Title: STORM CHILD
Author: Michael Robotham
ISBN: 9781408727218
Publisher: Little Brown / Sphere
Pages: 375
Source: Jonathan Ball Publishers
The mystery of Evie Cormac’s background has followed her into adulthood. As a child, she was discovered hiding in a secret room where a man had been tortured to death. Many of her captors and abusers escaped justice, unseen but not forgotten. Now, on a hot summer’s day, the past drags Evie back as she watches the bodies of seventeen migrants wash up on a Lincolnshire beach.
There is only one survivor, a teenage boy, who tells police their small boat was deliberately rammed and sunk. Psychologist Cyrus Haven is recruited by the police to investigate the murders—but recognizes immediately that Evie has some link to the tragedy. By solving this crime, he could finally unlock the secrets of her past. But what dark forces will he set loose? And who will pay the price?
Official Summary
30 July 2024
I am a huge Michael Robotham fan, thank you to Jonathan Ball Publishers for this review copy. In *Storm Child*, Michael Robotham delivers a chilling and intricate tale that delves into the dark corners of human nature and the haunting shadows of the past. The novel follows Evie Cormac, a woman with a mysterious and traumatic childhood, as she is once again pulled into the horrors of her past. The discovery of seventeen migrant bodies on a Lincolnshire beach, with only one survivor, sets the stage for a gripping psychological thriller that kept me captivated from start to finish.
Evie Cormac’s character is one of the most compelling aspects of the story. Found as a child hiding in a room where a man had been tortured to death, her past is shrouded in mystery and pain. Robotham masterfully peels back the layers of her character, revealing a complex and resilient woman who has endured unimaginable horrors. Her past and present collide in a way that is both emotional and unsettling, making her a deeply sympathetic and intriguing protagonist.
The plot thickens with the involvement of psychologist Cyrus Haven, who is called in by the police to investigate the tragic deaths of the migrants. The lone survivor’s claim that their boat was deliberately rammed adds a sinister twist to the narrative. Haven’s professional curiosity and personal connection to Evie drive the investigation forward, creating a real tension that fills the entire novel.
Robotham’s writing is both evocative and suspenseful, painting vivid scenes of the bleak Lincolnshire coast and the dreadful events that unfold there. The mystery surrounding the migrants’ deaths and Evie’s connection to the tragedy is intricately woven, keeping me guessing until the very end. Each revelation brings new questions and deeper intrigue, making it impossible to put the book down.
The relationship between Evie and Cyrus is another highlight of the story. Their interactions are charged with a mix of trust, suspicion, and unspoken emotions. As Cyrus digs deeper into the case, he uncovers not only the dark secrets of Evie’s past but also the disturbing truths about the migrant tragedy. The stakes are incredibly high, and the consequences of uncovering the truth are both unpredictable and profound.
*Storm Child* is a powerful exploration of trauma, resilience, and the enduring impact of the past. Robotham blends psychological depth with a thrilling plot, creating a story that is as emotionally resonant as it is suspenseful. The novel’s conclusion is both satisfying and thought-provoking, leaving readers to ponder the complexities of justice, revenge, and redemption.
This is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and complex character studies. Evie Cormac’s journey is haunting, compelling, and ultimately, unforgettable. If you’re looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat and stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page, *Storm Child* is an excellent choice.
Also By Michael Robotham
CLOSE YOUR EYES
When a former student bungles a murder investigation, clinical psychologist Joseph O’Loughlin steps in to face a ruthless killer.
A mother and her teenage daughter are found murdered in a remote farmhouse, one defiled by multiple stab wounds and the other posed like Sleeping Beauty waiting for her Prince. Joe O’Loughlin is drawn into the investigation when a former student, trading on Joe’s reputation by calling himself the “Mindhunter,” jeopardizes the police inquiry by leaking details to the media and stirring up public anger.
With no shortage of suspects and tempers beginning to fray, Joe discovers a link between these murders and a series of brutal attacks where the men and women are choked unconscious and the letter “A” is carved into their foreheads. As the case becomes ever more complex, nothing is quite what it seems and soon Joe’s fate, and that of those closest to him, become intertwined with a merciless, unpredictable killer.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Two-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
Thank you to Jonathan Ball Publishers for this review copy. Michael Robotham is one of my favourite authors, and I have been working through his backlist of books. There are still many more for me to read, and of course, I started the Cyrus Haven series with book four. I have a lot of catching up to do! This book can be read as a standalone, so if you’re a bit late to the party like me, don’t worry—you will still enjoy it immensely.
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