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Sphere, May 2007
Reviewed by Kerrie Smith
Thriller/crime
THE NIGHT FERRY is a fascinating book even if you only look at it from the
point of view of how it fits with Michael Robotham's earlier books. His
first was THE SUSPECT where the central character was psychologist Joseph
O'Loughlin. In a sense the second book, LOST (also published as THE
DROWNING MAN) was a sequel to SUSPECT, with the same two main characters,
Detective Inspector Vincent Ruiz and psychologist Joe O'Loughlin. Whereas
SUSPECT focused on O'Loughlin's predicament, LOST focuses on Ruiz.
Now in THE NIGHT FERRY Detective Constable Alisha (Ali) Barba, a minor
character in LOST, emerges in her own right, with assistance and mentoring
from the now retired DI Vincent Ruiz. Ali Barba is still on medical leave,
nearly recovered after her back was broken by a murder suspect a year
earlier (in LOST). Now she is in limbo, her employers unable to decide
where to place her.
There is to be a re-union of classmates at Ali's old school. She receives
a note from former classmate and best friend Cate, from whom she has been
estranged for eight years. Cate says she is in trouble and asks Ali to
come to the reunion. When they meet briefly Alisha sees that Cate is
pregnant and Cate talks of people who are trying to take her baby. After
the reunion Cate and her husband are knocked down by a taxi. The husband
is killed and Cate is critically injured. Subsequent medical examination
reveals that Cate was never pregnant.
From this tantalising beginning, Robotham builds a cleverly crafted story,
and the character of Ali Barba grows and grows. We explore the
consequences of a police force that moves too slowly, a justice system
that refuses to charge criminals because it is not "in the public
interest", and the greed of those who see children as a saleable
commodity. In true mystery style, things are not always as they seem and
we discover the truth through Ali Barba's eyes.
I have read all three of Robotham's books. THE SUSPECT hooked me. I found
LOST very dark but nevertheless intriguing and I remember thinking I must
keep an eye out for the next. THE NIGHT FERRY is an excellent read. Has
Robotham left the door open for another? The last line holds hope. "The
end of one story is merely the beginning of the next."
For those who want to keep in touch with Michael Robotham, his website at
http://www.michaelrobotham.com/aus/index.htm details his coming
appearances and you can join his newsletter list. He also has a presence
at CrimeSpace at
http://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Michaelrobotham.
May 2007 Review
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