Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

12 reviews

sllumbar's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This was a good story. The book moved a bit slow, and with the long descriptions in parts it dragged on a little. But it was worth it as the end was not disappointing after sticking with the less enthralling parts. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide and Murder

Minor: Child death, Drug abuse, and Violence

annaavian's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

As someone who has read all of J.K. Rowling's young adult books and enjoyed them immensely, I was looking forward to checking out her Cormoran Strike series. To say that I was disappointed would be an understatement. This novel was downright boring.

The story follows an ex-army investigator, Cormoran Strike, as he tries to solve the case of a troubled model who ends up dead in her apartment. The story drags on, with page after page of long-winded conversations between characters. The plot moves at a snail's pace, and there is no real suspense or mystery to keep the reader hooked. If you're looking for a gripping thriller or a mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat, look elsewhere.

In addition to the lack of excitement, I also found the book to be unnecessarily detailed and at times even redundant. The author uses an overwhelming amount of detail to describe every aspect of the characters' appearances and surroundings, to the point where it becomes almost exhausting to read. I kept feeling like I was being fed more information than I needed or cared about.

Furthermore, the majority of the characters are one-dimensional and lack depth. Strike is a stereotypical tough-guy detective who is a bit of a grump, but he lacks any real character development or nuance. The other characters are similarly lacklustre, with little to differentiate them from one another.

Despite giving this book a shot and hoping to like it, I couldn't push past the monotony and dullness to find any real entertainment value. If you're looking for a good murder mystery, you're better off looking elsewhere.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Death, and Suicide

Minor: Cancer, Drug use, and War

missgrangerr's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Child death and Suicide

evalwymmd's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, and Murder

nats2643's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Suicide, Violence, and Murder

ladythana's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racism, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism

Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infertility, Misogyny, Racism, Violence, Medical content, War, and Injury/Injury detail

srm's review

emotional funny mysterious tense 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? No

4.0

I knew what was going to happen thanks to seeing the TV show, but it was still a very enjoyable ride, getting to know Cormoran and Robin and watching them work out the solution. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Murder

Minor: Addiction, Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual content, Violence, Alcohol, War, and Classism

jhbandcats's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This first novel in the Cormoran Strike series isn’t as strong as the later ones but it’s deftly told with Rowling’s signature complexity. Neither main character is particularly likable at first but they grow on the reader. Strike’s stubborn tenacity is both a weakness and a strength - it enables his success as an investigator even as it dooms his love life. 

I’m rereading the entire series after having just finished the newest book. I wanted to immerse myself in Strike and Robin’s world and read straight through starting at the beginning. If you like dense, intellectual mysteries, try this series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and Alcohol

jselliot's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense 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

5.0

A solid mystery. I admit I spent a fair amount of time suspecting the uncle, but the actual killer makes all too much sense when you line all the ducks up in a row. I also enjoyed the character development between Robin and Strike, although Matthew remains a point of distaste from start to end of the book for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Drug abuse and Violence

Minor: War

ran_sophia's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cancer, Fatphobia, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship