Lost (Joe O'Loughlin Book 2)

Lost is the second book in the Joe O'Loughlin series. Written from the first person perspective of Vincent Ruiz, the Detective Inspector determined to find Joe guilty in Suspect, it commences with Ruiz clinging to a yellow buoy in the middle of the Thames, dazed, confused and shot. Admitted to hospital and placed in a coma, when Ruiz awakes, he has no memory of the events leading up to his immersion in the river or his wounds, only that it's somehow connected to a previous case of an abducted girl, a Russian criminal, a child molester and a grieving mother. With the help of his friend, psychologist, Joe O'Loughlin and a young policewoman, Alisha Barba, Ruiz has to not only piece together aspects of the old case, but recover his memories and discover who it is that's not only trying to frame him for crimes he didn't commit, but sabotage his career as well.At first I didn't think I was going to enjoy this book as much as I have the others in the Joe O'Loughlin series. For a start, I found it hard to get used to Ruiz as the first person point of view. His tone grated and I was still smarting from his attitude in Suspect (yes, I take these characters very seriously). However, as the novel went on, I became immersed in this psychological jigsaw, how the characters both divulged and withheld information, enabling or preventing Ruiz from discovering the information he so desperately needs. I also really enjoyed seeing Joe through Ruiz's eyes, witnessing his admiration and the almost begrudging warmth he feels for a man he once tried to arrest. Gaining insight into Ruiz's past as well as the relationship he has with his mother and children, why his marriages have failed and how he perceives himself were simultaneously poignant and downright tragic.Once more, the prose is sharp, evocative and moving. Dialogue crackles and is often laugh out loud funny and wise-arse. Ruiz's repartee is "take-no-prisoners" and yet, just as he can out-smart-alec the best of them, he's also capable of deep compassion. Likewise, in seeing Joe from another perspective, we also come to learn how his insights really do nurture and support those he offers them to and the type of reliable and ethical friend he can be. It was also nice to see Julianne through another man's eyes as well as Charlie and Emma. But it's in his fight for justice and peace of mind that Ruiz shines. Brave and loyal to a fault, there's no risk he won't take and literally no stone he'll leave unturned. As you would expect from the title, the notion of being "lost' is a theme of the novel - from losing one's memory, to a beloved, to one's place in the world - as a part of a family, position in society or career. The converse of lost is "found" and it's in the "finding" - the whys and wherefores of what is a physical, psychological and mental process - that the book draws its narrative trajectory, meaning and, ultimately, strength.Terrific, this is a fast-paced book that gives a new and fuller picture of O'Loughlin's world from a beloved character's point of view.

He is found in the Thames with a gunshot wound in his thigh. There are indications that there are at least 2 other injuries, if not fatalities. He has no memory of getting shot, why he was on or near the Thames, or why he has a photo of a child from a previous missing persons case, that was supposed to have been solved and the perpetrator jailed, in his pocket. Accused of being a dirty cop and faking his amnesia, Ruiz contacts Joe O’Loughlin to help him with his memory.

First Sentence: I remember someone once telling me that you know it's cold when you see a lawyer with his hands in his own pockets.DI Victor Ruiz is pulled from the Thames, nearly dead, with a serious gunshot and transient global amnesia.Three years previous, 7-year-old Mickey Carlyle disappeared from within her building. A neighbor was convicted and everyone assumed Mickey was killed. Victor never believed Mickey was dead.With the help of his friend, clinical psychologist Joseph O'Loughlin, Victor's memories return that he was shot helping deliver a ransom for Mickey's return. Now convinced she is alive, not even those trying to kill him will stop Victor until he finds her.Robotham set the hook with the first paragraph and kept me on the line until the very end. It is a gritty, fast paced psychological thriller, as well as a police procedural, but there is much more to it than that.The characters are well developed; you learn the backgrounds of each as they story unfolds. I particularly enjoyed that Joseph O'Loughlin, the protagonist from Robotham's first book, played a significant role in this book as well.I learned about the London sewer system and underground rivers, and transient global amnesia, which was fascinating.The plot was as twisty as the sewer system and kept surprising me all the way to the end. This was a great read and an author I'm so glad I found.

Robotham has joined my list of authors to read. I enjoyed this tale, especially now that I’ve learnt more about DI Ruiz. I like that him and Joe have mutual respect and a friendship..There are a lot of characters and I did have difficulty keeping every one straight.DI Ruiz is looking for a girl who was lost three years ago. Lots of twists and turns. A interesting plot that I didn’t know where it was going, but I loved the journey.Definitely four stars

This novel presented a reality test for me. Detective Ruiz is a man of at least 60 years (he told us he was on the police for 43 years) who has been in a coma for eight days due to a bullet wound in his leg where the exit wound is a large as a pie pan. And then, after his time in the coma, he begins his extremely physical escapades in the sewers of London and the muck of the Thames. Can you visualize the physical demands and the threat of infection?But regardless, I liked the book because the writing is good, the characters are developed and the plot is well paced for most of the book.Tying Ruiz's childhood trauma to the case he is working on brought empathy to the gruff, hardened character of Ruiz who I did enjoy.The time in the sewers is overdone and slows the pace of the novel. But the writing is realistic because I found myself grimacing and holding my breath at the thought of a trip through those vile, disgusting tunnels under London.Good job, Mr. Robotham. I have ordered your third book.

Die Krimis von Michael Robotham sind sehr gut geschrieben, spannend und glaubwürdig. Die Geschichten haben auch nichts zu tun mit üblichen Detektiv- und Polizeigeschichten, dafür umso mehr mit Psychologie.Der Buchhandel führt sie aber selten. Ärgerlich ist jedoch die Strategie der Verlage, den gleichen Text unter verschiedenen Titeln anzubieten. "Lost" ist identisch mit "The Drowning Man".

This book is identical to The Drowning Man by Michael Robotham so be careful you do not pay twice for the same book. If you have done so go to My Kindle - Aktionen and send it back.

I have enjoyed all of the books in this series and the two main characters are well written. Difficult to see how many more stories can continue to use these characters though as they are not in the best of health.

Book was in poor condition and overpriced.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a page turner and ripped along at a good pace. Unfortunately I bought LOST and DROWNING MAN at the same time and it turned out they were the same book.........beware!!Shenagh