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Suspicion
The thriller to read in 2014, about a single father who is forced to make a choice with unspeakable consequences--from New York Times bestselling author Joseph Finder
When single father Danny Goodman suddenly finds himself unable to afford the private school his teenage daughter adores, he has no one to turn to for financial support.
In what seems like a stroke of brilliant luck, Danny meets Thomas Galvin, the father of his daughter's new best friend, who also happens to be one of the wealthiest men in Boston. Galvin is aware of Danny's situation and out of the blue offers a $50,000 loan to help Danny cover his daughter's tuition. Uncomfortable but desperate, Danny takes the money, promising to pay Galvin back.
What transpires is something Danny never imagined. The moment the money is wired into his account, the DEA comes knocking on his door. Danny's impossible an indictment for accepting drug money that he can't afford to fight in court, or an unthinkably treacherous undercover assignment helping the government get close to his new best friend.
As Danny begins to lie to everyone in his life, including those he loves most in the world, he must decide once and for all who the real enemy is or risk losing everything--and everyone--that matters to him.
When single father Danny Goodman suddenly finds himself unable to afford the private school his teenage daughter adores, he has no one to turn to for financial support.
In what seems like a stroke of brilliant luck, Danny meets Thomas Galvin, the father of his daughter's new best friend, who also happens to be one of the wealthiest men in Boston. Galvin is aware of Danny's situation and out of the blue offers a $50,000 loan to help Danny cover his daughter's tuition. Uncomfortable but desperate, Danny takes the money, promising to pay Galvin back.
What transpires is something Danny never imagined. The moment the money is wired into his account, the DEA comes knocking on his door. Danny's impossible an indictment for accepting drug money that he can't afford to fight in court, or an unthinkably treacherous undercover assignment helping the government get close to his new best friend.
As Danny begins to lie to everyone in his life, including those he loves most in the world, he must decide once and for all who the real enemy is or risk losing everything--and everyone--that matters to him.
605 pages, Hardcover
First published May 27, 2014
1254 people are currently reading
4033 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Finder
70 books2,668 followersJoseph Finder is the author of the forthcoming novel JUDGMENT and fourteen other novels, many of them New York Times bestsellers, published in 35 countries around the world. His book HIGH CRIMES was adapted into a movie starring Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd; PARANOIA was made into the Harrison Ford/Gary Oldman film.
He was born in Chicago, lived in the Philippines, Afghanistan, Washington State, and upstate New York. His novels have won numerous awards, including the Strand Critics award, the Barry Award, and the International Thriller Writers’ Thriller Award for best novel. His first novel, THE MOSCOW CLUB, was named by Publishers Weekly as one of the 10 best spy novels of all time.
He lives with his wife in Boston and Cape Cod, where he roots for the Red Sox and mourns his Golden Retriever rescue dog, Mia. He’s currently trying to convince his wife to get another dog.
He was born in Chicago, lived in the Philippines, Afghanistan, Washington State, and upstate New York. His novels have won numerous awards, including the Strand Critics award, the Barry Award, and the International Thriller Writers’ Thriller Award for best novel. His first novel, THE MOSCOW CLUB, was named by Publishers Weekly as one of the 10 best spy novels of all time.
He lives with his wife in Boston and Cape Cod, where he roots for the Red Sox and mourns his Golden Retriever rescue dog, Mia. He’s currently trying to convince his wife to get another dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 738 reviews
June 27, 2018
I waited anxiously for Mr.Finder's new release; I have always found his work to be suspenseful & enthralling. Perhaps my expectations were too high; I was more than disappointed. I was angry that I wasted my time and was duped to thinking that this new publication would be on par with his previous thrillers. NOT. I had problems with the exposition (characters, setting,conflict) at the very beginning of the book. The protagonist Danny is wimpy and a flat character. His daughter is a spoiled brat who HAS to go on the school trip to Italy, which Father Danny can't afford...all of this segues into Danny accepting $50,000 cash from another parent, who is a stranger to him.....and hurtling them into the conflict of this ridiculous plot. I know.I know - readers are supposed to employ suspension of disbelief in order to accept far out plots. However, suspension of disbelief is only successful if the characters are realistic and every detail about them is plausible and convincing. In order for suspension of disbelief to succeed, the reader must accept the reality of the story... the story can be impossible, but not improbable. The characters were implausible and the plot's events were ludicrous.Mr. Finder pushes the belief envelope way too far. The plot is chock full of events that are absolutely ridiculous. The only redeeming event was the climax when wimpy Danny came up with a brilliant plan to foil the bad guys. But, that was at the very end of the book. So, kudos for the resolution of the conflict. Boos for everything else. Mr. Finder has outstanding books - try out Company Man and Paranoia. I wish I had REread one of his earlier works rather than this one.
April 21, 2016
When the protagonist, Danny Goodman, a struggling writer, accepts a substantial loan from the wrong person, he not only becomes a person-of-interest to the "DEA" but also discovers there aren't enough adjectives to adequately describe his mounting panic.
Danny is believable as your typical guy-next-door, both fallible and likable. In sharp contrast, Tom Galvin, Danny's nemesis-bad-guy, falls short, failing to exhibit the brute intimidation one would expect.
Filling 390 pages with little irrelevant backstory or dialogue, Finder keeps the pages turning. Overall, Suspicion is a solid suspense novel, its plot reasonably complex and satisfying.
Danny is believable as your typical guy-next-door, both fallible and likable. In sharp contrast, Tom Galvin, Danny's nemesis-bad-guy, falls short, failing to exhibit the brute intimidation one would expect.
Filling 390 pages with little irrelevant backstory or dialogue, Finder keeps the pages turning. Overall, Suspicion is a solid suspense novel, its plot reasonably complex and satisfying.
May 14, 2014
Joseph Finder decides it's time to give his fans a fast paced, thriller after waiting patiently for quite some time. Sure we understand that Paranoia had to be released on film only because that book is awesome, it's still no excuse to keep us on pins and needles for so long. I am only happy that I was able to get my hand on a copy of his latest Suspicion and did not have to forfeit too much sleep since I was practically done with it in only a few hours. Yes!!! It reads that fast with barely a moment to slow down.
