Profiting Off the Storm

Seventeen bodies float up on the English coastline of Lincolnshire beach. Victims of a boating mishap, only one of these migrants survives, a young man named Arben. He is the only survivor left to reveal that the boat was purposely rammed by people ordering them to turn back around.

Psychologist Cyrus Haven is at the beach the day this happens. He finds himself swimming to pull bodies out, hoping to find survivors. With him that day, and traumatized by what she sees, is Evie Cormac, a young woman living with Cyrus and under his care. Evie has had a brutal childhood and this episode triggers threatening half-memories.

Cyrus is brought in by the authorities to assist in the investigation, and Evie makes a connection with Arben– she was the first to be able to translate his Albanian for the police– and he subsequently kept asking for her. Arben, the Storm Child, constitutes the only evidence that this was something other than a sad, desperate accident. Initially, a far-right racist group is suspected of sinking the refugee boat in an anti-immigration action. Who else would deliberately send seventeen souls to their death?

Evie, a Storm Child herself, was a refugee at one point and begins to piece together common threads between this tragedy and her buried recollections. Faces of some of the principals involved become familiar as she and Cyrus circle around the dark forces behind these murders. There is even a Keyser Söze type bogeyman, “The Ferryman,” lurking in the shadows, as these two investigators become targets.

I first picked up one of Michael Robotham’s thrillers when I saw Stephen King decreeing him an “absolute master.” I learned right away what people mean when they say the pages just turned themselves. This is the fourth novel I have read of his– and the remaining fourteen are welcome to my bookshelf. This is also the fourth Cyrus Haven novel–I have read one other– but it absolutely works on its own. If you have slowed down on your reading and need something to jump-start things again, this will do it.

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #StormChild #NetGalley

Storm Child by Michael Robotham is a very compelling novel; it is the fourth book, in his Cyrus Haven series. Mr. Robotham is a prolific author, yet he is new to me. Storm Child is my first read by him; it will not be my last. Cyrus Haven is a psychologist working as a consultant to the police. In that role he may serve as a profiler, counselor, or expert witness. Cyrus was drawn to psychology after the very traumatic death of his parents and twin sisters. Cyrus met Evie Cormac when she was a young self-destructive nihilistic, angry teen. Years before Evie, then Adina Osman, had been escaping Albania with her mother, Marcella and her older sister, Agnesa. It was a brutal trip at the hands of human traffickers, and Evie's mom and sister apparently died. Years later Evie was found living in a house where a man had been murdered; she had been tortured and assaulted during her captivity. Cyrus ends up working with Evie, assuming guardianship and eventually they become friends and housemates. While on what was to be a holiday weekend, Cyrus and Evie witnessed a horrific boat accident resulting in the death of 17 migrants and the survival of one teenage boy. Was it an accident? Cyrus and Evie are drawn into an investigation that generates more questions than answers and takes Evie back to what happened to her as a child. I was rooting for Cyrus and Evie, each battling their own demons in this very well crafted taut thriller.Thank you to NetGalley, Scribner Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Storm Child; my review reflects my honest opinion. 4.5 stars.

Book four of one of my favorite new series.
What started as a relaxing beachside stroll instantly turns into something dark and sinister for Cyrus and Evie.
A boat off shore has just capsized. Cyrus jumps into action hoping to save any possible survivors. Evie remains frozen, caught in a catatonic state as the sight triggers horrific memories.

Evie is haunted by a tragic past. But with the help of Cyrus Haven, a Forensic Psychologist, she’s gradually started to emotionally heal. Until today!

This book takes a close look at Evie’s past and what led up to her crossing paths with Cyrus.
The story is told in two timelines, both present and past. Equally captivating, I felt a deeper connection with both characters after reading this latest installment to this series.

I would definitely read this series in order to fully understand these characters and their relationship to each other.

Looking forward to seeing what direction Michael Robotham takes this series next!

A buddy read with Susanne

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner

Michael Robotham, a favorite author among psychological thriller fans and a top Australian crime fiction writer—returns with his acclaimed Cyrus Haven series. In this latest installment, #4 STORM CHILD we revisit the complex relationship between Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac, two characters who have been at the heart of the series since its inception.

Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac, two deeply emotional characters, are back as they try and unlock the secrets of Evie's past, a journey that will surely resonate with readers and keep them glued to the pages!

