Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith

29 reviews

lillinares's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

Although I love long books and getting to return to them every night for a couple of months (I read before bed and often fall asleep after a couple of pages), this could have been edited and shortened. With that said, this was much better than the last one in the series. That one had so many cases going on at the same time, I can’t even remember what the main plot was. (Never mind, I remember now). This one was focused though. Thankfully. It still suffered from a lot of useless details. I found myself skimming at times.

Anyway, the plot is well-woven and immersive. I felt like I was in that cult with Robin the entire time.

Her escape from it was one of the most exciting scenes in this entire series.

Pat is now my favorite side character. Murphy can eat dirt. I’m proud of Strike and how he’s trying to be better in every sense. Robin is the true backbone of the story, always reliable and kind and smart, although, at times, I wish she wouldn’t be so courageous, not to say reckless. Her decisions make me tense. 

I gave this book that extra .25 stars because I cannot believe

he finally said it!

I had promised myself I wouldn’t give this lady more of my money, but apparently that’s out the window now. How long until the next one? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Child death, Sexual assault, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Suicide, Gun violence, Murder, Confinement, Rape, and Sexual content

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Fatphobia, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Cursing, Gore, Cancer, Death of parent, Incest, Self harm, Trafficking, and Eating disorder

magicsarah's review against another edition

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

lafata's review against another edition

adventurous 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Trafficking, Child death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Murder, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Torture, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and Sexual violence

kes_crane's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicide, Car accident, Torture, Self harm, Child abuse, Gun violence, Death, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia

alexishp23's review against another edition

adventurous 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: Grief, Alcohol, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Suicide, Gaslighting, Gore, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Torture, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Blood, Death, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Abortion, Murder, Violence, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child death, and Cursing

Moderate: Dementia and Cancer

ewitsell's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence

Moderate: Gun violence

booksandcats's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Suicide, Child death, Dementia, Pregnancy, Torture, Violence, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Murder and Trafficking

kchessrice's review against another edition

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

“Confucius says… Life leads the thoughtful man on a path of many windings. Now the course is checked, now it runs straight again. Here winged thoughts may pour freely forth in words, There the heavy burden of knowledge must be shut away in silence. But when two people are at one in their inmost hearts, They shatter even the strength of iron or of bronze.” 

Robin and Strike are back and better than ever! Another tough case for the detective pair which this time involves rescuing a vulnerable young man from a highly dangerous religious cult. To get the evidence they need to take to the police to get the cult shut down and rescue their client's son, Robin must go undercover in her most perilous mission yet. 

This is a long book at 945 pages, however the storyline keeps up a good pace and the cliffhangers kept me turning the pages, eager for more! The manipulation of people through fear and lack of food alongside the darker undertones of sexual abuse are hard to read. I think that Galbraith has handled it sensitively and [spoiler] the baddies get what's coming to them! 

The cult is based in the countryside of North Norfolk and I was thrilled that Cormoran Strike spends some time in Cromer as part of his investigation! Although he wasn't overly impressed with the charms of the Hotel de Paris it was great to see Cromer brought to life on the page. I recently discovered that Arthur Conan Doyle was so impressed with Cromer Hall (on a visit to the town to play golf in 1901) that he used the exterior as the basis for Baskerville Hall! So, whilst small and unassuming, Cromer has had a big part in some very famous literature! 

The most compelling element is, of course, the will they-won't they partnership of Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott. Galbraith has teased us over the last couple of books with some fiery scenes between the two - but going by the ending there might be no going back...

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Child death, and Gun violence

hugsowls's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Trafficking, Torture, Suicide, Rape, Physical abuse, Murder, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Slavery, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Death, Violence, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Grief, Confinement, Child death, Child abuse, Bullying, and Blood

froukjereads's review against another edition

3.5

This was far too long. 

I read it to see where she would take Cormoran and Robin, and I’ll give her some stars for that. It was much better than the ink-black heart, and I love Strike and Robin as much as I hate the author. 

I feel like JKR needs to stop putting her real life grievances into her books (last time it was cancel culture, now she has

conflated a scientology-like cult with woke ideology

. Her obsession with fat people and all the fat shaming really needs to stop too. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Confinement, Dementia, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Body shaming, Child abuse, Violence, Child death, Miscarriage, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Pregnancy, Trafficking, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

I cannot believe the number of content warnings I have had to add to this book.