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A review by worldwidewebb
The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Violence