Shatter (novel)
The Night Ferry | |
| Followed by | Bombproof |
|---|---|
Shatter is a 2008 psychological thriller novel written by the Australian author Michael Robotham.[1]
Plot outline
Professor Joseph O'Loughlin (referred to as Joe throughout the novel) is tasked by the police with stopping a woman, Christine Wheeler, from committing suicide, only to fail. When Wheeler's teenage daughter appears onto his doorstep, she insists that her mother would not have jumped off a bridge as she did, for she was not suicidal and had a fear of heights. Haunted by his failure to save her and driven by a need to understand what caused her death, Joe searches for the truth, only to be caught up in a string of murders all while dealing with his own problems with Parkinson's disease and his marriage.
Awards
- Ned Kelly Awards for Crime Writing, Best Novel, 2008: winner[2]
- Crime Writers' Association (UK), The CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, Best Thriller, 2008: shortlisted[3]
Reviews
Sue Turnbull, in The Age, was impressed with the novel: "Thematically complex, artfully structured, beautifully written and observed, Shatter confirms Robotham's place in the front row of crime."[4]
Reviewing the book in Dark Scribe magazine, Rick R. Reed compared the villain to Thomas Harris's Hannibal Lecter and went on: "Shatter really has it all when it comes to the thriller genre: it’s fast-paced, has uniquely and wonderfully-drawn characters, contains a great mystery at its center, and makes you want to read more from Michael Robotham."[5]
References
- ^ "National Library of Australia - Shatter by Michael Robotham". Archived from the original on 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
- ^ "Previous Winners: Best Fiction". Australian Crime Writers Association. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ "Shortlist announced for 2008 CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger award". MI6 Headquarters. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ ""Shatter - Book Reviews" by Sue Turnbull, The Age, 28 April 2008". Archived from the original on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2008.
- ^ ""Shatter / Michael Robotham" by Rick R. Reed, Dark Scribe, 1 August 2009". Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016.