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vakariaan's review against another edition
4.0
I found this a difficult one to get through (hence why it’s taken over a year to finish). Not only were the online chat sections sometimes hard to keep track of but they were hitting a little too close to reality for me. Having been part of online chats and been involved with fandoms for years it was too unsettling overall because I've known people like that who are all too brave behind a keyboard but are two faced and manipulative with their secret side chats etc
The main draw of these books for me is the relationship between Strike and Robin and this book didn't disappoint.
I only wish a better editor had been employed or the editor it did have had been more ruthless. I like these books and the crimes are always compelling but they are always filled with bloat that has only gotten worse as the books go on (which is why the tv adaptation works so well because no key scenes have ever been left out of the show but they've managed to trim the fat of the books significantly)
The main draw of these books for me is the relationship between Strike and Robin and this book didn't disappoint.
I only wish a better editor had been employed or the editor it did have had been more ruthless. I like these books and the crimes are always compelling but they are always filled with bloat that has only gotten worse as the books go on (which is why the tv adaptation works so well because no key scenes have ever been left out of the show but they've managed to trim the fat of the books significantly)
leanna_vera's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
karlaoliveira's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
5.0
cb1984's review
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Usual disclaimer about JK Rowling being an awful person.
Good fun, intriguing mystery, but the reveal felt a bit rushed. I also felt like there were legitimate suspects who were never really ruled out (or indeed just totally ignored). The format of lots of instant message chats was interesting and pretty well done on the audiobook.
The Strike/Robin romance is still the worst thing in these books. It's like the worst teen angsty "oh does he/she like me" from otherwise interesting characters for hundreds of pages. It's not as bad as in Troubled Blood, but it needs to stop.
Good fun, intriguing mystery, but the reveal felt a bit rushed. I also felt like there were legitimate suspects who were never really ruled out (or indeed just totally ignored). The format of lots of instant message chats was interesting and pretty well done on the audiobook.
The Strike/Robin romance is still the worst thing in these books. It's like the worst teen angsty "oh does he/she like me" from otherwise interesting characters for hundreds of pages. It's not as bad as in Troubled Blood, but it needs to stop.
dobilodeau's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
danoreading's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars. Well. First off, I did enjoy the reading experience. Glenister continues to read the heck out of these books, and it's a genuine pleasure to listen to all these familiar characters solve crimes and eat chips.
Second, JKR obviously has some THOUGHTS about Twitter. Look, Twitter is awful and I know she gets a lot of very awful comments and threats that no one should get. But unlike the murder victim in this book, JKR continues to fan the flames of her own hate brigade by a) continuing to be on Twitter and b) posting heinous things about marginalized communities. So her big statements about Twitter/hateful fans/fandom in general don't land here, not a bit. It's honestly hard to tell when she's being earnest and when she may be trying to be satirical (?) because you think surely no one is this oblivious.
Third, this book is epically long and feels it, unlike her previous Strike novels which were long but in a languid, enjoyable way, whereas this one is a slog. Kind of like this review.
Fourth, this book is ableist AF, and I again honestly can't tell if JKR knows or cares.
I do try to separate the author from the work as I've read many wonderful books by some truly garbage humans (and by some very nice humans with repugnant beliefs), but JKR's descent into whatever it is she's doing has been a very distressing disappointment. I regret that she is unable to see the harm she puts out in the world through her real life actions and I also now regret that she seems to be unable to keep that harm out of her fiction as well.
Second, JKR obviously has some THOUGHTS about Twitter. Look, Twitter is awful and I know she gets a lot of very awful comments and threats that no one should get. But unlike the murder victim in this book, JKR continues to fan the flames of her own hate brigade by a) continuing to be on Twitter and b) posting heinous things about marginalized communities. So her big statements about Twitter/hateful fans/fandom in general don't land here, not a bit. It's honestly hard to tell when she's being earnest and when she may be trying to be satirical (?) because you think surely no one is this oblivious.
Third, this book is epically long and feels it, unlike her previous Strike novels which were long but in a languid, enjoyable way, whereas this one is a slog. Kind of like this review.
Fourth, this book is ableist AF, and I again honestly can't tell if JKR knows or cares.
I do try to separate the author from the work as I've read many wonderful books by some truly garbage humans (and by some very nice humans with repugnant beliefs), but JKR's descent into whatever it is she's doing has been a very distressing disappointment. I regret that she is unable to see the harm she puts out in the world through her real life actions and I also now regret that she seems to be unable to keep that harm out of her fiction as well.