Robothem just seems to get it right every time. The fourth book in his Cyrus Haven series, but you can definitely read as a stand alone. This book is very thought provoking and will stay with you long after you finish. .

One of my favour authors and this one definitely didn’t disappoint. Thoroughly descriptive writing puts the readers right amongst it! Yet again, Robotham has me hooked from beginning to end!

Another great book by this wonderful author and one I just couldn't put down. Evie and Cyrus are back and I love these two characters as they really do make this stories in this series what they are. Again, another action packed read, a thrill ride of sorts and one that kept me reading long past my bedtime.

We learn some new things about Evie and her past, her story at times is heart-breaking but she is a strong and courageous woman. A great story and a great read that had all the thrills, chills, twists and turns I wanted and more.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I was absolutely blown away by Michael Robotham’s latest Cyrus Haven novel, Storm Child! It was a wonderful read and by the end I was in tears…..it was just so so moving and emotional!

Cyrus and Evie continue their journey together and we find out a lot more about Evie and her past, particularly those parts of her childhood that have been hidden from her.

Incredibly well written, fast paced with horrific scenes but also very moving.

The central themes focus is on refugees, illegal migration and people smuggling along with sex trafficking and kidnapping.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from Hachette Australia & New Zealand via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#StormChild #NetGalley

Storm Child is the 4th book in the Cyrus Haven series and this time, the dynamic duo of Evie Cormack and Cyrus Haven returned to finally unlock the secrets of Evie’s past.

I cannot get enough of this series and the evolution of both Evie and Cyrus’s characters over the four years and four different books. The two broken souls just have such a special and unbreakable bond and their unique relationship is so heartwarming.

This was a fast paced read, introducing flashbacks as the current circumstances trigger memories for Evie following the migrants deaths which ultimately unravels some shocking discoveries and truths for the pair.

Overall, this was well written, action packed and had such a multilayered plot to keep you engaged and turning the pages. It also had such a beautiful ending and left a glimmer of hope for Evie’s future and I desperately hope that means that we get a fifth book!

Like all of Michael Robotham’s books, Storm Child is a captivating story. At last, we gain insight into Evie Cormac’s traumatic past as she remembers more and more about the chilling and heartbreaking events she experienced as a little girl. Despite the horror portrayed, there are also moments of tenderness and joy as the story unfolds. Highly recommended. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is book 4 in the Cyrus Haven series and we find out so much more about Evie's past. Evie and Cyrus are at the beach when bodies start to wash up from a capsized boat transporting immigrants. The scene triggers a series of memories for Evie that brings on a dread of what may have really happened.
The story does touch on topics of physical, sexual and mental abuse as well as asylum seekers. The story depicts in great detail the desperation and degradation that asylum seekers endure to try and bring their families to safety.
Not sure if this marks an endpoint for the series, but I feel as though many questions were finally answered. I also enjoyed to the cross references to Joe O'Loughlin from another series by the same author.
Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Australia for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.

EXCERPT: I saw Cyrus, waist deep in water, carrying a child in his arms. I felt a sudden surge of adrenalin and a sudden, overwhelming need to run. I couldn't make my legs move. I couldn't speak. It was as if somebody had hit the pause button and my life had stopped, frozen on that image of Cyrus holding a dead child with dangling limbs and a lolling head and open eyes staring at me.

ABOUT 'STORM CHILD': The mystery of Evie Cormac’s background has followed her into adulthood. As a 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. Now, on a hot summer’s day, the past drags Evie back as she watches the bodies of seventeen migrants wash up on a Lincolnshire beach.

There is only one survivor, a teenage boy, who tells police their small boat was deliberately rammed and sunk. Psychologist Cyrus Haven is recruited by the police to investigate the murders—but recognizes immediately that Evie has some link to the tragedy. By solving this crime, he could finally unlock the secrets of her past. But what dark forces will he set loose? And who will pay the price?

MY THOUGHTS: I have been a fan of this series since the beginning and Storm Child only strengthens my love. I have loved watching the relationship between Cyrus and Evie develop and grow and Evie's character develop and grow alongside it. A lot of Evie's backstory, some of which she is vaguely aware but a lot of which she is ignorant of, is revealed in Storm Child. There are many heart wrenching moments, but equally, some heart warming moments too. And then there are the terrifying ones! My nails look a hammering!

