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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Michael Robotham has delivered another gripping, tension filled, shocking book and I enjoyed every page of The White Crow!! I love the character of Philomena McCarthy and how she has gone against her family of gangsters to be a police officer. If you read the first book in this series, When You Are Mine, you will be over the moon with addictive The White Crow! If you have not read the first book in the series, I highly recommend you do so. While this book will work nicely as a stand-alone novel, do yourself a favor and dive into the first book first, you will thank me.

While on patrol one evening, Philomena sees a barefoot young child covered in blood who informs Philomena that she cannot wake her mother. At the same time a London jeweler is discovered with a bomb strapped to his chest. As the investigation progresses, a recently married Philomena finds her career, her marriage and even her life in danger!

Woohoo! I was so excited to see that there was a new book featuring Philomena McCarthy. I love her brave, strong, vulnerable, intelligent, and caring character. Her husband is a wonderful character as well. Then there is her father and uncles who are notorious London gangsters. Whew! They make for some interesting and intriguing characters! I love how Philomena's character is often seen walking a tightrope if you will between her family and the law. Michael Robotham handles this brilliantly with having her always side with the law while showing the complexities of her life, her allegiances, her family and her values.

I enjoyed the mystery in this book. I also enjoyed the tension, the mounting danger, the growing suspense, and the sense of dread that sprang off the pages! Robotham has a knack for creating fully fleshed out characters that I grow to care about. He has me fully invested in them and when he puts them through the ringer it is like experiencing an emotional punch to the gut.

As with all his books, The White Crow was beautifully written, well thought out, perfectly paced, and gripping. If you have not read a book by Michael Robotham before, you are seriously missing out.

Will she put her trust in the law or her family?

PC Philomena McCarthy is an ambitious police office with the Metropolitan Police, newly married and working to juggle the demands of the job and her new home life. Her career is an unusual choice given that her family is the notorious East End gang the McCarthy Brothers, headed up by her father and his brothers. While on patrol late one night, she spies a young child in the street and stops the car to investigate just as there is a call over the radio for officers to respond to a major incident. Phil stays to look for the child while her partner responds to the emergency. She finds six year old Daisy, dressed in pajamas that have blood on the sleeves, who says she came outside because her mother wouldn't wake up. Phil returns the girl to her home and finds the mother Caitlin dead, tied to a chair in the kitchen. As she reports the situation, three miles away DCI Brendan Keegan is dealing with a jewelry store that has been robbed and its owner left behind with a bomb-laced vest on him. When it is discovered that the man in the jewelry store is Daisy's dad and the husband of the murdered woman, Phil finds herself involved indirectly in a high profile case, one that also has ties to her family (who are being pulled into a gang war). The murdered woman's husband, who was once an actor, comes under suspicion early on, but if the robbery and home invasion were staged for the insurance money why was Caitlin killed? Phil's career comes under fire because of her family's involvement in the case, her husband may be losing patience with her and her family, the rival gang is threatening the whole extended McCarthy clan if their demands aren't met...and somewhere Caitlin's killer may be getting away with murder.
The White Crow is a suspenseful thriller that features an assortment of fascinating and well-developed characters (first seen in When You Are Mine) with an intriguing plot. Phil is a great female protagonist, strong, stubborn and living with the conflict between her job in law enforcement and her family of gangsters, Said family...father Eddie and his brothers Daragh the enforcer, FInbar the mechanically inclined sibling, Clifton the technologically savvy one, Eddie's second wife Constance (a minor blue blood), and more... are engaging and frequently funny, but with a criminal streak a mile wide and completely comfortable with violence and flouting the law. As law enforcement tries to get to the bottom of what happened to Caitlin and the missing jewels from her family's store (including 11 million pounds worth of the McCarthys' uncut diamonds), Eddie and his crew are dealing with a significant threat to both their business enterprise and the family's health and well-being from a newly arrived gang that is as ruthless and amoral as they are (possibly more so) and are younger and hungrier to boot. The story is told from the perspective of several different characters, and the pace starts off strong and doesn't let up. There are plenty of plot twists and turns, more than a few of which as a seasoned reader of thrillers and police procedurals I suspected were coming, but for me the best part of the book was the array of characters (I have a fondness in particular for Daragh). Readers of Michael Connelly, Val McDermid and Ian Rankin should grab a copy of this book, as should anyone who enjoys strong female leads, moody London settings, and twisty police procedurals. My thanks to NetGalley and Scribner Books for allowing me access to a copy of The White Crow in exchange for my honest review. Here's hoping that Phil and crew will be back in another adventure soon!

Oh. My. GOSH.

Clear your schedules because Michael Robotham is BACK, and just dropped a bomb (pun absolutely intended!) on us with The White Crow!

