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Cyrus Haven #2
When She Was Good
Evie Cormack was found as a child at the scene of a brutal murder, and refuses to tell anything of her past or what happened to her, because she fears that anyone who does know will get killed and get her killed.
Forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven teams up with Sacha Hopewell, the police officer who found Evie, to try to find out what danger she fears and how to protect her from it, but it seems that the danger comes from some very powerful and influential people.
Forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven teams up with Sacha Hopewell, the police officer who found Evie, to try to find out what danger she fears and how to protect her from it, but it seems that the danger comes from some very powerful and influential people.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published July 28, 2020
About the author
Michael Robotham
50 books6,689 followersTwo-times Gold Dagger winner (2015 and 2020), twice Edgar best novel finalist (2016 and 2020) and winner of the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger (2021), Michael Robotham was born in Australia in November 1960 and grew up in small country towns that had more dogs than people and more flies than dogs. He escaped became a cadet journalist on an afternoon newspaper in Sydney.
For the next fourteen years he worked for newspapers and magazines in Australia, Europe, Africa and America. As a senior feature writer for the UK’s Mail on Sunday he was among the first people to view the letters and diaries of Czar Nicholas II and his wife Empress Alexandra, unearthed in the Moscow State Archives in 1991. He also gained access to Stalin’s Hitler files, which had been missing for nearly fifty years until a cleaner stumbled upon a cardboard box that had been misplaced and misfiled.
In 1993 he quit journalism to become a ghostwriter, collaborating with politicians, pop stars, psychologists, adventurers and showbusiness personalities to write their autobiographies. Twelve of these non-fiction titles have been bestsellers with combined sales of more than 2 million copies.
His first novel 'THE SUSPECT', a psychological thriller, was chosen by the world’s largest consortium of book clubs as only the fifth “International Book of the Month”, making it the top recommendation to 28 million book club members in fifteen countries.
Since then, Michael's psychological thrillers have been translated into twenty-five languages and his Joe O'Loughlin series is are currently in development for TV by World Productions. A six-part TV series based upon his standalone novel THE SECRETS SHE KEEPS was aired on BBC1 in 2020, and a second series begins filming in 2021.
Michael lives in Sydney with his wife and a diminishing number of dependent daughters.
For the next fourteen years he worked for newspapers and magazines in Australia, Europe, Africa and America. As a senior feature writer for the UK’s Mail on Sunday he was among the first people to view the letters and diaries of Czar Nicholas II and his wife Empress Alexandra, unearthed in the Moscow State Archives in 1991. He also gained access to Stalin’s Hitler files, which had been missing for nearly fifty years until a cleaner stumbled upon a cardboard box that had been misplaced and misfiled.
In 1993 he quit journalism to become a ghostwriter, collaborating with politicians, pop stars, psychologists, adventurers and showbusiness personalities to write their autobiographies. Twelve of these non-fiction titles have been bestsellers with combined sales of more than 2 million copies.
His first novel 'THE SUSPECT', a psychological thriller, was chosen by the world’s largest consortium of book clubs as only the fifth “International Book of the Month”, making it the top recommendation to 28 million book club members in fifteen countries.
Since then, Michael's psychological thrillers have been translated into twenty-five languages and his Joe O'Loughlin series is are currently in development for TV by World Productions. A six-part TV series based upon his standalone novel THE SECRETS SHE KEEPS was aired on BBC1 in 2020, and a second series begins filming in 2021.
Michael lives in Sydney with his wife and a diminishing number of dependent daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,073 reviews
March 12, 2023
When I finished Good Girl, Bad Girl, book #1 featuring forensic psychologist, Cyrus Haven, and mysterious Evie Cormac, I hated to have to wait for more. The story wasn't finished and now with When She Was Good, we learn so much more about Evie and what happened to her in the past. The story is not pretty and Evie is not safe.
At the beginning of the book, Evie is back at Langford Hall, a secure unit for children, and Cyrus has been called to the scene of a suspected suicide. It doesn't take long for Cyrus to be sure the suspected suicide was murder and the dead man had been investigating crimes connected to Evie's past. The deeper Cyrus digs, the more he stirs up, until Evie's life is in danger and the bodies pile up. Cyrus is determined to keep Evie safe, a promise he cannot keep.
The monsters that abused Evie are abusing other children and killing them. Anyone who might get in the way, who might expose what is going on, will die. The crimes are the seediest imaginable and the people involved range from low level criminals to big wheels in high places. But things are always buried, always covered up, and hidden. This is another story that kept me up too late a night and I hope we get more of Cyrus Haven in another book.
Pub July 28, 2020
Thank you to Scribner/Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for this ARC.
At the beginning of the book, Evie is back at Langford Hall, a secure unit for children, and Cyrus has been called to the scene of a suspected suicide. It doesn't take long for Cyrus to be sure the suspected suicide was murder and the dead man had been investigating crimes connected to Evie's past. The deeper Cyrus digs, the more he stirs up, until Evie's life is in danger and the bodies pile up. Cyrus is determined to keep Evie safe, a promise he cannot keep.
The monsters that abused Evie are abusing other children and killing them. Anyone who might get in the way, who might expose what is going on, will die. The crimes are the seediest imaginable and the people involved range from low level criminals to big wheels in high places. But things are always buried, always covered up, and hidden. This is another story that kept me up too late a night and I hope we get more of Cyrus Haven in another book.
Pub July 28, 2020
Thank you to Scribner/Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss for this ARC.
October 29, 2021
Yes, another mind blowing, heart throbbing, gripping Cyrus Haven and Evie story is finally out to keep you on your toes!
I’m so happy, dear Michael Robotham didn’t wait us too long after introduced one of the mysterious, brilliant character Evie with dark and hidden past.
After the first book’s ending , I wanted to know more about her story and my prayer came true: because at the second book, Cyrus teams up with Sasha who has found Evie when she was kid: raped, tortured, hidden in a closet and a nurse named her “angel face” at the hospital. After a police officer’s suspicious suicide, Cyrus finds out the very same officer investigate the case of child pedophile recently died in the prison and he thought it may be wrong conviction. There are still missing children connected to the pedophile’s kidnapping cases. When Cyrus searches for the names of those kids, “angel face’s” name appears at the death police officer’s notes which forces him to dig deeper.
Now he is conducting his own secret investigation with Sasha to search more about the dark history about Evie ( starting by finding her real name) because there is cold blue eyed man with a scar on his face acting like a police officer and searching for Evie in everywhere.
In the meantime, Evie is still at the hospital, waiting for 18th birthday’s coming (actually she’s already 18 but she doesn’t share this information with anyone). And with the flashback, we start to learn more about her childhood times which are the darkest, most shocking parts of the book because there are so many heart wrenchingly disturbing issues including sex trafficking, child prostitution and child porn. Those parts give us the answer about brutally killed Terry who has found at the same house with Evie where she has been hiding. Was he her survivor or was he the responsible of all those tortures and nightmares she has endured?
Finally we learned everything and found all those missing pieces of puzzle about the back story of her including real name and of course we found out the person who was responsible from it. And it was more complicated and terrifying than we imagine because a real powerful and a big organization behind all these mess. Are Cyrus and Evie powerful and determined enough to stop them before losing their own lives? You gotta read and find out.
Overall: I wished I could see Evie in action because she is human lie detector and her unique talent helped the detectives to solve unique mysteries. But the author decides to explain all the missing pieces of her story to help us understand where she comes from and from now on where she goes so this book is all about her personal history which I gave me hard times to read: I ached for her and the things she endured truly caused a big lump on my throat and big whole in my heart. It was tragic, devastating and extremely traumatic. So many times I took several breaks during my reading to digest what I read.
But good part is I think on the upcoming series we’re gonna see Evie and Cyrus’ healing processes about their pasts and teaming up to solve other cases together.
I’m giving 4.5 stars and rounding them up to 5: from the beginning I enjoyed to read this series and I cannot wait to read more books of brilliant author. I literally devoured this at one sit and even it gave me nightmares it was definitely worth it!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for sharing this incredible Arc copy with me in exchange my honest review.
I’m so happy, dear Michael Robotham didn’t wait us too long after introduced one of the mysterious, brilliant character Evie with dark and hidden past.
After the first book’s ending , I wanted to know more about her story and my prayer came true: because at the second book, Cyrus teams up with Sasha who has found Evie when she was kid: raped, tortured, hidden in a closet and a nurse named her “angel face” at the hospital. After a police officer’s suspicious suicide, Cyrus finds out the very same officer investigate the case of child pedophile recently died in the prison and he thought it may be wrong conviction. There are still missing children connected to the pedophile’s kidnapping cases. When Cyrus searches for the names of those kids, “angel face’s” name appears at the death police officer’s notes which forces him to dig deeper.
Now he is conducting his own secret investigation with Sasha to search more about the dark history about Evie ( starting by finding her real name) because there is cold blue eyed man with a scar on his face acting like a police officer and searching for Evie in everywhere.
In the meantime, Evie is still at the hospital, waiting for 18th birthday’s coming (actually she’s already 18 but she doesn’t share this information with anyone). And with the flashback, we start to learn more about her childhood times which are the darkest, most shocking parts of the book because there are so many heart wrenchingly disturbing issues including sex trafficking, child prostitution and child porn. Those parts give us the answer about brutally killed Terry who has found at the same house with Evie where she has been hiding. Was he her survivor or was he the responsible of all those tortures and nightmares she has endured?
Finally we learned everything and found all those missing pieces of puzzle about the back story of her including real name and of course we found out the person who was responsible from it. And it was more complicated and terrifying than we imagine because a real powerful and a big organization behind all these mess. Are Cyrus and Evie powerful and determined enough to stop them before losing their own lives? You gotta read and find out.
Overall: I wished I could see Evie in action because she is human lie detector and her unique talent helped the detectives to solve unique mysteries. But the author decides to explain all the missing pieces of her story to help us understand where she comes from and from now on where she goes so this book is all about her personal history which I gave me hard times to read: I ached for her and the things she endured truly caused a big lump on my throat and big whole in my heart. It was tragic, devastating and extremely traumatic. So many times I took several breaks during my reading to digest what I read.
But good part is I think on the upcoming series we’re gonna see Evie and Cyrus’ healing processes about their pasts and teaming up to solve other cases together.
I’m giving 4.5 stars and rounding them up to 5: from the beginning I enjoyed to read this series and I cannot wait to read more books of brilliant author. I literally devoured this at one sit and even it gave me nightmares it was definitely worth it!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for sharing this incredible Arc copy with me in exchange my honest review.
May 13, 2020
“There is no such thing as forgetting.”
3.75 stars
When She Was Good is a psychological thriller about a murder dressed as suicide that connects back to a child sex trafficking ring and the forensic psychologist and “truth wizard” linked to the case.
I wouldn’t recommend reading this book if you have not read book 1, Good Girl, Bad Girl.
