IN A NUTSHELL
Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith (Little Brown, 2015)- In 40 words or less: To solve their latest case, private detectives Strike and Robin must face up to people and situations in their pasts. This third mystery written by J.K. Rowling under the pen name Robert Galbraith is a worthy addition to the series.
- Genre: Mystery
- Locale: London and other locales in Britain
- Time: 2011
- Read this either as a stand-alone mystery or to follow Strike and Robin as their professional and personal relationships evolve. This isn’t a British cozy, so expect descriptions of violence and aberrant behavior.
On Friday my number came up at the library for the newest mystery by J.K. Rowling, writing as Robert Galbraith. Career of Evil is an apt title. Cormoran Strike is a private detective who learned his trade as military before losing a leg to an IED. With the help of his assistant, Robin Ellacott, he has established his business with a mix of jealous paramours and major criminal cases that have stymied the London police.
When a woman’s leg is delivered to the office, addressed to Robin, Strike immediately puts together a short list of men who would do almost anything to get back at him. As Robin continues to hone her skills, it becomes clear the perp intends to get to Strike by harming Robin. Further complicating everything, Robin’s wedding is approaching and her unsettled relationship with her fiancé is put further to the test.
It is hard to imagine that on a weekend when all eyes were turned to the horror of the attacks in Paris it would be calming to read of fictional crime and mayhem. But it is just that — fiction, and the beauty of a well-written book of whatever genre appeals to you is that it can provide that escape. After the first rush of news on Friday evening, I turned off the TV and took in the news in small bites online or from the newspaper. That freed up plenty of time to read. And so I did.
With Strike and Robin I travelled across London, to Scotland, and Yorkshire and beyond. New details were revealed of their backstories and each experienced personal and professional growth. One mark of a successful series is ongoing development within the characters. This informs the storyline and brings the reader back for more. Whichever name you choose for the author of this Cormoran Strike novel, it is well worth a weekend’s read.
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