Dan Goodman is struggling to maintain normalcy for his daughter Abby after recently losing her mother to cancer but he's barely making ends meet. With his advance from his publisher's almost gone, and a final notice from the insanely priced private school threatens to throw Abby out of their school, Dan is looking for a way out. With few friends with money to spare, or even a backup plan Dan accepts an offer he probably should have refused.
Enter Thomas Galvin. Galvin is the father of Abby's best friend. He invites Dan to their home (mansion erally) in an effort to get to know him since their daughters spend so much time together. He's aware that Dan is not one of the elite and may be struggling financially. He offers to pay Abby's tuition and basically forward Dan money to get back on his feet. He convinces him the money is really nothing and it will keep his daughter happy to have her friend still in school with her.
Then enter trouble.
My initial thoughts on Suspicion were that finally Finder is back!!!! Pages flipped past, the intensity keep building, and soon I was more than 60% done with the book. That's when I realized I really don't like Dan at all. I thought most of his actions were based off of pure stupidity. Sure I understand that the decisions he made were done based off of dire circumstances, I just didn't want him to be so pliable and flimsy... or gullible.
Overall, thank you Mr. Finder for once again writing a book worth reading. No I wasn't too thrilled with the main character but Suspicion was intense, captivating, and an overall fun read. There are plenty of red herrings to keep readers guessing until the end. But FYI, don't keep us, your fans, waiting too long for the next one.
Copy provided by Penguin Group via Netgalley
Dan Goodman is struggling to maintain normalcy for his daughter Abby after recently losing her mother to cancer but he's barely making ends meet. With his advance from his publisher's almost gone, and a final notice from the insanely priced private school threatens to throw Abby out of their school, Dan is looking for a way out. With few friends with money to spare, or even a backup plan Dan accepts an offer he probably should have refused.
Enter Thomas Galvin. Galvin is the father of Abby's best friend. He invites Dan to their home (mansion erally) in an effort to get to know him since their daughters spend so much time together. He's aware that Dan is not one of the elite and may be struggling financially. He offers to pay Abby's tuition and basically forward Dan money to get back on his feet. He convinces him the money is really nothing and it will keep his daughter happy to have her friend still in school with her.
Then enter trouble.
My initial thoughts on Suspicion were that finally Finder is back!!!! Pages flipped past, the intensity keep building, and soon I was more than 60% done with the book. That's when I realized I really don't like Dan at all. I thought most of his actions were based off of pure stupidity. Sure I understand that the decisions he made were done based off of dire circumstances, I just didn't want him to be so pliable and flimsy... or gullible.
Overall, thank you Mr. Finder for once again writing a book worth reading. No I wasn't too thrilled with the main character but Suspicion was intense, captivating, and an overall fun read. There are plenty of red herrings to keep readers guessing until the end. But FYI, don't keep us, your fans, waiting too long for the next one.
Copy provided by Penguin Group via Netgalley
April 1, 2018
Fast paced story.
Danny Goodman is single father, he is a writer of non-fiction books. Having financial problems and can't pay his daughter's private school bills. Her best friend's father ready to help. Loan from this well to do father saves the day, but twists and turns starts. Good heart pounding thriller.
Danny Goodman is single father, he is a writer of non-fiction books. Having financial problems and can't pay his daughter's private school bills. Her best friend's father ready to help. Loan from this well to do father saves the day, but twists and turns starts. Good heart pounding thriller.
October 12, 2014
Finder's latest novel is a thriller like few others I have read. Realising that he cannot afford the pricey private school at which his daughter is a student, Danny Goodman is in full panic mode. A struggling author and single parent, he is left wondering how to break the news to his daughter in her formative high school years. When Danny is approached by the father of his daughter's best friend, Tom Galvin, he reluctantly accepts a loan to cover her expenses. What appears to be an innocent monetary advancement between acquaintances has deep-reaching ramifications. Soon the DEA reaches out to Danny, threatening criminal proceedings. Galvin's money is less than clean and Danny's now in their crosshairs, unless he agrees to act as a mole. Danny navigates through the treacherous maze they set out, in hopes of saving his family, once he learns the origin of the money Galvin possesses. Trying to stay one step ahead of Galvin and the DEA, Danny takes matters into his own hands, with dire consequences tied to this gamble. Finder keeps the reader enthralled from start to end, with little chance to breath between quick-paced chapters.
Finder returns with a thrilling story that keeps pace with the ever-evolving storyline. He is able to instil a respect of his protagonist in the early chapters and the twists that follow only draw the reader in even more. With little time to stop and collect one's thoughts, the reader rides along and finds out just how many plot turns that Finder has in store during this explosive novel. Powerfully written with quick chapters that beg for 'just one more' before putting it down for the night, the reader cannot help but hope for more drama and intrigue.
Kudos Mr Finder on this wonderful novel, full of suspense to the last page!
Finder returns with a thrilling story that keeps pace with the ever-evolving storyline. He is able to instil a respect of his protagonist in the early chapters and the twists that follow only draw the reader in even more. With little time to stop and collect one's thoughts, the reader rides along and finds out just how many plot turns that Finder has in store during this explosive novel. Powerfully written with quick chapters that beg for 'just one more' before putting it down for the night, the reader cannot help but hope for more drama and intrigue.
Kudos Mr Finder on this wonderful novel, full of suspense to the last page!
July 17, 2016
The most suspenseful book I've ever read! I will be checking out more of Finder's works very soon. Highly recommended for any fans of Harlan Coben, or general thriller fans.
August 9, 2016
Looking for a book that you can read a couple pages then put it down. Well, this is NOT the book you want. Joseph Finder's SUSPICION is a book that you don't want to put down, it starts from the first paragraph, and just runs from there. Expect to stay up all night, yes, it is really that good.Very suspenseful!What a great story teller.
When single father Danny Goodman suddenly finds himself unable to afford the private school his teenage daughter adores, he has no one to turn to for financial support.
In what seems like a stroke of brilliant luck, Danny meets Thomas Galvin, the father of his daughter’s new best friend, who also happens to be one of the wealthiest men in Boston. Galvin is aware of Danny’s situation and out of the blue offers a $50,000 loan to help Danny cover his daughter’s tuition. Uncomfortable but desperate, Danny takes the money, promising to pay Galvin back.