Some memories are buried for a reason…

The most painful of Evie Cormac’s memories have been locked away, ever since she was held prisoner as a child— a child whose rescue captured hearts and headlines.

About...

Evie Cormac’s traumatic background has followed and haunted her into her adulthood. As a child (the silent child), she was discovered hiding in a secret room where a man had been tortured to death. Many of her captors and abusers escaped justice, unseen but not forgotten.

How did she come to be hiding in the walls, and why didn't she escape when she had the chance? What was her name, and where did she come from? She has only bits and pieces and random thoughts that dangle in front of her like baited hooks.

The past collides with the present when Evie is on holiday with Cyrus, and a boat of migrants is overturned. This is a trigger for Evie. Does she recognize something from her past? A memory? She watches the bodies of seventeen migrants wash up on a Lincolnshire beach with only one survivor. A teen boy informs police their small boat was destroyed deliberately.

Psychologist Cyrus Haven (forensic psychologist) is recruited by the police to investigate the murders—but sees that Evie, who has a connection to the migrant tragedy, might hold the key to unlocking the secrets of the past and solving this crime.

My thoughts...

STORM CHILD is a psychologically rich, razor-sharp, emotionally charged suspense thriller. Fans of the series who have followed Evie and Cyrus will be fully engaged and satisfied. Dark and moving, some of Evie's memories are not so pleasant, but she will have answers (and so will the readers).

Action-packed, gripping, and emotional — fans will see the growth in Evie since the start of the series. She is not the same damaged teen that Cyrus met four years earlier at the secure children's home in Nottingham. Evie is like a little sister to Cyrus and fills a hole in his life and he will never stop caring for her.

The author's exploration of the remarkable depths of the human mind, heart, and soul will surely stimulate the intellect and keep readers on the edge of their seats.

I have been a huge, long-standing fan of the author for many years. All his books are first-class, personal, and soul-searching with strong takeaway messages. His well-developed complex characters, lyrical prose, settings, insightfulness into the human psyche, and twisty plots set him apart from many other thriller authors.

Congrats! Marking 20 years of books from this highly talented author, we cannot get enough and hope for many more to come! His former investigative journalist skills make him one of the best international crime writers of today.

Recs...

STORM CHILD is a must for Robotham fans and the Cyrus Haven series and an excellent addition to the series. For fans of Lisa Gardner, Linwood Barclay, David Baldacci, and Karin Slaughter.

Thanks to Scribner for an advanced reading copy via NetGalley for an honest opinion.

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@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: July 2, 2024
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Storm Child by Michael Robotham the 4th book in the Cyrus Haven series was excellent. Evie has been through so much in her life and was fortunate to have criminal psychologist Cyrus Haven to look after her. Evie is traumatized when she sees bodies floating to shore. That’s when Cyrus and Evie start investigating who was smuggling the refugees when the boat sunk. Evie starts to put the pieces of her past together. I couldn’t put the book down.

Storm Child is Michael Robotham’s gripping new thriller featuring psychologist Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac, the famous “child in the walls,” rescued from dangerous circumstances but with lasting emotional damage. After unsuccessful years in the foster system, teen Evie was discovered in a secure children’s facility, and treated with insight and care by Cyrus. In this, book #4, Evie is now a 22 year-old woman, who lives in Cyrus’ family home, while he keeps a protective eye on her as she tiptoes cautiously through the everyday world.
While on holiday to the English coast, they see bodies wash up on the shore, triggering dark memories and fears from Evie’s mysterious past. As a police consultant, Cyrus is compelled to become involved in the investigation, and to also help Evie recover from her triggered trauma.
This well-plotted story has intrigue, intensity, action, and a compelling storyline that delves into the difficult topics of human trafficking and the migrant crisis in Europe.
The alternating chapters are narrated by Evie and Cyrus, so the reader is immersed in their stories, their memories, their fears, their feelings, and their humanity. It is mesmerizing to be plunged so deeply into the minds and hearts of these two complex characters.
The story is told with sensitivity, with warm recollections of Evie’s childhood countered by the difficult memories of her traumatic childhood and migrant experience. While it is a sober tale, as her history is revealed, the culmination is a warm evolution in the relationship between Cyrus and Evie, and new hope for Evie’s happiness.

Sincere thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this terrific novel. This is my honest review.

