Try free for 30 days

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
The Suspect cover art

The Suspect

By: Michael Robotham
Narrated by: Crispin Redman
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $40.99

Buy Now for $40.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

Joseph O'Loughlin appears to have the perfect life: a beautiful wife, a loving daughter, and a successful career as a clinical psychologist. But nothing can be taken for granted. Even the most flawless existence is only one loose thread away from unravelling. All it takes is a murdered girl, a troubled young patient - and the biggest lie of his life.
© Michael Robotham; (P) W F Howes Ltd

Critic Reviews

"There are twists and turns in this plot enough to challenge most thriller readers....Gripping stuff." ( Publishing News)
"Believable and authentic from the first sentence....Robotham doesn't put a foot wrong in his plotting, pace or inventiveness." ( The Australian)
"A truly classy thriller, beautifully crafted....a gripping finale that even the most seasoned mystery addicts won't see coming." ( Australian Women's Weekly)

What listeners say about The Suspect

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,047
  • 4 Stars
    1,451
  • 3 Stars
    445
  • 2 Stars
    122
  • 1 Stars
    80
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,148
  • 4 Stars
    1,074
  • 3 Stars
    310
  • 2 Stars
    75
  • 1 Stars
    65
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,732
  • 4 Stars
    1,291
  • 3 Stars
    415
  • 2 Stars
    133
  • 1 Stars
    91

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Don't waste your time.

If you removed the gross hyper sexualisation of ALL female characters in this story, you'd have about 3 sentences left. Don't waste your time.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

80 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thrilling

An exciting psychological thriller with many unexpected twists and turns. The narration was excellent. This book held my attention from beginning to end.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

30 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Gripping who dunnit

The plot moved along at a steady pace. I found myself absolutely hating some of the characters; one was a cad, and the main characters wife was beyond belief. The story was interesting and the listener had plenty of opportunities to connect dots, or not. I keep looking forward to the next chapter and the next.

I would definitely choose to listen to other titles by this author.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this!

So glad I stumbled across this author and series. Addicted now and need to read the rest in the series! Highly recommend!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

brilliant

loved every second of this book , I'm hooked on Michael Robotham will be devouring everything I can get my hands on !

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Bear with it, it's worth it.

initially I was bored with the scene setting, but by a quarter of the way through the book, I was hooked. I still wanted to slap Joe upside the head, but he does get smarter.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good twists and turns

really enjoyed as had lots of twists and turnd. not a predictable read very enjoyable

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

****The Suspect****

This story is gripping, mind boggling and pulse pounding, the twist and turns made my head spins, I felt like I've been sucked in a vacuum and spun and spat out. Michael Robotham is a master story teller with a wicked genius mind. Crispin Redman is magnificent in his narratives. It's a fascinating glimpsed into the psyche of a psychopath.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Worth persisting through slower beginning ..

This book takes you in the more in depth you get. Very clever writing and brilliant characterisation

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Degrading attitude towards women.

I had to stop listening after a couple of chapters. The descriptions of women are degrading and insulting. If there is a need for the story to contain a description of a female character's chest skin, then why not also describe the way a male character's pants gently hugged his ball sack? I will tell you why. It's irrelevant. Noone wants to hear/read it. Quite disappointed in Audible for supporting such sexist writing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Alan T Alcock
  • Alan T Alcock
  • 06-05-2009

Top of the class

This is the first Michael Robotham book I have listened too, this after reading Bombproof.
This book holds you in suspense until the end. Fast paced with characters fleshed out so they become almost real. The reader Crispin Redman deserves a lot of praise for his portrayal of the various characters in the book and in no small way adds to the listening pleasure. Well worth the purchase.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Russell
  • Russell
  • 20-05-2014

A Psychologist Becomes a Sleuth

This was a rewarding accidental discovery for me. The good news is that there are eight more books to look forward to in this series that is not driven by another flawed detective. (I'm following a few of those) Instead we have Joseph O'Loughlin who is a flawed psychologist. He makes some bad choices and they come back to haunt him tenfold in this mystery/thriller set in England.

Although imperfect, this psychologist is capable of some deep insights into human nature giving us a different perspective than the traditional hard ass cop protagonist. It is refreshing to join along with Mr O'Loughlin who has a credible background in something different than detective science as he attempts to unravel the strands of a perplexing murder. In the process, there are enough twists in this book to keep mystery fans engaged.

The narrator, Cripsin Redman does an excellent job with the voices for the various characters. I especially liked how he portrayed the Scottish friend who had designs on our hero's wife.

I am looking forward to the next book in the Michael Robotham Joseph O'Loughlin series and if you are looking for something where a professional detective or policeman isn't driving the story - we get a lot of those - give this one a try.



Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Janie
  • Janie
  • 21-07-2013

One of the best thriller writers yet!