Book 2 picks up several months later. Cyrus has rebuilt his home, whereas Evie is back in the Langford Hall. When Cyrus is called to a murder scene and discovers that the victim, a former cop who was investigating missing children, connected the name “Angel Face” to his investigation, he takes action. Cyrus relentlessly begins investigating the murder to uncover Evie’s past. At the same time, Evie is struggling to survive. She is flooded with memories from her past and is trying to stay afloat in the present, but EVERYONE around her is a potential threat. The information her memories contain makes her a target and forces her to fight for her life.
Told between alternating chapters from Evie and Cyrus’s POVs’ a lot of questions from book 1 are finally answered. I thought that Robotham might drag revealing Evie's background out in bits and pieces in future books, but almost all of the gaps are filled in. We finally find out more about what led Evie to be kidnapped and owned by “Uncle.” She remembers all details, including her escape, as well as the abuse she endured. These moments, thankfully, are not explicit, but one can get the gist.
I really enjoyed this second installment in the Cyrus Haven series. The way this ended nicely wrapped up Cyrus and Evie’s stories, but there are still a lot of possibilities to be explored in future installments. I wanted more attention focused on Evie’s “truth wizardry” abilities, but perhaps we will get more of that in the future. I love these two characters and hope to see them again!
I received an ARC of this book from Edelweiss and Scribner in exchange for an honest review.
3.75 stars
When She Was Good is a psychological thriller about a murder dressed as suicide that connects back to a child sex trafficking ring and the forensic psychologist and “truth wizard” linked to the case.
I wouldn’t recommend reading this book if you have not read book 1, Good Girl, Bad Girl.
Book 2 picks up several months later. Cyrus has rebuilt his home, whereas Evie is back in the Langford Hall. When Cyrus is called to a murder scene and discovers that the victim, a former cop who was investigating missing children, connected the name “Angel Face” to his investigation, he takes action. Cyrus relentlessly begins investigating the murder to uncover Evie’s past. At the same time, Evie is struggling to survive. She is flooded with memories from her past and is trying to stay afloat in the present, but EVERYONE around her is a potential threat. The information her memories contain makes her a target and forces her to fight for her life.
Told between alternating chapters from Evie and Cyrus’s POVs’ a lot of questions from book 1 are finally answered. I thought that Robotham might drag revealing Evie's background out in bits and pieces in future books, but almost all of the gaps are filled in. We finally find out more about what led Evie to be kidnapped and owned by “Uncle.” She remembers all details, including her escape, as well as the abuse she endured. These moments, thankfully, are not explicit, but one can get the gist.
I really enjoyed this second installment in the Cyrus Haven series. The way this ended nicely wrapped up Cyrus and Evie’s stories, but there are still a lot of possibilities to be explored in future installments. I wanted more attention focused on Evie’s “truth wizardry” abilities, but perhaps we will get more of that in the future. I love these two characters and hope to see them again!
I received an ARC of this book from Edelweiss and Scribner in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2020
I might not be earmarking Michael Robotham’s latest addition to the Cyrus Haven series as a favorite, but readers who enjoyed Good Girl, Bad Girl might.
From what I surmised from the synopsis of the previous book and the limited backstory of the characters given within these pages, When She Was Good is a tried and true continuation of Good Girl, Bad Girl. Which I would have been completely fine with, had I not overlooked that fact or actually read book one. An oversight I take full credit for. And while I’m not trying to deter anyone from diving in to this book, without having read its predecessor, I personally felt like I missed out on the full experience. Sure, this story is decent enough on its own but being privy to some of the relationship dynamics established in book one probably would have lent itself to a stronger investment on my part.
Robotham tells this story through two distinct voices: forensic psychologist, Cyrus Haven, and seventeen-year-old, Evie Cormac. Cyrus, one of only a few, knows Evie is the infamous Angel Face, a young girl thought to have been held captive by a pedophile in a hidden room. The constructs of Cyrus and Evie’s relationship are a bit blurred at times. He feels a connection to the young girl, for reasons I can only assume track back to their kindred orphanhood. Yet, Evie waffles between jealousy and misguided dreams of her relationship with Cyrus.
When a retired detective is found dead in his car from a staged suicide, the lead investigator brings Cyrus in to assess the scene. A little digging connects one of the dead cop’s most prolific cases and Angel Face, sparking Cyrus to start a quasi-investigation. His driving force, uncovering how Evie came to be Angel Face.
Considering Cyrus is a forensic psychologist, it's odd that he carries on for much of the book as the lead investigator. Working by his side to decipher how the pieces of the murder, Evie's past, and the pedophilia ring fit together isn't glaringly obvious, but it also doesn't take a lot of foresight.
While I won't say this book was something I found noteworthy or that I’m now inclined to go back and read book one, it was entertaining enough. And the author’s approach of skirting the periphery and allowing readers a reprieve from the wretched details was much appreciated.
*Thanks to Scribner for the advanced copy.
From what I surmised from the synopsis of the previous book and the limited backstory of the characters given within these pages, When She Was Good is a tried and true continuation of Good Girl, Bad Girl. Which I would have been completely fine with, had I not overlooked that fact or actually read book one. An oversight I take full credit for. And while I’m not trying to deter anyone from diving in to this book, without having read its predecessor, I personally felt like I missed out on the full experience. Sure, this story is decent enough on its own but being privy to some of the relationship dynamics established in book one probably would have lent itself to a stronger investment on my part.
Robotham tells this story through two distinct voices: forensic psychologist, Cyrus Haven, and seventeen-year-old, Evie Cormac. Cyrus, one of only a few, knows Evie is the infamous Angel Face, a young girl thought to have been held captive by a pedophile in a hidden room. The constructs of Cyrus and Evie’s relationship are a bit blurred at times. He feels a connection to the young girl, for reasons I can only assume track back to their kindred orphanhood. Yet, Evie waffles between jealousy and misguided dreams of her relationship with Cyrus.
When a retired detective is found dead in his car from a staged suicide, the lead investigator brings Cyrus in to assess the scene. A little digging connects one of the dead cop’s most prolific cases and Angel Face, sparking Cyrus to start a quasi-investigation. His driving force, uncovering how Evie came to be Angel Face.
Considering Cyrus is a forensic psychologist, it's odd that he carries on for much of the book as the lead investigator. Working by his side to decipher how the pieces of the murder, Evie's past, and the pedophilia ring fit together isn't glaringly obvious, but it also doesn't take a lot of foresight.
While I won't say this book was something I found noteworthy or that I’m now inclined to go back and read book one, it was entertaining enough. And the author’s approach of skirting the periphery and allowing readers a reprieve from the wretched details was much appreciated.
*Thanks to Scribner for the advanced copy.
June 23, 2020
This is a brilliant sequel in Michael Robotham's police criminal psychologist Cyrus Haven series, a man seriously traumatised by the murder and loss of his family, plagued with survivor's guilt, who continues to visit his brother,Elias, incarcerated at Rampton,a high security psychiatric hospital, housing many of the most dangerous patients in the country. Evie 'Angel Face' Cormac, discovered hidden in the home of the gruesomely murdered Terry Boland as a child, is now 17 years old, growing up in Langford Hall, a secure children's home, not the best of experiences for Evie. Her social worker, Adam Guthrie, is a poor professional with no empathetic skills, with a strong antipathy towards his client, and Evie unsurprising has a troubled time at the home. With a history of facing broken promises and being let down, trust is a huge issue for her, where the black lab, Poppy, and Cyrus, are responsible for her hold on sanity, against all the odds.
In a story that shifts back and forth in time, it becomes clear just how ugly and horror strewn Evie's history is, including human trafficking, the loss of family, physical and sexual abuse and exploitation at the hands of the human scum and pure evil that is her paedophile 'uncle' who owned her and kept her prisoner until Terry Boland rescued her, only for him to be tortured and killed for not giving her up. Evie, questionably blessed with the gift of knowing when anyone is lying, has never revealed the truth of her past, and for good reasons, but Cyrus is driven to find out, wanting to secure justice for Evie. He has no idea of what he is up against and the power of the guilty parties as he opens a can of worms. There is a double murder in Manchester, one of which is the killing, dressed as suicide, of the retired Detective Superintendent Hamish Whitmore, that threatens to wreak devastation and once again put Evie in grave danger.
Robotham's plotting and characterisation is stellar in this tense, immersive and riveting read, one of the highlights of which is the supporting cast, from DI Lenny Pavel to Cyrus's tattooist and best friend, Badger, whose skills include hacking as he provides invaluable help to Cyrus's investigation. This is an enthralling and exciting thriller that grabs your attention right from the get go and never once lets up until you reach the last pages. I cannot wait to see where the author takes the characters and the story next! Highly recommended to all crime and thriller fans. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
In a story that shifts back and forth in time, it becomes clear just how ugly and horror strewn Evie's history is, including human trafficking, the loss of family, physical and sexual abuse and exploitation at the hands of the human scum and pure evil that is her paedophile 'uncle' who owned her and kept her prisoner until Terry Boland rescued her, only for him to be tortured and killed for not giving her up. Evie, questionably blessed with the gift of knowing when anyone is lying, has never revealed the truth of her past, and for good reasons, but Cyrus is driven to find out, wanting to secure justice for Evie. He has no idea of what he is up against and the power of the guilty parties as he opens a can of worms. There is a double murder in Manchester, one of which is the killing, dressed as suicide, of the retired Detective Superintendent Hamish Whitmore, that threatens to wreak devastation and once again put Evie in grave danger.
Robotham's plotting and characterisation is stellar in this tense, immersive and riveting read, one of the highlights of which is the supporting cast, from DI Lenny Pavel to Cyrus's tattooist and best friend, Badger, whose skills include hacking as he provides invaluable help to Cyrus's investigation. This is an enthralling and exciting thriller that grabs your attention right from the get go and never once lets up until you reach the last pages. I cannot wait to see where the author takes the characters and the story next! Highly recommended to all crime and thriller fans. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
August 9, 2020
This wasn't a five star for me like his last one, Good Girl Bad Girl. This is a continuation of the same story line and for me it might have reached plot line fatigue. It's just me, I'm sure. It can also be that Good Girl Bad Girl was too good, too wonderful and anything else might pale in comparison. Don't get me wrong this is a solid read and I enjoyed it. I also had the feeling that this one was a little more of a slow burn the way the story developed, almost like it's a mystery construct told in a thriller construct which would account for the slow burn. The characters are well developed and there is a great balance between story and character development which is difficult to do. Four stars is a great rating but for me it didn't quite rise up to a five. I will be recommending this book and look forward to his next.
David Putnam author of The Bruno Johnson series.
David Putnam author of The Bruno Johnson series.
October 23, 2020
Michael Robotham…bravo on a repeat performance. You delivered a hands-down, five-star thriller directly to my kindle! And once again, one of your many books has made its way to my favorite’s shelf.
In book two of the Cyrus Haven series we’re given deep insight into Evies’ past, as it quickly threatens to catch up with her. Question is, will Cyrus uncover who was behind her abduction before they’re able to silence Evie for good?
I‘ve quickly grown to love Cyrus and Evie. In my humble opinion, this series outshines his Joseph O'Loughlin series. (Though I’m sure I’m in the minority).
