Category Archives: Michael Robotham

July 27, 2020 · 11:58 pm

Review: When She Was Good by Michael Robotham

Title: When She Was Good by Michael Robotham
Cyrus Haven Series Book Two
Publisher: Scribner
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 349 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From the bestselling author of The Secrets She Keeps and Good Girl, Bad Girl comes a new thriller featuring the brilliant forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven as he becomes embroiled in an explosive murder case with disturbing origins.

Criminal psychologist Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac return in this mesmerizing new thriller from internationally bestselling author Michael Robotham, a writer Stephen King calls “an absolute master…with heart and soul.”

Who is Evie, the girl with no past, running from? She was discovered hiding in a secret room in the aftermath of a terrible crime. Her ability to tell when someone is lying helped Cyrus crack an impenetrable case in Good Girl, Bad Girl. Now, the closer Cyrus gets to uncovering answers about Evie’s dark history, the more he exposes Evie to danger, giving her no choice but to run. Ultimately, both will have to decide if some secrets are better left buried and some monsters should never be named…

Review:

When She Was Good by Michael Robotham is a spellbinding and somewhat dark mystery. This second installment in the Cyrus Haven series can be read as a standalone, but I HIGHLY recommend reading the series in order.

Despite pleas to the contrary, forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven continues trying to find out as much as possible about what happened to Evie Cormac aka “Angel Face” seven year earlier.  In order to get a more complete picture of what happened during and after her rescue, Cyrus has finally tracked down former special constable Sacha Hopewell. Sacha’s rescue of Evie from a house where Terry Boland was murdered and tortured captured the media’s attention. Relentlessly pursued, Sacha finally leaving London in order to find anonymity. Cyrus is hoping she has more information about Evie than what is in the official file.

Just as Cyrus is beginning to uncover more information about Evie, his longtime friend Detective Lenny Parvel calls him to the scene of the possible suicide of recently retired Detective Superintendent Hamish Whitmore. Cyrus picks up on subtle clues that Hamish was murdered. In the course of this investigation, Cyrus is shocked by the realization that Evie might be connected to an old case that Hamish was looking into.

Evie is currently a ward of the court and her identity is protected. She lives in a high security group home where she does not exactly remain under the radar.  Evie still refuses to reveal the circumstances surrounding her time with Terry. She also will not discuss who she is or tell anyone about her family. Evie’s position in the group home is precarious and she is terrified when it appears her past might have caught up with her.

Both Evie and Cyrus are haunted by the traumatic events from their respective childhoods. Cyrus still suffers nightmares and once a month, he faces his past in person.  Evie’s reasons for keeping quiet about what happened to her are complex and she is wracked by memories of her experiences. As present day circumstances force her to reveal her secrets, Cyrus is staggered by her revelations. Finally hoping for justice for Evie, Cyrus puts in motion a plan that endangers his and Evie’s lives as those involved desperately try to keep their secrets from being uncovered.

When She Was Good is a compelling mystery that exposes the seamy underbelly of authority and power.  The characters are richly developed and multi-faceted. The storyline is engrossing and immediately grabs readers’ attention and never lets go.  With edge of the seat action, Michael Robotham brings this meticulously plotted mystery to an absolutely jaw-dropping conclusion. Both of the novels in the Cyrus Haven series are superbly written and I hope we will see more of Cryrus and Evie in future installments.

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Filed under Contemporary, Cyrus Haven Series, Michael Robotham, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Scribner, Suspense, When She Was Good

July 17, 2019 · 11:58 pm

Review: Good Girl, Bad Girl by Michael Robotham

Title: Good Girl, Bad Girl by Michael Robotham
Publisher: Scribner
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 369 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From the bestselling author of The Secrets She Keeps, the writer Stephen King calls “an absolute master…with heart and soul,” a fiendishly clever suspense novel about a dangerous young woman with a special ability to know when someone is lying—and the criminal psychologist who must outwit her to survive.

A girl is discovered hiding in a secret room in the aftermath of a terrible crime. Half-starved and filthy, she won’t tell anyone her name, or her age, or where she came from. Maybe she is twelve, maybe fifteen. She doesn’t appear in any missing persons file, and her DNA can’t be matched to an identity. Six years later, still unidentified, she is living in a secure children’s home with a new name, Evie Cormac. When she initiates a court case demanding the right to be released as an adult, forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven must determine if Evie is ready to go free. But she is unlike anyone he’s ever met—fascinating and dangerous in equal measure. Evie knows when someone is lying, and no one around her is telling the truth.