We are introduced to a new character, Florence, whom I believe we will see a lot more of in the future. Florence is a motor bike riding lawyer whose services Cyrus and Evie need more than once.

Full of tension, Storm Child is a tightly plotted and riveting read. Bring on #5 in the series.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

#StormChild #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Michael Robotham was born in Australia in November 1960 and grew up in small country towns that had more dogs than people and more flies than dogs. He escaped became a cadet journalist on an afternoon newspaper in Sydney.
Michael now lives in Sydney with his wife and a diminishing number of dependent daughters.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hachette Australia and New Zealand for providing a digital ARC of Storm Child by Michael Robotham for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

My brain needs a reboot!

I haven't stopped thinking about this book. Michael's writing is impeccable. The amount of details put into the plot blows my mind. I felt like I was the one investigating the event.

Absolutely adored the main characters. They had me going through all the emotions. I just wanted to give Evie a hug. The plot was perfection and incredibly written.

I had the honour of reading the ARC for Storm Child. It has become one of my favourite books. Michael is an incredible writer.

I highly recommend this book.

Happy Publication day to one of my favourite authors @michaelrobotham . This is the next instalment in the Cyrus Haven series where with each book we get a little more insight into both Cyrus and Evie’s past. Delving more into Evie’s roots we find out about the treacherous trip she made with her mother and sister and more of her memories are coming back. The relationship between Evie and Cyrus also develops as she’s slowly learning to trust the very few people she lets into her life. As with all Robotham’s books she have the ongoing character development but also an over arching action packed plot and mystery to solve. You will not be disappointed and as I have heard from others, can be read as a stand alone without it not making any sense but I would encourage you to read the first three as it gives you a sense of where both main characters have come from and the ongoing demons they battle. Another banger from Michael.!

Thankyou to NetGalley and Hachette for the opportunity to review this arc.

Grab a cup of tea and settle in for another instalment in the Cyrus Haven series.

Cyrus and Evie are back. They are on holidays when they witness 17 refugee bodies wash up on the beach - all deceased but one. This brings back so many memories for Evie and she ends up in hospital in a catatonic state. One young refugee survived and both Cyrus (a psychologist) and Evie assist the police to get to the bottom of this heartbreaking mystery. This string of events starts to unlock Evie's memories of the past especially when she starts recognising people and places in Scotland.

I have really enjoyed this series. I recommend reading this from book one to get the background of the characters.
Storm Child is a fast paced psychological thriller and one I could not put down. We get some much needed closure for Evie. This book is a little on the darker side as it delves up Evie's past. I'm looking forward to purchasing a physical copy for my shelves.

Thank you Hachette Australia and Netgalley for the gifted e-book for my honest book review.

Certainly! Here's how we can incorporate that paragraph into the final review:

I was thrilled to receive an ARC of "Storm Child" by Michael Robotham from NetGalley, as I'm a huge fan of his work. Having previously read and loved "Good Girl, Bad Girl," the first book in the Cyrus Haven series, I was eager to dive back into this gripping world, and "Storm Child" did not disappoint.

In "Storm Child," Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac return in Robotham’s latest psychological thriller, which finally unlocks the secrets of Evie’s haunting past. As a child, Evie was discovered hiding in a secret room where a man had been tortured to death. Her mysterious background has followed her into adulthood, haunting her with unanswered questions and unresolved traumas. Now, the past resurfaces when seventeen migrants are found dead on a Lincolnshire beach, with only one survivor—a teenage boy who claims their boat was deliberately rammed. Recruited by the police to investigate, Cyrus Haven senses that Evie is somehow connected to the tragedy. Delving deeper into the investigation, he risks uncovering dark truths that could shake the foundations of Evie's identity and unleash unforeseen consequences.

Robotham's skillful narrative unfolds through alternating perspectives of Cyrus and Evie, offering deeper insights into their complex characters and their intertwined destinies. The revelations about Evie's past are chilling and poignant, adding layers of depth to her character that resonate throughout the novel. The dynamic between Evie and Cyrus, evolving between protector and protected, friend and confidant, intensifies the emotional stakes of the story, making their bond both compelling and heart-wrenching.

