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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
Another Rowling success. This third Cormoran Strike novel isn't as fast-paced as the other 2, but you get a much better sense of the characters. Strike and Robin are a little fuller thanks to more background information. The details are grisly but not overdone, and I appreciate the restraint! I also just read that she has many more planned, which makes the ending of this one fantastic!
Honestly, I waffled about what to rate this. I'd give 3.5, but that's not an option. So I went with four stars, as the things I did like outweighed the things I didn't.
I liked this book because I liked all the character drama involved in it. Robin finally gets to take the spotlight. This book is about her past, her current drive and resolve to be an investigator, her future in that career and with Matthew. Although I was ultimately let down on that Matthew front (I get it, his involvement adds tension to her relationship with Strike, but at what cost??), everything else Robin was great.
If you're like me, if you like character drama, then you'll probably be okay with this entry in the series. Because that's why this book is so long...half of it is delving into Robin, Strike, and their relationship. So if you jumped in because you wanted a mystery, I can see why you might be disappointed. After all, you're going to keep getting interrupted by Robin's broken engagement woes and Strike's continuous realization that his girlfriend's boring.
The mystery itself is alright. A lot of your usual misogynistic serial-killers nonsense (think Girl With The Dragon Tattoo). Did I really want to read a bunch of viscous woman-hating? Nah, that's a tired topic to me, but it serves as a vehicle to bring out Robin's backstory. Again, I liked the character drama, so I didn't have a problem with the pacing. But I will agree with others that the ending was weak. Strike makes the conclusion on very flimsy logic. And of course the culprit was the only one Galbraith/Rowling didn't drop subtle hints about their guilt between the POV and the normal chapters.
I'm still on board with Strike and Robin, and I look forward to their next mystery. I just hope the ending's better. (And that Matthew stops being a turd.)
I liked this book because I liked all the character drama involved in it. Robin finally gets to take the spotlight. This book is about her past, her current drive and resolve to be an investigator, her future in that career and with Matthew. Although I was ultimately let down on that Matthew front (I get it, his involvement adds tension to her relationship with Strike, but at what cost??), everything else Robin was great.
If you're like me, if you like character drama, then you'll probably be okay with this entry in the series. Because that's why this book is so long...half of it is delving into Robin, Strike, and their relationship. So if you jumped in because you wanted a mystery, I can see why you might be disappointed. After all, you're going to keep getting interrupted by Robin's broken engagement woes and Strike's continuous realization that his girlfriend's boring.
The mystery itself is alright. A lot of your usual misogynistic serial-killers nonsense (think Girl With The Dragon Tattoo). Did I really want to read a bunch of viscous woman-hating? Nah, that's a tired topic to me, but it serves as a vehicle to bring out Robin's backstory. Again, I liked the character drama, so I didn't have a problem with the pacing. But I will agree with others that the ending was weak. Strike makes the conclusion on very flimsy logic. And of course the culprit was the only one Galbraith/Rowling didn't drop subtle hints about their guilt between the POV and the normal chapters.
I'm still on board with Strike and Robin, and I look forward to their next mystery. I just hope the ending's better. (And that Matthew stops being a turd.)
This is everything I want a mystery series to be including the will they or won't they relationship of its two main characters.
But the last page...MAN.
But the last page...MAN.
[b: Career of Evil|25735012|Career of Evil (Cormoran Strike, #3)|Robert Galbraith|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1434419930s/25735012.jpg|43699375] is perhaps the best Cormoran Strike mystery yet. There's a serial killer on the loose and Strike's assistant/partner Robin receives a severed leg in the mail. Strike suspects three men from his past. [a: J.K. Rowling|1077326|J.K. Rowling|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1415945171p2/1077326.jpg] (as Robert Galbraith) knows how to keep the suspense going and the characterization is far better than in the first two books. The pace picks up too. And the ending comes as a surprise. Looking forward to the fourth book.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I adore this book series! This is my favorite book in the series so far.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder
I felt this plot was a bit weaker than the others (partly because the case is immediately limited to three suspects), but still enjoyable.
Another awesome book by JK Rowling. Very dark though.
I was disappointed. In the writing, the characters, plot....okay pretty much everything. I will still read the next book in the series, I just hope it's better.
Huh. I really, really liked this one but thank god I didn't actually read any reviews or encounter any spoilers beforehand because I probably would have put it off. There's quite a bit of discussion of sexual assault here, and while I rarely find that subject treated with the complexity it requires, the major strength of this treatment is its specificity. Similarly the plot focuses on dismemberment and there's some really interesting ideas about the body and how assaults on the body affect a person.
Beyond that, I continue to adore both Strike and Robin. There's a lot more backstory for both of them which is great. But the ending is a MAJOR cliffhanger from a relationship standpoint.
Also, Shanker, Strike's childhood friend, is potentially my favorite character of the year so far!
Beyond that, I continue to adore both Strike and Robin. There's a lot more backstory for both of them which is great. But the ending is a MAJOR cliffhanger from a relationship standpoint.
Also, Shanker, Strike's childhood friend, is potentially my favorite character of the year so far!
I am so fond of the characters that I can hardly write an objective review. The characters are being developed in depth and i am enjoying getting to know them and their back stories.