Suspect

Written by Robert Crais

Narrated by MacLeod Andrews

For twenty-five 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).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Jan 22, 2013
• ISBN: 9781455853243

Robert Crais

Robert Crais is the author of the bestselling Cole & Pike novels. A native of Louisiana, Crais moved to Hollywood in the late 70s where he began a successful career in television, writing scripts for such major series as Cagney & Lacey, Miami Vice and Hill Street Blues. In the mid 80s, Crais created a series of crime novels based around the characters Cole & Pike. In addition, Crais has also written several bestselling standalone thrillers. Robert Crais lives in LA with his wife and family.

Reviews for Suspect

[lamour_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Crais introduces us to a new hero or should I say two new heroes in this novel. Scott James is a LAPD officer who is almost killed in a shooting in which he lost his partner. Recovering from PTSD he is reassigned to the K-9 unit where he meets Maggie, a German Shepard which is also suffering from PSTD after being wounded in Afghanistan and losing her handler.Despite his inexperience, Scott quickly melds with Maggie and after nine months asks if he can study the files on his unsolved shooting. Slowing he sees inconsistencies and missed evidence and when he questions certain possible witnesses, they are killed. Harassment from some officers but support from other plus with the aid of Maggie's amazing nose he slowly figures out who was responsible for the attack on him and his partner.The reader learns a great deal about how dogs track using their amazing ability to smell thousands of senses and sort out the ones they want to follow. Each breed uses different techniques with some like hounds tracking on the ground while Shepherds follow sent through the air. Scott and Maggie appear again in the Crais novel, The Promise.

[emkemi23 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read at least one book a week and this is the BEST book I have read in a long, long time. If you like dogs and police procedural books, this is a good one!

[she_climber · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Maggie made this book for me. Maggie is a German Shepherd who was first trained by the Marines to be a dual-purpose dog smelling out IED's and protecting her platoon. Actually her only interest is protecting her handler/her alpha/her pack of two: the rest of the platoon just benefits from this relationship. The reader gets an amazing insight into the mind of Maggie and what it's like to be a working dog, first with the Marines and after a harrowing traumatic incident on the battlefield, a police dog with the LAPD's K9 unit.The K9 unit is where she hooks up with Scott James, an officer newly assigned to the unit following a harrowing traumatic incident of his own, after which he refused to take a medical retirement. James and Maggie bond together and prove they both still have it while looking for suspects in James' shooting that has remained unsolved. I can not believe that Crais has not done more with these characters other these characters other than, I understand, a part in one of his Elvis Cole/Joe Pike books released last fall. I'm going to have to go back to working my way through that series, not a favorite, just to get more Maggie. She's that good.

[everfresh1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I thought that was an excellent thriller with good characters, fast paced plot and - a big factor - great and sentimental dog story. Overall, easy read thriller with heartwarming add-on.

[cathyskye · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Before I go any farther, I have a warning: have a hankie in hand as you begin reading the prologue-- especially if you are a dog lover. I found the prologue in Suspect to be gut-wrenching, and although I wanted to wait a few minutes to calm down before continuing to read, I was already hooked.Crais provides excellent insight into the mind of a dog, in particular the mind of a war or police dog. When Scott and Maggie are partnered, it's a learning experience for both of them, and it was so rewarding to watch them heal each other. This isn't just the Scott and Maggie Show, however. Crais gives us some marvelous secondary characters in fellow police officers Cowley, Leland, and Budress. Leland as the hard-as-nails head of the K-9 unit and Budress who constantly risks reprimand for helping Scott may be a touch two-dimensional, but they're the sort of characters you love regardless of their cardboard tan tinge. The female detective Cowley is another story. You're never quite sure what she thinks of Scott. You're never quite sure what she's willing to do to help. You're never quite sure how tough she is. By book's end, your questions will be answered.The investigation into Scott's partner's death is filled with plenty of danger. Crais is a pro at ratcheting up the suspense. As is always the case when a dog is a member of the cast, readers always wonder about Old Yeller Syndrome, especially in a story involving the police and lots of flying bullets. I'm not about to enlighten you here. All I'll say is that I was hooked from the prologue and couldn't read fast enough. Scott and Maggie are going to stay with me for a long time. They're that good.