I particularly enjoy the complex relationship between Evie and Cyrus. Both have twisted pasts with no remaining family, so it's heartening to see them find solace in each other. Their relationship is a fascinating mix of brother/sister, friends, and potential romantic partners – or maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part. While I understand that a romantic relationship between them would be inappropriate, I can't help but ship them due to their deep connection and mutual understanding.

"Storm Child" maintains a gripping pace with twists and turns that kept me engrossed from start to finish. While the plot occasionally shifts in pacing, Robotham's masterful handling of suspense and psychological intrigue ensures a captivating read.

Overall, "Storm Child" is a riveting addition to the Cyrus Haven series, showcasing Robotham's prowess in crafting intricate mysteries and exploring the complexities of human resilience and redemption. Fans of psychological thrillers will find this novel both thrilling and emotionally resonant, and I eagerly anticipate future installments in this compelling series.

4.5 stars.

On a day at the beach together, they witness an unfolding tragedy with drowned refugees washing ashore at the beach. This is seriously triggering for Evie who ends up hospitalised in a catatonic state. We know Evie was trafficked to Britain on a boat with her mother and sister, who died on that journey.

Are there tangible threads that could tie this tragedy to Evie’s own existence?

Cyrus will do anything to help Evie, which includes pursuing this tragedy which takes them to some very dark and dangerous places…

Slowly, book by book, piece by piece, we’re getting closer to finding out and knowing who Evie Cormac really is…

I just loved Storm Child, Cyrus and Evie are some of my very favourite characters! Their nuanced and touching relationship is both compelling and intriguing. Evie has endured unspeakable things and threats, and Cyrus is steadfast in helping Evie navigate life. Their friendship is touching and tender, and at times tenuous, but Cyrus will never give up on her. I love that they have a deep connection, that they’re truly each others “person”. Whilst Cyrus ends up with a love interest, Evie is always the most important person in his life!

I really hope this isn’t the last we see of Cyrus & Evie!

Fourth in the series, Storm Child also works really well as a stand-alone book. In this story, Evie Cormac, trafficked and then sexually abused as a child, teams up once again with her friend, forensic pathologist Cyrus Haven to track down those behind the murder of most of a boatload of refugees off the Lincolnshire coast. Their journey takes them from Nottingham to a small Scottish fishing village, where things take one sinister turn after another as they try to identify the people behind a major trafficking ring. This story is filled with twists and plenty of red herrings. There are characters who are nothing like their public personas might suggest and there’s plenty of danger for both Evie and Cyrus. I’ve really enjoyed reading this series and this book concludes things very neatly.

The fourth instalment of the Evie and Cyrus chronicles is the best of the lot, and all are compelling. If you are new to this series it is well worth starting with book 1, Good Girl, Bad Girl and continuing along in order. The plot here, unsurprisingly is excellent and the character development intriguing- more in this 4th book than in previous and yet there is scope for that byline to develop over plenty more books. FYI, Subject matter here is confronting, with kidnapping, sex trafficking, rape, paedophilia, repressed memories, murder and plenty more covered, but many of the references are oblique. Of you feel like you can cope with the above and you are a fan of crime thrillers, this one is of the highest order.

The fourth book in the Cyrus Haven series and although I did enjoy reading it, it was not my favourite so far.

Having loved the three previous books I was really looking forward to delving into Evie's past and I was not disappointed. Having experienced so much trauma over so many years it is only amazing that she is sane at all. I had a small issue with there being too many coincidences along the way though, and secretly wished the author had used some other approach than people smuggling to tie events together.

Overall a very readable book - always a certainty with anything written by Michael Robotham. I enjoyed the alternate chapters by Cyrus and Evie which gave me so much to understand about both of them. There is a whole heap of action, some interesting information about people smuggling in the UK, and of course lots of psychology and understanding of Evie. There's a hint there that Cyrus may be even more underlyingly disturbed than Evie is. Maybe another book in the making?

Storm Child is the 4th book in the Cyrus Haven series featuring the beguiling Evie Cormac, the young woman with the most disturbing of pasts. The forensic psychologist and the young human lie detector are back in another emotionally taut thriller that starts in England’s Lincolnshire before heading up to Aberdeen in Scotland.

