Thanks to Scribner and NetGalley, I recently received a copy of Michael Robotham’s latest psychological thriller, Storm Child (in exchange for this honest review). It includes familiar characters Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac, both of whom were in the earlier novels Good Girl, Bad Girl, When She Was Good, and Lying Beside You. This time, Joe O’Loughlin (Cyrus’s mentor) is not part of the story but (spoiler alert!) as expected, it was still AWESOME.

Good Girl, Bad Girl, book #1 in the series, told the story of Cyrus meeting Evie Cormac when he was called in to help after she was found trapped in a torture house. (PTSD, anyone?) Evie has the uncanny (and useful!) ability to tell when someone is lying, and she helped Cyrus solve a tricky case in that first book. In When She Was Good, #2 in the series, Evie and Cyrus reconnected and, as Cyrus worked to uncover the secrets of Evie’s past, he found that he was exposing her to serious danger. Quite a dilemma!

Then in Lying Beside You, the third in the series, Cyrus had begun sharing his house with Evie, who was now less a child and more a truly damaged teenager, still with her gift of being able to tell whether someone is lying or not. She went back to school and, at Cyrus’s urging, took a job.Considering her issues with rules and authority, she was doing well…and now we are at book #4, Storm Child, which really expands on Evie’s emerging character and way of viewing and dealing with the world. (“I’ve decided there are two types of people in the world–the overachievers and those who want to see all the overachievers die in a flaming car crash.”)

Evie witnesses the bodies of seventeen migrants wash up on a Lincolnshire beach, and as it turns out, there is one survivor. He tells the police that their tiny boat was sunk after being rammed on purpose in order to destroy evidence of …what? Smuggling? Sex trafficking? A combination? As he works with the police, Cyrus sees immediately there is an undefined link between Evie and this horrible crime. But he has a dilemma: if he helps her discover the truth about her past, will he be causing her more harm than good? What is the actual worth of solving this particular crime?

It’s an amazing unraveling of a complex story which touches on several social issues while presenting well-developed characters who go through quite a lot on the way to solving multiple mysteries. I loved it. Five stars. I miss Joe but look forward to more from Cyrus and Evie.

Book Title: Storm Child also published under the title “Before you Found Me”
Series: Cyrus Haven #4
Author: Michael Robotham
Publisher: Scribner
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: July 2, 2024
My Rating: 3.3 Stars
Pages: 336

Cyrus Haven/Evie Cormac returns for Book #4.
In Book #2 " When She Was Good' we learn Evie Cormack was found as a child at the scene of a brutal murder, and refuses to tell anything of her past or what happened to her, because she fears that anyone who does know will get killed and get her killed.
We find out that she witnessed a man being tortured to death. Her captors/abusers escaped being caught.
Now, Evie believes her past is back as she watches the bodies of seventeen migrants wash up on a Lincolnshire beach. The lone survivor, a teenage boy, tells police this was no accident - their small boat was deliberately rammed with the purpose of sinking it.

This is my sixth Robotham psychological thriller; additional have read the three books already published in the Cyrus Haven series. ~ Yep! I am a fan!

However, I have to admit I had a hard time getting into this. True it was dark and although I okay with dark I did struggle with this- and almost put it on the back burner as I truly wasn’t anxious to pick it up and read on. I did stick with it did and liked the ending.
Not my favorite but will read another Robotham novel.

Want to thank NetGalley and Scribner for the pleasure of reading this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 2. 2024.

hank you NetGalley and Scribner for the copy of Storm Child by Michael Robotham. This is the first book I have read in this series and I think I would have liked it more if I had read it from the beginning so I would know more about Evie and Cyrus and have understood them better. I thought Evie thinking about a physical relationship with Cyrus was weird because I didn’t know what they had gone through in the past. If you are already reading this series I think you will love the insight into Evie and her past but I wasn’t already invested in her character so I didn't really care.

In the deep waters of life, we all seem to be clutching onto the wreckage of the disasters handed to us or even to those disasters of our own making. Will rescue ever come?

