Bleed for Me (Joseph O'Loughlin)
by Michael Robotham
by Michael Robotham
- Hardcover: 432 pages
- Publisher: Mulholland Books; Reprint edition (February 27, 2012)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0316126381
- ISBN-13: 978-0316126380
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0
Book Description
Publication Date: February 27, 2012 | Series: Joseph O'Loughlin
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."
Review:
The story is told by Joe O’Loughlin, a semi-retired psychologist who is suffering from Parkinson’s disease. He is separated from his wife, not because of his illness but because she can’t handle his deep unhappiness, as well as his tendency to get lost in a case. Their 14 year old daughter, Charlie, is at an age where she is struggling to assert her own personality and she is confused and resentful. Apparently Charlie was kidnaped and traumatized in a prior book that raises issues of balance between living and safety. Joe still spends lots of time around his family hoping that his wife will let him come home.
One night his daughter’s close friend shows up covered in blood and totally disoriented. Sienna is the immediate suspect in the brutal murder of her father. Joe doesn’t believe she is the killer and he sets out to investigate other suspects. At first the tough police detective recruits Joe to help with the case but as the facts start to reveal that the murdered cop may have been an abuser the police become less friendly. Joe calls in an old friend, Ruiz, a private investigator who adds some more character depth.
The first part of the book was rather depressing and I struggled with the sad family drama. Midway the clues start to lead somewhere and it is nonstop clue tracking from then on. I really liked how the connection between pieces is revealed by interviews. The clues point to one suspect, a well-liked, respectable man who appears to have walked away from the murder of his first wife, who was never found. The fellow is slick though and there isn’t enough to accuse or arrest him. Meanwhile there is a side story of a trial where Joe’s wife is serving as a translator. Not only do issues of jury tampering, and more, arise, but along the line there is a connection discovered between Joe’s prime suspect and the trial defendants.
The writing begins crisp and abrupt, fitting a male narrator. At other times the writing has an almost lyrical flow. the characters are well developed to give a unique personality to each. The mystery was nicely puzzled and connected. This is the first book I have read by this author and I would be interested in reading more. I understand that this book is part of a series of books with Joe O'Loughlin. It read fine as a stand alone although it is likely that reading earlier books might give a fuller picture of the family and friendship dynamics.
~~~~~~~~~~
A sad comment on Joe’s status with his family:I know the script. I know the stage directions. I no longer have a walk on part. P71.
A good description as Joe takes a helicopter ride with injured suspect and cop:
Higher still, we’re above the whitecaps and rocky shore, higher than the Mendip Hills and the patchwork fields, where everything is bathed in lustrous sunshine that makes a mockery of all that is dark about the day. P 394.
Thank you to Little Brown & Co. for providing this book to read and review.
TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the ARC copy:
1. Visit the author's website and tell me something that interests you there. This is required for entry.
2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.
3. For two more entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.
It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Four total entries possible.)
THERE WILL BE ONE WINNER.
* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.
* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.
* Limit one win per household.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on March 9, 2012.
The winners will be randomly selected from all entries and announced on March 10 with 72 hours to complete the winners form.
The winners will be randomly selected from all entries and announced on March 10 with 72 hours to complete the winners form.
The book Shatter interests me.
ReplyDeletegfc follower
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/sweetums82/status/174476821520334849
Wow...it has been forever since I have had the chance to post!
ReplyDelete1. Michael Robotham usually chooses to write in 1st person or present tense unlike most writers!
2. I am a current follower (even if I can rarely post anymore)
3. Tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/Maria_Smith_76/status/174500209232068608
Thanks for the chance!
mmafsmith at gmail dot com
Is this the sort of series where you don't have to read them in order?
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good suspenseful story. I need to keep this one in mind
ReplyDelete~CEcelia Dowdy~
www.ceceliadowdy.blogspot.com
This book caught my attention a few weeks ago and I appreciate the chance to read it.
ReplyDelete1. In the links section he provides links to some interesting crime sites.
2. I am a GFC follower.
3. I tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/FieryNa/status/174640267968790528
Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com
1.By visiting Michael's website, I learned that In 2012 he will release his eighth novel 'Say You're Sorry'
ReplyDelete2. I follow via GFC and email.
3. Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/lag32583/status/174828729720242176
lag110 at mchsi dot com
I love the book roll =) edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom GFC Krystal Larson
ReplyDeleteI saw this on shelf awareness, and I was definitely intrigued, I love crime fiction!
ReplyDelete1. Shatter (his other book) interests me, and perhaps even a little more than Bleed For Me, perhaps because of the quote from Stephen King =) But I found out that Robotham (I love his last name!) lived in Australia where there was more dogs than people. (I wouldn't mind living there)
2. Already a follower! (email, GFC)
3. tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/circustoybox/status/174931702190325760
lilianxcheng AT gmail DOT com
I liked reading his FAQs. He writes in longhand at least 500 words a day. He has a great routine..."I wake without an alarm clock, wander down to the beach for some exercise and then have breakfast at a café while writing longhand." Makes me envious and I don't even work.
ReplyDeleteI am a GFC follower
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
The author has another book called Shatter. I would love to read both books. Please enter me in contest. I am a follower and email subscriber. Tore923@aol.com
ReplyDeleteIn August 2008 'Shatter' won the Ned Kelly award for Australia's best crime novel.
ReplyDeletee-mail subscriber
tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
His first novel 'The Suspect', a psychological thriller, was chosen by the world’s largest consortium of book clubs as only the fifth “International Book of the Month”, making it the top recommendation to 28 million book club members in fifteen countries. It has been translated into twenty-two languages, including some he's barely heard of.
ReplyDeleteI follow on GFC.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/CarolAnnM/status/175996519936307200
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that Michael's second novel 'Lost' won the Ned Kelly Award for the Crime Book of the Year in 2005
ReplyDeleteannettekz2@yahoo.com
I'm already a GFC follower
ReplyDeleteI learned that Lost won the Ned Kelly Award for the Crime Book of the Year in 2005.
ReplyDeleteI follow the blog.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com