14 August 2012

Crime Fiction Alphabet - M is Michael Robotham's SAY YOU'RE SORRY


I've decided that for my participation in the Crime Fiction Alphabet in 2012 I will highlight recently read books or their authors.

So they'll all come from my 2012 Reviews. Or at least that's the plan.


This week it is the turn of the letter M and today I'm featuring the launch today, August 14, of Michael Robotham's latest book SAY YOU'RE SORRY.

Robotham is one of Australia's finest crime fiction authors. At the beginning the books in this series didn't really feel like one, a series that is.

The first book in the series, SUSPECT, introduced psychologist Joe O'Loughlin, a man recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. DCI Vincent Ruiz makes a cameo appearance.

The second book LOST (aka THE DROWNING MAN) appeared to be a sequel, featuring near-retirement Vincent Ruiz, with a lesser appearance by O'Loughlin.
But still readers were not sure this was a series.

In #3 THE NIGHT FERRY DC Ali Barba, a minor character in LOST emerged in her own right, with assistance and mentoring from the now retired DI Vincent Ruiz. And at the end readers were asking whether there would be another. This novel made us wonder whether Robotham was establishing a series or not.

DCI Ali Barber hasn't made any more appearances but the series has rolled on with O'Loughlin and Ruiz seemingly making dual appearances, but rotating in importance.

The Suspect (2004)
Lost (2005)
     aka The Drowning Man
The Night Ferry (2007)
Shatter (2008)
     aka The Sleep of Reason
Bombproof (2009)
Bleed for Me (2010)
The Wreckage (2011)
Say You're Sorry (2012)

So here we are at #8. I think we have now got to the stage where we can expect both Joe O'Loughlin and Vincent Ruiz to make appearances. They complement each other really well.



If you need more convincing to look for Robotham titles, have a look at these awards.

THE WRECKAGE

  • Best General Fiction shortlist - Australian Book Industry Awards 2012

THE SUSPECT

  • International Book of the Month (Bertelsmann's Book Clubs)

LOST (aka THE DROWNING MAN)

  • Winner of Ned Kelly Award 2005 – Best Crime Novel
  • Shortlisted for the 2006 Barry Award – Best British Novel published in the US

THE NIGHT FERRY

  • Shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Award 2007
  • Shortlisted UK Crime Writers Association Steel Dagger in 2007

SHATTER

  • Winner of the Ned Kelly Award 2008 – Best Crime Novel
  • Shortlisted UK Crime Writers Association Steel Dagger in 2007
  • Shortlisted in the inaugural ITV3 Thriller Award (Breakthrough novelist)
  • Shortlisted for South Africa's Boeke Prize.

BLEED FOR ME

  • Shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Award 2010 - Best Crime Novel
  • Channel 4 Book Club selection (UK)
Check what others have contributed for the letter M in the Crime Fiction Alphabet 2012.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kerrie - Michael Robotham is so very talented isn't he? I do like the way that O'Loughlin and Ruiz work together in this series too. I'm glad they're both featured and I'm glad that they each get the chance to "star" in books.

Unknown said...

Series or not, he looks like an amazing author. Thanks for the look at this author. I'm putting him on my list.

Scott said...

Very interesting that Australia has a some very good authors.

gautami tripathy said...

I read Blood for Me and loved it! Will read more novels by Robotham...


Here is my CFA: M post

TracyK said...

A very detailed overview. I have one book by this author...the first one. Now that I know it has a series character and have read good things about the author here and at gautami tripathy's post, I will try to get to it before the end of the year.

Scott said...

The research list keeps getting longer and longer.... :)

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