Suspect by Michael Robotham @michaelrobotham @michaelrobotham.bsky.social #simonprebble @recordedbooks @recordedbooks.bsky.social #JosephOLoughlin

the setup…
Joseph O’Loughlin is a highly respected and well known psychologist with a successful practice and a wonderful wife and daughter. When he’s diagnosed with Parkinson’s, it throws everything off kilter. He’s later called in as a consultant on a murder investigation that takes a turn when he not only recognizes the victim but the potential killer…one of his patients.

the heart of the story…
Nothing about this feels like a debut novel with its intricate plotting and well defined characterizations. O’Loughlin is an enigma since we’re meeting him following his diagnosis. The decisions he makes are sometimes curious and even I began to question his judgment, especially when it leads him into the trap set by a shrewd detective and he becomes the primary suspect. Yikes!

the narration…
Simon Prebble was at his finest with this story and his voice distinctions for the major characters seemed to fit them perfectly. The storytelling was off the charts riveting.

the bottom line…
I started reading the author’s later series and became a fan, fully expecting this earlier work to be “less than.” This is one time I’m thrilled to be wrong as the psychological entanglements kept me off balance from start to finish. I wasn’t a fan of O’Loughlin for much of the story but he redeemed himself (with me) by the astonishing end. I’m definitely continuing this series.

Book Info

• Release Date: August 29, 2007 (aka The Suspect)
• Series: Joseph O’Loughlin #1
• Narrator: Simon Prebble
• Audio Length: 11 hours, 17 minutes
• Publisher: Recorded Books

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