Life or Death

If you don't stop wasting time reading reviews and dithering, instead of doing everything even remotely within the bounds of legality to immediately obtain a copy, you deserve to be duct taped to your couch and forced to watch The Shopping Channel non-stop until 2020! Being a bibliophile geezer, I've been devouring thrillers since the first grade, where I was so bored I thought I might be dead. In any case, " Life or Death" is hands down, one of the 4 or 5 best thrillers that I've ever read out of literally hundreds! Serious WARNING: Do NOT begin this book after 6:00 PM unless prepared to stay up all night until you hit p.418, or else notice multiple fire engines pulling up to your house while semi-hysterical family members ruin your concentration. It's so exciting and well written that I'd gladly buy and read Robotham's "To Do" lists. Since Amazon doesn't seem to have them, I think I'll just buy every book he's ever written, has begun writing, or is thinking about writing.

In an earlier review of Robotham’s works, I said they should come with a health warning as they render the reader unable to sleep. I want to correct that statement and instead recommend they be issued as a cure for narcolepsy, because I defy anyone to try and sleep while reading his latest work, Life or Death, because I sure as hell could not.While I will read anything this man writes, I initially thought this was to be another in his Joseph O’Loughlin series and kept waiting for one of my favourite fictive characters (and his cop buddy, Vincent Ruiz) to make an entry. They don’t. This novel isn’t part of the O’Loughlin series and I initially experienced a small flash of disappointment that was swiftly staunched. That’s because this novel is a tremendous standalone with a fabulous premise: why would a man escape from prison the day before he’s due to be released?Why indeed.That question is enough to arouse anyone’s curiousity, and I wondered how Robotham was going to pull off the story of Audie Palmer, a young man convicted of armed robbery ten years earlier and in which four people died, who flees his jail cell the day before he’s given state-sanctioned freedom for serving time. Reviled outside the prison, hounded endlessly within, Palmer’s life has been one of misery and hardship – so why does he make it worse by escaping? Why risk adding 20-25 years to his sentence by becoming a felon once more?Palmer’s escape sets in motion a series of events over which he appears to have no control. Hunted by the authorities and criminals alike, Palmer is on a mission, but will he succeed and what’s the nature of this mission? Why didn’t he just wait one more day and walk from behind bars a free man?This was a simply sensational tale. Taut, fast-paced, filled with believable characters, Robotham’s cracking dialogue, and original descriptions, I couldn’t put this down. Not only do the people come to life as the present and past unfold, but the different settings, the American landscape from the borders with Mexico to Texas, also develop a life of their own. You can smell the heat, taste the brackish water or the greasy eggs in an out-of-the-way diner, feel the sand, hear the flyscreens squeaking on rusty hinges as forlorn and deadbeat extras make an appearance. Despite having a horrible headache that required codeine, I stayed up till 3am to finish the book. I had to know what happened to Audie (who you come to champion so hard it hurts!), I had to know why he did what he did. The plot doesn’t only thicken in this novel, as back-stories and flashbacks weave their way in, laying solid foundations upon which the present is built, it sets harder than concrete making the conclusion one, though you don’t see it coming until the end, marvellously strong and utterly satisfying.The only downside is that I have finished the damn thing and now have a long wait for Robotham’s next book. But if you like crime novels, edge of your seat thrillers, character driven works that also pay homage to setting, and are just superbly written, then I cannot recommend this highly enough.

