I really narcissistically believe that I am the number one fan of this author.
I can unashamedly say I love his books, this writer, his authentic self and his generosity to book shop owners.
I think he had a lot of fun writing The White Crow.
There is definitely something joyfully effortless about his latest thriller.
It does not move so much as it glides, full-throttle, from start to finish, as he weaves an action-packed web of murder, kidnap, theft and corruption, as tightly-wound as a rubber band ready to snap.
If you are looking for a gripping read that refuses to let go, this one is not to be missed.
Michael Robotham books are always gripping and The White Crow is equally as entertaining as Life or Death.
It begins with young London police constable Philomena McCarthy, who we first met two years ago in When You Are Mine, along with her notorious gangster father.
She spots a child wandering alone in the darkness; she takes the girl home and discovers the aftermath of a brutal home invasion.
Meanwhile, Detective Chief Inspector Brendan Keegan is stepping through the door of a jewellery shop in Hatton Garden, tentatively approaching a man tied to a chair and an explosive vest strapped to his chest.
It will turn out these two events are linked, but if you think this is just the groundwork for a classic whodunnit, you’re wrong.
As always it is just the runway for a full-blown cops-and-gangsters extravaganza.
The White Crow has a lot of moving parts and it is Robotham’s gift as a storyteller that it is all coherent, and the action does not disintegrate the story into hash, but in fact enriches it, and never at the expense of character.
There are few other writers out there who have this craftsmanship.
Often the next book in a series when the first was a bestseller disappoints, but this novel about a strong, principled woman in London’s law enforcement works.
Philomena McCarthy is a London Metropolitan Police Officer who aspires to be a detective someday and has defied the odds to become a young officer with the Met despite her notorious family.
She is an intelligent, compassionate protagonist who hates what her father and uncles do for a living.
Tension imbues this dark tale, with action reaching a scary crescendo before settling on a quiet note.
Two events collide and threaten the protagnoist’s career, her new marriage, and her life as now she is in too deep, and falling further.
She must decide who she can trust – her family or her colleagues – and on what side of the thin blue line she wants to live.
With its relentless pacing, unexpected twists and deeply compelling characters, The White Crow delivers a heart-pounding experience that lingers long after the final page.
Whether you are a seasoned thriller fan or new to the genre, this novel is sure to keep you on edge.
Told in real time from multiple points of view, The White Crow is filled with almost unbearable suspense – a page-turning tour de force that shows Robotham at the top of his game.
Julie Chessman