Meanwhile, Cyrus is called in to investigate the shocking murder of a high school figure-skating champion, Jodie Sheehan, who dies on a lonely footpath close to her home. Pretty and popular, Jodie is portrayed by everyone as the ultimate girl-next-door, but as Cyrus peels back the layers, a secret life emerges—one that Evie Cormac, the girl with no past, knows something about. A man haunted by his own tragic history, Cyrus is caught between the two cases—one girl who needs saving and another who needs justice. What price will he pay for the truth? Fiendishly clever, swiftly paced, and emotionally explosive, Good Girl, Bad Girl is the perfect thrilling summer read from internationally bestselling author Michael Robotham.

Review:

Good Girl, Bad Girl by Michael Robotham is an absorbing, character driven mystery that features a  multifaceted storyline.

Forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven is assisting with an upcoming court case to see if Evie Cormac is ready to transition to living on her own. The young woman’s history is shrouded with mystery and she refuses to tell anyone the truth about her age or identity. Evie has been living in secure children’s home and she is ready to be declared an adult. However, Evie’s time in care has not be trouble free since she is self-destructive, aggressive, rude and prone to occasional violent outbursts. She lacks social skills and she is heartbreakingly naive due to her tragic past. Cyrus feels empathy for the young woman and he makes an impetuous decision to foster her until she turns eighteen.  Will Cyrus help Evie heal from the heart-rending trauma she refuses to discuss?

Cyrus also works part-time with the police and he is currently assisting his friend and mentor DCI Lenore “Lenny” Parvel  with her current case. She is investigating the murder of fifteen year old figure skating prodigy Jodie Sheehan.  While Lenny quickly zeroes in a suspect, Cyrus has serious reservations about whether she has arrested the wrong man. He continues to look deeper into Jodie’s background and he uncovers some very intriguing and worrisome information. Will what Cyrus has unearthed lead to the truth about what happened to the teenager?

Good Girl, Bad Girl is a suspenseful mystery with an enthralling plot and fascinating characters. Evie is a well-drawn young woman whose short life has been marred by horrific trauma. Cyrus is a flawed yet extremely likable psychologist who has also endured shocking loss and heartache. The investigation into Jodie’s murder culminates with a dark and disconcerting breakthrough. With stunning revelations,  Michael Robotham brings this scintillating mystery to a pulse-pounding, dramatic conclusion.  With Evie’s aspect of the storyline not completely wrapped up, readers will be hopeful both she and Cyrus will star in future novels.

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Filed under Contemporary, Good Girl Bad Girl, Michael Robotham, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Scribner, Suspense

April 11, 2016 · 11:55 pm

Review: Close Your Eyes by Michael Robotham

Title: Close Your Eyes by Michael Robotham
Joseph O’Loughlin Series Book Eight
Publisher: Mulholland Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Length: 400 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

When a former student bungles a murder investigation, clinical psychologist Joseph O’Loughlin steps in to face a ruthless killer.

A mother and her teenage daughter are found murdered in a remote coastal home, one defiled by multiple stab wounds and the other posed like Sleeping Beauty waiting for her prince. Joe O’Loughlin is drawn into the investigation when a former student, trading on Joe’s reputation by calling himself “the Mindhunter,” jeopardizes the police inquiry by leaking details to the media and stirring up public anger.

Joe discovers a link between the farmhouse murders and a series of vicious attacks in which the victims are choked unconscious and brutally scarred. Now, Joe must stop a ruthless and brash criminal who has apparently graduated to murder.

Much to his surprise, he is ably assisted by his eldest daughter, now a keen and courageous observer of her own right. Together they must track and catch a hunter who seems to anticipates every move they make.

Review:

Close Your Eyes by Michael Robotham is another cleverly written and  tightly-plotted addition to the Joseph O’Loughlin series.  In this latest mystery, Joe reluctantly agrees to consult on a murder case that has been compromised by his former student who uses their tenuous connection to inveigle his way into the investigation.