[bsquaredinoz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's been a long while since I stayed up until 4:00am to finish a book but that's what I did reading this one. I really liked the main character, flaws and all, and the story rocked along at a rollicking pace. There were a couple of slightly awkward/clumsy plot resolution moments but nothing major and they didn't detract from my "enjoyment". I use the quotes for the word enjoyment because frankly I'm not sure it's the right word to describe the increased pulse rate and tremmors that accompanied my reading of this book. Top effort.

[virginibuspuerisque · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I once described reading crime fiction as, "The literary equivalent of putting on the slippers after wearing high heels all day and having that first cup of tea when you get home from work". Well this was truly a welcomed return to the comforts of reading a favourite genre, but what a sweet return. I loved the blend of the psychological thriller, the twists and the growing awareness of the entanglement of the central character Joe O'Loughlin. I liked the parallels of O'Loughlin's struggle over his body afflicted with Parkinsonism and the struggle to regain control over his own life. Even the somewhat cliched device of "the wrongly accused sets out to prove his innocence" was deftly handled, so much so that I paid it little regard. A fast paced and well written thriller. Now I'm a new fan of Michael Robotham and obviously I have some catching-up to do, but the tea is hot, I have my ugg boots on and I just can't wait!

[maneekuhi · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is disappointing, a bit of a dog. I like Crais. I've met him at book signings, He seems appreciative of his readers and I've read many of his Elvis Cole novels. I have also enjoyed some of his stand-alone novels, such as "Demolition Angel". I had stopped reading the Elvis books a couple of years ago because they became too much of the same and I just got tired of the same leads. But recently I noticed blurbs for "Suspect", the plot seemed interesting, I thought I'd give it a try.I was very disappointed. It's not a bad book, but it just didn't seem up to Crais's usual standards. There are two war zone scenes early on, one in Aghanistan and one in LA. Both were great conceptually, but somehow just missed. The characters were dull, very cardboard. I didn't care for any of them. The attraction between the two main characters, no not the cop and dog - the other two, guy cop and gal cop, just seemed flat. I remember one scene, at a rather odd moment, where it is mentioned he "touched" her. Where? How? How did she react? Nothing mentioned, confusing. The Cole novels are loaded with wit and chemistry. Both were missing here. Hero Scott takes some incredibly stupid, risky chances, and comes off as a bit dumb and naive. And sometimes he's tough as nails, other times he's a marshmallow.It seems Crais puts all his focus on the real hero of the book, dog Maggie, at least in the first half. She seems to disappear for much of Act Two. There are also some improbabilities (spoilers, so no further comment) but unfortunately they're critical to the story. So, if you are new to Crais, read just about anything of his (recommended) except this one.

[deanclark · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What makes this story so interesting is the dog as protagonist. The dog is one of main characters and has an interior life. Overall a good story.

[smik_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Joseph O'Loughlin, psychologist becomes a murder suspect when a nurse and former colleague is found dead from multiple stab wound, all of them self inflicted. DI Vincent Ruiz is the policeman/investigator

[writestuff_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

LAPD cop Scott James is battling PTSD after a violent incident where his partner, Stephanie, was killed and Scott was seriously wounded. More than nine months have slipped by and the detectives assigned to crack the case have come up empty. Meanwhile, Scott has joined LAPD’s elite K9 squad, a position he may not be capable of filling given his frequent flashbacks, anger and an inability to let go of the guilt he feels every time he thinks of Stephanie.Maggie is suffering from PTSD too – but hers is of the canine variety. After surviving three tours as a marine K9 in Iraq and Afghanistan, the dog is back in the United States after witnessing the sudden and violent death of her handler. Donated to the LAPD for evaluation, her chances at a come back as a police canine don’t look too promising – she reacts with fear when a gun is fired, and seems to have lost her heart for the work she was bred to do.Scott and Maggie seem meant for each other. It isn’t long before both are plunged deeply into the murder investigation of Stephanie, but someone doesn’t want them to get any closer to the truth. What they discover together will either kill them both, or help them find their way back to the jobs they love.Robert Crais has written a suspense-thriller with loads of heart. I was only 15 pages into the novel and found myself riveted…and crying. I have to confess, I am often put off by novels that feature working dogs. I almost always find errors or plot holes that don’t fit with my knowledge of what it is like to work a dog. So I was pleasantly surprised to find myself pulled convincingly into Suspect, a book which captivated me and kept me reading nearly non stop.Crais clearly has done his research (although he offers an author’s note which explains some looseness with the “facts” for the sake of the story). I loved that he chose a female German Shepherd as the working K9 in the book. When I was working my dog in Search and Rescue, I was dismayed that so many law enforcement personnel thought the best dogs in police work had to be male…a belief I frequently argued against based on my female dog’s heart, drive, courage and intelligence.Suspect is first and foremost a fast paced thriller. But it is also something a little more. Crais explores the after effects of violence on those in law enforcement – both human and dog. He also creates a love story of sorts between Scott and Maggie. Anyone who has ever opened their heart to a dog knows the power in that relationship.There are sections in Suspect which are written solely from Maggie’s limited point of view – a technique that can quickly go awry if not done well. Crais clearly knows what it is like to live inside the brain of a dog and these parts of the novel were some of the best.Suspect is a novel which will appeal to anyone who loves dogs or has worked a dog – but it will also reel in readers who love great characters and fast-paced writing. Alone, Scott and Maggie are just characters struggling to recover from trauma, but together they are a crime team with incredible heart who will win over readers.Highly recommended.

