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Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith (Review #137)

"When a mysterious package is delivered to Robin Ellacott, she is horrified to discover that it contains a woman’s severed leg.

Her boss, private detective Cormoran Strike, is less surprised but no less alarmed. There are four people from his past who he thinks could be responsible – and Strike knows that any one of them is capable of sustained and unspeakable brutality.

With the police focusing on the one suspect Strike is increasingly sure is not the perpetrator, he and Robin take matters into their own hands, and delve into the dark and twisted worlds of the other three men. But as more horrendous acts occur, time is running out for the two of them…"

Review:
Before we begin, I’d just like to say two things: First, Robert Galbraith is a pseudonym for JK Rowling, and I didn’t know that, so super cool!
*whispers* do you think she goes “It’s Robert Galbraith! JK it’s Rowling! Cus I’d love it if she did....just saying.

Second, I’d like to say this is kind of a series, kind of not. I guess you could say this is one of a group of books, all cases of the detective Cormoran Strike. While the case itself is not related to or intertwined with any of the others, there is still a timeline of Strike’s personal life that we see evolve from book to book. With that being said this is technically the 3rd book for Strike.
Now did I read the first two books? No. Granted I did not know this book was a part of a series(ish) when I bought it, but I decided I wasn’t going to push off reading this just because I didn’t have the first two. For the most part, this book is unrelated to the others, much like Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, and Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. So, if you feel that you need to read the other two before beginning this - pause & go read Cuckoo’s Calling and The Silkworm.

When you’ve finished, come on back. I personally had no problems reading this. But. Anyways.

For those of you still here, let’s get into Career of Evil!

We open with a bang with the first line of the book being, “He had not managed to scrub off all her blood.” And a chapter later, we get a woman’s severed leg in the mail. Absolutely brilliant.

At no point in the book did I feel like I was missing something, so I’m so so SO glad I could read this without reading the others. Robin is by FAR one of the best and most interesting characters I’ve had the pleasure of reading. She’s more courageous than anyone can imagine and five times as smart. Well, when it comes to cases. Her personal life had me wanting to smack some sense into her. Strike was a guy you couldn’t help but like, he was witty and used humor to cope with gruesome crime scenes which I enjoyed, and he was just a good character. Also, I feel like everyone is thinking it, so I might as well say it. I mean it’s so inevitable, I feel like it’s almost cliche at this point, the detective falling for his female partner. IT'S BEEN DONE. I don't know, I love them both individually but I don’t want them to fall into this familiar trope!!! I will say that Matthew can take a long walk off a short pier, that guy needs to GO.

Now as for our elusive killer. Every few chapters or so we read from his point of view, which was pure genius. We get to see certain moments from BOTH perspectives and it just riles you up to be with him as he’s committing these murders, obsessing over them and obsessing over Strike, WHILE ALSO READING STRIKE TRY TO FIND HIM. There were actual moments when they literally passed each other and I was screaming at the book like “STRIKE HE’S RIGHT THEREEEE!!!!” It made for compelling literature for sure.

There was a lull period in the case about 3/4ths of the way in and I personally felt it too. There just wasn’t much going on in the case, with clients, or frankly with our characters, and I was definitely thinking, “OK let’s hurry up and get to the good stuff.” The only relief from the lull in their case was getting to read our killer do some more killing.

But oh my goodness, then we were slapped in the face with some big whopping twists. I will be completely honest, I had no idea who the killer could be. I didn’t think any of the suspects could be the guy we were reading. The culprit came out of left field and only after that did I realize my own naivety. It made sense and I HAD picked up some of the hints, I will say, but man I still wasn’t readyyyyy. And oh, Cormoran. Came at us with a haymaker in the end just as all great detectives do, but also physically LOL.

AND THE END. I WAS BOTH SMILING LIKE A GOOF AND COMPLETELY OUTRAGED. The former because AWWWWW CORMORAN YOU DOG YOU, but the latter because ROBIN STAHPPPPPP.

Overall, I loved this story. It was funny and sweet, but also gruesome and dark. Both sides I enjoyed reading. I may or may not read the next book just to see what happens with Strike and Robin haha we’ll see!! If you’ve read it tell me your thoughts and comment below!!


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