3.5 * I enjoyed this book but did not realise it was book 8 in a series and that spoiled it a little for me, a couple of instances where things that had happened previously were referenced. I might try book 1 and see what I think of that. To be honest I don't like reading out of sequence but I did like both the storyline and the main character and I did not work out the ending so that was good. ( )

A fantastic mystery that kept me guessing until the very end.
Excellent writing and believable characters.
Search this mystery out, it is worth it. ( )

"Close your Eyes" is the 8th book in the Joseph O'Loughlin series and this is the first I have read in this series. Joe O'Loughlin is a clinical psychologist with Parkinson who is estranged from his wife and two daughters. But they are still on friendly terms.

In this book, Joe is called in to help the police with a murder case where Milo Coleman a former student of his called the "Mindhunter” has used Joe's name to worm himself into the case and jeopardized the investigation by leaking details to the press. Joe also has some family problem when he learned that his estranged wife is in need of an operation...

For me when I read a book are there two things that are important; I need a good story, but I also need good human characters with flaws. The books I have the least chance of connecting to are those with very flat characters or characters that are superhuman, there is nothing they can't do. I like characters that are flawed, that shows weaknesses, that are not perfect. For me, one thing that really appealed with this story was that Joe O'Loughlin has Parkinson. And, he has a problematic home situation and a problem with saying no when the police ask for help. The case in the book is interesting, and it was nice to see it from the perspective of a clinical psychologist and not a police. The case in the book is interesting, and it was nice to see it from the perspective of a clinical psychologist and not a police. A mother and her daughter are found murdered and it seems that it has a connection to several attacks previous made on people. Now Joe and the police just have to find what lines the cases together,

Michael Robotham has created a very interesting character and this book is well written and I was so engrossed with the story that my plan to read the ending of the book, the last 20% of it the day after since it was late and I was tired, but I just couldn't stop reading and I did guess correctly (around the end) who the perpetrator was, but that didn't make the ending less nerve-racking and I'm not a crier when it comes to books, but the ending has me in bits with tears in my eyes.

Do I recommend this book? Oh yes, I recommend it but read from the beginning. I want to read from the beginning, but I also know what happens in book eight and that will make the previous seven books a bit sadder to read.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! ( )

3.5* ( )

4.5 stars.

Close Your Eyes by Michael Robotham is another cleverly written and tightly-plotted addition to the Joseph O’Loughlin series. In this latest mystery, Joe reluctantly agrees to consult on a murder case that has been compromised by his former student who uses their tenuous connection to inveigle his way into the investigation.

With few leads and the public clamoring for an arrest, Detective Chief Superintendent Veronica “Ronnie” Cray convinces Joe to take a look at the scene of the double homicide of Elizabeth Crowe and her university bound daughter Harper. The case has stymied the detectives and Ronnie hopes Joe can see something her team has missed. With a vocal radio announcer’s incendiary remarks riling up the village residents and psychologist Emilio Coleman aka “the Mindhunter” leaking confidential information to the press, the police and Joe are under intense pressure to solve this perplexing case before the killer strikes again.

No stranger to crime scenes, Joe is stunned by the brutal attack on Elizabeth Crowe. The violence inflicted during her murder is a stark contrast to the gentle manner in which Harper was murdered and almost lovingly arranged postmortem. Joe and the police cannot help but wonder if Elizabeth’s proclivity for sex in public places (dogging) might have put her in the crosshairs of the killer but this does not explain why Harper was murdered. During the course of the investigation, a long list of suspects begins to emerge, but Joe remains troubled by the very different ways in which the two women were murdered. When another woman is murdered, there are striking similarities to the unsolved murders of Elizabeth and Harper which leaves Joe convinced the cases are linked but will he find the connection before another attack?

In the midst of consulting on this current case, Joe’s personal life takes a rather unexpected turn. Long estranged from his wife, Julianne, the two have remained on relatively friendly terms as they co-parent their daughters Charlie and Emma. With eldest daughter Charlie about to begin college, Joe is surprised when Julianne asks him to move back into the family home for the summer. He, of course, quickly agrees since he is still deeply in love with Julianne and remains hopeful they will eventually reconcile.

Written in alternating perspective from Joe’s and an unknown person’s point of view, Close Your Eyes is an intriguing and suspense-laden police procedural. With a vast pool of suspects, shocking revelations and unexpected plot twists, Michael Robotham brilliantly keeps readers guessing the perpetrator’s identity until the pulse-pounding and action-packed conclusion. The novel ends on an emotional note that will stun readers and leave them wondering about the future of the Joseph O’Loughlin series. ( )