In "the most suspenseful book I read all year" (Stephen King), a psychologist faces off against a killer who destroys his victims from the inside out.Joe O'Loughlin is in familiar territory standing on a bridge high above a flooded gorge, trying to stop a distraught woman from jumping. "You don't understand," she whispers, and lets go. Joe is haunted by his failure to save the woman, until her teenage daughter finds him and reveals that her mother would never have committed suicide not like that. She was terrified of heights. What could have driven her to commit such a desperate act? Whose voice? What evil? Having devoted his career to repairing damaged minds, Joe must now confront an adversary who tears them apart. With pitch-perfect dialogue, believable characters, and astonishingly unpredictable plot twists, Shatter is guaranteed to keep even the most avid thriller readers riveted long into the night.
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"Yep, still loving Michael Robotham. I already moved onto another one of his books in the series! This one was absolutely chilling. Psychologist Joe O'Loughlin is called to a scene where a woman is naked in high heels and ready to jump from a bridge. He notices she's on a cell phone talking to someone, and when he tries to stop her, she says "You don't understand." And then jumps. Watching O'Loughlin get pulled into this dark tale is one thing, but then when you see things from the killer's point of view (is he a killer if he didn't touch or see her? How much can we control another person's mind?) the level of depravity and coldness just takes it to a whole new level. Robotham has a fantastic eye for detail, and he has a great character in O'Loughlin, who can't pull himself away when he sees someone in need, even at the expense of his own health, sanity, and the safety of his family. I thought the denoument went on a little long (the final acts starts 100 pages from the end, and that was too drawn out) but I enjoyed the pacing and the characters. He's really an author I'm going to have to start paying attention to." — Erin (4 out of 5 stars)
"Yep, still loving Michael Robotham. I already moved onto another one of his books in the series! This one was absolutely chilling. Psychologist Joe O'Loughlin is called to a scene where a woman is naked in high heels and ready to jump from a bridge. He notices she's on a cell phone talking to someone, and when he tries to stop her, she says "You don't understand." And then jumps. Watching O'Loughlin get pulled into this dark tale is one thing, but then when you see things from the killer's point of view (is he a killer if he didn't touch or see her? How much can we control another person's mind?) the level of depravity and coldness just takes it to a whole new level. Robotham has a fantastic eye for detail, and he has a great character in O'Loughlin, who can't pull himself away when he sees someone in need, even at the expense of his own health, sanity, and the safety of his family. I thought the denoument went on a little long (the final acts starts 100 pages from the end, and that was too drawn out) but I enjoyed the pacing and the characters. He's really an author I'm going to have to start paying attention to."
“The most suspenseful book I read all year.”
“Terrific….a classic ‘wrong man’ thriller that puts its hero in hot water, then raises the Fahrenheit to a fever pitch….Robotham not only builds the suspense masterfully but tops it off with a stunning twist.”
“This is Robotham’s…best psychological thriller.”
“Shatter is psychological suspense at its finest.”
“Shatter will have you turning the pages compulsively, desperate to get to the end but not daring to miss a word.”
“Thematically complex, artfully structured, beautifully written and observed, Shatter confirms Robotham’s place in the front row of crime.”
“Brace yourself. Shatter is a nerve-shredding cat-and-mouse contest…The story is told in alternating first-person accounts, and Sean Barrett wisely voices healer and murderer almost identically, making the point that they have much in common except that one of them uses his skills to torture and kill. When for a moment you’re not sure who is speaking, it’s thrillingly creepy. Barrett creates a wide range of wives, children, crusty cops, and panic-stricken victims with perfect control, and his pacing is propulsive. This is one you won’t forget. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
“Robotham smoothly mixes Joe’s investigation and personal struggles with glimpses into the killer’s mind. Even the sharpest readers may not anticipate all of the plot’s agile switchbacks or foresee the chilling climax.”
“Rebuffed by the police, Joe calls in his old friend, retired policeman Vincent Ruiz…and together they start a harrowing investigation. Robotham once again delivers. Recommended for all public libraries.”
“Robotham sharpens the conventional horrors with his unerring eye for psychological detail, his mastery of pace, and his spooky villain, a manipulator as monstrous as Hannibal Lecter.”
The most suspenseful book I read all year.
Pleasantly creepy....plotted with precision and narrated with real intelligence.