What transpires is something Danny never imagined. The moment the money is wired into his account, the DEA comes knocking on his door. Danny’s impossible choice: an indictment for accepting drug money that he can’t afford to fight in court, or an unthinkably treacherous undercover assignment helping the government get close to his new family friend.
As Danny begins to lie to everyone in his life, including those he loves most in the world, he must decide once and for all who the real enemy is or risk losing everything—and everyone—that matters to him
Enjoy:)))
When single father Danny Goodman suddenly finds himself unable to afford the private school his teenage daughter adores, he has no one to turn to for financial support.
In what seems like a stroke of brilliant luck, Danny meets Thomas Galvin, the father of his daughter’s new best friend, who also happens to be one of the wealthiest men in Boston. Galvin is aware of Danny’s situation and out of the blue offers a $50,000 loan to help Danny cover his daughter’s tuition. Uncomfortable but desperate, Danny takes the money, promising to pay Galvin back.
What transpires is something Danny never imagined. The moment the money is wired into his account, the DEA comes knocking on his door. Danny’s impossible choice: an indictment for accepting drug money that he can’t afford to fight in court, or an unthinkably treacherous undercover assignment helping the government get close to his new family friend.
As Danny begins to lie to everyone in his life, including those he loves most in the world, he must decide once and for all who the real enemy is or risk losing everything—and everyone—that matters to him
Enjoy:)))
February 19, 2017
Down on his luck, Daniel Goodman, widowed writer and single parent seeks only to indulge and pamper his daughter Abby. When Danny hits 'writer's block,' tuition for Abby's prestigious private school becomes impossible and facing his daughter's expulsion, Danny becomes desperate. However, wealthy investor, Thomas Galvin, gives Danny a great sum of money out of gratitude that his own daughter Jenna has Abby's friendship. But the moment Danny accepts this monetary gift, his life spins out of control. Joseph Finder's novel is a timely journey of the Mexican Cartel, the DEA, the FBI and more than one or two moments of intrigue. This is a swiftly paced novel that features the dark world of money laundering, drugs, murder two-timers. Betrayal is common, and allegiance is rare.
This finely written novel exposes an underground world that is difficult to grasp, and scenes of torture and murder are graphic as well as violent. It also depicts how infallible the human spirit can be and the great lengths one will undertake to survive.
This finely written novel exposes an underground world that is difficult to grasp, and scenes of torture and murder are graphic as well as violent. It also depicts how infallible the human spirit can be and the great lengths one will undertake to survive.
July 12, 2015
How far would you go to protect your family? This is a question that both Danny and Tom face, repeatedly. The risks from Tom's job are becoming all too real. Danny is a single dad who is struggling to make ends meet and a large loan from a friend puts him in the sights of some DEA agents. I am a huge fan of Joseph Finder's books, and I have to say that this is my all-time favorite. Prepare yourself for a wild ride, that is so suspenseful you will not want to put it down until you have devoured the very last page.
November 27, 2015
More twists and turns than Lombard Street in San Francisco! Very enjoyable read and I recommend it to all Thriller readers.
December 3, 2019
Играта с нарко парите в един момент приключва и почва истинският лов , за да оцелееш трябва нещо повече от късмет !!!
April 2, 2014
“Suspicion” by Joseph Finder is a very interesting novel which I received as a advance proof from Firsttoread.com. As you probably suspect, it falls in to the “Thriller” genre, and it excels to a large degree. It is generally well written. The dialog is believable, engaging and suspenseful.
The basic story is this: good guy, Danny Goodman, innocently falls in with wealthy drug money launderer Frank Galvin and thereby becomes a target of the DEA. The DEA agents want Danny to collect information on Galvin, which he does with some success. Galvin’s bosses, the Sinaloa Drug Cartel and their enforcer Dr. Mendoza, want to shut up an informer.
Throughout the novel the DEA sponsored arm twisting and drug gang violence are given a realistic turn, as is the nasty interplay between law enforcement, drug law and the drug trade. The use of googling, tweeting, texting and other techno-marvels lend a modern flavor to the storyline. And the frantic scramble of Goodman and Galvin to protect their families and escape pursuit make the suspense palpable.
That said, I do think “Suspicion” suffers from a few too many odd twists and devices. In a real world would Danny, who starts out as a weasel, sweating out an interview with a high school functionary, morph into a hero? Would a destitute man enroll his daughter in an exclusive Boston girls school? Would the 17 year old daughter be so blind as to not understand her family’s financial circumstances? Would a man who has been coerced into spying suddenly turn into a smooth operator, entering an enemy’s motel room to acquire evidence? And lastly, would a Boston motel ever have a portcullis (Chapter 68, page 311)?
The basic story is this: good guy, Danny Goodman, innocently falls in with wealthy drug money launderer Frank Galvin and thereby becomes a target of the DEA. The DEA agents want Danny to collect information on Galvin, which he does with some success. Galvin’s bosses, the Sinaloa Drug Cartel and their enforcer Dr. Mendoza, want to shut up an informer.
Throughout the novel the DEA sponsored arm twisting and drug gang violence are given a realistic turn, as is the nasty interplay between law enforcement, drug law and the drug trade. The use of googling, tweeting, texting and other techno-marvels lend a modern flavor to the storyline. And the frantic scramble of Goodman and Galvin to protect their families and escape pursuit make the suspense palpable.
That said, I do think “Suspicion” suffers from a few too many odd twists and devices. In a real world would Danny, who starts out as a weasel, sweating out an interview with a high school functionary, morph into a hero? Would a destitute man enroll his daughter in an exclusive Boston girls school? Would the 17 year old daughter be so blind as to not understand her family’s financial circumstances? Would a man who has been coerced into spying suddenly turn into a smooth operator, entering an enemy’s motel room to acquire evidence? And lastly, would a Boston motel ever have a portcullis (Chapter 68, page 311)?
June 27, 2014
I love books where I immediately feel a connection to the main character. When we first meet Danny, he’s so likable and endearing especially when it comes to his daughter. He really wants to do right by her and that comes across well in our introduction to him.
