4.0
Good Girl, Bad Girl
ByPublisher Description
Finalist for the 2020 Edgar Award for Best Novel
From the internationally bestselling author who Stephen King calls “an absolute master,” a fiendishly clever psychological thriller about a dangerous young woman with the ability to know when someone is lying—and the criminal psychologist who must outwit her to survive.
A girl is discovered hiding in a secret room in the aftermath of a terrible crime. Half-starved and filthy, she won’t tell anyone her name, or her age, or where she came from. Maybe she is twelve, maybe fifteen. She doesn’t appear in any missing persons file, and her DNA can’t be matched to an identity. Six years later, still unidentified, she is living in a secure children’s home with a new name, Evie Cormac. When she initiates a court case demanding the right to be released as an adult, forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven must determine if Evie is ready to go free. But she is unlike anyone he’s ever met—fascinating and dangerous in equal measure. Evie knows when someone is lying, and no one around her is telling the truth.
Meanwhile, Cyrus is called in to investigate the shocking murder of a high school figure-skating champion, Jodie Sheehan, who died on a lonely footpath close to her home. Pretty and popular, Jodie is portrayed by everyone as the ultimate girl-next-door, but as Cyrus peels back the layers, a secret life emerges—one that Evie Cormac, the girl with no past, knows something about. A man haunted by his own tragic history, Cyrus is caught between the two cases—one girl who needs saving and another who needs justice. What price will he pay for the truth?
Emotionally explosive, swiftly paced, and “haunting…Robotham expertly raises the tension as the action hurtles toward the devastating climax” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) in this twisting domestic thriller where the lies run deep and the the hidden identity of one girl collides with the buried secrets of another.
From the internationally bestselling author who Stephen King calls “an absolute master,” a fiendishly clever psychological thriller about a dangerous young woman with the ability to know when someone is lying—and the criminal psychologist who must outwit her to survive.
A girl is discovered hiding in a secret room in the aftermath of a terrible crime. Half-starved and filthy, she won’t tell anyone her name, or her age, or where she came from. Maybe she is twelve, maybe fifteen. She doesn’t appear in any missing persons file, and her DNA can’t be matched to an identity. Six years later, still unidentified, she is living in a secure children’s home with a new name, Evie Cormac. When she initiates a court case demanding the right to be released as an adult, forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven must determine if Evie is ready to go free. But she is unlike anyone he’s ever met—fascinating and dangerous in equal measure. Evie knows when someone is lying, and no one around her is telling the truth.
Meanwhile, Cyrus is called in to investigate the shocking murder of a high school figure-skating champion, Jodie Sheehan, who died on a lonely footpath close to her home. Pretty and popular, Jodie is portrayed by everyone as the ultimate girl-next-door, but as Cyrus peels back the layers, a secret life emerges—one that Evie Cormac, the girl with no past, knows something about. A man haunted by his own tragic history, Cyrus is caught between the two cases—one girl who needs saving and another who needs justice. What price will he pay for the truth?
Emotionally explosive, swiftly paced, and “haunting…Robotham expertly raises the tension as the action hurtles toward the devastating climax” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) in this twisting domestic thriller where the lies run deep and the the hidden identity of one girl collides with the buried secrets of another.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesGood Girl, Bad Girl Reviews
4.0
“OK I get it now....
RTC”
“Topics of traumas are handled thoughtfully and with nuance. There are several moving parts to this story, with a variety of characters and interconnections that are easy to follow and do not feel overly convoluted or irritatingly irrelevant.
The two main characters, Evie and Cyrus, are very likeable, and the minor characters also stand out, adding depth and dimension.
Some of the ending plot points left me a bit confused and feeling oddly. But overall I really enjoyed this one. The sequel will be one of the next on my list!”
“Good Girl, Bad Girl completely blindsided me. I went in expecting a run of the mill psychological thriller and came out feeling like I’d read something deeply human, compassionate, and quietly profound.
This is a thriller steeped in psychology, trauma, healing, and connection — themes I adore — and it handles them with so much care. The pacing is sharp and gripping, yet the emotional depth never gets lost. I felt a constant sense of unease throughout: the murder of Jodie, the Langford scenes, Cyrus’s house, Felix.
Cyrus is a fantastic character: damaged, guarded, and deeply human. Watching his relationship with Evie unfold — how they collide, trigger one another, and slowly begin to heal — was incredibly compelling. Evie herself is unforgettable: sharp, funny, vulnerable, and quietly extraordinary. The twist of her being a human lie detector was so well executed, adding tension without overpowering the emotional core of the story.
And somehow, amidst the darkness, this book has so much heart. I laughed out loud at Evie’s blunt observations and unexpected suggestions 🌺 and I genuinely teared up — especially during the rescue centre scene with Poppy 🐶. Those moments of tenderness made the darker sections hit even harder.
Some scenes were difficult to read, but I never once wanted to stop. This is one of those rare books that balances discomfort with warmth, and suspense with empathy.
A psychological thriller with so much heart. I loved it!! ❤️”
About Michael Robotham
Michael Robotham is a former investigative journalist whose bestselling psychological thrillers have been translated into twenty-five languages. He has twice won a Ned Kelly Award for Australia’s best crime novel, for Lost in 2005 and Shatter in 2008. His recent novels include When She Was Good, winner of the UK’s Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award for best thriller; The Secrets She Keeps; Good Girl, Bad Girl; When You Are Mine; Lying Beside You; Storm Child; and The White Crow. After living and writing all over the world, Robotham settled his family in Sydney, Australia.
Other books by Michael Robotham
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