This is the latest stunning addition to Michael Robotham's Nottingham forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven series, a tattooed man with his own traumatic backstory who takes into his home the damaged, mercurial, self destructive, infuriating, nihilistic, Eve Cormac, now 22 years old, with a past we know little about, other than she is Albanian and her actual name is Adina Osmani. We finally learn of her horrifying and nightmare buried memories, her family and what happened to them, the journey to Spain, and how she finally ended up in Britain. Cyrus has organised a seaside and sun trip to the coast, only to be there when dead migrants float to the coast from a boat, having him rushing into the sea to help pick up the bodies with others.

The sight of the dead bodies have Eve turn catatonic and having to be hospitalised, which is where she meets the one survivor, a 14 year old Albanian boy, Arben, who tells a story of their boat being deliberately rammed by a trawler at sea. The lawyer, Florence Gatsi, who goes on to represent Arben, works for Migrant Rescue, a organisation set up to help refugees. She ends up working with Cyrus who finds himself in the investigation headed by DI Carlson. However, the recognition of a man Eve cannot remember or place has her and Cyrus heading to Scotland and St Claire in search of answers that result in the resurfacing of a haunting and harrowing past that brings with it grave dangers in the present.

Robotham is a stellar storyteller, he creates and develops complex characters that I could not help but care deeply for, whilst zeroing in one of our leading contemporary issues, the demonising of a refugee crisis, with a mendacious and deplorable government devising their desperate populist Rwanda scheme. It is hard to comprehend how just one terror after another keeps hitting the young Eve, right up to point she is finally discovered and rescued. The intensely bleak and dark narrative does finally conclude with some shards of light, for which I was so grateful for after so much heartbreak. Do not miss out on this brilliant series with this wonderful addition, I recommend it highly to all readers.. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Storm Child is the fourth book in the Cyrus Haven series by award-winning Australian author, Michael Robotham. A relaxing Sunday at the seaside in late August takes an awful turn when the bodies of refugees begin washing up. The sight of Cyrus Haven carrying a dead child from the water dredges up memories that Evie Cormac has been avoiding, sending her into a catatonic state that requires hospitalisation

Of the twenty souls aboard the little boat, seventeen are dead, two young women are missing, and the only known survivor is a fourteen-year-old Albanian boy. While Cyrus is busy chatting to an angry black lawyer in motorcycle leathers, a recovered Evie happens upon the teen in his hospital room and is able to communicate in her native language. Both he and the lawyer claim this isn’t a tragic sinking of an inadequate vessel, but a deliberate act by men on a fishing trawler who rammed the boat multiple times. And one of the missing women is the teen’s older sister.

The whole situation triggers Evie’s recall of her own experience entering the UK, but Cyrus is wary of pushing it too far. When they are apprehended, Evie’s vague recognition of one of the men on the offending fishing trawler sends Cyrus to Scotland to learn more about this man. And naturally Evie refuses to be left behind. That turns out to be no picnic: they encounter some very nasty types intent on serious harm; there are guns and someone almost drowns.

Exploring the refugee situation, philanthropy, and modern slavery, this instalment is topical and thought-provoking. Robotham delivers a tightly plotted story sprinkled with enough misdirection to keep the reader guessing and the pages turning right up to the heart-thumping climax. There’s plenty of dark humour and the banter is often entertaining, but there are also characters with a jaw-dropping disregard for human life.

Once again, the narrative alternates between Evie and Cyrus: the situation brings back many of Evie’s memories that provide readers with her backstory, while Cyrus has several occasions recalling the wise words of his teacher, Joseph O’Loughlin. With most questions answered by the final pages, and one or two surprises, it feels like their story might be complete, but more of Cyrus and Evie will always be welcome. Unputdownable.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Little, Brown Group UK

Cyrus Haven & Evie Cormac are back. I've been following their series from the first book, and I can say they are my favourites.
The story revolves around a boat that carries a group of immigrants that sinks and kills all the passengers except one boy. Triggered by all the bodies in the water, Evie starts to remember her past trauma.
In this book, we will know more about Evie's past - her family, where she came from, and how she came to be in the UK.
I love those interesting twists, especially the ones towards the end of the story. However, the dynamic relationship between Cyrus and Evie in this series is not as alive as the previous ones.
The story also brought up a sensitive topic about boat people and asylum seekers.

4.5⭐️

No 4 Cyrus Haven series.

I’m a big fan of this series with the relationship between Evie and Cyrus so I was excited to read this one asap.

