At the moment, regardless of the day or time, Karin Slaughter is probably writing something.
The best -selling crime author will release her 25th book in 25 years, We are all guilty hereOn August 12, 2025. Yahoo Entertainment has the first look at the cover, which launches a brand new series for the Georgia -based narrator.
“It is a new character and a return to my roots because I write about a small town in Georgia,” she said. “I love the insularity and the fame of a small town, and the idea that you think you know everyone, but actually not. We all have this idea that big cities are scary and those bad things happen there, but the really bad things that crime writers write about usually happen in small or medium -sized cities. “
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The success of Slaughter as a spension writer has produced a second career because her novels have been adapted for TV. There is ABC drama Will Trent, Based on her most famous character, a special agent at the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, who becomes strong in the third season. Slaughter is an executive producer in the show. She is now spreading her wings further. Next week the shooting starts on her new Peacock series, The good daughterBased on her book of the same name from 2017, starring Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy. For the first time, SLUUGHTER serves as a Showrunner alongside writer and executive producer.
“I would say it’s a pleasure,” she said about her widening career path.
Here we talk about her 25th book, being the “Wikipedia” for ABCs Will TrentFinding a replacement for Jessica Biel in The good daughter, Her “murder shower” and more …
What can you tell us about? We are all guilty here?
It starts with a family called the Cliftons, and we meet Emmy and her father, Gerald, who is the sheriff of Clifton County, who is named after his family. It is my way to set up what I consider as Saga stories about family and connections. And there is clear some murder. We have two young girls who are missing, and it is a race to not only get out of what happened to them, but why. That is something that has always interested me – as horrible as these crimes, and we must of course acknowledge that there is a bigger question why and the value we place on young girls when they are in danger versus when they just live their lives. I wanted to talk about that dichotomy.
You are known for not shunning violence in your books – and me Read on your website It is because it is important for you to bring the violence that women experience to the attention.
Absolute. I love [Jack Reacher thriller writer] Lee -cind and boys who write crime … But I think with a female author who brings a female position, the violence really feels more. In some cases – not clear – it is more about the man to be a hero than the woman’s journey. This is not a general explanation, there are exceptions. But I really thought a voice that was missing was: what do women think about this? Only just explain why women sometimes make the choices they do, and the fact that we live with this idea that violence can visit us in a way that men don’t live with. We tend to question women. If a man is killed, we don’t say: well, what did you do to be killed? But if a woman is violently attacked, is it: what did she wear? Why was she there? These questions have not really disappeared. … we have to treat men and women who are victims of these crimes with a little more grace.
With 25 books and three shows (including the mini series from Netflix Pieces In 2022) it was not surprised to read that you will never get a writer’s block.
That’s true, but sometimes it’s a bad thing because my brain always runs 100,000 miles per hour. Sometimes stories just click, and sometimes I have written enough that I know that if I come to one point and something does not work, it is good to stop, take back and take a nap or do what I have to do to reset. I actually called my shower my “murder shower”, because I will take a shower and it is like: “Oh, I just have to kill this person.” It just comes together.
Are you surprised about this second act that makes television, especially the continuous success of Will Trent?
I would say it’s a pleasure. It’s really just great. I love Ramón Rodríguez, who plays Will Trent, and I will not list the whole cast, but they are just great. The writers have come up with such great stories. I am awe for them. We have 18 episodes this season, and so they have to start all over again in a few months. They do not do a formula, so every episode is its own thing. For me, that’s just, wow, how are them?
How active a role do you have on Will Trent? Are you often on the set as an EP, or you just stay in contact from far.
I am their wikipedia. They call or text and say, “Hey, what was the name of Amanda’s mother?” They are great to invite me to set and cast dinners and things like that. I know that everyone always talks about how well a certain cast brings behind the scenes, but they really do that and that comes from above with [creators] Lizz [Heldens] and Daniel [T. Thomsen]. They really all about, let’s tell the best story, do what we have to do and there are no fucks about it. Ramón also sets the tone for that. They are just a very friendly, happy group.
You have a larger job at Peacock’s The good daughter, As a showrunner, writer and executive producer.
I have written all episodes – there will be six – and we are really starting to photograph [March 18]. So I work with the actors who have flowed to the city. We photograph in Atlanta, for which I really advocated because we have a beautiful film world here. We read the table and it was just great to see how these artists brought their best for these characters that I made in my pajamas 10 years ago.
What are the differences between writing books and a TV series?
Because I am the showrunner for [The Good Daughter]I also look at costumes and makeup and talk to the dialect coach and make sure they are not sent in the wrong direction and sound like they are from Texas. It is work, don’t get me wrong, but it is also interesting to learn new skills and to be many people. It is very cooperating, in contrast to writing a book that I just do alone with my editor. Then to just sit opposite Meghann Fahy, who plays Charlie, and it’s like she just walked out of the book. She embodies the character and she is such a great professional. The same with Rose Byrne. It is exactly how I thought these characters would look and behave and act. It is fascinating to see it coming together.
As the showrunner you must also have to deal with challenges such as the exit of Jessica Biel, who should play Charlie, but The series left.
Jessica is beautiful and I can’t really be sad about her leave because she went to my friend’s show Alafair Burke [The Better Sister]. She is just great and has done it really great, and Alafair has been my buddy forever. I have been to this company long enough to think, well, things happen for a reason. I am just happy that it worked and that my friend will also have a great show.
Have you ever been in an episode of one of your shows or do you want?
I was in Pieces [starring Toni Collette] For maybe three seconds. I had to walk that I immediately forgot how to walk this beautiful, 6-foot-long Australian woman and was really self-conscious. I thought if I messed up, they should do this time and again. It was just too stressful. I thought, I will leave this to the professionals.
With 25 books in 25 years, can you think about the road and speculate where you are when book 50 comes out around 2050?
Oh, gentleman, well, I hope I work on book 51.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
