Book of the week

8/10

This thrilling new release from Michael Robotham tells the story of the mysterious case of Evie Cormac, known publicly as “Angel Face”, a little girl who was discovered six years ago hiding in a secret room in the aftermath of a brutal murder.

Despite the traumatic circumstances of her discovery, Evie’s real identity still remains a mystery, and anyone who attempts to uncover her past is met with a grisly end.

However, forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven is determined to find out the truth in order to set Evie free.

Ignoring all warnings, Cyrus begins to dig into Evie’s past, only to discover a hornet’s nest of corrupt, powerful and abusive people who are enmeshed in a horrifying circle. It becomes clear these people have a desire to find and kill Evie, who could be the key to the truth of their gruesome activities coming to light.

It is worth noting that this is by no means a lighthearted read as it deals with the sensitive and often distressing topics of child abuse and child sex trafficking.

However, I applaud Michael Robotham and his ability to portray these issues in a realistic and respectful manner, without compromising on the narrative.

He has crafted some fantastic characters, and I could not help but deeply admire Evie, and her immense strength and bravery for such a young, vulnerable woman who has experienced so much tragedy in her short life.

I enjoyed the dual perspectives as the narrative is split between Cyrus and Evie – which helps maintain the pace of the story without it becoming cumbersome and indeed overwhelming.

The caring relationship between these two characters enhances the overarching message, and indeed the pair provide all the touching moments within the book.

The author manages to keep the story fast-paced and utterly unpredictable – I was left in suspense until the very last pages.

The ending in particular was cleverly constructed in a way that was both satisfying and true to real life.

While the story features some unsettling moments that can be difficult to read, I found it impossible to put this book down, due to the compelling prose and Michael Robotham’s sensitive portrayal of a relevant and difficult topic.

Unpredictable and fast-paced, this book highlights the undercurrents of corruption and abuse of power that are undeniably present in all walks of life.

Review by Hollie Bruce.

When She Was Good By Michael Robotham Sphere Publishing