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Above Suspicion
A harrowing account of crime and conscience that exposes the dark side of the nation's top law-enforcement agency and the complex workings of the human heart. When rookie FBI agent Mark Putnam's illicit involvement with an informant turns into a fatal attraction, he kills in a fit of passion, unwittingly committing the "perfect" crime. A movie based on the book, starring Emilia Clarke and Jack Huston and directed by Phillip Noyce, is set for release in 2017.
284 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1993
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2747 people want to read
About the author
Joe Sharkey
15 books49 followersJoe Sharkey’s work appears in major national and international publications. For 19 years, until 2015, he was a columnist for the New York Times — for 16 years doing the weekly “On the Road” column on business travel, and before that the weekly “Jersey” column for three years. He is currently a columnist with Business Jet Traveler magazine, and an adjunct professor of journalism at the University of Arizona.
A Vietnam veteran, he has written five books, four non-fiction and a novel. One of his nonfiction books, “Above Suspicion,” has been adapted as a major motion picture starring Emilia Clarke, Jack Huston, Thora Birch and Johnny Knoxville (and directed by Phillip Noyce), to be released soon.
In January 2017, a new, revised edition of his book “Above Suspicion” was published in print and as an e-book by Open Road Media. Penguin Random House also released an audio book version in January. Open Road also published revised editions in e-book format of his true-crime books “Death Sentence” and “Deadly Greed.” In January 2018, the revised edition of “Death Sentence” was published in print by Open Road Media.
He has written a screenplay adaptation of “Death Sentence,” which will also be published in a new print edition in January 2018 by Open Road Media.
In his newspaper career before the New York Times, he was an assistant national editor at the Wall Street Journal; the executive city editor of the Albany (N.Y.) Times-Union; and a reporter and columnist with the Philadelphia Inquirer.
On Sept. 29, 2006, while on assignment, he was one of seven people on a business jet who survived a mid-air collision with a 737 at 37,000 feet over the Amazon in Brazil. All 154 on the commercial airliner died. His reports on the crash appeared on the front page of the New York Times and later in the Sunday Times of London Magazine.
He and his wife Nancy (who is a professor of journalism at the University of Arizona) live with two parrots and a horse in Tucson — where he is also working on a new novel about the exploits of an international travel writer who hates to travel. .
A Vietnam veteran, he has written five books, four non-fiction and a novel. One of his nonfiction books, “Above Suspicion,” has been adapted as a major motion picture starring Emilia Clarke, Jack Huston, Thora Birch and Johnny Knoxville (and directed by Phillip Noyce), to be released soon.
In January 2017, a new, revised edition of his book “Above Suspicion” was published in print and as an e-book by Open Road Media. Penguin Random House also released an audio book version in January. Open Road also published revised editions in e-book format of his true-crime books “Death Sentence” and “Deadly Greed.” In January 2018, the revised edition of “Death Sentence” was published in print by Open Road Media.
He has written a screenplay adaptation of “Death Sentence,” which will also be published in a new print edition in January 2018 by Open Road Media.
In his newspaper career before the New York Times, he was an assistant national editor at the Wall Street Journal; the executive city editor of the Albany (N.Y.) Times-Union; and a reporter and columnist with the Philadelphia Inquirer.
On Sept. 29, 2006, while on assignment, he was one of seven people on a business jet who survived a mid-air collision with a 737 at 37,000 feet over the Amazon in Brazil. All 154 on the commercial airliner died. His reports on the crash appeared on the front page of the New York Times and later in the Sunday Times of London Magazine.
He and his wife Nancy (who is a professor of journalism at the University of Arizona) live with two parrots and a horse in Tucson — where he is also working on a new novel about the exploits of an international travel writer who hates to travel. .
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February 11, 2020
“A lie can go around the world twice before the truth gets its socks on.”
― Joe Sharkey, Above Suspicion: An Undercover FBI Agent, an Illicit Affair, and a Murder of Passion
This will be a tough book to review. On the one hand, I am awed by the writing here and by how much research must have gone into writing it. On the other hand, I had a very difficult time with aspects of it for my own reasons.
This is a true story about an FBI agent..Mark Putnam who is arrested for murder. If I have my facts straight, he was the first FBI agent ever to have had this happen.
The person he murdered was his Lover Susan Smith. Susan was a sassy and outspoken lady and had done work for Mark and the FBI as an informant. During that time, she and Mark were briefly involved romantically. Mark was married. His wife Kathy w as also a friend to Susan. Susan fell in love with Mark although he did not reciprocate.
When Mark ended things Susan was very upset. Then she became pregnant. When the two of them had a confrontation, he strangled her then covered up the crime. One year later he did confess and did time for his crime although he is out now.
This book is so much more than another true crime story. The writer, Joe Sharkey writes wonderfully and had done extensive interviews with many of the people involved.
First things first..the good. All this happened in a town called Pikeville Kentucky. Mark and Cathy were originally from the North east but he was a newly graduated rookie and this is where he was assigned. Neither he nor Kathy were all that happy about it and it took much time to really fit in down there. It was there he met Susan and she helped with alot of acclimating to the area.
Sharkey describes the history of the town as well as the state. There were times I felt like I was in High school history class learning about Kentucky. Aspects of that were a bit painful, particularly the themes of poverty and giving up but I am indeed a geography nerd so although I think that the descriptions went on a bit to long, I found them interesting as well.
Then there are the characters. They are brought to life and one really gets the sense that they know them. It's an impressive book and made for true crime readers who are seeking a true crime book of quality.
But:
I did not love the book overall. During my reading of it, I imagined giving it a rating anywhere from a 2 to a 4 and settled on a 3. Here is what I did not like.
I could not stand the main character, Mark Putnam. I felt..as many other reviewers did..that he was written to look like as good a guy as possible who just made a tragic mistake and it was a crime of passion. I did not like feeling that way but I did.
The fact is I didn't like this guy even well before he committed the murder. There was something that happened early on that made me fell this way. Here is what that is
Kathy, Mark's wife is a wonderful character and I adored her. The author goes into their courtship and one thing stuck in my craw and made me really dislike Mark.
In their early days together, Kathy decides to talk to him about her past. She'd had much happen to her that was pretty bad. She had secrets and darkness and tragedy in her past..much like many of us. So she decided to open up to her soulmate about that. What was Mark's response?
He walked out on Kathy for about three days. Then when he came back he said he never wanted to hear about or discuss this stuff again.
Red flag! I mean..what Kathy w as doing..was quite normal. It's called intimacy. His reaction showed that he could not handle the unpleasantries of life. Thus, my dislike comes in.
I don't blame Kathy at all. She really loved him it sounds like. Not only did she forgive him for his affair with Susan she stood by him through the whole thing. She also befriended Susan's sister after Susan's death. She's the unsung hero in much of this.
But going back to what I said about not liking Mark..we still do not really know what happened. Only two people were there and one (Susan) is dead. We have to take Mark's word for it and I am not sure I feel like doing that.
Yes, he confessed but only after he flunked a lie detector test. I felt no sympathy for him at all. This was tragic but he brought it on himself.