Trying to find another good mystery, suspense writer? The this author will be for you. I guarantee him as one of the very best. I always like to read series in order so I've just finished The Suspect and am very impressed with this first book in the series O'Loughlin & Luiz. The audiobook was narrated by Crispin Redman who did an exemplary job. If you've ever watched the TV show Top Gear, where they slot in order the fastest drivers and the best performing cars on to a big board, then you'll get it when I say I'm moving Michael Robothom nearly to the top where my favourite writers, Tana French, Lisa Gardener, Harlan Coben and Stephen King reside. I am now looking forward to an excellent feast of his other books and, please, please, Michael, never stop writing!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Paul
  • Paul
  • 07-09-2012

The best thriller I've read this year

What makes this crime novel so good is the character of the protagonist. A psychologist with a terminal illness is something different. And having it written in the present tence, first person, gets you really close to him. The plot is such that, seeing him at home with his wife and delightful daughter, doesn't distract you from the main story. Crispin Redman's hard, sharp voice is just right for thrillers. I'm just off to bed now with Book 2 in the series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Liz
  • Liz
  • 23-08-2012

High expectations, but a bit of a let-down

Michael Rowbotham has been extravagantly praised, so I approached this novel with eagerness. However it seemed to unravel for me as it went along, especially after a strong beginning. I found the protagonist more and more irritating, and the motives of the killer not credible. The introduction of a second 'baddie' just before the end was a cop out. The performance, apart from a few idiosyncracies, was excellent.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anniebligh
  • Anniebligh
  • 19-02-2012

Gripping Stuff Indeed

Well well well.
The few Robotham Audio books I have listened to are consistently great listens.This is no exception. Story, narration by Crispen Redman.. I really can not fault this one. Yes it is part of series, yet each story is complete in itself. Even though you can guess our hero will make it. the ending does have a little twist.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Ásdís
  • Ásdís
  • 25-11-2014

Very good storytelling.

Would you listen to The Suspect again? Why?

Well, I would probably,, if I had habit of reading the same book twice but I do not so.. no.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Suspect?

So many moments in the story are memorable and that is what makes this book so good.

What does Crispin Redman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Mr. Redman reads the story so very well and he make all the characters come alive, very enjoyable.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No, not really. This book, on all its pages left me feeling so fine.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Linda
  • Linda
  • 04-05-2013

So slow!

A great performance by the narrator, but oh my gosh, the story was so slow in developing and the author went into so much unnecessary detail, which I found so boring. I gave up! I just couldnt bear listening to half an hour of what the guy was eating for breakfast, or what his wife was wearing...

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Duncan
  • Duncan
  • 10-10-2012

Extremely entertaining

Would you listen to The Suspect again? Why?

Yes I thinks so as it was very well read and very insightful into human behaviour

What did you like best about this story?

The story kept you interested all the way

What does Crispin Redman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He managed to bring the characters alive

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Unsure

Any additional comments?

None

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Ilana
  • Ilana
  • 28-07-2012

Great thriller, spot on narration.

When an unknown woman is found brutally murdered, the police call in psychologist Joseph O'Loughlin, who has a gift for figuring people out based on non-verbal cues, in hopes he can help them discover her identity. O'Loughlin has a roster of interesting clients, one of which is particularly disturbed and disturbing. But he is also happily married, and does his best to protect his wife and child from secrets of his own. Quite suddenly, O'Loughlin goes from being a collaborator to becoming the prime suspect in the case, and DI Vincent Ruiz, convinced he's got his man, isn't about to give O'Loughlin any breaks. Someone is trying to frame the doctor and he knows exactly who it is, but he'll have to put his own life at risk and pull quite a stunt to prove the killer is at large if he has any hope of putting his life back together.

I thought this was a great thriller and took an instant liking to the psychologist as the principal character and narrator of the story, so immediately followed up with the next book in the series. Crispin Redman's narration was just spot on.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Gamester
  • Gamester
  • 07-12-2013

I only wish I'd read these in order!

A confirmed fan of this genre (Harlan Coben, Michael Connolly, Lee Child et al) I stumbled across these books on Audible. Starting with the latest. I've now purchased and downloaded them all. This appears to be the first involving Joe and Ruiz, it documents their first meeting, under extraordinary circumstances. It also gives Joe's history (which I'd gathered bits and pieces of from the other books). Would be great if the books were numbered in order, or if the descriptions could suggest order of reading. Although, having said that, they are great standalone novels.
These books are beautifully written, with style, pace, great story lines and engaging characters. Although at times you will feel like giving Joe a swift slap when he (yet again) refuses to disclose something that would make his life so much easier. But I guess that is story telling for you.
Start with this one and work your way through. You won't be disappointed.
Gruesome murders, complex mysteries and a great team in Joe and Ruiz. Unlike most fictional detectives, Ruiz doesn't have a penchant for a particular type of music, a drink problem or problems with women. But is fascinating nevertheless.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

80 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Shoshi
  • Shoshi
  • 29-03-2008

A gripping yarn

This is a pretty graphic tale, fairly violent in places, but un-put-downable, with an immensely likeable central character, wrestling with personal demons, very human, with a good heart, just wanting to do his best, against all the odds!