I loved the interaction between these two characters. Each filling a need for the other. Then to add to the drama...enter Sasha, the Policewoman recently promoted to detective. She was the one to find and rescue Evie all those years ago. And at the end of the day, all of them wounded, scarred and desperately lonely souls.
Beautifully crafted, I was glued to the pages. Hoping we’ve not yet reached the end of this series, but I’ll be thrilled to see any new release from this author!
A buddy read with Susanne!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Simon and Schuster for an ARC to read and review.
In book two of the Cyrus Haven series we’re given deep insight into Evies’ past, as it quickly threatens to catch up with her. Question is, will Cyrus uncover who was behind her abduction before they’re able to silence Evie for good?
I‘ve quickly grown to love Cyrus and Evie. In my humble opinion, this series outshines his Joseph O'Loughlin series. (Though I’m sure I’m in the minority).
I loved the interaction between these two characters. Each filling a need for the other. Then to add to the drama...enter Sasha, the Policewoman recently promoted to detective. She was the one to find and rescue Evie all those years ago. And at the end of the day, all of them wounded, scarred and desperately lonely souls.
Beautifully crafted, I was glued to the pages. Hoping we’ve not yet reached the end of this series, but I’ll be thrilled to see any new release from this author!
A buddy read with Susanne!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Simon and Schuster for an ARC to read and review.
July 29, 2020
"People think they want the truth, but the opposite is true. Honesty is mean and rough and ugly, while lying can be kinder, softer, and more humane. It's not honesty that we want but consideration and respect."
Criminal psychologist Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac are back in book two in the series! If you haven't read the first book in the series Good Girl, Bad Girl, I highly recommend reading it prior to reading this book because A.) It's awesome! and 2.) it gives a lot of background information concerning both Cyrus and Evie, their backgrounds, how their relationship was formed, etc. In this book, we learn even more about Evie and what she endured and survived as a child. Having such a horrific past has given her the ability to know when someone is lying. It's a strength but also gets in the way of her having relationships with others.
"She's like a dessert frog that hibernates for years until it rains or a salamander that blends into its surroundings. She adapts. She endures."
Evie's past continues to haunt her as does the abuse in her past, plus there are those who have been looking for her, wanting to make sure she remains quiet and never speaks of the past.
This book begins a little bit of time after the events of the previous book have occurred. This was an absorbing book that sucked me as I wanted to know if anyone would be exposed as one of the monsters of Evie's past. Plus, we get to meet Sascha, the woman who found/rescued Evie as a child.
If you have not read Robotham, let alone this series, I highly recommend his books. This book is a captivating addition to the series. I enjoyed spending time with these characters again and have my fingers crossed for another book in the series. I agree with other reviewers who want more of Evie's lie-detecting abilities put on display. Both Evie and Cyrus are intriguing characters and I also enjoyed meeting Sascha. I want more of them, their stories, I want to see them work together to bring people to justice and I want to see some healing for both of them.
Riveting, compelling, and well thought out. A solid addition to the series!
I received a copy of this book from Scribner/Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Criminal psychologist Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac are back in book two in the series! If you haven't read the first book in the series Good Girl, Bad Girl, I highly recommend reading it prior to reading this book because A.) It's awesome! and 2.) it gives a lot of background information concerning both Cyrus and Evie, their backgrounds, how their relationship was formed, etc. In this book, we learn even more about Evie and what she endured and survived as a child. Having such a horrific past has given her the ability to know when someone is lying. It's a strength but also gets in the way of her having relationships with others.
"She's like a dessert frog that hibernates for years until it rains or a salamander that blends into its surroundings. She adapts. She endures."
Evie's past continues to haunt her as does the abuse in her past, plus there are those who have been looking for her, wanting to make sure she remains quiet and never speaks of the past.
This book begins a little bit of time after the events of the previous book have occurred. This was an absorbing book that sucked me as I wanted to know if anyone would be exposed as one of the monsters of Evie's past. Plus, we get to meet Sascha, the woman who found/rescued Evie as a child.
If you have not read Robotham, let alone this series, I highly recommend his books. This book is a captivating addition to the series. I enjoyed spending time with these characters again and have my fingers crossed for another book in the series. I agree with other reviewers who want more of Evie's lie-detecting abilities put on display. Both Evie and Cyrus are intriguing characters and I also enjoyed meeting Sascha. I want more of them, their stories, I want to see them work together to bring people to justice and I want to see some healing for both of them.
Riveting, compelling, and well thought out. A solid addition to the series!
I received a copy of this book from Scribner/Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 10, 2021
Disentangle
When She Was Good is a gritty and nerve-racking thriller that reveals a backdrop of unthinkable child abuse, and a cast of characters that are absorbing and mysterious. Cyrus Haven and Evie alternately narrate the story as two characters that are brilliantly drawn and captivating. Both have disturbing pasts but are armed in this dark world with unique abilities that enable them to investigate crimes with clever insights.
Evie is fascinating, and her background and history are gradually revealed illustrating how she suffered as a child and struggles daily with those memories. Evie has an uncanny ability to tell if someone is lying – brilliant ability to have in solving crimes. In a world where she sees everyone with suspicion, she connects with Cyrus as her only source of reassurance and trust. Cyrus is a forensic psychologist and first met Evie in Good Girl, Bad Girl - a book I wished I had read before embarking on this one. Anyhoo, Cyrus has been called to the scene of a suspected suicide and quickly suspects murder. The victim, Superintendent Hamish Whitmore, had been investigating crimes connected to Evie’s past, and the more Cyrus digs, the greater the threat that emerges for Evie. Is it better to let sleeping dogs lie?
The riveting plot is full of danger and drama, and it totally enthralled me and kept me eagerly bound to the story until it was finished. More fool me, but I found answers to questions I did not know to ask. I should have done the sensible thing and stopped to read the first book, so the big tip here is to read, Good Girl, Bad Girl, first.
This is a series that is well worth reading so I can recommend that you should start this series before it gets away from you. I would like to thank Little Brown Book Group and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in return for an honest review.
When She Was Good is a gritty and nerve-racking thriller that reveals a backdrop of unthinkable child abuse, and a cast of characters that are absorbing and mysterious. Cyrus Haven and Evie alternately narrate the story as two characters that are brilliantly drawn and captivating. Both have disturbing pasts but are armed in this dark world with unique abilities that enable them to investigate crimes with clever insights.
Evie is fascinating, and her background and history are gradually revealed illustrating how she suffered as a child and struggles daily with those memories. Evie has an uncanny ability to tell if someone is lying – brilliant ability to have in solving crimes. In a world where she sees everyone with suspicion, she connects with Cyrus as her only source of reassurance and trust. Cyrus is a forensic psychologist and first met Evie in Good Girl, Bad Girl - a book I wished I had read before embarking on this one. Anyhoo, Cyrus has been called to the scene of a suspected suicide and quickly suspects murder. The victim, Superintendent Hamish Whitmore, had been investigating crimes connected to Evie’s past, and the more Cyrus digs, the greater the threat that emerges for Evie. Is it better to let sleeping dogs lie?
The riveting plot is full of danger and drama, and it totally enthralled me and kept me eagerly bound to the story until it was finished. More fool me, but I found answers to questions I did not know to ask. I should have done the sensible thing and stopped to read the first book, so the big tip here is to read, Good Girl, Bad Girl, first.
This is a series that is well worth reading so I can recommend that you should start this series before it gets away from you. I would like to thank Little Brown Book Group and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in return for an honest review.
June 27, 2020
In Good Girl, Bad Girl, Cyrus Haven was asked to determine Evie Cormac’s mental health. This sequel brings us further backstory about Evie or Angel Face as she was known when she was found hiding as an almost feral child. She has a unique ability to see who is telling the truth. “I don’t trust the truth. The truth is a story. The truth is a habit. The truth is a compromise. The truth is a dull-edged knife. The truth is a casualty. The truth died long ago.”
Cyrus and Evie still have a relationship. Not romantic, but a caring, do anything for you type of relationship. They’re both unique, damaged souls. This time around, Cyrus is helping investigating the possible suicide of a retired cop that is quickly determined to be a murder. And once again, the case has a possible connection with Evie’s earlier life. Time after time, my heart just went out to Evie. Not just because of her past, but because so few people continue to believe her.
Robotham also provides us with a wide field of secondary characters, all of whom are well defined and felt real.
The story was fast paced and quickly engaged me. Short, punchy chapters that alternate between Cyrus and Evie and also go back and forth in time. It’s not at all believable but it still got to me.
This book would not work as a standalone. Book one is necessary to fully understand the dynamics of the main characters. It will be interesting to see if there is a book three and if so, where it goes. I will definitely read it, if it is written.
Pedophilia is a major component of this book, so be aware if this is a trigger for you.
My thanks to netgalley and Scribner for an advance copy of this book.
Cyrus and Evie still have a relationship. Not romantic, but a caring, do anything for you type of relationship. They’re both unique, damaged souls. This time around, Cyrus is helping investigating the possible suicide of a retired cop that is quickly determined to be a murder. And once again, the case has a possible connection with Evie’s earlier life. Time after time, my heart just went out to Evie. Not just because of her past, but because so few people continue to believe her.
Robotham also provides us with a wide field of secondary characters, all of whom are well defined and felt real.
The story was fast paced and quickly engaged me. Short, punchy chapters that alternate between Cyrus and Evie and also go back and forth in time. It’s not at all believable but it still got to me.
This book would not work as a standalone. Book one is necessary to fully understand the dynamics of the main characters. It will be interesting to see if there is a book three and if so, where it goes. I will definitely read it, if it is written.
Pedophilia is a major component of this book, so be aware if this is a trigger for you.
My thanks to netgalley and Scribner for an advance copy of this book.
August 13, 2020
YAAS!!! Michael Robotham does it again!
Cyrus Haven is a Forensic Psychologist who was previously tasked with aiding Evie Cormac, formerly known as “Angel Face” in Michael Robotham’s “Good Girl, Bad Girl” when she was discovered seven years ago by the police, hiding in a home where a man was murdered.
Both Cyrus and Evie have pasts which haunt them and which help them understand the other. Cyrus’s brother Elias murdered their entire family when they were young, while Evie doesn’t speak of hers. Trauma is what links them together.
When Cyrus is brought into an investigation which has ties to “Angel Face” he pursues it vigorously, no matter what the cost. Unfortunately for Cyrus, he has no idea that his meddling puts Evie in danger.
Evie’s backstory is delved into with great care in “When She Was Good” as are all of the relationships. A character driven thriller sure to satisfy. "When She Was Good" is the sequel to “Good Girl, Bad Girl” the second book in the Cyrus Haven series and it most certainly delivers!
Another buddy read with Kaceey!
Thank you to Edelweiss, Simon & Schuster - Scribner and Michael Robotham for the arc.
Published on Goodreads on 8.11.20.
Cyrus Haven is a Forensic Psychologist who was previously tasked with aiding Evie Cormac, formerly known as “Angel Face” in Michael Robotham’s “Good Girl, Bad Girl” when she was discovered seven years ago by the police, hiding in a home where a man was murdered.
Both Cyrus and Evie have pasts which haunt them and which help them understand the other. Cyrus’s brother Elias murdered their entire family when they were young, while Evie doesn’t speak of hers. Trauma is what links them together.
