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Todeskampf
Detective Constable Alisha Barba ist zutiefst beunruhigt, als sie ihrer Freundin Cate nach Jahren wiederbegegnet. Die hochschwangere Cate ist davon überzeugt, dass jemand hinter ihrem ungeborenen Baby her ist. Alisha will ihrer verzweifelten Freundin helfen, doch nur wenig später liegt Cate im Koma – sie wurde von einem Auto angefahren. Nachdem die Polizei das Ereignis als Unfall abgehakt hat, beginnt Alisha, auf eigene Faust zu ermitteln, und gerät in einen Sumpf aus Sex und Gewalt ...
480 pages, Paperback
First published July 10, 2007
689 people are currently reading
2893 people want to read
About the author
Michael Robotham
53 books7,233 followersTwo-times Gold Dagger winner (2015 and 2020), twice Edgar best novel finalist (2016 and 2020) and winner of the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger (2021), Michael Robotham was born in Australia in November 1960 and grew up in small country towns that had more dogs than people and more flies than dogs. He escaped became a cadet journalist on an afternoon newspaper in Sydney.
For the next fourteen years he worked for newspapers and magazines in Australia, Europe, Africa and America. As a senior feature writer for the UK’s Mail on Sunday he was among the first people to view the letters and diaries of Czar Nicholas II and his wife Empress Alexandra, unearthed in the Moscow State Archives in 1991. He also gained access to Stalin’s Hitler files, which had been missing for nearly fifty years until a cleaner stumbled upon a cardboard box that had been misplaced and misfiled.
In 1993 he quit journalism to become a ghostwriter, collaborating with politicians, pop stars, psychologists, adventurers and showbusiness personalities to write their autobiographies. Twelve of these non-fiction titles have been bestsellers with combined sales of more than 2 million copies.
His first novel 'THE SUSPECT', a psychological thriller, was chosen by the world’s largest consortium of book clubs as only the fifth “International Book of the Month”, making it the top recommendation to 28 million book club members in fifteen countries.
Since then, Michael's psychological thrillers have been translated into twenty-five languages and his Joe O'Loughlin series is are currently in development for TV by World Productions. A six-part TV series based upon his standalone novel THE SECRETS SHE KEEPS was aired on BBC1 in 2020, and a second series begins filming in 2021.
Michael lives in Sydney with his wife and a diminishing number of dependent daughters.
For the next fourteen years he worked for newspapers and magazines in Australia, Europe, Africa and America. As a senior feature writer for the UK’s Mail on Sunday he was among the first people to view the letters and diaries of Czar Nicholas II and his wife Empress Alexandra, unearthed in the Moscow State Archives in 1991. He also gained access to Stalin’s Hitler files, which had been missing for nearly fifty years until a cleaner stumbled upon a cardboard box that had been misplaced and misfiled.
In 1993 he quit journalism to become a ghostwriter, collaborating with politicians, pop stars, psychologists, adventurers and showbusiness personalities to write their autobiographies. Twelve of these non-fiction titles have been bestsellers with combined sales of more than 2 million copies.
His first novel 'THE SUSPECT', a psychological thriller, was chosen by the world’s largest consortium of book clubs as only the fifth “International Book of the Month”, making it the top recommendation to 28 million book club members in fifteen countries.
Since then, Michael's psychological thrillers have been translated into twenty-five languages and his Joe O'Loughlin series is are currently in development for TV by World Productions. A six-part TV series based upon his standalone novel THE SECRETS SHE KEEPS was aired on BBC1 in 2020, and a second series begins filming in 2021.
Michael lives in Sydney with his wife and a diminishing number of dependent daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 509 reviews
October 11, 2017
I always enjoy this authors books and The Night Ferry was no exception. As usual there was plenty of action and suspense and some interesting police work in more than one country. A little bit of romance between the main character and her policeman boy friend was nice and it was great when a familiar character popped up in the form of Vincent Ruiz. It is always fun when an author pops in a character from his other books.
The story revolves around human trafficking and it gets a bit bogged down from time to time. Actually from the moment Alesha boards the night ferry events become rather over the top but it is all good entertainment.
Altogether a good read.
The story revolves around human trafficking and it gets a bit bogged down from time to time. Actually from the moment Alesha boards the night ferry events become rather over the top but it is all good entertainment.
Altogether a good read.
October 6, 2022
This authors books are so easy to read with captivating characters with lots of dialogue. Although this a stand alone book there are a couple of characters from the first 2 of his books which are part of the Joe O’Loughlin series, of which The Suspect recently aired on British TV.
The plot is crafted together very well and just heart breaking at times.
I loved the William Boyd quote from the Blue Afternoon.
‘Love and pain are not the same. Love is put to the test - pain is not. You do not say if pain, as you do of love, “That was not true pain or it would not have disappeared so quickly” ‘
Very apt for a book that touches the heart.
The plot is crafted together very well and just heart breaking at times.
I loved the William Boyd quote from the Blue Afternoon.
‘Love and pain are not the same. Love is put to the test - pain is not. You do not say if pain, as you do of love, “That was not true pain or it would not have disappeared so quickly” ‘
Very apt for a book that touches the heart.
February 7, 2017
This is Michael Robotham's third book. Although labeled as a stand alone, this book's main character, Alisha Barba, appeared as a minor character in a previous book. Retired detective Vincent Ruiz from the Joe O'Loughlin series plays a part in this book as well. I believe it works well as a stand alone.
Alisha is a Sikh detective. Her personal and professional lives, her determination, and her self-doubts made her very likable. "New Boy" Dave is a saint.
Robotham maintains his writing style in this book, and I really enjoy that. His characters are well developed and realistic. The plot was intricate and involved orphan refugees, surrogate mothers, and some slimy individuals.
I'm looking forward to reading Robotham's other stand alone novels.
Alisha is a Sikh detective. Her personal and professional lives, her determination, and her self-doubts made her very likable. "New Boy" Dave is a saint.
Robotham maintains his writing style in this book, and I really enjoy that. His characters are well developed and realistic. The plot was intricate and involved orphan refugees, surrogate mothers, and some slimy individuals.
I'm looking forward to reading Robotham's other stand alone novels.
October 13, 2017
This was a slow boiler that took a while to get started but it was an engaging read and although slow at times it picked up well and made for an interesting read.
DC Alisha Barba is back on the force after a near career ending injury when she gets a distressed note from Cate, an estranged friend asking to meet up with her at their school reunion. However, before she has a chance to talk to Cate she and her husband are hit and killed by a speeding driver. Alisha can't believe this was an accident and starts to investigate the driver and the events that made Cate reach out to her after so many years. What she discovers takes her into the murky work of asylum seekers, surrogate pregnancies and ruthless men. Assisting her is her sometime boyfriend DS Dave King and an old friend retired DI Vincent Ruiz (familiar to those who have read the author's Joseph O'Loughlin series).
It's always a delight to read a novel by Michael Robotham and this was no exception. It's also interesting to see how much he has matured as a writer since this earlier work, which I still very much admired and enjoyed.
DC Alisha Barba is back on the force after a near career ending injury when she gets a distressed note from Cate, an estranged friend asking to meet up with her at their school reunion. However, before she has a chance to talk to Cate she and her husband are hit and killed by a speeding driver. Alisha can't believe this was an accident and starts to investigate the driver and the events that made Cate reach out to her after so many years. What she discovers takes her into the murky work of asylum seekers, surrogate pregnancies and ruthless men. Assisting her is her sometime boyfriend DS Dave King and an old friend retired DI Vincent Ruiz (familiar to those who have read the author's Joseph O'Loughlin series).
It's always a delight to read a novel by Michael Robotham and this was no exception. It's also interesting to see how much he has matured as a writer since this earlier work, which I still very much admired and enjoyed.
January 13, 2020
Another blind purchase from this gem of a bookstore, I'd heard good things about Michael Robotham, but hadn't read any of his work, this looked a good place to start, a detective crime thriller, sounds good.
Minor Spoilers
Alisha Barba is back on the Police force after a nasty injury, she is contacted by an old school friend Cate Beaumont, who is 8 months pregnant and wants to meet Alisha at their old School reunion, they fell out almost a decade ago and haven't spoke since so Alisha suspects Cate is in trouble, shes right.
Before she confides in Alisha, Cate and her husband are run over seemingly accidentally, and it's revealed Cate wasn't pregant at all, why was she lying? and why was the Ulsterman behind the wheel using a dead man's identity.
After meeting up with a Doctor and gynaecologist at a family get together, Alisha realises Cate was into something heavy, and being desperate to conceive a child, got herself involved in illegal surrogate births and discovers she was in over her head involving ruthless trafficking gangs.
She travels to Amsterdam with her old mentor DI Ruiz, and with her boyfriend Dave unofficially helping her investigation, she discovers more, and unravels some horrifying discoveries.
