Karin Slaughter | Triptych (Will Trent #1)

The Book:

Triptych by Karin Slaughter (Will Trent #1)
Published August 15th 2006 by Delacorte Press
Date re-read: November 23, 2022

The Characters:

Will Trent, GBI agent
Michael Ormewood, detective
Angie Polaski, vice cop
Amanda Wagner, Will’s boss

Welcome! If you ended up here after watching the new Will Trent TV show, I’m glad you’re here. I adore these books, and am so excited for the TV show to bring them more traction. I love talking about them, and can’t wait for more fans!

As of right now, I haven’t watched the show yet, but when I do I plan on writing a comparison post between the books and the movies. I’ll link it here when it’s written.

If you’re new to this series, I strongly recommend you read the Grant County books first. I have a post of the order in which you should read them here.

Please note that expanding the spoiler link below WILL spoil the book, and may also spoil some aspects of the show. Proceed with caution if you do choose to click the link!

The Plot (from Goodreads):

In the city of Atlanta, women are dying—at the hands of a killer who signs his work with a single, chilling act of mutilation. Leaving behind enough evidence to fuel a frenzied police hunt, this cunning madman is bringing together dozens of lives, crossing 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. And Angie Polaski, a beautiful vice cop who was once Michael’s lover before she became his enemy.

But another player has entered the game: a loser ex-con who has stumbled upon the killer’s trail in the most coincidental of ways—someone who may be the key to breaking the case wide open.

Click here for book spoilers for Triptych

Book spoilers ahead–if you haven’t yet read Triptych, I suggest you turn back now.

Michael was sleeping with 15-year-old Cynthia. While Michael was with Will investigating Alicia Monroe’s death, Cynthia was killed presumably by the same serial killer.

Michael and Woody were one and the same–Woody was the one who raped and killed Mary Alice, the murder that John Shelley had just gotten out of jail for.

Angie and Will met when they lived together in the Atlanta Children’s Home.

The hooker that John fell for was Angie working vice. John was responsible for Cynthia’s death. he had gone to Michael’s house looking for evidence that Michael was setting him up, and Cynthia walked in on him poking around. She ran away, tripped on something in the backyard, and died. John took her tongue and left it for Michael to let him know John was onto him.

Michael had committed all the murders, starting with Mary Alice. Alicia was at the same party the night Mary Alice died.

Will and Angie began to get suspicious of Michael–he hit his wife, took advantage of the girls while working vice, etc. Angie went to visit Michael’s ex-partner to ask about him. She realized Michael had a history of being with young girls.

John finally met up with his sister Joyce. He realized that his Aunt Lydia had framed him to protect her son, Michael, when she was supposed to be John’s lawyer.

Will came across John’s case file in a pile of historical cases involving severed tongues. He wasn’t sure if the perp was John or Michael. Angie thought she could get John to talk to her, so they arranged a meeting at a diner with Will nearby. John wouldn’t tell her anything, thinking he was protecting Robin.

Angie decided to drop by Michael’s to question him. When Michael wasn’t home, she broke in to poke around. She found Jasmine tied to the pool table. Michael hit Angie and knocked her out.

Will sent Leo to Michael’s house to check up on him, coincidentally. They realized Michael had Angie and had taken her somewhere else. John led Will to Michael’s house in Tennessee.

Michael confessed to Angie since he was planning on killing her. Michael had attached broken glass to the floor to torture girls, but Angie used it to untie herself. When Michael tried to rape her, Angie was able to headbutt him and get his knife. Will arrived just in time, but Angie killed Michael anyways because she knew she could get away with it.

The Ending:

John and Joyce went to confront Lydia. She refused to admit what she had done so that John could get exonerated, but John told her Michael had admitted everything and Angie heard. Lydia agreed to admit what happened.

Angie left Will because she was bad for him.

Betty’s owner’s daughter showed up to put the house up for sale, since Betty’s owner had been moved to assisted living. The daughter told Will to take Betty to the pound, but he couldn’t give her up.