When Cyrus is brought into an investigation which has ties to “Angel Face” he pursues it vigorously, no matter what the cost. Unfortunately for Cyrus, he has no idea that his meddling puts Evie in danger.
Evie’s backstory is delved into with great care in “When She Was Good” as are all of the relationships. A character driven thriller sure to satisfy. "When She Was Good" is the sequel to “Good Girl, Bad Girl” the second book in the Cyrus Haven series and it most certainly delivers!
Another buddy read with Kaceey!
Thank you to Edelweiss, Simon & Schuster - Scribner and Michael Robotham for the arc.
Published on Goodreads on 8.11.20.
September 6, 2020
EXCERPT: I've reached the Maserati, a prestige car, in pristine condition.
Expensive. Loved. Inside is a different story. Blood covers the windows, seats and dashboard. I will dream about this tonight, picturing the bodies of my mother and father and sisters. I will wake with a scream dying on my lips, unsure if the sound has stayed in my head or set the neighbourhood dogs barking again.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Evie Cormac is a girl with no family. She has kept her true identity secret for seven years; silence has guaranteed her safety. Now, forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven is determined to discover who Evie is, and how she came to be hiding in a London house where a man was tortured to death. Powerful people have spent years hunting Evie, the only living witness to their crimes.
Evie's ability to tell when someone is lying helped Cyrus crack an impenetrable case, but the closer Cyrus gets to uncovering answers about Evie's dark history, the more he exposes her to danger. Ultimately, both will have to decide if some secrets are better left buried and some monsters should never be named . . .
MY THOUGHTS: WOW! Perhaps not quite as WOW! as Good Girl, Bad Girl, but WOW! all the same.
Once you have seen something, you can never unsee it. And Evie will never unsee Trevor's tortured body. She lived with it for weeks. But she has seen a lot more than that, and what she has seen means that she lives in fear of being found, in fear of her life. She has matured, in the seven years since she was found, from a feral child with nits in her hair and cigarette burns on her skin into a force of nature. Damaged, brilliant, angry and lonely. She does not trust. She does not love. She has been there - and look where it got her.
Cyrus Haven believes the only way that Evie will ever be free is to discover her past - who she really is and who damaged her. He believed, when he became a forensic psychologist, that he would spend his days studying killers rather than trying to catch them, chasing death like an undertaker, or a blue-bottle fly. Evie, in particular, has changed that. The more he tries to discover about Evie, the more danger he puts himself, and Evie, in. Even he is not convinced that he can save her. No amount of love or tenderness or passing time could possibly erase the horrors of her past, yet she hangs in there, fighting like a demon, a caged lion; spitting, hissing and clawing, but still there.
He has convinced Sacha Hopewell, the young community officer who discovered Evie (then Angel Face), to come back from her self-imposed exile in Cornwall to reconnect with Evie. She, like Evie, is convinced she is being pursued, followed. She is vulnerable, joyless, and has cut herself off from her family to protect both them and herself. She is not totally convinced that any good can come from a reunion with Evie.
Detective Lenny (Lenore) Parvel has been transferred to the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, and she also needs Cyrus's help to investigate what looks like the suicide of an ex-detective, one who was responsible for the capture and conviction of a notorious paedophile.
Some days, there is just not enough Cyrus to go around ...
Suspenseful. Heart-achingly brilliant. Scary in its possibility, no, probability.
I took a little longer to read this than Good Girl, Bad Girl, but only because I had to go to work. I also read a little slower, appreciating the nuances more, taking my time to get to know the characters a little better. Now all I can say is: I hope you are already working hard on Cyrus Haven #3, and when can I have it Mr Robotham?
****.5
THE ARMCHAIR TRAVELER: We move around the country a little more in When She Was Gone than we did with Good Girl, Bad Girl.
Nottingham, a city in central England’s Midlands region. It’s known for its role in the Robin Hood legend and for the hilltop Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery, rebuilt many times since the medieval era. In the Lace Market area, once the centre of the world’s lace industry, the Galleries of Justice Museum has crime-related exhibits. Wollaton Hall is an ornate Elizabethan mansion with gardens and a deer park.
Cornwall is on everyone’s lips these days. Those lingering shots of wild moorland, Grecian blue sea and soft pale sand in every episode of the BBC’s Poldark have drawn visitors from around the world. Despite such popularity the county retains its cloak of tradition and sense of isolation. Yet hidden behind the stone walls of farmhouses and fishermen’s cottages are stylish apartments and restaurants where acclaimed chefs serve up the finest seafood.
The largely unspoilt coastline inspires Enid Blyton-style adventures: tripping through fields fringed in wildflowers to a remote beach; digging around in rockpools that are works of marine art, and swimming with seals or learning to surf a wave. Beyond the beach there is plenty to entertain, from wildlife conservation centres and hands-on farm experiences aimed at children to historic sub-tropical gardens, steam railways and working mines, reminders of the county’s rich industrial heritage. A few days of breathing fresh, clean Cornish air, eating fish straight from the sea and sleeping deeply in a clifftop eyrie is the perfect antidote to the stress of city living.
Situated 10km inland on the banks of the River Orwell, Ipswich shares the same coastal lifestyle, maritime history and foodie culture as many of the Suffolk Coast’s most famous towns and villages.
THE AUTHOR: Edgar finalist and Gold Dagger winning author, Michael Robotham was born in Australia in November 1960 and grew up in small country towns that had more dogs than people and more flies than dogs. He escaped in 1979 and became a cadet journalist on an afternoon newspaper in Sydney.
For the next fourteen years he worked for newspapers in Australia, Europe, Africa and America. As a senior feature writer for the UK’s Mail on Sunday he was among the first people to view the letters and diaries of Czar Nicholas II and his wife Empress Alexandra, unearthed in the Moscow State Archives in 1991. He also gained access to Stalin’s Hitler files, which had been missing for nearly fifty years until a cleaner stumbled upon a cardboard box that had been misplaced and misfiled.
In 1993 he quit journalism to become a ghostwriter, collaborating with politicians, pop stars, psychologists, adventurers and showbusiness personalities to write their autobiographies.
Michael writes in what his daughters' refer to as his 'cabana of cruelty' on Sydney's northern beaches where he slaves away daily to cater to their every expensive whim. Where is the justice?
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hachette Australia, via NetGalley, for providing a digital ARC of When She Was Good by Michael Robotham for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page, or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Amazon, Twitter, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Expensive. Loved. Inside is a different story. Blood covers the windows, seats and dashboard. I will dream about this tonight, picturing the bodies of my mother and father and sisters. I will wake with a scream dying on my lips, unsure if the sound has stayed in my head or set the neighbourhood dogs barking again.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Evie Cormac is a girl with no family. She has kept her true identity secret for seven years; silence has guaranteed her safety. Now, forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven is determined to discover who Evie is, and how she came to be hiding in a London house where a man was tortured to death. Powerful people have spent years hunting Evie, the only living witness to their crimes.
Evie's ability to tell when someone is lying helped Cyrus crack an impenetrable case, but the closer Cyrus gets to uncovering answers about Evie's dark history, the more he exposes her to danger. Ultimately, both will have to decide if some secrets are better left buried and some monsters should never be named . . .
MY THOUGHTS: WOW! Perhaps not quite as WOW! as Good Girl, Bad Girl, but WOW! all the same.
Once you have seen something, you can never unsee it. And Evie will never unsee Trevor's tortured body. She lived with it for weeks. But she has seen a lot more than that, and what she has seen means that she lives in fear of being found, in fear of her life. She has matured, in the seven years since she was found, from a feral child with nits in her hair and cigarette burns on her skin into a force of nature. Damaged, brilliant, angry and lonely. She does not trust. She does not love. She has been there - and look where it got her.
Cyrus Haven believes the only way that Evie will ever be free is to discover her past - who she really is and who damaged her. He believed, when he became a forensic psychologist, that he would spend his days studying killers rather than trying to catch them, chasing death like an undertaker, or a blue-bottle fly. Evie, in particular, has changed that. The more he tries to discover about Evie, the more danger he puts himself, and Evie, in. Even he is not convinced that he can save her. No amount of love or tenderness or passing time could possibly erase the horrors of her past, yet she hangs in there, fighting like a demon, a caged lion; spitting, hissing and clawing, but still there.
He has convinced Sacha Hopewell, the young community officer who discovered Evie (then Angel Face), to come back from her self-imposed exile in Cornwall to reconnect with Evie. She, like Evie, is convinced she is being pursued, followed. She is vulnerable, joyless, and has cut herself off from her family to protect both them and herself. She is not totally convinced that any good can come from a reunion with Evie.
Detective Lenny (Lenore) Parvel has been transferred to the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, and she also needs Cyrus's help to investigate what looks like the suicide of an ex-detective, one who was responsible for the capture and conviction of a notorious paedophile.
Some days, there is just not enough Cyrus to go around ...
Suspenseful. Heart-achingly brilliant. Scary in its possibility, no, probability.
I took a little longer to read this than Good Girl, Bad Girl, but only because I had to go to work. I also read a little slower, appreciating the nuances more, taking my time to get to know the characters a little better. Now all I can say is: I hope you are already working hard on Cyrus Haven #3, and when can I have it Mr Robotham?
****.5
THE ARMCHAIR TRAVELER: We move around the country a little more in When She Was Gone than we did with Good Girl, Bad Girl.
Nottingham, a city in central England’s Midlands region. It’s known for its role in the Robin Hood legend and for the hilltop Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery, rebuilt many times since the medieval era. In the Lace Market area, once the centre of the world’s lace industry, the Galleries of Justice Museum has crime-related exhibits. Wollaton Hall is an ornate Elizabethan mansion with gardens and a deer park.
Cornwall is on everyone’s lips these days. Those lingering shots of wild moorland, Grecian blue sea and soft pale sand in every episode of the BBC’s Poldark have drawn visitors from around the world. Despite such popularity the county retains its cloak of tradition and sense of isolation. Yet hidden behind the stone walls of farmhouses and fishermen’s cottages are stylish apartments and restaurants where acclaimed chefs serve up the finest seafood.
The largely unspoilt coastline inspires Enid Blyton-style adventures: tripping through fields fringed in wildflowers to a remote beach; digging around in rockpools that are works of marine art, and swimming with seals or learning to surf a wave. Beyond the beach there is plenty to entertain, from wildlife conservation centres and hands-on farm experiences aimed at children to historic sub-tropical gardens, steam railways and working mines, reminders of the county’s rich industrial heritage. A few days of breathing fresh, clean Cornish air, eating fish straight from the sea and sleeping deeply in a clifftop eyrie is the perfect antidote to the stress of city living.
Situated 10km inland on the banks of the River Orwell, Ipswich shares the same coastal lifestyle, maritime history and foodie culture as many of the Suffolk Coast’s most famous towns and villages.
THE AUTHOR: Edgar finalist and Gold Dagger winning author, Michael Robotham was born in Australia in November 1960 and grew up in small country towns that had more dogs than people and more flies than dogs. He escaped in 1979 and became a cadet journalist on an afternoon newspaper in Sydney.
