The Suspect, Fiona Barton, author; Susan Duerden, Fiona Hardingham, Nicholas Guy Smith, Katherine McEwan, narrators.
Fiona Barton is a master storyteller. Her mysteries hold the reader’s attention from the first page to the last. This is the third installment in the Kate Waters series and it continues to be intriguing. The narrators of this audio book did a wonderful job of defining each character as a separate individual. There was little confusion in identifying each character as they spoke.
The author exposes the flaws of her characters as the novel plays out. Each takes little responsibility for their own choices and reactions, but rather, each blames those around them. Each grieves in their own unique way, as they face their personal traumas. Many of the characters are not that likeable, but they are all interesting. Some, however, are not as well developed as they could be, and often, when they are introduced or pop up, it is hard to place them back into the story.
The chapters are divided into sections on detectives investigating the case, the journalists covering it, the mothers and the missing young adults. Each character has a unique pattern of behavior, and as each character’s place in the story is defined, the reader learns the details. The mystery evolves slowly, often through secret emails and phone messages. In a country, Thailand, that is third world, technology plays an important role.
Kate Waters, a journalist, is following a story about two teens. Recently graduated from high school, they went on a trip to Thailand before facing their futures. Both are now missing. At first, it is assumed that they are simply so involved in travel and partying that they have not communicated as expected, but soon, other facts are discovered.
At the same time that Kate investigates the missing girls, she also wants to find her own son, also missing. He had gone to Thailand two years before, and now she has no idea where he is living, although she believes he is in Phuket doing good work for those in need. He rarely gets in touch. When she travels to Thailand to locate the missing girls, she also hopes to locate her son.
Jake Waters makes excuses for his foolish choices and is often irresponsible. Alex feels a sense of responsibility for her traveling partner, Rosie, and compassion for a young boy who wants to befriend her, Jamie, although she has no romantic interest in him. Her choices, while compassionate, are also irresponsible. Rosie is exploiting her new found freedom in decadent ways and is totally out of control. Both girls are naïve and unprepared for what faces them. The boys involved are either immature and/or troubled or free spirits. The parents are, perhaps, too laid back in their approach to their children’s desires. All of the characters, the detectives, reporters, mothers and teens made excuses for their behavior which were not well thought out at times, and were often selfish. They found it easier to blame others for their transgressions rather than face their own lack of judgment. Often, they were afraid to deal with the truth. Secrets were a major component of each character’s life.
I did not find the ending as satisfying as I had hoped. It was flat and abrupt and didn’t examine the final actions of the characters thoroughly, leaving many questions in my mind. Perhaps it was done deliberately in preparation for the next book in the series. One is left wondering, however, just how far a mother will go to protect a child, just how far a parent will go to become a friend and give the child enough rope to hang themselves, just how foolish it is to send a child off without preparing them appropriately, just how old does someone have to be before they can go off and travel on their own safely, just when does a child truly mature enough to make realistic and wise decisions? When does judgment develop? Is there an appropriate way to grieve? Why were such foolish decisions made? Who has the greatest influence on the decisions of each character? Should the parents have been more involved in the travel plans of their children? Are the traveling teens properly prepared for the dangers of drugs and alcohol before they set out on their trips? Are they mature enough to deal with the challenges they will face when they have new found freedom? These questions rise to a level of greater importance in the current political climate. Some of our political leaders are actually suggesting that teens are mature enough to make wise choices, and they are suggesting that 16 year olds should participate in our elections.
The book also truly touches on the behavior of the reporters, on their invasion of privacy, although that is actually often the job of reporters. It also touches on how detectives treat suspects and the information and facts they compile. Is any of this behavior appropriate? Is it admirable? Is it necessary? Is it even ethical? These are questions that should be explored, also in our current climate with “talking heads” influencing so many of our lives. How far will a young adult go to have fun and freedom? How far will a parent go to protect a child? How far will a reporter go to get a scoop? How far will a detective go to solve a case? What will each give up in their quest for success?
Are we trying too many people in the court of public opinion rather than through our legal system, before we know the facts? Are we rushing to judgment too often when we only have the innuendo and opinions of reporters who no longer adequately vet their information as they race to publish first and get the scoop? There are so many thoughtful questions that arise in the novel that I suggest this book for book club discussions?