Above Suspicion

Anna Travis, Book 1

By: Lynda La Plante

Narrated by: Kristin Atherton

Length: 16 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Rookie detective Anna Travis has been assigned to her first murder case - a series of killings that has shocked even the most hardened on the force. Over the past eight years there have been six victims - all women from similar backgrounds, all killed in an identical way. Then a seventh body is found, but this one doesn't fit the pattern.

Anna is determined to earn the respect of her male colleagues, and find justice for the victims, but when a vital piece of information links a high-profile suspect to the killings she is faced with a difficult choice. As a figure in the public eye, his arrest would cause a media frenzy. But if he is innocent, Anna's hard-fought-for reputation would be destroyed once and for all.

©2022 Lynda La Plante (P)2022 Bonnier Books Ltd

Critic reviews

"Above Suspicion blew me away - it grabs you and doesn't let go until the last page." (Karin Slaughter)

Excellent first book of the Anna Travis series!

Wow, what a story! Lynda La Plante at her best! Couldn't stop listening and didn't get much sleep last night. I have listened to other books in this series, also great, but somehow never started at the beginning with this one. Also, what a great narrator! She's very good, and I really liked her devious, affected voice for the killer, and how she can go from soft and elegant, to down and dirty, letting them have it, etc. :)

It's not perfect but I really enjoyed it

I have read so much HORRIBLE crime/mystery lately it was a relief to come across a good, basic British police procedural. I found this well-written and lacking all the manipulative narrative tricks so in fashion nowadays. It didn't move too slow or too fast and I couldn't wait to find how what happened next. It was pure, solid entertainment.

Masterfully Performed

The story is good, but what stood out to me was how wonderfully this book was read. Audiobooks please note: AI performance could not possibly match an excellent narrator.

Loved the book

It's always a great joy to discover a new writer: in particular a writer of thrillers. I already tremendously enjoyed the D.C Jack Warr series, but unfortunately, there aren't more published on Audible as yet.
So Anna Travis captivated me for hours although DCI J. Langton is hard to endure at times. The book dragged on a bit towards the end, but I still enjoyed it and recommend it. The narrator is doing a great job, too.
I was so looking forward to book 2 in the series although there was a warning review already. And yes, book too is cobbled together in a shoddy or hasty way in comparison. (Template?) Repetitions abound as regards language as well as facts. Without giving too much away: it's very similar to book 1. The serial killer is yet another guy from a privileged background who thinks he can get away with murder- literally. So for the first time, I decided not to endure the remaining 4 hours of this book. Pity. It will be a while until I buy another LaPlante book.

Exciting story!

This is a very unique police procedural. It has a different vibe from most I read due to the DS being new and trying to prove herself. Anna is an interesting character and the story is smart. Despite some clues being easy to deduce before the detectives, this kept me engaged. I could do without Anna pining for her grumpy boss but I’ll take it because the rest of the story was smart and well done. I’m excited to have found a new series!