Reviews with content warning for Murder - When She Was Good

Reviews tagging 'Murder'

When She Was Good by Michael Robotham

15 reviews

stewartl8's review

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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jodar's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

I was ready for a lighter novel, and this one fit the bill nicely. It’s a good crime thriller and page-turner. I haven’t read the first novel in the series, but I found the novel worked well as a standalone. The back story was integrated well into the plot, telling me what I needed to know.

The storyline is complex but well put together and paced. The main characters are well-developed and engaging with realistic interactions and dialogue. The characters’ actions are believable – savvy but not perfect, which all adds to the tension of whether the conspiring evildoers will succeed in covering their tracks. On the other hand, the conspiracy of rich men felt a bit clichéd.

As the CWs indicate, there is a great deal of nasty elements to the story, though none are handled overly graphically or gratuitously. Also CW of extramarital sex.

It is what it is, though: an “airport read” without much profound to ponder on once the book was finished.

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blueskyvibes1point0's review

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emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

"When She Was Good" by Michael Robotham is a psychological thriller that follows forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven as he investigates a new case while also dealing with his own personal turmoil. The plot revolves around a disturbing crime that leads Cyrus to uncover shocking truths about his own past and puts him in close contact with Evie Cormac, a complex and intriguing character with a troubled history. As they navigate through the intricacies of the case, the story unfolds with twists and turns, keeping readers engaged and guessing until the very end.

Rating:

1. **Plot and Storytelling:** 4/5 - The plot was engaging, with plenty of twists and turns. However, it had the feel of a middle book in a series, not a complete story on its own.

2. **Characterization:** 4/5 - The characters, particularly Evie and Cyrus, were well-developed. However, some of the side characters lacked detail.

3. **Writing Style:** 5/5 - Robotham's writing style is excellent. It strikes a balance between being descriptive and maintaining a good pace.

4. **Originality:** 5/5 - The story felt refreshingly original. It offered a unique narrative that kept me engaged throughout.

5. **Emotional Impact and Resolution:** 3/5 - While the book evoked emotions and kept me on the edge of my seat, the ending left me feeling unsatisfied and frustrated. I hope the next installment in the series addresses this.

Overall score: 4.2/5

If you enjoyed "When She Was Good" by Michael Robotham, you might also like "The Silent Patient" by Alex Michaelides. It's a gripping psychological thriller with a compelling plot and well-developed characters. The story revolves around a psychotherapist who becomes obsessed with unraveling the mystery behind why a seemingly perfect patient shot her husband and then stopped speaking. Like Robotham's novel, "The Silent Patient" features unexpected twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end.

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