Shatter (2008)

by Michael Robotham

Series: Joseph O'Loughlin (3)

Members	Reviews	Popularity	Average rating	Mentions
936	61	24,227	(3.94)	42
A naked woman in red high-heeled shoes is perched on the edge of Clifton Suspension Bridge with her back pressed to the safety fence, weeping into a mobile phone. Clinical psychologist Joseph O'Loughlin is only feet away, desperately trying to talk her down. She whispers, 'you don't understand,' and jumps. Later, Joe has a visitor - the woman's teenage daughter, a runaway from boarding school. She refuses to believe that her mother would have jumped off the bridge - not only would she not commit suicide, she is terrified of heights. Joe wants to believe her, but what would drive a woman to such a desperate act? Whose voice? What evil?… (more)

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Showing 1-5 of 57 (next | show all)

I am hooked on the Joe O'Loughlin series and this book has been the most compelling so far. Joe and Ruiz investigate the deaths of two women, which have similarities and connections. The plot is sinister and frightening and I'm pretty sure I will have nightmares about this. I couldn't put this down. (

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ravensfan | Aug 16, 2023 |

> ‘That night I said a prayer for her, but I left it too late, didn’t I? Nobody heard me.’ (

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breic | Apr 4, 2022 |

This book was another "cannot do anything else but listen to this" book. It was 13 disks! I listened to the first 11, then fell asleep. As soon as I woke up I popped in the last 2 disks. Shatter deals with crimes committed by psychological manipulation, which is incredibly hard to prove. What made the book compelling was the unexpected turns it took in all aspects, even day-to-day ones. I am going back to the first book of the series because I must. Michael Robotham is a fantastic author. (

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nab6215 | Jan 18, 2022 |

I knew where every "twist" was going.

Of course the bad guy goes after Joe's family.

Julianne says Joe has changed and is looking for some one to blame. Yes the Parkinson's disease has mad him more melancholy. Julianne blames him. She blames him for her missing time with the children. Julianne is mad at him for suspecting her of being unfaithful. But she takes no responsibility for her actions, If you don't want people to think you are having an affair you don't let the office Don Juan put his hands all over you, you don't accept gifts of lingerie and sexy dresses from him. (

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nx74defiant | Apr 21, 2021 |

After finishing this novel -- an impulse purchase whilst on vacation -- I was very surprised it received glowing praise from Stephen King. This is not a suspenseful story at all. The ending became obvious about one-third of the way through. I liked a few of the characters but was disappointed by the protagonist, particularly how he views and interacts with the women around him. (

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cygnoir | Jun 27, 2020 |

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Belongs to Series

Joseph O'Loughlin (3)

▾Awards and Honors

Awards

Barry Award (Nominee – British Novel – 2009)

Crime Writers' Association Awards (Shortlist – Ian Fleming Steel Dagger – 2008)

Ned Kelly Award (Winner – Novel – 2008)

RUSA CODES Reading List (Shortlist – Adrenaline – 2010)

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Canonical title

Shatter

Original title

Alternative titles

The Sleep of Reason

Original publication date

People/Characters

Important places

Bath, Somerset, England, UK

Bristol, England, UK

Somerset, England, UK

Important events

Related movies

Epigraph

'The sleep of reason produces monsters.' - Goya (The Caprichos)

'The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in him heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.' - Psalm 55:21

Dedication

This is for Mark Lucas, a friend first.

First words

It's eleven o'clock in the morning, late september, and outside it's raining so hard that cows are floating down rivers and birds are resting on their bloated bodies.

Quotations

"You don't understand," she whispers to me, lowering the phone. For the briefest of moments it dangles at the end of her fingers, as if trying to cling to her, and then tumbles away into the void.

Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

Publisher's editors

Blurbers

Barclay, Linwood

Original language

Canonical DDC/MDS

Canonical LCC

▾References

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (1)

Shatter (novel)

▾Book descriptions

A naked woman in red high-heeled shoes is perched on the edge of Clifton Suspension Bridge with her back pressed to the safety fence, weeping into a mobile phone. Clinical psychologist Joseph O'Loughlin is only feet away, desperately trying to talk her down. She whispers, 'you don't understand,' and jumps. Later, Joe has a visitor - the woman's teenage daughter, a runaway from boarding school. She refuses to believe that her mother would have jumped off the bridge - not only would she not commit suicide, she is terrified of heights. Joe wants to believe her, but what would drive a woman to such a desperate act? Whose voice? What evil?

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Book description

Christine Wheeler commits suicide by jumping off the Clifton Bridge.

Haiku summary