This was a very enjoyable read, the book flew by and was a page turner, I thought the ending was a bit rushed and wasn't as good as the rest of the book, but would still recommend to anyone and would definitely check out more of Robotham's work, I'll knock off half a star for the ending, but still well worth a read.
3.75 Stars.
Minor Spoilers
Alisha Barba is back on the Police force after a nasty injury, she is contacted by an old school friend Cate Beaumont, who is 8 months pregnant and wants to meet Alisha at their old School reunion, they fell out almost a decade ago and haven't spoke since so Alisha suspects Cate is in trouble, shes right.
Before she confides in Alisha, Cate and her husband are run over seemingly accidentally, and it's revealed Cate wasn't pregant at all, why was she lying? and why was the Ulsterman behind the wheel using a dead man's identity.
After meeting up with a Doctor and gynaecologist at a family get together, Alisha realises Cate was into something heavy, and being desperate to conceive a child, got herself involved in illegal surrogate births and discovers she was in over her head involving ruthless trafficking gangs.
She travels to Amsterdam with her old mentor DI Ruiz, and with her boyfriend Dave unofficially helping her investigation, she discovers more, and unravels some horrifying discoveries.
This was a very enjoyable read, the book flew by and was a page turner, I thought the ending was a bit rushed and wasn't as good as the rest of the book, but would still recommend to anyone and would definitely check out more of Robotham's work, I'll knock off half a star for the ending, but still well worth a read.
3.75 Stars.
August 6, 2019
This is the fourth book I've read by Michael Robotham and I have not been disappointed yet! The story lines are realistic, the tension is nerve jangling, the emotions run high, and I've come to the end amazed, excited, and a little breathless. Read at your own risk!
My favorite quote from The Night Ferry
"Paranoia is not reality on a finer scale; it is a foolish reaction to unanswered questions."
DC Alisha Barbar is more than ready to return to the job. She's been on long term injury leave after sustaining a broken back while apprehending a kidnapper during her last case. The Dr's rebuilt her spine with steel and after months in the hospital, not only can she walk, she can run again. Maybe not Olympic worthy speeds as before but considering the potentially devastating injury, extremely well.
There's a school reunion coming up which she has no intention of attending. Especially since Cate will be there. Alisha and Cate had been best friends since they were children until eight years ago when something unforgivable happened, Cate proclaimed her hatred of Alisha and excommunicated her. Alisha and Cate
haven't seen or spoken to each other since.
Then, Alisha receives a note under her door.
Dear Ali,
I'm in trouble. I must see you. Please come to the reunion.
Love, Cate
Alisha is stunned. What could possibly be so wrong that Cate would suddenly want to talk to her? But Alisha decides to go to the reunion and find out what trouble Cate is in.
Once at the reunion, it takes Alisha a few minutes to find Cate as the place is crowded and noisy. Finally she finds her old friend. Cate is obviously pregnant and very frightened. When Cate begins to tell Alisha why she needs help all she is able to say "They want to take my baby. You have to stop them." But before Alisha can find out any more, Cate stands up and hurries toward her husband, Felix. Alisha follows Cate and Felix out on to the lawn then loses sight of them. Then, out of no where, there's a sharp squeal of brakes, followed at once by screams. Alisha sees the car, then Cate as she hits the road, Felix has been hit and is lying in the road a few feet away.
While Cate is dying in her arms Alisha's convinced there was recognition in Cates eyes before she died and she's far from believing that the deaths of Felix and Cate were accidental. Alisha starts an unofficial investigation of her own acquiring the help of friend and ex-police cop, Vincent Ruiz, to help her sort fact from fiction surrounding Cate's pregnancy and baby. The bread crumbs lead them to Amsterdam's red-light district where nothing looks the same twice. How does Cate fit in with the women living here? Then she hits on another clue that leads them to a ring of human trafficking, strange links leading back to Cate's family, and a possible illicit fertility physician. Then there's Felix's family to wonder about, too. Is he linked or responsible? Linked or responsible for what exactly is still a mystery. The more Alisha and Vincent learn the more confusing the case becomes. Nothing is as it seems. People aren't who they say they are. Someone doesn't want Alisha and Vincint to uncover the truth. And they will kill to protect themselves from being found out. And Cate's baby? The baby is the most vulnerable, innocent, fragile of them all. And the easiest to kill.
The Night Ferry by Michael Robotham
is a decidedly intense, and twisted tale that validates what people will do to have a baby of their own. It's a realistic, albeit terrifying plot of what can go wrong when money and babies are in high demand. The ethics, individual rights, genetics, and laws start to become blurred, bended, broken and difficult to comprehend. It's brilliant, heart pounding, and nerve jangling with a pace that will leave you breathless!
My favorite quote from The Night Ferry
"Paranoia is not reality on a finer scale; it is a foolish reaction to unanswered questions."
DC Alisha Barbar is more than ready to return to the job. She's been on long term injury leave after sustaining a broken back while apprehending a kidnapper during her last case. The Dr's rebuilt her spine with steel and after months in the hospital, not only can she walk, she can run again. Maybe not Olympic worthy speeds as before but considering the potentially devastating injury, extremely well.
There's a school reunion coming up which she has no intention of attending. Especially since Cate will be there. Alisha and Cate had been best friends since they were children until eight years ago when something unforgivable happened, Cate proclaimed her hatred of Alisha and excommunicated her. Alisha and Cate
haven't seen or spoken to each other since.
Then, Alisha receives a note under her door.
Dear Ali,
I'm in trouble. I must see you. Please come to the reunion.
Love, Cate
Alisha is stunned. What could possibly be so wrong that Cate would suddenly want to talk to her? But Alisha decides to go to the reunion and find out what trouble Cate is in.
Once at the reunion, it takes Alisha a few minutes to find Cate as the place is crowded and noisy. Finally she finds her old friend. Cate is obviously pregnant and very frightened. When Cate begins to tell Alisha why she needs help all she is able to say "They want to take my baby. You have to stop them." But before Alisha can find out any more, Cate stands up and hurries toward her husband, Felix. Alisha follows Cate and Felix out on to the lawn then loses sight of them. Then, out of no where, there's a sharp squeal of brakes, followed at once by screams. Alisha sees the car, then Cate as she hits the road, Felix has been hit and is lying in the road a few feet away.
While Cate is dying in her arms Alisha's convinced there was recognition in Cates eyes before she died and she's far from believing that the deaths of Felix and Cate were accidental. Alisha starts an unofficial investigation of her own acquiring the help of friend and ex-police cop, Vincent Ruiz, to help her sort fact from fiction surrounding Cate's pregnancy and baby. The bread crumbs lead them to Amsterdam's red-light district where nothing looks the same twice. How does Cate fit in with the women living here? Then she hits on another clue that leads them to a ring of human trafficking, strange links leading back to Cate's family, and a possible illicit fertility physician. Then there's Felix's family to wonder about, too. Is he linked or responsible? Linked or responsible for what exactly is still a mystery. The more Alisha and Vincent learn the more confusing the case becomes. Nothing is as it seems. People aren't who they say they are. Someone doesn't want Alisha and Vincint to uncover the truth. And they will kill to protect themselves from being found out. And Cate's baby? The baby is the most vulnerable, innocent, fragile of them all. And the easiest to kill.
The Night Ferry by Michael Robotham
is a decidedly intense, and twisted tale that validates what people will do to have a baby of their own. It's a realistic, albeit terrifying plot of what can go wrong when money and babies are in high demand. The ethics, individual rights, genetics, and laws start to become blurred, bended, broken and difficult to comprehend. It's brilliant, heart pounding, and nerve jangling with a pace that will leave you breathless!
May 14, 2014
When Detective Alisha Barba received the note which had been thrust under her front door, she wasn’t prepared for what it contained. It was a note from her once best friend whom she hadn’t seen or spoken to in eight years. The best friend who had declared she hated her and never wanted to see her again. Dear Ali, I’m in trouble. I must see you. Please come to the reunion. Love, Cate.
Alisha was on sick leave after being dreadfully injured by a criminal she was apprehending; her long stay in hospital while they inserted steel in her spine and various other places had her longing for the wide open spaces. Now she was much improved – her running which had been her forte while at school had been her life saver once again as she gradually worked her way to perfection. She had no desire to go to the reunion – in fact she had already declined the invitation – but now she knew she would go to see Cate and find out what was wrong.
It took a while for Alisha to spot Cate in the pulsing, testosterone filled crowd, but when she did she hurried over to her. But she was shocked to see her former friend was very pregnant; though she wasn’t sure why it shocked her. And when Cate whispered to Alisha with wide, fearful eyes “They want to take my baby. You have to stop them” she wasn’t sure what was going on, but knew Cate’s fear was real. When Cate’s husband appeared on the scene Cate disappeared into the crowd – Alisha tried to follow but became caught up…
A short time later as people spilled out onto the street, Alisha saw Cate and Felix ahead of her – she hurried after them only to hear the screeching of tyres on the road in front of her; with horror she watched as events unfolded…
As the investigation began into what was seemingly a tragic accident, Alisha enlisted the help of ex-cop Vincent Ruiz. There was evidence of deception, secrets and danger which surrounded Cate – lies were unfolding, and the friction between family members was intense. Suddenly instincts led them to Amsterdam and the red-light district. What would happen in Amsterdam? Was Cate connected in any way or was it all just a red herring?
