Name: The White Crow
Author: Michael Robotham

The White Crow, Michael Robotham’s second entertaining crime thriller starring the young and feisty police constable Philomena McCarthy. Read my full review.

Michael Robotham's The White Crow, Book Review

Publication: Hachette Australia, June 2025.

Genre: Crime-Detective, Thriller, Mystery, Drama, Action

The White Crow Publisher Synopsis

As the daughter of a London crime boss, Police Constable Philomena McCarthy walks a thin blue line keeping the two sides of her complicated life apart.

On patrol one night she discovers a child in pyjamas, wandering alone. Taking Daisy home, Phil uncovers the aftermath of a deadly home invasion, as three miles away a prominent jeweller is found strapped to an explosive in his ransacked store.

The crimes are linked, and all the evidence points to Phil’s father as the mastermind.

Phil’s two worlds are colliding, trapping her in the middle of a vicious gang war that will threaten her career and everyone she loves.

Who can she trust – the badge or her own blood?

‘The plot is sleek and elegant, with interlocking story lines that culminate in a big, bloody finale. Readers will be sold on the prospect of another Philomena McCarthy mystery even before they put this one down’ — Publishers Weekly

‘Tension imbues this dark tale, with action reaching a scary crescendo . . . End-to-end excitement for crime fans’ — Kirkus Reviews

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My Review

After hearing former investigative journalist and bestselling crime fiction writer Michael Robotham speak at writers festivals multiple times, I am glad I have finally found time to read one of his novels. That his fictional criminal plotting would be up my alley was already clear. But, when making purchasing decisions within the more commercial crime fiction genre, the series lead must have some extra special appeal to me too. So in this case it was actually his character PC Philomena McCarthy and her complex family background that sealed the deal for me.

The White Crow is actually the second of his novels to feature Philomena McCarthy, but for me it read equally well as a standalone novel.

Philomena McCarthy is endearingly principled and independent of mind given all that she was exposed to in her formative years. She can also inflict some damage in a fight. But she wears her heart and flaws on her sleeve too, with her emotions getting the better of her at times, leading to unwise decisions. Quite unfairly, people are also quicker to question her motives given she’s Eddie McCarthy’s daughter. So she’s an entertaining lead for readers to ride shotgun with, and to root for, most of the time.

Robotham’s crime plotting and character web in The White Crow was sufficiently layered and complex for me to sink my teeth into. The red herrings and mortal threats were also sufficiently plausible to maintain my mental engagement. Repeated mention of familial ties or identifiable markers means it’s rarely confusing for readers. Other than this wonderful opening paragraph,

In a real dark night of the soul it is always three o’clock in the morning. F Scott Fitzgerald wrote that line almost sixty years before I was born but it’s true enough today. London is not asleep at this hour. Merely resting her eyes and humming impatiently, waiting for the sun to rise. She is like an aging toothless beast, chewing through years that she struggles to swallow.

his writing style prioritises function over flair, and his alternating character perspectives are delivered in a very measured, easy-to-follow fashion. But, I am in two minds about the extent to which Robotham keeps readers guessing about many characters.

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Avid readers of commercial crime fiction will probably love all this, and I’m sure The White Crow will be another bestseller for Robotham. Many have already awarded it 5 stars. But readers like me who have come to appreciate crime thriller narratives with pops of literary flair that cultivate deeper reader connections with characters, may feel this novel had unrealised potential. The story within The White Crow contained a huge amount of action, suspense and tension. However, that same level of suspense and tension did not translate to my reading experience.

Michael Robotham’s The White Crow is highly entertaining commercial crime fiction. I’d certainly welcome the opportunity to read the next Philomena McCarthy novel. But if you are seeking a highly memorable and impactful crime fiction reading experience, I’d recommend the work of crime writers such as Helen Fields, Emma Viskic, Chris Hammer, and many others whose titles we have reviewed.