Cyrus Haven novels do not disappoint, and that holds for this fourth that reads as a final? Even though I hope it's not.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Storm Child is book 4 in the Cyrus Haven series by Michael Robotham.
I have enjoyed every book in this series!
This is a fast-paced, compulsively readable thriller that kept me guessing until the end.
The character development is fantastic and Robotham weaves a very suspenseful tale that keeps you guessing and turning the pages.
Robotham is a superb plotter of suspense and this is a riveting and gripping read.

Thank You NetGalley and Scribner for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Storm Child is the fourth installment in the Cyrus Haven series. In this one, we dive deeper into Evie's dark and traumatic past, as well as investigating the mystery of the bodies of 17 migrants that washed up on the beach. While Cyrus is helping the police with the murders he starts to recognize that Evie has some type of link to this horrific tragedy. Will there be a price to pay when they discover the link?

Another great one by Michael Robotham. Highly recommended!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Scriber for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest in the Cyrus Haven series by a favorite, Michael Robotham. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

As Cyrus and Evie are at the beach, a boat carrying migrants washes ashore. There is only one survivor, a teenage boy, who tells the police that their boat was intentionally rammed and sunk. Seeing the bodies, Evie has a break and requires a short hospitalization. As Cyrus begins to investigate the situation, more of Evie's memories come back. But will they be safe as they look into this situation?

I loved how this installment lets us in on more of Evie's past, while also introducing some new characters into the series, leaving me very excited about more books to come in the future. This is a wonderful series with such great main characters, both living after experiencing intense trauma in their early lives. Cyrus is a psychologist who is completely focused on caring for Evie, straddling the line between protecting her and letting her live. Evie, so tough on the outside but still struggling, also straddles that line. This book also portrays both sides of the immigration debate, but unlike some books I've read lately, does not push the author's opinions or agenda on readers, just giving them food for thought on both sides. Fast paced and action packed, this is a must read in this series!

This is Michael Robotham’s fourth installment in his Cyrus Haven series. Having read the first three books in the series, I was excited to read this one early.

This book was slightly different than the earlier ones. In this book, the present day case is intertwined with Evie’s past. I don’t want to say too much more because to further describe things may inadvertently involve spoilers.

While this book could, technically, be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend those unfamiliar with Cyrus or Evie to go back and read the previous books. They provide background knowledge that will be useful when reading this book.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and hope there’s another book in the series for us to catch up with Cyrus and Evie. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

This was a thought-provoking story. I have only read one book from this series and kind of want to go back and read the rest. The two main characters were so entertaining and hard not to like. Without any memory of the one I did read, this novel gives you the details you need so as not to feel lost, even for a second. Living in the US, I honestly had no knowledge of immigration in other countries or the laws surrounding it and it is heartbreaking to hear that so many issues are not just restricted to one area of the world, but all over. This was eye-opening, yet left enough of the fictional world for it to still be entertaining. This author did an exceptional job of world building, creating the perfect atmosphere and characters with a story that was hard to put down. The only part that bothered me was that the epilogue kind of left out a huge thing about one of the main characters, unless it will be explored in a future book? Overall, this was another good one from this author, four stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Scribner, for this ARC.

It has been four years since Cyrus took Evie in and has been trying to help her acclimate to the real world ever since. When wreckage from a boat and ~15 migrants wash ashore Evie goes into shock. Over time she starts to piece together her past and how she got here to begin with.

This is the fourth book in a series that i have not read the first three parts of, but it was written with enough detail I was not confused at all. I am interested in reading the rest of the series to see how the characters developed. I thought Evie was fascinating- equal parts naive and overly guarded. I could have done without all the political elements of the story that made things a little confusing, but overall I thought the plot was super interesting and I loved the alternating POVs.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Michael Robotham's "Storm Child," the fourth installment in the Cyrus Haven series, is a gripping psychological thriller that delves deep into the dark and traumatic past of Evie Cormac. Known for his masterful storytelling, Robotham once again delivers a compelling narrative that intertwines mystery, suspense, and emotional depth.

The story picks up with a disturbing scene as bodies of seventeen migrants wash up on a Lincolnshire beach, with only one survivor—a teenage boy who reveals their boat was deliberately rammed and sunk. This tragedy triggers repressed memories in Evie, who was discovered as a child hiding in a secret room where a man had been tortured to death. As Cyrus Haven, a forensic psychologist, investigates the incident, he realizes that uncovering the truth behind these deaths could also unlock the secrets of Evie's past.

