Book #60 Career Of Evil

Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The third book in the Cormoran Strike series and by far the best. J.K.Rowling writing under her pen-name Robert Galbraith also says this is her best. The series is made even more immediate with the screening on BBC television of the first two books: The Cuckoo’s Calling and The Silkworm, although we will have to wait until 2018 to see Career Of Evil.

This is a masterclass in writing detective fiction. Strike and his assistant Robin Ellacott work off each other so well. Robin has established herself as Strike’s equivalent when it comes to investigating misdemeanours, the day-to-day stuff in running a private detective agency. Strike has sent her on surveillance and counter-surveillance courses and Robin is fairly handy when it comes to self defence. Just as well…

A package arrives at the office in Denmark Street, addressed to Robin. It contains a woman’s severed leg and this is where the horror begins. Someone is out to ruin Strike’s career and reputation. There are persons in Strike’s past who he considers capable of such brutality and - there they are - listed in plain sight. More fiendish acts occur and Strike’s business is close to insolvency as clients turn away as his reputation is further damaged.

The time comes when Robin’s and Strike’s personal lives become intertwined. Will Robin marry Matthew? Will Strike stay with Elin? Will he manage to keep Robin out of harms way as it appears that the killer is targeting her?

Career Of Evil is a terrific read full of twists and turns and unexpected developments. And the ending leaves the reader balanced on a cliff edge. Where are we going from here? How much longer before #4 is published?!

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Book #57 The Silkworm

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I liked The Cuckoo’s Calling (Cormoran Strike #1) a lot. I was immediately drawn to this character, the one-legged army veteran-turned-private-eye. Shades of Raymond Chandler here and his “mean streets”. The Silkworm is J K Rowling’s second outing as Robert Galbraith and I loved it. Set in the literary world where Galbraith must feel at home, the book continues the developing relationship between Strike and his erstwhile assistant Robin. The outlook for Robin’s relationship with future husband Matthew appears rocky at times and I do wonder where this is going; Strike doesn’t like him and this factious relationship amongst the three characters is pivotal to the story. Strike is almost an anachronism in today’s world of police high-tech crime units and yet it is a world in which he flourishes, his disciplined approach owing much to his former career in the Military SIB, a career curtailed by a close encounter with an IED.

Other reviewers have covered the plot detail so I won’t add to this. Galbraith has pulled off another thoroughly enjoyable read, an addictive whodunit, 580 pages to gulp down. I cannot wait to read the next offering in this series.

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