SPOILERS:
Poor Kathy died while he was in prison. He is out now and remarried. The author mentioned that the case had haunted him and I can see why. I wish though that Mark had not been portrayed as so..for lack of a better word..pure. But to give the author credit he really seems to be trying to be fair and Susan was never portrayed as asking for it or anything like that.
In my mind, this story is as tragic as it gets and so avoidable. I have top give it at least 3 stars and sometimes, with true crime books, I do not get above that because I just dislike the perpetrator so much. Still true c rime fans probably do not want to miss this if they have not already read it.
― Joe Sharkey, Above Suspicion: An Undercover FBI Agent, an Illicit Affair, and a Murder of Passion
This will be a tough book to review. On the one hand, I am awed by the writing here and by how much research must have gone into writing it. On the other hand, I had a very difficult time with aspects of it for my own reasons.
This is a true story about an FBI agent..Mark Putnam who is arrested for murder. If I have my facts straight, he was the first FBI agent ever to have had this happen.
The person he murdered was his Lover Susan Smith. Susan was a sassy and outspoken lady and had done work for Mark and the FBI as an informant. During that time, she and Mark were briefly involved romantically. Mark was married. His wife Kathy w as also a friend to Susan. Susan fell in love with Mark although he did not reciprocate.
When Mark ended things Susan was very upset. Then she became pregnant. When the two of them had a confrontation, he strangled her then covered up the crime. One year later he did confess and did time for his crime although he is out now.
This book is so much more than another true crime story. The writer, Joe Sharkey writes wonderfully and had done extensive interviews with many of the people involved.
First things first..the good. All this happened in a town called Pikeville Kentucky. Mark and Cathy were originally from the North east but he was a newly graduated rookie and this is where he was assigned. Neither he nor Kathy were all that happy about it and it took much time to really fit in down there. It was there he met Susan and she helped with alot of acclimating to the area.
Sharkey describes the history of the town as well as the state. There were times I felt like I was in High school history class learning about Kentucky. Aspects of that were a bit painful, particularly the themes of poverty and giving up but I am indeed a geography nerd so although I think that the descriptions went on a bit to long, I found them interesting as well.
Then there are the characters. They are brought to life and one really gets the sense that they know them. It's an impressive book and made for true crime readers who are seeking a true crime book of quality.
But:
I did not love the book overall. During my reading of it, I imagined giving it a rating anywhere from a 2 to a 4 and settled on a 3. Here is what I did not like.
I could not stand the main character, Mark Putnam. I felt..as many other reviewers did..that he was written to look like as good a guy as possible who just made a tragic mistake and it was a crime of passion. I did not like feeling that way but I did.
The fact is I didn't like this guy even well before he committed the murder. There was something that happened early on that made me fell this way. Here is what that is
Kathy, Mark's wife is a wonderful character and I adored her. The author goes into their courtship and one thing stuck in my craw and made me really dislike Mark.
In their early days together, Kathy decides to talk to him about her past. She'd had much happen to her that was pretty bad. She had secrets and darkness and tragedy in her past..much like many of us. So she decided to open up to her soulmate about that. What was Mark's response?
He walked out on Kathy for about three days. Then when he came back he said he never wanted to hear about or discuss this stuff again.
Red flag! I mean..what Kathy w as doing..was quite normal. It's called intimacy. His reaction showed that he could not handle the unpleasantries of life. Thus, my dislike comes in.
I don't blame Kathy at all. She really loved him it sounds like. Not only did she forgive him for his affair with Susan she stood by him through the whole thing. She also befriended Susan's sister after Susan's death. She's the unsung hero in much of this.
But going back to what I said about not liking Mark..we still do not really know what happened. Only two people were there and one (Susan) is dead. We have to take Mark's word for it and I am not sure I feel like doing that.
Yes, he confessed but only after he flunked a lie detector test. I felt no sympathy for him at all. This was tragic but he brought it on himself.
SPOILERS:
Poor Kathy died while he was in prison. He is out now and remarried. The author mentioned that the case had haunted him and I can see why. I wish though that Mark had not been portrayed as so..for lack of a better word..pure. But to give the author credit he really seems to be trying to be fair and Susan was never portrayed as asking for it or anything like that.
In my mind, this story is as tragic as it gets and so avoidable. I have top give it at least 3 stars and sometimes, with true crime books, I do not get above that because I just dislike the perpetrator so much. Still true c rime fans probably do not want to miss this if they have not already read it.
May 16, 2023
A sad, sad true story.
March 16, 2017
Finished last night. I have now read both books and they were so different but I give more credit to Joe Sharkey than to Aphrodite Jones. Her only source seemed to be the sister of Susan, Shelby who has not even seen the 2 together (Mark with Susan)
In her book it said that Mark had an affair with her for 2 years so nearly from the beginning but in this book it is said that it was not near that long. Not sure why he would lie about that. Okay perhaps for his wife but his wife supported him throughout.
Joe Sharkey spoke with everyone except Susan of course and I thought it a very good book about an interesting case. I normally only read 1 book about a case but because I had already learned the authors had different opinions (and I knew that Mister Sharkey is a great author because I have read another book of his)
In her book it said that Mark had an affair with her for 2 years so nearly from the beginning but in this book it is said that it was not near that long. Not sure why he would lie about that. Okay perhaps for his wife but his wife supported him throughout.
Joe Sharkey spoke with everyone except Susan of course and I thought it a very good book about an interesting case. I normally only read 1 book about a case but because I had already learned the authors had different opinions (and I knew that Mister Sharkey is a great author because I have read another book of his)
October 17, 2018
According to the author, this is the tragic story of a family man/FBI-agent, whose life is destroyed when he is goaded by his informant/mistress into murdering her, dumping her body and lying to everyone about it until he finally, heroically, confesses. Knowing it was written like 25 years ago didn't stop my head from exploding with uncontrollable rage. Utterly baffled by the high rating on GR.
February 4, 2017
Mark Putnam is a rookie FBI Agent. A week after graduation he is sent to Pikeville, Kentucky for his first assignment. Pikeville is not anything like what he and his wife, Kathy, were expecting. We're talking mountain folk, drug rings, and lots of miscellaneous crimes.
But all this is okay with Putnam. He was a man bent on becoming a great federal agent and he's willing to put in the time and effort to reach his goal. Meanwhile, Kathy is a stay at home mom with their young daughter, Danielle.
When Putnam put informants on his payroll, he ran into young, pretty Susan Smith. Susan was a single mom, a drug user, and although most people really liked her, she was a consummate liar. She sets her eyes on Putnam and she's determined to make him hers.
Putnam only refused her advances for a short time before they began a somewhat torrid affair. When Putnam ended the affair, Susan wasn't about to go peacefully. There was a horrific struggle and in a rage, he strangled her to death.
Tormented with guilt, after a year, Putnam confessed to what he had done and led investigators to Susan's remains.
BOOK BLURB: This is the story of what happened before, during, and after his startling confession—an account that “should take its place on the dark shelf of the best American true crime” (Newsday).
