When She Was Good by Michael Robotham @michaelrobotham @Joe_Jameson @SimonAudio

the setup…
Criminal forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven is asked to accompany police to the scene of an apparent suicide. The victim is a retired police detective and after Cyrus examines the body, he quickly deduces that the man was murdered. When they proceed with the family notification, they also discover that a man posing as a detective has already been there and ultimately gained access to the detective’s files. Unfortunately, the old cases the victim was researching involved “Angelface,” the young girl discovered six years ago, now know as Evie Cormac and living secretly under government care. As Cyrus continues to probe, he not only realizes he’s opening a hornet’s nest but also exposing Evie to mortal danger.

the heart of the story…
Be prepared to enter into the awful world of child sexual exploitation, controlled by men of incredible power and resources, which will also make you feel the futility of them ever being brought to justice. None of this deters Cyrus as he’s desperate to protect Evie and she’s just as determined to protect him by thwarting his efforts to learn the truths about what happened to her before she was found. Evie trusts very few people and Cyrus is one of them. She also has the ability to tell when someone is lying to her, a skill that’s saved her a few times. But Cyrus is persistent and slowly we get a great deal of her story, laden with a few surprises.

the narration…
Jameson is one of those few male performers who has mastered female voices, even better than that used for Cyrus. I had issue with his version of Cyrus in the first book but now realize, after better knowing the character, it’s fitting. I’m enjoying his storytelling, too.

the bottom line…
This is a masterful story as the current murder investigation weaves Evie’s story in its path, transitioning back and forth from her past to the present. The tension was high almost from the start as the frustration due to the government bureaucracy could be maddening as it didn’t protect Evie but did put barriers up to protect the perpetrators. I was equally fascinated and appalled as Evie peeled back her layers, becoming even more vulnerable as she opened up to Cyrus. It’s a tough story but one couched in reality and exciting to the finish as I sensed danger every single moment. There’s still more to discover but this delivered the payoff I was seeking.

Book Info

• Release Date: July 28, 2020
• Series: Cyrus Haven #2
• Narrator: Joe Jameson
• Audio Length: 11 hours, 25 minutes
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

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(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)