When I picked up this book I did it as a new fan of Michael Robotham and did not realise that this was the second book in a series. I am guessing that I would have got a lot more out of this if I had read 'Good Girl, Bad Girl' but it still didn't stop me being totally engrossed.
Evie is a 'patient' of Cyrus a forensic psychologist, both have had tragic lives and seem to understand each other. Evie is in protective care but does not do much to help her own cause. To be fair she is poorly equipped in trust having been subjected to horrific abuse in her younger years.
I am now intrigued to go back and read the first book but feel that this second book may have contained a lot of spoilers for it. While I am sure it is an amazing series, there is nothing to stop someone picking up this book and reading it as a stand alone.
HIghly recommended, thank you Hachette Australia and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was so good! I really recommend making sure to read book 1 Good Girl, Bad Girl first though otherwise you will miss out on so much.

When She Was Good follows the story of Evie as she grows up in a supposedly secure children's home. Cyrus is still visiting her but no progress has been made in finding out more about her background. Events start to occur which eventually reach crisis point as Evie remembers more and more about the past and the people in it.

As the tension started to build I had to put the book down for a minute and take few deep breaths. The best bit is right at the end - I seriously thought it was already finished when at 99% (I was reading on my Kindle) an amazing scene took place. It rounded things off just perfectly. A really excellent book!

A very big thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Australia and Author Michael Robotham for the ARC.

When She Was Good is the second book in the series, with Forensic Psychologist Cyrus Haven and mystery girl Evie Cormack aka Angel Face and continues on where Good Girl Bad Girl ended.

In true Michael Robotham style the storyline was brilliant and once again seemingly unrelated incidents are interwoven and the readers discovers they are contented in ways they could never imagine.

We find out about Evie’s terrible past, her true identity and why she was so frightened to reveal who she really was and with good reason! The people involved in her kidnapping were essentially untouchable, extremely dangerous and connected to people in high places..... it seems hopeless, but Mr Robotham weaves his magic and we breath a sigh of relief when Cyrus and Evie survive.

We see Evie and Cyrus develop a truly heartwarming relationship. Even though they are not related by blood they have this wonderful bond and would do anything for each other. They may have first connected by the trauma of both loosing their families in tragic circumstances, but soon discover they like having each other in their lives, which is a first for both of them.

I look forward to the next instalment in this series and for me the ultimate in the next book would be a cameo appearance by my favourite professor, Joe!! ( one can only hope - right?!)

If you haven’t read anything by this author, I highly recommend you give it a try. I’m sure like me you’ll become hooked and then quickly go out and buy and read everything he has written.

Michael Robotham continues his arcane ability to grab you by the throat in the first few pages with this, the second in the series featuring psychologist Cyrus Haven and child abuse victim Evie Cormac.
Robotham is fearless in pursuit of the truth, reaching for the unreachable, knowing what we all know; that the rot starts at the top. Yes, this is a work of fiction, so inject Cyrus Haven into the role of arbiter, balancing the demands of authorities, dealing with his own demons and crucially, protecting the broken Evie Cormac, with whom he has an unspoken, undefined relationship, which is more than professional, less than personal.
The cast of characters is rich, diverse, all flawed as we all are, and the villains are hateable; non-redeemable, as any who dwell in the aberrant depths of child exploitation.
Robotham is a master plotist, seamlessly weaving this novel, and its predecessor, into a saga having no objective arch villain, but rather a shadowy cabal; the system which allows events such as this not only to take place but to appear to continue unabated, unrepentant, and untouchable.
Being Australian, it’s a little puzzling why all Robotham’s novels are British-based; perhaps that’s a commercial decision. I don’t consider for one moment that Australia is free from the raw material that he requires to construct his plots, so let’s hope that we see that change in the future.
Thank You to Hachette and Netgalley for the ARC.

“People think they want the truth, but the opposite is true. Honesty is mean and rough and ugly, while lying can be kinder, softer and more humane. It’s not honesty that we want, but consideration and respect.”

When She Was Good s the second book in the Cyrus Haven series by award-winning Australian author, Michael Robotham. Initially, it looks like retired Detective Superintendent Hamish Whitmore has committed suicide. But that’s not what forensic psychologist, Cyrus Haven sees when he examines the scene. It quickly becomes clear that Hamish was murdered, and that it is related to the old (closed) case he couldn’t let go. What disturbs Cyrus most is the tiny notation in a corner of Hamish’s case whiteboard: Angelface, London, 2013.

