Lost

By: Michael Robotham

Narrated by: Ray Lonnen

Length: 12 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

Michael Robotham's Suspect, hailed as "a lightning-paced debut" by Entertainment Weekly, was an international best seller that raised the bar for thrillers. Now two characters from that acclaimed novel, Detective Vincent Ruiz and psychologist Joe O'Loughlin, return for the electrifying Lost. When Detective Ruiz is pulled from the Thames, he has a bullet in his leg, a photograph of a missing (and presumed dead) girl in his pocket, and absolutely no memory of what happened.

©2006 Michael Robotham (P)2006 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"A thoughtful and subtle thriller, with convincing, three-dimensional characters." (Publishers Weekly)

good then not

Started out really good and had some very good scenes however it just got way too long Drawn out far longer than it needed to be

Good story

The book and narration was ok. I found it difficult at times to follow all the characters and events taking place.

Another great book, but,,,

Are for me, the book did drag at some points. At other points, I would start a chapter over to make sure I got everything correctly. I surely did not want to miss anything! I felt that I needed to keep abreast of what was going on in order to understand the rest of the book. Again, I read the ending several times before I understood it. But overall, I look forward to reading another good book by a great writer.

Five plusses

Accolades to Mr. Robotham for this crime novel that deserved to be the Ned Kelly Award (Australia). Unlike his first book "suspect", which was narrated in first person by the clinical psychologist Joe O'Loughlin, this time it is DI Vincent Ruiz'z turn to narrate. There is appropriateness in the choice of the title "Lost" since the book not only delve into the story of the lost chld but into the complex and intertwined lives of the main characters. Again, Mr. Robothan's knowlege of the underground sewer system of London added "suspensful flavor" to an already complicated plot. I somehow got lost midway in my listening (although much amused by the British accent of the narrated) that I have to backtrack a few times.

This is a must read to those who love detective/crime stories with some historical/geographical background like the way Caled Carr does and I highly recommend this book.

Brilliant!

I really enjoy english police literature such as Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks stories. I had no past experience with this author or the reader. The story is well crafted and unlike some other listeners I felt it moved along quite nicely. It is very English in style, not nearly so fast paced as an American police novel perhaps but with wonderful characters and the English risk that all may not come out well in the end.

Good Book

This is a good book, but the lead character isn't as endearing as 'Joe' in the first book in the series. Having said that it is well written, an interesting story line and a great performance.

Maybe try the abridged.

Goddarn the longest book I've listened to. Very repetitive . Good narrator is what kept me going. I usually enjoy the authour.

Too much Ruiz, too little Joe.

What did you like best about Lost? What did you like least?

Good story, but TMI about London sewage system.

What was most disappointing about Michael Robotham’s story?

Several times I wasn't sure if I was listening to a past or present event

Never Fails to Deliver

This is the fourth book I've listened to from this author and have enjoyed all of them. I keep coming back for more and plan to eventually listen to them all. (So little time, so many books!) I'm not an "easy" rater, and take the time to rate only those books I really like, or occasionally, dislike. But these are comfortable, well-paced, well written, and include flawed but credible characters. Violence is not terribly graphic in this one.

Usual protagonist, Joseph O'Loughlin Ph.D., is an important, but supporting character in this outing. O'Loughlin has Parkinson's disease so has to use his skills as a psychologist rather than fists. In this outing, he is helping police inspector Ruiz recover memory of a traumatic encounter which included being shot. Ruiz has been haunted by a child abduction three years earlier, for which someone has already been convicted, without a body being recovered. Now a ransom is demanded, alleging child is still alive, throwing into question the whole history of the case. Ruiz is not popular with his peers and he must deal with those issues as well as finding a solution to the abduction and probable killing.

I usually listen at 1.25 speed, but this narrator holds up well at even 1.5 speed.

Entertaining

Excellent book. Good story. Nicely worked characters and extremely well narrated. Will read another by this author