[ajlewis2_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Scott and Maggie have both been seriously wounded and suffer from PTSD. Scott is a police officer. Maggie is a German Shepherd who worked in Afghanistan. Her beloved handler died there and Maggie is getting a try-out with LAPD. The story is about the relationship of Scott and Maggie and about Scott trying to solve the mystery of who shot him and killed his partner. Both aspects of the story are riveting. I loved that the author mixed in a few short chapters where we see the perspective of Maggie on what is happening. I highly recommend this book. It is my first by this author, so I'm eager to see what else he's got in that large number of books he's written.

[smiler69 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When an unknown woman is found brutally murdered, the police call in psychologist Joseph O'Loughlin, who has a gift for figuring people out based on non-verbal cues in hopes he can help them figure out who the victims was. O'Loughlin is a very talented man with a roster of interesting clients, one of which is particularly disturbed and disturbing. But he also has secrets of his own to hide, and quickly goes from being a collaborator to becoming the prime suspect in the case, and DI Vincent Ruiz isn't willing to give him any breaks. Someone is trying to frame the doctor and he knows exactly who it is, but he'll have to put his own life at risk to prove the killer is at large if he has any hope of putting his life back together. I thought this was a great thriller and took an instant liking to the psychologist, as the principal character and narrator of the story, so immediately followed up with the next book in the series.

[cefeick · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Robotham's best. Suspect presents a highly likable but also flawed narrator that you can't help but root for. The character is the best part, wrapped in a murder mystery that takes our protagonist from London to the Welsh countryside and to other parts of Europe as he works to clear his name.

[themythicalcodfish · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is fantastic. The first section is actually really hard to read; the description of a Marine dying in combat from the point of view of his dog is utterly heartbreaking, and very well written. Likewise, the mirroring event where Our Hero loses his partner in the crossfire of a shootout is heartwrenching. The narrative of man and dog helping each other to recover from their trauma draws on all of the old Man's Best Friend tropes, and turns it around into a new kind of mystery thriller where the reader is given cues and clues from two radically different perspectives. In summation: read it, and make sure you have kleenex handy.

[christinelstanley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow, what a treat! I loved the narrative, the betrayal, plot twists and there were times when I was truely too scared to read the next paragraph! Exceptional writing skills. I will have to read the next book.

[annbury_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Police/suspense novel set in LA with one great big distinction -- it's mostly about a dog. The dog, Maggie, is a Marine bomb-sniffing German Shepherd, whose handler is killed in Afghanistan. Wounded in the attack and psychologically damaged, she is sent back to the States, and ends up in an LAPD K-9 training compound. There, she is teamed up with an policeman who was badly wounded in an attack in which his partner was killed. The cop is totally focused on finding out what happened and bringing those responsible to justice, and has ended up in the K-9 program because no one wants him anywhere else. He wants to do well, but isn't much interested in the dogs.From this, the plot line will be clear -- damaged dog bonds with damaged man, to the benefit of both. But the way in which the plot is worked out is fascinating. The author clearly knows a lot about dogs -- military and police dogs in particular, but also a lot about dog pyschology that's only recently been widely written about. This is fascinating stuff on its own, but he transmutes it into a sympathetic and (to me at least) convincing dog character. He also conveys the growing bond between the man and the dog without getting slushy. Some of the story is told from the viewpoint of the dog, which I just loved. Yes, there is a mystery too, and it is nicely wrapped up at the end. For me, however, this was mostly about the dog.

