Tue 3 Nov 2020
A Mystery Review by LJ Roberts: MICHAEL ROBOTHAM – When She Was Good.
Posted by Steve under Reviews[9] Comments
Reviews by L. J. Roberts
MICHAEL ROBOTHAM – When She Was Good. Cyrus Haven/Evie Cormac #2. Scribner, hardcover, July 2020; paperback, July 2021. Setting: Contemporary England.
First Sentence: Late Spring. Morning cold. A small wooden boat emerges from the mist, sliding forward with each pull on the oars.
In this follow-up to Good Girl, Bad Girl, the mystery of Evie Cormac continues. Found hidden away in the hidden room off the bedroom where a man was tortured and killed, the question remains as to whether he was her kidnapper, or her protector. Although the press are still curious, someone more sinister is after the information, and Evie, while psychologist Cyrus Haven, plagued with monsters of his own past, teams up with Sacha Hopewell, the former Constable, who found Evie, to try to protect her.
There are several elements needed for a memorable book and description/sense of place is one. Robatham has that well in hand— “The air outside smells of drying seaweed and wood smoke, and the distant hills are edged in orange where God has opened the furnace door and stoked the coals for a new day.”
It is useful to have already read Good Girl, Bad Girl. However, Robotham not only fills in the backstory of Evie, but includes new information. The way in which Cyrus’s background is conveyed is brilliantly understated yet establishes an important link. We also learn much more about Terry Boland, the man whose body was found in the house where Evie was hiding.
This is a dark book. Robotham has written a clear and strong example of the impact of abandonment. Then he changes the pace with a surprising plot twist and an example of Edie’s ability as a truth wizard — one who can tell when others are lying.
There are observations which cause one to pause and are relevant to today— “The real power belongs to the people who control information… Individuals who can suppress stories, fix problems, spin news, and plant false information.” —and make us think of current situations— “…is a classic sociopath, who seeks power and influence rather than fame.
Where others notice the beauty in the world, he sees only how it could benefit him. Relationships are designed to further his own interest. It’s not about loving or hating but about duplicity and deception and his own corrupt lust.” Intended or not, and although the author is an Australian living in England, the story cannot help but make one think of current events.
When She Was Good is a complicated story with unique characters and a satisfactory ending. Slow in places, it picks up with well-done twists.
Rating: Good Plus.
November 3rd, 2020 at 8:17 pm
I couldn’t tell from the review, is Evie a child — because if so child endangerment stories are a hard sell for me. If she’s an adult it might be a different matter.
November 3rd, 2020 at 8:36 pm
I should wait for LJ to reply, but I’ll jump in anyway. Neither Evie’s real name or her age is known. I see from a review of the first book that in that one she is asking the courts to declare that she is 18 so she can be released from the secure children’s home where she’s been living. Psychologist Cyrus Haven is called in to help determine whether or not she is ready to leave.
Not my cup of tea, I’m afraid, but I’m glad to know about it.
November 4th, 2020 at 1:53 am
The present tense is a real barrier for me, alas.
November 4th, 2020 at 11:38 am
I’m sure you’re not the only one who feels that way, David. In fact you can count me in as one of them. Present tense is an awfully big hurdle for me to get over as well.
November 4th, 2020 at 10:30 am
I really liked this a lot, and Robotham has become a real favorite. Evie may or may not be 18–I don’t remember–but I certainly wouldn’t consider her a child. She’s extremely resourceful, perhaps more so than Cyrus. I’d put a bit more emphasis than the reviewer on the need to have read “Good Girl, Bad Girl”. It’ll not only increase your enjoyment of this one, it’s a real pleasure in itself.
November 4th, 2020 at 11:35 am
After reading LJ’s review, I felt the same way. Even though she says the second one could stand alone, I’d surely want to read the first one first.
And for the record, Robotham has another nine books that came before the two with Cyrus. The character in these is clinical psychologist Joseph O’Loughlin. I’m sure I read that the two series are connected, but since I can’t find that reference again, please don’t take my word for it.
Joseph O’Loughlin:
1. The Suspect (2004)
2. Lost (2005)
3. Shatter (2008)
4. Bleed for Me (2010)
5. The Wreckage (2011)
6. Say You’re Sorry (2012)
7. Watching You (2013)
8. Close Your Eyes (2015)
9. The Other Wife (2018)
November 4th, 2020 at 8:09 pm
In his earlier books Robotham would rotate the characters, with a minor character in one book the lead in the next.
Vincent Ruiz was a minor character in the first book, took the lead in book two (Lost), and then has been in most of the rest of the series. He was also a minor character in the book The Wreckage, which was excellent.
The O’Loughlin character had Parkinson’s disease, and he does wonderful job of showing the effects on both his physical and emotional life.
The author started off ghost writing so he never had any early writer hiccups that I noticed.
November 4th, 2020 at 8:23 pm
David
I missed the fact that he was a very successful ghost writer before turning to fiction. From Wikipedia, “[his] specialty was ‘autobiographies’ for people in the arts, politics, the military and sport. Twelve of these titles became Sunday Times bestsellers and sold more than 2 million copies. These books included the autobiographies of Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, British comedy actor Ricky Tomlinson and sixties musical legend Lulu.”
You learn something new every day. Thanks!
November 5th, 2020 at 1:14 am
I wouldn’t as much consider this a story of child endangerment, and Evie is anything but a normal child but of self-reliance and survival. And while her age isn’t stated, she’s at least an older teen. It’s hard to describe, but Robotham excels at writing unique characters.
It’s interesting, I don’t think I even noticed it being written in the present tense as the story was so captivating.
I do recommend reading the first book before this one. Rather than the second book repeating some information, it provides more background and details as to what happened to Evie.