This is an extremely well written true crime account. The author stuck to fact-based journalism. This was a kind of sad read. I felt so much sympathy for Kathy (wife) and Susan...two women who loved the same man. Mark seems to have let his ambition steer him in the wrong direction and in the end, he could not live with himself.
Many thanks to the author / Open Road Integrated Media / Netgalley for the digital copy of ABOVE SUSPICION. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
But all this is okay with Putnam. He was a man bent on becoming a great federal agent and he's willing to put in the time and effort to reach his goal. Meanwhile, Kathy is a stay at home mom with their young daughter, Danielle.
When Putnam put informants on his payroll, he ran into young, pretty Susan Smith. Susan was a single mom, a drug user, and although most people really liked her, she was a consummate liar. She sets her eyes on Putnam and she's determined to make him hers.
Putnam only refused her advances for a short time before they began a somewhat torrid affair. When Putnam ended the affair, Susan wasn't about to go peacefully. There was a horrific struggle and in a rage, he strangled her to death.
Tormented with guilt, after a year, Putnam confessed to what he had done and led investigators to Susan's remains.
BOOK BLURB: This is the story of what happened before, during, and after his startling confession—an account that “should take its place on the dark shelf of the best American true crime” (Newsday).
This is an extremely well written true crime account. The author stuck to fact-based journalism. This was a kind of sad read. I felt so much sympathy for Kathy (wife) and Susan...two women who loved the same man. Mark seems to have let his ambition steer him in the wrong direction and in the end, he could not live with himself.
Many thanks to the author / Open Road Integrated Media / Netgalley for the digital copy of ABOVE SUSPICION. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
January 15, 2018
Good lord, was the author this guy’s defense attorney or something? He ascribes noble motives and alleged thoughts of remorse to someone who beat to death a woman half his size, dumped her body, and lied about it. But it’s not really lying (according to the author) because the subject “finds himself saying” or doing things repeatedly against his better judgment. Please.
April 4, 2017
Interesting true crime story which is well written. Tells the story of a cop who let ambition rule his life which eventually brings him down both personally and professionally, along with others close to him. Emotional and captivating, worth the time to read.
October 2, 2018
This is a compelling story, but the author takes unnecessary artistic liberties and the favoritism toward Putnam is astonishing. We are told repeatedly that Putnam is an abiding guy, led to believe that he is kind-hearted, and reminded again and again how he is wracked with guilt. This is the same man who, when ultimately questioned, said (according to the author) that he “planned to confess but wanted to make them sweat for it.” (And then doesn’t confess in that session at all).
I’m not sure why the author took such a slant toward Putnam. The story itself is fascinating enough without putting forth an authorial agenda.
I’m not sure why the author took such a slant toward Putnam. The story itself is fascinating enough without putting forth an authorial agenda.
January 6, 2017
ABOVE SUSPICION BY JOE SHARKEY
This is one of the most tragic stories I have ever read and it is based on court transcripts, police records and interviews. I think the author did a brilliant job of telling this story. I feel sorry for almost everybody involved. Mark and his wife Kathy move to rural Eastern Kentucky in Pikeville in 1988 where Mark gets his first assignment to the FBI as an agent. The office is so small there is only Mark and one other FBI Agent. FBI agents get informers and pay them for information about crime. A young woman named Susean Smith, who is the mother of two children who signed over custody of her children to an ex husband who beats her up. Susan becomes Mark's informant and over a period of a few years she is paid $9000.00 for informing on criminals. Susan does a lot of drugs and it seems like Mark and his wife Kathy try to help Susan. Susan calls Mark at home and Kathy tries to help Susan better her lifestyle.
Mark is out of prison since 2000. He lives in the South with his two children. kathy died. But before any of this happened Kathy really listened to Susan's troubles on the phone all the time. Mark ends up giving in and has sex with Susan a couple of times in the car. Susan and Mark both crossed the line and never should have done that to kathy. It seems really out of character for Mark to have slept with Susan. Kathy is really unhappy living in Pikeville and Mark gets transferred to Miami, Florida. He really is a good person, he is a hard worker and earned his transfer. Everybody is happy in Fort Lauderdale where Mark, Kathy and their two children are thriving.
Mark did not have to confess but he is ruined by killing Susan. He loses thirty pounds. Every time his boss calls him in for a meeting he thinks here it comes. I feel like every body has lost out. I felt like I could feel the economically depressed, corrupt area in Kentucky. I felt like I could see all the vibrant colors in Florida. I really am impressed by how the author wrote and was able to recreate the scenes like I was watching a movie. I did not know this was a true story until I started reading it. I really felt connected to all of the people and found this to be quite heartbreaking for everybody.
In 2017 there is going to be a major motion picture about this tragedy. They shot the movie in Harlan where that show Justified was set.
Thank You to Net Galley, the talented Joe Sharkey for all your research and the Publisher for providing me with my digital copy for a fair and honest review.
.
This is one of the most tragic stories I have ever read and it is based on court transcripts, police records and interviews. I think the author did a brilliant job of telling this story. I feel sorry for almost everybody involved. Mark and his wife Kathy move to rural Eastern Kentucky in Pikeville in 1988 where Mark gets his first assignment to the FBI as an agent. The office is so small there is only Mark and one other FBI Agent. FBI agents get informers and pay them for information about crime. A young woman named Susean Smith, who is the mother of two children who signed over custody of her children to an ex husband who beats her up. Susan becomes Mark's informant and over a period of a few years she is paid $9000.00 for informing on criminals. Susan does a lot of drugs and it seems like Mark and his wife Kathy try to help Susan. Susan calls Mark at home and Kathy tries to help Susan better her lifestyle.
Mark is out of prison since 2000. He lives in the South with his two children. kathy died. But before any of this happened Kathy really listened to Susan's troubles on the phone all the time. Mark ends up giving in and has sex with Susan a couple of times in the car. Susan and Mark both crossed the line and never should have done that to kathy. It seems really out of character for Mark to have slept with Susan. Kathy is really unhappy living in Pikeville and Mark gets transferred to Miami, Florida. He really is a good person, he is a hard worker and earned his transfer. Everybody is happy in Fort Lauderdale where Mark, Kathy and their two children are thriving.
Mark did not have to confess but he is ruined by killing Susan. He loses thirty pounds. Every time his boss calls him in for a meeting he thinks here it comes. I feel like every body has lost out. I felt like I could feel the economically depressed, corrupt area in Kentucky. I felt like I could see all the vibrant colors in Florida. I really am impressed by how the author wrote and was able to recreate the scenes like I was watching a movie. I did not know this was a true story until I started reading it. I really felt connected to all of the people and found this to be quite heartbreaking for everybody.
In 2017 there is going to be a major motion picture about this tragedy. They shot the movie in Harlan where that show Justified was set.
Thank You to Net Galley, the talented Joe Sharkey for all your research and the Publisher for providing me with my digital copy for a fair and honest review.
.
January 29, 2019
I just couldn't keep reading about these stupid people. Got to 30%, skipped to 50% and read a little more, then just gave up. I don't care.
July 27, 2018
Audiobook----------- Reading the Goodreads synopsis, you would think that this true crime story was in league with Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood". Not so-- hardly any crime-- and just flat out boring.