After connecting to Danny from the get go, I took the whole offer very personal and found myself wondering if I would do that for my child…would I take the money so they could have that opportunity? I don’t know, but I would like to think not! So that made an immediate connection and investment into the story for me.
Throughout the novel, I was so anxious for Danny….ever little twist and turn I kept wondering ‘oh no is he going to get caught’. I was literally on pins and needles for him! That’s what I loved most about this novel…it was completely character driven and an emotional investment was made between reader and character right away.
Though it was bumpy in spots, this would be a great vacation/beach read. It’s an action driven, suspenseful novel that takes you into the seedy underground world of the drug trade and keeps you guessing to the very end!
See my full review here
After connecting to Danny from the get go, I took the whole offer very personal and found myself wondering if I would do that for my child…would I take the money so they could have that opportunity? I don’t know, but I would like to think not! So that made an immediate connection and investment into the story for me.
Throughout the novel, I was so anxious for Danny….ever little twist and turn I kept wondering ‘oh no is he going to get caught’. I was literally on pins and needles for him! That’s what I loved most about this novel…it was completely character driven and an emotional investment was made between reader and character right away.
Though it was bumpy in spots, this would be a great vacation/beach read. It’s an action driven, suspenseful novel that takes you into the seedy underground world of the drug trade and keeps you guessing to the very end!
See my full review here
April 6, 2017
NAIL-BITING SUSPENSE
How good is Suspicion? Let me put it this way: for the first time in a great while, I literally couldn’t put the book down — I HAD to know who was doing what to whom!
Danny Goodman is writing a biography of Jay Gould, the archetypal 19th century Robber Baron, when he crosses paths with Tom Galvin, an extremely wealthy investment manager, at the snotty private school where their 16-year-old daughters have struck up a close friendship. Danny is in deep trouble financially — between book advances, as it were — but finds a white knight in Tom, who befriends him. The two are both sons of blue-collar families and hit it off. Acting out of friendship, Tom loans Danny a large sum to bail him out.
Then the trouble starts. Big trouble. Life-threatening Big Trouble involving not one but two Mexican drug cartels. With taut prose, the increasingly complex plot of Suspicion steadily unwinds, building to a crescendo.
Joseph Finder is no stranger to thrilling tales of suspense. However, unlike so many of his peers in the field, his writing is not formulaic. A few of his books feature a stock hero, Nick Heller, but most are standalone tales built around their own complex logic. Finder has discovered high drama in industrial espionage, international finance, terrorism, and war in Central America.
I’ve read and reviewed a number of Finder’s other books, including Buried Secrets, The Zero Hour, and High Crimes. Every one of these novels is a fine example of the genre.
How good is Suspicion? Let me put it this way: for the first time in a great while, I literally couldn’t put the book down — I HAD to know who was doing what to whom!
Danny Goodman is writing a biography of Jay Gould, the archetypal 19th century Robber Baron, when he crosses paths with Tom Galvin, an extremely wealthy investment manager, at the snotty private school where their 16-year-old daughters have struck up a close friendship. Danny is in deep trouble financially — between book advances, as it were — but finds a white knight in Tom, who befriends him. The two are both sons of blue-collar families and hit it off. Acting out of friendship, Tom loans Danny a large sum to bail him out.
Then the trouble starts. Big trouble. Life-threatening Big Trouble involving not one but two Mexican drug cartels. With taut prose, the increasingly complex plot of Suspicion steadily unwinds, building to a crescendo.
Joseph Finder is no stranger to thrilling tales of suspense. However, unlike so many of his peers in the field, his writing is not formulaic. A few of his books feature a stock hero, Nick Heller, but most are standalone tales built around their own complex logic. Finder has discovered high drama in industrial espionage, international finance, terrorism, and war in Central America.
I’ve read and reviewed a number of Finder’s other books, including Buried Secrets, The Zero Hour, and High Crimes. Every one of these novels is a fine example of the genre.
May 11, 2015
Just a few chapters into Joseph Finder's SUSPICIION and it's clearly evident why this novel was picked as a nominee for Best Novel of 2014 by the International Thriller Writer's Society.
There's an allusion made to the Hitchcock film of the same name where Joan Fontaine was convinced her husband (Cary Grant) was trying to kill her. In that film --- just as in this novel --- nothing is quite as it seems. When non-fiction writer Danny Goodman reluctantly borrows 50K from his wealthy neighbor, Thomas Galvin, he is relieved that his daughter will not be turned away from her expensive private school.
Not long after, two DEA Agents contact Danny revealing that his new friend Galvin was in bed with some Mexican drug cartels and that, having taken this loan from him, Danny himself could now be arraigned as a co-conspirator. The deal they strike with Danny is to have him spy on Galvin and help them gain access to his private messages in order to bring down the cartel and Galvin. However, knowing this a well-plotted and twisty Joseph Finder novel, things are not as clear as they appear on the surface.
SUSPICION is a top-notch thriller with moments of suspense that are almost unbearable --- this does not let up until the surprising conclusion. Well done!
There's an allusion made to the Hitchcock film of the same name where Joan Fontaine was convinced her husband (Cary Grant) was trying to kill her. In that film --- just as in this novel --- nothing is quite as it seems. When non-fiction writer Danny Goodman reluctantly borrows 50K from his wealthy neighbor, Thomas Galvin, he is relieved that his daughter will not be turned away from her expensive private school.
Not long after, two DEA Agents contact Danny revealing that his new friend Galvin was in bed with some Mexican drug cartels and that, having taken this loan from him, Danny himself could now be arraigned as a co-conspirator. The deal they strike with Danny is to have him spy on Galvin and help them gain access to his private messages in order to bring down the cartel and Galvin. However, knowing this a well-plotted and twisty Joseph Finder novel, things are not as clear as they appear on the surface.
SUSPICION is a top-notch thriller with moments of suspense that are almost unbearable --- this does not let up until the surprising conclusion. Well done!
March 5, 2014
My copy is a First Reads ARC. I want to thank Joseph Finder and Goodreads for this opportunity.
I was hooked from the first chapter. From the strange meeting between two dads whose daughters are best friends, to an explosive ending with some unforeseen twists, the story kept my attention and I wanted to keep turning pages. This is a Good Read and highly recommended.
