Bleed for Me

By: Michael Robotham

Narrated by: Sean Barrett

Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's Summary

She's standing at the front door. Covered in blood. Is she the victim of a crime? Or the perpetrator?

A teenage girl - Sienna, a troubled friend of his daughter - comes to Joe O'Loughlin's door one night. She is terrorized, incoherent-and covered in blood. The police find Sienna's father, a celebrated former cop, murdered in the home he shared with Sienna. Tests confirm that it's his blood on Sienna. She says she remembers nothing.

Joe O'Loughlin is a psychologist with troubles of his own. His marriage is coming to an end and his daughter will barely speak to him. He tries to help Sienna, hoping that if he succeeds it will win back his daughter's affection. But Sienna is unreachable, unable to mourn her father's death or to explain it.

Investigators take aim at Sienna. O'Loughlin senses something different is happening, something subterranean and terrifying to Sienna. It may be something in her mind. Or it may be something real. Someone real. Someone capable of the most grim and gruesome murder, and willing to kill again if anyone gets too close.

His newest thriller is further evidence that Michael Robotham is, as David Baldacci has said, "the real deal - we only hope he will write faster."

©2012 Michael Robotham (P)2012 Hachette Audio

Critic Reviews

"This remarkable novel offers everything those 'literary' detective novelsought to but usually don't. This is crime fiction of the highest order." ( Booklist)

"A taut thriller....O'Loughlin continues to be an appealingly flawed hero." ( Publishers Weekly)

"One of the best novels to come out of the chaos of Iraq; a penetrating peek through the fog of war." (Nelson DeMille)

Outstanding Thriller

Any additional comments?

This was a great psychological thriller. Michael Robotham has the touch on this one. I recommend it highly.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Brilliant, but very melancholy

Suspenseful, brilliantly written, wonderful characterizations of truly tortured souls including the protagonist. I loved the previous books in this series - as a neurologist, the psychologist with Parkinson's disease fascinates me, particularly since the depiction is excellent and very accurate. However, this book was really depressing. Everything just keeps going downhill for our hero, no matter how hard he tries to do the right thing. I almost stopped listening during the scene with the animal torture - I really couldn't stomach that at all. I don't think I'll be listening to any more books in this series, not without a hefty dose of Prozac in any case. Narration was outstanding.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Good, not great.

This is my first book of this series, and I know I'm at a bit of a disadvantage. The main character is enormously likeable ... but I really thought I might be able to understand more if I'd listened to the first books in the series. That said, it is a good listen for the most part. The plot moves along but some of the details are depressing.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Darkly Sensitive

Joe O'laughlin s a powerful character - among crime fiction's most complex. Michael Robotham's given him the power to resonate, and Sean Barrett's provides an ensemble of voices to amplify Joe O'laughlin's emotional shimmer. Not since Will Patton introduced me to the early poetry of James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux has a genre writer had this impact upon me.

This is the fourth book I've heard in the O'laughlin series and Robotham's grown in his plotting and characterization. Mating him with Barrett has helped. You should probably begin this epic with "Suspect" and work up to "Bleed For Me". I say 'probably' because the third book "Shatter" is almost essential to understanding the shape of the forces sculpting O'laughlin and his world. Some plotting holes in "Shatter" almost kept me from listening to "Bleed For Me." They are filled, however in this novel and the two spoon together to defuse the heroic tragedy of O'Laughlin's life.

I'll download "Say You're Sorry" tonight, but like a good wine, I'll leave it sitting for a while, listening instead to something else to relax my mind buds.

Savor this series.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

One of the best mystery writers I've read!

I've listened to the first four books in the series in quick succession - I just can't get enough! As an avid print reader and now voracious Audible listener (I haven't counted, but I'm sure I've listened to more than 100 books), this series is one of my favorites. Robothom is in my top 5 of mystery novelists (right in there with Camille Lackberg, Jussi Adler-Olsen and Louise Penny - although Tana French remains at the top of my list...). His richly (but subtly) developed characters are the foundation for Robotham's credible yet intricate plots. He has an uncanny ability to deliver just right amount of tension, suspense and levity - the interspersing of quintessentially dry British humor is perfection!

Often, I find that many mystery novelists excel at either character development or plot, but rarely both. Robotham is an exception. The characters reveal more of themselves each book, and none are stagnant - all seem to grow and develop over time. The complexity of the plot hinges on the complexity of the characters, and not on far-fetched story lines or withheld information common to lesser novelists. And even once you figure out "who done it," the tension/conflict/danger with the characters takes over and commands your rapt attention right through the end of the epilogue.

The narration is fabulous - even though there have been different performers, I have enjoyed them all and the interpretation of the characters has remained consistent. Sean Barrett, like the others, ably captures the spirit of each character and hits the pace just right.

Can't wait to listen to Book 5!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Good Listen

I enjoy listening to this book it was good listen - I liked it very much

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Not his best and a bit disturbing

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

If a person is reading the series then naturally, this book would be something you'd want to read but if I were to recommend this one to a friend I would do so with a word of warning about the animal scene in this one. I found it very upsetting.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I plan to continue with this series. I like the characters and the author and I have enjoyed the performance in each book. There was just one element of this book that put me off. Unless it becomes a continuing theme then I plan to read his others.

Was Bleed for Me worth the listening time?

It wasn't as much so as his prior books. This one seemed less realistic to me in some ways and a bit of a retread of some things that happened in a previous book. How many times can this lead character put someone in danger by sleeping with them?

Any additional comments?

If you are an animal lover, be warned that there is a portion of this book involving a dog that is very heart-breaking. Also, as the book progresses, the lead character's reaction to the event isn't at all what I expected. He fails to properly report it and in spite of the fact that the dog is depicted as being loved by the character's children, there is no mention of its loss by the children. The lead character doesn't ever explain its death to his family during the book. No, this is not the full plot of the story, but I found it unrealistic in light of his original reaction to the event and the torture element involve.
Also, he is asked to help, nearly forced to do so, by one of the detectives and later she discards his opinions and pushes him aside. She does this after putting him into this situation in the first place. She, in my opinion does not react realistically.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Mezmerizing

Where does Bleed for Me rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Upper 3rd

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

No, but close :)

Which character – as performed by Sean Barrett – was your favorite?

Joe O'Loughlin the psychologist/ investigator

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

Not what you expect-better.

Any additional comments?

Love Sean Barrett's work.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Following His Instinct

A psychologist suffering from Parkinson's doesn't believe his teenaged daughter's friend killed her father. He works to clear her name. I loved the characters and plot development. And Sean Barratt's narration is terrific.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Joe O'Loughlin lovable father, physiologist

What made the experience of listening to Bleed for Me the most enjoyable?

I was slowly drawn into the life of this family, disfunctional, sad and trying to find its way amidst the turmoil called LIFE!!!

What did you like best about this story?

I liked Joe O'Loughlin and Ruiz alot great strong male characters who you grow to like.

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

I think listening to this book gave me time to image the scenery, the village where Joe lived. His home, his daughters while listening to Sean's reading

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

The moving moment would be when you realise that this predator has been preying on young women for a long long time

Any additional comments?

well worth the credits I used to buy this book, and a well written story. It is more English in writing styles than what I am used to listening too i.e American authors write in a more common style. If that even makes sense???

3 of 4 people found this review helpful