I guess that there is a movie from this. Unless screen play is divergent from the book, it should only be shown on the Lifetime Network.
I guess that there is a movie from this. Unless screen play is divergent from the book, it should only be shown on the Lifetime Network.
September 30, 2017
A reader starting this book, who did not know it was a true crime story, might imagine it was a comedy. There's all these crimes going on in a rural area where everyone knows who's committing them; and all these informants being paid big bucks by the FBI, where everyone knows, including the criminals, who is getting paid to talk; and most of that money seems to be going to buying drugs and having a good time. And on and on it all goes.
Enter Mark Putnam, a rookie FBI agent, who gets caught up in it all in a way that leaves him with a sterling work reputation, as well as a murder charge and conviction. Yes, he was the one charged and convicted, not the arresting agent. This book is definitely an interesting case study of a guilty man with a guilty conscience who knows sooner or later he will be caught; or simply will not be able to continue keeping the killing a secret. He does end up confessing a year later, but only after he's caught by a failed lie detector test.
So, why is he portrayed in such an heroic manner in this book? Because he did have a guilty conscience, instead of a narcissistic cheater's and killer's mind? Because of the lifestyle of the young woman he killed? Because of his wife's depression, domineering ways, and friendship with the young woman? Seriously, I'm beginning to wonder about Joe Sharkey's point of view when it comes to men who murder. Because this is the second book by him I've read where it almost seems like he's putting some women in the story on trial, making them at least partly responsible for the killings. (The first book was Death Sentence, where he, without a doubt, portrayed John List's wife and mother as very guilty women.)
Of course, the women in both stories weren't responsible for the killings, the men were solely responsible for their actions. Mark Putnam was no hero. Yes, he was human, but so were the women in the story. He was the one who killed and dumped a body, not his wife Kathy and not Susan Smith, the 28-year-old he was cheating with and murdered. Maybe Mr. Sharkey should spend less time trying to make women guilty, as well as less time trying to elicit empathy and sympathy for men who kill women and children.
(Note: I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.)
Enter Mark Putnam, a rookie FBI agent, who gets caught up in it all in a way that leaves him with a sterling work reputation, as well as a murder charge and conviction. Yes, he was the one charged and convicted, not the arresting agent. This book is definitely an interesting case study of a guilty man with a guilty conscience who knows sooner or later he will be caught; or simply will not be able to continue keeping the killing a secret. He does end up confessing a year later, but only after he's caught by a failed lie detector test.
So, why is he portrayed in such an heroic manner in this book? Because he did have a guilty conscience, instead of a narcissistic cheater's and killer's mind? Because of the lifestyle of the young woman he killed? Because of his wife's depression, domineering ways, and friendship with the young woman? Seriously, I'm beginning to wonder about Joe Sharkey's point of view when it comes to men who murder. Because this is the second book by him I've read where it almost seems like he's putting some women in the story on trial, making them at least partly responsible for the killings. (The first book was Death Sentence, where he, without a doubt, portrayed John List's wife and mother as very guilty women.)
Of course, the women in both stories weren't responsible for the killings, the men were solely responsible for their actions. Mark Putnam was no hero. Yes, he was human, but so were the women in the story. He was the one who killed and dumped a body, not his wife Kathy and not Susan Smith, the 28-year-old he was cheating with and murdered. Maybe Mr. Sharkey should spend less time trying to make women guilty, as well as less time trying to elicit empathy and sympathy for men who kill women and children.
(Note: I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.)
August 1, 2020
This books was hard for me to rate. I have read and liked other books by this author but this one was a disappointment. I think that technically it was well written but I really disagreed with the author’s choice of portraying the killer as a paragon who was pushed over the edge by a skanky, loud mouth, annoying woman. My problem was that for how hard the author tried to convince me I never thought Putnam ever came across as a good guy. In my opinion he treated his wife pretty poorly before they were even married and that continued up until she died.
The author also tried to portray his wife as a saint but it came across like she was way too enmeshed in his life. She did things like call the FBI and demand they accept his application, worked as his secretary for free out of the home by answering phone calls and doing paperwork, befriended Susan and talked to her for hours on the phone, tried to manipulate his bosses into transferring him, etc. I think the author tried to frame these actions as supportive but I thought it made her look controlling and manipulative and explained why she blamed herself for his crimes while never getting her life back together after Putnam went to prison. It really was no surprise to me he ended up attracted to another manipulative woman.
One thing that really bothered me was that the only time the author portrayed Susan in a positive light was when he was trying to explain why the killer would be attracted to her. It really seemed like he didn’t know what to make of Susan and that she became the villain in a book about her own murder. I’m not sure I buy that the affair didn’t last longer, it seems to me Putnam created a narrative for himself that downplays his own actions significantly. I think he would lie about the affair even now as it makes him look somewhat sympathetic if it only happened a few times under stress, after she wore him down by coming on to him all the time. I also don’t believe that he would have confessed eventually on his own if he hadn’t been questioned again, he’s too cowardly for that.
Overall, I give the book 2.5 stars rounded down because even though it was disappointing it was well written and I did read the entire thing even though I was really annoyed the whole time.
The author also tried to portray his wife as a saint but it came across like she was way too enmeshed in his life. She did things like call the FBI and demand they accept his application, worked as his secretary for free out of the home by answering phone calls and doing paperwork, befriended Susan and talked to her for hours on the phone, tried to manipulate his bosses into transferring him, etc. I think the author tried to frame these actions as supportive but I thought it made her look controlling and manipulative and explained why she blamed herself for his crimes while never getting her life back together after Putnam went to prison. It really was no surprise to me he ended up attracted to another manipulative woman.
One thing that really bothered me was that the only time the author portrayed Susan in a positive light was when he was trying to explain why the killer would be attracted to her. It really seemed like he didn’t know what to make of Susan and that she became the villain in a book about her own murder. I’m not sure I buy that the affair didn’t last longer, it seems to me Putnam created a narrative for himself that downplays his own actions significantly. I think he would lie about the affair even now as it makes him look somewhat sympathetic if it only happened a few times under stress, after she wore him down by coming on to him all the time. I also don’t believe that he would have confessed eventually on his own if he hadn’t been questioned again, he’s too cowardly for that.
Overall, I give the book 2.5 stars rounded down because even though it was disappointing it was well written and I did read the entire thing even though I was really annoyed the whole time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2017
ABOVE SUSPICION by Joe Sharkey
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book for review by Netgalley and Open Road Integrated Media.
I liked this True Crime book by Joe Sharkey set in the Kentucky mountains. Fresh from the FBI academy is Mark Putnam, who is excited to be starting his first new posting, despite the fact that it's in a really small office in Pikeville, Kentucky (or BFE). He's always lived a life with good morals, thanks to his father's example, and he wants to make him proud of him, especially since he's no longer around. Little does he know, but he's in for an even bigger challenge than he hoped for. It comes in the form of Susan Daniels Smith, a 32 year old daugther of a coal miner, who feels trapped in a miserable existence.
