suggest the possibility of healing, though the process is slow and fraught with emotional pain.

Grief is also a theme that permeates the lives of the victims’ families. The novel does not shy away from exploring the devastating impact of violence on loved ones left behind. This emotional weight grounds the novel, making it more than just a procedural thriller; it becomes a study of loss and the difficult process of recovery.

Karin Slaughter’s writing in Undone is fast-paced, gritty, and deeply immersive. The novel alternates between the perspectives of Will, Faith, and Sara, allowing readers to see the case from multiple angles. This multi-perspective narrative builds tension and provides insight into each character’s internal struggles.

The graphic descriptions of violence and the psychological horror of the case are characteristic of Slaughter’s work. She does not shy away from the darker aspects of crime and trauma, and her ability to delve into the psychological ramifications of violence sets her apart in the genre.

Undone is a chilling and emotionally charged entry in the Will Trent series. It deepens the complexity of its central characters while delivering a suspenseful and harrowing mystery. The novel’s exploration of trauma, power, and grief adds layers of emotional depth to the procedural elements, making it more than just a standard crime thriller. As Will, Faith, and Sara confront their personal demons while hunting a sadistic killer, Undone sets the stage for further development in their characters and relationships throughout the series.

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