I absolutely loved this book by Aussie author Michael Robotham – he never disappoints! The plot was intense with a pace that was full-on and incredibly GOOD! I love the character of Vincent Ruiz and enjoyed Alisha and her stubborn determination in the face of adversity. A wonderful thriller which I have no hesitation in recommending highly.
Alisha was on sick leave after being dreadfully injured by a criminal she was apprehending; her long stay in hospital while they inserted steel in her spine and various other places had her longing for the wide open spaces. Now she was much improved – her running which had been her forte while at school had been her life saver once again as she gradually worked her way to perfection. She had no desire to go to the reunion – in fact she had already declined the invitation – but now she knew she would go to see Cate and find out what was wrong.
It took a while for Alisha to spot Cate in the pulsing, testosterone filled crowd, but when she did she hurried over to her. But she was shocked to see her former friend was very pregnant; though she wasn’t sure why it shocked her. And when Cate whispered to Alisha with wide, fearful eyes “They want to take my baby. You have to stop them” she wasn’t sure what was going on, but knew Cate’s fear was real. When Cate’s husband appeared on the scene Cate disappeared into the crowd – Alisha tried to follow but became caught up…
A short time later as people spilled out onto the street, Alisha saw Cate and Felix ahead of her – she hurried after them only to hear the screeching of tyres on the road in front of her; with horror she watched as events unfolded…
As the investigation began into what was seemingly a tragic accident, Alisha enlisted the help of ex-cop Vincent Ruiz. There was evidence of deception, secrets and danger which surrounded Cate – lies were unfolding, and the friction between family members was intense. Suddenly instincts led them to Amsterdam and the red-light district. What would happen in Amsterdam? Was Cate connected in any way or was it all just a red herring?
I absolutely loved this book by Aussie author Michael Robotham – he never disappoints! The plot was intense with a pace that was full-on and incredibly GOOD! I love the character of Vincent Ruiz and enjoyed Alisha and her stubborn determination in the face of adversity. A wonderful thriller which I have no hesitation in recommending highly.
December 31, 2020
Detective Alisha Barba wasn’t sure what to make of the note that was put under her front door. It came from her best friend, Cate, whom she hadn't spoken to or seen in eight years. The note reads Dear Ali, I’m in trouble. I must see you. Please come to the reunion. Love, Cate.
What happens next will lead Alisha to an investigation where she will have more questions than answers and take her to dangerous locations. Alisha is desperately trying to find out what really happened to her friend, but over time, it seems highly unlikely that Alisha will find the answers or will she?
Australian author Michael Robotham has once again entertained his readers with this intensely intriguing page turner. If you enjoy reading thrillers, or mysteries, then I strongly recommend you get a copy of this book, you will not be disappointed.
What happens next will lead Alisha to an investigation where she will have more questions than answers and take her to dangerous locations. Alisha is desperately trying to find out what really happened to her friend, but over time, it seems highly unlikely that Alisha will find the answers or will she?
Australian author Michael Robotham has once again entertained his readers with this intensely intriguing page turner. If you enjoy reading thrillers, or mysteries, then I strongly recommend you get a copy of this book, you will not be disappointed.
August 30, 2017
The Night Ferry is crime thriller murder, sex trafficking, slavery and exploitation. Detective Alisha Barba was not going to go to her school reunion until her friend Cate contacted her. On the night Cate was involved in a hit and run, and the family found out that she was not pregnant. Detective Alisha Barba was on sick leave and wanted to find answers about the death of her friend. The readers of The Night Ferry will follow Alisha Barba investigation into the death of Cate.
Night Ferry is the first book I have read by Michael Robotham, and I did enjoy it. I will read another book by Michael Robotham. I love that Michael Robotham made his main character Alisha Barba have a series injury, but it did stop her from pursuing the murder of her friend. Also, I like Michael Robotham writing style and the way he portrayed his characters. Michael Robotham does know how to engage his readers, and he did get me involved with the story after the first chapter.
Readers of The Night Ferry will learn about the underworld of sex trafficking, slavery and exploitation. Also, the readers of The Night Ferry will start to understand how injuries can affect law enforcement officers.
I recommend this book
Night Ferry is the first book I have read by Michael Robotham, and I did enjoy it. I will read another book by Michael Robotham. I love that Michael Robotham made his main character Alisha Barba have a series injury, but it did stop her from pursuing the murder of her friend. Also, I like Michael Robotham writing style and the way he portrayed his characters. Michael Robotham does know how to engage his readers, and he did get me involved with the story after the first chapter.
Readers of The Night Ferry will learn about the underworld of sex trafficking, slavery and exploitation. Also, the readers of The Night Ferry will start to understand how injuries can affect law enforcement officers.
I recommend this book
January 14, 2022
This book is a spin off from an earlier book in the Joseph O'Loughlin series. DC Alicia Barba is back having recovered from her back injury. Through connecting with a friend from her past she finds herself involved in illegal surrogacy arrangements and people trafficking.
A highlight of the book for me was that Vincent Ruiz, retired police officer, is present and assisting with Alicia's off the record investigation.
The story touches on some really unpleasant realities, such as torture, refugee exploitation, prostitution and general thuggery.
Another great book by this author, happy to recommend.
A highlight of the book for me was that Vincent Ruiz, retired police officer, is present and assisting with Alicia's off the record investigation.
The story touches on some really unpleasant realities, such as torture, refugee exploitation, prostitution and general thuggery.
Another great book by this author, happy to recommend.
November 13, 2017
This was a different type of book from Michael Robotham. For a start there was no Prof Joe in this one. The main character is D.C. Ali Barba, who appeared in an earlier book with D.I. Ruiz.
So what was different? Is this book is a thriller, is it page turning? Yes. But it is also attempts to throw light on the problems facing refuges who are seeking asylum in a safer world. Only to find that the world is an awful place. It made me feel guilty for what we, as a society, turn our backs on. Although this book was published in 2005 it is still germane to 2017. Witness Manus Island to-day (13/11/17).
Sorry,didn't mean to wear my heart on my sleeve.
I believe that books should, not only, entertain but educate as well. This book does it in spades.
Story centres on a young orphaned Afghani girl who makes arrangements for her and her bother to escape the horrors of Afghanistan for a better life in the U.K. The cost is $10,000 for the both of them She has no money but the smugglers assure her that there is a way for her to pay back the money. She finds that to pay back the money owed she is to be a surrogate mother. This is where D.C. Ali Barba comes in. A friend of hers is waiting for a child from the people running the surrogacy business. For some unknown reason both Ali's friend and her husband are killed before getting the baby. The police are convinced that their deaths are an accident but Ali is not so sure and decides to take matters into her own hands. What unfolds is a sordid walk in the life of what it is to be a refuge who's only crime is to want a better life.
I rate this book 5*(highly recommended). But be prepared, unless you have swinging brick for a heart, to be confronted.
So what was different? Is this book is a thriller, is it page turning? Yes. But it is also attempts to throw light on the problems facing refuges who are seeking asylum in a safer world. Only to find that the world is an awful place. It made me feel guilty for what we, as a society, turn our backs on. Although this book was published in 2005 it is still germane to 2017. Witness Manus Island to-day (13/11/17).
Sorry,didn't mean to wear my heart on my sleeve.
I believe that books should, not only, entertain but educate as well. This book does it in spades.
Story centres on a young orphaned Afghani girl who makes arrangements for her and her bother to escape the horrors of Afghanistan for a better life in the U.K. The cost is $10,000 for the both of them She has no money but the smugglers assure her that there is a way for her to pay back the money. She finds that to pay back the money owed she is to be a surrogate mother. This is where D.C. Ali Barba comes in. A friend of hers is waiting for a child from the people running the surrogacy business. For some unknown reason both Ali's friend and her husband are killed before getting the baby. The police are convinced that their deaths are an accident but Ali is not so sure and decides to take matters into her own hands. What unfolds is a sordid walk in the life of what it is to be a refuge who's only crime is to want a better life.
I rate this book 5*(highly recommended). But be prepared, unless you have swinging brick for a heart, to be confronted.
September 18, 2023
What a roller coaster ride!
This story centers around Sikh Detective Constable, Alisha Barba who Robotham introduced in his book, Lost. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
She has recovered from an injury sustained from an on-the-job incident and is still trying to find her way to getting fully back out on to the streets in her job.
