When You Are Mine
A Novel
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4.2 • 132 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
From an author who Stephen King calls “an absolute master” comes a “heart-clutching psychological thriller” (People) about a young female police officer facing danger on all fronts—from a clever victim of abuse, skeptical colleagues on the force, and even her own father.
Philomena McCarthy is an ambitious police officer with the elite Metropolitan Police in London, responding to a domestic violence call. Tempe Brown is a bloodied young woman and the mistress of a decorated and intimidating London detective, Darren Goodall. Philomena and Tempe strike up a tentative friendship, determined to protect each other from Goodall, but something isn’t quite right about the stories Tempe tells and the secrets she keeps. Yet the young officer is drawn into Tempe’s world, unsure of what is real or invented. After a bungled break-in and an unsolved murder, Philomena finds herself trapped—with her career, her impending wedding, and her very survival in doubt.
Robotham’s brilliant ability to render complex characters, both good and bad, keeps readers unsure of whom to trust, “maintain[ing] an air of excruciating suspense” (The Washington Post)—until the very last page.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this nail-biter from Edgar finalist Robotham (When She Was Good), Police Constable Philomena McCarthy's devotion to duty and empathy for victimized women threaten to make her time with the Southwark Police short after she and her partner, Anishi Kohli, respond to a report of a domestic disturbance. After conferring with a woman who says she could hear her neighbor screaming, McCarthy and Kohli go to the neighbor's door, which is answered by a battered young woman who calls herself Tempe and claims that her injuries are accidental—and that she's alone. Behind the door, McCarthy finds Tempe's abusive boyfriend, a decorated detective sergeant, Darren Goodall. When Goodall assaults McCarthy, she arrests him. Later, Goodall's male allies on the force make both assault cases go away. Though she's warned to distance herself from Goodall, McCarthy pursues her suspicions that he may also be abusing his wife, while also trying to find a refuge for Tempe. Those unauthorized endeavors jeopardize her job and her life. Robotham tightens the screws on his sympathetic lead incrementally as the action builds to a satisfying climax. Lisa Unger fans will be riveted.
Customer Reviews
Back on the top of his game
He gambled on new techniques to tell this intricate and honest story. The result is an excellent examination of the brutal complexities of a life lived.
When You Are Mine
Greatly enjoyed reading this book! I’m glad there was justice for Phil, but it came with a high price. So glad Tempe had the video proving police corruption, and the media could expose their murder of the journalist while deliberately framing others. Just rotten to the core. Liked Phil’s father and family, and was so glad he helped Phil. Surprise ending was also poetic justice for a murderer, rapist, wife and child beater. The book very realistically described the devastating effects of domestic violence, severe mental illness, police corruption, divorce and criminal histories on people and families. How ironic that sending the ring to one murder victim’s family identified the murderer …. Of Goodall …. Without consequences, and the murderer of Tempe will face no consequences. The ending was not sad, though, as they seemed somehow justified given the pain and suffering the victims caused to so many. In Tempe’s case, she should have been sentenced to a psychiatric hospital as she was just so sick. That raises the question of how to treat the mentally ill if they will not agree.