With few leads and the public clamoring for an arrest, Detective Chief Superintendent Veronica “Ronnie” Cray convinces Joe to take a look at the scene of the double homicide of Elizabeth Crowe and her university bound daughter Harper.  The case has stymied the detectives and Ronnie hopes Joe can see something her team has missed.  With a vocal radio announcer’s incendiary remarks riling up the village residents and psychologist Emilio Coleman aka “the Mindhunter” leaking confidential information to the press, the police and Joe are under intense pressure to solve this perplexing case before the killer strikes again.

No stranger to crime scenes, Joe is  stunned by the brutal attack on Elizabeth Crowe.  The violence inflicted during her murder is a stark contrast to the gentle manner in which Harper was murdered and  almost lovingly arranged postmortem.  Joe and the police cannot help but wonder if Elizabeth’s proclivity for sex in public places (dogging) might have put her in the crosshairs of the killer but this does not explain why Harper was murdered. During the course of the investigation, a long list of suspects begins to emerge, but Joe remains troubled by the very different ways in which the two women were murdered.  When another woman is murdered, there are striking similarities to the unsolved murders of Elizabeth and Harper which leaves Joe convinced the cases are linked but will he find the connection before another attack?

In the midst of consulting on this current case, Joe’s personal life takes a rather unexpected turn.  Long estranged from his wife, Julianne, the two have remained on relatively friendly terms as they co-parent their daughters Charlie and Emma.  With eldest daughter Charlie about to begin college, Joe is surprised when Julianne asks him to move back into the family home for the summer.  He, of course, quickly agrees since he is still deeply in love with Julianne and remains hopeful they will eventually reconcile.

Written in alternating perspective from Joe’s and an unknown person’s point of view, Close Your Eyes is an intriguing and suspense-laden police procedural.  With a vast pool of suspects, shocking revelations and unexpected plot twists,  Michael Robotham brilliantly keeps readers guessing the perpetrator’s identity until the pulse-pounding and action-packed conclusion.  The novel ends on an emotional note that will stun readers and leave them wondering about the future of the Joseph O’Loughlin series.

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Filed under Close Your Eyes, Contemporary, Michael Robotham, Mulholland Books, Mystery, Rated B+, Review

July 12, 2015 · 11:57 pm

Review: The Night Ferry by Michael Robotham

night ferryTitle: The Night Ferry by Michael Robotham
Publisher: Mulholland Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 433 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Struggling detective Alisha Barba is trying to get her life back on track after almost being crippled by a murder suspect. Now on her feet again, she receives a desperate plea from an old school friend, who is eight months pregnant and in trouble. On the night they arrange to meet, her friend is run down and killed by a car and Alisha discovers the first in a series of haunting and tragic deceptions.

Determined to uncover the truth, she embarks upon a dangerous journey that will take her from the East End of London to Amsterdam’s murky red light district and into a violent underworld of sex trafficking, slavery and exploitation.

Review:

The Night Ferry is a complex and intriguing mystery by Michael Robotham. More than just a “whodunit”, this suspense laden thriller delves into the dark world of human trafficking. Fast-paced and riveting, it is a thought-provoking story touches on social relevant issues that will resonant with readers.

Alisha Barba is stunned to receive a plea for help from her estranged friend Cate Elliot. The two have not spoken in eight years but Alisha is quick to agree to a meeting and she is surprised to discover her old friend is now married and expecting a baby. Before Cate can explain what she needs from Alisha, she and her husband are run down and killed by a cabbie. With only a cryptic message to go on, Alisha begins an off the books investigation that takes her into the seedy underworld of human trafficking and what she uncovers is as shocking as it is heartbreaking.

Alisha is an experienced detective constable who is just about to return to work after recovery from a horrific injury that almost left her paralyzed. She is plagued with regrets over the events that led to the end of her friendship with Cate and she is devastated to lose her before they can reconcile their differences. Leading with her heart throughout the investigation, Alisha is determined to discover not only who killed Cate but why.

Alisha gets little help from the detectives assigned to the case and once the deaths are ruled accidental, she quietly begins digging around on her own. With little to go on but Cate’s whispered assertion that someone wants to take her baby, Alisha quickly discovers that Cate’s infertility issues led her friend to take drastic measures in her quest to become a mother. Her complicated past with Cate’s family becomes a hindrance early in the investigation and the Elliot family will do just about anything to protect their daughter’s reputation. Alisha doggedly pursues the clues she uncovers but they quickly lead to dead ends. The case takes her to Amsterdam where she finally gets an idea of what Cate was up to in the months before her death but Alisha’s efforts to bring the people behind her death are thwarted at every turn.

