Persons Unknown

A Novel

By: Susie Steiner

Narrated by: Juanita McMahon

Length: 11 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

In this brilliant crime novel from the author of Missing, Presumed, a detective investigates her most personal case yet: a high-profile murder in which her own family falls under suspicion.

"[Susie] Steiner populates this hot-button narrative with achingly human characters, but no one compares to the hormonal, mordantly funny mom-cop who will stop at nothing to save her son." [People (Book of the Week)]

As dusk falls, a young man staggers through a park, far from home, bleeding from a stab wound. He dies where he falls, cradled by a stranger, a woman's name on his lips in his last seconds of life.

Detective Manon Bradshaw handles only cold cases. Five months pregnant, in pursuit of a work-life balance rather than romantic love, she's focused on being a good mother to her two children: her adopted 12-year-old son, Fly Dent, and the new baby. But the man died just yards from the police station where she works, so Manon can't help taking an interest. And as she sidles in on the briefing she learns that the victim, a banker from London worth millions, is more closely linked to her than she could have imagined.

When the case begins to circle in on Manon's home and her family, she finds herself pitted against the colleagues she once held dear: Davy Walker and Harriet Harper. Can Manon separate what she knows about the people she loves from the suspicion hanging over them? Can she investigate the evidence just as she would with any other case?

Persons Unknown shows acclaimed author Susie Steiner writing her most intricate, suspenseful novel yet.

"A police procedural as concerned with the mysteries of human hearts as with who stabbed a banker to death at a park in Cambridgeshire. [Full of] winning prose, sympathetic characters and an appreciation of life's joys as keen as a knowledge of its dangers." (The Wall Street Journal)

"Susie Steiner blends the police procedural and the human drama perfectly." (The Charlotte Observer)

"[An] engrossing stunner, incorporating social justice issues into the narrative, along with superb plotting, dark humor, and excellent characterizations." (Library Journal)

©2017 Susie Steiner (P)2017 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"[Steiner] has created a masterful mystery within an engaging narrative perfect for Kate Atkinson fans. Readers will be astonished by the unexpected turns at the conclusion, which will leave fans eagerly awaiting the next book. This series needs to be snapped up by the BBC or PBS." (Booklist)

"Steiner grapples with serious social justice issues in a darkly humorous crime novel not to be missed." (Publishers Weekly)

"Strikes all the right notes - layered mystery, incisive cultural context, and a delightful protagonist who deserves a place alongside other beloved literary detectives." (Kirkus Reviews)

I love Manon!

And I'm already looking forward to the next in the series, not so much for the plotting, but for the characters. The narration was outstanding!

Excellent series

I love these books, only sorry there are only three. A little bit much towards the end with the motherhood stuff but otherwise so so good. Highly recommend it.

Such a Keeper! Great Story and GREAT Narration!

Thirty minutes into this book I knew I was so hooked that I would not want to stop listening when the time came. It was so good that I decided to forgo watching the Olympics just to keep listening to this charming, at-times-funny, detective story. And I am so glad I did. It offers so many profound perspectives on life -- for those who are single and those who are long married. Those with kids and those without. Those who LOVE police procedurals and those for whom those stories are just "meh." The publishers description tells you all you need to know before you start. Just go ahead and start.

Does not disappoint!

Having read Missing, Presumed, I was overjoyed to discover that Ms Steiner had a new book out. READ or Listen to her books. If you are a fan of British police procedural, this will blow you away! The characters and plot are stunning! I can't wait for her next one!

Fantastic!

Sue Steiner and narrator has given a
a wonderful gift at every level. Thank you to them both!

This is an amazing series!

I can’t wait for more books. I put this author in the same category as Tana French, Elizabeth George, PD James, and Robert Galbraith. Really easy to get lost in the story and invested in the characters. The hardest part is waiting for the author to write another book.....

Splendid

Amazing linguistics & such a fantastically engaging performance— filled with EVERY human emotion & sweet humor along with mystery!

Great Characters!

I loved so many of these deeply flawed but evolving characters. So clear what drives them ...I look forward to more time with them. Great and funny descriptions of pregnancy, nursing, mixed feelings on motherhood. I loved the section on David sorting out the difference between him and his "friends" ... the issue of wanting real exchanges. I also love the struggle and resolves Manot reaches around Fly. The rude awakening all parents are pressed to about their control over their children's fates. And Birdie!!! What a type... I could nearly smell her! Loved her uneducated intelligence... her exploration of new possibilities... the strained sweetness between her and Angel... how it altered her.

Loved it!

I think I hesitated to begin this book because I liked the first book so much, and was afraid this one wouldn't be as good. But if anything, I liked this one better! The story is compelling. The characters are interesting. They're fully-fleshed out human beings, and as a reader I cared about them. Any time I don't have the plot figured out by 2/3 of the way through the book, it's a treat, and this one had me guessing until the case was resolved. Please let there be a third book!

A GREAT READ

The complexity of her characters and gradual revelation of the intertwining of plot lines is so well done. And getting inside the mind of Manon is a treat and resonated with my experience as a mother in ways big and small. This is the second book in the series,and it saddens me to think there’s only one more. The reading world has lost a great author in Susie Steiner, but we are so lucky to have these books that she wrote before she died.