Robert Galbraith

Troubled Blood – Robert Galbraith

Angela5 Comments

Troubled Blood is book 5 in the Cormoran Strike series. At 927 pages, there was a lot to unpack about this book. I really enjoyed the story, but to say it was confusing is a serious, HUGE, understatement.

The Detective Agency had numerous cases they were working on throughout the length of the entire book, other than the main case that the story centered on. It was difficult keeping all of these other characters straight when they were mentioned in the story. I finally stopped flipping back through what I had already read trying to decipher who was who. I just kept reading through it figuring I would either figure it out in the end, or not. Some of them I did, some I didn’t. It had no effect on the main characters in the story so I stopped stressing about it.

This is precisely the same reason I did not like the 4th book of this series, Lethal White. It was like a bunch of characters and scenes were added just to increase the length of the book. I have read that she plans on 10-13 more books being written in this series. I am guessing this is in order to keep the television series going. I cannot imagine the length of the final book in this series if each one has to be longer than the last.

With that being said, I did like the story. I liked the development of Strike and Robin’s friendship? Relationship? Whatever they have going on, I am here for it. I will not say more about that since I try to avoid spoilers whenever possible.

I will gladly read the next book, and the one after that, and so-on. I just hope she can reign it in some and get rid of all the filler noise that is not necessary.

Did you read this book? What did you think of it? Let me know below!

Lethal White – Robert Galbraith

Angela4 Comments

Well, I finished this book over a week ago, and have been avoiding writing a review on it ever since. I liked it well enough, but I certainly did not love it like the previous 3 books in the series. I had no sense of enjoyment every time I picked it up to read it. The first thing I always checked was where my bookmark was, and how much farther I had to go. It is hard to read a book that you just aren’t loving.

Lethal White Cover Image

The things I didn’t like were …. The length of the book. I felt like there was way too much detail to every single thing in the book that was not necessary and did not add to the story. Then there were so many characters, I had a hard time keeping up with all of the different story lines and subplots and interactions with everyone. The last few chapters felt like everything was just tossed out there to tie everything together.

I love the characters of Strike and Robin, and they were both going through personal issues that lent a new dynamic to their working and personal relationship. The blackmailing and possible decades old murder of a child are what was driving the story plot, and it was just too much.

I’m not the only one who took issue with this story. I have seen more reviews with the same complaints I have than reviews that were all positive.

Will I read the next story in the series? Absolutely! I also had huge issues with her novel “The Casual Vacancy”, but it did not stop me from picking up the first book in this series, “The Cuckoo’s Calling”. My review on “The Casual Vacancy” had comments from most that felt the same way I did. And one comment from someone who had a real issue with the fact that I did not like the book, and dared to say so on my own blog that I pay money for to keep up every year 😊 Such is life; you can’t please everyone. You can see my rant over that story, nearly 4 years ago, here: The Casual Vacancy book and TV Show

I got 12 books from my local library yesterday, so I am back to enjoyable reading time! How did you feel about this book?

The Silkworm-J.K. Rowling

AngelaLeave a comment

6-24-2014 release date!
6-24-2014 release date!

I was super-happy to see that Robert Galbraith (AKA J.K. Rowling) has a summer release for the 2nd book about Detective Cormoran Strike. I really enjoyed “The Cuckoo’s Calling”, and really wish I had read it before I knew J.K. wrote it. I really do believe I would have picked it up at some point and read it (these types of books are what I prefer), but knowing the real author had me getting it within days. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.

A very difficult read for me
A very difficult read for me

After reading The Casual Vacancy, I was so confused I couldn’t even begin to put a storyline together for that. So I definitely understand her choosing to write anonymously; I cannot imagine the pressure she felt having to follow Harry Potter. But what I do not understand is why she is still putting the name Robert Galbraith on the cover. Is there anyone who still does not know she is writing this series?

Anyhow, I will be getting this book on 6-24-2014 when it’s released. Are you going to be reading this book as well?

The Cuckoo’s Calling

Angela1 Comment

Loved this book, cannot wait for the next in what is promising to be a great series
Loved this book, cannot wait for the next in what is promising to be a great series

OK, so I have to be completely honest here; if I did not know J.K. Rowling penned this book, it might have taken me a year or two to find it. I only say that because I tend to read books by unknown author’s, and since it was getting great reviews under the penned name of Robert Galbraith, and being a mystery, I am fairly certain I would have picked it up at some point.

Knowing she wrote it, I ran and out got it and read it in about 4 days. I probably could have read it faster, but my employer is pretty adamant about me going to work on a daily basis, and my kids insist on being fed and entertained!

All joking aside, it was a truly great read, and I am looking forward to the 2nd Cormoram Strike novel which I understand is already in the works. I just wonder if she is going to keep up the guise of writing under Robert Galbraith or just put her name on it since the whole world knows it’s her.

For any of you readers of this book, what did you think? I almost felt as I was reading it that I may not have said “This is J.K. writing this” but with all of the references to places in London that seemed to be mentioned in the HP books, and the writing style itself, I know I would have said “This certainly feels like a J.K. book, someone borrowed her style!”