Susan Smith is looking for the answer to her life, and what she's been doing hasn't worked much at all for her. She's divorced and strung out, still lives with her lazy drug-dealing ex so she can be around her kids, because she's basically homeless otherwise. Oh, and the ex, Kenneth also knocks her around when he feels like it. She's got 2 beautiful kids that she does love a lot, but it's becoming more difficult all the time to maintain any kind of decent life for them the way things are.
When Mark and Susan meet, he's looking for undercover Informants for the FBI, who at that time was paying good money for information on crimes that they would be interested in.
Not only does Susan need money badly, for bills and to keep her worsening drug habit going, but after a few minutes of talking with Mark has her convinced that he's a dream man in the flesh. What could go wrong here? Just about everything. Things go off the deep end.
Having read another book on this story previously, I found this one to be less biased against the FBI agent, staying more neutral. I prefer this one.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book for review by Netgalley and Open Road Integrated Media.
I liked this True Crime book by Joe Sharkey set in the Kentucky mountains. Fresh from the FBI academy is Mark Putnam, who is excited to be starting his first new posting, despite the fact that it's in a really small office in Pikeville, Kentucky (or BFE). He's always lived a life with good morals, thanks to his father's example, and he wants to make him proud of him, especially since he's no longer around. Little does he know, but he's in for an even bigger challenge than he hoped for. It comes in the form of Susan Daniels Smith, a 32 year old daugther of a coal miner, who feels trapped in a miserable existence.
Susan Smith is looking for the answer to her life, and what she's been doing hasn't worked much at all for her. She's divorced and strung out, still lives with her lazy drug-dealing ex so she can be around her kids, because she's basically homeless otherwise. Oh, and the ex, Kenneth also knocks her around when he feels like it. She's got 2 beautiful kids that she does love a lot, but it's becoming more difficult all the time to maintain any kind of decent life for them the way things are.
When Mark and Susan meet, he's looking for undercover Informants for the FBI, who at that time was paying good money for information on crimes that they would be interested in.
Not only does Susan need money badly, for bills and to keep her worsening drug habit going, but after a few minutes of talking with Mark has her convinced that he's a dream man in the flesh. What could go wrong here? Just about everything. Things go off the deep end.
Having read another book on this story previously, I found this one to be less biased against the FBI agent, staying more neutral. I prefer this one.
April 14, 2022
Above Suspicion is a super interesting true crime narrative. It has all the components of a great story, a small insular town with an embedded culture, an outsider in law enforcement, naivety and misplaced trust, questionable decision-making, a murder, a coverup, and a tense investigation. What is most effective is the way the narrative is constructed. You know what the central crime is from the moment you start reading and for the first half I found myself thinking the moment was around every corner. Once the crime takes place the retelling on concealment, investigation, conviction is so well-paced it reads like a novel. I had little to complain about with this great book.
October 17, 2024
Definitely a 4.5 read. I started off with the book but switched to audio at chapter 6. This reads as a recollection of facts rather than a fiction story book. This was a pick in my family book club & I just love it when you pick up a book you normally would overlook & end up absolutely loving it. I definitely want to check out the movie adaptation!
March 7, 2019
Well-told human tragedy. Even though it's non-fiction, it felt Shakespearean/Dennis Lehanean at certain moments--people making bad choice after bad choice until their fate is sealed. Would pair well with Evidence of Love: A True Story of Passion and Death in the Suburbs in my imaginary college class called Gender Studies in True Crime.
I'd bet that some readers will have a problem with the way Mark is depicted versus Susan and Kathy. Sometimes I had a problem with it, but at the same time, I respect the author's choice to make this Mark's story. His was an incremental fall from grace, and into total darkness, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel for him, even if he is a middle-class white guy who was granted every benefit the justice system has to offer. I'd argue that while his downfall was his fault, it wasn't entirely of his own making. In a perfect world we'd get a second book from Susan's POV, and a third from Kathy's. And maybe a fourth from a poor African-American man accused of the same crime.
I'd bet that some readers will have a problem with the way Mark is depicted versus Susan and Kathy. Sometimes I had a problem with it, but at the same time, I respect the author's choice to make this Mark's story. His was an incremental fall from grace, and into total darkness, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel for him, even if he is a middle-class white guy who was granted every benefit the justice system has to offer. I'd argue that while his downfall was his fault, it wasn't entirely of his own making. In a perfect world we'd get a second book from Susan's POV, and a third from Kathy's. And maybe a fourth from a poor African-American man accused of the same crime.
May 7, 2020
True crime.
Journalist Sharkey interviewed some of the lead
characters, colleagues, and family + friends of
Mark & Kathy ( M+K) and Susan. These 3 took
up the focus of the story. Starkey's story was tight
and had some suspense.
Mark graduated from the FBI Academy & the FBI
regional Pikeville KY office (in coal country) served
as his 1st assignment. The office had space for only
2 agents. Their Pikeville supervisor was stationed
in Lexington KY. Mark, a former college soccer player,
jogged daily & most women considered him attractive.
He worked long hours (to put his name on the map) &
soon used Susan as a paid FBI informant. The locals
knew Susan for her drug abuse, her drama & decision
to continue to reside w/ her ex-spouse (who beat her)
and their 2 small kids. Susan bravely testified against
hardened felons in this rural area.
The 'wheels came off the bus' when Mark's spouse
Kathy befriended Susan. None of these 3 respected
personal boundaries. Susan liked Kate (vice versa)
& felt a sexual attraction w/ Mark. Susan soon called
this couple day + night. Susan should've been cut off
from reaching M+K, 24/7. M+K contributed to the
blurred lines w/ Susan.
Mark eventually got a new FBI partner Ron who lusted
after Susan. Ron undermined Mark professionally and
personally. Ron 'went rogue' more than once. Their
supervisor in Lexington didn't keep 'up to speed' with
the goings on. He should have shown up unannounced.
I found Mark, Kate and Susan all arrogant. Ron should
have never been an FBI agent. Kate bossed around Mark.
Mark tired of Susan's need for attn & he mostly ignored
her as time went on. Then Susan went missing... or did she?
The FBI looked disorganized and unethical in this book.
Reportedly the FBI set better boundaries (written policies)
for agents and informants, going forward.
BTW this was made into a movie starring Emilia Clarke.
Journalist Sharkey interviewed some of the lead
characters, colleagues, and family + friends of
Mark & Kathy ( M+K) and Susan. These 3 took
up the focus of the story. Starkey's story was tight
and had some suspense.
Mark graduated from the FBI Academy & the FBI
regional Pikeville KY office (in coal country) served
as his 1st assignment. The office had space for only
2 agents. Their Pikeville supervisor was stationed
in Lexington KY. Mark, a former college soccer player,
jogged daily & most women considered him attractive.
He worked long hours (to put his name on the map) &
soon used Susan as a paid FBI informant. The locals
knew Susan for her drug abuse, her drama & decision
to continue to reside w/ her ex-spouse (who beat her)
and their 2 small kids. Susan bravely testified against
hardened felons in this rural area.
