Would you want to have the ability to always be able to tell if someone was lying or telling the truth? Evie has this gift/curse. She also has a traumatic past that she will not discuss with anyone - psychologists included.

Cyrus is the psychologist brought in to consult on her case and see if he can learn more about her. At the same time, he is also assisting the police in investigating the murder of 15 year old Jodie - an aspiring figure skater who appears to have it all going for her.

This was a fast paced read that kept me guessing. I enjoyed the ride. However there were some loose ends at the end that I wish had been tied up more clearly.

Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reading copy.

Michael Robotham is one of my favorite authors. His plots are always right on the money and he always leads the reader on a merry chase with a great cast of characters. This domestic thriller has many twists and turns along with more than a little family drama. Robotham keeps you guessing all the way through and, in the end leaves many unanswered questions with the introduction of a his new character, Evie Cormac. Her story is just unfolding so I’m anxiously awaiting what I hope is a whole new series!!

Wow...where to begin! This thriller has one eye-popping and complicated storyline! But considering there are so many different threads unfolding, the author does a great job. I was never confused.

Now for the negative. I was left with numerous questions! I’m not a fan of series, but I’ll have to send hate mail to the amazing Mr. Robotham if he does not write another book about Evie and Cyrus and fill in the missing details!!

Evie is sassy, funny, smart, resilient, resourceful and uniquely lovable! She is wildly impressive and very scary, at the same time. Her true age is unknown. What little is known about her background is horrendous and she either doesn’t remember the rest, or refuses to talk about it. She’s suspected to be a truth wizard aka human lie detector, which I found fascinating.

Cyrus is a forensic psychologist with his own tragic past. He’s called in to evaluate Evie, after she requests release from the secure children’s home where she resides. They form a very unique and interesting relationship. He understands her like no one else, so his treatment of her is different, which throws Evie off her game a bit. The banter between the two is hilarious.

I spent nine long days reading this well-written and original book. Not because the book was slow! We had out-of-town visitors and all I could think about was sneaking off to read.

This is my first novel by this author, so I can’t compare it to his previous work. But this book was suspenseful and dark. The flawed characters are wonderful and fascinating! Another great author added to by TBR list. Anyone who hasn’t read this author is missing out.

<b>My Rating: </b> 4.5 ⭐️’s
This would be 5 stars if it weren’t for the unanswered questions.
<b>Published:</b> July 23rd 2019 by Scribner
<b>Pages:</b> 352

<b>Recommend:</b> Yes

Thank you to NetGalley, Edelweiss, Scribner and Michael Robotham for this ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion!

4.5 stars. Loved it! A well-written psychological thriller. Great characters and a very intriguing storyline that the reader can get involved in. I just found it a bit unbelievable that the psychologist, Dr. Cyrus Haven, a young single man, was allowed to foster a troubled teenage girl, Evie, and take her home to live with him. Both characters have horrific pasts and I hope the author will follow up with another book that delves into their background more deeply. There is so much more story here! And, of course, their future (together?) would be fascinating.

Good Girl, Bad Girl is the newest book by author Michael Robotham. It’s a multifaceted and enthralling suspense novel that will keep you glued to the pages.

Evie Cormac is a ward of the state, but she’s ready to be on her own since she swears she’s now 18 years old. One problem: no one knows anything about her, not her real name, her birth date, her actual age, nothing. She’s a true mystery, and she won’t tell anyone what happened to her when she was found six years ago, dirty, malnourished, and hidden just feet away from a decomposing dead man who had been brutally tortured.

Cyrus Haven is a forensic psychologist called to evaluate Evie and assess if she’s ready for release. Cyrus recognizes something in Evie that he sees as a gift, something he wrote a thesis about―the ability to tell when someone is lying, but Evie sees it as a curse. He also recognizes something else in Evie since she’s not the only one with a traumatic past; it’s this that leads him to rashly offer to foster her.

At the same time, he’s also working with the police to figure out who killed champion teenage figure skater, 15-year-old Jodie Sheehan. Everyone Cyrus talks with about the investigations reveal darker and more shocking revelations. Can Cyrus (with Evie’s input) solve this mystery and unravel the truth before things get out of control?

