*The White Crow* is a taut, high-stakes thriller that follows Philomena McCarthy, a young police officer caught between her criminal family legacy and the career she’s fought hard to build. When a bloodied child and a jewelry store bombing collide in a chilling chain of events, Philomena is thrust into a web of deceit, danger, and divided loyalties. With her marriage, job, and life on the line, she must navigate a treacherous path where no one—not even family—can be fully trusted. Told in gripping real-time from multiple perspectives, this is a masterclass in suspense, showcasing Robotham’s gift for tension and emotional complexity.

Philomena McCarthy is an unlikely police officer. Daughter of the renowned Eddie McCarthy- London gangland boss, Phil turned away from that to join the ranks of Law and Order. When out on patrol one night she sees a young girl wandering the street in her nightie. Telling the police officer with her to continue to where they were going she gets out of the car to help the child. When the girl leads them home and shows Phil her mother, tied to a chair and obviously dead, Phil calls for reinforcements. Meanwhile a leading jeweller is also tied to a chair, but he is clutching what appears to be a bomb.

The connection between the two cases and possible connection to Phil's family makes for a compelling reading as the reader tries to connect the dots. The characters in the story are very believable and compelling. I missed the first in this series but I'll be looking out for the next one. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read and review this book- I've found yet another series to follow!

I wasn’t sure about this book since I hadn’t read the first one. So I went to the library and got it and read it first. I really would not have needed to because this book could be read as a standalone. I was a little disappointed that the first book’s ending wasn’t really addressed in this book. Philomena was trying to be a police officer but her crime family keeps getting in the way.

4 stars-This is the second in the Philomena McCarthy series. Phil as she is known, is a Met police officer fairly new on the job, and newly married (see book 1). When she finds a 4 year old sleeping in the bushes in her pajamas in the middle of the night tied to a jewelry store robbery, she inserts herself into the investigation. She is definitely unwelcome, because her father and uncles are on the other side of the law and are believed to have been involved in the heist.

I am really enjoying this new series and hope we get to see more from Phil and her firefighter husband, Henry. I do think it is time for them to adopt a dog with a human name-say George or Kevin (hint to the author 😁)

As always, this is another outstanding Michael Robotham book (though I did like the first one in the series a bit better.) Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the arc.

I have mixed emotions about this one. While it is suspenseful and fast paced, there is almost too much going on and too many characters involved. My mind gets overwhelmed trying to keep it all straight and it becomes less enjoyable. However I realize that may be the exact reason someone else loves it. Wasn't for me but I wouldn't steer other readers away. My thanks to Scribner for providing a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Cracking British police procedural, where the main character Philomena McCarthy is the daughter of a local crime lord and a police detective. In this book she finds a little girl in the street covered in blood and gets thrust into trying to solve a brutal robbery and stay out of her families gang war. Robotham is one of the better thriller writers working, and can tell a story full of nasty twists and turns.

Thank you Scribner and Netgalley for providing this ARC. This is a worthy installment for the Philomena McCarthy series, although I had to refresh my memory of the first book since it’s been around 5 years since I read that. I enjoy Michael Robotham’s writing and have been reading the Cyrus Haven series as well. I didn’t enjoy this quite as much as that series but still found it enjoyable and would continue to read the series. I recommend this for anyone who’s read the first book or enjoys Robotham.

Another fantastic book from MR! This is a triumph and a totally entertaining and suspenseful read from start to finish. His characters and plotting remain top-notch and the dialog is pitch perfect. Really liked it

In 2021 I summed up my review of “When You Are Mine,” with “It turns out I will be reading everything by Michael Robotham.” I have since read three more of his books and have yet to be disappointed. This may be my favorite, so far.

This is the second in the series featuring Philomena McCarthy, a London police officer whose career is complicated by her father and uncles' notoriety as underworld figures. Her father never approved of her chosen vocation and there are those in law enforcement who will always have doubts about her allegiances.

Philomena finds a five-year-old girl wandering the streets alone, leading to the discovery of the girl's murdered mother. This murder is connected to a complex robbery, and it's unclear if Philomena's family was involved. As usual, Philomena is suspected of complicity. The story leaves us questioning who the "good guys" truly are, as both her far-from-innocent family and the equally ruthless police operate in a moral gray area.

I first discovered Michael Robotham’s work when I ran across a Stephen King posting: “I always have a huge stack of books to read, but a Michael Robotham novel automatically goes to the top of the pile.” While Mr. King frequently praises a number of authors, here he is dead on. The characters are intriguing, the pace is brisk, and the plot will have you guessing until the last shot.

