Suspect by Robert Crais

Robert Crais' newly released Suspect is not about Joe Pike or Elvis Cole.  Instead he introduces two new characters, LAPD officer Scott James and Maggie, his German Sheppard K-9 partner.  James was on the fast track in the department with a career path to SWAT in his sight before he and his former partner, Stephanie were caught in a shoot out.  James was shot three times but survived while his partner died thinking James was abandoning her as he retreated to call for backup.  Maggie is a former USMC dog trained to sniff explosives.  Her human partner too was killed and she was wounded in an ambush by the enemy in Afghanistan.  Both James and Maggie now suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and are suspect in their abilities to perform under fire.  James having no experience with dogs takes this K-9 assignment hoping to save his career and come to grips with his demons within.  He has no experience with dogs but immediately identifies with Maggie and demands she be his partner.

Meanwhile, James takes to investigating his former partner’s murder on his own time and the newly assigned investigators of that case invite him in.  Sifting through the evidence, James finds a broken watch band from the scene now tagged and bagged.  Maggie is able to ultimately identify the owner by smell and James discovers the man is a witness to the crime.  As the investigation unfolds, James becomes convinced fellow LAPD officers and detectives may be involved in the crime.  As his bond with Maggie grows, he soon realizes she is the only colleague he can truly trust.

Scott James is a much different hero than Cole or Pike.  He is not the infallible warrior but a troubled vulnerable man seeking redemption and resurrection of his spirit from the depths of shame and fear. Little did he know that his emotional recovery lie in a relationship with a dog.

I attended a Crais book signing event at our local library this past week. Crais admits the risk he took deviating from his tried-and-true characters, Cole and Pike.  Seems this is an idea he’s had for some time and convinced his publishers to chill out.  Rest assured Cole and Pike will return but good to know Crais has some versatility.  This was a good read particularly for dog lovers.

 

Someone asked Crais if we would be seeing him at poker night on ABC’s Castle series.  You know, the one with Connelly, Lehane and Cannell.  He said he’s not been asked.  Bummer.