Anyone who has read Karin Slaughter’s work knows that she rarely pulls any punches. Writing some of the most intense and realistic crime fiction out there, it will come as no surprise that her latest short story, “Blonde Hair, Blue Eyes” follows this same formula.

Like most of her work, “Blonde Hair, Blue Eyes” is set in Georgia – in this case Athens, GA. It tells the story of Julia Carroll, a college freshman who stumbles upon some nefarious activity happening on and around campus.

Feeling her freedom for the first time as she begins her studies away from home, Julia thinks this is the time to reinvent herself. She makes new friends, catches the eye of some of the boys, and spends her spare time volunteering for the neighborhood homeless van. When two people in her life suddenly go missing – one of her classmates and one of the homeless women she serves – Julia knows that something is very wrong and longs to investigate.

Karin Slaughter keeps this story moving along at a very quick pace. As usual, Slaughter manages to incorporate some real facts about homelessness and campus violence into her crime story without feeling didactic or pedantic. This story also includes what is now one of my favorite lines:

“I don’t hate you because you have a dick, I hate you because you are a dick.”

If you are new to Karin Slaughter’s writing, “Blonde Hair, Blue Eyes” is a perfect way to ease into it. It is a disturbing story, but not nearly as graphic as Slaughter’s novels tend to be. Readers will know immediately that this is a writer who knows what she is doing and I suspect that they will crave more. Fans already know what Karin Slaughter has to offer, so they are in no need of encouragement.

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Disclaimer: An e-galley of this title was provided to BOLO Books by the publisher. No review was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.