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jawignall's review
3.0
I just like these books! I liked that the mystery was so intricate and there was a lot going on. I liked Cormoran's/Robin's relationship in this one (while also being stressed out in the beginning). They're a fun time and I will keep reading them.
alwingler's review against another edition
5.0
I can't recommend this series enough, if you love a good murder novel. JK Rowling is, as always, an amazing story teller. I have listened to the audio books for all 4 books-- the narrator is fantastic. Any British narrator that also does voices for each character makes the book an even more engaging listen.
ayjay3's review
3.0
Over complicated, over long, too much superfluous details, totally unnecessary extremely bad language. Not even a convincing story and the denouement so drawn out. Not the best.
snukes's review
3.0
A fun and easy read.
I like the characters, though the variously unraveling romance plots were laid on a bit thick for me in this volume. I don't find any individual aspects of these plots implausible - I know people do weird-ass things when tangled up in love and relationships - and I know such turbulent emotions can be distracting, but... A bit thick. That's all.
And when I said I felt these things were plausible, I guess I meant that for everyone except Matthew. I don't understand what was making him tick. He seems to have been set up exclusively for us to hate, and we're never given very adequate explanation of his motives.
I like the dynamic between Strike and Robin {even if the feelings-we-refuse-to-admit thing is a little overdone, see above}. I like that he doesn't patronize her, that she is allowed to make real and important contributions to the partnership, that each is able and willing to support the other's weaknesses. It feels like a good and balanced portrait of what a partnership can be, on several levels {even the romantic ones}. {My parenthesis keys aren't working, forgive the fancy brackets.}
The mystery itself was fine. For some reason, I felt a little annoyed, toward the end, that EVERY SINGLE DETAIL mentioned along the course of the investigation wound up being relevant to the mystery's solution. And there were a LOT of details. Is that always true in mysteries and I've somehow never really noticed?
And why does Robin always have to get pounced for the climax? No wonder that woman is in therapy. At this rate, she's never ever going to get out.
And why does Cormoran's prosthesis always hurt so much? Okay, he isn't careful and overdoes it a lot, but... peeps with fake legs run marathons. Surely there's a way to make a prosthesis fit well enough that one can work hard while wearing it? I'm totally willing to chalk this one up to ignorance on my part, but maybe Galbraith could give us a little more insight? The way this book is written makes it seem like being of hefty stature and active nature make it impossible to be comfortable wearing a prosthesis.
Lots of picking on a book that I did actively enjoy. I'd like to know a little bit about the title of this one as a metaphor. Does it mean more than the direct reference to the painting? Surely it must, but my brain won't put anything else together.
Anyway, thanks for another fun ride, JK. I'll be here for the next one.
I like the characters, though the variously unraveling romance plots were laid on a bit thick for me in this volume. I don't find any individual aspects of these plots implausible - I know people do weird-ass things when tangled up in love and relationships - and I know such turbulent emotions can be distracting, but... A bit thick. That's all.
And when I said I felt these things were plausible, I guess I meant that for everyone except Matthew. I don't understand what was making him tick. He seems to have been set up exclusively for us to hate, and we're never given very adequate explanation of his motives.
I like the dynamic between Strike and Robin {even if the feelings-we-refuse-to-admit thing is a little overdone, see above}. I like that he doesn't patronize her, that she is allowed to make real and important contributions to the partnership, that each is able and willing to support the other's weaknesses. It feels like a good and balanced portrait of what a partnership can be, on several levels {even the romantic ones}. {My parenthesis keys aren't working, forgive the fancy brackets.}
The mystery itself was fine. For some reason, I felt a little annoyed, toward the end, that EVERY SINGLE DETAIL mentioned along the course of the investigation wound up being relevant to the mystery's solution. And there were a LOT of details. Is that always true in mysteries and I've somehow never really noticed?
And why does Robin always have to get pounced for the climax? No wonder that woman is in therapy. At this rate, she's never ever going to get out.
And why does Cormoran's prosthesis always hurt so much? Okay, he isn't careful and overdoes it a lot, but... peeps with fake legs run marathons. Surely there's a way to make a prosthesis fit well enough that one can work hard while wearing it? I'm totally willing to chalk this one up to ignorance on my part, but maybe Galbraith could give us a little more insight? The way this book is written makes it seem like being of hefty stature and active nature make it impossible to be comfortable wearing a prosthesis.
Lots of picking on a book that I did actively enjoy. I'd like to know a little bit about the title of this one as a metaphor. Does it mean more than the direct reference to the painting? Surely it must, but my brain won't put anything else together.
Anyway, thanks for another fun ride, JK. I'll be here for the next one.
battog's review
4.0
while this book was very good and it came together in the end, it did take me a bit longer to get into. there were many moving parts to keep track of, people to remember, motivations to intuit. about midway through was when i was hooked and basically read 300+ pages in the last 24 hours to finish. but it took me a bit to get there.
a bit of a spoiler here, kind of: i wonder how dependent this series will be on the 'damsel in distress.' that is being a bit harsh and not completely correct, but robin is a really great character and she really gets put through the ringer in the last two books. i hope it is not something that has to be repeated in the forthcoming additions.
despite these small issues, it was very enjoyable. rowling is still a great author with a knack for plots, characters, and details that you do not see coming and then revel in their unfolding.
a bit of a spoiler here, kind of: i wonder how dependent this series will be on the 'damsel in distress.' that is being a bit harsh and not completely correct, but robin is a really great character and she really gets put through the ringer in the last two books. i hope it is not something that has to be repeated in the forthcoming additions.
despite these small issues, it was very enjoyable. rowling is still a great author with a knack for plots, characters, and details that you do not see coming and then revel in their unfolding.
jjjohnson1622's review
5.0
Love this series! I have waited to read this because I didn't want to have a big gap before I get my next Cormoran Strike fix. Intriguing story, well-paced mystery, realistic and relatable characters.
sdecoste's review
4.0
Love Robert Galbraith (aka J. K. Rowling) and his Cormoran Strike series. Cormoran is a private detective who, along with his partner, Robin, have had some recent success solving crime. This is book number 4 in the series and I recommend you read them in order. One day a fellow named Billy, who appears to be homeless and probably mentally ill, appears at the office and needs to tell Cormoran about a murder he had witnessed when he was a child. This will not be a paying job, but Cormoran is intrigued by the possibility that it might be true. At the same time, a member of Parliament, Jasper Chiswell, offers Cormoran a job, and it appears the two cases are linked. The author writes so convincingly about the characters, that you feel you know them. Great story line. Can't wait to read the next installment!
dllluebbe's review against another edition
4.0
Bit of a slow start, but then the mystery hooked me in. As always, my mind was blown by the connections Rowling...er...Galbraith makes; seemingly disconnected events and people and phrases suddenly come together at the end.