In the mean time she receives a letter from a childhood friend, Cate that makes no sense, but she wants so much to make a reconnection with her. (They have been estranged for years.) When she finally sees her she is surprised to find her pregnant. And before she can understand what she means by Cate’s cryptic words of “they are trying to take my baby,” Cate is severely injured and her husband is killed in a car accident.
Alisha recognizes someone at the accident, and before she can get more information about what is going on, the body count rises.
Even though she is told not to investigate, she does and discovers a plot involving human traffickers, forced surrogacy and abuses of human rights.
Robotham is not afraid to write an epic mystery filled with conflict, dysfunction, grit, and darkness.
And…
That Vincent Ruiz also returns was a bonus. Seeing him through yet another character’s eyes (other than Joe O’Loughlin’s) also enhanced his personable and admirable qualities.
(For those who haven’t read the Joe O’Loughlin series, Vincent Ruiz plays an integral role.)
There will be many twists and turns in this story, and an uncharacteristic ending shared in the epilogue.
The question remains, what does the author have planned for Alisha Barba’s future between the pages?
This story centers around Sikh Detective Constable, Alisha Barba who Robotham introduced in his book, Lost. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
She has recovered from an injury sustained from an on-the-job incident and is still trying to find her way to getting fully back out on to the streets in her job.
In the mean time she receives a letter from a childhood friend, Cate that makes no sense, but she wants so much to make a reconnection with her. (They have been estranged for years.) When she finally sees her she is surprised to find her pregnant. And before she can understand what she means by Cate’s cryptic words of “they are trying to take my baby,” Cate is severely injured and her husband is killed in a car accident.
Alisha recognizes someone at the accident, and before she can get more information about what is going on, the body count rises.
Even though she is told not to investigate, she does and discovers a plot involving human traffickers, forced surrogacy and abuses of human rights.
Robotham is not afraid to write an epic mystery filled with conflict, dysfunction, grit, and darkness.
And…
That Vincent Ruiz also returns was a bonus. Seeing him through yet another character’s eyes (other than Joe O’Loughlin’s) also enhanced his personable and admirable qualities.
(For those who haven’t read the Joe O’Loughlin series, Vincent Ruiz plays an integral role.)
There will be many twists and turns in this story, and an uncharacteristic ending shared in the epilogue.
The question remains, what does the author have planned for Alisha Barba’s future between the pages?
August 4, 2015
A stand alone thriller from master storyteller Michael Robotham, The Night Ferry was first released in 1997 but has been reprinted for American audiences.
The Night Ferry features Detective Alisha Barba who is drawn into the murky world of human trafficking when her estranged childhood best friend begs for her help, shortly before being killed in a hit and run.
The investigation leads Alisha from London to the heart of Amsterdam's red light district. The plot is complex involving the enforced surrogacy of vulnerable refugees beholden to unscrupulous human traffickers, and while fairly predictable, the fast paced execution keeps the tension and interest high.
Alisha Barba appeared as a minor character is Robotham's, Lost. She is an interesting protagonist, a Sikh, who is recovering from a horrific injury sustained in the line of duty. Her history with the murdered woman, Cate, is what drives her to investigate despite the lack of official sanction, calling on her on and off again boyfriend, fellow officer Dave King, and retired Detective Inspector Vincent Ruiz for help.
I was at times frustrated by some of the choices made by Alisha, which may have advanced the plot or provided action, but seemed inane given her intelligence and experience.
Overall however The Night Ferry is a gripping read with a strong and interesting narrative.
November 4, 2019
Setting: London & Amsterdam. Sikh-born police detective Alisha Barba (not 'Barber' as it inexplicably says on the book cover and all the other blurbs) receives an urgent plea for help from estranged friend Cate Beaumont she only manages to discover that Cate is pregnant and someone is trying to 'take her baby's before she and her husband are mown down by a mini-cab in an apparent accident. When it is discovered that seriously-injured Cate has been pretending to be pregnant and doubts are thrown on the apparent 'accident', Alisha is thrown into a world of desperate adoptive couples, surrogacy, forced pregnancies and people trafficking. When her search for a pregnant refugee from Afghanistan takes her to Amsterdam, her unofficial enquiries place her and others in mortal danger.
Another excellent story from Michael Robotham - great characters and gripping action as his heroine battles to find the truth against all the odds. Great twists and turns - 9/10.
Another excellent story from Michael Robotham - great characters and gripping action as his heroine battles to find the truth against all the odds. Great twists and turns - 9/10.
June 26, 2015
Brilliant!
My View:
Fantastic! In my eyes Michael Robotham can do no wrong!
A pulse raising mystery and thriller this book will engage and keep you breathless, turning pages to the very last word. Michael Robotham’s words are a joy to read – the narratives engage and are complex, the characters are well developed, most are likable unless you are meant to dislike, the sense of urgency and drama is always taut and palpable, the contemporary social issues merge seamlessly into the narrative. Just brilliant!
My View:
Fantastic! In my eyes Michael Robotham can do no wrong!
A pulse raising mystery and thriller this book will engage and keep you breathless, turning pages to the very last word. Michael Robotham’s words are a joy to read – the narratives engage and are complex, the characters are well developed, most are likable unless you are meant to dislike, the sense of urgency and drama is always taut and palpable, the contemporary social issues merge seamlessly into the narrative. Just brilliant!
September 8, 2019
It’s strange talking about love. I used to hate the word. Hate is too strong. I was sick of reading about it in books, hearing it in songs, watching it in films. It seems a huge burden to place on another person – to love them; to give them something so unbelievably fragile and expect them not to break it or lose it or leave it behind on the No. 96 bus.
DC Alisha Barba of the Metropolitan police, nudging 30 and unmarried - despite the attempts of her Sikh family - receives a text from her best friend at school, Cate Beaumont, to attend the school reunion. The two have not spoken in years following a family scandal, and Alisha is reluctant, turning up to find Cate heavily pregnant, meets her husband Felix and runs into the former school bully Paul Donovan, who was expelled and joined the paras. When the Beaumonts turn to leave they are mowed down by a minicab driver (Earl Blake) who swears he never saw the couple. Felix is killed instantly and Alisha accompanies Cate in the ambulance, only to discover that her friend's pregnancy was faked.
This is a book in several parts, the first in London with both Alisha’s and Cate’s families, where she learns that Cate had undergone IVF treatment at a clinic. The minicab driver was released after his statement and “did a runner” - except the man has been dead for years, and retired DI Vincent Ruiz finds a match for the identity theft in a former IRA killer. Paul Donovan seems a slippery character but provides a vital clue in the photo of a girl named Samira, dropped by Cate at the school. But before Alisha can make headway she is intercepted by detective Forbes who drives her to a “crime scene” at Harwich docks and the bodies of four people locked in a container of a truck, including a youth Hasan who had Alisha’s name sewn into his clothing.
In a story that twists and turns Alisha reveals the past through her thoughts, and in the present is assisted by Ruiz and her boyfriend Dave, converging on Amsterdam, where another retired detective, Nicholaas Hokke. gives day and night tours of the infamous red-light district, seeking out the mysterious Samira, encountering another girl and a sociopath on the way.
I don’t see him until the last moment. He’s almost past me. Gaunt-cheeked, hair teased with fingers and gel, he skips from the pavement to the gutter and back again, dodging people. He’s carrying a canvas bag over his shoulder. A bottle of soft drink protrudes from the top. He looks over his shoulder. He knows he is being followed but he’s not scared...
Another city, another hospital, another detective (Spijker) of the Amsterdam police, chasing down people-smuggling operations. Another dead body and a sinister “Mr Big” who “runs” Amsterdam gives Alisha the heads up that the heavily-pregnant Samira is to be smuggled out of the country on the Night Ferry to the UK.
Yet again Michael Robotham serves up a tense thriller, character-driven and with enough drama to satisfy any adrenaline-junkie. Sad in parts, it works beautifully as Alisha is from a ‘minority’ and tries to relate to the asylum-seeker Samira. The ending was both satisfying and sweet, leaving a few loose ends that took nothing away from the story.
DC Alisha Barba of the Metropolitan police, nudging 30 and unmarried - despite the attempts of her Sikh family - receives a text from her best friend at school, Cate Beaumont, to attend the school reunion. The two have not spoken in years following a family scandal, and Alisha is reluctant, turning up to find Cate heavily pregnant, meets her husband Felix and runs into the former school bully Paul Donovan, who was expelled and joined the paras. When the Beaumonts turn to leave they are mowed down by a minicab driver (Earl Blake) who swears he never saw the couple. Felix is killed instantly and Alisha accompanies Cate in the ambulance, only to discover that her friend's pregnancy was faked.
This is a book in several parts, the first in London with both Alisha’s and Cate’s families, where she learns that Cate had undergone IVF treatment at a clinic. The minicab driver was released after his statement and “did a runner” - except the man has been dead for years, and retired DI Vincent Ruiz finds a match for the identity theft in a former IRA killer. Paul Donovan seems a slippery character but provides a vital clue in the photo of a girl named Samira, dropped by Cate at the school. But before Alisha can make headway she is intercepted by detective Forbes who drives her to a “crime scene” at Harwich docks and the bodies of four people locked in a container of a truck, including a youth Hasan who had Alisha’s name sewn into his clothing.
