A master of the dark genre

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Close Your Eyes
Michael Robotham
Paperback, 392 pages
Published August 2015 by Sphere

I have never read a Michael Robotham novel and after ‘Close your Eyes’ I will be picking up the seven other books in the series. This is a cracking read, can be read as a standalone, is full of twists and turns with a great lead character.
Joe O’Loughlin is a clinical psychologist who is struggling to cope with his physical limitations and a desire to reunite with his family. He is trying to leave behind a career that has almost destroyed him and along comes a phone call that throws him back into the deep end. A mother and daughter are found murdered in a remote farmhouse and what seems to be isolated event turns into a complex investigation.
Robotham’s writing is sharp and concise, he keeps the story moving along and engaging. I was drawn into the novel and it is a cliché but it’s true, this is a real page turner. The characters Robotham has created are well formed and have flaws. I love characters that are not perfect as you can empathise with their concerns about family, careers and friends. Joe O’Loughlin is a complicated character as he deals with Parkinson’s, his family and also solving a brutal crime.
There are a lot of crime writers out there but Robotham for me is a real stand out in the field. He really does capture the reader into a very dark world.
Thanks to Hachette for an advanced copy and you can find out more about Michael Robotham at his website.

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