whitmc's review against another edition
5.0
Bloody fantastic. Better than the first Strike. Not one of those "can't-put-it-down" nail-biting page turner mysteries. More like settle in with a hot cup of milky tea while the rain pours down and sink into the story, the lives, the writing, the characters. And then shush your kids when you get to the last few chapters.
nina_christine's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
chloelouise_xiv's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed this so much more than the first book - I couldn’t put it down!
afox98's review against another edition
3.0
Still liked the characters but I didn't like this one as much as the first one...probably could have been about a quarter shorter.
camihawk's review against another edition
4.0
The ending was much stronger in this book than the first book, could not stop reading it. Still not that attached to Robin but I adore Cormoran.
nglofile's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting to me that Galbraith succeeds in writing Cormoran as a more complex character than Robin. Don't misunderstand: I like Robin. Very much. However, there's a whiff of the Mary Sue about her, and it would be a pleasant surprise to find that she isn't highly intuitive/skilled with everything she attempts. made for a great scene, but surely her talents are not limitless nor without gradation.
Two pluses: First, the realities of living as an amputee are well-integrated and ring true, whether in throwaway details or in a plot complication. Full respect from one who has close family experience of the daily challenges. Secondly, my favorite scene was when Robyn was conducting a witness interview, and Strike's guidance was overlaid as if she were remembering earlier coaching. Great melding of investigative technique with character development and plot advancement. Hope there's more of this.
One other quibble: Not a fan of the technique in which the detective figures most everything out, but it's hidden from the reader for pages/chapters while setting up a big climactic reveal. It's a structure which works more successfully in visual media; in print it lands as manipulative and, frankly, distracting. We've been privy to the character's thoughts through most all of the book -- why stop now? I believe this card was played in book 1 as well, which makes it additionally grating.
audiobook note: Listening to Robert Glenister perform is immensely enjoyable. Not only did I tip to 4 stars on the strength of his narration, but his work even inspired me to stray from my original queue and track down book 3 as the immediate follow-up.
Spoiler
The expert crisis drivingTwo pluses: First, the realities of living as an amputee are well-integrated and ring true, whether in throwaway details or in a plot complication. Full respect from one who has close family experience of the daily challenges. Secondly, my favorite scene was when Robyn was conducting a witness interview, and Strike's guidance was overlaid as if she were remembering earlier coaching. Great melding of investigative technique with character development and plot advancement. Hope there's more of this.
One other quibble: Not a fan of the technique in which the detective figures most everything out, but it's hidden from the reader for pages/chapters while setting up a big climactic reveal. It's a structure which works more successfully in visual media; in print it lands as manipulative and, frankly, distracting. We've been privy to the character's thoughts through most all of the book -- why stop now? I believe this card was played in book 1 as well, which makes it additionally grating.
audiobook note: Listening to Robert Glenister perform is immensely enjoyable. Not only did I tip to 4 stars on the strength of his narration, but his work even inspired me to stray from my original queue and track down book 3 as the immediate follow-up.
kcoccia's review against another edition
5.0
These books are so entertaining. I was never a mystery/thriller person but they're growing on me.
yvnn's review against another edition
5.0
Ooh! Where to begin? First off: this book was waaaaaaay weirder and more macabre than 'Cuckoos calling' - which is a good thing in my opinion.
Boy can Rowling write. Cormoran and Robin are super likeable and the mystery was great... I love how she keeps the suspense going by having the main characters holding out on information towards the reader.
I sometimes lost track of the symbolism in Quines book, but I think that's part of the whole storyline. To come up with a mystery about a writer and a book in a book that has its own plot... Rowling doesn't take the easy way out!
I am so excited for the third Strike novel and can't wait to see the tv adaptation!
Boy can Rowling write. Cormoran and Robin are super likeable and the mystery was great... I love how she keeps the suspense going by having the main characters holding out on information towards the reader.
I sometimes lost track of the symbolism in Quines book, but I think that's part of the whole storyline. To come up with a mystery about a writer and a book in a book that has its own plot... Rowling doesn't take the easy way out!
I am so excited for the third Strike novel and can't wait to see the tv adaptation!