Seriously, how am I supposed to function after a book like this? I'm still reeling!

My Mind Is Officially Blown

You know how much I adore a gripping thriller, and Robotham has cemented his place as an absolute master with this one. We're back with the incredible Philomena McCarthy – a young London cop with a seriously complicated family tree (think notorious gangsters, yikes!). Right away, you're rooting for her because she's defying ALL the odds.

Then, BAM! It's night patrol, and Philomena finds a barefoot, blood-covered child who can't wake her mom. Simultaneously, three miles away, a jeweler has a bomb strapped to his chest and millions are GONE. My jaw was on the floor! These two seemingly separate events crash together in a way that threatens everything Philomena holds dear: her career, her new marriage, her life.

Why You NEED to Read This ASAP!

This book is a masterclass in unbearable suspense. Told in real-time from multiple points of view, The White Crow is a pulse-pounding, page-turning thrill ride. You'll be questioning everyone and everything right alongside Philomena as she tries to figure out who to trust – her notoriously shady family or her police colleagues. The line between right and wrong blurs so deliciously, and you'll be tearing through pages desperate to know which side she'll land on.

Michael Robotham is truly at the top of his game, delivering a twisty, high-stakes narrative that will leave you breathless.

If you're looking for a thriller that will consume your every waking thought and keep you guessing until the very last sentence, stop what you're doing and pick up The White Crow. You won't regret it!

I'm a fan. This is the return of Phlomena, law enforcement officer and daughter of Edward McCarthy, in a twisty thriller that starts when she spots a small girl in pajamas alongside the street. Daisy's mom is dead, tied to a chair in their home and her father is tied to a chair with a bomb strapped to his chest at his jewelry store. Who did the home invasion and robbery? And what did Edward and his brothers (who are terrific characters) have to do with it? Edward is being pressed by someone who wants to take over his real estate development and he's fighting back. Philomena has always been able to hide her relationship to her father, partly because they were estranged for years, but now it comes out to her higher ups, who suspend her because they think she's tied to the all of the crime. Not Philomena, who keeps searching for answers, partly because of young Daisy. This has many twists (no spoilers from me) and surprises right up to the end. It's got terrific pacing and tension but it's the characters that shine and make the plot come alive. And there are humorous spots even with the villains. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. It should be fine as a standalone and if Phil is new to you you'll find that you, like me, are hopeful we will see her again. This is a terrific read.

Michael Robotham writes excellent thrillers and the second entry in the Philomena McCarthy series is no exception. Philomena is a police officer, but also the daughter of an old-school mob boss. Her two worlds collide when a jewelry store is robbed and one of the owners is killed. Can she prove her father is innocent while also saving her career? The character development in this second novel is great; I loved learning more about Philomena's husband Henry and her extended family. There are several twists at the end that will keep you guessing. Looking forward to the next book in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Scribner for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Philomena “Phil” McCarthy is a twenty-nine-year-old police constable with the London Metropolitan Police. She is married to Henry, a firefighter. Until recently, she was estranged from her father and her two uncles, who are notorious gangsters now claiming to be property developers. When Phil rescues Daisy, a five-year-old girl she finds wandering the streets at night with blood on her nightgown, she becomes entangled in a case that involves a high-stakes jewelry heist and a murder. When some clues lead to her family, the situation gets complicated. Despite her commitment to the law, Phil's loyalties are challenged as the police suspect that she may be connected to the crimes.

Michael Robotham first introduced Philomena in When You Are Mine. I was pleased to see the author bring back this very likable, highly moral character in The White Crow. (You can easily read this book as a standalone.) Phil is not the only strong character. Henry is quite a fabulous husband, and it is impossible not to find some goodness in the McCarthy brothers. Dimitar Popov, head of a rival gang of Bulgarians, is one of the meanest villains I've come across in a while. If you enjoy smart crime thrillers, this is one to check out. It's a well-crafted nail-biter.

4.5 stars.

Thank you @ScribnerBooks #simonandschusterpartner #ScribnerInfluencer and Michael Robotham @michaelrobotham for the free book for review.
“The White Crow” (Philomena McCarthy #2) by Michael Robotham⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Psychological Thriller. Location: London, England. Time: Present.

THE SERIES: Philomena McCarthy’s father and uncles are the notorious gangsters Edward McCarthy and the McCarthy Brothers (Daragh, Finbar, and Clifton). Despite this, ambitious young Phil defies the odds to become a London police officer. After several years on the job, she’s loving her career, and happily married to firefighter Henry. Still, she knows there will inevitably come a time when her father’s interests and hers will collide.