Highly recommended.

Thank you to Scribner, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #WhiteCrow

Philomena McCarthy returns for a second novel and I loved it. Michael Robotham writes a great thriller. Suspenseful and action packed from the first to last page. I love the confict of Philomena trying to stay on the straight and narrow, pursuing a career in police work while maintaining a relationship with her mob boss father. Story was well written and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I highly recommend reading When You Were Mine first to get introduced to the characters, but The White Crow does work as a stand alone novel.

I read the first book a while ago but I did enjoy this character. Philomena has an interesting storyline and I am excited to see where the author takes us!

I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the 1st in the series. I like the main character and the dynamics surrounding her relationship with her family, but I felt the storyline was slower this time around and not as smooth. If this series continues, I think the focus needs to be much more on the main character and the cases she’s involved in, and less involvement with her criminal family. They should be a side story, not part of the main plotline. I enjoyed it but I think it is much more mystery than thriller. If you are looking for a mystery, I would recommend it. But if you are looking for a good thriller, this isn’t it. There just isn’t a lot of suspense throughout, just at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sphere UK for the complimentary copy of this book. As always, the opinions expressed within this review are completely my own.

I devoured the Cyrus Haven series and couldn’t wait to dive into this new series. Michael Robotham consistently delivers engaging stories that are difficult to put down.
I thoroughly enjoyed this captivating novel and getting to know Philomena and the entire McCarthy family. What a great cast of characters.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series and plan to go back to read the first one, You Are Mine.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to read this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really enjoyed book one When You Are Mine.
When I seen book two was available I knew I had to get it.
An absorbing read that you don’t want to put down until the end. The characterization is very good.
A fast-paced, gripping read.
The author's skillful storytelling and ability to create tension and suspense had me hooked from the very first page.
If you haven’t read the Philomena McCarthy Series you really need to.
I love Robotham‘s writing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Michael Robotham, and second in the Philomena McCarthy series. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Philomena McCarthy has defied the odds to become a young officer with the Metropolitan Police because her father and her uncles are notorious London gangsters. On patrol one night, Phil finds a small child hiding in a bush, covered in blood, saying she can't wake up her mother. Close by, a jeweler has a bomb strapped to his chest in his store and millions of dollars in jewelry is gone. These two events collide, along with her family and personal life.

While this book would work as a standalone, I would recommend reading When You Are Mine first to get the full background of the characters. But this second one is fabulous and I was glued to the pages. Robotham is the master of suspense, and the moral dilemma that Phil faces between her job and family just add to the tension. Her character is fantastic because she stands up for what is right no matter the personal cost. There are a whole slew of good characters here and you'll be feeling all the emotions and fear right alongside them. Can't wait for more in this series!

You will get a firsthand look at the dark, criminal underbelly that is always at work around us, even though most of us are completely unaware.

Philomena McCarthy has tried to beat the odds. She is a young Metro police officer, and this is a feat in of itself because her family are well known gangsters. She is trying so hard to put all of the suppositions to rest with her co-workers, as most people assume since her father is a criminal, she must be one too. She is actually a darn good officer with a keen sense of right and wrong and her observation skills are top notch.

She finds a bloody, barefoot child on the side of the road who leads her home to find her mother murdered. Some of the other police force are at the scene of another crime where a jeweler has a bomb strapped to his chest. At the time they do not realize both cases are connected.

There are several stories going on in this book as the police search for clues about the murder and theft, but Philomena's father and family are having their own set of problems as well. That part was interesting, as well as disturbing.

This was a complex mystery with many moving parts and many characters. However, I enjoyed the way the author built each character so you could more fully understand them and get to know each one. You do not have to read book 1 in this series, but I would highly recommend it.

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Philomena McCarthy is a terrific character, and this second installment featuring her is even better than the first. Philomena is going to have a long, successful career as a Robotham heroine. Suspenseful, gripping. Highly recommended.

Found: A little girl, covered in blood, wandering the London streets at night. Meanwhile A robbery victim, a jeweler, has a bomb strapped to his body. These two different events form the beginning of a suspense-filled, twisty novel that raises the bar for Robotham – who keeps doing just that with each title. Philomena McCarthy has one foot in her chosen world as a member of the Metropolitan police and the other foot as the daughter of the head of the notorious McCarthy crime family. Her allegiances are warring as she tries to understand what is happening and why. She wants support from her higher ups in her job, and at the same time her family may be implicated or interfering. What is the truth? Who can she trust? Who has her back? Up all night with this one! Highly recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this title.

