Bombproof: The misadventures of Sami Macbeth and other Michael Robotham gems

Michael Robotham is one of my favourite authors. I have read everything he has written to date, some books multiple times. I would have no hesitation in claiming that he is one of the most skilled storytellers I have ever read. His writing style draws me in, and his astute observations on humanity and society that are interwoven into his stories never fail to make me stop and think.

This post started out as a review of Bombproof, one of four Robotham standalones written to date. I've now updated the post to include my thoughts on the other three books. You can also check out my reviews of Robotham's series on forensic psychologist, Cyrus Haven, and the young woman rescued from horrific abuse that he helps in her healing journey, and the Joe O'Loughlin series about a clinical psychologist who consults with the police through Detective friend, Vincent Ruiz. My review to come on the latest Robotham series featuring PC Philomena McCarthy and her criminal family.

Bombproof | Published January 2008 | Read twice to date (2019 and 2022)

I'm writing this review after a second read of Bombproof, a story inspired by the 2005 London bombings and the police shooting of a Brazilian man two weeks later. This man was wrongly deemed to be involved in a subsequent failed bombing attempt.

Bombproof explores what happens when you're in the wrong place at the wrong time, something that Sami Macbeth experiences frequently in the novel. He's spent time in jail for this very thing, then once released, his bad luck continues. He is forced to fight to save his sister who is being used to coerce him into doing something he neither wants nor is able to do.

I love Sami! He's clever and loyal and quick with the one-liners. The story is fast-paced and kind of crazy, but I love that it shows how an ordinary guy brings a bunch of bad guys unstuck. The novel is quite graphic in bits, although the gritty, intense parts of the story are balanced out with humour.

The novel features another band of colourful characters who flesh the story out. Michael Robotham always seems to give depth to his peripheral characters and humanise them, even if they are doing the wrong thing. Retired DI Vincent Ruiz features in the story, the second key character in the author's Joe O'Loughlin series. You can never go wrong when Ruiz is involved!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Here's my review of the other three standalone Robotham books, also all awarded 5 stars, reviewed in order of publication.

The secrets she keeps | Published July 2017

The premise for The secrets she keeps goes something like this: Everyone has an idea of what it means to have a perfect life. For Agatha, this perfection is in the form of Meghan Shaughnessy, a woman she engineers a friendship with after a chance encounter. Both women are pregnant, but from vastly different backgrounds. The one thing they have in common is a dangerous secret that could destroy everything they hold dear. Both will risk everything to hide the truth.

The book takes the idea of envy and runs with it in a gripping and compelling way, hurtling towards a dark conclusion as both women go down pathways that force their secrets to be revealed. The book alternates between Agatha and Meghan's perspectives and Robotham elevates the basic premise around secrets and lies to another level, producing an intriguing character-driven psychological thriller that had me ploughing through the book to find out what happens.

Robotham has created two inherently flawed but believable women in Agatha and Meghan. The reader knows terrible things are on the horizon, but Robotham's consummate storytelling, even pacing, and strong characterisations take the reader on a compelling journey to the story's shocking conclusion. The book continually asks the reader to reflect on what it means to be a flawed human, how thin the veil of perfection really is, and just how far one might go to keep a life-altering secret.

"We need the darkness to appreciate the light, and the bumps along the road to stop us from falling asleep at the wheel.”

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Life or death | Published January 2014

Life or death is one of all-time favourite books. It's the only novel Robotham has written to date that is set in the US. It also has quite a different tone to his other standalone books, but Robotham's incredible skill as a storyteller makes this book an unforgettable read.

The main protagonist, Audie Palmer, has spent ten years in a Texas prison after pleading guilty to a robbery in which four people died and seven million dollars went missing. Audie has had a rubbish time in prison, to say the least, copping all kinds of harassment and beatings as everyone want to know where the money is hidden. Just before Audie is due to be released, he vanishes. Why would he do that?

It has been some years since I read Life or death and I really should re-read it. I am writing this review from memory and from reflecting on a bunch of Goodreads community reviews. The story unfolds at a cracking pace, as Audie reflects on the past while being chased by the FBI and the bad guys. I was captivated by the story from the very first page and Robotham kept me guessing throughout.

Like Sami in Bombproof, I absolutely adored Audie, and I was rooting for him the whole way through the book. The story is a wild ride, with lots of actions and twists and turns. It's hard to say anything too much about the plot without giving it away; suffice to say, the story is so clever that it had me marvelling at its layers and construction. Trust me and go read the book for yourself. It's a powerful example of Robotham's storytelling skills that almost made me cheer when I got to the end of the book. Bravo, Michael Robotham!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Night ferry | Published July 2007

The night ferry features a minor character from one of the Joe O'Loughlin books, DC Ali Barba.  I love Ali Barba and wish that Robotham would make a series from her character. She's tough and determined, recovering from a crippling injury after chasing down a murder suspect. Ali's personal life is interspersed with her professional one, but just enough to flesh out her character. Her Sikh background adds another element of interest and depth. It helps that The night ferry also, like Bombproof, features DI Vincent Ruiz (retired), one of my all time favourite book detectives. Ali's working partnership with her former mentor to bring down the bad guys in The night ferry is a joy to read.

The crime part of the book is set up via a connection between Ali and her friend, Cate, who has gone to great lengths to have a baby of her own. After a terrible thing happens to Cate, Ali is determined to uncover the truth, embarking upon a dangerous journey that leads her from London's East End to Amsterdam, into the murky world inhabited by ruthless men taking advantage of desperate asylum seekers and illegal surrogate pregnancies.

Even though it's ages since I read The night ferry, it has left a lasting impression on me, as have all of Robotham's standalones. The books is intense and compelling, a beautifully crafted story that asks the reader to consider how far they might go to have a baby when all other avenues have failed. While the story is at its heart a crime thriller, it's also an authentic human story, about how easy it is for vulnerable people to be exploited, where human rights, morals and ethics go out the window. I was on board with the story from the get-go and was glued to its pages throughout my reading journey. The book is yet another example of Robotham's masterful storytelling.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