In a story that twists and turns Alisha reveals the past through her thoughts, and in the present is assisted by Ruiz and her boyfriend Dave, converging on Amsterdam, where another retired detective, Nicholaas Hokke. gives day and night tours of the infamous red-light district, seeking out the mysterious Samira, encountering another girl and a sociopath on the way.
I don’t see him until the last moment. He’s almost past me. Gaunt-cheeked, hair teased with fingers and gel, he skips from the pavement to the gutter and back again, dodging people. He’s carrying a canvas bag over his shoulder. A bottle of soft drink protrudes from the top. He looks over his shoulder. He knows he is being followed but he’s not scared...
Another city, another hospital, another detective (Spijker) of the Amsterdam police, chasing down people-smuggling operations. Another dead body and a sinister “Mr Big” who “runs” Amsterdam gives Alisha the heads up that the heavily-pregnant Samira is to be smuggled out of the country on the Night Ferry to the UK.
Yet again Michael Robotham serves up a tense thriller, character-driven and with enough drama to satisfy any adrenaline-junkie. Sad in parts, it works beautifully as Alisha is from a ‘minority’ and tries to relate to the asylum-seeker Samira. The ending was both satisfying and sweet, leaving a few loose ends that took nothing away from the story.
November 9, 2019
2.5 to 3 stars. I felt this book started out very strong and then got bogged down in trying to do too much with its characters and plot. It begins in London with DI Alisa Barba, a Sikh detective recovering from a work injury who is invited to meet up with an old estranged friend at their High School reunion. Almost before they can talk her friend is killed and the story takes off from there. Barba begins to follow the trail of the driver who "accidentally" ran down her friend and then the fact that her friend's pregnancy was a masquerade she had been carrying out for the last 8 months. It was a great beginning and I found DI Barba an engaging well rounded character. Where I felt the book began fall off some was in its length and the moral and ethical questions it worked to put into the plot. The book delved into infertility, illegal immigration, child trafficing, surrogate motherhood and its legal implications, and medical ethics, along with trading one life to save multiple others. I found the dilemmas interesting but heavyhanded in good vs evil and how the characters were painted one sided. A good mystery that could have been so much better with less.
September 25, 2018
So good! I like Robotham's books generally and this one is no exception. Alisha is an excellent character as are a number of others. Taken as a straightforward crime read it's very good. However it is excellent on a number of levels for me. There is a a story of friendship, there is the aspect of morality and a fast moving tale. Plenty of good twists and turns. Tense and well paced read. Very satisfying and I'll read more by the author when I can.
July 17, 2015
A special thank you to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
After Michael Robotham’s sensational psychological thriller (March, 2015) Life or Death landing on my Top 30 Books of 2015, was thrilled for an opportunity to read THE NIGHT FERRY, which I missed the first publication— a fast-paced intriguing mystery into the dark world of evil human trafficking.
As the book opens, Alisha receives a note from an estranged childhood best friend, Cate, requesting her presence at the high reunion. Cate hates Alisha, since 1998; they have not spoken since. Alisha Barba is a Sikh and a London police detective. She's recovering from a serious back injury over a year ago, and she has not returned to work, and now that she is, not what she had in mind. She may now get more action and danger than she imagined.
She really does not want to go to the reunion; however, she goes to see what Cate desperately wants. However, before they hardly have a chance to catch up, a car comes out of nowhere and runs down Cate and her husband, Felix and she is pregnant. However, before she dies she whispers to Cate--someone is trying to take her baby and asks for her help to stop them.
In addition to the secrets, lies, and past, surrounding Cate's pregnancy, Alisha also has the complications of Cate’s family. Full of suspense, Alisha gets help from retired Inspector Vincent Ruiz as they follow the clues about Cate’s baby to Amsterdam. From human embryos, prostitution, human trafficking, and more in this intense chilling thriller—good versus evil; a story told by the "king of complex and multi-layered", with a unique style all his own--one of my favorite authors, when it comes to crime thrillers.
Loved the strong women taking readers from London to Amsterdam with illegal activities and some dangerous people who will stop at nothing!
Enjoying Michael Robotham’s writing and trying to make my way to read all his back list, as each is highly recommended for cop and crime thriller fans. In addition to the ARC, I also purchased the audio book, narrated by Clare Corbett, for an engaging and absorbing performance.
PS. For those who have not read Life or Death, you get a sneak preview. Meet Audie Palmer . . . Robotham at his finest-- From literary, psychological, crime, mystery, thriller, suspense; conspiracy, drama, murder, racial and social injustice; love and loss—A tour de force of crime writing.
Looking forward to CLOSE YOUR EYES, (Joseph O'Loughlin #8), Coming US 8/6/2016.
After Michael Robotham’s sensational psychological thriller (March, 2015) Life or Death landing on my Top 30 Books of 2015, was thrilled for an opportunity to read THE NIGHT FERRY, which I missed the first publication— a fast-paced intriguing mystery into the dark world of evil human trafficking.
As the book opens, Alisha receives a note from an estranged childhood best friend, Cate, requesting her presence at the high reunion. Cate hates Alisha, since 1998; they have not spoken since. Alisha Barba is a Sikh and a London police detective. She's recovering from a serious back injury over a year ago, and she has not returned to work, and now that she is, not what she had in mind. She may now get more action and danger than she imagined.
She really does not want to go to the reunion; however, she goes to see what Cate desperately wants. However, before they hardly have a chance to catch up, a car comes out of nowhere and runs down Cate and her husband, Felix and she is pregnant. However, before she dies she whispers to Cate--someone is trying to take her baby and asks for her help to stop them.
In addition to the secrets, lies, and past, surrounding Cate's pregnancy, Alisha also has the complications of Cate’s family. Full of suspense, Alisha gets help from retired Inspector Vincent Ruiz as they follow the clues about Cate’s baby to Amsterdam. From human embryos, prostitution, human trafficking, and more in this intense chilling thriller—good versus evil; a story told by the "king of complex and multi-layered", with a unique style all his own--one of my favorite authors, when it comes to crime thrillers.
Loved the strong women taking readers from London to Amsterdam with illegal activities and some dangerous people who will stop at nothing!
Enjoying Michael Robotham’s writing and trying to make my way to read all his back list, as each is highly recommended for cop and crime thriller fans. In addition to the ARC, I also purchased the audio book, narrated by Clare Corbett, for an engaging and absorbing performance.
“Everyone thinks I'm so strong. They expect me to face autumns and winters like that and bitch-slap them down; make them come to heel. I'm not so strong. I only pretend.”
“One of the strange things about friendship is that time together isn't cancelled out by time apart. One doesn't erase the other or balance it on some invisible scale. You can spend a few hours with someone and they will change your life, or you can spend a lifetime with a person and remain unchanged.” ― Michael Robotham, The Night Ferry
PS. For those who have not read Life or Death, you get a sneak preview. Meet Audie Palmer . . . Robotham at his finest-- From literary, psychological, crime, mystery, thriller, suspense; conspiracy, drama, murder, racial and social injustice; love and loss—A tour de force of crime writing.
Looking forward to CLOSE YOUR EYES, (Joseph O'Loughlin #8), Coming US 8/6/2016.
September 1, 2022
Dit is het eerste boek dat ik van deze auteur las en ik werd niet teleurgesteld.
**spoiler alert**
Alisha is een politievrouw die op het spoor van mensenhandel komt, meer bepaald worden jonge meisjes, meestal wezen, uit landen als Afghanistan, India, enzovoort, naar Engeland of Nederland gesmokkeld. Daar krijgen ze de keuze: om hun reis te betalen moeten ze ofwel in de prostitutie, ofwel draagmoeder worden voor koppels die zelf geen kind kunnen krijgen.
De vriendin van Alisha, Cate, is zo een onvruchtbare vrouw. Ze heeft iedereen wijsgemaakt dat ze zwanger is, maar dan dreigt er iets mis te lopen. Ze contacteert Alisha, maar voordat Cate haar verteld heeft wat er echt aan de hand is, worden zij en haar man Felix aangereden en sterven. het enige wat Cate aan Alisha gezegd heeft is: Ze willen mijn baby afpakken!
Alisha gaat dus op zoek naar informatie, en komt in erg gevaarlijke situaties terecht, in Amsterdam zowel als in Engeland. De mensen achter deze handel schrikken niet terug voor moord! Alisha vindt de draagmoeder die de kindjes (ja, een tweeling!) van Cate draagt. Ze kan haar echter niet in het vizier houden, maar ontdekt dan toch dat Samira de ferry naar Engeland neemt, als gevangene van een bendelid. Alisha kan zich ook als passagier op de ferry inchecken, maar ze wordt zelf bewusteloos geslagen en als ze bijkomt zit ze bij Samira in de laadruimte van een vrachtwagen. Maar dan moet Samira bevallen, en de gangsters laten dan toch toe dat ze naar een hut gaat op de ferry. Daar moet Alisha Samira helpen met de bevalling.