THIS BOOK: On night patrol for Kentish Town station, Phil (now 29) finds barefoot, bloody 5-yr-old Daisy, who says she can’t wake her mother. Inside a ransacked jewelry store 3 miles away, Detective Brendan Keegan finds a London jeweler with a bomb strapped to his chest. Millions are missing. These 2 events threaten Phil’s career, marriage, and life. She must decide who she can trust-her family or her colleagues-and on what side of the law she wants to live.

Author Robotham has written a detective crime novel full of conflicting morals. He alternates multiple points of view: the law-abiding side of Phil and Keegan, the criminal side of Edward and his brothers, and the robbery victims’ side. Former investigative journalist Robotham makes me like the old-school, East End gangsters sometimes more than the morally-grey police characters! The many metaphors and similes are sometimes a bit off, but the overall writing quietly ramps up the unease to an intense, tension-filled ending. This is book 2 in a series, but can easily be read as a standalone. It’s 4 stars from me👩🏼‍🦳#thewhitecrow #michalrobotham

I'm officially a Philomena McCarthy fan. I love Phil, her husband Henry, and her whole family is nuts (in a good way). Even though this was a crime thriller, I felt myself tearing up at the end as she goes through some emotional family stuff. She is my favorite character from Robotham!

Phil finds a young girl that ran away from her house after finding her mother dead and tied to a chair. Her father was found at the jewelry store they own with a bomb strapped to his chest. Although Phil is just a young police officer, she starts digging into the child's family. Detective Keegan, who is responsible for investigating the crime, starts to find links to Phil's family... and from there things start to get complicated for everyone.

I love the mystery surrounding the case, and the action-packed ending, however I especially loved the family dynamics of the McCarthy family, including Phil's husband Henry. I hope Michael Robotham continues this series because I will definitely be reading them all.

The White Crow is the second crime novel featuring Philomena McCarty, but can be read as a standalone.

Philomena is a young police officer at the Metropolitan Police, who is the daughter of Eddie McCarty, a local crime family leader. Philomena is married to Henry, a firefighter. As she patrols during one of her night shifts, she encounters a child (Daisy) alone on the street and after finding her, Phil tries to get her safely back home. This leads to the premise of the book, where Phil will try to figure out who led the two crimes involving Daisy’s parents.

Phil’s credibility and loyalty will get questioned as her father’s name comes up on the very case she insists on investigating.

Robotham does a fantastic job showing multiple POVs, developing the characters and throwing twists and clues along the way. The story will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is fascinating how there were so many items the plot needed to address and it did. I enjoy all books the author writes, as the characters and the plot are always well detailed and developed.

Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for providing me with the ARC of the book.

I loved the character of Phil! I didn't realize that this was the second book, so I went back and read the first one and it just reemphasized how much I enjoyed this character. I particularly liked the relationship that Phil has with her family, how she is able to compartmentalize her notorious family with her police work.

I hope we get more of these books. Solid police suspense/mystery with well thought out plots and developed supporting characters.

The White Crow by Michael Robotham is a highly recommended crime novel/procedural. This is the second novel featuring police officer Philomena (Phil) McCarthy (the first one is When You Are Mine) but can be read as a standalone novel.

Philomena McCarthy is a young officer with the Metropolitan Police and her husband Henry is a firefighter. When she sees a child wandering in the streets alone at night she stops and helps her. It's a little girl, Daisy, who leads Phil to her home and the discovery of the body of her mother. At the same time across town Chief Inspector Brendan Keegan responds to a violent robbery of a jewelry store and a man left with a bomb strapped to his body. The man is Daisy's father, who was taken from his home and forced by masked men to open up the store. Millions of dollars of jewelry is gone.

Complicating matters further is that Phil's family may be implicated in the robbery. Phil is the daughter of Edward McCarthy, a London gangster and leader of a criminal empire he has built with his brothers. This case may put her career and possibly her life in jeopardy, especially if it really does involve her father and uncles. Chapters alternate between Phil and the police investigation, and her father and uncles concern over a new mobster/crime boss from Eastern European moving into London.

Once again Robotham provides an extremely well written, perfectly paced, and wonderfully intricate puzzle of a thriller. The complicated, layered plot moves quickly while keeping the tension high. There are so many clues presented and questions that will arise concerning Phil's investigations along the way. It's always a pleasure to follow an investigation with twists and surprising discoveries along the way.

Phil continues to be a fully realized, complex character and an engaging protagonist. She has keen investigative instincts, but you may question her judgment at times in the novel. You will want the best for her, but she can be a frustrating character for me. Her family is a colorful but loyal group of mobsters. DCI Keegan who is leading the police investigation can be a frustrating character, but he does experience growth.

The White Crow is a good choice for those who enjoy procedurals. Thanks to Scribner for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.