This one looks at the pertinent issue of people trafficking,a disaster with a small boat brings forth hidden memories for Evie. In this book we get much of Evie’s previously hidden back story which fit in excellently.

There is some character development for both Cyrus and Evie, and their relationship, but think they came across better in previous books as likeable characters.

I loved it, great story telling as always, it’s not one of my very favourites in the series.
I’m looking forward to the next instalment.

Storm Child is the fourth book in Michael’s highly acclaimed series about forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven and the troubled young adult, Evie Cormac.

The book gets off to a grim start with seventeen bodies from a refugee boat being washed up on a British beach. There is only one immediate survivor, a young boy, while two women are missing. Cyrus and Evie are on hand to witness the terrible sight. Cyrus rushes to help, but the sight is too much for Evie, and the memories that it brings up pushes her into a catatonic state.

Whatever happened all those years ago to Evie lies at the core of this new tragedy. Because these deaths are no accident. The same dark forces are reaching out again, dragging her back into the storm. Evie must now call upon Cyrus’s unique skills, and her own, in their search for the missing pieces of this complex and haunting puzzle. As Cyrus tries to track down those that are responsible, and find the survivors, the threat to him and Evie grows greater.

Storm Child brings to a head a lot of the themes and plots from the earlier books about what really happened to Evie as a child. There are frequent flashbacks to Evie’s childhood in Albania, and for the first time we get a clear view of the events that led up to the trauma that impacted so greatly on her childhood.

The background of people smuggling and the treatment of refugees gives the book a a very sombre feel, and Evie’s increasing distress as she remembers more and more, also adds to the darkness of the book. Fortunately this is somewhat balanced by the injection of some lighter moments in Cyrus’ developing relationship with a woman vital to the case, and in the interactions between him and Evie.

As usual, Robotham’s fine writing and his sharp-eyed observations of modern society give good depth to the book, and his depiction of a small town in Scotland vital to the story is very powerful. The themes around racism, greed and refugees are well handled, and resonate just as much in Australia as they do in the United Kingdom.

The pacing is not as quick as in the earlier books, and Evie’s recollections, while poignant, do impinge on the flow of the main plot. The tension does increase dramatically in the final quarter, however, and the ending is exciting and unexpected.

Overall, Storm Child is a powerful story that is a must read for fans of the earlier books.

See full review and more at: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/j...

Storm Child is the fourth book in this terrific series and although it could be read as a stand-alone it would be advisable (and enjoyable) to catch up with the back stories of these two characters in books 1-3 as this explains a lot about their personalities. This is possibly not the best book in the series but is still head & shoulders above many other crime books on the market.
Themes of people-trafficking and exploitation propel the plot along at a cracking pace full of tense and suspenseful twists. Cyrus and Evie's voices alternate throughout the book and the interaction of their very different personalities is particularly entertaining. As Evie's past is revealed it becomes increasingly clear why her life is in danger.
Thanks to the Little, Brown Group and NetGalley for an advance copy to review.

This series just keeps getting better and better. Robotham shows here why he is a master of his craft. I just adore both Cyrus and Evie and their relationship and growth is at the heart of this incredible series. This installment delivers up an emotionally-wretching, trauma-filled and thrilling mystery story which will grip you from the first page. There were some incredibly captivating reveals that left me thinking long after I finished the book. I shed a few tears along the ride. Highly recommend this series.

Amazon review to follow after release date.

Cyrus Haven and his housemate, Evie Cormac, are enjoying a day at the beach when they witness a distressing sight. The bodies of migrants are washed ashore, and the sole survivor tells of their boat being deliberately rammed by another. Evie is deeply affected by the sight and becomes catatonic due to reminders of her own past. As Cyrus helps the police investigation, the pair uncover more about Evie’s life.

Storm Child from Michael Robotham is the fourth book in the gripping Cyrus Haven series. The series focuses on the relationship between Cyrus, a forensic psychologist, and Evie Cormac, a young woman he has worked with to help her overcome the trauma of abuse. In the previous books, we discovered that as a child Evie was trafficked to the UK, a journey on which her mother and older sister died. Once in the UK Evie was tortured and sexually abused. When she was eventually rescued Evie couldn’t settle in foster care, her rebellious nature resulted in her being placed in a secure facility where she met Cyrus. As a psychologist, Cyrus was asked to try and help Evie. A strong bond was formed between the pair, with Cyrus becoming Evie’s guardian, giving her the opportunity to leave the secure facility and begin to heal. Cyrus has his own traumatic past and it is this past that has driven him to help others overcome their trauma.

