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Will Trent Reading Order.

Quick Answer

Start with Triptych (2006).

The complete reading order for the Will Trent series by Karin Slaughter. Below you'll find the authoritative guide on how to read the books in order, including publication dates and chronological timeline placements.

Where to start

Start with Triptych (2006).

  • •From Undone on, the series merges with Slaughter's Grant County books; reading those first adds backstory but isn't required.

Community Consensus

Low Debate

"The comments do not provide a consensus on the 'Will Trent' reading order. The entire discussion revolves around the methodology and validity of a specific fantasy book ranking poll conducted by a Reddit community (r/Fantasy), referencing authors and titles like Tad Williams and Sword of Kaigen, making them irrelevant to the requested analysis."

Key Reddit Advice

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Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Reading Order12 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
Best Start Here
1

Triptych

Pub: 2006

From Atlanta's wealthiest suburbs to its stark inner-city housing projects, a killer has crossed the boundaries of wealth and race. And the people who are chasing him must cross those boundaries, too. Among them is Michael Ormewood, a veteran detective whose marriage is hanging by a thread--and whose arrogance and explosive temper are threatening his career ...

2

Fractured

Pub: 2008

Plot details hidden until you finish "Triptych".

The brutal murder of a teenager, and her mother's killing of the daughter's attacker, disturb an upscale Atlanta neighborhood.

3

Undone

Pub: 2009

Plot details hidden until you finish "Fractured".

In the trauma center of Atlanta's busiest hospital, Sara Linton treats the city's poor, wounded, and unlucky--and finds refuge from the tragedy that rocked her life in rural Grant County. Then, in one instant, Sara is thrust into a frantic police investigation, coming face-to-face with a tall driven detective and his quiet female partner.... In Undone, three unforgettable characters from Karin Slaughter's New York Times bestselling novels Faithless and Fractured collide for the first time, entering an electrifying race against the clock--and a duel with unspeakable human evil.In the backwoods of suburban Atlanta, where Sara's patient was found, local police have set up their investigation. But Georgia Bureau of Investigation detective Will Trent doesn't wait for the go-ahead from his boss--he plunges through police lines, through the brooding woods, and single-handedly exposes a hidden house of horror buried beneath the earth. Then he finds another victim.... Wresting the case away from the local police chief, Will and his partner, Faith Mitchell--a woman keeping explosive secrets of her own--are called into a related investigation. Another woman--a smart, upscale, independent young mother--has been snatched. For the two cops out on the hunt, for the doctor trying to bring her patient back to life, the truth hits like a hammer: the killer's torture chamber has been found, but the killer is still at work.In her latest suspense masterpiece, Karin Slaughter weaves together the moving, powerful human stories of characters as real as they are complex and unforgettable. At the same time she has crafted a work of dazzling storytelling and spine-tingling mystery--as three people, each with their own wounds and their own secrets, are all that stands between a madman and his next crime.From the Hardcover edition.

4

Broken

Pub: 2010

Plot details hidden until you finish "Undone".

When Special Agent Will Trent arrives in Grant County, Georgia, he finds a police department determined to protect its own and far too many unanswered questions about a prisoner's death and about a policewoman's role in the death of Grant County's popular police chief.

5

Fallen

Pub: 2011

Plot details hidden until you finish "Broken".

Georgia Bureau of Investigations Detective Faith Mitchell, her partner Will Trent, and trauma doctor Sara Linton join forces to find Faith's mother, missing after a deadly hostage situation that leaves Faith a murder suspect -- and the scapegoat for police corruption, bribery, and murder.

6

Criminal

Pub: 2012

Plot details hidden until you finish "Fallen".

Will Trent returns to Atlanta to investigate a series of brutal murders that appear to be linked to a notorious serial killer from his past. As the body count rises, Trent must confront his own traumatic history while navigating departmental politics and a cunning adversary who seems to be always one step ahead.

7

Unseen

Pub: 2013

Plot details hidden until you finish "Criminal".

Sent to Macon for an undercover mission to infiltrate a drug and prostitution ring, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Agent Will Trent hides the facts about his latest assignment from his girlfriend, Sara Linton, when the stakes prove higher than any he has yet encountered.

8

The Kept Woman

Pub: 2016

Plot details hidden until you finish "Unseen".

Will Trent is called in to investigate the disappearance of a wealthy socialite who vanished under mysterious circumstances. As he delves deeper, he discovers that the seemingly perfect 'kept' wife is entangled in a web of blackmail, family secrets, and a dangerous past that threatens to unravel the entire community. Trent must navigate the treacherous world of high society while confronting his own demons to uncover the truth.

9

The Last Widow

Pub: 2019

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Kept Woman".

Will Trent and Dr. Sara Linton travel to a remote Georgia town to investigate the mysterious death of a wealthy businessman. As they dig deeper, they uncover a web of secrets involving a powerful widow, a corrupt police chief, and a series of brutal murders that threaten to expose long‑buried crimes. The novel blends Slaughter’s trademark suspense with fresh twists, pushing Trent and Linton to the edge of their partnership.

10

The Silent Wife

Pub: 2020

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Last Widow".

Will Trent is called in to investigate the murder of a young woman whose husband, a powerful attorney, claims she was a recluse who never spoke. As Trent digs deeper, he uncovers a web of secrets, blackmail, and a hidden past that threatens to destroy the lives of everyone involved. The novel blends gritty police work with psychological suspense, showcasing Trent’s relentless pursuit of truth in the face of powerful adversaries.

11

After That, the Night

Pub: 2023

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Silent Wife".

12

This Is Why We Lied

Pub: 2025

Plot details hidden until you finish "After That, the Night".

WATCH WILL TRENT ON ABC! "Expect from a Karin Slaughter crime thriller . . . just the right amount of twists, turns, shocks, surprises and domestic thrill and shrill." -- Parade The instant NYT bestseller featuring Will Trent and Sara Linton from Karin Slaughter, author of Pretty Girls and After that Night! One toxic family. Eight suspicious guests. Everyone is guilty...But who is a killer? For GBI investigator Will Trent and medical examiner Sara Linton, McAlpine Lodge seems like the ideal getaway to celebrate their honeymoon. Set on a gorgeous, off-the-grid mountaintop property, it's the perfect place to unplug and reconnect. Until a bone-chilling scream cuts through the night. A murderer in their midst Mercy McAlpine, the manager of the Lodge, is dead. With a vicious storm raging and the one access road to the property washed out, the murderer must be someone on the mountain. But as Will and Sara investigate the McAlpine family and the other guests, they realize that everyone here is lying....Lying about their past. Lying to their family. Lying to themselves. Who killed Mercy McAlpine? It soon becomes clear that normal rules don't apply at McAlpine Lodge, and Will and Sara are going to have to watch their step at every turn. Trapped on the resort, they must untangle a decades-old web of secrets to discover what happened to Mercy. And with the killer poised to strike again, the trip of a lifetime becomes a race against the clock...

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Frequently Asked Questions

What order should I read Will Trent in?

Start with Triptych (2006).

How many books are in Will Trent?

12 main books, published 2006–2025.

Can I read Will Trent out of order?

It's best not to. The books build on each other, so reading out of order spoils earlier twists.

Has Will Trent been adapted for TV or film?

ABC's Will Trent (2023–).