This is only my 2nd book by Robotham, but I can say after reading this book that his plotting is masterful and I loved the heart-pounding intensity. The story is character-driven, and both of the main characters are not only excellent but excellently portrayed. It’s a suspense novel where I loved the interaction between the two so much that I can only hope this standalone turns in to a series, as I imagine I’m not the only one who’d love to see more of Cyrus and young Evie in the future, especially since I have some questions about Evie’s past and her abilities that I wish had been delved into further and answered in the book.

Definitely recommended!

**Thank you NetGalley and Scribner for the ARC. All opinions are my own.**

Good Girl, Bad Girl brings together two people whose lives are filled with secrets and betrayal. Evie Cormac was found hidden behind a false wall where she had lived for years, with her supposed kidnapper having been tortured and murdered, in a nearby room. Evie wouldn't talk about who she was, where she was from, or what had happened to her and has spent the last years in a secure home for children because any attempts to foster her with a family resulted in her causing trouble and/or running away.

Cyrus Haven is a psychologist who has his own dark and horrid past and is asked to help with the investigation of the murder of a fifteen year old star figure skater. At the same time, a former college classmate has asked him interview Evie to see if he can break through her silence and determine if she is ready to be released from the home, to live in the world. Evie has the uncanny ability to know when anyone is telling the truth or not, an ability that is a subject close to the heart of Cyrus. When Cyrus decides to foster Evie, they both bond and clash as they each search for answers for both Evie and Cyrus and an elusive sense of safety for Evie.

For all we learn about these two people, there is so much more that we don't know and I'm hoping there is another book in the works so we can learn more about their pasts and what is going to happen to them, in the future.

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for this ARC.

I only made it about halfway through this one before I was too bored to continue. I skimmed the rest and didn't find anything too surprising or compelling. The writing style and characters just didn't work for me. I didn't care about Cyrus or Evie or their weird connection. Obviously a lot of other readers have enjoyed it more than I did, so I'd give it a try if it sounds interesting!

Description:
From the bestselling author of The Secrets She Keeps, the writer Stephen King calls “an absolute master…with heart and soul,” a fiendishly clever suspense novel about a dangerous young woman with a special ability to know when someone is lying—and the criminal psychologist who must outwit her to survive.

A girl is discovered hiding in a secret room in the aftermath of a terrible crime. Half-starved and filthy, she won’t tell anyone her name, or her age, or where she came from. Maybe she is twelve, maybe fifteen. She doesn’t appear in any missing persons file, and her DNA can’t be matched to an identity. Six years later, still unidentified, she is living in a secure children’s home with a new name, Evie Cormac. When she initiates a court case demanding the right to be released as an adult, forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven must determine if Evie is ready to go free. But she is unlike anyone he’s ever met—fascinating and dangerous in equal measure. Evie knows when someone is lying, and no one around her is telling the truth. Meanwhile, Cyrus is called in to investigate the shocking murder of a high school figure-skating champion, Jodie Sheehan, who dies on a lonely footpath close to her home. Pretty and popular, Jodie is portrayed by everyone as the ultimate girl-next-door, but as Cyrus peels back the layers, a secret life emerges—one that Evie Cormac, the girl with no past, knows something about. A man haunted by his own tragic history, Cyrus is caught between the two cases—one girl who needs saving and another who needs justice. What price will he pay for the truth? Fiendishly clever, swiftly paced, and emotionally explosive, Good Girl, Bad Girl is the perfect thrilling summer read from internationally bestselling author Michael Robotham.

My Review:
Good Girl, Bad Girl is the first book I have read from this author and it was amazing. The characters are well written and it has twists and turns to keep you guessing and wanting more. I could not put this book down. Imagine if you had the power to tell if someone is lying, how interesting your life would be with this ability. A Truth Wizard, fascinating.

Such a wrenching story told to definitely evoke emotions. Well Done!

I was provided this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion. I give this a 5 star ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Because there is no higher rating. It is a book you must read.