The two friends are holidaying at the beach when a scream pierces the air. Someone has noticed a body floating to shore. When Cyrus looks out to sea he’s disturbed to find many other bodies are also in the water. A refugee boat has capsized and sunk and these are the victims. He springs into action, swimming out to bring them to shore.

<i>“That’s when I saw Cyrus, waist deep in water, carrying a child in his arms. I felt a surge of adrenaline and a sudden, overwhelming need to run. I couldn’t make my legs move. I couldn’t speak. It was as if somebody had hit the pause button and my life had stopped, frozen on that image of Cyrus holding a dead child…”</i>

Evie spots him carrying a child to shore and the sight triggers a memory from her past and she becomes catatonic, falling into a stupor which leads to her hospitalisation. Although she eventually recovers from the episode, the MRI that was performed has revealed some disturbing results.

Using his police connections, Cyrus is able to find out more about the smuggling operation that went wrong and resulted in so many deaths. Tracking down names of boats and then names of boat owners he is able to identify the possible identities of the smugglers. Of course, getting proof is another thing altogether and in order to do that it appears the trail is going to take them to Scotland.

Together, Cyrus and Evie travel north to Scotland hoping to learn more about Evie’s past and the illegal people smuggling trade that was part of it. Naturally, confronting people who are in the middle of a lucrative illegal activity is extremely dangerous, putting lives at risk and ramping the tension all the way up.

Evie’s past - her early life in Albania and how she came to the UK - is revealed in a series of recalled memories. With the help of Cyrus she manages to remember the boat on which she and her mother and sister were travelling when it ran into trouble during the crossing of the English Channel. Her memories of some of the crew from that trip, the smugglers themselves, start to return to her.

I really like how this series has progressed, particularly the relationship between Cyrus and Evie. Certainly, there are still some major mental challenges to overcome for each of them but their trust and acceptance of one another provides plenty of positive moments throughout what becomes a turbulent search into Evie’s past.

It would be my recommendation to read the earlier books (Good Girl Bad Girl, When She Was Good and Lying Beside You) before tackling this one to get a full appreciation of how far they’ve come together. It will also explain the catatonia and moments of uneasiness between the two.

Normally, it’s the crime aspect of a crime novel that is of the greatest importance - who did it and how, will they be caught and how. For me, the real strength of Storm Child is the character development that takes place. They are given tremendous depth and substance as three dimensional characters and that leads to them striking an emotional chord in me. I felt as though I had a greater stake in the outcome as a result.

This is yet another outstanding thriller from Michael Robotham filled with powerful emotion, insightful commentary on worldwide refugee problems and a gripping finale to round things off.

<i>My thanks to Hachette Australia & NZ via NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC, allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book.</i>

Evie Cormac and Cyrus Haven were at the beach when the unthinkable happened - Cyrus raced into the surf to rescue the person he could see bobbing in the waves. But the person was dead. So were many others, and the horrors turned out to be victims from a migrant boat which had been brutally run down, with them all left for dead. Fortunately there was one young survivor - a teenage boy who was able to tell them they'd been deliberately rammed. The police were on the case, protecting the boy while he was in hospital, and Cyrus was recruited - as a psychologist - to help the police.

Evie was traumatised by the whole event; it brought back images of her past and what had happened to her, her mother and sister. But there were large blank spaces in her memory. She couldn't remember the important parts - didn't particularly want to remember - but would this bring it all back to her? Cyrus was her support person, the one she could turn to for anything. He would help her find her memories...

Storm Child is the 4th in the Cyrus Haven series by Aussie author Michael Robotham and is another excellent addition to this addictive series. Set in England - Lincolnshire - and partly Scotland, Cyrus and Evie continue to be captivating characters, while Professor Joseph O'Loughlin received a couple of mentions as well. I'm really enjoying the series and hope it continues for a long time to come. Highly recommended (with a strong recommendation to start at #1)

With thanks to Hachette AU and NetGalley for my ARC to read and review.

4.5~5★
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is a little voice that says, ‘run’, ‘hide’, ‘pray’, but mostly, ‘stay silent’, be as quiet as a mouse within the walls. Don’t let them find you.”