Robotham's character development is exceptional, especially in the portrayal of the complex relationship between Cyrus and Evie. Their bond, shaped by shared trauma and mutual support, is both heartwarming and poignant. Evie's evolution from a troubled, feral child to a young woman striving to help others and find her place in the world is portrayed with sensitivity and depth.

The plot is fast-paced and filled with unexpected twists that keep readers on the edge of their seats. The investigation into the migrant tragedy is intricately woven with Evie's journey towards confronting her past, making for a multifaceted and engaging story. Robotham skillfully addresses serious issues such as human trafficking, abuse, and the immigration crisis, adding layers of social commentary to the thriller.

However, the novel does have moments where the detailed backstory and multiple plotlines might feel overwhelming, potentially slowing down the narrative for some readers. Despite this, the suspense and emotional intensity carry the story forward, culminating in a dramatic and satisfying conclusion.

"Storm Child" is a powerful addition to the Cyrus Haven series, blending psychological insight with a suspenseful mystery. Robotham's ability to craft complex characters and thought-provoking plots makes this book a must-read for fans of the genre. Whether you are new to the series or a long-time follower, "Storm Child" promises an unforgettable reading experience.

Note: I received a free digital copy of “ Storm Child” through Net Galley to read and review.
This series of books by Michael Robotham has been excellent and the (I think) concluding novel an absolute knock-out. From th beginning to the exciting, and moving finish , this was a dramatic well- written and tautly plotted story of suspense .
One should read the whole series starting with the first book to completely enjoy the relationship between Cyrus and Addie and why they so close to death in the final moments of this book. However, just to tease you into getting started with the series: Addie was trafficked as a child and horribly abused. She escaped only by hiding her self in a small cubbyhole in the wall where she was being held. Eventually she escaped and found wandering on the street where she was picked bynp9lice and eventually sent into “ care” as the Brits put it. It was there she was treated by Cyrus, a trauma psychologist. He eventually provided a safe home where he slowly gained her trust. Okay, that is a bate bones description of what happens in their relationship and why it is worth reading over the series. You will be caught up in the story.
Highly recommended. Cautions: references to past abuse and violence .

The fourth Cyrus Haven book by Robotham reveals some of the backstory of Evie Cormac’s past. But it comes at a price – that endangers both Cyrus and Evie. When a boat of migrants sinks near the beach where Cyrus and Evie are vacationing, they are both witnesses to the deaths and mayhem. Evie’s memories are triggered, and Cyrus once again tries to help her emotionally navigate her feelings and past. There is more to this incident than both realize. Soon they find themselves in a mystery that unravels the event with implications for Evie. Highly recommended. This book could be read without reading the previous ones in the series, but don’t deny yourself that pleasure, mystery, and history of their relationship. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this title.

Those who have followed Evie's story will be pleased to learn more about her but those new to the series will find this equally gripping. Evie, a rescued trafficker child, and Cyrus, the psychologist who worked with and now lives with her, alternately tell this story which begins with the horror of a migrant boat rammed at sea. There's a survivor and Evie feels a bond, beyond their shared Albanian heritage and she also feels there's something that harks back to her own experience. Florence, an attorney who works migrant issues (she's terrific) comes into their lives and helps when the pair get in trouble in Scotland, where they've gone looking for answers. Evie has always been an enigma, not only to readers but also to Cyrus and now we know her back story-part of it at least. I found this to be a page turner, thanks not only to the intense plotting but also to the storytelling. And it has a deeply satisfying ending. If this is the end of the series, so be it. If not, well, sign me up for the next one. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Terrific read.

I have grown to love these characters and their interactions with each other. This book sees us diving deeper into Evie's history while she and Cyrus look into the mystery of the loss of a migrant boat off the coast of England. The way that Robotham writes these two deeply scarred individuals makes the reader care about their futures and want the best for them. I have loved this series since book one. Will continue to read as long as he writes books.

I loved the overall plot and theme of this book. I wish we could’ve seen more of Poppy. I felt that this book was trying to do a little too much. I know we were going for closure but I think it just felt like an easy ending and a little rushed. Though special thanks for the ARC copy. The book itself had amazing potential and characters it just needs more room to grow.

I really enjoyed this book! I have loved this series and enjoyed finding out the details about Evie’s past. This book was fast paced and I enjoyed the story line and how when a memory was triggered, we were finding out what happened in the same way Evie was.