For the next fourteen years he worked for newspapers in Australia, Europe, Africa and America. As a senior feature writer for the UK’s Mail on Sunday he was among the first people to view the letters and diaries of Czar Nicholas II and his wife Empress Alexandra, unearthed in the Moscow State Archives in 1991. He also gained access to Stalin’s Hitler files, which had been missing for nearly fifty years until a cleaner stumbled upon a cardboard box that had been misplaced and misfiled.
In 1993 he quit journalism to become a ghostwriter, collaborating with politicians, pop stars, psychologists, adventurers and showbusiness personalities to write their autobiographies.
Michael writes in what his daughters' refer to as his 'cabana of cruelty' on Sydney's northern beaches where he slaves away daily to cater to their every expensive whim. Where is the justice?
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hachette Australia, via NetGalley, for providing a digital ARC of When She Was Good by Michael Robotham for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page, or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Amazon, Twitter, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
June 27, 2020
Book 2 with a most unusual couple, Cyrus & Evie does not disappoint. The plot focuses on Evie's past, and although readers may have had some suspicions while reading Good Girl, Bad Girl, this time the truth is revealed. Mr Robotham masterfully continues engaging a reader in the story and for me reading about Evie's background kept me reading well into the night. Hence the fourth star. The ideas behind it might seem improbable, however, sometimes the truth does surprise us. The subject of child abuse is never easy to follow but Mr Robotham escapes graphic descriptions, for which I was grateful.
I liked both characters and I think the relationship between them is just like it should be, not too romantic or sentimental.
I highly recommend When She Was Good, however reading Book 1 first definitey makes sense with this particular series.
*Many thanks to Michael Robotham, Little, Brown Group UK and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
I liked both characters and I think the relationship between them is just like it should be, not too romantic or sentimental.
I highly recommend When She Was Good, however reading Book 1 first definitey makes sense with this particular series.
*Many thanks to Michael Robotham, Little, Brown Group UK and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
September 18, 2020
3.5 stars— Michael Robotham is an author that I consider a poor man’s Michael Connelly. He doesn’t get near the attention or respect as Connelly, but he continues to put out one well-written, suspenseful book after another. The latest one, “When She Was Good” is another good effort by the author, but in the end it falls short of some of his great earlier works. “When She was Good” is told from the perspectives of Evie, a human trafficking/ sex abuse victim now living under an assumed identity in a group home, and Cyrus, her treating psychologist who is attempting to help her through the traumatic memories of her childhood. Even though Evie was able to get away from her captors, they were never able to catch them which leaves Evie traumatized and looking over her shoulder due to the fear she has that they will find her. The book slowly tells the story of her earlier capture and rescue through flashbacks intertwined with events from the present time in which Evie is put back in danger at the hands of the same group of traffickers. The book is fast paced and fun to read at times, but it never connected with me like some of his other books did. First, the narratives of Cyrus and Evie were very similar causing me to go back several times to see whose point of view I was reading from. Second, I didn’t fell as if the villains in this book were developed enough to build much suspense or fear. The book almost felt like the author had a good outline for a novel but never gave the characters the personal touches to make you like, dislike or even care about them. In the end, the book was better than some suspense novels but just not up to par with some of Robothom’s earlier works.
February 9, 2021
Wow! A thriller that delivers on all levels and had me hooked from the very first page.
I read this in a couple of sittings as I just couldn't put it down, fast paced, dark and disturbing and full of tension.
I was a little wary going into this novel but did read quite a few reviews by my well respected friends on goodreads as I have a difficult time reading about child abuse and wasn’t sure if I could read this one. But was relived that it wasn’t too graphic or detailed. The book is well written and the author tells his story without going into too much detail but certainly makes you think just what sickness goes on in the world around us and while this is fiction I am aware there is evil like this happening in quaintest of towns every day.
Michael Robotham has a talent for drawing the reader in and creating characters that are memorable and that you root from from beginning to end. I loved the twists and turns in this one and could be heard shouting loud on a couple of occasions. This is a follow up to Good Girl Bad Girl and while it is helpful to have read the first in the series I think this works well as a stand alone novel.
Certainly a thriller I will remember some time from now and another novel for my real life book shelf. A great book for lockdown times.
July 2, 2024
4.5⭐️
Fast-paced and suspenseful with superb character development and a gripping narrative, When She Was Good by Michael Robotham is a worthy sequel to the first book in the author’s Cyrus Haven series.
As the novel begins, Evie is once again at Langford Hall, waiting to turn eighteen ( officially as per court records) and hopefully be released as an adult. The details of Evie’s true identity and the events that led to her being found seven years ago in a hidden room in a house where a man had been brutally murdered remain a mystery. She now considers forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven a friend but has not shared what she remembers of her past with him. Cyrus, haunted by his own tragic past, is concerned for Evie and seeks out Sacha Hopewell, the constable who initially found Evie, hoping that she might be able to shed light on the events that led to her discovery – facts that the police reports might have missed. Cyrus is also called to help investigate the death of a retired police officer, who at the time of his death was looking into an old case – a case that is revealed to possibly be connected to Evie – that might have gotten him killed. When Evie’s safety is threatened, she is compelled to share her story with Cyrus, who is determined to protect her from those who would resort to any means to keep Evie from exposing them.
This is a layered novel, intense and unflinching, and not for the faint of heart. The different threads of the narrative, past and present events and both Evie and Cyrus’s storylines are tightly woven into a gripping narrative that kept me glued to the pages. The narrative, presented from the first-person POVs of Cyrus and Evie in alternate chapters, moves fast without a boring moment. As Evie’s history is gradually revealed, we are taken down a dark and disturbing path that reeks of human depravity. Plenty of twists and surprises kept me glued to the pages as the author shed light on all the questions left unanswered in the first book of the series. The connection between Evie and Cyrus is well depicted – complex emotions at play and wary of each other yet also able to relate to one another, which enables Evie to slowly learn to trust Cyrus. I also thought that the supporting characters were well thought out, each with a distinct role to play. I was satisfied with the ending and was eager to begin Book #3.
Overall, I thought this was a brilliantly crafted thriller that I would not hesitate to recommend. However, please note that the story does feature content (mostly implied, not explicit) that might prove disturbing for some readers.
(⚠️human trafficking, kidnapping and sexual abuse of children)
I would strongly recommend reading the books in series order.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
Fast-paced and suspenseful with superb character development and a gripping narrative, When She Was Good by Michael Robotham is a worthy sequel to the first book in the author’s Cyrus Haven series.
As the novel begins, Evie is once again at Langford Hall, waiting to turn eighteen ( officially as per court records) and hopefully be released as an adult. The details of Evie’s true identity and the events that led to her being found seven years ago in a hidden room in a house where a man had been brutally murdered remain a mystery. She now considers forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven a friend but has not shared what she remembers of her past with him. Cyrus, haunted by his own tragic past, is concerned for Evie and seeks out Sacha Hopewell, the constable who initially found Evie, hoping that she might be able to shed light on the events that led to her discovery – facts that the police reports might have missed. Cyrus is also called to help investigate the death of a retired police officer, who at the time of his death was looking into an old case – a case that is revealed to possibly be connected to Evie – that might have gotten him killed. When Evie’s safety is threatened, she is compelled to share her story with Cyrus, who is determined to protect her from those who would resort to any means to keep Evie from exposing them.
This is a layered novel, intense and unflinching, and not for the faint of heart. The different threads of the narrative, past and present events and both Evie and Cyrus’s storylines are tightly woven into a gripping narrative that kept me glued to the pages. The narrative, presented from the first-person POVs of Cyrus and Evie in alternate chapters, moves fast without a boring moment. As Evie’s history is gradually revealed, we are taken down a dark and disturbing path that reeks of human depravity. Plenty of twists and surprises kept me glued to the pages as the author shed light on all the questions left unanswered in the first book of the series. The connection between Evie and Cyrus is well depicted – complex emotions at play and wary of each other yet also able to relate to one another, which enables Evie to slowly learn to trust Cyrus. I also thought that the supporting characters were well thought out, each with a distinct role to play. I was satisfied with the ending and was eager to begin Book #3.
Overall, I thought this was a brilliantly crafted thriller that I would not hesitate to recommend. However, please note that the story does feature content (mostly implied, not explicit) that might prove disturbing for some readers.
(⚠️human trafficking, kidnapping and sexual abuse of children)
I would strongly recommend reading the books in series order.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
February 22, 2023
5★
“She gave me this look that laid me to waste inside. It was so full of despair, so bereft of hope. It was like dropping a stone into a dark well, waiting for it to hit the bottom, but it never does, it just keeps falling. That’s what frightened me. That and her voice, which came out all raspy and hoarse. She said, ‘Nobody can protect me.’”
Evie Cormac. She’s right. Nobody’s managed to protect her so far, so why should this be any different? She is the Good Girl, Bad Girl of Robotham’s first Cyrus Haven book, (which just won the 2020 Golden Dagger Award). Found hiding in a specially built secret room, she was assumed to be the kidnap victim of the man who had been murdered in the next room.
Cyrus is a psychologist who works with the police, but it’s his personal connection with Evie that won’t let him stop looking for answers. He was also the victim of unspeakable childhood trauma and knows first-hand what that does to children.
Who is she? What’s her real name? Her age? Her origins? The court has decided she is only 17, and therefore still a ward. Known to the world only as Angel Face, she’s been hidden away in a children’s home in Nottinghamshire with her records wiped so she can’t be traced. She claims “they” are looking for her but won’t say more.
The chapters alternate between Cyrus and Evie, so we are privy to their memories and what haunts them both. Evie mistrusts everybody and knows instinctively when someone is lying. It’s a knack, whether it’s from facial expressions or other tells, as poker players call our body language twitches and blinks when we lie.
She herself lies all the time, almost compulsively as a form of defence. She lies, she escapes, she hides. She insists that “they” will find her, but she won’t say why or who they are. Cyrus tracks down Sacha, the woman who first found Evie in her hiding spot, to see if Evie might have revealed some clues then.
He has become fond of Evie and is beginning to believe her fears are warranted. But she is so touchy, it’s hard to ask questions or ask her to remember when she so clearly doesn’t want to. He knows how hard it is to revisit the trauma. But she’s no shy, girlish victim. She is alert, quick-witted and suspicious of everyone. Even Cyrus.
“Evie’s silences are worse than her tantrums. Her feelings are simple, almost linear. When she’s hurting, she lashes out. When she’s frightened, she runs. These are defences, not reactions, but when she chooses not to speak at all, I feel my heart want to break.”
Cyrus has stayed close to Lenny Parvel, the policewoman who found him when his family was murdered and who stayed with him. He tries to convince her of the danger Evie is in. She has obviously been abused and ill-used, but will say nothing other than that they are going to kill her.
In short, she is exasperating.
Here’s a conversation where Evie has been accused of theft, and a couple of local cops have been called. Evie tells us one looks like an undertaker. Caroline Fairfax is her lawyer.
“‘Your client should answer my question.’
‘She’s denying your allegation.’
