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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
Insanely complex, but gripping throughout. I am left wanting more and ready for the next book!
I would give this 3.5 stars. I loved the story - but the mystery was blah at best.
This is my favorite series of all time. I saved this book as a Christmas gift to myself and read it as slowly as I could.
The level of detail, careful character development, storylines... pure brilliance.
The level of detail, careful character development, storylines... pure brilliance.
I enjoyed this 4th installment in the Cormoran Strike series but it didn’t need to be 650 pages (22+ hours audiobook). It needed tighter editing. There was probably 100 pages worth that could’ve been removed without compromising the story.
This is my favorite of the Cormoran Strike books, so far. It's a little long (almost 650 pages) and the pacing is kind of weird (the transition between the middle and the ending is kind of flat), but it still reads quick and has a pretty satisfying payoff. I've been told that a good mystery provides the reader with sufficient facts, to be able to guess the culprit at some point before the reveal. I don't know that "Lethal White" really does that (although I've never been good at solving mystery novels mid-read anyway); but its ending reads as plausible, and the motives make sense within the world that Galbraith/Rowling creates. I didn't feel frustrated by it, as I did with "The Silkworm"; and I found it more interesting than "The Cuckoo's Calling."
The will-they-won't-they of the Strike-Robin relationship continues in "Lethal White," but it's not as tiresome to read about as it is in the prior novels. Both characters seem to finally understand how they feel about each other and the impediments to their being together are finally removed at the end. I'm skeptical Galbraith/Rowling will put them together anytime soon (I'm sure new impediments will arise), but at least we're left with the sense that the possibility exists at the end of this novel.
Galbraith/Rowling never swings for the fences with the Strike books; and "Lethal White" is no different. There is no greater message in the novel; and, even the temporal background of the novel (London during the 2012 Olympics) is devoid of any social or political criticism. Galbraith/Rowling does take shots at the Tories, the progressive left, and the English upper class, all of which read as not particularly interesting or creative. But, I picked up "Lethal White" for its plot--not its perspective--so, I didn't see that as too much of a failing.
I've enjoyed the characters and Rowling/Galbraith's style develop over the past four books in the series. In "Lethal White," Robin is certainly more developed, and her personal and professional lives more interesting here; and Strike is as he's always been (i.e., a gentle giant), but somehow reads as more thoughtful and patient in this novel. As she does in the other three books (I think), Rowling/Galbraith has Strike solve the mystery and then makes the reader wait a while before revealing what that solution is; I still find that approach to be a little anti-climactic and frustrating, but Rowling/Galbraith tamps it down a bit here (although she still has characters very conveniently reveal facts during interviews by saying, "Well, I suppose you know X," which I continue to find unrealistic).
I'm not sure how many more Strike books I need in my life, although I continue to enjoy reading them. Assuming Rowling/Galbraith adds a fifth book to the series, I think I'll likely pick it up.
The will-they-won't-they of the Strike-Robin relationship continues in "Lethal White," but it's not as tiresome to read about as it is in the prior novels. Both characters seem to finally understand how they feel about each other and the impediments to their being together are finally removed at the end. I'm skeptical Galbraith/Rowling will put them together anytime soon (I'm sure new impediments will arise), but at least we're left with the sense that the possibility exists at the end of this novel.
Galbraith/Rowling never swings for the fences with the Strike books; and "Lethal White" is no different. There is no greater message in the novel; and, even the temporal background of the novel (London during the 2012 Olympics) is devoid of any social or political criticism. Galbraith/Rowling does take shots at the Tories, the progressive left, and the English upper class, all of which read as not particularly interesting or creative. But, I picked up "Lethal White" for its plot--not its perspective--so, I didn't see that as too much of a failing.
I've enjoyed the characters and Rowling/Galbraith's style develop over the past four books in the series. In "Lethal White," Robin is certainly more developed, and her personal and professional lives more interesting here; and Strike is as he's always been (i.e., a gentle giant), but somehow reads as more thoughtful and patient in this novel. As she does in the other three books (I think), Rowling/Galbraith has Strike solve the mystery and then makes the reader wait a while before revealing what that solution is; I still find that approach to be a little anti-climactic and frustrating, but Rowling/Galbraith tamps it down a bit here (although she still has characters very conveniently reveal facts during interviews by saying, "Well, I suppose you know X," which I continue to find unrealistic).
I'm not sure how many more Strike books I need in my life, although I continue to enjoy reading them. Assuming Rowling/Galbraith adds a fifth book to the series, I think I'll likely pick it up.
Audio
1) Narration: As always, the narrator of the Cormoran Stirke novels (Robert Glenister) is amazing.
2) Story: So, I'm a fan of the Strike novels, the characters, and the little twists and surprises that come along with it. Sometimes I can even guess a little bit of what's going to happen. YET! This time... nope. Totally surprised, though the foreshadowing is there. Right around the 94% mark, I literally had to pause the audio for a minute before I could continue.
This novel was a bit longer than the others (at least it seemed that way), but with the extensive cast of characters, I can understand why.
Very well done, as always. Brava, Rowling *applauds*
1) Narration: As always, the narrator of the Cormoran Stirke novels (Robert Glenister) is amazing.
2) Story: So, I'm a fan of the Strike novels, the characters, and the little twists and surprises that come along with it. Sometimes I can even guess a little bit of what's going to happen. YET! This time... nope. Totally surprised, though the foreshadowing is there. Right around the 94% mark, I literally had to pause the audio for a minute before I could continue.
This novel was a bit longer than the others (at least it seemed that way), but with the extensive cast of characters, I can understand why.
Very well done, as always. Brava, Rowling *applauds*
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
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:
No