Evie Cormac is back at Langford Hall, a secure children’s home, impatiently waiting to be deemed old enough to be released. But not everyone agrees that she’s ready. Meanwhile, she endures, hanging out for visits from Cyrus, and more importantly, their Labrador, Poppy. But Cyrus has been picking at the past, hoping to find out more about what Evie refuses to reveal; have his subtle enquiries tripped a wire that will put them all in danger?

For all those readers who wondered just how Evie ended up behind the wall in that house where the tortured corpse was found, this instalment of Cyrus Haven eventually explains all that, and a lot more! Evie doesn’t trust anyone, and maybe Cyrus would do well to take a leaf out of her book. As he meticulously follows up leads, it’s like he’s pulled a tiger’s tail. This novel is filled with edge of the seat, heart thumping action. And the final chapter, oh boy! Another brilliant read!
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Hachette Australia.

This is my first introduction to this author and I can't believe I haven't picked him up before! While this is a sequel to Good Girl, Bad Girl it can easily be read on its own as there is enough of the history from the first book for it to make sense. It also doesn't give too much away about the first one to spoil it, however I would recommend you still start with the first as I personally would have liked to be introduced to Evie and Cyrus for more of their back story first up. I will certainly be going back to read it as there are many intriguing hints throughout this one about past events.

This is the sort of page-turning crime/thriller I love. Told alternately between Evie and Cyrus the story builds to a fast-paced ending that will make it impossible to put the book down. After being discovered as a young girl approx 11 years old, starving and refusing to talk, in a house where a dead body had been decomposing for weeks, this book take up where Good Girl, Bad Girl ended. Evie is in a high security children's home and she still hasn't spoken about the events that led up to her being discovered in the house. Cyrus is a forensic psychologist who is still battling his own demons after witnessing as a child his brother kill his parents and two other siblings. Cyrus can't let go of Evie's story and tracks down the trainee policewoman who discovered Evie in her hiding place and they begin to try and find out what really happened to Evie and where she came from.

Excellent! I will certainly now be going back to read his other series..

When She Was Good is the second instalment of the Cyrus Haven series by Michael Robotham. Who is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors! I read the first book in the series, Good Girl Bad Girl earlier this year and I was very invested in Evie and Cyrus's character. And now I am obsessed, where is book number 3?!
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Evie's past is still a mystery and after the not so ideal events of the previous year, under the guardianship of Cyrus Haven, she is back in the secure children's home waiting for her court appointed birthday marking her as eighteen years old. No one is any closer to finding out who she really is or what actually happened six years ago. Evie is doing everything she can to keep it that way. Cyrus is doing everything he can to find out. But Cyrus is winning this battle without him even realising, because the faceless men are back and the murder investigation he is working on is leading him right into the corruption of Evie's backstory.
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Robotham is a master storyteller. The dual narratives between Cyrus and Evie give you such detail into both sides that doesn't leave you with unanswered questions and expertly adds to the suspense. As much as there is some action in this book it's the unraveling of secrets that is the focus which keeps you glued to the pages. You just want to know what the hell happened to Evie Cormac. And you do. The information is fed to us in a perfectly paced fashion. I was not disappointed with what I found out and you won't be either.
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I would love to see if the story takes the route to Evie and Cyrus working together using her "truth wizardary" to support cases.

Second book in the Cyrus series starts with a pace and gets faster: Robotham is a master at crime fiction and this one doesn’t disappoint. Cyrus starts to investigate Evie’s past and it all starts to unravel as the book progresses

Michael Robotham is my absolute favourite Australian author. Although I really love his character, psychologist Joe O’Loughlin the most, this new character, also a psychologist, Cyrus Haven is rapidly growing on me. I also really like Evie, the psychologically disturbed but terribly entertaining young girl who Cyrus has been trying very hard to help and keep out of trouble in these first 2 books. The storyline of this book was great, with Michael’s awesomely descriptive style of writing. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend this wonderful Aussie author.

Although elements of When She Was Good play according to the form of a traditional police procedural, Michael Robotham’s latest — a direct sequel to Good Girl, Bad Girl (2019) — is more than about the hunt for criminals and the simple question of guilt. This is a story of lingering human evil and trauma that is capable of destroying lives in both the past and present, transcended beyond genre fodder thanks to Robotham’s unparalleled ability to evoke true human emotion through fully realised characters — and a pulse-pounding ratcheting of tension as it builds towards its climax.

Forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven has finally tracked down Sacha Hopewell, the young constable who carried Evie Cormac — dubbed “Angel Face” by the press — out of a house in north London seven years ago, where she was discovered hiding only a few feet away from the decomposing body of a man who had been tortured to death. Cyrus and Evie are inextricably linked through their separate traumas, and he is determined to untangle the truth of her past — despite Evie’s own reluctance and fear about what he might uncover.

