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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Struggled with this one! Loved all the previous series .
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 Stars. I rounded down. It was okay.
I struggled with this book more than I have with previous installments. It was still a good read, and I still enjoy the characters of Robin and Strike. The book could just really be about 200 pages shorter (we really didn't need all the stuff about the cases that had zero bearing on the plot. Some fine. But there was a LOT of it). Last book, I didn't mind the filler. This one, I really really did. Maybe it was just because the content was so depressing and there was so much time "online" that it didn't offer the escape from being online that I often read to get away from. The deep dive into internet culture and fandom was a bit depressing. Mainly because a lot of the toxic behaviors are impossible to miss in the world. So escapist this book was not.
It was unique to read for sure and we got SOME development on the Strike/Robin front, which I enjoyed. The murderer was only predictable because I read another book last month that kind of went in a similar direction. Had I not read that so recently, I may not have guessed it. And I'm really not looking forward to reading another love interest just for the sake of keeping them apart. Though the detective seems preferable to the abusive woman Strike dated this book who seemed to live off of alcohol and was just a watered down version of Charlotte (who I'm over at this point and I think Strike is as well, thank goodness). I did like that Strike seemed to make some healthier choices for this overall well being and hope that that continues in previous installments.
I struggled with this book more than I have with previous installments. It was still a good read, and I still enjoy the characters of Robin and Strike. The book could just really be about 200 pages shorter (we really didn't need all the stuff about the cases that had zero bearing on the plot. Some fine. But there was a LOT of it). Last book, I didn't mind the filler. This one, I really really did. Maybe it was just because the content was so depressing and there was so much time "online" that it didn't offer the escape from being online that I often read to get away from. The deep dive into internet culture and fandom was a bit depressing. Mainly because a lot of the toxic behaviors are impossible to miss in the world. So escapist this book was not.
It was unique to read for sure and we got SOME development on the Strike/Robin front, which I enjoyed. The murderer was only predictable because I read another book last month that kind of went in a similar direction. Had I not read that so recently, I may not have guessed it. And I'm really not looking forward to reading another love interest just for the sake of keeping them apart. Though the detective seems preferable to the abusive woman Strike dated this book who seemed to live off of alcohol and was just a watered down version of Charlotte (who I'm over at this point and I think Strike is as well, thank goodness). I did like that Strike seemed to make some healthier choices for this overall well being and hope that that continues in previous installments.
My least favourite Strike book so far but still fabulously written as also.
A few thoughts:
- the online community was so uncomfortable to read because it was so real. You see exchanges like that all too frequently. (Highly recommend reading Laura Bates’ “Men Who Hate Women” as an impeccably researched insight into men online)
- the ending felt far too rushed for such a long book. I feel there were so many unanswered questions - why did G attempt to kill Josh? How did it all play out in the graveyard etc.
- G/A felt quite one dimensional to me and not particularly well rounded
- I LOVED Robin in this book - she was such a badass and really took control of the whole case
- Pat also great
- Feel like we could have done without a few of the “side cases”?
- Am I the only one who doesn’t want Strike and Robin to get together!?
A few thoughts:
- the online community was so uncomfortable to read because it was so real. You see exchanges like that all too frequently. (Highly recommend reading Laura Bates’ “Men Who Hate Women” as an impeccably researched insight into men online)
- the ending felt far too rushed for such a long book. I feel there were so many unanswered questions - why did G attempt to kill Josh? How did it all play out in the graveyard etc.
- G/A felt quite one dimensional to me and not particularly well rounded
- I LOVED Robin in this book - she was such a badass and really took control of the whole case
- Pat also great
- Feel like we could have done without a few of the “side cases”?
- Am I the only one who doesn’t want Strike and Robin to get together!?
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Four stars because of the ending - I honestly expected it to be but it is what it is.
Facsinating how this book portrays the worst of the internet, and it is not wrong… Wasn’t sure it was possible to be exhausted by social media when reading a book, but I sure as hell was!
Unpopular opinion, but I hope Robin and Strike never get together and instead stay hopelessly in love and grouchy… It works better that way!
Spoiler
Katya, which would have been much more intriguingFacsinating how this book portrays the worst of the internet, and it is not wrong… Wasn’t sure it was possible to be exhausted by social media when reading a book, but I sure as hell was!
Unpopular opinion, but I hope Robin and Strike never get together and instead stay hopelessly in love and grouchy… It works better that way!
I think this book should count as 4 for the book count due to length! Strike and Robin are back, the "will they/won't they" romantic tension remains. I am undecided if this should happen or not, or of it's too cliche. The main case focuses on a cartoon that took off from YouTube and at risk of becoming too "mainstream" with a Netflix and movie deal, has fans hot and threats from an unaffiliated online game. The team is tasked with finding out who is making the threats, as they are escalating from bullying to MURDER. The other cases are always hard for me to follow, I get they are included to show the agency works on more than one case at a time, but it does prolong the story. I liked the book.