The White Crow by Michael Robotham

From master storyteller Michael Robotham comes his twentieth novel and, once again, he delivers in spades. We once more meet the young, ambitious police officer, Philomena McCarthy, who had defied the odds to join the force, not helped by the fact that her father and uncles were notorious London gangsters and who haven’t quite managed to stay on the straight and narrow.

On her way to collect breakfast for her colleagues two major events collide. Philomena (Phil) stumbles upon a barefoot child in pyjamas wandering the streets of North London. She takes the child home and discovers the aftermath of a brutal home invasion.

A few miles away, a prominent London jeweller is sitting in his ransacked store with a bomb strapped to his chest. Millions are missing.

These two events are linked, and increasingly the evidence points to Phil’s father and uncles as being responsible.

The characters are flawed, however, that makes them even more endearing and easier to relate to. The villains are dark, vicious, and well-organised. And somewhere in between sits Phil’s father, Edward McCarthy, and his brothers, who, despite their best efforts to go straight with a large property development, are dragged into affairs that straddle the divide between good and evil.

There are more twists and turns than a game of Snakes and Ladders, which will keep the reader continually guessing and turning the pages in anticipation.

Phil is a wonderful heroine trying to stay true to her profession while, at the same time, staying loyal to her family - and to further complicate matters, staying loyal to her husband.

This is the second novel featuring Phil, but if you missed the first - When You Are Mine - don’t worry, as both are stand-alone books. However, I can guarantee you will be going back to look for it.

Robotham’s books are ones you never want to end but can’t wait to find out what happens.

Reviewer: Chris Casey

Hachette