Then Cyrus is called to the scene of retired police officer Hamish Whitmore’s suspected suicide — but Cyrus isn’t so sure, and advises Detective Lenny Parcel to label the death a homicide. He learns Whitmore has been running an unsanctioned investigation into a series of child murders attributed to deceased paedophile Eugene Green. Scrawled on one of Whitemore’s notes is a name that sends chills down Cyrus’ spine: Angel Face. As Cyrus and Sacha edge closer to discovering Evie’s true identity and harrowing past, a covert and powerful cabal take desperate and lethal measures to silence her. Cyrus had hoped the truth would set Angel Face free. It may get her killed.

Robotham navigates dark and unsettling territory in this lacerating and haunting page-turner, which is as tightly plotted and explosively tense as it is poignant and wrenching. It’s also one of the standout thrillers of 2020.

I wish to thank Michael Robotham, Hachette Australia and NetGalley for the advanced copy of When She Was Good in exchange for an honest review.

Michael Robotham has written a highly captivating second novel in the Cyrus Haven series. This is not a stand-alone novel, it is the sequel to Good Girl, Bad Girl; the first in the series. I highly recommend this series, Michael writes a great story.

The two narrators Cyrus and Evie are very likeable characters, both have endured severe trauma and suffer as a consequence, they develop a close friendship and a dependence on each other. The character development is superb. Cyrus is a forensic psychologist who tries to help Evie find a safe place in the world. He is somewhat of an antihero as he exposes them to danger whilst investigating her past. Evie is a gritty teenager, who has a unique ability and a will to survive.

The alternating narration throughout the novels gives two distinctly different perspectives on events. There are incidents of disturbing violence some of which is perpetrated on children, sometimes harrowing. This caused me to reflect on how wealth and power can corrupt and how people seeking a life in a new country can be so badly treated. There are benevolent characters that help Evie and Cyrus.

I wonder if there’ll be a third book in the series, I hope so, I’d like there to be further justice dispensed.

Series#2 of Evie Cormac and Cyrus Haven. Michael Robotham totally makes me hooked into Evie's character. She is one brave and strong girl despite everything she has experienced through her life. In this sequel, Evie has to continue to run from whoever wants to get her back. Cyrus, the only person she can trust, a forensic psychologist, helps Evie to uncover her awful past and pedophile ring. However, the closer he gets to the truth, it's endangered Evie even more.
I just love the relationship or question-mark friendship between Evie and Cyrus. It never gets dull.
I'm lucky to be able to read the advance copy of this book. Thanks Netgalley and Hachette Australia for an electronic ARC of this book.

This is the second book in the Cyrus Haven series, featuring the forensic psychologist and his friend Evie, a girl with no past. Both Cyrus and Evie have had troubled awful pasts and in the previous book Good Girl, Bad Girl, we are introduced to both. Evie had been rescued 6 years previous after she was found hiding in the walls of a house where a man had been tortured and killed. Cyrus was called into assess her as she entered adulthood but there are many things she has kept to herself.
So book 2, When she was Bad. Cyrus is still trying to help Evie by uncovering her past, but she still insists she is in danger from those she was hiding from many years previous. When Cyrus is called to the scene of an apparent suicide by a former police officer, he starts to look into what the officer was investigating. He soon proves this wasn’t suicide but murder and somehow Evie was linked to what he was investigating. Evie’s ability to tell when someone is lying helped Cyrus solve a case in the previous book but now it seems like the closer Cyrus gets to the truth here, the more in danger Evie is.
Michael Robotham is a first rate story teller, he has the ability to paint characters with depth and feeling and his page turning novels are all first rate. His former life as a journalist has made him an excellent storyteller and I will read any and everything he writes.
#netgalley #whenshewasgood

Thankyou to NetGalley, Hatchette Australia and the author, Michael Robotham, for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of When She Was Good in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Well, what can I say but " blimey !" This book was incredible.
I was so excited at the prospect of reviewing the latest book by this author. I have enjoyed everything he has written, immensely. I honestly have to say though, this one is hands down, the best.
The premise of the storyline offers the reader so much and the finished product certainly delivers.
The storyline was well thought out and written with well developed characters and a rollercoaster plot that will keep you guessing until the end.
Don't make the mistake of starting to read When She Was Good if you have something to do or have to be somewhere. You won't be able to put it down once you get into Evie's life.
Highly recommended read.