Michael Robotham creates another outstanding addition to his Cyrus Haven Series. Cyrus is a forensic psychologist in Nottingham in the UK. He had been assigned to a case involving teenage Evie Cormac who had been severely abused and locked away in a secret room. Coming back from all this was a long and demanding journey. Cyrus took in Evie and gave her a room in his home and the foundation of stability that she never had. But Evie still harbors fragments of a broken life.

Cyrus decides to provide a change of scenery for Evie. They head to the beaches of Cleethorpes for a bit of sunshine and rest. Evie, who can't swim and refuses to learn, sits on her towel watching Cyrus take to the water. But suddenly the beautiful landscape takes a horrendous turn. A boat filled with migrants has capsized and lives are in danger. Seventeen will have drowned with only one teenage boy surviving after leaving Calais, France.

Evie, standing on the sand nearby, has suffered a great shock. Her eyes have glazed over and she can no longer speak. Cyrus calls an ambulance. After her medical care, Evie's life will be forever changed. While in the hospital, she has access to that young boy. Evie was born in Albania and speaks the language fluently. Robotham lays the brickwork that may provide a connection to Evie's past which has been very hazy since that day that she was found. And the road may just put both Cyrus and Evie in terrible danger as well.

The Storm Child is the fourth book in this series. It does read as a solid standalone, but full appreciation for this fine work should begin with the first book in the series. Robotham has a special talent for providing strong characters with intricate backgrounds. These puzzle pieces don't always fit easily into this multi-layered storyline. Life is complex and Robotham's plot reflects just that. We'll experience the deeply embedded fingerprints of humanity leaving fissures in the aftermath. And everyone has an agenda which is a very factor depending on which side of the waters you find yourself.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Simon & Schuster and to the talented Michael Robotham for the opportunity.

The Storm Child is the fourth in the Cyrus Haven series and is as good as the previous three. Cyrus is a psychologist who helps the police with their investigations. This time, he is actually on the scene when bodies begin floating up to the beach; victims of a capsized migrant boat. There’s only one survivor, a young Albanian boy. Evie becomes involved as she was also there and speaks Albanian.
The story alternates between Cyrus’s and Evie’s POV. This not only serves to provide us with Evie’s memories of her early life but also keeps the story moving at a fast clip. Robotham does a good job of creating a fascinating dynamic between Cyrus and Evie. Both had horrible early years so it’s wonderful to see the bond they’ve created.
So much of American news is taken up with debate over our immigrant problems I found it interesting to read about the British dispute. It just goes to show that each country has folks that want to keep out anyone who is an “other”. I guessed who the Ferryman was early on but it didn’t hurt my enjoyment of the story. I thought the ending was perfect. There is a bit of a cliffhanger, so it will be interesting to see where the series goes from here.
This is not a book that can be read as a stand-alone or out of order. The book finally gets to the bottom of Evie’s background.
My thanks to Netgalley and Scribner/Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book.

I love Robotham's novels--especially those involving Evie who is now 22. As a child she was imprisoned, tortured, and abused but even know she can tell when someone is lying. Of course this is helpful to Cyrus (with whom she lives) as he's a forensic psychologist and having a "truth wizard" helps him enormously. In this case, two boats carrying migrants have been destroyed--one apparently rammed, and the other where the inhabitants leapt into the water and 17 drowned. Somehow Evie was involved and is now hospitalized and non-responsive--which worries Cyrus as she's like a daughter to him. And then there's Florence, the dread-locked lawyer and "The Ferryman," a mysterious figure who is apparently in charge of these migrant passengers. Evie and Cyrus are an unlikely but completely lovable team as they use their resources to uncover the predatory plot!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Storm Child (Cyrus Haven #4)
By Michael Robotham

Twenty two year old Evie Cormac has come a long way since she first met psychologist Cyrus Haven. She's gone from wild child feral to a young woman who feels compassion and the need to help others who have suffered as she suffered. She also is an avid volunteer at an animal rescue shelter and does a good job at shouldering her responsibilities at home with Cyrus. Despite Evie's wish for more with Cyrus, their relationship is that of an adopted older brother/younger sister, adopted father/daughter, or doctor/patient, depending on the role that Cyrus feels Evie needs him to play in her life. Never will he cross those lines, no matter what Evie wishes he'd do.