5 Amazing Stars! One of the best psychological thrillers I have read this year!

"Evie Cormac" has been living in a state children's home for many years now. She was discovered in a secret room after a horrific crime. Starved and filthy, she won't tell anyone her name, age, or where she comes from. Her DNA can't even be matched to an identity. Six years later, still with no identity, she wants to be released as an adult. Forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven must now determine if "Evie" is ready to be on her own and set free as an adult.

While he's helping out on "Evie's" case, Cyrus is asked to investigate the tragic murder of high school Star figure-skating champion, Jodie Sheehan. Jodie was the pretty and popular girl in town, known to everyone as the girl next door. As Cyrus digs deeper into Jodie's murder, a secret life emerges - one that "Evie" just might know something about. Cyrus is struggling with his own demons, and now he is involved in these two complex cases, one girl needs to be saved and one girl needs justice. Will Cyrus finally find out the truth? What price will he have to pay to find it?

This was my first book by Michael Robotham and I can tell you that it won't be my last. Good Girl, Bad Girl is a well-written novel with well developed characters and twisted gritty plot that will keep you wanting more. I highly recommend this psychological thriller to all crime fiction fans.

*Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In the age where psychological thrillers are a dime a dozen and each twist is more preposterous than the next, it's so nice to read a procedural mystery with sharp, well developed characters, which is exactly what Robotham gives us in Good Girl, Bad Girl. We have two damaged souls, Cyrus, a psychologist who suffered a horrible family tragedy at a young age and Evie, a girl who was rescued from kidnapping and captivity, with no known identity.

Alternating between a murder case and trying to discover Evie's backstory, we get to know a ton about Evie and Cyrus and they both have tons to learn beneath the surface. Robotham does an excellent job of fleshing out these characters and making them come to life.

While I did predict the "whodunnit," my enjoyment was not taken away in the slightest. I was glad to hear that this is the start of a new series and I will be eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Twisty! Told alternately by Cyrus, a forensic psychologist, and Evie, a young woman he has been asked to evaluate, it pulls two threads until a kind of wacky ending. Cyrus has bad things in his background and this made him decide to use his powers for good. Evie was found in a basement, abused and a cipher. She had no identity anyone could find and thus was placed in a care home. Cyrus is also involved in the investigation into the murder of Jodie, a girl everyone would want as a daughter or friend (or would they?). Evie's got a special power to tell when someone is lying (go with it) and Cyrus decides that perhaps she can help hm figure out who is telling the truth about Jodie. So many lies, so many secrets. The biggest secret is Evie's identity. She's a terrific character. Thanks o the publisher for the ARC. Nicely written and carefully plotted, this is a page turner.

This is my first Michael Robotham novel and I can tell you one thing this will not be my last....why? because this book is going to be a series and I am already anxiously awaiting to see what happens next!

The character development was excellent, I enjoyed the two main characters and their personalities.

I loved the unraveling of two stories told concurrently and was hooked trying to figure out how they would intersect.

Big thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for sending me an eArc of Good Girl, Bad Girl in exchange for my honest review.

4 Stars for Michael Robotham's Good Girl, Bad Girl - a complex, character-driven mystery with heart!

One dead teenage girl, another with no past and one psychologist trying to uncover the truth.

Cyrus Haven is a psychologist with a troubled past. His demons are definitely simmering beneath the surface and made him a fascinating character. Cyrus is called in to offer his expertise on two different cases. A fellow doctor reaches out for help with a particularly troublesome patient - Evie/Angel Face. Evie was found hiding in an abandoned house with her captor's decomposing dead body. Even years later, she refuses to open up and give any details about herself or her past. Her real name, age, etc are all unknown. Can Cyrus reach her and get her to finally open up?

Case #2 involves Cyrus consulting with the police on the suspicious death of a teenage figure skater. How did this Golden Girl and Olympic hopeful end up dead and hastily buried under branches and leaves in a trail?

Fellow readers, this is definitely one to add to your "Must Read/Do Not Miss" category! Both cases are filled with secrets, twists & turns and lots of emotion. I loved Evie and Cyrus' rapport and watching it develop. There is definitely more to be explored here and I have my fingers crossed that this is the start of a series. I'd certainly look forward to more of Evie and Cyrus!

