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A review by birkana
The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith
5.0
The last book was so dull that I wasn’t thinking I would read this one, until I saw the reviews and damn they weren’t lying. It has been some time since I have really been this excited by a book and constantly thinking about it in the back of my mind. It really moved me in so many ways, apart from ‘just’ being a really thrilling detective story.
I loved the new format about not solving a murder, but solving the crimes of an institution. I think that speaks to the spirit of all the movements these days, uncovering truths about instituions that are supposed to protect you. While this hits very close to home, because I have been victimized by an institution myself and even gaslighted in a cult like way, as many boarding schools are. It was a little triggering for me, but also really like.. liberating. I am always amazed about how well the author writes atmospheres full of danger. I remember this feeling from the Harry Potter books, it is hard to put a finger on how she is able to capture a mood so well.
The authors ability to capture the experience of women is also just mindblowing and SPOILER ALERT
The gaslighting and the grooming concerning the spirit bonding is absolutly horrific, because it feels so real. This isn’t a mad serial killer stabbing a woman, it feels like these are ordinary men.. and well that is the real world isn’t it? The way physical attraction is shamed feels so close to the shame women get for wanting a partner they feel attracted to. Honestly the spirit bonding was just really gross but I really loved how it captured the experience of sexual assault so well, because it can be quite hard to explain. Because groomers often cover their victim in shame and gaslighting and then, the victim cannot explain themselves anymore and will appear dumb if they try. Like you willingly joined a cult so it is your fault…
The characters in the cult reminded me of Death Eaters. Like if they hadn’t been a childrens book, they would have been like this. It is really complicated to describe a big group like that and make it feel coherent and still not bore you with details. I also really loved the slow build up and how Robin slowly started to believe the cult’s beliefs. Like she and Strike were so sure she was too smart, but nobody really understands what it means to be isolated from everyone you ever known and put in situations where you have to trust strangers in order to survive.
This book was amazing for me to read, even though it was triggering, it was almost like a healing experience and therefore my review is probably mostly based on that, but I also really think it was a teally good thriller.
I loved the new format about not solving a murder, but solving the crimes of an institution. I think that speaks to the spirit of all the movements these days, uncovering truths about instituions that are supposed to protect you. While this hits very close to home, because I have been victimized by an institution myself and even gaslighted in a cult like way, as many boarding schools are. It was a little triggering for me, but also really like.. liberating. I am always amazed about how well the author writes atmospheres full of danger. I remember this feeling from the Harry Potter books, it is hard to put a finger on how she is able to capture a mood so well.
The authors ability to capture the experience of women is also just mindblowing and SPOILER ALERT
The gaslighting and the grooming concerning the spirit bonding is absolutly horrific, because it feels so real. This isn’t a mad serial killer stabbing a woman, it feels like these are ordinary men.. and well that is the real world isn’t it? The way physical attraction is shamed feels so close to the shame women get for wanting a partner they feel attracted to. Honestly the spirit bonding was just really gross but I really loved how it captured the experience of sexual assault so well, because it can be quite hard to explain. Because groomers often cover their victim in shame and gaslighting and then, the victim cannot explain themselves anymore and will appear dumb if they try. Like you willingly joined a cult so it is your fault…
The characters in the cult reminded me of Death Eaters. Like if they hadn’t been a childrens book, they would have been like this. It is really complicated to describe a big group like that and make it feel coherent and still not bore you with details. I also really loved the slow build up and how Robin slowly started to believe the cult’s beliefs. Like she and Strike were so sure she was too smart, but nobody really understands what it means to be isolated from everyone you ever known and put in situations where you have to trust strangers in order to survive.
This book was amazing for me to read, even though it was triggering, it was almost like a healing experience and therefore my review is probably mostly based on that, but I also really think it was a teally good thriller.