Book Review | When She Was Good by Michael Robotham

When She Was Good

by Michael Robotham

Scribner

Publication Date : July 28, 2020

Pages : 352

Synopsis From Publisher:

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...

Last year I read book one of the Cyrus Haven series Good Girl, Bad Girl. The lead character Evie Cormac has been on my mind ever since. I was immediately drawn to her bold yet vulnerable disposition. Evie is the ultimate underdog; abandoned, abused, and neglected. Yet she is strong, smart, and brave. The second installment of the series, When She Was Good has only strengthen my obsession with this series making Evie one of my favorite characters of all time.

 This is usually where I jump straight into the synopsis of the book, but we need to take a slight detour to explain the connection between Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac. In Good Girl, Bad Girl, Cyrus was Evie’s psychologist. Cyrus is now more of a brotherly figure in Evie’s life. They care for each other very much, but they have both suffered tragedies which at times have caused setbacks in their relationship. Their connection is odd but completely understandable given their backgrounds. For this reason, readers should start the series with book one Good Girl, Bad Girl to fully understand the dynamic between Evie and Cyrus. Although the central mystery of When She Was Good is captivating, Evie’s and Cyrus’ relationship is just as gripping.

 A retired police officer has been murdered. Although his departure from the police force was perfectly respectable, Detective Superintendent Hamish Whitmore’s retirement has been anything but peaceful. He is living apart from his wife and he has a case which will not allow him to rest. The case of murderer Eugene Green haunts the detective. Whitmore was reinvestigating the case. Forensic Psychologist Cyrus Haven has been called in to help investigate Whitmore’s murder. As Cyrus begins to dive deeper into the case, he realizes there could be a connection to Evie’s past. Cyrus soon realizes solving this murder may bring justice for the beloved detective but could also place Evie in mortal danger.

 The long-term effects of trauma are heavily featured in When She Was Good. Most of the characters have been subjected to horrible circumstances not of their doing. While the story is fiction, the tragic stories and the lasting effects ring with resounding truth; making all the characters (even the bad ones) relatable. While I believe trauma is no excuse for bad behavior, I find it especially sad when hearing about a horrible act but also noticing how it could have been prevented. If there was better access to mental health treatments. If social workers were not overloaded with cases.  Sadly, the list could go on and on… These terrible circumstances mirror real life.

 When She Was Good is a gripping mix of police procedural and psychological thriller. Sure to satisfy fans of both genres. Told from the viewpoints of both Evie and Cyrus, readers will get a full picture of their relationship. Robotham’s understanding of trauma is evident; each character reacting differently to suffering while trying to overcome their own demons. Readers looking for a tragic, yet gripping story of survival need look no further than When She Was Good.

 Murder and Moore Rating:

5 out of 5 Stars