‘Does she actually speak? Maybe she’s a mute.’
‘I speak when I have something to say.’
The undertaker props his elbows on the table, chin resting on his hands.
‘Who are you?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I tried to call up your juvenile record, but the files were sealed. Even the bare bones have been redacted. No birthplace.
No next-of-kin. No health records. We gave you one phone call and a barrister shows up from London. All of which makes me think you’re somebody important. What is it? Witness protection? Or are you some politician’s idiot child?’
Caroline Fairfax interrupts his speech.
‘Do you have a question for my client?’
‘I asked her a question.’
‘You know her name and her age and her current address.’
The undertaker ignores her, concentrating on me.
‘If I put in a request for access to your complete file, what am I going to find?’
‘Nothing,’ replies Caroline.
‘That’s the point, though, isn’t it? She’s a protected species. Why is that?’
‘I’m a Russian spy,’ I say.
Caroline hushes me, but I ignore her.
‘I’m a mafia moll. I’m Donald Trump’s love-child. I’m the shooter on the grassy knoll.’”
It is both insightful and exciting. Plenty of very nervous, life-and-death moments and more tragedy. I liked this even better than the first one, and I think there is room to explore these characters and the case even further and hope the author is persuaded to do so!
I heard him interviewed recently, and he said he’d never intended this to be a series, but so many readers had asked for more questions to be answered, that he decided to do it. He is what is known in ‘the trade’ as a ‘pantser’ rather than a ‘plotter’. Some authors write out intricate plot outlines while some, like Robotham, just dive in and write by the seat of their pants.
So he had to go back to the first book and pick up all the clues he’d dropped to see if he’d painted himself into a corner anywhere that he couldn’t get out of. I’m so glad he found his way out!
Michael Robotham is an Australian author who worked as a journalist and ghost writer in London for many years, and his books are usually based there. Publishers told him when he started that nobody would read a book set in Australia. So he put his Aussie novel in the bottom drawer and went on to fame.
He now lives on Sydney's northern beaches (where I used to live), but writes as vibrantly as ever about the dark, cold, rainy UK. I hope he dusts off his Aussie novel and/or writes a new one. The Aussie mystery genre is booming!
Thanks to #NetGalley and Hachette Australia for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted. I both read and listened to an audio narrated by Joe Jameson, who is just terrific. I’ve said before he’s like a one-man radio play.
My review for Book One, Good Girl, Bad Girl, is here (no spoilers!) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
“She gave me this look that laid me to waste inside. It was so full of despair, so bereft of hope. It was like dropping a stone into a dark well, waiting for it to hit the bottom, but it never does, it just keeps falling. That’s what frightened me. That and her voice, which came out all raspy and hoarse. She said, ‘Nobody can protect me.’”
Evie Cormac. She’s right. Nobody’s managed to protect her so far, so why should this be any different? She is the Good Girl, Bad Girl of Robotham’s first Cyrus Haven book, (which just won the 2020 Golden Dagger Award). Found hiding in a specially built secret room, she was assumed to be the kidnap victim of the man who had been murdered in the next room.
Cyrus is a psychologist who works with the police, but it’s his personal connection with Evie that won’t let him stop looking for answers. He was also the victim of unspeakable childhood trauma and knows first-hand what that does to children.
Who is she? What’s her real name? Her age? Her origins? The court has decided she is only 17, and therefore still a ward. Known to the world only as Angel Face, she’s been hidden away in a children’s home in Nottinghamshire with her records wiped so she can’t be traced. She claims “they” are looking for her but won’t say more.
The chapters alternate between Cyrus and Evie, so we are privy to their memories and what haunts them both. Evie mistrusts everybody and knows instinctively when someone is lying. It’s a knack, whether it’s from facial expressions or other tells, as poker players call our body language twitches and blinks when we lie.
She herself lies all the time, almost compulsively as a form of defence. She lies, she escapes, she hides. She insists that “they” will find her, but she won’t say why or who they are. Cyrus tracks down Sacha, the woman who first found Evie in her hiding spot, to see if Evie might have revealed some clues then.
He has become fond of Evie and is beginning to believe her fears are warranted. But she is so touchy, it’s hard to ask questions or ask her to remember when she so clearly doesn’t want to. He knows how hard it is to revisit the trauma. But she’s no shy, girlish victim. She is alert, quick-witted and suspicious of everyone. Even Cyrus.
“Evie’s silences are worse than her tantrums. Her feelings are simple, almost linear. When she’s hurting, she lashes out. When she’s frightened, she runs. These are defences, not reactions, but when she chooses not to speak at all, I feel my heart want to break.”
Cyrus has stayed close to Lenny Parvel, the policewoman who found him when his family was murdered and who stayed with him. He tries to convince her of the danger Evie is in. She has obviously been abused and ill-used, but will say nothing other than that they are going to kill her.
In short, she is exasperating.
Here’s a conversation where Evie has been accused of theft, and a couple of local cops have been called. Evie tells us one looks like an undertaker. Caroline Fairfax is her lawyer.
“‘Your client should answer my question.’
‘She’s denying your allegation.’
‘Does she actually speak? Maybe she’s a mute.’
‘I speak when I have something to say.’
The undertaker props his elbows on the table, chin resting on his hands.
‘Who are you?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I tried to call up your juvenile record, but the files were sealed. Even the bare bones have been redacted. No birthplace.
No next-of-kin. No health records. We gave you one phone call and a barrister shows up from London. All of which makes me think you’re somebody important. What is it? Witness protection? Or are you some politician’s idiot child?’
Caroline Fairfax interrupts his speech.
‘Do you have a question for my client?’
‘I asked her a question.’
‘You know her name and her age and her current address.’
The undertaker ignores her, concentrating on me.
‘If I put in a request for access to your complete file, what am I going to find?’
‘Nothing,’ replies Caroline.
‘That’s the point, though, isn’t it? She’s a protected species. Why is that?’
‘I’m a Russian spy,’ I say.
Caroline hushes me, but I ignore her.
‘I’m a mafia moll. I’m Donald Trump’s love-child. I’m the shooter on the grassy knoll.’”
It is both insightful and exciting. Plenty of very nervous, life-and-death moments and more tragedy. I liked this even better than the first one, and I think there is room to explore these characters and the case even further and hope the author is persuaded to do so!
I heard him interviewed recently, and he said he’d never intended this to be a series, but so many readers had asked for more questions to be answered, that he decided to do it. He is what is known in ‘the trade’ as a ‘pantser’ rather than a ‘plotter’. Some authors write out intricate plot outlines while some, like Robotham, just dive in and write by the seat of their pants.
So he had to go back to the first book and pick up all the clues he’d dropped to see if he’d painted himself into a corner anywhere that he couldn’t get out of. I’m so glad he found his way out!
Michael Robotham is an Australian author who worked as a journalist and ghost writer in London for many years, and his books are usually based there. Publishers told him when he started that nobody would read a book set in Australia. So he put his Aussie novel in the bottom drawer and went on to fame.
He now lives on Sydney's northern beaches (where I used to live), but writes as vibrantly as ever about the dark, cold, rainy UK. I hope he dusts off his Aussie novel and/or writes a new one. The Aussie mystery genre is booming!
Thanks to #NetGalley and Hachette Australia for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted. I both read and listened to an audio narrated by Joe Jameson, who is just terrific. I’ve said before he’s like a one-man radio play.
My review for Book One, Good Girl, Bad Girl, is here (no spoilers!) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
July 28, 2020
**AVAILABLE TODAY**
I rated Good Girl, Bad Girl 2.5 stars, then rounded up. I enjoyed When She Was Good a bit more...so it's getting a 3.5 star rating, but I'm rounding down.
I don't know, fellow readers. There is just something about Cyrus I simply don't care for. It was one of the big issues I had with the first novel as well. Yes, he's a forensic psychologist, but he's not a cop--and he really needs to stop acting like one. He bops around, solving crimes, while the police force hovers stupidly in the background. It makes zero sense to me.
Told from alternating first-person narratives, a back and forth between Cyrus and Evie, this novel also had Cyrus finding love. Unfortunately, it's an insta-love relationship which is always just meh for me. It felt as though this female character was written into the story for the sole purpose of becoming Cyrus's woman. She added nothing.
I enjoyed Evie more this time around...mostly because the writing didn't focus as intensely on her goofy, innate 'lie detector.' Instead, we finally learned Evie's backstory which delved into some very dark territory. Her memories of her life before Cyrus were, by far, the most intriguing part of When She Was Good.
While the conclusion was neatly wrapped up, I definitely foresee more Cyrus Haven books in the future. At this point, however, I'm just not sure I'm interested in reading any further.
Available July 28th, but I do recommend reading Good Girl, Bad Girl first.
**My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for my review copy.
I rated Good Girl, Bad Girl 2.5 stars, then rounded up. I enjoyed When She Was Good a bit more...so it's getting a 3.5 star rating, but I'm rounding down.
I don't know, fellow readers. There is just something about Cyrus I simply don't care for. It was one of the big issues I had with the first novel as well. Yes, he's a forensic psychologist, but he's not a cop--and he really needs to stop acting like one. He bops around, solving crimes, while the police force hovers stupidly in the background. It makes zero sense to me.
Told from alternating first-person narratives, a back and forth between Cyrus and Evie, this novel also had Cyrus finding love. Unfortunately, it's an insta-love relationship which is always just meh for me. It felt as though this female character was written into the story for the sole purpose of becoming Cyrus's woman. She added nothing.
I enjoyed Evie more this time around...mostly because the writing didn't focus as intensely on her goofy, innate 'lie detector.' Instead, we finally learned Evie's backstory which delved into some very dark territory. Her memories of her life before Cyrus were, by far, the most intriguing part of When She Was Good.
While the conclusion was neatly wrapped up, I definitely foresee more Cyrus Haven books in the future. At this point, however, I'm just not sure I'm interested in reading any further.
Available July 28th, but I do recommend reading Good Girl, Bad Girl first.
**My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for my review copy.
July 22, 2020
When She Was Good is the second book in the Cyrus Haven series by Aussie author Michael Robotham and so far it’s a wonderful series.
Evie Cormac is a character that will have you intrigued right from the beginning and you will be wanting to know more about her straight away. In this book we begin to find out a bit more about her troubled and disturbing past, a past that will proceed to haunt her.
Once again, Mr Robotham has kept his readers turning the pages looking for clues that might lead us to discovering the answers about who Evie really is. This was another superb read and one I have no hesitation in highly recommending. You could read this as a stand-alone, but I advise you read the first book, Good Girl, Bad Girl to give you a better understanding of the storyline.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy of this book to read and review.
Evie Cormac is a character that will have you intrigued right from the beginning and you will be wanting to know more about her straight away. In this book we begin to find out a bit more about her troubled and disturbing past, a past that will proceed to haunt her.
Once again, Mr Robotham has kept his readers turning the pages looking for clues that might lead us to discovering the answers about who Evie really is. This was another superb read and one I have no hesitation in highly recommending. You could read this as a stand-alone, but I advise you read the first book, Good Girl, Bad Girl to give you a better understanding of the storyline.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy of this book to read and review.
