‘When You Are Mine’ Michael Robotham's newest stand alone novel tells the story of Philomena 'Phil' McCarthy, a police constable for the London Metropolitan police. The story revolves around her trying to help Tempe, a young woman who is being abused. An intense thriller that you will have a hard time putting down. I would not hesitate to recommend.

This is a dark, intense and pulse pounding standalone psychological thriller from Michael Robotham focusing on the themes on the boys culture in the police, of protecting their own when it comes to domestic violence, the controlling, coercive, and menacing behaviour, along with the issue of toxic relationships. PC Philomena 'Phil' McCarthy wanted to be a police officer ever since a female PC helped her and others after the trauma of a bus bombing. However, given her father Edward is a crime boss, and her uncles, Clifton, Daragh and Finbar spent 10 years in prison, she had to fight to become accepted by the police force. Phil's entire career and ambitions come under threat when she and PC Anisha Kohli attend a domestic violence incident. Tempe Brown shows clear signs of being assaulted, and whilst she is unwilling to report her abuser who is present, Phil intervenes when he goes for her, cuffing and arresting him.

Phil is unaware that the man is decorated police 'hero', DS Darren Goodall, a married man with two children. Phil is given a dressing down and threatened by Chief Superintendent Drysdale, and warned off investigating further. However, Phil cannot leave well alone, reasoning that if Goodall has been assaulting his mistress, it is unlikely to be an isolated incident. This proves to be the case, with the sinister fatal 'accident' of the woman he was engaged to and Phil listens to a terrifying phone call made to the emergency services by his young son, Nathan, when Goodall is assaulting his wife. Phil ends up helping and befriending Tempe, who can't do enough for her, organising her wedding to Henry, a firefighter, making herself utterly indispensible, but can Tempe be trusted? As her life begins to unravel in spectacular fashion, Phil is pushed back into her criminal family's arms for help.

Robotham writes a riveting crime thriller that I could not put down, full of twists and turns, and dripping with tension and suspense. Phil makes for an impressive central protagonist, a strong woman who believes in justice, who finds herself out in the cold when it comes to her fellow police officers when she is just trying to do her job, officers who suddenly are unwilling to have her back. When the police force that are there for truth and justice are no longer there for her, ironically it is only her colourful criminal family that she can trust and rely on. This is such a compelling and engaging crime read, which reflects many of our contemporary realities, that I think many of Robotham's fans and other readers will love it too. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I love his writing style so I’ll be looking out for more of his books.

Philomena McCarthy is a young police constable but had to really work hard to prove herself because her father and his brothers are notorious gangsters.

She rescues a woman, Tempe Brown, from domestic abuse by her boyfriend but then discovers that the abuser is a highly-decorated police sergeant, who’s also a favourite with high-ranking police officers. The whole thing is swept under the carpet and Phil isn’t allowed to take the matter further. She then finds out that the police officer is married and also abuses his wife, so Phil tries to help her as well.

A really gripping story with quite a few “I wasn’t expecting that!” moments.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

There is a good opening to this story. A young girl is caught by the London bombings and is helped by a female police officer. It has the effect of shaping her life. The book continues with the girl Philomena (Phil) now as a serving police officer. She is caught up in a case that appears to be a fairly straightforward domestic abuse case. It is not! Another facet of this story is that Phil's family have had fairly major crime connections although she no longer has any contact with them. This means that there is a good mix of potential issues for this story.

The book follows the aftermath and consequences of the domestic abuse case. I don't like spoilers so I'd prefer to give nothing more than that away. Suffice it to say that so much that is "obvious" may not actually be correct. I did work out/guess some of the twists but definitely not all of them. While there were times that I was screaming at Phil (!!) she was for me a good character. Most of the other people were rather more peripheral though I did grow to like Phil's uncles.

I've been a fan of Michael Robotham's books for some years now. I have particularly enjoyed the Joe O'Loughlin ones however a previous standalone book also worked very well for me. In my mind this author writes extremely well. There is always a decent sense of pace and tension and this book is no exception. Whenever I had a free moment I turned to this. Equally I often thought "I'll just read a little more" and then read for much longer than I had intended. For me it is one of those sort of books.

I'd happily recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a good tense read. If you haven't tried Michael Robotham then this would make a good into to his work. There is a real sense of foreboding about this tale for me. You know bad things are going to happen but the who, why and when will come as a surprise sometimes. I found this edgy, pacey and twisty - just what I want for this sort of book. 5 star and happily so.

Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Philomena McCarthy responds to a domestic abuse case and finds that the abuser is a decorated cop who is married to someone else. She befriends the abused but suffers ramifications for taking on the cop.

This was a good book. I wasn't sure where it was going but it ended up being a good read. I have liked all of the 6 or so books I have read from this author and look forward to reading more.

