White Crow marks the return of Police Constable Philomena McCarthy, whom we first met in When You Are Mine. While that book was initially intended as a standalone, both Robotham and his readers were clearly drawn to Phil – an earnest young officer navigating her career under the long shadow of her father, notorious London crime boss Edward McCarthy.

We rejoin Phil during what seems like a routine patrol – she and her partner are making a deli run during the late shift when they’re called to a violent robbery at a high-end jewellery store. Just as they’re about to respond, Phil spots a small child standing frozen in the middle of the road. As her partner heads to the crime scene, Phil breaks off to find the child – who has now vanished.

This seemingly minor detour leads Phil straight into the aftermath of a brutal home invasion. As the investigation unfolds, all signs begin to point disturbingly close to home: to her father, Edward McCarthy, and his criminal empire.

One of the book’s great strengths lies in its characters. Robotham clearly delights in writing Phil’s extended family – particularly her uncles, Edward’s brothers – old-school London gangsters who live by a strict, if brutal, code where loyalty to family reigns supreme.

White Crow is taut, smart, gritty, with twists and turns and compulsively readable. The tension is relentless, and just when you think you’ve found solid ground, he pulls the rug out from under you. My only warning: don’t open the first chapter unless you’ve cleared your schedule. It’s that addictive.

Reviewed by Maryanne Vagg

Read an interview with Michael Robotham about White Crow