Evie is still living with her past trauma, there are parts of her experience she is still not prepared to talk about, even to Cyrus. The sight of the bodies on the beach has a devastating effect on her, bringing on a catatonic state. As she slowly recovers, she forms a bond with the only survivor of the migrant crossing, Arben, a teenage boy, who is desperate to know if his sister survived. With help from Evie and Cyrus the police discover that the boat the migrants were in was deliberately rammed by a trawler after it refused to turn back towards France. Was this a far-right group taking matters into their own hands, or something far more sinister? They learn of the legend of The Ferryman, the person who controls all Channel crossings. For years it has been assumed he was just a bogeyman, used to frighten off people considering the crossing, but now it looks as if he may be real.

As the investigation digs deeper, Evie’s memories begin to resurface, memories she has kept buried because they are so painful. The threat of these memories being disclosed means that both Cyrus and Evie’s lives are in jeopardy.

A bittersweet conclusion offers Evie, and the reader, some answers to her past. Those answers are another step along the way to giving Evie the normal life she so desperately craves but feels she doesn’t deserve.

This year marks 20 years of my all-time favourite author, Michael Robotham, and his latest psychological thriller, The Storm Child, shows exactly why Stephen King calls him "an absolute master." The newest instalment in the Evie Cormac and Cyrus Haven series is a thrilling conclusion, finally uncovering the secrets of Evie’s dark past, her family, and how she ended up in England.

The story begins with Cyrus and Evie on a beachside holiday, which takes a dark turn when bodies of asylum seekers start washing up on the shore after their boat overturns. This tragedy triggers Evie’s traumatic memories, and as Cyrus dives into the investigation, he discovers Evie’s unsettling connections to the people smugglers involved.

Michael Robotham’s brilliance lies in his nuanced, complex characters. Now in the fourth book of the series, Evie and Cyrus are so vividly real, they leap off the page. The plot is taut and smart, weaving through dark themes as it unravels Evie’s disturbing past. I was gripped from start to finish, unable to put the book down.

For thriller enthusiasts who haven’t yet delved into this author’s books, you need to. All is his books are a masterclass in suspense and character development including this new one. I eagerly anticipate more adventures with Cyrus and Evie, but even if their journey concludes here, I can't wait to see what Michael Robotham has in store for readers in the next 20 years.

A huge thank you to @netgalley and @littlebrowngroup for an ARC of Storm Child for honest review.

I really enjoyed this book with Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac. Cyrus is a psychologist, teacher and guardian of Evie living in the same house.

Evie’s mystery childhood had followed her into her adulthood and she starts to recognise people from her past. Cyrus tries desperately hard to help and support her

Finally, Evie finds her past, with Cyrus’s help, and Police find the human traffickers associated. A fantastic read. Highly recommended

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group

I have loved this series but I think this is the weakest book so far. Evie and Cyrus are working to uncover an organisation involved in human trafficking of refugees seeking asylum that they think were involved in Evie's forgotten past.

I think that a plot surrounding the danger that asylum seekers face should have carried more heart and emotion than I felt whilst reading it. I understood the decision to link Evie's backstory to this plot and whilst my favourite parts of the book were when Evie was remembering more of her childhood in Albania, I felt like the inclusion was a bit forced. I also found that the overall "mystery" plot line wasn't much of a mystery - instead of feeling gripped throughout as I have found Robotham's previous books, I found that the story was falling a bit flat for me.

The thing I love most about this series are the characters Evie and Cyrus and their relationship, however, this also fell flat for me in this book. Even though it seems they spend the most time together in the whole series, I felt like I was being told a lot of the time how each of them was feeling rather than being shown.

I'm also getting a bit tired of every book there being a new female character introduced to be Cyrus' love interest - it's starting to feel a bit predictable and I would much rather if one could stick around longer than one book (although I do like Florence in this book, no hate to her!).

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

Storm Child by Michael Rowbotham is the fourth in the Cyrus Haven series and it is a stunning read, having read the other three books in this series, I was impressed with the way all of Evie’s earlier questions and recollections are dealt with in this book.
The storyline was haunting, with the tale of the migrants boat being rammed and people dying needlessly. It is all too familiar a picture in the summer months in the UK, when migrants end up washed up on beaches having drowned on their way here for a better life.
An impressive read of a fascinating series of damaged people.
Highly recommended

This is my first time of hearing of this author, and after reading this I quickly went over to the Kindle store to purchase the first book in this series.