‘When You Are Mine’ is the latest intense thriller from the pen of Michael Robotham. This stand alone novel tells the story of Philomena 'Phil' McCarthy, young police constable in the London Metropolitan police. Phil is ambitious and has a promising career ahead of her. Until the day that she tries to help a young woman, Tempe, who is being abused – Phil seems to follow all of the correct steps but the victim’s abuser is a highly respected and decorated police officer. Suddenly, Phil’s glittering career aspirations are lying in tatters and she is facing accusations that she is in league with her father – a well-known London gangster. As her police family turn their backs on her, Phil slowly learns that blood can indeed be thicker than water but just who can she trust from outside her family? Phil needs to determine if Tempe told her the truth? How deep does the corruption run and is taking on the Met really possible?

From the opening pages, Robotham engages the reader’s attention with pacing writing and strong characters. It is easy to identify with Phil as the protagonist who struggles to trust her family and friends, while constantly trying to do that she considers to be ‘right’.

Definitely a thrilling read and one that I would not hesitate to recommend.

4.5

The central character in this stand alone is police officer Philomena (Phil) McCarthy. The premise is excellent, we can’t choose our family but they may bend over backwards for us when we most need their help. We can choose our friends but sometimes we can be misled, deceived or downright wrong in our choices with dangerous consequences. The final theme is domestic violence which is a pertinent topic especially following the rising Covid related statistics. I don’t want to give much away about this excellent psychological thriller because it’s one you get the most out of by going in blind.

The best word to describe my reaction to this book is ‘glued’. It’s an absorbing read that you don’t want to put down until the end. The characterisation is very good, Phil makes a terrific central focus as she’s brave, gutsy, instinctive and very capable of standing up for herself even though it frequently gets her into trouble. Her family are portrayed well though there may be a little hint of a stereotype or two. The toxic friendship element is handled very well and it’s chilling and scary how someone as buttoned down as Phil can be so manipulated in a twisted fashion, she’s hooked in and then stitched up like kipper. The domestic abuse angle is demonstrated effectively and makes you feel all kinds of emotions. There’s a corruption angle with a warped musketeer group which Phil runs foul of which adds to the threat level and ramps up the tension. The plot has numerous suspenseful twists and turns and an excellent ending you don’t see coming!

Overall, I anticipate this being another bestseller for Michael Robotham who is a ‘go to’ author for me and in my opinion he’s one of the masters of this genre. He weaves intelligent, relevant and well thought out tales. It’s would be great to read about Phil again as she’s fantastic!

With thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Book group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Philomena "Phil" McCarthy is a London police officer that is called to investigate a domestic assault. On arrival she discovers Tempe battered and bruised. She isn't alone, her abuser, happens to be a highly decorated police detective that is also married with children. Said detective also assaults' Phil during the arrest. Phil convinces Tempe to go to a shelter where she will be safe. Her charging of the police detective is her careers downfall. Made to be pariah amongst her other officers the case against the detective is briskly swept under the rug.

This does not satisfy Phil who knows that the detective is no good. She begins her own investigation where she finds that his current wife and children have also complained of being terrorized by him. Again, the police have done nothing to protect anyone but their own blue blood.

Meanwhile Phil and Tempe's relationship grows into a real friendship and Tempe even takes on planning Phil's wedding for her. Her fiancé and friends all warn Phil that something isn't quite right with Tempe but she refuses to heed their warning.

I'm afraid to say this is a tale of two stories for me. I liked the story of Phil helping Tempe and wondering what was going on and if Tempe was someone to be trusted. What I didn't like was the side story of her gangland relatives. I skimmed every section where her criminal father and uncles appeared.

This book is long winded and slow going with fairly predictable results. 2.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for my copy.

this was my first book by this author and i really enjoyed it. I hope he does a second book about the main character, who was very likeable and complex. In this book, we watch her as a cop try to help two abused woman who are connected to the same cop. She ends up taking on the police force and being set up and fired as they attempt to cover up various crime. At the same time, her family is a major crime family. Does she accept their help. It is the story of domestic abuse, cover ups, toxic friendships and what can we live with in this morally challenging world

Explosive Suspense....
Explosive suspense exploring themes of domestic violence, coercive control and manipulation and the toxicity of friendships and relationships. With a gripping, realistic storyline and credible characters, a compelling read, which is often heart wrenching, from the first page to the last.

What a fantastic book. Pulled me right in. Love drama and so much going on in this one.. great storyline, likeable characters and what an ending!!!!

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Another great book from one of my favourite authors. Great storyline, great characters and had me hooked from the beginning.

Michael Robotham’s books have long since become an automatic purchase for me, and so I was ecstatic to receive this galley. The story of a young female detective with a family linked to the seedy underworld of crime touched me and kept me up well into the the night.