Through many twists and turns, you wonder whether our hero will ever get his life back together again. No-one should have to suffer as he does, but through it all, he matures and gains a deeper knowledge of himself, of his past, and of human nature.

Initially, I found the present-tense style of narration somewhat irritating, but this was just because it is not the usual convention for storytelling (not sure why not, as it actually given an immediacy not found in the usual style), and after a while I became accustomed to it. The book was beautifully read, and gripping to listen to. Recommended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

62 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Becki
  • Becki
  • 26-08-2012

A fairly good story ruined by a terrible narrator

I listened to 'Shatter' first and then came back to this to listen from the start. The story itself is good, intriguing and fairly gripping but the narrator is dreadful which spoils the whole enjoyment of the book. His voices are poor, pronunciation is wrong and he must be a graduate of the school of over-actors. I would have stopped listening if I hadn't wanted to know what the back story was. Shaun Barrett is leagues beyond Crispin Redman and I will never listen to anything narrater by him again.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

24 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Mrs.
  • Mrs.
  • 11-08-2012

Fast paced action and great characters

This was my third Robotham book, but reading them out of order meant it was great to see Joe and Ruiz meet for the first time in this book and to see Joe cope with the news of his Parkinson's diagnosis. The first half of the book cleverly introduces all the key characters giving insight into their lives and backgrounds and then in the second half it is non-stop action as Joe lurches from one crisis to the next. You don't want to stop - you just want to find out what happens next! The narrator does a brilliant job with many voices and accents making it easy to relate to the different characters. A great read - highly recommended!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

24 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Wayne
  • Wayne
  • 15-03-2009

The Suspect (Unabridged)

A thoroughly enjoyable book - excellently written and narrated. The storyline will keep you entertained to the end. Highly recommended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Annie
  • Annie
  • 15-04-2014

Excellent story, brilliantly written

If you could sum up The Suspect in three words, what would they be?

A great listen

What three words best describe Crispin Redman’s performance?

Do More research

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

human frailties overcome

Any additional comments?

Such a pity that Crispin Redman was not told by the publishers that Vincent Ruiz is not a Londoner, he was brought up in Cumberland so the accent is completely wrong for Ruiz. That said, he does a great job with the narration otherwise. This is a story of human frailties, overcoming the obstacles of errors made by Joe who is such believable character. Michael Robotham is fast becoming one of my favourite authors.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Kirstine
  • Kirstine
  • 26-10-2015

The later books in the series are much better

I first encountered novels featuring psychologist Joseph O’Loughlin later in the series and so was interested to listen to this first book to hear more about this character’s evidently considerable backstory. If I had started with this book I might not have bothered to pursue the rest. The later books have more coherent stories and O’Loughlin becomes a less reckless and pontificating participant.

The first part of this book is full of regurgitated psychological theorising. I got bored by the long psychoanalytical interchanges between O’Loughlin and a patient, Bobby. I felt that the author had done some research into mental illnesses and personality disorders and reckoned that by including details he'd lend authenticity to the book: however, there’s just too much of it with added diversions describing other patients that have little relevance to the story. The latter takes hours to get going. O’Loughlin sounds off confidently as a criminal profiler, whereas in later books he is more realistic and circumspect and acknowledges the shortcomings of the discipline.

I accept that thrillers are usually unrealistic and depend on characters making stupid choices, so that they are placed in jeopardy, but in this novel O’Loughlin behaves as a complete idiot in his decisions and is endlessly in life-threatening situations. He’s supposed to be disabled by Parkinson’s disease and at times can barely hobble about, yet in some scenes he’s able to dive into a canal fully dressed to rescue a drowning man and at other times clamber down walls and walk for miles through countryside.

Apart from taking too long to actually get going the story becomes more and more far-fetched and the denouement is damp squib with no build up to make it believable.

The narrator is very good.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Tanya
  • Tanya
  • 21-10-2010

Once again Robotham does not dissapoint

Although I read this book out of order in the series it did not matter, although having read bleed for me first, somethings I already knew about.

This book is like the others fabulous

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Odilon
  • Odilon
  • 13-04-2013

Another great read from Michael Robotham

I have now read several of Robotham's books and I have to say, he doesn't disappoint. From initially finding

Joe slightly irritating, as the first book progressed, I found that he was an intensely human character with all the flaws and good points that entails. I read the books in the wrong order timeline wise but thoroughly enjoyed this earlier (I think it may be the first) book where he finds himself in the unusual situation of being prime suspect.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Polly
  • Polly
  • 29-02-2012

Enjoyable

I read Shatter first and downloaded this one as I had enjoyed that one so much.
I have to say I did not enjoy this book as much as the other one. It was still good but nowhere near as good as Shatter.
I have two others of his to read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.