Evie knows that’s the strategy that has kept her, if not completely safe, at least alive. She remembers her family and that they fled Albania, but that’s about all. Cyrus Havens is the forensic psychologist who helped her recover (as much as she has) and in whose house she lives as a friend.

She is tiny for her age, now 22, but is usually taken to be a young teen. They are holidaying at a beach where Cyrus is swimming (she can’t swim), and she is trying out a new, more adult, look. He wants her to at least set foot in the water.

“‘It’s bracing.’

‘That’s another word for cold.’ I’m sitting in a deckchair, hiding under a wide- brimmed hat and the sunglasses I bought at Boots this morning. I think they make me look like a movie star. Cyrus says I look like a blowfly.”

Suddenly, Cyrus dives out into the ocean, and to Evie’s horror, struggles to walk out of the water carrying the body of a child. She is immediately stricken with fear and lapses into an almost catatonic state.

“I was fixated on the dead child, who looked exactly like me. How old? Four, maybe five.

They say that the first thing we lose is our baby teeth, but that’s not true. We lose our honest, unbiased memories. We begin to rewrite events, slowly altering the truth until we create a new, more acceptable story, one we can live with or tell others.”

In Evie’s case, she hadn’t rewritten the events so much as lived with a big hole in her memory. But this tragedy has dislodged something, and she can’t ignore the scenes of her own history playing in her mind. Instead, she has retreated, withdrawn: “stay silent”.

She was only nine when she arrived. At eighteen, after years of abuse, she was interviewed by forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven, who has helped her unearth a lot. But what about these new memories?

“The worst of them are buried just below the surface of her subconscious like landmines. One wrong step and they will cripple or maim. My job is not to dig them up, but to mark where they are with tiny flags so that Evie can cross the minefield safely. One of them has detonated and Evie has gone to her safe place. The question is – how do I get her back?”

She wakes up in hospital.

“ ‘I saw the bodies in the water. You were carrying a little boy and . . .’ I don’t finish. ‘I want to go home.’

‘After you’ve talked to the neurologist.’

‘The who?’

‘She’s a brain specialist. We need to find out what happened.’

‘I know what happened.’

He waits for my explanation, but I don’t have one.

‘Sleep,’ he says, turning off the light and leaning back in a chair, propping his feet on the bed.

‘You frightened me,’ he whispers.

‘I frightened myself.’ ”

Although Robotham doesn’t mince words, he doesn’t dwell on grisly descriptions. Evie’s terror is real and warranted. She is remembering her trip and is desperate to know what happened to her mother and sister.

As with gangland crime, the refugee operators run the full gamut from local toughs to the highest levels of power and influence. Everyone has an excuse. Nobody has a solution. It’s ‘the government’s fault’, of course.

While the plot and storyline keep moving, it’s the characters who hold our attention. Cyrus knows Evie has a crush on him, but he attracts his own share of lady friends, and Evie quite likes the current one. Evie was also beginning to date and feel teenaged flutters before this disruption.

They are evolving into an interesting family, and I hope to see some of them again. I think Robotham has left the possibility that we may. 😊

This is most enjoyable as part of the series, but there is enough back story here that it could be read as a standalone. Many readers of series start in the middle because that is the only book available at the library or that was shouting at us from a second-hand bookstall. Start wherever you can!

Thanks to #NetGalley and Hachette for the review copy of #StormChild from which I’ve quoted. (A few quotations may change, but you get the idea. The man knows how to write!.)

I finished this book and was absolutely speechless. It was absolutely amazing! Right from the beginning the story had a grip on me and I couldn't put it down. Michael Robotham is an absolutely tremendous writer as I found out today. This is technically book 4 of a series but I didn't realise and it held up perfectly as a standalone.

The plot was both heart-warming and heartbreaking, suspenseful and cosy. Topics that can be hard to write about realistically - mental health, refugees/trafficking, PTSD etc - were beautifully described and I honestly cried multiple times.

At times it felt like I was reading a life story.

I know I've given 5 stars multiple times, but I may need to reevaluate my rating system, otherwise this will have to be a 6 star.

I 100% recommend this!