THE LAST WIDOW begins with a prologue describing the kidnapping of Michelle Spivey, a researcher with the Centers for Disease Control, by unknown assailants. One month later, medical examiner Sara Linton is at her aunt's mansion in Atlanta, along with her partner, Will Trent, when suddenly the ground shakes and an emergency siren goes off.

As Will and Sara make their way toward Emory University, where the siren is located, they encounter a group of cars that have been in an accident. Sara stops to offer medical help, only to be abducted by the occupants of two of these vehicles.

"It is a pleasure to escape from reality by reading about Will, Sara and Faith, and how they struggle to save others and protect civilians."

A white terrorist group is responsible for both kidnappings and the bombs that set off the alarm at Emory. They take Sara to their mountain retreat, where the women and children wear long white homespun dresses and the men are equipped with military gear and guns. Ostensibly, there has been a measles outbreak. Sara suspects that this is not what's making the children and some adults sick, but she is unable to pinpoint the exact cause.

Will is determined to go undercover to rescue Sara and protect the world from these maniacs. But because he was injured during her abduction, he may not be successful in his mission. Sara has no idea where she is and cannot communicate with the outside world. Faith Mitchell, her best friend and Will's partner at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, is desperately trying to figure out what is going on in an effort to save both of them.

Here's where the story gets even more interesting. Slaughter carefully uses current events and recent shootings to create an imaginary group of terrorists led by twisted men who use the Constitution and feelings of inferiority to kill and create chaos for their perverse cause. The horrors they commit, the ideology they espouse, and the lack of any remnant of compassion or kindness make them truly monsters. Why doesn't the FBI do more about hate groups? Slaughter gives us a possible answer, while also shining a light on how unfairly government agencies treat minorities.

It is a pleasure to escape from reality by reading about Will, Sara and Faith, and how they struggle to save others and protect civilians. As always, Slaughter perfectly balances romance, friendship and plenty of action. You will have a hard time putting down THE LAST WIDOW and will be hooked on the series in no time.