The 'wheels came off the bus' when Mark's spouse
Kathy befriended Susan. None of these 3 respected
personal boundaries. Susan liked Kate (vice versa)
& felt a sexual attraction w/ Mark. Susan soon called
this couple day + night. Susan should've been cut off
from reaching M+K, 24/7. M+K contributed to the
blurred lines w/ Susan.
Mark eventually got a new FBI partner Ron who lusted
after Susan. Ron undermined Mark professionally and
personally. Ron 'went rogue' more than once. Their
supervisor in Lexington didn't keep 'up to speed' with
the goings on. He should have shown up unannounced.
I found Mark, Kate and Susan all arrogant. Ron should
have never been an FBI agent. Kate bossed around Mark.
Mark tired of Susan's need for attn & he mostly ignored
her as time went on. Then Susan went missing... or did she?
The FBI looked disorganized and unethical in this book.
Reportedly the FBI set better boundaries (written policies)
for agents and informants, going forward.
BTW this was made into a movie starring Emilia Clarke.
October 30, 2020
ARC for review, obviously a re-release of an older title, EPD, January 17, 2017.
Review to be published following publication.
***
Review originally published in the Charleston Gazette Mail, March 5, 2017
“Above Suspicion” by Joe Sharkey, Simon & Schuster, 1993
I had read nothing at all about this true-crime book other than it was set in Pikeville, Kentucky, which is adjacent to the Southern West Virginia state line near the Tug Valley and Williamson.
That’s what drew my interest, not the story itself, so this was one nonfiction book I was able to read without knowing what was about to happen — and that definitely added to my enjoyment.
This is actually a tragic story of how a systemic problem, combined with a few seconds of lost control, can have results that are horrible for so many, especially a young woman who lost her life.
In February 1987, Connecticut native Mark Putnam, a recent graduate of the FBI academy, his wife Kathy and their 2-year-old daughter Danielle were assigned to the FBI office in Pikeville.
Now, the fact Pikeville even has an FBI office is shocking to me. There is a fair amount of crime in the area, but I’m surprised it isn’t handled out of a larger city — either Lexington or Charleston. At the time, Pikeville had less than 5,000 residents, and I had no idea the FBI was in the business of putting agents (multiple agents) in communities that were so small.
Sharkey, though not from the area, does a great job painting an accurate picture of it, both then and now, relying heavily on Harry M. Caudill’s seminal book “Night Comes to the Cumberlands,” with descriptions of the disdain outsiders often bring to their first encounters with hillbillies and the condescension that has always seeped down the map to rural southern Appalachia from the urban media centers.
During the heyday of the sensationalist press in the late 1880s, big-city newspapers from the east were drawn to southern Appalachia by the colorful narratives afforded by the Hatfield-McCoy feud:
“The stories gave birth to the stereotype of hillbillies as perpetually befuddled lummoxes engaged in contentious disputes, surrounded by sexually amenable Daisy Maes, bumptious elders, and assorted comic shotgun-toting wild men, all coexisting in dim-witted timeless bliss in a junkyard Eden where tranquility is regularly shattered by thumping mountain quarrels.
“As with most enduring stereotypes, there is always authentication available to those who look for it ... in the hilly rural areas outside of town, welfare has been a way of life for generations, the teenage pregnancy rate is among the highest in the country, abuse of both illegal and legal drugs is rampant, and feuds lasting generations simmer like stew pots.
“Under a thin veneer of modest prosperity in small towns such as Pikeville, the toll of over a century of feverish exploitation was evident, both physically and socially ... in ‘exhaustion of soil, exhaustion of men, exhaustion of hopes.’”
The area is both geographically and, some would say, uniquely isolated. This is where Mark came to try to bring law and order.
But I digress. Mark is a fish out of water in isolated, mountainous, coal-tarnished Pike County, Kentucky, and non-natives don’t do well in these areas (hell, most law-enforcement doesn’t do well, and definitely not someone from the outside). However, Mark is determined to make a success of this first placement and gets to work.
Right from the start, Mark is told to be successful he needs to start developing sources — he is an outsider, and he needs in. Right away he happens to meet Susan Smith, who provides enormous amounts of help on a bank robbery case, at great risk to herself.
Smith was born in Matewan, West Virginia, just across the state line, and has been a lifelong resident of the area. She knows everything and everyone, so she is in a position to help Mark as long as Mark kept working his source.
Quickly, Susan refuses to work with anyone but Mark and insinuates herself into his life, becoming friends with Kathy Putnam and seeing or talking to Mark nearly every day. The FBI office in Lexington, Mark’s nominal overseer, largely leaves Mark to his own devices, other than to continue to provide him money to pay his new source, and a relationship that ends in tragedy has begun.
Any astute reader will see where this is all going. What shocked me and made this all the more tragic was Mark’s — spoiler alert — incredible sense of guilt.
Although he might not be sure of it, there’s no question he could have gotten away with the crime. But he can’t live with himself and is prepared to pay the consequences, more than most would have paid in the same situation because of his conscience and his attitude that he let down the FBI, an organization for which he had the utmost respect despite the fact that its tactics and lack of supervision of a rookie agent likely contributed to his downfall.
Mark never blames anyone but himself, a true rare breed.
This title was originally published in 1993, long before my time in West Virginia, so I was unfamiliar with the story. The book is being reissued now to tie-in with a movie starring Emilia Clarke (from “Game of Thrones” as Susan). The movie, filmed in Harlan, Kentucky, in 2016, so one would guess it will be out next year. It’s always enjoyable to read stories when you know the area and you know the people, so I quite liked this.
Well done and well worth reading.
Review to be published following publication.
***
Review originally published in the Charleston Gazette Mail, March 5, 2017
“Above Suspicion” by Joe Sharkey, Simon & Schuster, 1993
I had read nothing at all about this true-crime book other than it was set in Pikeville, Kentucky, which is adjacent to the Southern West Virginia state line near the Tug Valley and Williamson.
That’s what drew my interest, not the story itself, so this was one nonfiction book I was able to read without knowing what was about to happen — and that definitely added to my enjoyment.
This is actually a tragic story of how a systemic problem, combined with a few seconds of lost control, can have results that are horrible for so many, especially a young woman who lost her life.
In February 1987, Connecticut native Mark Putnam, a recent graduate of the FBI academy, his wife Kathy and their 2-year-old daughter Danielle were assigned to the FBI office in Pikeville.
Now, the fact Pikeville even has an FBI office is shocking to me. There is a fair amount of crime in the area, but I’m surprised it isn’t handled out of a larger city — either Lexington or Charleston. At the time, Pikeville had less than 5,000 residents, and I had no idea the FBI was in the business of putting agents (multiple agents) in communities that were so small.
Sharkey, though not from the area, does a great job painting an accurate picture of it, both then and now, relying heavily on Harry M. Caudill’s seminal book “Night Comes to the Cumberlands,” with descriptions of the disdain outsiders often bring to their first encounters with hillbillies and the condescension that has always seeped down the map to rural southern Appalachia from the urban media centers.
