Title: Shatter
Author: Michael Robotham
First published January 1, 2008
496 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780316187428 (ISBN10: 0316187429)
Rating: 4.13
Overview
In a heart-pumping psychological thriller, Michael Robotham introduces us to Joe O’Loughlin, a psychologist who finds himself in a familiar yet terrifying situation – trying to stop someone from jumping off a bridge. But when the woman falls to her death, Joe is haunted by his failure to save her.
That is, until her daughter comes to him with a shocking revelation – her mother would never have committed suicide, she was afraid of heights. As Joe delves deeper into the case, he discovers a sinister force at work, an adversary who destroys his victims from the inside out.
With Robotham’s signature style of pitch-perfect dialogue and unpredictable plot twists, Shatter is a gripping read that will keep even the most avid thriller readers on the edge of their seats.
About the Author
Michael Robotham, an award-winning author, was born in Australia in November 1960. He grew up in small country towns with more dogs than people and more flies than dogs.
Michael began his career as a cadet journalist on an afternoon newspaper in Sydney and spent the next fourteen years working for newspapers and magazines across the globe in Europe, Africa, America, and Australia.
During his tenure as a senior feature writer for the UK’s Mail on Sunday, Michael had the privilege of viewing the letters and diaries of Czar Nicholas II and his wife Empress Alexandra, which were unearthed in the Moscow State Archives in 1991. He also gained access to Stalin’s Hitler files, which had been missing for nearly fifty years until a cleaner stumbled upon a cardboard box that had been misplaced and misfiled.
In 1993, Michael decided to quit journalism and become a ghostwriter. He collaborated with politicians, pop stars, psychologists, adventurers, and showbusiness personalities to write their autobiographies.
Twelve of these non-fiction titles have been bestsellers with combined sales exceeding 2 million copies.
Michael’s 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.
Since then, Michael’s psychological thrillers have been translated into twenty-five languages, and his Joe O’Loughlin series is currently in development for TV by World Productions. In 2020, a six-part TV series based on his standalone novel ‘THE SECRETS SHE KEEPS’ aired on BBC1, and a second series is set to begin filming in 2021.
Michael currently resides in Sydney with his wife and a diminishing number of dependent daughters.
Editoral Review
Shatter by Michael Robotham is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. Robotham, an Australian author and journalist, has received critical acclaim for his crime novels, which are known for their complex characters and plot twists.
The novel is set in contemporary London, and the story follows the life of a forensic psychologist named Joseph O’Loughlin. O’Loughlin is tasked with investigating the murder of a young girl who has been found on a construction site.
As he delves deeper into the case, he discovers that the killer may have a personal connection to him. Shatter is a masterful exploration of the human psyche, and Robotham’s characters are among the most complex and well-drawn in the genre.
O’Loughlin, in particular, is a fascinating character, one that readers will find themselves rooting for despite his flaws. Robotham’s writing is sharp and engrossing, and he has a talent for building tension and suspense.
The pacing of the novel is excellent, with each twist and turn pulling the reader further into the story. One of the strengths of Shatter is its exploration of themes related to mental illness and trauma.
Robotham handles these topics with sensitivity and insight, and he shows how these issues can impact not only individuals but also society as a whole. The only real weakness of the novel is its occasionally predictable plot twists.
Some readers may see them coming from a mile away, though Robotham still manages to keep the story engaging and suspenseful throughout. Overall, Shatter is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers.
It is a well-crafted, emotionally resonant novel that will stay with readers long after they have finished the final page. Washington Post gives the novel a rating of 9 out of 10.
