The Suspect

Publisher's Summary

The New York Times best-selling author of The Widow returns with a brand-new novel of twisting psychological suspense about every parent’s worst nightmare....

When two 18-year-old girls go missing in Thailand, their families are thrust into the international spotlight: desperate, bereft, and frantic with worry. What were the girls up to before they disappeared?

Journalist Kate Waters always does everything she can to be first to the story, first with the exclusive, first to discover the truth - and this time is no exception. But she can’t help but think of her own son, whom she hasn’t seen in two years, since he left home to go travelling. 

As the case of the missing girls unfolds, they will all find that even this far away, danger can lie closer to home than you might think....

©2019 Fiona Barton (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

“A nail-biting tale of missing teens and the parents who worry for them. Fiona Barton’s first two novels, The Widow and The Child, were international bestsellers....The Suspect deserves equal success. It’s...expertly written....Barton’s characterizations are exceptional.” (The Washington Post)

“In The Suspect, Fiona Barton mixes universal truths with a thrilling tale.” (USA Today, 3½ out of 4 stars) 

“[I]n Barton's expert hands, The Suspect transcends the typical to become something more: A gripping psychological suspense about the changing relationship between parents and their grown children.…masterfully written, expertly plotted, and skillfully paced....Using her exceptional storytelling skills and her keen insight into the minds of each of her characters…Barton creates a twisty mystery that packs a serious emotional punch.” (Bustle)

“Utterly engrossing…I lived inside this book for two days - and I’m still thinking about it. Superb!”(Shari Lapena, New York Times best-selling author of The Couple Next Door)  

Ending was a jaw dropper for me!

I’ve enjoyed all three installments of Authors books about Journalist Kate Waters. This is my favorite. The ending was shocking but in hindsight fitting for the characters involved. This is a dark mystery with many storylines that all come to a head. Great character development.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

No surprises here

I was quite disappointed by the total lack of a compelling story or suspense of any kind in this outing by the author. It is actually quite a boring story from beginning to end and I couldn’t get excited about a single character in this story.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Stellar Author

Firstly, let me say I love love love Fiona Barton and all her books! The only thing that ruined this book for me were the narrators. And OMG if I have to hear the word BangKOK one more time I'm going to SCREAM!! Horrible narration, but good story overall. Her first 2 books were definitely my favorites tho. I could have done without the inspector's sad backstory. Some parts I lost interest. Her first 2 books held my interest all the way through. The Widow and The Child were by far my Favorites!! This one was just ok.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

Booooring!!

What a boring story. I had to rewind so many times because my mind would wander. There is really no mystery with this story and it’s definitely not a thriller. More of a drama and not for me.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

4 1/2 Addictive Stars!!

Every parent's worst nightmare! Except one of the parents is the lead reporter on the case. LOVED this story!! And the multiple narrators were fantastic. Don't miss this one.

Two girls travel to Thailand for their gap year but suddenly go missing. Their frantic parents in England get no real help from the authorities in Thailand so they turn to the press for assistance. It turns out that Alex, the more sensible of the pair, didn't really know her traveling companion Rosie all that well and their trip to Thailand ends up taking all the wrong turns.

Their families turn to Kate Waters, a reporter who is eager to tell their story. But Kate is actually harboring her own painful secret: her son Jake dropped out of university several years before and basically disappeared in Thailand. Her smart, sweet and nerdy son has not been in touch with his family and Kate and her husband fear for his safety.

Kate soon becomes enmeshed in the lives of the missing girls' families and becomes the center of even more drama: she is taken off the story due to her own son's possible involvement in Alex and Rosie's disappearance. 'The Suspect' is an intensely compelling story with many twist and turns which end in a stunning conclusion.

Each family's story is told from alternating points of view that are at once gripping, thrilling and compelling. Does any parent ever really know their own children? The mystery of what happened to Alex and Rosie slowly unfolds in a completely surprising and terrifying way. As a parent, I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the next chapter. As a reader, I could not wait until Kate and British investigator Bob Sparks got to the bottom of the girls' disappearance.

The exotic locales are described in all their colorful glory but the author doesn't hesitate write about the dark side of Thailand. Gap year travel may be exciting but the dangers of travel abroad are laid out in painful detail here. The author also explores the sometimes tragic role of social media in our lives.

This book starts off rather gently and then the last part of the story virtually rockets to a shocking conclusion. Although this is the third book featuring Kate Waters, it absolutely can be read as a standalone. I highly recommend the audiobook, however, with the multiple narrators perfectly voicing the different points of view. Although I received an advanced review copy of this book, I downloaded the audiobook and absolutely loved it.

Thrilling and addictive, 'The Suspect' will stay with me for a long time. Another wonderful suspense story from Fiona Barton!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

So contrived, I almost gave up

When I heard that Fiona Barton was releasing another Kate Waters novel, I preordered, because I knew it would be another fast-paced and compelling whodunit read. And sure, it was, but ugh...it took a while to get there.

Early in The Suspect, there is a "coincidence" that snatches our competent Kate Waters away from her role as The Reporter, and turns her into The Story. I enjoyed seeing the conversion, where Kate is forced to see things from the other side and finds out how awful it is to be hounded by her own reporter competitors. However, the coincidence is so contrived, I had to stop, put the book aside, and give it a few days. It was ludicrous. But once I'd done some head shaking and swallowed that contrivance, the story took off and developed well as all the players bounced back and forth between steamy, sketchy Thailand and good old England.

Boring

I enjoyed The Widow and looked forward to The Suspect, however, the story jumped all over the place and I knew early on who the killer was. Not sure why we had to suffer through the detective’s wife’s cancer and we never learned if Rosie’s mother accepted her daughter’s behavior or why her daughter behaved the way she did. The narrators were boring as well and didn’t bring life to the characters. I don’t write many reviews but I felt this needed writing.

Barton's 3rd has Kate at her vulnerable best

The pacing, the content, the suspense, the narration, everything was perfect. Barton's third outing with Kate Waters is sublime.

So boring

This book never picked up, never captured my interest. I’ve been know to finish an 11hr book in a day-this took months. From the predictable storyline, to the uninteresting characters, and the droning narration—Do what I wish I did. Skip it.

Excellent

There is one coincidence in the plot that could have perhaps been handled better. Otherwise, this novel is great. Riveting. Amazing writing, character development, and plot (other than that coincidence). Can’t wait for her next one. (The performers did the story justice. All great.)