If you can do so, read the first three books in order, before you read this one. While this book does explain Evie's background and actually gives us insight that we haven't gotten before, you need to experience the first book(s) to see how far Evie has come in her ability to live life successfully. When we first meet her she is so troubled that she is a danger to herself. Her past treatment at the hands of men who used her in every way, starting when she was just eleven years old, has scared Evie forever. But, with this book, as events cause Evie to briefly become catatonic, she is finally able to approach her memories with the help of Cyrus.

It's when the bodies of trafficked humans wash up on a beach that Evie comes in contact with the evil that entrapped her mother, sister, and Evie all those years ago. Cyrus joins the investigation into the murders of these people since a witness says that another boat rammed their boat several times. The witness is Albanian and Evie is able to act as an informal interpreter for the scared boy. From here, both Cyrus and Evie proceed to run headlong into dangerous situation that would get any non main character killed. The wonders of fiction! It's nice to finally know so much more about what happened to Evie after the first three books giving us glimpses of the horrors she faced in her past.

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for this ARC.

Michael Robotham's "Storm Child" is a gripping and emotionally charged novel that delves into the life of Evie Cormac, a character previously introduced in his earlier works. This installment provides a deeper exploration of Evie's tumultuous past and the shadows that haunt her.

The story is rich with tension and suspense, showcasing Robotham's talent for blending psychological depth with thrilling narrative. Evie's journey for truth and justice is both harrowing and hopeful, revealing her resilience and the strength of the human spirit. The vivid settings and well-developed secondary characters enhance the immersive experience.

Robotham balances the psychological and emotional aspects masterfully, making Evie's struggles and growth deeply relatable. "Storm Child" is a powerful, character-driven thriller that fans of the genre will appreciate, solidifying Robotham's reputation as a master storyteller.

Storm Child by Michael Robotham is a story that takes readers in unanticipated directions. Evie is a young woman who witnesses bodies drifting ashore in England, and she slips into a catatonic state. This would cause trauma for anyone, but Evie is an abuse survivor, and her family was lost at sea, at least that is what she thinks. What she remembers is that she, her mother and sister migrated to England from Spain.

Cyrus is Evie’s housemate, he is also a trauma survivor and she lives with him in a platonic relationship (although she would like to see that change). He takes her to the hospital where she can be monitored and hopes she comes back to awareness. In the process, Cyrus becomes suspicious of the source and reason for the bodies being in the water.

Cyrus is hired as a consultant by the police as a psychologist and he goes a little beyond where he should to get to a solution as to how the people died in the water. He concludes it was no accident and follows the clues. It becomes personal and is the action is unexpected and riveting.

The book is timely in topic and hard to put down. Thank you, Netgalley, for the prepub copy to read and review.

I was pretty bummed with this book. I had loved the previous books with Cyrus and Evie but I couldn't t get into this one. The Evie chapters were interesting but there was so much technical details in Cyrus chapters that I found myself bored.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Michael Robotham has further expanded the world of Cyrus Haven in this latest novel and it's an good addition to the series. Here, we learn more about the mystery surrounding Evie and we get a great, hopefully recurring, new character named Florence.

Evie's story takes center stage in this work and everything else is secondary. Some of the 'coincidences' that allow the plot and Evie's story to dovetail are hard to accept but we're in Robotham's world and have to either jump on the train or stop the ride.

This isn't the best book in the series but it does give us Evie's background and will allow the series to grow and the characters to move on and hopefully thrive. I'm eager for the next installment.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I am a series girl and I love a good series! Can’t wait for the next book. Evie and Cyrus’ relationship is good and layered! I also want Evie to heal and flourish in the next book!

We're so lucky to have Michael Robotham. He consistently churns out engaging, well-researched, and thoughtful procedural thrillers. Cyrus and Evie have become old friends and I'm always eager to see where their next adventure will take them. Storm Child is no exception. Evie matures a lot in this book as her past is dug up and memories come to the surface. If you're a fan of the other three Cyrus and Evie books, you won't be disappointed, although I think it would be enjoyable even if you haven't read the previous three books.

Usually his books keep me wondering until somewhere near the end, but this one, while entertaining, had a few too many coincidences for it to rise to the level of his previous ones.