With a personal stake in learning the truth about Cate’s death, Alisha often makes impetus decisions that have dangerous consequences. She also has a social conscience and this leads to some very passionate outbursts in her pursuit for answers. While understandable given the circumstances, her inability to remain impartial hurts her investigation and endangers not only her case, but the people she is trying to help. Her zealous search for answers is admirable but it is also frustrating watching Alisha make mistakes that could jeopardize bringing the guilty parties to justice.

The Night Ferry is a spellbinding mystery that is full of unexpected twists and turns. Michael Robotham has once again written a tightly plotted and suspenseful novel that also provides an insightful view into the tragic exploitation of young, vulnerable women. It is another brilliant police procedural that stands out from others in the genre that old and new fans do not want to miss.

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Filed under Contemporary, Michael Robotham, Mulholland Books, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Suspense, The Night Ferry

March 8, 2015 · 11:58 pm

Review: Life or Death by Michael Robotham

life or deathTitle: Life or Death by Michael Robotham
Publisher: Mullholland Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Length: 449 pages
Book Rating: A

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Why would a man serving a long prison sentence escape the day before he’s due to be released?

Audie Palmer has spent ten years in a Texas prison after pleading guilty to a robbery in which four people died and seven million dollars went missing. During that time he has suffered repeated beatings, stabbings and threats by inmates and guards, all desperate to answer the same question: where’s the money?

On the day before Audie is due to be released, he suddenly vanishes. Now everybody is searching for him – the police, FBI, gangsters and other powerful figures – but Audie isn’t running to save his own life. Instead, he’s trying to save someone else’s.

Michael Robotham has created the ultimate underdog hero, an honorable criminal shrouded in mystery and ready to lead readers on a remarkable chase.

Review:

Set in Texas, Michael Robotham’s newest release, Life or Death, is an absolutely outstanding mystery about a prisoner who escapes one day before his release from prison. By all accounts, Audie Palmer is a very intelligent man so what on earth would prompt him to make such a foolhardy decision? The answer to that question can only be found in the tangled web of secrets surrounding the armored car heist and the unrecovered seven million dollars from the robbery.

Audie has been a surprisingly model prisoner throughout his incarceration and he has managed to survive numerous attempts on his life by both fellow inmates and dishonest guards. He has never discussed the robbery nor has he disclosed the whereabouts of the missing money. When he first escapes, he does not appear to have a clear plan or destination in mind and there is no obvious reason for his prison break.

The news about Audie’s escape is stunning and no one is more shocked than his close friend and fellow inmate Moss Webster. Moss has no clue why Audie would escape, and in fact, he is a little hurt that Audie did not confide in him. No one in the prison believes Moss’s claims of ignorance and he endures a fairly violent punishment for his perceived lack of forthrightness with authorities.

FBI Special Agent Desiree Furness is equally shocked by Audie’s disappearance. Although she did not work on the original robbery, she was later assigned to the case once the trail for the money and one of the alleged robbers went cold. Throughout the manhunt for Audie, Desiree is stymied by the lack of a clear motive for his escape and she eventually grows suspicious that there is more to the original case than meets the eye.

Sheriff Ryan Valdez is the arresting officer from the armored truck robbery and he is one of the first to arrive at the prison once news of Audie’s escape emerges. On the surface, his motive for inserting himself into the search for Audie seems plausible. However it is soon clear that there might a far more sinister reason for his involvement in the current case.

The truth about Audie and the armored truck robbery is slowly revealed through flashbacks. At one time, Audie had a bright future but his older brother’s criminal activities put Audie under a cloud of suspicion that set him on a collision course with disaster. After losing his college scholarship, Audie drifted along until he lost his heart to a beautiful young woman and their effort to begin a new life takes a very tragic turn. Now Audie is determined to right a horrific wrong, but will he accomplish his goal before his luck runs out?

Life or Death is a riveting and intriguing mystery. Audie is an extremely sympathetic and likable character and it impossible not to root for him despite not having all of the facts about him, his past or the events that led to his incarceration. The novel is well-written and the plot is unique and engaging. Although it is a bit of a slow starter, Life or Death quickly gains momentum and thunders to pulse pounding and exciting conclusion and Michael Robotham wraps up all of the loose ends with a very satisfying epilogue. An exceptional read that I highly recommend to anyone who reads crime dramas.