I was hooked from the first chapter. From the strange meeting between two dads whose daughters are best friends, to an explosive ending with some unforeseen twists, the story kept my attention and I wanted to keep turning pages. This is a Good Read and highly recommended.
August 31, 2020
Finders, keepers - and this was one a keeper, so many twists and turns. Glad I didn’t give up on this author whose other book I didn’t like. This one was great with some nail billing scenes. Very intricate, impossible plot. Liked the Jay Gould angle, I knew who he was before reading this.
Lots of gruesome torture and far fetched episodes, but it was fast and furious
so I just overlooked the hard to believe stuff and enjoyed the ride.
As usual I have to nitpick- on page 91 he puts the purloined item in “the right breast pocket of his suit jacket”, but on page 101/102 the item is retrieved by his daughter from his jeans pocket that he’d left on the floor outside the bathroom door. She was looking for a pen. Who would think to look for a pen in a pair of jeans crumpled on the floor and who would carry a pen in the pocket of their jeans?? Not to comfortable if you have to sit down! So many people read this before publication, didn’t anyone else find that odd?
Lots of gruesome torture and far fetched episodes, but it was fast and furious
so I just overlooked the hard to believe stuff and enjoyed the ride.
As usual I have to nitpick- on page 91 he puts the purloined item in “the right breast pocket of his suit jacket”, but on page 101/102 the item is retrieved by his daughter from his jeans pocket that he’d left on the floor outside the bathroom door. She was looking for a pen. Who would think to look for a pen in a pair of jeans crumpled on the floor and who would carry a pen in the pocket of their jeans?? Not to comfortable if you have to sit down! So many people read this before publication, didn’t anyone else find that odd?
October 31, 2014
Caffeinated Aspects
Suspicion was an engaging thriller with twists and turns that kept me flipping the pages and unsure of the characters.
Finder presents an interesting dilemma for Danny. As a parent, I know the lengths I would go to for my own children. Would I have taken the money? This question makes the events surreal and amped up the suspense. Danny is an ordinary guy who finds himself swimming with sharks.
Twists and turns had me flipping the pages and questioning character’s motives. Finder keeps the reader unsure as he notches up the danger and slowly reveals motives. Red herrings made the story unpredictable, and I loved the chase to the truth.
Finder’s descriptions, pacing and clever plot kept the intensity high. This was an easy read and the four hundred pages quickly passed by.
Decaffeinated Aspects
The tale needed more development in the beginning of the novel. I wish that Finder had fleshed out the details and personalities of Danny and his daughter. I had trouble feeling for the daughter, who presents as a whiny teen. *but are not all teen girls that way?* I felt a little background would have perhaps endeared them to me.
There were moments that had me rolling my eyes and questioning the plausibility. I had to let go, and just go with it.
As much as I admired some of Danny’s strengths and the fact that he cares for his daughter, I did not really like him. This kept me from becoming emotionally invested in the outcome. Stupidity and sheepish behavior are not aspects I look for in a hero.
Copy provided by publisher. Full review at Caffeinated.This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Suspicion was an engaging thriller with twists and turns that kept me flipping the pages and unsure of the characters.
Finder presents an interesting dilemma for Danny. As a parent, I know the lengths I would go to for my own children. Would I have taken the money? This question makes the events surreal and amped up the suspense. Danny is an ordinary guy who finds himself swimming with sharks.
Twists and turns had me flipping the pages and questioning character’s motives. Finder keeps the reader unsure as he notches up the danger and slowly reveals motives. Red herrings made the story unpredictable, and I loved the chase to the truth.
Finder’s descriptions, pacing and clever plot kept the intensity high. This was an easy read and the four hundred pages quickly passed by.
Decaffeinated Aspects
The tale needed more development in the beginning of the novel. I wish that Finder had fleshed out the details and personalities of Danny and his daughter. I had trouble feeling for the daughter, who presents as a whiny teen. *but are not all teen girls that way?* I felt a little background would have perhaps endeared them to me.
There were moments that had me rolling my eyes and questioning the plausibility. I had to let go, and just go with it.
As much as I admired some of Danny’s strengths and the fact that he cares for his daughter, I did not really like him. This kept me from becoming emotionally invested in the outcome. Stupidity and sheepish behavior are not aspects I look for in a hero.
Copy provided by publisher. Full review at Caffeinated.This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
June 17, 2014
SUSPICION
Joseph Finder
This magnificent creative thriller just hums and captures you from the very start and never let’s goes. Mr. Finder is one of the best thriller writers today with his intriguing characters, his fast paced action, his convoluted plots, and his genius creativity in his intelligent and believable solutions.
A widowed single father down on his luck accepts a loan from his daughter’s best friend’s father to pay his daughters tuition to their private school. The surprise comes when the DEA informs him that the father is also a money launderer for the Sinaloa drug cartel, and the loan puts him in a position where he could be prosecuted. In order to avoid prosecution he is coerced into a treacherous under cover assignment. The lies he is forced to tell everyone in his life puts him and his loved ones in very dangerous territory and is torture for him. The ingenious twists and turns make this every man into a capable and intelligent fighter for survival for him and his family.
True suspense gold and wordsmith of the highest thriller degree. I dare you to start this book and not be hurrying to finish it.
Highly recommended
Joseph Finder
This magnificent creative thriller just hums and captures you from the very start and never let’s goes. Mr. Finder is one of the best thriller writers today with his intriguing characters, his fast paced action, his convoluted plots, and his genius creativity in his intelligent and believable solutions.
A widowed single father down on his luck accepts a loan from his daughter’s best friend’s father to pay his daughters tuition to their private school. The surprise comes when the DEA informs him that the father is also a money launderer for the Sinaloa drug cartel, and the loan puts him in a position where he could be prosecuted. In order to avoid prosecution he is coerced into a treacherous under cover assignment. The lies he is forced to tell everyone in his life puts him and his loved ones in very dangerous territory and is torture for him. The ingenious twists and turns make this every man into a capable and intelligent fighter for survival for him and his family.
True suspense gold and wordsmith of the highest thriller degree. I dare you to start this book and not be hurrying to finish it.
