Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith

72 reviews

erinnichole13's review

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

This book was so. fricking. long! I have no problem with a hefty book if you can pace it well but holy crap, half this book could have been edited out. The epilogue was three chapters! Most people can wrap it up in 1! The whole book gives the impression of someone that just likes to hear themselves talk. The plot had promise but it dragged on under unnecessary pages. The characters are getting a bit tedious and monotonous, not growing much with each book, though the ending suggested maybe next book may be different (though we've read that before). I'd say if you're interested in the relationship drama, save yourself 1000 pages, just read the  very last chapter and hope someone reigns Rowlings in for the next book

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Content Warnings

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Dementia, Abortion, Child abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Child death, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Murder, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Confinement

rnbhargava's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Grief, Alcoholism, Addiction, Biphobia, Body horror, Gun violence, Suicide, Miscarriage, Self harm, Torture, Trafficking, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Classism, Death, Chronic illness, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Infidelity, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Confinement, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Rape, Slavery, Stalking, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Excrement, Ableism, Violence, and Bullying

There’s murder, sexual coercion and assault on underaged and of age characters mentioned and suggested. There’s drowning, confinement in tight, restrictive spaces, there’s mental and physical manipulation and torture. There’s hired hit men and lurkers. The plot has to do with a controversial cult that uses a lot of cultural appropriation of Asian religions and philosophies in the cult’s supposed doctrine. There are also scenes and depictions of endangering small children’s welfare. Cult characters assault female characters quite obviously as well. There are characters with mental and physical health problems. There’s suicide and murder. Look at the triggers.

hexagon9067's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Physical abuse, Suicide, Homophobia, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Trafficking, Slavery, Infidelity, Death, Cursing, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Cancer, Child death, Alcoholism, Addiction, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Murder, Incest, Gaslighting, Confinement, Child abuse, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, and Drug abuse

worldwidewebb's review

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

There is no reason this book needed to be 945 pages.

Inconsistently written to the extent that I suspect Rowling/Galbraith  used a ghostwriter for some or all of the writing. Certainly the editors were less involved in this one. Some of the book (particularly the later sections) read well, but several chapters were written as if it was Assignment 2 in Writers 101. Run-on sentences, repetition of words, the godawful use of synonyms to "said"... I can't exaggerate the number of times I physically rolled my eyes.

Not going to bother to flag spoilers because genuinely the plot is not worth spoiling. It's like someone read the Wikipedia page for cult/Charles Manson and decided to write 1000 pages on it. Lucky Robin can think her way out of every situation and is also very hot and everyone loves her!

Re: Robin and Strike, the whole reason I'm still plodding through these books - also no spoilers because there's nothing to spoil. Clearly Rowling/Galbraith know why people actually read these books and it ain't for the plot. Strike undergoes some slight character development this time around, I'll grant you, but most of it has to do with fish.

Will I read the next one? Probably. Will I complain about it? Absolutely. My arms literally hurt from holding this brick for the one million hours it took to read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Violence

gemin1reader's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense

5.0

I just love these books. I never remember a single thing about the plot, but I do love how intricate the stories are and how incredible the world building is. I’m just here for Strike and Robin.

His declaration of love at the very end…my god I might never recover. Need the next book NOW!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Stalking, Mental illness, Suicide, Miscarriage, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Blood, Rape, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Violence

Moderate: Pregnancy, Classism, Dementia, and Trafficking

Minor: Vomit and Car accident

natabyrne's review

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, and Child death

vesperwae's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I think I loved this one best in the series, even though the writer is an awful person. I keep getting back to their work, a literal guilty pleasure 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Torture, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Child abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Rape, Murder, Pedophilia, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping

knightscottage's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

 I've just finished reading it. Brilliant. I held back purchasing it after detesting the last book in the series. This latest really is as fantastic as other reviewers say. It did lag a bit at the beginning. Very quickly picked up the pace once Robin was undercover. The car chase scene reminded me of that famous Steve McQueen movie. Edge of the seat stuff.  And Oh my gosh the ending yesssss!!! 

Confronting subject matter. Survivors of cults and child abuse in all its forms take care reading this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Incest, Confinement, Torture, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, and Child abuse

Moderate: Cursing

magicsarah's review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Rape, Suicide attempt, Torture, Trafficking, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Violence, Homophobia, Child death, Dementia, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Sexual assault, Slavery, Child abuse, Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Confinement, and Suicide

Moderate: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Classism, Addiction, Alcohol, and Death of parent

judyrigby's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book, like all in the series, would benefit from tight editing and should have been half the length. Having said that, the author is a proven master in the art of plotting. And, I'll probably read the next installment in the series because I'm invested in Cormoran & Robyn, an investment that began in the opening scenes of the first book. It's complicated!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Child abuse, and Suicide