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International best-selling author, Australian Michael Robotham, is at the “top of his game”, crossing many genres and an ocean, for the setting of his latest novel, LIFE OR DEATH.

Choosing the American southern state of Texas, delivering one of the most brilliantly written, and powerful thrillers of 2014-2015! US March, 2015, whichever part of the world you may be from, and release you are reading. For sure, I want a front row seat when the film releases, as can only imagine the cast!

An engrossing, vivid, and descriptive emotional crime thriller; a conspiracy, a man fights against all odds-he never gives up, to save those he protects and loves; a poignant love story. Where things are not always as they seem.

LIFE OR DEATH opens with the escape of Audie Palmer, from prison on the day before he is due to be released. Palmer has served the last 10 years in prison, a third of his life, for the Texas robbery of an armored truck. Four people were killed, and the $7 million dollars stolen in the robbery has never been recovered. During his prison term, Audie has been beaten, stabbed, tortured; however, he has not talked, asked for protection, remaining cool and calm.

Palmer is smart, and is on the run. There are bad guys, crooked cops, and feds all trying to track him down to lead them to the money, or kill him. However, he is not after any money – he has spent ten years in prison, and now is out to save and protect a life. However, what person can be trusted?

Audie wasn't meant to end up in prison. He was the good kid, smart in school and college; however, his one weakness was his love for his no good brother, Carl and he winds up behind bars. Audie touches so many lives and is connected with many characters we meet in, and out of prison. The connection between he and Moss, another inmate is powerful, and the author uses wit and humor combined with deep emotions of the heart and human dynamics, making the novel appeal to a wide variety of readers, outside the typical psychological, crime thriller genre.

Robotham keeps you on the edge-of- your seat, with twists, turns, dangers, suspense, and intensity, skillfully integrating flashbacks of Palmer’s life before prison, and the truth about the day of the robbery, all ignite as it nears its gripping and powerful conclusion.

LIFE OR DEATH is the best mix of my favorite male authors:Greg Iles, Paul Cleave, John Grisham, Harlan Coben, Dean Koontz, Michael Connelly, and David Baldacci, all rolled into one riveting novel. A suspenseful, fast-paced heart pounding, page-turner, leaving you turning into the wee hours of the morning, and characters which will linger, long after the book ends...

I listened to the audiobook, and John Chancer, was outstanding-- with a wide variety of voices, perfectly matched for all the southern characters. Would highly recommend the audiobook as exceptional; however, there were so many beautiful words, you may want to buy the e-book as well.

From literary, psychological, crime, mystery, thriller, suspense; conspiracy, drama, murder, racial and social injustices; love and loss—A tour de force of crime writing, far exceeding the hype, well-deserving of 10 stars.

Anything less would seem inadequate, when attempting to describe the exceptional writing, the multi-layered plot, and the superbly developed characters; crafted with skillful precision and depth, grabbing you from the first page to the last.

Yes, Michael Robotham, you were indeed, destined to write this inspiring book. You have a gift. Thank you for sharing it to the world. You are welcome in the US anytime! Perhaps, Atlanta or Miami, next?