2.5 stars rounded up

So...

I honestly don't know how I feel about this novel. The writing is pretty good and the storyline had tons of potential...but it was pretty far-fetched. To the point I didn't really feel like picking it up to read. I usually read 3 to 4 books each week. This one, unfortunately, took me an entire week to get through, and now my schedule is completely screwed. Meh.

The Good

--Most of the characters were beautifully fleshed out, particularly Cyrus and Evie.
--The plot was intriguing, but needs tweaking to make it great.
--Poppy the rescue dog
--There were some decent red herrings. Although I guessed most of the twists fairly early on, there were a couple surprises, which pleased me.

The Bad

--Yes, Cyrus was a psychologist working as a police consultant. That doesn't give him the authority to go around to various suspects, divulging intimate details about the case, and upsetting everything. For a psychologist, he was about as subtle as a bull in a China shop.
--Without giving too much away, Cyrus's situation with Evie was so highly implausible, it was laughable.
--Yes, indeed...it was a multi-layered plot. However, there were almost too many story lines. It seemed chaotic.
--Evie's innate "lie detection radar" was just silly.

The Ugly

--There was so much left unanswered, particularly regarding Evie. Clearly, this is going to be a series of books. I wish I had known that going in.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an advanced copy.

Publication date: July 23, 2019
Goodreads review published: July 18, 2019

It took me quite a long time to get into Good Girl, Bad Girl. I debated giving up on it several times, but eventually the story really started to grab my attention and while I did have some issues with it, I overall enjoyed it.

First of all, don’t pay too much attention to the synopsis. I found it a little misleading, especially the part where it says Cyrus has to outwit Evie to survive. Um, no. While Evie makes him a little uncomfortable at times, he is never in danger of her. I also didn’t really see the point in involving Evie’s character in this story at all. She crosses into what I considered the main mystery of Jodie’s murder a couple of times, but not really in any impactful way (which is another misleading statement from the synopsis). I have tried to find out if this book is the beginning of a series and I can’t find it confirmed anywhere. If it truly is a standalone, then I am even more annoyed over the inclusion of Evie because all these questions are brought up and not answered! I like my loose ends all tied up in a neat little bow, thank you very much.

What I did like was the main murder mystery. I thought Robotham did an excellent job crafting a well-plotted, intriguing mystery with multiple believable suspects. Not everything that was revealed surprised me, but I didn’t guess everything from a mile away either. I liked Cyrus and Lenny, his longtime friend and the lead detective on Jodie’s investigation, and definitely wouldn’t mind reading more of them if this does end up being a series.

Overall, I enjoyed Good Girl, Bad Girl, but not quite as much as I was hoping to. I liked Cyrus and the murder mystery plotline. However, everything involving Evie just ended up annoying me because nothing was really resolved with her, nor did her plotline seem to contribute to the main one. I was also frustrated with the synopsis, but since that is not the book’s fault, I tried not to let it influence my rating. Though it took me awhile to get into the story, the writing ended up really drawing me in and I want to check out more from this author.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 3 Stars

4-5 stars! This book is one of those gripping stories that just grabs you and hooks it’s words right into your brain and doesn’t let go until the final page is read. Tense, chilling, shocking, thrilling, and so many other descriptive words could be used to describe this amazing thriller, but truly the most honest thing I can say is to read it! Any one who loves the thrillers I love, will definitely love this disturbing tale!
Will highly recommend to the members of Chapter Chatter Pub!

I finished this book last Friday before leaving on vacation and never wrote my review and I will now have to string words together with far fewer brain cells. My apologies in advance, Mr. Robotham.

Psychologist Cyrus Haven is given a new case, that of the volatile Evie Cormac, a young lady who was discovered hiding in a house a few years previous with a dead and mutilated body by her side. She refuses to say who she is, how old she is, or where she came from before being discovered. She is now approaching 18 (supposedly) and is demanding to be released. It will be up to Cyrus to determine whether she is fit enough to do so.

