#thewhitecrow by Michael Robotham is a well written police procedural with a twist...our main character, Philomena McCarthy, PC, is a gangster's daughter. Let the misunderstandings and mayhem ensue. It's a trope I will admit to finding a tad tiresome, as everyone questions her loyalty and she's always in the wrong place at the wrong time.

P.S. Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC.

I am so glad that Robotham decided to give Philomena her own series! I absolutely loved the characters when they were introduced in the first book, and there seemed to be so much potential given the personalities of the McCarthy Brothers as well as filming herself, that it seemed a waste to not continue exploring their world. I love Robotham's storytelling style. It is descriptive and gritty while still having heart - which makes it perfectly suited to describe Philomena's world.

From start to finish, this one was excellent. The characters, pacing, action and tension were all presented to perfection and kept me engaged and entertained. Personally I would recommend reading the first book before this one, because the backstory, while generally alluded to here, is worth reading and really adds a depth to the characters.

I really loved this one!

Set in present time in London. Philomena McCarthy loves her job as a Police Officer. Early one morning a chain of events puts her career and life in danger. While driving to a local bakery to collect a breakfast order for the staff at Kentish Town Police Station she sees a small child on the side of the road. She stops to help the child to safety. The child’s name is Daisy, and her mother has been murdered.

This was full of action, murders and evil people. Lots of twists and turns as the police try to solve the murder of Daisy’s mother.

I loved the descriptions of Philomena’s father and her uncles and their involvement in crime and how it affects Philomena’s role as a police Officer.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Scribner for a chance to review this E-Book. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Yet another phenomenal thriller from a master of the genre! Deep characterizations are woven through a plot that unfolds with breakneck speed, keeping you staying up past your bedtime to see what happens next. I love how well this author inhabits his varied main characters; every character has their own distinctive voice and world. This is one of the few authors that I don't even bother downloading the sample for--I know I'm gonna wind up buying it!

This ARC was provided by the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review.

The White Crow is an intriguing novel with a startling beginning that keeps the reader hooked until the end. The writing is excellent with such lines as “Money didn’t just talk — it kicked open doors and never shut up.” The author has created a great character in Philomena McCarthy and the reader can empathize with her and with Daisy, the child at the center of the novel along with her father and mother. This novel is worth reading and I thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

Dear Michael Robotham,

You could write a grocery list and I would read it. And I would love it.

I started reading Michael Robotham's Joe O'Loughlin series sometime back and loved it, and then fell in love again with his Cyrus Haven books. When his stand-alone book about Philomena McCarthy came out, I read it, but wasn't as impressed as I'd been with his other stuff. Now he's turned Phil into a series lead, and this book more than makes up for what the first book lacked.

Phil is the daughter of a well-known mafia don, and also a cop. Not an easy spot to be in. In this book, she finds herself investigating a crime that she knows her family is involved in, but how involved? And is her boss right that she has something to do with it too?

The nuances here are outstanding. Phil loves her family and wants to stay close to them, but she doesn't want to know the details of what they're up to. Where is the line between doting dad and master criminal? What's the definition of a "bad person?" Phil's boss starts off seeing things in black and white -- her family is bad, so she must be bad too. But he realizes there are far more shades of gray than he realized. Phil's family is involved in some shady stuff, but by the end of the book, DCI Keegan has reason to believe they're not all bad. What's a cop to do when he can't sort the good guys from the bad?

Another theme of the book is change -- DCI Keegan's life is changing because of his divorce, Phil's is changing because of her marriage and the growth of her career, and her dad's is changing because crime, like any industry, is changing with the times and adapting to the 21st century. Like any of us who have been in the same field for a long time, he finds himself wondering if he's cut out to keep up with the new kids, who seem far more ruthless than he's prepared for, and refuse to adhere to the old-fashioned "honor among thieves" code. It's enough to make an aging criminal question his life choices.

In the end we find that Phil's father and uncles may be criminals, but they have standards, and lines they won't cross. The same can't be said of their rivals, and I hope we see more of that dynamic in future books. I also look forward to seeing more of Phil's dilemma when she finds herself caught between her job and her family. Two side characters I also hope we learn more about: DCI Keegan and Phil's husband, Henry.

DCI Keegan is going through a divorce and trying not to let his personal life intrude on his work. He's smart, and willing to change his mind when he realizes Phil isn't involved in her family's criminal activities. I even thought there might be potential for romance with Phil, but by the end of the book, Henry has taken a prominent role, leading me to believe we'll be seeing a lot more of him, and that he's in Phil's life to stay. Henry, a firefighter and a straight arrow, ends up coordinating with Phil's uncles and turns out to be quite the hero. The uncles are impressed, and I hope in future books we find Henry deciding what lines he will and won't cross as well, now that he's married into the mafia.

Overall this may be my favorite Michael Robotham book to date, and that's saying something. I can't wait for the next one. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book.

Engaging and entertaining as always. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

I love this author and happy he has made his last book into a series with this new book and a wonderful character, Phil. Well it's quite an ending but I hope there will be more. Great plot, edge of your seat drama. Her criminal family and the police and a new gangster group, what a combo.

Thank you.for the ARC!
This was a novel I wanted to give 5 stars, however, this just fell alittle flat for me. I don't know if it was too much dialogue/explaining but once I figured out who was responsible (very early on in the book), I would put it down for a couple of days and then pick it back up. I am a mystery/suspense reader but once I figure out the plot---the book becomes a chore to read. I can finish a book in one day ( if it can hold my attention), but this novel didn't unfortunately. I do like the author and I read some of the other books and had high hopes for this one. I give it 3 5 stars.