Highly recommended
August 16, 2016
Danny Goodman is a step away from financial ruin, Goodman can't pay his daughter's ( Abby) private school tuition, much less the cost of the class trip to Italy.
Then we meet Tom Galvin, the wealthy father of Abby's new friend, offers to front the cost of the trip, Goodman grudgingly accepts. Later, he accepts a loan from Galvin to keep Abby in school. According to Tom- his daughter has never been happier and he will do anything to make his girl happy - so he convinces Danny to please accept the money-
Then we meet two DEA agents, explaining to Danny that the money he accepted is money from a drug cartel- and that they want him to spy on Tom Galvin to get information-
Most of this book was just an ok read- maybe 2.5 stars at best- I did want to finish this book to find out what was going on- waiting for the twists and turns to come along ( and yes, they did)
I do like the way Joseph Finder writes and I really loved "Vanished" the first in the Nick Heller Series- I will continue on with this author - but this book just didn't 'move' me like it did with some other folks.
Then we meet Tom Galvin, the wealthy father of Abby's new friend, offers to front the cost of the trip, Goodman grudgingly accepts. Later, he accepts a loan from Galvin to keep Abby in school. According to Tom- his daughter has never been happier and he will do anything to make his girl happy - so he convinces Danny to please accept the money-
Then we meet two DEA agents, explaining to Danny that the money he accepted is money from a drug cartel- and that they want him to spy on Tom Galvin to get information-
Most of this book was just an ok read- maybe 2.5 stars at best- I did want to finish this book to find out what was going on- waiting for the twists and turns to come along ( and yes, they did)
I do like the way Joseph Finder writes and I really loved "Vanished" the first in the Nick Heller Series- I will continue on with this author - but this book just didn't 'move' me like it did with some other folks.
June 26, 2014
Finder's book is superbly paced and well thought out. It was a pleasure to read and I recommend it, as I do all of his books.
Two notes, one small, one big: Blackberrys were (unfortunately) on their way out even as this book was being written. Including them prematurely dates the novel.
The larger issue is not a criticism but only a note. For insight into Mexican drug gangs with an authentic--even genius--description of place, I recommend Harry Hunsicker's most recent novel, The Contractors.
More significantly, to truly understand the interweaving of drug gangs with the life, government, and business of Mexico, I encourage everyone to read the non-fiction book, Midnight in Mexico. Author and journalist Alfredo Corchado literally risked his life to tell his story.
Two notes, one small, one big: Blackberrys were (unfortunately) on their way out even as this book was being written. Including them prematurely dates the novel.
The larger issue is not a criticism but only a note. For insight into Mexican drug gangs with an authentic--even genius--description of place, I recommend Harry Hunsicker's most recent novel, The Contractors.
More significantly, to truly understand the interweaving of drug gangs with the life, government, and business of Mexico, I encourage everyone to read the non-fiction book, Midnight in Mexico. Author and journalist Alfredo Corchado literally risked his life to tell his story.
April 6, 2014
After reading the reviews, I was so hopeful that I might have discovered a great new author. Not so. “Suspicion” is pretty lane, not very well plotted with flimsy characters, as flimsy as the event that sets the plot off. As someone who’s worked in private schools for quite a long time, I’ve never heard of a head of school who would boot a student out in mid-semester for owing tuition. Maybe it’s just Boston—or maybe it’s a set up by Jenna’s dad--but that is the event that makes Danny borrow money and sets off his trouble. I didn’t buy it. I wish the book were better because it would be nice to have a good thriller writer to dig into. As it is, I’m still looking.
January 8, 2015
I opened this book, which pits a nearly starving writer against powerful Mexican drug cartels, with fairly high expectations. Although it's the first I've read by the author, I've been meaning to try one of his popular Nick Heller books. So when the opportunity arose to get this one, I jumped at it even though a number of reviewers said it's not one of Finder's best efforts.
The story begins as Danny Goodman, who has had custody of his teenage daughter Abby since his ex-wife's untimely death from cancer, finds himself unable to pay the tuition for her swanky private school. Then, the father of Abby's best school buddy, Jenna - who's filthy rich and wanting to keep his daughter happy as well - insists on lending $50,000 to Danny so he can keep his daughter in school. Danny is reluctant to accept, but after Abby throws tantrum after tantrum at the notion that she'll have to go to a "regular" school, he accepts - albeit with every intention of paying it back.
But almost to the minute the money is transferred to Danny's account, he gets a visit from a couple of DEA agents, who inform him that he's accepted drug money. His only choice, they insist, is accepting an undercover assignment that will help the government nail Danny's new family friend and benefactor. If he doesn't, they threaten to indict him for accepting the money - and make it clear it's a fight he can neither afford nor win in court.
Danny also is forced to lie to his remarkably young psychiatrist girlfriend, Lucy, as well as Abby and his rich friend as he undertakes his assignments - a couple of which would mean, were he caught - possible torture and death and, perhaps, the same to Abby and Lucy. But as one might expect, nothing is as simple as it seems; as he manages to pull off one assignment after the other, Danny also uncovers far more than just drug deals - information that puts everyone involved in a whole different (and in some cases, more deadly) light.
The story moves quickly, and it's certainly not lacking in excitement. So why just 3 stars? First, some of the things that happen stretched the limits of my imagination a little too much; and second, there are too many little glitches. While I can't reveal some because it would spoil things for other readers, I offer a few examples:
I know teenagers are prone to whining - my two long-since-grown children once were that age, for goodness sake. In fact, my daughter and I still laugh at my refusal to buy her a third pair of Jordache jeans back in the '70s because they cost $42 - a small fortune back then. But I know plenty of folks who have had to pull their kids out of private schools when the economy tanked, and it's really hard to believe Danny was unable to say no just because Abby had a hissy fit (she had another one because she doesn't have a smartphone, but that's another story...)
Despite being almost totally broke, Danny cracks open a bottle of Sancerre at home with his girlfriend. For the record, the least expensive bottle of the brand I could find online is about $20 - about twice what my husband and I are willing to pay for a bottle. Still, I accepted it, until I learned how embarrassed Danny was at having to take an under-$10 bottle from Trader Joe's to his richer-than-God friend as a gift. Hey, buddy, I'd have drunk the Trader Joe's myself and given him the Sancerre.