This was written really well, with good pace and a solid plot.

Definitely look forward to reading more from Michael Robotham

This is the fourth in a series featuring psychologist Cyrus Haven and his former foster child, now friend and housemate, Evie. In this book we find out more about her traumatic past after she witnesses the bodies of migrant refugees being washed up on a beach after their small boat is sunk by a fishing trawler. When it becomes evident that this was no accident, Cyrus steps in to help with the police investigation, and it soon becomes clear that there is a connection to Evie who was herself an Albanian refugee. As with the previous novels, this is a hard-hitting crime story that racks up the tension, and offers humane insight into a very current issue. The developing relationship between Evie and Cyrus continues to be a joy-he is compassionate, ethical but not always cautious enough, she is a feisty, independent survivor of horrendous experiences, and somehow their unconventional partnership works. The psychological aspects of the narrative are also fascinating. A book that will grip from the start and packs a punch, but also offers empathy and heart.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC! It was such a great read, kept me engaged the whole time! This book follows Cyrus and Evie on another adventure where we learn more about Evie and her past. Such a great story which sheds a light on some issues that are very relevant today. So happy to be reading Evie and Cyrus again
Thanks NetGalley!

I just love Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac.
This book is full on with a lot of action to it.
We get to learn more about evies past in this book.
One day a group of migrants wash up on the shores all are dead except for 1 a teenage boy where did they come from and why are they all dead what happened??
The ending of the book was brilliant.

Cyrus and Evie make a good team and I’ve enjoyed reading about their previous adventures and how they met when Cyrus was Evie’s psychologist.
In this book the focus is on Evie and particularly her background. She is gradually remembering what happened to her in her childhood and how she came to be in the UK although there are many blanks. When she witnesses the aftermath of a migrant boat sinking in the sea she is so traumatised that Cyrus rushes her to hospital.
Once she has recovered sufficiently she helps a teenage boy survivor , rescued from the ocean who is in the same hospital. She uses her long lost Albanian to find out how the boat came to sink and is appalled to discover it was deliberately rammed by another boat.
Cyrus and Evie decide to investigate but Evie is given some worrying news which she has to deal with in the course of the book.
Following the trail to Scotland and helped by Florence, a lawyer acting for a refugee charity, Cyrus drives them both up there as Evie recognises one of the men accused of sinking the boat and he comes from a fishing village north of the border. She cannot remember how she knows him but it is clear it has something to do with her past.
I really liked how this book looked into Evie’s background and was moved by the touching relationship between Cyrus and Evie as he tries to help her navigate what is happening.
There were some interesting twists, particularly one towards the end of the novel which almost brought a tear to my eye.
I can’t work out if this book is the last in the series, I sincerely hope it’s not as I thoroughly enjoy reading about these two wonderful characters.
I recommend “Storm Child” and although it is possible to read it as a standalone I would suggest reading the previous novels as they serve to set the scene as both characters have interesting back stories.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

I enjoy Michael Robotham's books, and this one was a ripper. This one goes into Evie's backstory, and is all about people smuggling. Lots of twists and turns, with an unlikely villain and a wonderful ending. The introduction of feisty Florence was great, and hopefully she appears in any future books featuring Cyrus and Evie. The arguments about refugees and asylum seekers seem to be the same around the world, a truly sad situation that some people are exploiting. All in all, an engrossing read that I devoured in quick time.

Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cyrus and Evie are at the beach when a host of dead bodies wash up. They turn out to be refugees seeking asylum in the UK. Evie is in the hospital after having a sort of mental breakdown at seeing the dead bodies. While she is in the hospital, a lone survivor that is eventually found is brought into the hospital. He is Albanian and Evie is able to communicate with him because she was originally from Albania. He says that their boat was hit by another boat and drowning all of the refugees was intentional. Cyrus and Evie wind up investigating the situation.

This was another good one in this series. We wound up getting a lot more info on Evie's background. I found the topic of trafficking and immigration in the UK to be interesting. I really like both Cyrus and Evie. I look forward to reading more of this series.

I’ve loved this series of books. Each one is very different but links together through the main characters. This book is all about how the main character got to be where she is today. It’s very cleverly written, with lots of twists and turns along the way.
The sweet surprise near the end was so welcome- a little ray of sunshine in a very traumatic and stressful life.