This is a book that completely took over every minute I had spare as it really is a page turner and I just couldn’t put it down. So it’s a thrilling non stop ride full of extremely well written characters one of whom I totally disliked and I love it when there is a character that is so poisonous I shout at my kindle !
The book has some hard subjects domestic abuse being one making it a difficult read but this all adds to the dark and clever writing from Michael Robotham who is fast becoming one of my favourite authors he really can write a fabulous story!
No rehash of the plot here it’s not my thing I just went into this book quite blind as I requested it to read purely because of the author and wow I was not disappointed at any time I was completely immersed in the story from beginning to end and loved the surprises it had in store.
If you want a read that is compulsive, clever and thrilling you have it here I loved it and look forward to the next book Mr Robotham writes, many thanks for a tremendously satisfying read.
My thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK, Sphere for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Michael Robotham’s Joseph O’Loughlin and Cyrus Haven series always draw me in from the outset and his latest standalone, ‘When You Are Mine’ is equally successful in attracting the reader’s curiosity. PC Philomena (Phil) McCarthy is called to intervene in a domestic dispute and ends up arresting Met poster boy DS Darren Goodall who has clearly attacked his girlfriend, Tempe. Not only is Phil warned off following through on her arrest but she also discovers that Darren has form in this area. A previous fiancée had a terrible accident and his terrified wife and children are kept virtually imprisoned at home. How can he act with such impunity?
Phil is determined to help both his girlfriend and his wife and both become reliant on her for moral support, practical assistance and friendship. Nevertheless, in doing so she makes some rash decisions which put her on the wrong side of the law. And is her new friend Tempe all that she appears to be?
Robotham’s focus on domestic abuse is timely; in his Acknowledgements he reminds us that an extraordinary number of women are killed by their partners and not enough is done to prevent this terrible crime. His focus on Tempe’s White Knight syndrome (yes, there is such a thing) is a little distracting but allows him to explore another kind of abhorrent relationship in this novel. Nevertheless, whilst ‘When You Are Mine’ is a real page turner, the relationships between the characters are not developed in the depth that I’ve come to expect from his previous work. And, call me particular, but Robotham’s characters use just a few too many Aussie colloquialisms for his dialogue to be entirely convincing. Note, too, there’s no tube line in Peckham – if only!
My thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK Sphere for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

What an absolutely fantastic and thrilling book. Such an incredible story that you think you've got worked out but you're probably wrong. Amazing xx

When You Are Mine - Michael Robotham

First of all Michael Robotham is one of my favourite authors, I binged on all of his books during lockdown last year.

When You Are Mine of more psychological and may be his best yet.

The story centres on PC Philomena 'Phil' McCarthy a young female London copper. A call to a domestic incident finds a bloodied victim of domestic assault and the boyfriend is arrested. The boyfriend turns out to be a senior highly-decorated Police Detective Sergeant.

So begins a dark and intense psychological thriller, as Philomena must balance trying to help and protect the victim with the threats and aggravation that will come if she gets involved in investigating a senior officer.

It's just brilliant, a dark and highly unpredictable story involving coercive control, domestic abuse and obsessive toxic relationships. The characters become real and the tension continually ramps up.

More psychological than Robotham's previous novels, but still with the depth of characterisation, intricate plotting and intensity that we know and love.

One of his best books yet, up there with Shatter and Bombproof vying for the top spot.

If this isn't in my top ten books at the end of the year I'll be very surprised.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sphere, Little Brown Book Group.

Philomena McCarthy, daughter of a London mob boss, is the last person people would expect to join the police force, but she has and has proved she’s more than worthy of the job. And while Phil thought she knew who the bad guys were, she changes her mind when she rescues, Tempe. the girlfriend of a high ranking detective, from domestic violence. The whole affair is swept under the rug and Phil has made herself enemies on the force. Tempe and Phil form a fast friendship, and even though the young woman seems very kind, something is off about ther. When a journalist who’s connected to both Phil’s father and Tempe’s boyfriend, Phil begins to wonder if she should trust her new “friend”. Reading Robotham is always a treat. make yourself a cuppa and settle in for a long, satisfying read

This is a standalone by Michael Robotham, the author of the highly acclaimed Joseph O'Loughlin series and is a highly contemporary novel looking at domestic abuse and police corruption. It is a gripping thriller with a fast moving plot that I finished over the course of 24 hours. Philomena McCarthy a police officer in the Met with a complicated family history is a great character and I hope there is a follow up to this compelling novel. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC.

An excellent stand alone thriller novel by author Michael Robotham. This is a real page turner and a story about domestic abuse, coercive control and toxic friendships. There are some really strong characters in this novel, some you will like and others you will hate together in a well plotted story that kept me reading all day.

I really enjoy Michael Robotham’s books and have followed both the Joseph O’Loughlin and Cyrus Haven series from the start as well as his standalones. This is another excellent plotted story and is well worth a read.

Young police officer Philomena McCarthy has a promising career future despite being the daughter of a notorious London gangster. When Phil is called to the scene of a domestic assault, she rescues a young woman, Tempe Brown from her abusive boyfriend, who just happens to be a decorated detective. The incident is hushed up, but she has unwittingly made a dangerous enemy with powerful friends.

A bond is forged between the two women who are determined to protect each other and a strange friendship is made. Tempe goes to great lengths to please Phil but something isn’t quite what it seems with the friendship. A journalist approaches Phil after linking her to her estranged father and is found floating in the Thames shortly after. With all the deceit around Phil is unsure who to trust or suspect leaving her in an impossible position.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.