At one point, Danny is forced by the DEA to slip out of the swanky private home in Aspen where he's a guest of the rich guy and walk in the cold about half an hour at 6 a.m. If he's caught, he's supposed to claim he needed coffee. Excuse me, but this house stocks enough cross-country skis to outfit half the country - God forbid any of the guests would have to rent - but there's no coffeepot? Yeah, sure, I'd believe that alibi.
The rich friend's daughter is said to be vulnerable because she has no driver's license. So how is it that, a couple of chapters later, she's driving around and around the block looking for a parking place?
Anyway, you get the idea. By the end, I was having so much fun finding little inconsistencies like these that I almost didn't care what happened to the characters. Still, the book is worth reading and held my attention (even if sometimes for the wrong reason), and I'm still planning to start working on those Heller books when I get a chance.
The story begins as Danny Goodman, who has had custody of his teenage daughter Abby since his ex-wife's untimely death from cancer, finds himself unable to pay the tuition for her swanky private school. Then, the father of Abby's best school buddy, Jenna - who's filthy rich and wanting to keep his daughter happy as well - insists on lending $50,000 to Danny so he can keep his daughter in school. Danny is reluctant to accept, but after Abby throws tantrum after tantrum at the notion that she'll have to go to a "regular" school, he accepts - albeit with every intention of paying it back.
But almost to the minute the money is transferred to Danny's account, he gets a visit from a couple of DEA agents, who inform him that he's accepted drug money. His only choice, they insist, is accepting an undercover assignment that will help the government nail Danny's new family friend and benefactor. If he doesn't, they threaten to indict him for accepting the money - and make it clear it's a fight he can neither afford nor win in court.
Danny also is forced to lie to his remarkably young psychiatrist girlfriend, Lucy, as well as Abby and his rich friend as he undertakes his assignments - a couple of which would mean, were he caught - possible torture and death and, perhaps, the same to Abby and Lucy. But as one might expect, nothing is as simple as it seems; as he manages to pull off one assignment after the other, Danny also uncovers far more than just drug deals - information that puts everyone involved in a whole different (and in some cases, more deadly) light.
The story moves quickly, and it's certainly not lacking in excitement. So why just 3 stars? First, some of the things that happen stretched the limits of my imagination a little too much; and second, there are too many little glitches. While I can't reveal some because it would spoil things for other readers, I offer a few examples:
I know teenagers are prone to whining - my two long-since-grown children once were that age, for goodness sake. In fact, my daughter and I still laugh at my refusal to buy her a third pair of Jordache jeans back in the '70s because they cost $42 - a small fortune back then. But I know plenty of folks who have had to pull their kids out of private schools when the economy tanked, and it's really hard to believe Danny was unable to say no just because Abby had a hissy fit (she had another one because she doesn't have a smartphone, but that's another story...)
Despite being almost totally broke, Danny cracks open a bottle of Sancerre at home with his girlfriend. For the record, the least expensive bottle of the brand I could find online is about $20 - about twice what my husband and I are willing to pay for a bottle. Still, I accepted it, until I learned how embarrassed Danny was at having to take an under-$10 bottle from Trader Joe's to his richer-than-God friend as a gift. Hey, buddy, I'd have drunk the Trader Joe's myself and given him the Sancerre.
At one point, Danny is forced by the DEA to slip out of the swanky private home in Aspen where he's a guest of the rich guy and walk in the cold about half an hour at 6 a.m. If he's caught, he's supposed to claim he needed coffee. Excuse me, but this house stocks enough cross-country skis to outfit half the country - God forbid any of the guests would have to rent - but there's no coffeepot? Yeah, sure, I'd believe that alibi.
The rich friend's daughter is said to be vulnerable because she has no driver's license. So how is it that, a couple of chapters later, she's driving around and around the block looking for a parking place?
Anyway, you get the idea. By the end, I was having so much fun finding little inconsistencies like these that I almost didn't care what happened to the characters. Still, the book is worth reading and held my attention (even if sometimes for the wrong reason), and I'm still planning to start working on those Heller books when I get a chance.
February 23, 2014
There are many authors who take a reader ‘slowly into that good night’. However, the real genius knows how to create the ultimate lead-in. They are the wordsmiths who can, in one page or one paragraph, grab the reader’s attention and never let go. This is one author who does just that.
Abe Lincoln’s bodyguard decides to stay for another drink at the bar while at Ford’s Theatre during intermission. The Archduke’s driver makes a wrong turn in Sarajevo because he refuses to ask directions. You finally listen to your know-it-all brother-in-law and invest everything you have with a guy named Bernie Madoff. These are a series of small decisions that become huge mistakes, building the backbone of history.
Danny Goodman’s small mistake begins with a quick handshake and a friendly smile. Danny is a man sliding into the abyss as he attempts to keep his daughter enrolled in a fancy school he can no longer afford. With his wife deceased, it’s just Danny and his daughter, Abby, and Dad loves his daughter so much he wants nothing more than to provide his girl with what she ultimately wants.
A miracle occurs when Danny meets up with the father of Abby’s best friend. Thomas Galvin is one of the richest men in Boston, and offers Danny a fist-full of money to help pay for Abby’s tuition. The offer makes Danny slightly uncomfortable but he takes the money and swears to pay back every penny. The ‘too good to be true’ rule applies when, almost as soon as receiving the loan, Danny gets a visit from the DEA threatening him with jail time for accepting drug money. The only way out of the mess is for Danny to spy for the DEA and give them information on his new shady benefactor.
This plot is charged with electricity, and causes the reader to change allegiances many times before the last words come to pass. A true genius wordsmith, this is one author who has created solid suspense gold.
Until Next Time, Everybody,
Amy
Abe Lincoln’s bodyguard decides to stay for another drink at the bar while at Ford’s Theatre during intermission. The Archduke’s driver makes a wrong turn in Sarajevo because he refuses to ask directions. You finally listen to your know-it-all brother-in-law and invest everything you have with a guy named Bernie Madoff. These are a series of small decisions that become huge mistakes, building the backbone of history.
