Adapting a novel into a movie or a tv show is a daunting task, to say the least. While writing books, the writer has the luxury to elaborate narrative, take the story to any corner of the world, and talk about a particular plot point for as long as they like. However, filmmakers do not share the same luxuries. They have to adapt and show whatever they want to in a limited time slot. So let us see how the captivating Netflix thriller Pieces of Her differs from its novel.

Pieces of Her- Novel vs. TV series

Both the Netflix series and the novel have a similar plot. The story revolves around Andy and her mother, Laura. Their relationship is drastically changed when on the night of Andy’s 30th birthday dinner. Laura slits the throat of an armed gunman. This triggers a series of violence towards the mother-daughter duo. And going on with the story, Andy starts piecing her mother’s dubious past together.

However, the ways in the series and the novel differ are the narrative. The book had the lenience of diving into each narrative, exploring every relationship, and cleanly tieing all the plot points. In the Netflix series, there are many unresolved plot holes and significant cliffhangers, which can be because Netflix might want to squeeze subsequent seasons out of the solo novel.

Another minor yet important difference between the two is how Laura considers Andy to be her daughter only. While in the book, it is well established that Laura and her second husband think Andy to be their daughter. And Andy calls Gordon(her stepfather) dad throughout the book. However, in the book, she calls him dad once that too in a blink, and you’ll miss it moment.

A critical way in which the relationship of Andy and Laura is different from the book is that. In the novel, Laura keeps a low profile and is not talking with Andy. But that is not the case in the Netflix Series. In the show, Laura takes matters into her own hands and actively communicates with Andy to keep her safe and close.

Other works of Karin Slaughter

Karin Slaughter is an American writer. Most of her works deal in crime thrillers. She has written more than 20 novels and sold 40 million copies worldwide.

She wrote her first novel in 2001, Blindsighted, which won the Crime Writers’ Association’s Dagger Award shortlist for “Best Thriller Debut” of 2001.

If her work interests you then some of our recommendations are, Pretty girls: Thriller, False Witness, The Silent Wife, and The Last Widow.

If you have read the book and watched the show streaming exclusively on Netflix. Do let us know of other similarities and differences between the book and series.