During the heyday of the sensationalist press in the late 1880s, big-city newspapers from the east were drawn to southern Appalachia by the colorful narratives afforded by the Hatfield-McCoy feud:
“The stories gave birth to the stereotype of hillbillies as perpetually befuddled lummoxes engaged in contentious disputes, surrounded by sexually amenable Daisy Maes, bumptious elders, and assorted comic shotgun-toting wild men, all coexisting in dim-witted timeless bliss in a junkyard Eden where tranquility is regularly shattered by thumping mountain quarrels.
“As with most enduring stereotypes, there is always authentication available to those who look for it ... in the hilly rural areas outside of town, welfare has been a way of life for generations, the teenage pregnancy rate is among the highest in the country, abuse of both illegal and legal drugs is rampant, and feuds lasting generations simmer like stew pots.
“Under a thin veneer of modest prosperity in small towns such as Pikeville, the toll of over a century of feverish exploitation was evident, both physically and socially ... in ‘exhaustion of soil, exhaustion of men, exhaustion of hopes.’”
The area is both geographically and, some would say, uniquely isolated. This is where Mark came to try to bring law and order.
But I digress. Mark is a fish out of water in isolated, mountainous, coal-tarnished Pike County, Kentucky, and non-natives don’t do well in these areas (hell, most law-enforcement doesn’t do well, and definitely not someone from the outside). However, Mark is determined to make a success of this first placement and gets to work.
Right from the start, Mark is told to be successful he needs to start developing sources — he is an outsider, and he needs in. Right away he happens to meet Susan Smith, who provides enormous amounts of help on a bank robbery case, at great risk to herself.
Smith was born in Matewan, West Virginia, just across the state line, and has been a lifelong resident of the area. She knows everything and everyone, so she is in a position to help Mark as long as Mark kept working his source.
Quickly, Susan refuses to work with anyone but Mark and insinuates herself into his life, becoming friends with Kathy Putnam and seeing or talking to Mark nearly every day. The FBI office in Lexington, Mark’s nominal overseer, largely leaves Mark to his own devices, other than to continue to provide him money to pay his new source, and a relationship that ends in tragedy has begun.
Any astute reader will see where this is all going. What shocked me and made this all the more tragic was Mark’s — spoiler alert — incredible sense of guilt.
Although he might not be sure of it, there’s no question he could have gotten away with the crime. But he can’t live with himself and is prepared to pay the consequences, more than most would have paid in the same situation because of his conscience and his attitude that he let down the FBI, an organization for which he had the utmost respect despite the fact that its tactics and lack of supervision of a rookie agent likely contributed to his downfall.
Mark never blames anyone but himself, a true rare breed.
This title was originally published in 1993, long before my time in West Virginia, so I was unfamiliar with the story. The book is being reissued now to tie-in with a movie starring Emilia Clarke (from “Game of Thrones” as Susan). The movie, filmed in Harlan, Kentucky, in 2016, so one would guess it will be out next year. It’s always enjoyable to read stories when you know the area and you know the people, so I quite liked this.
Well done and well worth reading.
January 31, 2019
OK, so I am trying to become part of the "Make America Read Again" initiative so hopefully I will write some more reviews in 2019. I didn't read enough in 2018, which makes me cranky. This was my first completed book of 2019. I honestly don't know why I chose this one. I think I was looking for a book to send my Dad for his Birthday and he likes crime/thrillers... I read the review for this on on amazon and was intrigued by it. Also there will be a movie coming out soon based on this story that my husband will want to watch... so there you have it. That said, YIKES, this is a sad story. While it's titled "Above Suspicion" I like to call it "Dang, men can be SO dumb. SO DUMB!" I think it would make a great book club discussion because I would LOVE to talk to some other women about what they think about this situation. I think it could be a heated, interesting debate. I don't want to spoil it by telling you my opinion, so if you read this book and you are my friend please let me know what you think of Kathy's reaction!!!!
December 2, 2019
Well researched true crime story that kept me wanting to know more with every page turn.
I know Susan can’t tell her side but I felt book focused a lot on Mark. Like the book was setup to show how he was the great upstanding guy that made 1 “mistake” in his life and is paying for it because he felt so guilty. As a few other comments mentioned he confessed only after failing a lie detector. He was so racked with guilt that he hid the body and lied to police when they initially questioned him (with her body in the trunk of his car in the parking lot!). I think he saw the opportunity to get away and maintain his precious FBI job. He was more worried about what the situation with Susan would do to his reputation at the bureau.
I also wished there were more pictures of Susan. I like a visual when I read so I ended up searching google for more pics.
I know Susan can’t tell her side but I felt book focused a lot on Mark. Like the book was setup to show how he was the great upstanding guy that made 1 “mistake” in his life and is paying for it because he felt so guilty. As a few other comments mentioned he confessed only after failing a lie detector. He was so racked with guilt that he hid the body and lied to police when they initially questioned him (with her body in the trunk of his car in the parking lot!). I think he saw the opportunity to get away and maintain his precious FBI job. He was more worried about what the situation with Susan would do to his reputation at the bureau.
I also wished there were more pictures of Susan. I like a visual when I read so I ended up searching google for more pics.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2019
I gave this three stars mostly because the author used to work for The Wall Street Journal (although in his bio "The" was lowercase and he should know that's wrong), and because it's clear he did a ton of research. Maybe too much, as he seemed to include every detail, no matter how inconsequential, and the book dragged in spots (do we need to know all about Susan's pallbearers?).
The writing is good though (can't really say the same for the copy editing) and I liked the way all the events were laid out so you can see exactly what led to the murder. I really hated Mark by the end, and not just because he's a murderer. He's a complete fucking moron and a selfish asshole on top of that. Maybe I was supposed to feel sympathetic toward him, but I didn't.
The writing is good though (can't really say the same for the copy editing) and I liked the way all the events were laid out so you can see exactly what led to the murder. I really hated Mark by the end, and not just because he's a murderer. He's a complete fucking moron and a selfish asshole on top of that. Maybe I was supposed to feel sympathetic toward him, but I didn't.
February 10, 2017
Above Suspicion is about the murder of Susan Daniels Smith by former FBI agent Mark Putnam. It was a really good book, very well written with well defined characters and a good storyline. It was very detailed and researched well. It was fair to both the victim and the killer. The victim was not overlooked. I will read any book written by this author. He is a great author, taking care to write the story well.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
March 3, 2021
The bizarre story of a rookie FBI agent who goes off the rails during his assignment in Pikeville, Kentucky. Far superior to Aphrodite Jones' FBI KILLER, which covers the same ground. Originally published in 1993 and updated this year (no doubt to coincide with the release of a movie version).
March 5, 2019
I wanted to like this book. Too much detail that didn’t seem relevant to the story or was repetitive. The story just couldn’t get my attention and really didn’t get interesting until I was about 75% finished.