Danny Goodman’s small mistake begins with a quick handshake and a friendly smile. Danny is a man sliding into the abyss as he attempts to keep his daughter enrolled in a fancy school he can no longer afford. With his wife deceased, it’s just Danny and his daughter, Abby, and Dad loves his daughter so much he wants nothing more than to provide his girl with what she ultimately wants.
A miracle occurs when Danny meets up with the father of Abby’s best friend. Thomas Galvin is one of the richest men in Boston, and offers Danny a fist-full of money to help pay for Abby’s tuition. The offer makes Danny slightly uncomfortable but he takes the money and swears to pay back every penny. The ‘too good to be true’ rule applies when, almost as soon as receiving the loan, Danny gets a visit from the DEA threatening him with jail time for accepting drug money. The only way out of the mess is for Danny to spy for the DEA and give them information on his new shady benefactor.
This plot is charged with electricity, and causes the reader to change allegiances many times before the last words come to pass. A true genius wordsmith, this is one author who has created solid suspense gold.
Until Next Time, Everybody,
Amy
May 23, 2014
“Sometimes the smallest decision can change your life forever.”
This is the very first line of Joseph Finder's new novel, "Suspicion."
Oh, the tangled webs we weave in living our lives...that's the way I felt reading this intense thriller. "Suspicion" had me reading late into the night. I finished it in three sittings.
Danny Goodman--a good guy--is a single dad, a writer, living with his teen-age daughter (his wife died a while back)and is in a financial straight jacket. His daughter, Abby, loves her private school, and Danny would do virtually anything for her. But he can no longer afford Abby's tuition. Well...Abby has a new BFF and her new friend's father happens to be an extremely wealthy man who treasures the fact that this daughter has a dear friend in Abby. So...he offers to lend/give Danny $50,000 to pay for Abby's tuition.
What would you do? I found myself wondering what I would do under such circumstances. I think the best thrillers are those putting ordinary people into situations that could happen to virtually anyone--and soon, the situation escalates into a frenzied potpourri of trouble.
I hate spoilers and won't say another word about the plot, but "Suspicion" takes you on a jet-propelled ride that thrums with tension and trouble, all of it possible, believable, and compelling. If you want a wonderful plot with deeply-drawn characters, read this novel. You'll be glad you did. Five well-deserved stars!
Mark Rubinstein
Author of Mad Dog House and Love Gone Mad
This is the very first line of Joseph Finder's new novel, "Suspicion."
Oh, the tangled webs we weave in living our lives...that's the way I felt reading this intense thriller. "Suspicion" had me reading late into the night. I finished it in three sittings.
Danny Goodman--a good guy--is a single dad, a writer, living with his teen-age daughter (his wife died a while back)and is in a financial straight jacket. His daughter, Abby, loves her private school, and Danny would do virtually anything for her. But he can no longer afford Abby's tuition. Well...Abby has a new BFF and her new friend's father happens to be an extremely wealthy man who treasures the fact that this daughter has a dear friend in Abby. So...he offers to lend/give Danny $50,000 to pay for Abby's tuition.
What would you do? I found myself wondering what I would do under such circumstances. I think the best thrillers are those putting ordinary people into situations that could happen to virtually anyone--and soon, the situation escalates into a frenzied potpourri of trouble.
I hate spoilers and won't say another word about the plot, but "Suspicion" takes you on a jet-propelled ride that thrums with tension and trouble, all of it possible, believable, and compelling. If you want a wonderful plot with deeply-drawn characters, read this novel. You'll be glad you did. Five well-deserved stars!
Mark Rubinstein
Author of Mad Dog House and Love Gone Mad
March 22, 2014
I am so ridiculously late to the Joseph Finder party. It seems like everyone I know (and every suspense author I love) is like, "YAY JOSEPH FINDER!" When I saw this on Penguin's First to Read site, I knew it was fate. ;)
This can be pithily described as kind of like The Firm as written by Harlan Coben. Really, though, it's just one of those books that's an absolute delight to read.
I was hooked from the beginning and was incredibly afraid for Daniel. I was positive that he was going to get caught and killed (although I was hoping I was wrong), but I wasn't sure exactly how the death would come or at whose hands. (Obviously I'm not going to tell you if I was right or not.)
If you're in the mood for something that's both fun and good, check this out. Highly recommended.
This can be pithily described as kind of like The Firm as written by Harlan Coben. Really, though, it's just one of those books that's an absolute delight to read.
I was hooked from the beginning and was incredibly afraid for Daniel. I was positive that he was going to get caught and killed (although I was hoping I was wrong), but I wasn't sure exactly how the death would come or at whose hands. (Obviously I'm not going to tell you if I was right or not.)
If you're in the mood for something that's both fun and good, check this out. Highly recommended.
June 3, 2018
I did not finish this book. Several things simply do not work for me, and painting DOJ personnel as angry, militant, idiots is high on my list of things that don’t work. The fact is, when a decent guy gets caught up with seemingly kind but unscrupulous characters, you don’t want to threaten the guy with a questionable prosecution in order to secure his assistance. That’s just stupid.
I also dislike being introduced to likable characters only to find them rewritten as unlikeable characters later in the book. There is a way to make this work; some authors can do it. Joe Finder did not succeed in a way that would hook me in with this effort. I worked with the Justice Department long enough to cringe anytime a writer gets it all wrong. I simply could not read on any longer.
I also dislike being introduced to likable characters only to find them rewritten as unlikeable characters later in the book. There is a way to make this work; some authors can do it. Joe Finder did not succeed in a way that would hook me in with this effort. I worked with the Justice Department long enough to cringe anytime a writer gets it all wrong. I simply could not read on any longer.
January 29, 2014
This is going to be the "must read" thriller of the summer! Lots of drama, action and suspense! I've never read a Joseph Finder book that I didn't enjoy and this was no exception.
I requested and received a digital galley of this title from the publisher though edelweiss.
I requested and received a digital galley of this title from the publisher though edelweiss.
November 27, 2014
Another great book by Joseph Finder. If you like a fast pace, non stop, on the edge of your seat thriller, then listen to this book.
December 13, 2014
Joseph Finder is the master of the techno/political thriller and this is no exception. It is fast and edge of the seat writing with a few built in surprises...a top notch read.
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