Suspect

By: Robert Crais

Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews

Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Finalist, Thriller/Suspense, 2014

For 25 years, Robert Crais has written extraordinary novels of crime and suspense. He is "a master of crime fiction" (Associated Press); "his novels get better with every new book" (Portland Oregonian); "Crais is hands-down the world’s greatest crime writer" (The Huffington Post).

But in Suspect, he may have written his most remarkable novel of all.

LAPD cop Scott James is not doing so well, not since a shocking nighttime assault by unidentified men killed his partner, Stephanie, nearly killed him, and left him enraged, ashamed, and ready to explode. He is unfit for duty - until he meets his new partner.

Maggie is not doing so well, either. The German shepherd survived three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan sniffing explosives before she lost her handler to an IED and sniper attack, and her PTSD is as bad as Scott’s.

They are each other’s last chance. He was a young cop on the rise; she was bred to guard and protect. Now they are shunned and shunted to the side. They are suspect. And together they will set out to investigate the one case that no one wants them to touch: the identity of the men who murdered Stephanie.

Nine months and sixteen days later, they remained free. They were still out there.

What they begin to find is nothing like what Scott has been told, and where it will lead them will take them both through the darkest moments of their own personal hells. Whether they will make it out again, no one can say.

Thrilling, emotional, intense, with some of the best characters and well-crafted writing in all of crime fiction, Suspect is further proof that "Crais just keeps getting better" (Publishers Weekly).

©2013 Robert Crais (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

This is my best book of the year.

In my opinion as a person who has had (and has another) special bond with a dog, this book personifies the emotion in a way similar to "The Art of Racing in the Rain".

However is it much more than a Dog book. Even without the "Maggie" the Police dog character, its a well written Detective and Conspiracy novel, its seems well researched and would rank up there with the best of Micheal Connolly's novels.

The Narration was not bad, however the female characters tended sound like a little weak and cartoon-ish.

very compact novel

When I finished listening to this book, it felt a little more like I'd been listening to the description of some episode of a television show than a book. It's not that I didn't enjoy the story, but it was all sort of short and sweet. There wasn't anything extra, everything is very straightforward, no extra character histories or even extra characters, no romance, no crazy plot twists, no extra plot lines. I don't know if that's really a criticism, but I guess the book could have been twice as long if things had been fleshed out a little. Anyway, if you're looking for a well narrated book with a good plot that moves along quickly then you'll probably like this book.

Great book - lots of tears

Would you listen to Suspect again? Why?

I would absolutely listen to this again, but with two boxes of kleenix available. This was a great book and a look inside the relationship between veterans (canine and human) and the relationship that is forged through the K9 process. Wonderful book. wonderfully told.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Suspect?

The dog remaining by the side of the fallen soldier despite the bullets that flew around them and the men who tried to remove him -- amazing picture was drawn by the author.

What about MacLeod Andrews’s performance did you like?

I felt the voice matched the words and the image I developed of the hero.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It absolutely made me cry and then seek out my own canine companion for a hug.

Any additional comments?

More please!

Turn Those Pages Fast

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

Exciting/Thrilling/Perseverance

What was one of the most memorable moments of Suspect?

One of the most memorable moments of Suspect was how, when attempting to get Maggie, a dog pronounced unfit to become a service dog for the LAPD, was the dog who Scott James, trying to find a job that he could do after returning to work from severe injuries sustained while on duty, coaxed out of her crate as the dog he wanted to work with.

What about MacLeod Andrews’s performance did you like?

MacLeod Andrew's performance as a narrator, was able to put emotions, et al, in order to tell a great story. I felt that his characters were well defined by their voices, chosen by Andrew, to emulate their personalities. His speed was spot on. I thought that he enjoyed reading the story for an audience to enjoy.

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

How a Man and a Dog Help Each Other To Survive PTSD

Any additional comments?

I thought the story line concerning how Scott and Maggie both suffered from PTSD was unique. The story allowed listeners to hear that there is a way to help those who have PTSD. Animals are being used to help people to function and survive outside as well as inside their homes. People can live happy and productive lives with the help and love of an animal. I felt that the characters were well developed. This was the second time I read the book, Suspect, and I enjoyed it as much or more, then the first time.The book was filled with action, thrills and compassion. Knowing that someone has your back and will try to protect you from harm at all times, has to be a powerful incentive that allows a person to lose that crippling fear that once determined how he lived.

Awesome!!!

What did you love best about Suspect?

I usually don't read this genre ... but the USMC working dog that ends up a K-9 police dog ... I couldn't resist her.

What did you like best about this story?

Maggie, the dog, brought it all home for me. The story line is exceptionally well written and the story draws you in quickly.

What about MacLeod Andrews’s performance did you like?

The narration was perfect. This is a book that is difficult to set aside. You want to keep listening to the very end!

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

I can't give away any spoilers but the prologue and the end of the book were both momentous to me.

Any additional comments?

I am recommending this to everyone I know ... not just with this review but by word of mouth as well.

Great story and style

This is a great story and done in an interesting way. The insite into a dog's thought process was really interesting.

One of the BEST books of the year

I LOVED this book. Fair warning, have a box of tissues for chapter one. The story of two broken but not down officers, one a LAPD officer, the other a retired marine who happens to be a German shepherd. Maggie, the K-9, lost her handler/partner to a suicide bomber in Afghanistan. Scott lost his partner in brutal shooting. They find redemption in each other and become stronger for it. The narration is amazing. The writing is moving. I thought the way some of the story was from Maggie's perspective was great and seemed very true if you've ever had a dog. The first chapter covers the bombing in Afghanistan where Maggie looses her handler. I made the mistake of listening to it in the car. I cried so much that I had to wait 30 minutes in the home depot parking lot until my blotchy crying face went away. Truly one of the most moving chapters I've ever read.

Ended too ABRUPTLY

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I was happy to finish it because the plot, characters and development of both were interesting, progressive and meaningful. I absolutely LOVE Maggie!!! I enjoyed Scott becoming a DOG PERSON and his choosing Maggie because of the connection he sensed with her.

My only problem is after you spend basically 40 plus chapters building and developing such an intricate storyline you end it so ABRUPTLY with hardly an explanation as to why, when or how the culprits became the culprits and not even a word about the mental healing of the hero.

The narrator is very good, I usually hate men doing woman voices and try to avoid them as narrators but in this case it didn't bother me at all he did a good job.

I loved Maggie!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

OMG, I loved this book. The story had me almost in tears in the first 5 minutes. The reader is excellent, and I so loved the dog.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

I would say I was concerned!

Which scene was your favorite?

The end! It was perfect.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

the heartbreak of Maggie made me cry. I love dogs, and the story captured a dog's personality perfectly.

Any additional comments?

If you love dogs, you will love this book. I did.

Very Pleasant Surprise!

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book when I made the purchase. What attracted me was the working dog storyline. In my distant past, I was a military & police K9 handler, but I had my doubts as to how the author would characterize the handler/working dog relationship.

He NAILED it.

And, it was a very engaging story to boot. MacLeod Andrews did a great job with the narration, bringing you right into the story and keeping you there.

If you are a fan of police story mysteries, you should really enjoy this novel.