[librarian1204 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dog lovers , this is a book you will love. A great story (minus Elvis and Pike) about a police officer assigned to a K9 unit and the dog he bonds with. Both man and dog are recovering from past experiences that that have scarred them physically and emotionally. A fast and engrossing read.

[edgoldberg · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Maggie is a military dog in Afghanistan. When her handler gets killed and she gets wounded she's shipped stateside where she ends up a police dog in L.A.'s K-9 corp. Scott is a policeman whose partner is killed and he's wounded with major wounds. The two 'misfits' get paired up. Scott is obsessed with closing the case in which his partner was shot and a new team of investigators has taken the case on, so it's promising.Of course, Scott finds things the new investigators don't.This is my first Robert Crais book and while I may not look for more of his books, this was an interesting and quyick read.

[Richard Cary · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What made this book so wonderful. One word “Maggie”. I hope someday we will understand how dogs became the joy that they are, til then I will happily accept Robert Crais’s view.

[onemorepage · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Lescroart's 'normal' lawyer is Dismiss Hardy. Although he has a bit part, the main charter is Gina Roake, former fiance of Dismiss' partner, David.Yet again, we don't actually go to trial; instead, everything is settled at a preliminary hearing. Lescroart is recycling a tired plot.

[kmmt48 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable novel. If you are a dog lover you will love the interaction between Maggie and her new K-9 handler, Scott. Both were wounded in their previous jobs - Maggie in Afghanistan and Scott as a police officer in L.A. Scott's injuries were serious enough to have him qualify for a medical retirement from the police force but his partner was killed when he was wounded and he is determined to apprehend the killers. He qualifies for the K-9 unit and receives his new partner, Maggie, just as he is brought back into the murder case of his partner. Scott and Maggie not only need to bond together but also start working together on the leads. The characters are finely drawn and both have lots of baggage from their previous personal tragedies. A good buddy story but one buddy is a dog. Nicely done.

[shaososa · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Robotham demonstrates he is a heavy hitter in the thriller genre.

[djupstrom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Not one of the best mysteries I have read, but it was good. It took a while for the story to get moving, but it ending with a bang.

[archangelsbooks · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Although the premise is quite promising, a wrong man scenario where the wrong man has Parkinson's Disease, the book never truly lives up to its promise. I found most of the plot to be predictable and forced. This is another example of a writer writing with the movies in mind. Also, to my mind, there were many passages that just did not ring true. I started an old Lovejoy mystery by Jonathan Gash after finishing Suspect, the writing is fresh, quick and natural - something Robotham could do well to study.

[toobusyreading · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This Audible audio version of the book moved at a fast pace, and was interesting, but didn't really resonate with me. A former military dog and a human both have PTSD, and need each other, but perhaps both will fail.The narrator's voice distracted from the story, especially when he did women's voices. Whiny, prissy, irritating – I don't think that is what he was trying for. His voice when praising the dog was silly, but his “command” voice sounded more like anger and panic than a firm command.The story line moved too fast. Within hours, things that would take weeks or months to accomplish with a damaged dog already happened. The time frame just was not right. Some of the dog-human interaction just didn't ring true. As an aside, dogs should not have to fight in human wars or be used as weapons. If humans choose war and violence, leave the animals out of it.

[boabflower_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A good story. This is the first on the Joe O'Loughlin series and they just get better.

[bonni208_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Kept me up at night. Great story. Suspenseful.

[Deyait Watson-Irvine · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As a dog lover, this book gave me the perspective from the dog. I found this refreshing and informative! I enjoyed the character development of Maggie, the dog as well as the humans, Scott in particular.

Great story, great narration! Take the time to listen. You’ll appreciate your dog more!

[mysterymax_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed the book and found his take on Maggie, the dog, interesting, but so far it doesn't rival the Elvis and Pike series.