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Filed under Contemporary, Life or Death, Michael Robotham, Mulholland Books, Mystery, Rated A, Review

March 10, 2014 · 11:57 pm

Review: Watching You by Michael Robotham

watchingTitle: Watching you by Michael Robotham
Joseph O’Loughlin Mystery
Publisher: Mullholland Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Length: 432 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

New York Times bestselling author Michael Robotham brings us face-to-face with a manipulative psychopath who has destroyed countless lives and is about to claim one final victim.

Marnie Logan often feels like she’s being watched: a warm breath on the back of her neck, or a shadow in the corner of her eye that vanishes when she turns her head.

She has reason to be frightened. Her husband Daniel has inexplicably vanished, and the police have no leads in the case. Without proof of death or evidence of foul play, she can’t access his bank accounts or his life insurance. Depressed and increasingly desperate, she seeks the help of clinical psychologist Joe O’Loughlin.

O’Loughlin is concerned by Marnie’s reluctance to talk about the past and anxious to uncover what Marnie is withholding that could help with her treatment. The breakthrough in Marnie’s therapy and Daniel’s disappearance arrives when Marnie shares with O’Loughlin her discovery of the Big Red Book, a collage of pictures, interviews, and anecdotes from Marnie’s friends and relatives that Daniel had been compiling as part of a surprise birthday gift.

Daniel’s explorations into Marnie’s past led him to a shocking revelation on the eve of his disappearance: Anyone who has ever gotten close to Marnie has paid an exacting price. A cold-blooded killer is eliminating the people in Marnie’s life, and now that O’Loughlin is a part of it, he is next in line.

The Review:

Watching You is another spine-tingling thriller by Michael Robotham starring Dr. Joe O’Loughlin and his friend, ex-cop Vincent Ruiz. This chilling mystery is full of intriguing plot twists that will keep readers guessing right up until the novel’s spectacular conclusion.

Joe’s patient since her husband Daniel’s disappearance a year ago, Marnie Logan is becoming increasingly desperate to uncover the truth about what happened to Daniel. The police investigation has yielded no leads and financially strapped, Marnie’s stress is intensified when she is expected to work off Daniel’s huge gambling debt to a local thug. Equally concerning for Marnie is the feeling that someone is watching her-nothing she can prove but she is unable shrug off the eerie sensation. The discovery of a birthday project Daniel was working on for Marnie at the time he disappeared offers vital yet puzzling clues and completely turns the investigation around. When people connected to Marnie begin turning up dead, Marnie becomes the chief suspect but she denies any involvement. Joe is convinced of her innocence but even he begins to harbor doubts when shocking information about her past comes to light. Is Marnie a cold-blooded killer? Or is there a far more sinister explanation for both Daniel’s disappearance and the murders?

As with previous novels in the series, Watching You is written from multiple perspectives-Joe’s, Marnie’s and presumably, the killer’s. Marnie’s emotions and growing desperation are palpable and easily draw the reader in to the story. She is sympathetic and early on, there is no reason to doubt her. But when it becomes clear that she has carefully edited her past, it is very easy to become suspicious of her and that of course, leads to second guessing everything that has happened up to this point in the story.

Joe is still struggling with the day to day difficulties from his Parkinson’s disease but overall, he seems to be holding his own in that battle. He and Julianne are separated but not divorced and as a matter of fact, she is only briefly mentioned in passing. With his incredible ability to read people, Joe has picked up on the fact that Marnie is holding something back from him during their sessions but he has been unable to convince her to completely trust him. Even in the face of damning evidence, Joe remains convinced that Marnie is not capable of the crimes she has been accused of and his persistence pays off when he uncovers vital evidence that may exonerate her.

The third perspective is quite fascinating and provides psychological insight and valuable information about the unfolding story. This history is full of clues but offers little context of where these pieces fit into the puzzle.

Watching You is an ingeniously creepy story that is full of unexpected twists and turns. The plot is multi-layered and refreshingly unique. The characters are complex and realistic. Michael Robotham brings the novel to a jaw-dropping ending that is satisfying in some areas but will leave you guessing in others.

Another brilliant mystery by a true master storyteller that old and new fans are going to love!

Click HERE for my reviews of the other novels in the Joseph O’Loughlin series.

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Filed under Contemporary, Michael Robotham, Mulholland Books, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Watching You