Will Trent, agent for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, along with his partner, Faith, arrive at the scene of the crime, an unfinished night club owned by super star, Marcus Rippy. The corpse belongs a dirty ex-cop. Dale Harding. Also arriving at the scene is Sara Linton, the medical examiner and Trent's lover. It's a very bloody crime scene. Sara, after examining the scene, believes the excessive blood loss did not belong to Harding. Bloody footsteps leading away from the scene belong to a woman, a woman who will be dead shortly if she is not found and treated. A gripping tale unfolds as Will, Faith, and Sara try to solve the mystery of who killed Harding and why. Was Marcus Rippy involved in this case? Who is the missing woman?

For the past six months, Will Trent has been working to build a case against basketball legend, Marcus Rippy, for the brutal rape of young Keisha Miscavage. Keisha was badly beaten, went into a coma, and was in the hospital for a week. Will worked relentlessly but Rippy is surrounded by his own team of high powered lawyers and a manager that does Rippy's dirty work, cleans up his messes, and protecting him at any costs. Rippy's wife, LaDonna, also protects what is hers, watching Rippy's every move, and keeping a tight hold on the finances.

Karin Slaughter is a GREAT crime fiction writer. She knows how to build tension with the introduction of the many damaged characters that you may like, or like to hate. Leading the list is Will's wife, Angie Polaski. Hands-down she is the most miserable, destructive and mean spirited bitch you can imagine. She flits in and out of his life but always returns to ask for money, causes trouble, and now is green with envy about his romance with Sara. Angie sneaks into Will's place and steals Sara's $60 lipstick. Children together, Will and Angie were orphans, in the same system, and both were brutally abused. They formed a tight bond for each other but Will is weary of her actions and is ready to cut the ties. He wants a divorce from Angie to make a way for a future with Sara. Angie won't like this idea!

I liked Amanda Wagner, Deputy Director of GBI, and Will's boss. She keeps a watchful and motherly eye on Will. As he digs deeper into the killing of a bad cop, many disturbing facts evolve in a corrupt and complex plot. Abuse to Jo, wife of Reuben Figaroa, a team mate of Rippy, is discovered and Angie finds out some facts about the decade old situation that is too close to her for comfort. If you are faint of heart this book is not for you. A lot of abuse, beatings, a close look into the lives of sports athletes, corrupt policemen, power and what people will do to keep it, will keep you turning the pages until the surprising ending.

THE KEPT WOMAN is an exciting read by Karin Slaughter that you will be unable to put down. You will cheer for Will as he and his team strive to find justice in this tangled web of corruption. As for Angie, she gave me nightmares, how about you?