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.

A Dogged Canine Mystery

I enjoyed listening to this book, although I don't own a dog and am not a dog lover. The mystery held my attention, but I did guess some of the outcome. I particularly liked the chapters from the perspective of Maggie, the police dog. Crais seemed to be able to think like a canine in these parts of the story. I also learned something about the training of dogs which seemed like practical information that someone could use. The writing kept me interested and the end was exciting. The narrator had a feel for the story - his voicing of the characters was excellent; I became thoroughly engrossed in the final confrontation with the "bad guys". Can this book be the beginning of a new series for Crais? All in all, I'm happy I listened to this; however, I still prefer the author's Elvis Cole mysteries.

Maggie is the best!

This was one of my first audio books I listened to. It was such a great listen. Maggie stole the show. I loved it. Audible 20 Review Sweepstakes Entry

Excellent!

Don't start this unless you have time to listen to the whole thing. You won't be able to put it down. Excellent plot line and performance. I am a new Robert Crais fan!

Who would of thought?

I thought that I had got the wrong book when the story started from the perspective of a dog. I was going to skip the chapter until it was obvious that this was no ordinary dog tale.

Then, when I started to get emotional about this dog (being a cat person first and not having a pet since I was a kid) I had to check myself. "Why am I getting close to tears? it's just a story about a dog. pull it together, man!"

I finished the audio book, in one sitting. nothing else mattered. I know, pretty ridiculous, right? Not at all!

For me, Robert Crais is a genius. it's my first book I've read that he's authored. and it won't be my last. it is evident in his ability to tell the story from multiple perspectives, including a dog. the dog perspective is literary genius.

MacLeod Andrews is perfect in his delivery. my favourite narrator so far. Great articulation and pace.

You will not be disappointed.

First time I've read this author

Gotta be short here-
Love this book-Maggie and Scott aces. If you need a good read......sit-stay-read

Garden variety whodonit made special...

by the K9 voice. Dog aficionados will find canine wisdom in sections written from the point of view of the dog, and of course the parallels between the losses suffered by the two protagonists adds some literary extra points.

Amazing!!

great read! great story! perfect narration! loved it! first time reading this writer. will get more of his books!

Loved this listen!

I loved this listen! I'm a dog lover so I appreciated the intensity of the characters who were trainers and the growth of Scott with his love for Maggie. Yes this is a book about a man who is shot, probably shouldn't be on patrol, and looking for the suspects. But it's also about dogs, their unconditional love and their desire to make us happy.

I didn't give 5 stars because it was an amazing story line overall but because of the development of the characters.

Took 1st in my personal category of Best Book Ever

What made the experience of listening to Suspect the most enjoyable?

Powerful imagery, deep character development, you feel like you know the characters, and dog owners can connect with Maggie the dog's point of view which was written so well and is so believable.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Suspect?

Can't give away the plot by answering this, but just let me say that it is at the beginning, and the scene is haunting.

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

Well, first of all, I don't have time in my life to sit and read, so I am dependent on audio books which I listen to in the car, at work, while cleaning, etc. MacLeod Andrews timing as he reads the lines is excellent and smooth.

Any additional comments?

Hope this becomes a series, there is so much potential in the characters, even the secondary ones.

loved it

I accidentally read out of order so I already had read the other book of Scott and Maggie as officers. This story is how Scott and Maggie met. I absolutely loved it. You can feel the soul of Maggie. I am in awe of police and military dogs. This story gives you an in depth look. I wish there were more stories about Scott and Maggie! The narrator is perfect!