Evie was trafficked as a child and has been severely affected by it and by the loss of her family. Cyrus is a psychologist who has been helping her and caring for her in spite of his own childhood trauma. Together they become involved in an incident where migrants from Albania have been killed, maybe intentionally.

Spoiler alert**** I found it beyond believable that when Evie was hospitalized, she manages to find the only survivor who just happened to speak what she had grown up speaking. Amazing coincidence? Then she manages to talk her way into a Lord's private estate and recognizes the rooms and the paintings!

I got a kick out of the biker attorney, Florence, but all in all, too many things fell into place too easily so 3 stars max.
Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy. Honest opinions expressed here are my own and are freely given.

Storm Child by Michael Robotham is the 4th in the Cryus Haven series. Evie Cormac’s past is somewhat of a mystery to not only herself but also Cryus Haven. While on vaction at Lincolnshire beach 17 bodies are washed ashore. They are migrants that were seeking a better life in England. Evie is in a catatonic state after Cyrus finally finds her in a locked bathroom after he has helped to bring the bodies to the beach. While in the hospital Evie meets the only survivor of the ill fated group of migrants that has died. The police find out that two females are missing and they fear that they are being sold as sex slaves. Evie is remembering her past and trying to fill in the holes that she can't remember. With Cyrus's help Evie finally has some colseure to her past. This book has me up until 3 am finishing it. I always look forward to reading books by Michael Robotham and now sadly will have to wait a year to read another one. I would like to think both NetGalley and Scribner for letting me read an advance copy of this book,

I love this book series so much. I was so excited when I heard there was a fourth book coming out. This book finally revealed Evie's past life and history. The writing was so good. Such a wild ride til the end. I want more Evie and Cyrus adventures. I hope this series continues. I highly recommend this book if you have read the first three and if you haven't you need to read them all asap !

Thank you Netgalley and Scribner for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

I didn't enjoy the last book in this series as much as I liked the first two. However, this one felt more like a course correction for me, personally. The story feels bigger than the previous books, but still laser-focused on the two people who matter the most. Despite what she thinks about herself, I really like Evie, as a character and as a "person," and I continue to enjoy reading about her not-so-little life.

Thanks to scribner and Netgalley for sharing the fourth installment of Cyrus and Evie’s story. This is the strongest of the series, since it revealed Evie’s backstory, which added a lot. The mystery was still front and center though, so it wasn’t lacking in plot. Recommend for anyone who has read the previous books in the series,

Woohoo! Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac are back in another gripping, shocking and hard to put down installment in the Cyrus Haven series by Michael Robotham!!! I have been a fan of this series from the very first book and Storm Child did not disappoint. This entire series has been a delight, it might not always be easy to read, but man is it good!

Cyrus Haven is a forensic psychologist with a painful past, and Evie Cormac has been living with Cyrus since becoming his ward in the first book. She too has had a horrific and painful past which readers will learn more about in this book. Both characters are wonderfully developed and fleshed out. I enjoy their relationship, their dynamic and their interactions. As this is book #4 in the series, I do feel that this book would work as a stand-alone BUT you will miss out on so much character development and background history that I highly recommend starting with the first book in the series, Good Girl, Bad Girl and go from there. Trust me, you will love it!

In Storm Child, Evie witnesses the bodies of migrants wash up on the beach; one migrant, a seventeen year old. has survived. It is apparent that their boat was deliberately sunk, and Cyrus is asked by the police to help with the investigation. Cyrus can't help but see how this bot being sunk has affected Evie.

Readers of the series will be happy to learn more of Evie's traumatic and horrific past. This book was a riveting rollercoaster ride as the revelations kept coming. Plus, that ending!

Once again, I was dazzled by Michael Robotham's wonderful writing. If you have not read a book he has written, you are seriously missing out.


Beautifully written, well thought out, tension, gripping and emotional.

Mr. Robotham, this is your best work yet. But then, I’ve said that about all of your books.

Storm Child is such a perfect name for this book. I so enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery of Evie, and I enjoyed every little twist that got me there. What a perfect ending to this chapter in Cyrus and Evie’s life.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Storm Child. I enjoyed it immensely.