Voor ze gevangen genomen werd, had ze wel de politie kunnen verwittigen. Ze kan met Samira veilig van de ferry geraken, maar de gangster is met de baby!s verdwenen. Hij is van boord geraakt vermomd als werkman, met de twee baby's in een kattenreisbox.
En dan begint de zoektocht naar de baby's, naar de dader, en wordt er geprobeerd de bende op te rollen. Maar er zijn veel verschillende facetten aan de zaak die het echt gecompliceerd maken. En wie heeft er nu recht op de baby's, nu Cate en Felix overleden zijn? Want de embryo's waren wel van hun zaad- en eicellen, Samira heeft als draagmoeder eigenlijk geen enkele biologische band met de kindjes....
Ik vond dit een heel mooi boek: spannend, hartverscheurend en ook wel een tikje romantisch. Ik heb dit graag gelezen.
**spoiler alert**
Alisha is een politievrouw die op het spoor van mensenhandel komt, meer bepaald worden jonge meisjes, meestal wezen, uit landen als Afghanistan, India, enzovoort, naar Engeland of Nederland gesmokkeld. Daar krijgen ze de keuze: om hun reis te betalen moeten ze ofwel in de prostitutie, ofwel draagmoeder worden voor koppels die zelf geen kind kunnen krijgen.
De vriendin van Alisha, Cate, is zo een onvruchtbare vrouw. Ze heeft iedereen wijsgemaakt dat ze zwanger is, maar dan dreigt er iets mis te lopen. Ze contacteert Alisha, maar voordat Cate haar verteld heeft wat er echt aan de hand is, worden zij en haar man Felix aangereden en sterven. het enige wat Cate aan Alisha gezegd heeft is: Ze willen mijn baby afpakken!
Alisha gaat dus op zoek naar informatie, en komt in erg gevaarlijke situaties terecht, in Amsterdam zowel als in Engeland. De mensen achter deze handel schrikken niet terug voor moord! Alisha vindt de draagmoeder die de kindjes (ja, een tweeling!) van Cate draagt. Ze kan haar echter niet in het vizier houden, maar ontdekt dan toch dat Samira de ferry naar Engeland neemt, als gevangene van een bendelid. Alisha kan zich ook als passagier op de ferry inchecken, maar ze wordt zelf bewusteloos geslagen en als ze bijkomt zit ze bij Samira in de laadruimte van een vrachtwagen. Maar dan moet Samira bevallen, en de gangsters laten dan toch toe dat ze naar een hut gaat op de ferry. Daar moet Alisha Samira helpen met de bevalling.
Voor ze gevangen genomen werd, had ze wel de politie kunnen verwittigen. Ze kan met Samira veilig van de ferry geraken, maar de gangster is met de baby!s verdwenen. Hij is van boord geraakt vermomd als werkman, met de twee baby's in een kattenreisbox.
En dan begint de zoektocht naar de baby's, naar de dader, en wordt er geprobeerd de bende op te rollen. Maar er zijn veel verschillende facetten aan de zaak die het echt gecompliceerd maken. En wie heeft er nu recht op de baby's, nu Cate en Felix overleden zijn? Want de embryo's waren wel van hun zaad- en eicellen, Samira heeft als draagmoeder eigenlijk geen enkele biologische band met de kindjes....
Ik vond dit een heel mooi boek: spannend, hartverscheurend en ook wel een tikje romantisch. Ik heb dit graag gelezen.
December 25, 2025
An enjoyable read. Alisha is a Sikh police officer recently recovered from a back injury. When her estranged friend Cate wants to meet up at a school reunion to discuss something. Before she can there is an accident where Cate’s husband is killed and she is mortally injured.
The story is about morale choices, slavery and human trafficking. It is set in London and in Amsterdam and with her retired colleague Ruiz they investigate why Cate wanted to see her.
Samira an Afghanistan refugee is having twins with Cate’s embryos. The story has Alisha drawn into illegal adoptions a smarmy operator called Shawcroft who is responsible for everything. When he gets off because of corrupt politicians Samira uses her fireworks knowledge to good effect.
This one off raises moral and ethical questions and the inability of making any impact on this horrible trade.
The story is about morale choices, slavery and human trafficking. It is set in London and in Amsterdam and with her retired colleague Ruiz they investigate why Cate wanted to see her.
Samira an Afghanistan refugee is having twins with Cate’s embryos. The story has Alisha drawn into illegal adoptions a smarmy operator called Shawcroft who is responsible for everything. When he gets off because of corrupt politicians Samira uses her fireworks knowledge to good effect.
This one off raises moral and ethical questions and the inability of making any impact on this horrible trade.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2022
4.75 stars and not rounding up. THE NIGHT FERRY is just not quite the same caliber as the novels I’ve been reading from the Joe O’Loughlin series I just finished, but it’s damn close and damn good.
Superb characters, including an appearance from the indomitable retired cop, Vincent Ruiz, that took me by surprise and delighted me. Our protagonist DC Ali Barba is back from the #2 LOST and mended. As a female copper, her character is fresh, not what you’d expect. With an unbelievable tolerance for pain and training in karate , Ali is hardcore. With a character arc that gets a little cheesy and predictable, once again, she had me from hello. I knew instantly she was a character I wanted to spend more time with.
THE NIGHT FERRY really showcases Robotham’s background as an investigative journalist. This guy knows a lot about a lot of things. The Sikh religion, competitive running, Amsterdam and its notorious red-light district, human-trafficking, immigration laws, the Taliban, constructing fireworks, surrogacy, black market adoption, childbirth….what’s the point of continuing? You get my drift.
As with Ruiz’s relationship with Joe, Ali can count on him to show up in a heartbeat, without question, when summoned. He also has a prescient knack for appearing when he’s most needed, often in life or death situations. Again we are treated to snappy, clever dialogue that sounds very authentic. I like that.
All the boxes are checked for what makes a suspenseful and superior crime novel, that faithfully stand out from the pack. I can’t pick a single favorite author from all the books I’ve read, but Michael Robotham is one vying for top position.
Superb characters, including an appearance from the indomitable retired cop, Vincent Ruiz, that took me by surprise and delighted me. Our protagonist DC Ali Barba is back from the #2 LOST and mended. As a female copper, her character is fresh, not what you’d expect. With an unbelievable tolerance for pain and training in karate , Ali is hardcore. With a character arc that gets a little cheesy and predictable, once again, she had me from hello. I knew instantly she was a character I wanted to spend more time with.
THE NIGHT FERRY really showcases Robotham’s background as an investigative journalist. This guy knows a lot about a lot of things. The Sikh religion, competitive running, Amsterdam and its notorious red-light district, human-trafficking, immigration laws, the Taliban, constructing fireworks, surrogacy, black market adoption, childbirth….what’s the point of continuing? You get my drift.
As with Ruiz’s relationship with Joe, Ali can count on him to show up in a heartbeat, without question, when summoned. He also has a prescient knack for appearing when he’s most needed, often in life or death situations. Again we are treated to snappy, clever dialogue that sounds very authentic. I like that.
All the boxes are checked for what makes a suspenseful and superior crime novel, that faithfully stand out from the pack. I can’t pick a single favorite author from all the books I’ve read, but Michael Robotham is one vying for top position.
December 14, 2012
Once again, I have ventured into an author without looking both ways. Although “The Night Ferry” and its predecessors “Suspect” and “Lost” do not form a tightly knit traditional series the central characters are shared. The linkages that do exist in this novel are placed firmly in the background making it stand alone very well.
The story centers on a very unpleasant concept that I won’t name. Let it suffice to say that the problem is complicated from both a piratical and moral point of view. As in real life, what is good and bad is not clearly labeled. Throughout the book there are increasingly strong discussions about it and its impact. Defenses of the practice grow more complex as deeper “truths” are revealed. Although in this particular story the prime apologist has crossed into the truly wrong, the reader may wonder how they would think about someone who held to the “lesser” acts. Would they condone such behavior for the greater good?
The author did not have to invent a new human failing, here. The central problem has been with us for a long time. Even today, it is in the news in many countries. Mr. Robotham just did an excellent job of using it to drive his plot.
The protagonist is a cop; a detective who is just completing a year-long recovery from a serious injury (in one of the previous novels). She is drawn into the story by a message from a friend who has been a non-friend for many years. After a very brief encounter at a school reunion the friend and her husband are deliberately run down (although it is planned to look accidental). A final message is spoken by the friend as she slips out of consciousness.
