FORECAST FRIDAY: LYING BESIDE YOU By Michael Robotham

You know it is a good day when the Advanced Reader Copy of Michael Robotham’s new book, Lying Beside You (Hachette, 29 June 2022), turns up!

Michael is one of my favourite authors and everyone of his books are treat to read. Even though it is not due out until the end of June, I have already dived into it and I am about half way through. It is shaping up to be another terrific book by Michael.

Lying Beside You is the third book in his series about forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven and troubled young adult, Evie Cormac. The book finds Cyrus dealing with problems on several fronts:

“Twenty years ago, Cyrus Haven’s family was murdered. Only he and his brother survived. Cyrus because he hid. Elias because he was the killer.

Now Elias is being released from a secure psychiatric hospital and Cyrus, a forensic psychologist, must decide if he can forgive the man who destroyed his childhood. As he prepares for the homecoming, Cyrus is called to a crime scene in Nottingham. A man is dead and his daughter, Maya, is missing. Then a second woman is abducted.

The only witness to the kidnapping is Evie Cormac, a troubled teenager with an incredible gift: she can tell when you are lying. Both missing women have dark secrets that Cyrus must unravel to find them – and he and Evie know better than anybody how the past can come back to haunt you”

Based on what I have read so far, this is another cleverly plotted and well crafted novel by Michael. As usual, the writing is first class and the story quickly drags you in. The opening account of the murder of Cyrus’ parents and sisters is emotionally powerful and, as always with Michael’s books, it is the telling small detail that stays in your mind: his sister’s braid, the ukulele, etc. It is an easy book to keep on reading well into the night!

I will be doing a fuller review closer to the release date, but Lying Beside You is certainly one to put down on your ‘to read list’!

The book also comes with some exciting information about the adaption of Michael’s first book, The Suspect, into a television series by World Productions, makers of Line Of Duty and Bodyguard. The series will star Aidan Turner (Poldark) in the key role of psychologist Joe O’Loughlin. Certainly something to look forward to!