A review by nglofile
The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
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.