Meanwhile Cyrus is also assisting in the murder investigation of an up-and-coming figure skater, Jodie Sheehan. She was popular, beautiful, and from a caring and supportive family, just the opposite of Evie Cormac, but are these two girls really much different from one another after all?

I enjoyed this book over-all. Michael Robotham is an excellent writer and I was hooked from early on but I did have a few issues with this one. Issue #1, the part about Evie being able to tell when someone is lying was a little far fetched to me but I was able to suspend disbelief enough to continue reading and that is due to the character of Evie, I liked her quite a bit. Issue #2, and without being spoiler-y, I don't think in "real life" Cyrus would have been able to take Evie under his wing such as he did. *zips lips* And lastly, what did happen to Evie? Who is she? Apparently Mr. Robotham is going to bring these characters back because these questions remain unanswered. When I request a book I prefer to know that it is to be part of a series ahead of time. Thankfully my Goodreads friends warned me before I started this one so it wasn't a complete surprise when I turned the final page saying WHAT??? 3.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, Edelweiss, and Cribner Books for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

As two girls’ lives move into the orbit of forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven, a complex and compelling story ensues. The author’s multi-layering of the girls’ and Cyrus’s situations, the twisties and Robotham’s distinctive character insight made for an enjoyable and engaging read. Upon finishing this, my second Robotham novel, it is clear to see why he is a multi-award-winning author.

*will post to online venues upon publication and post links below.

First Sentence: "Which one is she?" I ask, leaning closer to the observation window.

Six years after self-named Evie Comac was found hiding in a secret room, the institution where she is living asks psychologist Cyrus Haven to determine whether she can be released to live on her own. No one knows, nor has she said, who she really is or what she has experienced, but a determination must be made. Cyrus has a history of his own with which he must deal, but his job also calls upon him to help investigate the murder of Jodie Sheehan, a popular, talented high-school figure skater. Tasked with these two cases, and his own issues, it is up to Cyrus to do what is right Evie and find justice for Jodie.

Unusual, quirky characters can be intriguing when they are well-written yet still realistic. Robotham accomplishes that, and much more. He begins with the very intriguing premise that some few people are "truth wizards," that they can intuitively know whether someone is lying. That Evie, who is also defined as being--"…dyslexic. Antisocial. Aggressive"-- is one such person adds a dimension beyond everything through which she has been and compels one to want to know more. Cyrus, too, has a past beyond imaging. That the author puts these two emotionally damaged characters together demonstrates the strength of the human spirit and determination to survive. Both characters are unique and fascinating. Nothing about either of them is what one would expect.

It's a pleasure when something causes one to stop and consider--"When I run, my thoughts become clearer. When I run, I imagine that I'm keeping pace with a planet that turns too quickly for me." Rather than slow down the flow of the story, it adds depth and richness to it.

The story does alternate between the two lead characters. Being inside Evie's mind can be painful to read, and all the more so for knowing there are real children who feel as she does about herself. The descriptions of deaths are brutal but done in a way that is factual and not gratuitous or salacious. Even so, Robotham finds the perfect way to inject just a bit of wry humor—"'Who found her?' 'A woman walking her dog.' Why is it always someone walking a dog?"

The investigation into Jodie's death takes one down a very twisted path filled with surprises. The only slight criticism is that the resolution seemed over the top. What one can truly appreciate is that, even at the end, both Evie and Cyrus remain enigmatic.

"Good Girl, Bad Girl" is a strong, character-driven story. It is very well-written and filled with well-done twists. One rather hopes this is the start of a new series. Even if it's not, this is a book, and characters, which stay with one long after closing the cover.

GOOD GIRL, BAD GIRL (PsySusp-Cyrus Haven-England-Contemp) – VG+
Robotham, Michael - Standalone
Scribner, July 2019

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!! Just when I thought I might have this story figured out....bam nope I was totally wrong!!!!! Cyrus is a psychologist who helps the police sometimes. A friend of his asks him to observe Evie Cormack, a young woman who was abducted and kept hidden in a secret room until her rescue. She has no identity, family or anything in this world. Evie gets under Cyrus's skin in ways he never imagined. Thank you to Netgalley and Scribner Publishing for my honest review