Career of Evil

I liked the first book in this series (“The Cuckoo’s Calling”) as Cormoran was knowledgeable and intuitive (but flawed) and Robin was clever and enthusiastic (but inexperienced), so they complemented each other. The second book in the series (“The Silkworm”) was also good, but there was less of Robin -- and I missed her presence. In this third book (“Career of Evil”), the book is as much about Robin as it is about Cormoran – which is pretty amazing given that all the main suspects were enemies from Cormoran’s past.So I should have liked this book best. But despite her occasional flashes of cleverness, resourcefulness and determination, Robin mostly came across as fretful about her job and wishy-washy about her personal relationships. And Cormoran, in trying to investigate multiple suspects all at the same time, kept getting described as tired or exhausted.The whole plot of this book seems more personal than the other two books as the antagonist’s targets are Cormoran and Robin. So to the extent the reader likes the Cormoran and Robin characters, the reader’s concern is greater and so the tension is higher, too. But I wanted to enjoy these two characters and their sleuthing (rather than mostly fear for their safety). So this wasn’t the right book for me.But who am I kidding. We all know who the author is. So if you read the first two books, you’ll probably read this one too. And now there’s a fourth book in the series (“Lethal White”) – and I’ll probably read that one too (though not right away).

I agree with the 1- and 2-star reviews for this book which commented that this book is far too long, not particularly interesting, and has far too much disturbing content and violence. It is also trite in terms of the boss and secretary dynamic and tiresome in the constant harping on the personalities of Strike and Robyn, the two detective protagonists. Strike is unpleasant and boring, I got quite tired of being constantly told that he lay on his bed in his underwear and scratched his hairy stomach; Robyn is supposed to be intelligent and spunky but comes across as whiny and immature ("but I want to be a detective"). In case we negatively judge her, we are told of a tragic backstory that is supposed to add depth and explain her character but yet seems to have left no mark on Robyn's vapid personality. It really does not ring true nor is there anything in her behaviour or her boyfriend's behaviour in any of the previous books (or this one for that matter) that foreshadowed what should have been a life altering event that would have left a huge and indelible mark on her life. This backstory seems to have been a spur of the moment invention on the author's part to elicit sympathy regardless of whether it makes sense in terms of Robyn's behaviour or of that of her family and fiance toward her.As for the plot--I usually manage to finish most books but simply could not keep reading this one. It was too tedious. The lead characters were so predictable, the suspects so cardboard, the crime details so gross, that I really had no interest in keeping on reading about any of it. I really didn't care who the murderer was. The victim didn't seem to feature at all, but was an after thought. Strike and Robyn were dull and duller, and the book was overly long and repetitive with no thread running through it to keep one's interest. Perhaps the only thread was whether Robyn would actually marry her fiance, whom we are supposed to hate for some reason even though he is less manipulative and exploitative of others than Strike who we are supposed to admire for being such a maverick and for having turned down his famous father's money. Yawn.... Wont read any more of these.

In a nutshell, The duo gets sent a severed leg, assemble a list of suspects and work down the list until they find the person responsible. And just to give an idea of how slow the freaking pace is in this book, I got nearly 25% into the book before Strike even starts investigating the first suspect. And up until that point, It's really just filler involving Strike's history with his step-dad and Robin still dealing with the wedding. It's boring, Nothing really happens and it just fails to keep you even remotely interested.And I will say that I found Robin's college backstory in really bad taste. Such a pointless addition and IDK if it was an attempt to make us more sympathetic with her or whatever but it was just distasteful.

Third book in the Cormoran Strike Detective Series, and as brilliantly written as the first two, but even more so, as it capitalizes on the story already told in the first two in the series. You don't have to have read the first two books to enjoy this one, but I would highly recommend reading them in sequence. You will pick up little nuances of the story line, by having read each of the first two in sequence.I would LOVE to see these turned into series of movies, or even a TV series. I think this has the potential to be as big a success as the Harry Potter series, though obviously for a more mature audience. However, I also loved the Harry Potter series, and I'm obviously not the target demographic for those novels. Given the more "adult" nature of the subject matter of these books, I completely understand the reasoning behind writing with a pseudonym to delay their discovery by the core audience of the Harry Potter series.I simply could not read these fast enough to suit me, and much like the Harry Potter series, I feel a bit lost in the wind with no more story read at this point... but I'm hopeful that another is in the works for this series

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?!

I bought this because I loved the television series, and the book certainly didn't disappoint. Even if JK Rowling hadn't had written it, it wouldn't have made a jot to me. I couldn't put this book down, so many different angles and the outcome was unpredictable in a couple of ways. The way the book ended, makes me hope that there's going to be another book. On a personal note, this is the first time I've sat down and read a book in years. I'm an unpaid carer, life's stressful, and concentration/relaxation is scant. So I am really grateful to Ms. Rowling, that this book has wetted my appetite for reading again, and helped me relax. Plus, I do hope that the 2 lead actors are in the future television series.

I am not sure what 'Robert Galbraith' thinks she is doing with these Cormoran Strike books, but she's definitely lost me as a reader. As I said in the headliine, this is one of the most unpleasant books I've ever tried to read. I gave up - I thin 1/3 of the way through. It might have improved, of course, but I found the whole premise too sick-making to want to continue. It's rare I give up on a book, but my impression is that J.K. Rowling has been attempting to get over her 'child's author' rep by using lots of swearing and equal amounts of disgusting people in these books. Swearing for effect seems unnecessary, and after a while it becomes tedious. Talking about someone's 'pube-like hair' is amusing the first time, but after 20 times it's boring. So off you go, Rowling - you've lost me as a customer.

I had to stop reading this book as, although I love the characters and the story is good, it focused in the mind of a serial killer psychopath who would do Jack the Ripper proud - cutting bits off his young female victims. It goes in to horrible detail and made me feel sick. If you have a strong stomach you may be able to get through.So I don't know how it ended which is a shame as I really like Strike and his female assistant and liked to hear about their exploits and their personal dramas. Very good character description and development.I think 'JK Galbraith' would do well to write a story which doesn't focus on such sick violence against young women.

Despite what felt like a lot of going around in circles to reach the adrenaline fuelled, action packed conclusion of this novel, I really felt like it had the edge over The Cuckoo's Calling and The Silkworm because of the sheer level of mystery drawn from the anonymity of one of the key narrative characters and the in depth following of all of Strike's suspects, making it impossible to work out which, if any, was the true perpetrator of the hideous crimes performed.The background drama - the development of Strike and Robin's relationship, the rolling context of how the crime has affected the business, the day-to-day cases that are their bread and butter, and of course the massive investment in Robin's character itself - wasn't perfect in its execution but it was human, and it felt real enough that I genuinely believe the book would be an empty shell without it.Perhaps it's because I came to Career of Evil completely fresh - no BBC dramatisation to draw upon for inspiration or to remember the crux of the case from - but I found myself enrapt from start to end (and wondering a little what I shall read now that can possibility make my heart race until the next novel is released).