" Excellent book. Disturbing subject matter in the way the perpetrator behaved. Fourth book to feature psychologist Joe O'loughlin and detective Ruiz. "
" the BEST novel of my collection :) "
" Kept me reading. "
" Great psychological thriller. Fast read. I'm going to go back and read more of the series "
" An immediate hook....catches you right away like Lost did. Loving it. "
" I won this book in an giveaway and I really enjoyed it. Why have I never heard of this write before? The characters were well-developed, the plot was fast moving and intense and the story was full of twists and turns. I plan on reading more by this author, he is truly fanstastic. "
" Michael is a great writer, already not wanting to put down the book. "
" Darn it, started at the third in the series. "
" Great balance between Author's intellect and physical handicap (Parkinsons) in solving crime. It kept my interest till the last page. "
" Excellent psychological thriller from Michael Robotham. Brilliantly written. This is the first book by this author that I've read but certainly I plan to download his others. Gripping stuff from start to finish, each chapter leaves you begging for more. Thoroughly recommended "
" Another page turner with a delightful "hero".....I will continue with this series. Love the periphial character of Ruiz. "
" Great read. Keeps you on edge until the final pages. "
" Haven't read a good suspense in a long time - really enjoyed this one! "
" I thought this book started out really slow. But as the story progressed it was enjoyable. "
" Great thriller! Definitely a page turner! I will be reading more of this author's work. I would recommend this book! "
" This is a fantastic book. It's the first Michael Robotham I have read, but I intend to read all his books now. "
" I love reading, but I'm not a good reader. I lose concentration and lose pages as I read them and therefore lose the plot often. This book gripped me from the start. A little unbelievable in a few areas, but still a top read "
" This book should come with a voucher for a free session of post-traumatic stress counselling. The author forces you to care deeply about the main characters and the phrase "I couldn't put it down" was never more true. Highly recommended but be prepared to have your emotions put through the wringer. "
" Good crime thriller with a very interesting villain (he doesn't see or make contact with his victims). It's always a bit disconcerting to come in mid-way through a series, though. "
" Psychologically intense, timely villian, melancholy protagonist. Great summer read, but I wanted to read it in a well lit, populated area. "
" This is by far, the best thriller I've read. There's more to using your mobile than what you may have thought!!!! A real page turner "
" Take an interesting idea of psychological control and intertwine it with kidnapped women, children, death and a handicap lead and you get 0 of 10 stars. "
" I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a great psychological thriller. It's a good story with well drawn characters and best of all, excellent writing. I highly recommend it. "
" I like this author! He definitely makes you want to keep reading to see what happens! I have enjoyed the other two books from this author better than this one, but I would still recommend this one. I loved the character of DI Ruiz and his sense of humor. "
" I become more and more fond of this author. The primary character in this book (Vincent Ruiz) was a secondary character in Robotham's first book (Suspect). This new perspective gives a completely different flavor (much more sympathetic) to his character. "
" Another interesting book by Robotham in this series of British mystery psychodramas. I liked this one more than his first novel, Suspect, and plan to continue with the series. "
" 105th: LOST by Michael RobothamTrivia Winner - Nancy~COVE OPINION: C+, Above Average story "
" Not loving this genre, I was amazed how 'lost' I became in this story. Skilful writer who provides a very satisfying finale you don't suspect. "
" I enjoy books by this author, but this one was a little predictable for my taste. The characters are very intriguing though. I'll read more of his books just because of the characters. "
" Best mystery I've "read" in a long time. The main character is a bit along the lines of Dave Robicheaus and Walt Longmeyer, only English, of course. Just a terrific story and very well written. "
" This is a pretty good detective novel with a little different approach: The narrator is a long-time detective searching for a kidnapped child thought to be dead, and a psychologist who is usually the protagonistin his novels is a bit player in this one. "
" This was an excellent story - full of twists and turns. I really liked the characters. I also enjoyed hearing about the places in London, and the local slang! "
Michael Robotham is a former investigative journalist whose psychological thrillers have been translated into twenty-three languages. In 2015 he won the prestigious UK Gold Dagger for his novel Life or Death, which was also shortlisted for the 2016 Edgar Allan Poe Award for best novel. He has twice won a Ned Kelly Award for Australia’s best crime novel and has twice been shortlisted for the CWA UK Steel Dagger in 2007 for The Night Ferry and 2008 with Shatter.
Sean Barrett has won over twenty Earphones Awards and two prestigious Audie Awards for his audiobook narrations. He started acting professionally at the age of twelve and has since appeared on television and in film in Minder, Brush Strokes, War and Peace, Sons and Lovers, and Return to Oz. His stage credits include performing in the West End with Noël Coward in his Suite in Three Keys. He has worked extensively on BBC Radio and has also narrated several television series, including People’s Century and Crash.
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