An absolute corker of a read.

This is a book that you could easily spend all day reading.  I was so keen to get to the end that is exactly what I did.

I have read a few Michael Robotham books, make that all of his books, and this one was his most recent.

“Philomena ‘Phil’ McCarthy is a promising young officer in the London Metropolitan police.

But everything changes when she is called to the scene of a domestic assault. Unbeknownst to her, the abuser is a decorated detective and Phil’s efforts to protect his girlfriend – Tempe Brown – from violence result in Phil being unjustly struck from the force.

In the fallout, Phil begins to teach Tempe self-defence and they strike up a tentative friendship. Tempe is thoughtful and sweet, and within a matter of weeks the two women are inseparable – talking, socialising and confiding their deepest secrets in one another. But something isn’t right. Sinister things keep happening and, when a body is discovered, Phil realises that Tempe is hiding deadly secrets of her own. “

This novel addresses some serious issues, most notably domestic violence and abuse against women. It also shines a light on groups of men, in this case the police, protecting one of their own . Coersive control and toxic friendships feature strongly.

An outstanding psychological thriller.