This was an excellent follow-up to "When You Were Mine." I love Philomena, as she is such a strong character. Crisp, clear writing and an excellent plot that kept me reading right to the end.

Philomena McCarthy was introduced in the novel “When You are Mine” which was meant to be a stand alone. However, Robotham decided to bring her back in this new novel “The White Crow” and I am so glad he did! Philomena, or “Phil” is a young police officer who happens to also be the daughter of one of London’s biggest mob bosses, Eddie McCarthy. While out on patrol one night, Phil spots a small child out in the cold and covered in blood. That same evening, a high end jeweler is being held captive while his store is robbed of millions. It soon becomes apparent that both incidences are related and Phil is thrown into the thick of it, learning her father may in some way be involved. Torn between doing the right thing and not implicating her father and her uncles, she soon finds that her life is in danger as she struggles to find answers. This was a fantastic novel and I am really looking forward to this becoming another exciting series! Solid 5 stars for me!

Michael Robotham never fails to deliver a heart-pounding, twist-filled thriller, and The White Crow is no exception! This latest installment follows PC Philomena (Phil) McCarthy as she finds herself entangled in a case that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Robotham is a master storyteller, expertly weaving unexpected twists and turns that leave you on the edge of your seat. One of his greatest strengths is crafting incredibly realistic and deeply compelling characters. We’ve met Phil in a previous book, but this novel allows us to dive even deeper into her world, making her even more relatable and endearing. I loved every minute of it and can only hope Robotham continues writing more installments with Phil at the helm. If you’re a fan of gripping mysteries and thrillers, this is an absolute must-read. The White Crow is a five-star knockout that deserves a top spot on every thriller lover’s list!

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
This as a great book!
Philomena comes from a family of gangsters to become a cop. Of course this causes trouble in her relationship with family,
One night on patrol she finds a little girl barefoot outside her house saying she couldn’t wake her mommy. This same night a jewelry store is robbed.
Are these connected? Phil dives in to find answers which causes everything to get dangerous. Who can she trust?

Once again Michael Robotham nails it! Philomena McCarthy an officer with the Metropolitan Police ( and daughter to notorious gangster Edward McCarthy and his brothers) spots a young child out alone in the middle of the night without shoes and blood on her nightgown. The child says she can't wake up her mother . At the same time her partner is on his way to a robbery at a London jewelry store. The events collide and lead Philomena to question what is more important job or family.

Start to finish it's a page turner and a very enjoyable read!

If you have not read a Michael Robotham novel, you are seriously missing out!!! He will always be one of my favorites!!

Philomena McCarthy is an officer with the Metropolitan Police. She first made her appearance in ‘When You Are Mine’ a few years back. You do not have to read that one to follow this. Trust me!

A woman has been murdered during a hostage situation. The criminals have escaped. Only thing is, the woman’s young daughter escaped and is discovered on the street by Philomena.

Who killed the woman and why? Is Philomena’s father who is a criminal boss himself involved?

I actually loved these characters!!! The mob dad, uncles, the little girl… everyone!!! Steve Cavanagh has been one author that can write mob books well, and so DOES MICHAEL ROBOTHAM!!!

This would make a phenomenal film on the big screen!!! Robotham has done it before with the Joe O’Loughlin series and he can do it again! Wouldn’t surprise me!!!

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Massive thanks to Michael Robotham and Scribner for the gifted galley and NetGalley for the arc!

Pub Date 7/1/2025

A wife and mother is found murdered. Young Dausy is the child left behind and becomes a key witness in this cleverly written well plotted mystery. Fast paced and descriptive. Not to be missed.

I am always so excited when Robotham releases a new book. Will it be a standalone? A new chapter for old friends? With this new work we get to revisit PC Philomena (Phil) McCarthy. And as always, we're in for a wild ride full of twists and turns. There's ALOT going on in story so you have to stay on your toes. With only a few chapters left, I gave the bird to the next day and stayed up to finish. Well worth it. Never a disappointing trip.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I love this author and his books and I think I might have loved this one if not read on a kindle. Got me it was confusing with so many characters and storylines and I wanted to look back to make sense of things but couldn’t. There was a lot of suspense and it was hard to know who to trust which to me is the sign of a great book.

Another addition to the Philomena McCarthy series, a Policewoman who also happens to the daughter of a mob boss.

Here Phil finds a child wondering the streets late at night and brings her home to find her mother murdered in the kitchen.
The wife of a jeweller, the family were held hostage and the father forced to open the shop in the middle of the night for the thieves to rob. But there’s more to this story than first appears that draws in Phil’s family and some other very unsavoury characters.

I’m a big fan of Robothams books. I’ve read quite a few and I have to say that this series doesn’t quite do it for me. The premise is interesting but it all feels a bit surreal and you really do have to suspend disbelief for many of the scenarios here.

It’s not a bad book per se but it’s not that good either. It’s just ok.

Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.

I will drop everything to read a book by Michael Robotham. And so happy to see some familiar characters in The White Crow.
Phil is a young police officer, married to Henry, still trying to shut down anything that associates her with her criminal family. But sometimes the criminals turn into sort of good guys, and you find yourself rooting for them. Lots going on, murder, robbery, kidnapping. Who can Phil trust?