Andrew and I just finished Lethal White, the fourth installment of the Cormoran Strike series, and J.K. Rowling once again knocks it out of the park with this complex mystery full of surprises. With promises of at least 8 more books, this is the perfect series to invest in if you're missing the fantastic writing of J.K. Rowling.
For those of you who haven't read the Cormoran Strike series, and you enjoy detective stories, especially those set in modern times, I cannot stress this enough: READ IT. The first book of the series is The Cuckoos Calling and it is the promise of another series you can get lost in, and more characters you'll love just as much as (or even more than) you loved the Boy Who Lived. Like the famous Sherlock Holmes, Strike often ignores motive when solving crimes and other mysteries, instead opting to look at the case in a methodical process, analyzing everyone, and every detail -- even those often ignored by the Metropolitan Police. For a more general synopsis of the series, check out my earlier post: My Three Favorite Fictional Series.
“The dead could only speak through the mouths of those left behind, and through the signs they left scattered behind them.” ― Robert Galbraith, The Cuckoo's Calling
Wounded while in the Royal British Army, resulting in the loss of one of his legs, and ex–Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch investigator, private detective Cormoran Strike doesn't solve mysteries for the money. In fact, he never seems to have any. Living in an attic above his two room office, Strike solves mysteries because it is the one thing in his life he feels compelled to do: solve the unsolvable, and answer the questions nobody bothers to ask. With a penchant for greasy food, and a pint or three of Doom Bar, Strike isn't the pretty boy protagonist -- often dour, bulky in size, and with an attitude, you quickly grow to love him.
Opposite of Strike, is Robin Ellacott. Having found a position as Strike's assistant through a temping agency, both Robin and Strike quickly find out that Robin has more to offer to the agency than just answering phone calls, much to the chagrin of her longtime boyfriend Matthew Cunliffe. Unlike Watson in Sherlock Holmes who was a chronicler of the genius of Sherlock, Robin is no silent observer.
“Personally, he was ready for a beer, but Robin had not been trained up to consider alcohol and bloodshed natural fellows and he felt a pint might reinforce her impression of his callousness.” ― Robert Galbraith, Career of Evil
With complex, page-turning mysteries, and a cast of compelling, dynamic characters, the Cormoran Strike series quickly rose up the ranks to become one of my favorite fictional series to date. And it's become one of my favorite things to do with Andrew: with a cup of tea on my bed side table, the blinds up so the view of our river is visible, Andrew would read the book out loud to me, and together, we would discuss suspects, plot twists, and developing relationships among characters for hours.
With four books published so far, I highly, highly recommend reading the series, because once again, Rowling has the world captive, eager for the next installment.
Five out of Five.
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