Although I cannot say how the earlier books are, this book is very “tight”. Once the basic elements of the mystery are set up, it is off to the races. The story jumps ahead and sideways with energy and focus. That’s not to say that the plot is a straight line. Oh no, there are many distractions and side-plots that impose themselves in a way that reminds one of real life. Work (her scheduled return to the force in a new, less active capacity), family (her roommate brother and traditional parents), “boyfriend” of sorts, and mystery keep getting in the way of each other. But this isn’t a complaint, only a comment on how well the author is giving us this slice of life.
Overall this was a very solid book. The story was engaging, the plot complex and serious, and the characters very well fleshed out with believable motivations, flaws, and reactions. Looking at it as a mystery/suspense novel I think it is in the “3.5” range. As far as an accurate portrayal of certain people and cultures, I cannot comment much other than to say that I worked with a Sikh for a couple of years a decade ago. I’m going to put this one in at “3” although I think most readers will enjoy it more than that.
The story centers on a very unpleasant concept that I won’t name. Let it suffice to say that the problem is complicated from both a piratical and moral point of view. As in real life, what is good and bad is not clearly labeled. Throughout the book there are increasingly strong discussions about it and its impact. Defenses of the practice grow more complex as deeper “truths” are revealed. Although in this particular story the prime apologist has crossed into the truly wrong, the reader may wonder how they would think about someone who held to the “lesser” acts. Would they condone such behavior for the greater good?
The author did not have to invent a new human failing, here. The central problem has been with us for a long time. Even today, it is in the news in many countries. Mr. Robotham just did an excellent job of using it to drive his plot.
The protagonist is a cop; a detective who is just completing a year-long recovery from a serious injury (in one of the previous novels). She is drawn into the story by a message from a friend who has been a non-friend for many years. After a very brief encounter at a school reunion the friend and her husband are deliberately run down (although it is planned to look accidental). A final message is spoken by the friend as she slips out of consciousness.
Although I cannot say how the earlier books are, this book is very “tight”. Once the basic elements of the mystery are set up, it is off to the races. The story jumps ahead and sideways with energy and focus. That’s not to say that the plot is a straight line. Oh no, there are many distractions and side-plots that impose themselves in a way that reminds one of real life. Work (her scheduled return to the force in a new, less active capacity), family (her roommate brother and traditional parents), “boyfriend” of sorts, and mystery keep getting in the way of each other. But this isn’t a complaint, only a comment on how well the author is giving us this slice of life.
Overall this was a very solid book. The story was engaging, the plot complex and serious, and the characters very well fleshed out with believable motivations, flaws, and reactions. Looking at it as a mystery/suspense novel I think it is in the “3.5” range. As far as an accurate portrayal of certain people and cultures, I cannot comment much other than to say that I worked with a Sikh for a couple of years a decade ago. I’m going to put this one in at “3” although I think most readers will enjoy it more than that.
June 11, 2019
'The Night Ferry' was recommended to me by someone who insisted that I make it to the end when I wanted to give up somewhere around the middle. A recommendation that implied the ending is worth the hard work required to reach it. Personally, I wish that I had given up because I didn't like the telling of the story.
The plot was okay if you push aside the fact that it turned from a simple case of 'avenge me' into this tragic, global and mass criminal activity that our lone wolf Alisha had to get involved in almost single-handedly.
Suddenly there were a whole cast of characters that I could barely keep track of across different countries with aliases and ranks and titles and god knows what else. It was complex to say the least but I think I would have been more supportive and - more importantly - more interested, if I had liked Alisha.
I wanted to know more about what had driven Cate to make the decisions that she did. She was the emotional catalyst for the whole novel, and yet she played no part in the story of Alisha. I would have loved for there to have been time lapses, Alisha in the present investigating and avenging and Cate in the past meeting the characters and making decisions and just adding pure emotion to what was a fairly emotionally bland novel for the majority.
Alisa was just too detached. She wanted to avenge Cate to make herself feel better about a disagreement from their childhood, not to avenge Cate.
There was far too much page time spent dawdling through decription and minute detail which further diluted the plot in my opinion. We fell down a rabbit hole of Alisha's own personal life when actually it was really irrelevant to the main plot and wasn't that interesting. If anything it just reinforced her as a detached character. I wanted to tell poor Dave to run while he still could.
Overall, I would have enjoyed it more if there had been more page time given to Cate, or to giving Alisha some actual feelings and less time describing what everyone ate, wore, drove, thought etc.
The plot was okay if you push aside the fact that it turned from a simple case of 'avenge me' into this tragic, global and mass criminal activity that our lone wolf Alisha had to get involved in almost single-handedly.
Suddenly there were a whole cast of characters that I could barely keep track of across different countries with aliases and ranks and titles and god knows what else. It was complex to say the least but I think I would have been more supportive and - more importantly - more interested, if I had liked Alisha.
I wanted to know more about what had driven Cate to make the decisions that she did. She was the emotional catalyst for the whole novel, and yet she played no part in the story of Alisha. I would have loved for there to have been time lapses, Alisha in the present investigating and avenging and Cate in the past meeting the characters and making decisions and just adding pure emotion to what was a fairly emotionally bland novel for the majority.
Alisa was just too detached. She wanted to avenge Cate to make herself feel better about a disagreement from their childhood, not to avenge Cate.
There was far too much page time spent dawdling through decription and minute detail which further diluted the plot in my opinion. We fell down a rabbit hole of Alisha's own personal life when actually it was really irrelevant to the main plot and wasn't that interesting. If anything it just reinforced her as a detached character. I wanted to tell poor Dave to run while he still could.
Overall, I would have enjoyed it more if there had been more page time given to Cate, or to giving Alisha some actual feelings and less time describing what everyone ate, wore, drove, thought etc.
March 19, 2022
UPDATE 2022
I've re-read this book as part of a challenge to read a Michael Robotham novel. Interestingly, I stalled at almost exactly the same place as I did in 2017. Alisha is definitely not my kind of detective. I put the book aside for a couple of days, then resumed to finish it solely to complete the challenge. I stand by my review of 2017. I enjoyed some aspects of the novel very much, while other parts annoyed me intensely.
I've finally finished The Night Ferry, with a sense of relief. I'm a great fan of Michael Robotham's writing, but unfortunately The Night Ferry didn't float my boat.
For the first third I was strongly engaged, and thoroughly enjoyed the rolling out of the mystery. From there, I thought the writing lost its sharpness and the storyline became excessively complicated. For me the plot became enmired in Alisha's personal crap, and I came to dislike her intensely by the end. It is a well-known crime fiction trope to have the protagonist go it alone, putting themselves in dangerous situations, getting bashed/stabbed/shot after reckless interventions...speaking personally I am totally OVER that plot device. I like crime stories where the doughty detective tries to out-think and out-wit the baddie, not out-run them. All Alisha did was put her own needs ahead of the victims she was trying to help, and look at the body count that resulted............
Sorry folks, but this is genuine issue for me. I've stopped reading crime novels in which the main character is a maverick with a Messiah complex, such as Harry Bosch and Jack Reacher, whom I used to adore in their earlier books.
Not Michael Robotham's best novel, IMHO. Some brilliant ideas in it, but execution was patchy. So only 3 stars from me.
I've re-read this book as part of a challenge to read a Michael Robotham novel. Interestingly, I stalled at almost exactly the same place as I did in 2017. Alisha is definitely not my kind of detective. I put the book aside for a couple of days, then resumed to finish it solely to complete the challenge. I stand by my review of 2017. I enjoyed some aspects of the novel very much, while other parts annoyed me intensely.
I've finally finished The Night Ferry, with a sense of relief. I'm a great fan of Michael Robotham's writing, but unfortunately The Night Ferry didn't float my boat.
For the first third I was strongly engaged, and thoroughly enjoyed the rolling out of the mystery. From there, I thought the writing lost its sharpness and the storyline became excessively complicated. For me the plot became enmired in Alisha's personal crap, and I came to dislike her intensely by the end. It is a well-known crime fiction trope to have the protagonist go it alone, putting themselves in dangerous situations, getting bashed/stabbed/shot after reckless interventions...speaking personally I am totally OVER that plot device. I like crime stories where the doughty detective tries to out-think and out-wit the baddie, not out-run them. All Alisha did was put her own needs ahead of the victims she was trying to help, and look at the body count that resulted............
Sorry folks, but this is genuine issue for me. I've stopped reading crime novels in which the main character is a maverick with a Messiah complex, such as Harry Bosch and Jack Reacher, whom I used to adore in their earlier books.
Not Michael Robotham's best novel, IMHO. Some brilliant ideas in it, but execution was patchy. So only 3 stars from me.
July 11, 2018
I can always rely on Michael Robotham to deliver an intelligent, fast-paced and psychologically indepth crime thiller, and The Night Ferry is no exception.