One night, while on duty, Phil finds a child covered in blood who claims her mom will not wake up. 3 miles away, a jeweler has strapped a bomb to his chest in his store which has been robbed of millions. As the two stories collide, Phil must make big decisions on who she can trust, who in her family really has her back, and what side of the law she wants to be on.

This was the second book in the series and while I had trouble remembering a lot of the details from the first installment, the book did a good job of reminding me of the important pieces.

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

Michael Robotham (favorite author) returns following When You Are Mine, (5 stars) his popular Detective Philomena McCarthy series, with #2, THE WHITE CROW.

Fans will delight in the engrossing follow-up, catching up with the ambitious and tenacious young Philomena McCarthy who has defied all odds becoming a young police officer with the Metropolitan Police despite her father and uncles being London gangsters. (even though you will love them and they will never change). But they do love family.

She upholds the law. Her family breaks it.

This quote, 'You don't stop being a predator by acting like prey,' encapsulates the central theme of the book, highlighting the complex nature of crime and justice that Philomena navigates.

About...

Set in London, as we met McCarthy in the first book, when she was 11 years old, she was injured in a bus terrorist bombing and knew she wanted to be a cop like the one on the bus that day long ago. She was her hero.

We also met Henry in the previous book, now Philomena's partner (she 29) married a year and he (31) is ready for a family but she wants to put that off for a while as she enjoys her career.

In the present, on patrol one night with Coop, Philomena finds a barefoot child, Daisy, covered in blood, who says she can’t wake her mother. Meanwhile, three miles away, a London jeweler has a bomb strapped to his chest in his ransacked store and millions are missing.

These two events collide and threaten Philomena’s career, her new marriage, and her life. Phil must decide who she can trust—her family or her colleagues—and on what side of the line she wants to live.

My thoughts...

I have been a long time avid fan of Aussie's best, Michael Robotham for many years and have read all his books. I was delighted when I learned we would get a follow up book as I enjoyed WHEN YOU ARE MINE and meeting this fascinating protagonist, Philomena while she tries to balance her work, her gangster family, loyalties, and her personal life while caught in the middle of both sides of the law.

Philomena and her new husband, firefighter, Henry intended to take a break for a trip to Paris, but both the jewelry heist and murder of Daisy's mother forced them to cancel.

From Daisy's heartbreaking story to Phil's father, Edward McCarthy (we met in the last book) is having issues with his business thinking someone is taking over, the book is filled with heart-pounding suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

THE WHITE CROW is brilliantly written cop procedural/crime thriller by a pro with compelling characters, emotionally charged, intense suspense, and a fast-paced action that will place Philomena and Henry's life in danger. You'll find yourself deeply invested in their journey.

As referenced in the acknowledgements, the author created Philomena McCarthy in When You are Mine, as a standalone but like he and his fans, fell in love with Phil, and her father, giving the feel of classic old gangsters you will fall for.

As always, Robotham combines his keen investigative reporting skills with his skill for creating characters placed in real-life scenarios and pushes them to the limits, exploring moral dilemmas, family loyalties, with humor and grit, keeping fans fully invested and engaged in the story.

If you have not read Michael Robotham’s books, get started. He lands on my top books each year and he has an incredible backlist. This would make a super entertaining book to movie or TV series.

While THE WHITE CROW can be read as a standalone, I would encourage you to read the first book where you get to meet all the characters and this will enhance your reading experience.

I really like the AU cover of the white crow which signifies a person who is a misfit, an oddball, or someone who stands out from the norm. This can be in a positive or negative way, but often has a positive connotation, representing someone unique or exceptional.

A powerful and compelling story, the author is always at the top of his game and in a class all his own. As I have said before in previous reviews, the author never disappoints. His writing is superb, action-packed with strong characterization, and enough humor to keep you entertained. His skill is truly admirable.

He writes of strong women and conflicts between personal and professional and full of emotion. He is one of my favorite authors eagerly awaiting the next masterpiece. Captivating and engrossing, I hope there is a #3!

Even though I adore his standalones and series—I am missing Joe O’Loughin! PS Another all-time favorite of Robotham is, LIFE OR DEATH - highly impressive and still sits on the front shelf of my bookcase.

Recs...

Robotham is a top crime writer, and fans of cop procedurals, and fans of Robotham, Karin Slaughter, Lisa Gardner, and Lisa Unger will devour the gritty THE WHITE CROW (and the series)—my "go-to" author for smart crime thrillers with heart.

Special thanks to Scribner for a gifted advanced reading copy via NetGalley for my honest thoughts.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: July 1, 2025
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