June 3, 2020
In the second of this dynamite series, forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven learns more about Evie Cormac's dark and shocking past. Her story reveals a dangerous and powerful network who will stop at nothing to silence ‘Angel Face’. Evie should be safe as she’s back at Langford Hall, a secure unit but her enemies prove to have a very long reach. The story is told in alternating storylines by Cyrus and Evie.
First of all, I love the character development of Cyrus and Evie. Cyrus really cares about Evie and wants to protect her as best he can. He understands her as he too has a shocking past that’s has led him to suffer, although in a different way to Evie but he means he empathises. He is probably the only person Evie really trusts. Evie is brave, quick thinking and incredibly resourceful which she has learned the hard way. Animals love her and they are very good judges of a persons character. The other characters are good too especially Detective Lenny Pavel and Badger. Although there is a great deal to praise in the book one of the standout features is the realistic portrayal of the characters.
In this book we learn more about Evie’s past as she recalls her suffering and the darkest of dark black stories emerges and you learn her tragic and heartbreaking history. Her enemies are dangerous and depraved human low life who seem to have eyes everywhere. Interspersed with all the darkness are some touching moments when you realise that she does have protectors and people who really care about her. The novel is very well written and is every bit as good as the amazing Good girl, Bad girl of last year. At times it’s scary and tense, there are moments when my jaw hits the deck with a resounding thunk and at others it’s deeply sad. The plot is excellent with good pacing and builds well on the first book although this can easily be read as a stand-alone.
Overall, this is very clever storytelling as the truth emerges slowly but surely and keeps your attention in a vice like grip. As a reader I feel invested in these characters and will happily read a third instalment as I want to see what happens next. More please Mr Robotham, thank you!!!
With big thanks to NetGalley and especially to Little, Brown Group for the ARC
First of all, I love the character development of Cyrus and Evie. Cyrus really cares about Evie and wants to protect her as best he can. He understands her as he too has a shocking past that’s has led him to suffer, although in a different way to Evie but he means he empathises. He is probably the only person Evie really trusts. Evie is brave, quick thinking and incredibly resourceful which she has learned the hard way. Animals love her and they are very good judges of a persons character. The other characters are good too especially Detective Lenny Pavel and Badger. Although there is a great deal to praise in the book one of the standout features is the realistic portrayal of the characters.
In this book we learn more about Evie’s past as she recalls her suffering and the darkest of dark black stories emerges and you learn her tragic and heartbreaking history. Her enemies are dangerous and depraved human low life who seem to have eyes everywhere. Interspersed with all the darkness are some touching moments when you realise that she does have protectors and people who really care about her. The novel is very well written and is every bit as good as the amazing Good girl, Bad girl of last year. At times it’s scary and tense, there are moments when my jaw hits the deck with a resounding thunk and at others it’s deeply sad. The plot is excellent with good pacing and builds well on the first book although this can easily be read as a stand-alone.
Overall, this is very clever storytelling as the truth emerges slowly but surely and keeps your attention in a vice like grip. As a reader I feel invested in these characters and will happily read a third instalment as I want to see what happens next. More please Mr Robotham, thank you!!!
With big thanks to NetGalley and especially to Little, Brown Group for the ARC
June 17, 2020
This was so good! I really recommend making sure to read book 1 Good Girl, Bad Girl first though otherwise you will miss out on so much.
When She Was Good follows the story of Evie as she grows up in a supposedly secure children's home. Cyrus is still visiting her but no progress has been made in finding out more about her background. Events start to occur which eventually reach crisis point as Evie remembers more and more about the past and the people in it.
As the tension started to build I had to put the book down for a minute and take few deep breaths. The best bit is right at the end - I seriously thought it was already finished when at 99% (I was reading on my Kindle) an amazing scene took place. It rounded things off just perfectly. A really excellent book!
Thanks to Hatchette Australia and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
When She Was Good follows the story of Evie as she grows up in a supposedly secure children's home. Cyrus is still visiting her but no progress has been made in finding out more about her background. Events start to occur which eventually reach crisis point as Evie remembers more and more about the past and the people in it.
As the tension started to build I had to put the book down for a minute and take few deep breaths. The best bit is right at the end - I seriously thought it was already finished when at 99% (I was reading on my Kindle) an amazing scene took place. It rounded things off just perfectly. A really excellent book!
Thanks to Hatchette Australia and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
February 8, 2023
Bravo Is all I can say Michael Robotham takes you in another dark place surrounding child trafficking & following on how Evie Cormac is going six months on from when we met her in Good Girl Bad Girl, I recommend you read book 1 first as this book Carrie’s on from there.
A former detective is murdered but Cyrus believes it was suicide that is connected to a child sex trafficking ring & the forensic psychologist is connected somehow.
The book starts out where Cyrus is rebuilt his home & Evie is at Langford Hall where her best friend Ruby also lives, but Ruby is killed, why?
This sets Evie’s fears alight she feels vulnerable & Cyrus steps in to protect herBUT CAN HE?
There are sinister overturns roaming in this book won’t give anything away but it’s a dark wild ride you are on the whole way through I can’t wait to read Lying Beside You book 3 in this series.
The Narrative is told by Evie & Cyrus POV’s I loved the way the two are very connected to each other am looking forward to how it progresses 4 stars.
A former detective is murdered but Cyrus believes it was suicide that is connected to a child sex trafficking ring & the forensic psychologist is connected somehow.
The book starts out where Cyrus is rebuilt his home & Evie is at Langford Hall where her best friend Ruby also lives, but Ruby is killed, why?
This sets Evie’s fears alight she feels vulnerable & Cyrus steps in to protect herBUT CAN HE?
There are sinister overturns roaming in this book won’t give anything away but it’s a dark wild ride you are on the whole way through I can’t wait to read Lying Beside You book 3 in this series.
The Narrative is told by Evie & Cyrus POV’s I loved the way the two are very connected to each other am looking forward to how it progresses 4 stars.
July 29, 2020
**Out today!**
Before I get into the review, here’s a short quiz that may save time.
1. Did you read “Good Girl, Bad Girl” ?
2. Did you enjoy it?
I’m going to assume you lovely people said “yes” to both as it is the only correct answer. So there’s really no need for you to read any further. All I’m going to do is talk about why it should already be on your TBR pile. You are excused. 🤓
As for the rest of you….obviously, we need to chat. GGBG was our introduction to Cyrus Haven & Evie Cormac, 2 intriguing MC’s with traumatic pasts. Cyrus is a forensic psychologist & we know his story. Evie is an enigma. A young woman who has grown up in care, we don’t even know her real name let alone her history. Hold on to your hat because that’s about to change.
They developed a bond during Cyrus’ last investigation & he wants to uncover her past. Evie is equally determined to block his every attempt but she may not have a choice. Her name has popped up in connection with the recent death of a retired cop. Someone has been searching a long time & finally found a lead to her whereabouts. And so begins a tense & creepy game of cat & mouse.
Intricate plot, well developed characters & MC’s you care about….all the ingredients that made book #1 a winner can be found here. Add in revelations about Evie’s past & at least one jaw-dropping twist & you’ve got an addictive read on your hands. Fingers/toes/eyes crossed that #3 is on the way.
Before I get into the review, here’s a short quiz that may save time.
1. Did you read “Good Girl, Bad Girl” ?
2. Did you enjoy it?
I’m going to assume you lovely people said “yes” to both as it is the only correct answer. So there’s really no need for you to read any further. All I’m going to do is talk about why it should already be on your TBR pile. You are excused. 🤓
As for the rest of you….obviously, we need to chat. GGBG was our introduction to Cyrus Haven & Evie Cormac, 2 intriguing MC’s with traumatic pasts. Cyrus is a forensic psychologist & we know his story. Evie is an enigma. A young woman who has grown up in care, we don’t even know her real name let alone her history. Hold on to your hat because that’s about to change.
They developed a bond during Cyrus’ last investigation & he wants to uncover her past. Evie is equally determined to block his every attempt but she may not have a choice. Her name has popped up in connection with the recent death of a retired cop. Someone has been searching a long time & finally found a lead to her whereabouts. And so begins a tense & creepy game of cat & mouse.
Intricate plot, well developed characters & MC’s you care about….all the ingredients that made book #1 a winner can be found here. Add in revelations about Evie’s past & at least one jaw-dropping twist & you’ve got an addictive read on your hands. Fingers/toes/eyes crossed that #3 is on the way.
June 26, 2020
If the first Cyrus Haven Book (Good Girl, Bad Girl) was the appetiser, this one was main course and dessert and Irish coffee all rolled into one. It was freaking fantastic! This picks up pretty much where the first book left off. Forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven is still trying to dig into the past of Evie Cormac the enigmatic and very troubled young woman he was trying to help in the first book. And as in that book, the story is told only from the perspectives of Cyrus and Evie.
While Cyrus is trying to track down Sasha, the special constable who rescued Evie from a house of horrors 8 years ago, Evie is remembering bits and pieces of the abuses she suffered but never talked about. When a recently retired Detective Chief Inspector is found dead in his car, Cyrus is invited to the crime scene. In the man’s study, which has been ransacked, he notices Evie’s former moniker (Angel Face) in the corner of a whiteboard. He knows the case the late DCI was grappling with and now wonders if all the police’s assumptions about that case were wrong, and if Evie is somehow tied up in all this.
From there the book is turbo charged. It looks like someone is trying to shut down any re-investigation of the old case and to locate and kill Evie, whose identity and location are a closely guarded secret. Cyrus will not give up his quest for the truth as he believes it is the only way Evie will ever be safe. But Evie has other ideas. And a killer is stalking them both. This superbly written thriller delivers edge of your seat thrills and suspense. Thanks to Netgalley, Hatchette Australia and Michael Robotham for providing this review copy.
While Cyrus is trying to track down Sasha, the special constable who rescued Evie from a house of horrors 8 years ago, Evie is remembering bits and pieces of the abuses she suffered but never talked about. When a recently retired Detective Chief Inspector is found dead in his car, Cyrus is invited to the crime scene. In the man’s study, which has been ransacked, he notices Evie’s former moniker (Angel Face) in the corner of a whiteboard. He knows the case the late DCI was grappling with and now wonders if all the police’s assumptions about that case were wrong, and if Evie is somehow tied up in all this.
From there the book is turbo charged. It looks like someone is trying to shut down any re-investigation of the old case and to locate and kill Evie, whose identity and location are a closely guarded secret. Cyrus will not give up his quest for the truth as he believes it is the only way Evie will ever be safe. But Evie has other ideas. And a killer is stalking them both. This superbly written thriller delivers edge of your seat thrills and suspense. Thanks to Netgalley, Hatchette Australia and Michael Robotham for providing this review copy.
August 10, 2020
"People think they want the truth, but the opposite is true. Honesty is mean and rough and ugly, while lying can be kinder, softer, and more humane."
And what exactly is truth? My truth, your truth, or the truth handed out by whomever for whatever.
When She Was Good sifts through the inner actions of forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven along with a young woman's horrendous flashbacks from being hidden in a secret room overlooking the remains of a vicious murder. Evie knows much and says very little.