With Life or Death Michael Robotham continues in his role as one of the top new voices in international crime writing. Now (writing from Australia) he turns to American regional crime fiction. He is not the first writer to do so. Tim Willocks (Bloodstained Kings, Green River Rising) has preceded him on this path, but it is still quite impressive to see British and Commonwealth writers pull this off with such a sure hand.Life or Death introduces us to Audie Palmer. Audie has been sentenced to ten years in prison for his putative participation in a 7-mil armored truck heist. In a move that strikes everyone as verging on the insane, Audie breaks out of prison the day before his sentence is completed. This constitutes the first mystery (of many) which the book presents. The fact that Audie is named after the most decorated hero of WWII offers an indication that the protagonist of the book will also prove to be the hero of the book.Much of the book proceeds by backstory, particularly the account of Audie’s love for the undocumented, Salvadoran mistress of his criminal employer. As expected (mini-spoiler alert), if Audie is innocent of the charges that have landed him in prison (second big mystery: why did he confess to being guilty?) someone else was guilty and that person or persons will wish to silence Audie and keep him from implicating him/them.There are two simultaneous plotlines that add to the tension. One of Audie’s jailmates, a black man named Moss (a misspelling on a birth certificate which should have read ‘Moses’) is unexpectedly freed from prison by shadowy figures and ordered to hunt down Audie. Meanwhile a very short dwarf-like character named Desiree Furness—an FBI special agent—is conducting her own investigation of Audie’s escape and the crime for which he was sentenced. Desiree (as we might expect) falls afoul of the official authorities in this quest.The characters are fascinating, the plot both complex and riveting. The local color is done very well, down to the portrayal of particular Houston neighborhoods and the sprawling city’s roadhouses, smells and derelict places. Once caught in MR’s plot web there is no way that you can extricate yourself. I tried to catch a few pages before dinner. When I finally had to stop I realized that I had read over 120 pp. and that the late afternoon sun had faded to gray.Two small quibbles. The copy editor should have altered some of the Britishisms which occasionally arise. Salvadoran children, e.g., do not say that they ‘need to have a wee.’ Also, the occasional partisan political aside does not advance the story, but is actually a distraction.Bottom line: a superb exploration of new ground by Michael Robotham.

Audie Palmer's Dad always told him to hang on like a one armed man (that's one reference to the Fugitive but I was thinking more of the chase scenes and the interaction between the escapee and the authorities). There's definitely echoes of Shawshank too but this story has it's own tale to tell.I've read quite a few of Michael Robotham's books but this is the first standalone book I've read by him. His books are usually set in the UK despite him being an Australian writer but this time he's located the book in the USA, mainly in Texas but with some parts set in California. I really enjoy this author's writing style and this book is no exception. It's an exciting read with a great start, why would anyone escape jail one day before the day they are to be released? We go backwards and forwards in time to tell the story which ends in a great tying together in an explosive conclusion.The characterisation is good, whilst not always believable (an FBI agent in high heels, really?) but the storyline is compelling with excellent writing. I'd definitely recommend it.

Ever since Rowbotham's magnificent thriller, Shatter, I've been hoping to find its equal, but in vain. So it was with this novel.I won't summarise the plot since so many other reviewers have already done so. Suffice it to say that it is a good novel - not to my mind a thriller, but a well-writen book, with a likeable hero (Audi, the escaped prisoner with a big secret), pursuing cops (with personalities and their own agendas), love interest, and a well thought out storyline. However, for me, it was a bit confusing in places, and the story didn't really gather pace until the second half. At this stage, the story really did take off, and towards the end I couldn't wait to find out what would happen. Would Audi be vindicated? And if there were baddies, who were they, and would they get their come-uppance? What was the big secret?In summary, I enjoyed this novel but with reservations. Just about 4 stars.

A wanted man!! Who hatch a plan to escape prison. But for what?? For revenge?? To find his true love?? To find something more precious?? An action story with a lot more detail than meets the eye. A brilliant, griping story and on that will have you hooked.

I have read other books by this author and although this is a different theme I loved it. At first I thought it might be ok, then as I got into it I was hooked. I felt so sad for the main character and willed him on through his crazy journey. I could not stop reading and had to stay up late to finish it. Although I guessed who was who it did not spoil things for me. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend to anyone.

The best book I’ve ever read. Totally captivating from the first sentence and I kept finding myself holding my breath for the next twist and turn.