At the end of his earlier novel, Lost, young Alisha Barba has her back broken by a murder suspect. She is now trying to get her life back together again, but no-one wants her on their team. One day she receives a plea for help from an old school friend:
Dear Ali, I’m in trouble. I must see you. Please come to the reunion. Love, Cate.
Alisha has not spoken to her onetime best friend in more than eight years. Reluctantly she goes to the reunion, only to discover Cate is eight months pregnant. Her friend only has time to whisper to her, ‘They want to take my baby. You have to stop them’ before she disappears into the crowd. Moments later, she and her husband are both dead in what appears to be a tragic car accident.
Alisha suspects foul play, and begins to dig. It is not long before she uncovers an intricate web of lies and secrets. Each new discovery leads to danger and death. Alisha follows the clues to Amsterdam’s red-light district and hints of baby trafficking.
Ex-cop Vincent Ruiz (the hero of Lost) makes a welcome appearance, in a fast-paced and brilliantly plotted story that changes Alisha’s life forever.
At the end of his earlier novel, Lost, young Alisha Barba has her back broken by a murder suspect. She is now trying to get her life back together again, but no-one wants her on their team. One day she receives a plea for help from an old school friend:
Dear Ali, I’m in trouble. I must see you. Please come to the reunion. Love, Cate.
Alisha has not spoken to her onetime best friend in more than eight years. Reluctantly she goes to the reunion, only to discover Cate is eight months pregnant. Her friend only has time to whisper to her, ‘They want to take my baby. You have to stop them’ before she disappears into the crowd. Moments later, she and her husband are both dead in what appears to be a tragic car accident.
Alisha suspects foul play, and begins to dig. It is not long before she uncovers an intricate web of lies and secrets. Each new discovery leads to danger and death. Alisha follows the clues to Amsterdam’s red-light district and hints of baby trafficking.
Ex-cop Vincent Ruiz (the hero of Lost) makes a welcome appearance, in a fast-paced and brilliantly plotted story that changes Alisha’s life forever.
October 11, 2020
Kayıp kitabında yan karakter olan Alisha'nın ana karakter olduğu bir kurgu. Dedektif Ruiz ise bu sefer yardımcı rolde ve yine oldukça heyecanlı, akıcı bir kitap.
Keşke Türk yayınevleri yazarın yeni kitaplarını çıkartsalar 😕
Keşke Türk yayınevleri yazarın yeni kitaplarını çıkartsalar 😕
August 27, 2017
2.5*. I read this sime time ago. I have to say I was a little dissapointed. Just found the story a little to predictable and didnt really love any of the characters. From the books he's written, this would be in my opinion his weakest so far. I expected a little more.
September 30, 2015
Slave trade...
Alisha Barba is due to return to her job as a police officer after a long period of sick leave following a serious injury she received in the line of duty. Out of the blue she is contacted by an old friend, Cate Beaumont, who asks her to come to a reunion at their school. Ali and Cate had had a serious falling out eight years earlier which left Ali feeling guilty and sorry to have lost her closest friend, so she's delighted to hear from Cate, and also intrigued to know what has inspired her to get in touch after all this time. They don't get much chance to talk at the reunion, but heavily pregnant Cate takes the opportunity to whisper “They want to take my baby. They can't. You have to stop them...” A few minutes later as they leave the reunion, Cate and her husband are run down by a taxi. Felix is killed outright and Cate's life hangs in the balance...
Although this isn't strictly part of the Joe O'Loughlin series since he isn't in it, it links back to the previous books in that series. Ali had a smallish part in Lost, as a Detective Constable on DI Vincent Ruiz' team. Ruiz has now retired but still acts as a mentor and friend to young Ali when she needs one. I love this way Robotham has of rotating the main viewpoint through the various characters. It keeps each book feeling fresh but gives the reader some points of reference so that it also has that comfortable feeling of familiarity that all good series give. And it also helps with one of the perennial problems of thrillerish crime series with only one central character – namely, that usually the reader knows that all must end reasonably well for the protagonist or the series would have to end.
The plot of this one is hard-hitting, involving illegal immigration, sex trafficking and forced commercial surrogacy. The official investigation is going too slowly for Ali's liking so she begins to ask her own questions and the trail soon takes her to the sleaziest parts of Amsterdam. Her old friend Ruiz is on hand to give advice and assistance, and she has the support of her boyfriend Dave, also a police officer. Soon Ali is in trouble not just with the bad guys but with her superior officers back home, but she's now too involved to pull back – too many lives are dependent on her, some of them very vulnerable. Robotham doesn't hold back in the picture he gives of the exploitation of women trafficked as sex slaves from some of the war-torn places of the world and he has clearly done his research as thoroughly as always.
However, the grimness of the storyline is lifted by the characterisation of Ali. Although she's following her own path in this case, she's not a maverick, nor is she angst-ridden. She has a lovely, loving Sikh family who'd like to see her happily married, an appealing and supportive boyfriend in Dave, and as far as possible she works alongside her colleagues and keeps them informed of what she's up to. She is a little bit Supergirlish on occasion but not enough to destroy her credibility. And her voice is very convincing – no mean feat for a male Australian author to get so authentically inside the head of a young British Sikh woman.
This is the fifth Michael Robotham book I've read and as far as I'm concerned the man can do no wrong. He can tell a gritty story without having to resort to excessive bad language or gratuitous violence – there is some strong violence in the book but not of the police beating up innocent bystanders variety. So often in thrillers the investigation element is weak and so the book loses credibility, but not here – the plotting is tight, there's proper detective work and everything that happens is totally plausible. And both writing and characterisation are great, with just enough humour to give a touch of lightness to the otherwise dark plot. If only he could be persuaded to stop using the present tense - but at least he uses it well, and I suppose a girl can't have everything in this life! If you haven't already guessed, this one is highly recommended. As are all his others...
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Mulholland Books.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
Alisha Barba is due to return to her job as a police officer after a long period of sick leave following a serious injury she received in the line of duty. Out of the blue she is contacted by an old friend, Cate Beaumont, who asks her to come to a reunion at their school. Ali and Cate had had a serious falling out eight years earlier which left Ali feeling guilty and sorry to have lost her closest friend, so she's delighted to hear from Cate, and also intrigued to know what has inspired her to get in touch after all this time. They don't get much chance to talk at the reunion, but heavily pregnant Cate takes the opportunity to whisper “They want to take my baby. They can't. You have to stop them...” A few minutes later as they leave the reunion, Cate and her husband are run down by a taxi. Felix is killed outright and Cate's life hangs in the balance...
Although this isn't strictly part of the Joe O'Loughlin series since he isn't in it, it links back to the previous books in that series. Ali had a smallish part in Lost, as a Detective Constable on DI Vincent Ruiz' team. Ruiz has now retired but still acts as a mentor and friend to young Ali when she needs one. I love this way Robotham has of rotating the main viewpoint through the various characters. It keeps each book feeling fresh but gives the reader some points of reference so that it also has that comfortable feeling of familiarity that all good series give. And it also helps with one of the perennial problems of thrillerish crime series with only one central character – namely, that usually the reader knows that all must end reasonably well for the protagonist or the series would have to end.
The plot of this one is hard-hitting, involving illegal immigration, sex trafficking and forced commercial surrogacy. The official investigation is going too slowly for Ali's liking so she begins to ask her own questions and the trail soon takes her to the sleaziest parts of Amsterdam. Her old friend Ruiz is on hand to give advice and assistance, and she has the support of her boyfriend Dave, also a police officer. Soon Ali is in trouble not just with the bad guys but with her superior officers back home, but she's now too involved to pull back – too many lives are dependent on her, some of them very vulnerable. Robotham doesn't hold back in the picture he gives of the exploitation of women trafficked as sex slaves from some of the war-torn places of the world and he has clearly done his research as thoroughly as always.
However, the grimness of the storyline is lifted by the characterisation of Ali. Although she's following her own path in this case, she's not a maverick, nor is she angst-ridden. She has a lovely, loving Sikh family who'd like to see her happily married, an appealing and supportive boyfriend in Dave, and as far as possible she works alongside her colleagues and keeps them informed of what she's up to. She is a little bit Supergirlish on occasion but not enough to destroy her credibility. And her voice is very convincing – no mean feat for a male Australian author to get so authentically inside the head of a young British Sikh woman.
This is the fifth Michael Robotham book I've read and as far as I'm concerned the man can do no wrong. He can tell a gritty story without having to resort to excessive bad language or gratuitous violence – there is some strong violence in the book but not of the police beating up innocent bystanders variety. So often in thrillers the investigation element is weak and so the book loses credibility, but not here – the plotting is tight, there's proper detective work and everything that happens is totally plausible. And both writing and characterisation are great, with just enough humour to give a touch of lightness to the otherwise dark plot. If only he could be persuaded to stop using the present tense - but at least he uses it well, and I suppose a girl can't have everything in this life! If you haven't already guessed, this one is highly recommended. As are all his others...
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Mulholland Books.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
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