Now admittedly, I jumped into this one without the benefit of having read Good Girl, Bad Girl. When She Was Good reads as a standalone thanks to the more than capable writing skills of Michael Robotham. I couldn't wait. Don't hold that against me. Kinda like partaking in French pastries and then going back to see how they're made. Still very satisfying.
When She Was Good has the benefit of headlining chapters between Cyrus and Evie. We get into the heads of both without giving away the store too soon. Both individuals have massive baggage that casts giant shadows into the present and into the future. We're dealing with wounded people here with one offering therapy that is often turned away. Michael Robotham crafts this one well without going too deeply into the mechanics of Evie's backstory experiences. We're fully aware as readers that a soul has been shattered.
I found the constant thread of Truth/Lies reflecting what, unfortunately, makes this world go round. On some days, like Evie, we face it full-on. On other days, we re-invent the circumstances to make it all bearable like Cyrus.
Don't pass this one up. I've already got my hands on Good Girl, Bad Girl and looking forward to backtrack the footsteps of Evie and Cyrus. Forward or reverse, a Michael Robotham book guarantees a fine read indeed.
And what exactly is truth? My truth, your truth, or the truth handed out by whomever for whatever.
When She Was Good sifts through the inner actions of forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven along with a young woman's horrendous flashbacks from being hidden in a secret room overlooking the remains of a vicious murder. Evie knows much and says very little.
Now admittedly, I jumped into this one without the benefit of having read Good Girl, Bad Girl. When She Was Good reads as a standalone thanks to the more than capable writing skills of Michael Robotham. I couldn't wait. Don't hold that against me. Kinda like partaking in French pastries and then going back to see how they're made. Still very satisfying.
When She Was Good has the benefit of headlining chapters between Cyrus and Evie. We get into the heads of both without giving away the store too soon. Both individuals have massive baggage that casts giant shadows into the present and into the future. We're dealing with wounded people here with one offering therapy that is often turned away. Michael Robotham crafts this one well without going too deeply into the mechanics of Evie's backstory experiences. We're fully aware as readers that a soul has been shattered.
I found the constant thread of Truth/Lies reflecting what, unfortunately, makes this world go round. On some days, like Evie, we face it full-on. On other days, we re-invent the circumstances to make it all bearable like Cyrus.
Don't pass this one up. I've already got my hands on Good Girl, Bad Girl and looking forward to backtrack the footsteps of Evie and Cyrus. Forward or reverse, a Michael Robotham book guarantees a fine read indeed.
July 2, 2024
Great book— I just love the characters and how the mysteries play out… looking forward to the next installment!!
(Reviewed 6/4/22)
(Reviewed 6/4/22)
July 21, 2022
Audiobook….read byJoe Jameson
….11 hours and 25 minutes
Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac are back!!!
….the sequel to “Good Girl, Bad Girl”.
When Cyrus
…..chose to be a forensic psychologist, he knew that he would be chasing death as a part of his job. He would spend his time studying killers rather than catch them.
He does it like a pro!
And Evie…..
…..with a face of an Angel —who survived a devastating early childhood…was still hiding — cautious of everyone — begins to peel back layers of the onion to let us see more about her past, her family, and her deeper innermost fears.
Cyrus continues to help and protect Evie.
Evie, who trusts no one — wants what Cyrus wants: revenge and justice.
We meet other characters- dive deep into other crime cases—and while taking another compelling twisty thriller ride — I enjoyed the relationships — the dialogue and even a few humanitarian laughs to boot….
For example…
Cyrus was eating breakfast…
Sasha inquisitively was watching him.
Cyrus says:
“It’s a military operation sorting the foods on my plate…the mushrooms, the beans, the eggs, the toast…nothing can be touching each other‘s food. It’s an obsessive compulsive disorder — a wild one, Cyrus says.
I’m okay with pre-mixed foods such as fried rice…but not with breakfast foods”
Sasha was trying to figure out what would happen if Cyrus‘s food touched each other. He didn’t know.
So she said, “then what’s the point?“.
Cyrus had no idea.
Waiting for book 3:
“Lying Beside You” ….
to be released until February 14, 2023.
4.5 rating
….11 hours and 25 minutes
Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac are back!!!
….the sequel to “Good Girl, Bad Girl”.
When Cyrus
…..chose to be a forensic psychologist, he knew that he would be chasing death as a part of his job. He would spend his time studying killers rather than catch them.
He does it like a pro!
And Evie…..
…..with a face of an Angel —who survived a devastating early childhood…was still hiding — cautious of everyone — begins to peel back layers of the onion to let us see more about her past, her family, and her deeper innermost fears.
Cyrus continues to help and protect Evie.
Evie, who trusts no one — wants what Cyrus wants: revenge and justice.
We meet other characters- dive deep into other crime cases—and while taking another compelling twisty thriller ride — I enjoyed the relationships — the dialogue and even a few humanitarian laughs to boot….
For example…
Cyrus was eating breakfast…
Sasha inquisitively was watching him.
Cyrus says:
“It’s a military operation sorting the foods on my plate…the mushrooms, the beans, the eggs, the toast…nothing can be touching each other‘s food. It’s an obsessive compulsive disorder — a wild one, Cyrus says.
I’m okay with pre-mixed foods such as fried rice…but not with breakfast foods”
Sasha was trying to figure out what would happen if Cyrus‘s food touched each other. He didn’t know.
So she said, “then what’s the point?“.
Cyrus had no idea.
Waiting for book 3:
“Lying Beside You” ….
to be released until February 14, 2023.
4.5 rating
August 5, 2020
At the end of Good Girl, Bad Girl, Michael Robotham left us with many questions about how Evie Cormac came to be found as the young, ragged child hiding in a house with the body of a man tortured to death. In When She Was Good, I’m pleased to report that he gives us many of those answers.
Now seventeen and living in Langford Hall, a secure unit for children, Evie knows it is her anonymity that keeps her safe and has always reused to give the police her real name or talk about what happened to her. Criminal psychologist Cyrus Haven first met Evie some months before when he was asked to assess her and although they have become friends, she has still refused to talk to him about her past. However, called in to an investigation of the death of a retired detective, Cyrus discovers a connection with Evie in an old case the detective was re-investigating and as serious danger arrives on Evie’s doorstep, she reluctantly starts talking to him about her past.
While readers will all have an inkling of what happened to Evie as a young child, the details are harrowing and even the police can’t protect Evie against the criminals now looking for her because of the secrets she possesses. Robotham ramps up the tension as Cyrus tries to find the criminal ring involved in Evie’s past with the help of his friend DI Lenny Pavel and best mate, Badger. His plotting is tight and makes for an addictive and suspenseful read. Along the way Evie fills in some details of her childhood and family and we also learn more of Cyrus’ tragic past.
Evie and Cyrus are both such interesting and complex characters that I hope we'll be seeing more of them in the future as I'm really looking forward to seeing what Robotham has next in store for them. 4.5★
Now seventeen and living in Langford Hall, a secure unit for children, Evie knows it is her anonymity that keeps her safe and has always reused to give the police her real name or talk about what happened to her. Criminal psychologist Cyrus Haven first met Evie some months before when he was asked to assess her and although they have become friends, she has still refused to talk to him about her past. However, called in to an investigation of the death of a retired detective, Cyrus discovers a connection with Evie in an old case the detective was re-investigating and as serious danger arrives on Evie’s doorstep, she reluctantly starts talking to him about her past.
While readers will all have an inkling of what happened to Evie as a young child, the details are harrowing and even the police can’t protect Evie against the criminals now looking for her because of the secrets she possesses. Robotham ramps up the tension as Cyrus tries to find the criminal ring involved in Evie’s past with the help of his friend DI Lenny Pavel and best mate, Badger. His plotting is tight and makes for an addictive and suspenseful read. Along the way Evie fills in some details of her childhood and family and we also learn more of Cyrus’ tragic past.
Evie and Cyrus are both such interesting and complex characters that I hope we'll be seeing more of them in the future as I'm really looking forward to seeing what Robotham has next in store for them. 4.5★
October 23, 2022
It was quite a while ago that I read the first book in this series and it's taken me a long time to get around to reading Book 2. Not surprisingly I don't remember a lot about the first book but the author referred to past events in such a way that it jogged my memory without this book getting bogged down in the events of Book 1.
This story is told in alternating chapters by criminal psychologist Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac, the girl who was rescued from a secret room in the first book and who became known as "Angel Face". Many chapters are devoted to Evie's remembrances of her past as we learn more about what transpired before she was found hiding in that secret room. This book was good and I enjoyed reading it but didn't like it as well as the first book. It was nice to meet up with Sacha again, the special constable who outmanoeuvred Evie and discovered her hiding place, as well as Cyrus and Evie whose characters are well developed in this book. I'm looking forward to reading the third book when it's available in Canada.
With thanks to the London Public Library for the loan of this book.
This story is told in alternating chapters by criminal psychologist Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac, the girl who was rescued from a secret room in the first book and who became known as "Angel Face". Many chapters are devoted to Evie's remembrances of her past as we learn more about what transpired before she was found hiding in that secret room. This book was good and I enjoyed reading it but didn't like it as well as the first book. It was nice to meet up with Sacha again, the special constable who outmanoeuvred Evie and discovered her hiding place, as well as Cyrus and Evie whose characters are well developed in this book. I'm looking forward to reading the third book when it's available in Canada.
With thanks to the London Public Library for the loan of this book.
December 7, 2022
UPDATE: 7/12/2022 - An amazing reread. Now I finally get to read book 3!
UPDATE: 6/12/2022 - Rereading before reading book 3!
4.5 Stars rounded up to 5!
I have never done as much hopeful/begging type muttering whilst reading a book e.g. pleasebeokaypleasebeokaypleasebeokay.
You know when you come across characters that feel 'right'? Everyone, I mean EVERYONE felt right. From the villains to the entre police cast, through to the minor characters who made brief appearances. Cyrus and Evie are such an engaging duo and I am fully invested in the father-daughter type relationship that is tentatively developing. So many feelings!
This is such an intense novel and I had to take frequent breaks throughout as there were some horrific descriptions of child abuse that had me a bit traumatised. I strongly recommend reading the content warnings for this book as the world of child sex trafficking is so disturbing and dark.
CW: descriptions of sexual abuse of a child, suicide, torture
UPDATE: 6/12/2022 - Rereading before reading book 3!
4.5 Stars rounded up to 5!
I have never done as much hopeful/begging type muttering whilst reading a book e.g. pleasebeokaypleasebeokaypleasebeokay.
You know when you come across characters that feel 'right'? Everyone, I mean EVERYONE felt right. From the villains to the entre police cast, through to the minor characters who made brief appearances. Cyrus and Evie are such an engaging duo and I am fully invested in the father-daughter type relationship that is tentatively developing. So many feelings!
This is such an intense novel and I had to take frequent breaks throughout as there were some horrific descriptions of child abuse that had me a bit traumatised. I strongly recommend reading the content warnings for this book as the world of child sex trafficking is so disturbing and dark.
CW: descriptions of sexual abuse of a child, suicide, torture
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