I love listening to this series. At over 900 pages, the books are getting just too big to handle! It was over 34 hours of listening, but didn’t feel like it.

Robin is sent undercover into a religious cult to try and persuade a client’s son to leave. It’s apparent that the cult is not the warm and fuzzy family that they like to project to the outside world. Robin witnesses and is soon subjected to near starvation, sexual coercion and torture, all in the name of their religion. I think a good edit of this part of the book could have made for a tighter story. It is also quite harrowing, so may not be for everyone.

As always, Robin and Cormoran dance around their mutual attraction - you have to read the book to find out where that leads!

I found this instalment a vast improvement on The Ink Black Heart, which was hard work to listen to as an audio.

Let me begin my review by stating that I READ THE BOOK! As opposed to the many ‘reviews’ posted by people who have an opinion they wish to share about the author. My review is about THE BOOK!

I listened to the audio version, and it came in at just under 33 hours of listening - phew! So, my first response is - the author needs an editor with a strong hand to reign them in. This was unnecessarily long. As a lot of the book is made up of transcripts of online conversations and blogs, twitter feeds and #hashtags, it also does not lend itself to being a successful audio experience.

However, Galbraith [a:J K Rowling|23046153|J K Rowling|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] has written another interesting and immersive book with the characters we care about. I think I can safely say that most readers are now very invested in what happens to Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott. It is their relationship that kept me going.

What is the average age of readers of this series? I wonder if this plot involving cartoons, online games and twitter trolls will engage with the demographic of the series’ readers? I think many will give up, to be honest. And it’s not an attractive world - populated by bullies, egotists and out-and-out nutters.

This is definitely not the best in the series. I hope the next book returns the series to its former glory!

I have listened to all the Cormoran Strike books on Audible, narrated by Robert Glenister. He would easily be the best narrator I’ve listened to.
This latest instalment is a commitment at over 31 hours (not sure how many pages) but at no time did I feel that the narrative lost momentum.
Cormoran and Robin are asked to investigate the 40 year old cold case of Margot Bamborough, a doctor who went missing and was never heard from again. It was assumed she was another victim of a serial killer who was active at the time.
I know this book has created a lot of controversy, much of it fuelled by people who have not even read the book. I’m not going there. I found nothing offensive in this book. There are details of how the serial killer tortured his victims, but they are brief and not gratuitous.
Cormoran and Robin’s private lives are still messy; Robin’s divorce procedure is acrimonious and Cormoran’s ex is causing him grief. I love how these two characters are developing.
If you enjoyed the previous four books, then I can guarantee that you will find this just as engrossing.

I’ve listened to all the Cormoran Strike books on Audible. They are all excellent, with the characters developing well.
Highly recommended.

These books just keep getting better! However, a word of warning, Career of Evil is pretty gruesome, and you spend a fair bit of time in the company of a psychopath who will make your skin crawl.
I love the relationship development between Cormoran and Robyn.
Excellent audio edition, highly recommended.

Another fabulous audible edition. I’m loving this series by J. K. Rowling. Onto book 3 now!

I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to catch up with J. K. Rowling’s escape from Hogwarts. Listening to this audio version of Cormoran Strike’s first case was an absolute delight. I’ve gone straight into his next instalment: The Silkworm.
Outstanding crime novel - highly recommended.