Summary: The reader may have the thoughts of the killer, but we won’t know the identity until the end.
I do not particularly like knowing the thoughts of a killer. (Which is why I hate the show Criminal Minds.) So I am not particularly happy that JK Rowling added that twist to Career of Evil. That being said, this is the best book of the series so far.
Cormoran Strike and his partner Robin are the main focus. Robin is preparing for her wedding to a man that we are not particularly supposed to like. There is a lot of back story on both Cormoran and Robin. They are really developed as characters and that suggests a continuation to the series that I look forward to.
The problem is that there is little where else for Rowling to go with the criminals. There are three viable suspects here from Cormoran’s background. And we now have a real serial killer as the bad guy. One that really enjoys death, dismemberment and many other disturbing murder cliché’s.
I was engrossed by Career of Evil almost the whole time. Although I really did not want the sections in the murder’s voice. But if Rowling can figure out how to deal with creating the crimes without increasing the gross/evil level of the bad guy, then this can really be a great series.
Robin comes into her own here. However, I do think there is a problem with some of her self perception issues in the book. That being said, it will take some pretty bad reviews for me not to read the next book in the series.
Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith (Cormoran Strike #3) Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook
I am listening to the recorded book just now, and I agree with your review (so far).
Louise Penny’s 12th Gamache mystery was released a few days ago. Do you plan to read it? My library is holding it for me, so I will be picking it up today. I’m a bit fearful because – even as you have noted in your reviews – it is challenging to maintain quality through a lengthy series, and I don’t want to be disappointed. Craig Johnson (probably my favorite) may well be the only series author with whom I am acquainted that seemed to know when it was time to close up shop.
I do plan on picking it up. I have been waiting to finish what I am reading to see if the audiobook and kindle books will be linked together (and maybe have a discount). If not I will pick up the audiobook in the next week or so.
The early reviews have suggested that this is better than the last couple. But they are early reviews and I think early reviews tend to be a bit biased in favor of the book.