kandicez's review against another edition
5.0
I purchased the book and requested the audio immediately. Boy am I glad I ended up reading instead of listening! This was very hard to follow as far as the online chats were concerned and I cannot even imagine how this was portrayed verbally. Having said that, what genius writing!
I love Strike and Robin. I mean really love the two of them. Over the course of the last five books Galbraith has teased us repeatedly with the "will they, won't they" issue and this installment was no exception. But somehow, this time the will they seemed so much more likely. That little side hustle in these books is the least of what I like, but I do really enjoy being led on this way.
On to the actual story. I don't live in a vacuum, so I know about the controversy with Rowling (Galbraith) online. Of course I do, and while this felt a lot like Rowling speaking her piece and quietly defending herself, it may not have been. Supposedly a lot of this was written before the real controversy began, and as a reader, I am choosing to believe that. Life often imitates art, and I imagine writers invite a lot of their life circumstances with what they put on the page.
Robin and Strike are in a very roundabout way asked to look into a stabbing in a cemetery that ends in one death and one person paralyzed. Surrounding the crime is a TON of online controversy, ugliness, and downright scary cyber stalking and bullying. Like everyone on Goodreads I have my fair share of internet friends. I guess I'm a little too boring to invite or incite cyber bullying, but I know it exists. I see it and it always makes me uncomfortable. This book was over 1000 pages of that. It brought into glaring focus how we are able to remove ourselves from what we do online. How we allow ourselves to "say" things we would not say in person. Sometimes this can be freeing and a good thing. Sometimes it is not. In this case, it definitely was not!
As much as I enjoyed the meat of this story, I think I enjoy even more the minutia of detective-ing (is that a word?) aspect of it. The long, long hours involved with stake outs, following, research, pretending to be others to get the information you need. No wonder so many detectives don't have families. It's a 24/7 job, made more so by being the boss.
I love Strike and Robin. I mean really love the two of them. Over the course of the last five books Galbraith has teased us repeatedly with the "will they, won't they" issue and this installment was no exception. But somehow, this time the will they seemed so much more likely. That little side hustle in these books is the least of what I like, but I do really enjoy being led on this way.
On to the actual story. I don't live in a vacuum, so I know about the controversy with Rowling (Galbraith) online. Of course I do, and while this felt a lot like Rowling speaking her piece and quietly defending herself, it may not have been. Supposedly a lot of this was written before the real controversy began, and as a reader, I am choosing to believe that. Life often imitates art, and I imagine writers invite a lot of their life circumstances with what they put on the page.
Robin and Strike are in a very roundabout way asked to look into a stabbing in a cemetery that ends in one death and one person paralyzed. Surrounding the crime is a TON of online controversy, ugliness, and downright scary cyber stalking and bullying. Like everyone on Goodreads I have my fair share of internet friends. I guess I'm a little too boring to invite or incite cyber bullying, but I know it exists. I see it and it always makes me uncomfortable. This book was over 1000 pages of that. It brought into glaring focus how we are able to remove ourselves from what we do online. How we allow ourselves to "say" things we would not say in person. Sometimes this can be freeing and a good thing. Sometimes it is not. In this case, it definitely was not!
As much as I enjoyed the meat of this story, I think I enjoy even more the minutia of detective-ing (is that a word?) aspect of it. The long, long hours involved with stake outs, following, research, pretending to be others to get the information you need. No wonder so many detectives don't have families. It's a 24/7 job, made more so by being the boss.
duzza's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
Rowling keeps getting better as does this series. Only the ending felt slightly rushed after over 1000 pages. Can’t wait for the next one.
abrswf's review against another edition
5.0
This book is 1200 plus pages long and I was nonetheless so sorry to end it. Rowling is just getting better and better. This book has her trademark strengths— resonant characters, an intricate but beautifully constructed plot, and superb writing. It’s also a deep dive into the way internet life can dominate real life. The online segments are pitch perfect. I’m also very pleased to see Rowling acknowledging gender fluidity at last. In short, it’s great.
dehndog's review
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
loubie1724's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
risabella's review against another edition
5.0
I am speechless once again. Phenomenal.
And very long audiobook’d out after two 32h back to back books.
And very long audiobook’d out after two 32h back to back books.
booksforbrooks's review against another edition
3.0
I come back to these books because I enjoy the characters and ultimately find the mysteries satisfying, but my god this could have easily been half the length. JK has tried to fit too much of her own agenda into this, fortunately those bits are easy enough to skim read.
fionak's review against another edition
3.0
Readable but the ending is abrupt and I am so fucking bored by the whole "will they ever get together?" trope. Definitely noping out on the series now.
cmbrown4's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.75
denaiir's review against another edition
5.0
amazing as usual, but don't listen to it on audio if possible, the chat transcripts were not fun to listen to.... the narrator has to pronounce the name of each participant in the conversation so it is quite annoying
I can't do justice to this book with a short review, but if you like the Strike series, you're in for a treat. Well done again, can't wait for the next one
I can't do justice to this book with a short review, but if you like the Strike series, you're in for a treat. Well done again, can't wait for the next one