June 11, 2022
June 9, 2022
A review by Anthony T. Riggio of the book Above Suspicion by Joe Sharkey: Kindle edition
I was nearing the end of my career as an FBI at FBIHQ in Washington DC when this true story occurred. I was friends with Bill Gavin, (the Special Agent in Charge) SAC of the Miami, Florida, FBI Office. He was back at HQ on other business and was privy to his discussion about one of his agents, Mark Putman, being investigated for a homicide that occurred where he was assigned; when recently transferred from the Louisville Division where he was an agent in the Pikesville Kentucky FBI Resident Agency. It was a two-man satellite office out of Louisville. Putnam was a brand-new Agent out of the FBI Academy. My ears perked up when he mentioned the Pikesville office. One of my legal instructors was also assigned there right out of the Academy in the late sixties. He described his assignment as a place right out of out of Lil’ Abner’s “Dog Patch, where civilization had stopped development. His description of the living conditions for a married agent with two children as a nightmare to behold especially for a Catholic right out of Brooklyn New York.
When Putnam gets assigned to Pikesville, he was a brand-new agent with no “street” experience but an incredible drive to succeed. He was an aggressive investigator and understood the reality that to make cases he had to develop informants. In an effort to accomplish this, he meets a very pretty but street-smart young lady who was surrounded by many cooked friends working and engaged in dope and bank robberies. She provides Putnam with sufficient information to resolve many cases the FBI was working. The informant, Susan Smith became attracted to Mark Putnam and through many devious manipulations with Mark and his wife Kathy, she gets Putnam at one point to let down his heretofore solid defenses. They engage in a tryst which occurs in an automobile and then shortly after this tryst, Putnam is transferred to Miami. Because his testimony is needed in cases, he worked with Susan, he returns to Pikesville. When Susan tells Putnam she is pregnant with his child. They argue quite vigorously and Susan demands that he divorce Kathy and marry her. Susan becomes so angry that she attacks Putnam physically, who in the struggle, determines that Susan hit her head on the windshield and dies.
This book, while a true story awakened in me the same feelings of when Raskolnikov kills the pawn broker in Dostoevsky’s, Crime and Punishment. My heart was often beating so hard and it gave voice to my inward screams for Putnam to stop his relationship with this “mountain” girl and embrace his already established family.
Putnam’s inner sense of guilt was as strong as Raskolnikov’s and he eventually confesses to the crime of Manslaughter and is sentence to a Federal Penitentiary for 16 years. The book is very worthwhile in reading and completely makes clear the concept of concupiscence.
I gave this book five stars out of five and gave the author additional accolades for a well written narrative of Putnam’s struggles. I highly recommend this book describing the fall of a man and the dismantling of several lives.
A review by Anthony T. Riggio of the book Above Suspicion by Joe Sharkey: Kindle edition
I was nearing the end of my career as an FBI at FBIHQ in Washington DC when this true story occurred. I was friends with Bill Gavin, (the Special Agent in Charge) SAC of the Miami, Florida, FBI Office. He was back at HQ on other business and was privy to his discussion about one of his agents, Mark Putman, being investigated for a homicide that occurred where he was assigned; when recently transferred from the Louisville Division where he was an agent in the Pikesville Kentucky FBI Resident Agency. It was a two-man satellite office out of Louisville. Putnam was a brand-new Agent out of the FBI Academy. My ears perked up when he mentioned the Pikesville office. One of my legal instructors was also assigned there right out of the Academy in the late sixties. He described his assignment as a place right out of out of Lil’ Abner’s “Dog Patch, where civilization had stopped development. His description of the living conditions for a married agent with two children as a nightmare to behold especially for a Catholic right out of Brooklyn New York.
When Putnam gets assigned to Pikesville, he was a brand-new agent with no “street” experience but an incredible drive to succeed. He was an aggressive investigator and understood the reality that to make cases he had to develop informants. In an effort to accomplish this, he meets a very pretty but street-smart young lady who was surrounded by many cooked friends working and engaged in dope and bank robberies. She provides Putnam with sufficient information to resolve many cases the FBI was working. The informant, Susan Smith became attracted to Mark Putnam and through many devious manipulations with Mark and his wife Kathy, she gets Putnam at one point to let down his heretofore solid defenses. They engage in a tryst which occurs in an automobile and then shortly after this tryst, Putnam is transferred to Miami. Because his testimony is needed in cases, he worked with Susan, he returns to Pikesville. When Susan tells Putnam she is pregnant with his child. They argue quite vigorously and Susan demands that he divorce Kathy and marry her. Susan becomes so angry that she attacks Putnam physically, who in the struggle, determines that Susan hit her head on the windshield and dies.
This book, while a true story awakened in me the same feelings of when Raskolnikov kills the pawn broker in Dostoevsky’s, Crime and Punishment. My heart was often beating so hard and it gave voice to my inward screams for Putnam to stop his relationship with this “mountain” girl and embrace his already established family.
Putnam’s inner sense of guilt was as strong as Raskolnikov’s and he eventually confesses to the crime of Manslaughter and is sentence to a Federal Penitentiary for 16 years. The book is very worthwhile in reading and completely makes clear the concept of concupiscence.
I gave this book five stars out of five and gave the author additional accolades for a well written narrative of Putnam’s struggles. I highly recommend this book describing the fall of a man and the dismantling of several lives.
July 21, 2018
As others have said in their reviews, there really is no "bad guy" in this story. Sure there was a murder but once you learn the details and the circumstances surrounding it you'll understand both the victim and the perp are empathetic characters. There is no winning for anyone in this story and if you read/listen to the epilogue you'll discover even more bad news about some of the people in this story.
The plot sounds very Hollywood and occasionally I had to remind myself that this is a true story that happened to very real people.
The writing was typical of a true crime book and I don't have any complaints on the author's style. Overall, a good read/listen that I recommend to anyone interested in true crime, murder, and peering into the thoughts of those unfortunate enough to have been involved in such a sad case.
The plot sounds very Hollywood and occasionally I had to remind myself that this is a true story that happened to very real people.
The writing was typical of a true crime book and I don't have any complaints on the author's style. Overall, a good read/listen that I recommend to anyone interested in true crime, murder, and peering into the thoughts of those unfortunate enough to have been involved in such a sad case.
March 14, 2025
3.5 stars rounded down. Interesting and well written true story but a few things bothered me. First, was this really that fascinating to deserve a true crime book (granted I don’t read that many and when I do they are pretty big ones like “helter skelter”). Second, and most importantly, the summary gave away the whole book! There was zero mystery except how much time he was gonna do.
Third, I felt they didn’t make Susan look very good. Maybe rightfully so but they really beefed up the sympathy for mark (I found myself rooting for him the whole book!). he also didn’t exactly voluntarily confess the way the synopsis makes it sound - I bet he never would have said a peep if the FBI didn’t get involved in the investigation . Just very pro -Mark in a way that made me feel a little uncomfortable
Third, I felt they didn’t make Susan look very good. Maybe rightfully so but they really beefed up the sympathy for mark (I found myself rooting for him the whole book!). he also didn’t exactly voluntarily confess the way the synopsis makes it sound - I bet he never would have said a peep if the FBI didn’t get involved in the investigation . Just very pro -Mark in a way that made me feel a little uncomfortable
August 21, 2017
Crime doesn't pay, even when you're in law enforcement.
September 15, 2017
This is a n excellent book! Well written and engaging. I had no idea that it was a true story until I got to the end.
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