Title: WHEN SHE WAS GOOD
Author: Michael Robotham
ISBN: 9780751573497
Publisher: Sphere
Pages: 476
Source: Private Copy
Criminal psychologist Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac return in this new thriller from author Michael Robotham. Who is Evie, the girl with no past, running from? She was discovered hiding in a secret room in the aftermath of a terrible crime. Her ability to tell when someone is lying helped Cyrus crack an impenetrable case in Good Girl, Bad Girl. Now, the closer Cyrus gets to uncovering answers about Evie’s dark history, the more he exposes Evie to danger, giving her no choice but to run. Ultimately, both will have to decide if some secrets are better left buried and some monsters should never be named…
Official Summary
11 February 2025
As usual, I did not read the series in order. Last year I shared my review of Storm Child, which follows When She Was Good. Unfortunately, this time it did not work. Reading the first book after the second one left me knowing a little much about what was coming and it spoilt the reading experience.
When She Was Good is a solid psychological thriller with moments of brilliance, but it doesn’t quite live up to its full potential. While the book tackles dark themes with care and delivers a few gripping twists, some aspects fell flat for me. Which I believe was because I read Storm Child first.
The story follows forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven as he becomes entangled in the life of Evie Cormac, a girl with a harrowing past and an uncanny ability to detect lies. Robotham’s portrayal of Evie is the highlight of the book. Her vulnerability, combined with her sharp intellect, makes her a compelling character. Cyrus, too, is likeable and layered, though his introspection occasionally slows the pace. Their bond is unique and heartfelt, adding emotional depth to the story.
The plot itself delves into Evie’s past and the dangerous secrets surrounding it. The stakes are high, and Robotham does a commendable job of building tension, particularly in the latter half. However, the first half of the book moves slowly, weighed down by lengthy exposition and scenes that feel repetitive.
One of the strengths of the novel is Robotham’s ability to explore complex trauma and its lasting effects. Yet, this same focus on Evie’s pain sometimes overshadows the thriller elements, making the story feel uneven.
When She Was Good is an engaging read for fans of character-driven thrillers. Robotham’s strong writing and well-drawn characters make it worth a read, but please learn from my mistake, and read the books in order. If I read When She Was Good first, I would no doubt have enjoyed it a lot more.
Also by Michael Robotham
STORM CHILD
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?
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 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 for visiting to read my review. Are you a Robotham fan? I loved the Joseph O’Loughlin series, but I am struggling with Cyrus Haven, what are your thoughts on the two characters? I would love to hear from you, please leave a comment below. Until next time, happy Reading!
