Troubled Blood: A Cormoran Strike Novel, Book 5

Robin and Strike return to solve another interesting case.From a plot perspective I rather enjoyed this storyline. Galbraith usually has some odd or weird element to each of his cases. This novel seemed to center around astrology and zodiac signs. I didn’t seem to mind them much but there were parts that were a little long drawn out. I liked the illustrations that were added in, I felt as though that was a unique addition to the storyline. I did not guess who the killer was. I am usually pretty good at figuring it out so I like a book that keeps me guessing.From a character perspective, this had to be one of my least favorite in the series. For the first 3/4ths of the book Robin and Strike were just angry with each other the whole time and then the last quarter they’re sitting there trying to figure out if they like each other more than friends and it was a little annoying. I already know from reading excerpts of book 6 that they still do not end up getting together. But I think he should re consider that now as he writes book 7. From a fan perspective, it’s just annoying, and we never like Strike’s partners. Just hook them up already.Will read a few other books and come back for book 6. It’s 1024 pages and I just need a break from a big book for a while.I give this book a 4 out of 5 and will be interested to see what twist Galbraith writes in the next one.

Be prepared for a long slog. The author takes us through a year in the life of two detectives and all of the cases investigated during that time. In addition, we follow the family drama of the detective protagonists and practically everyone else in the book including miscellaneous characters who populate the backstory. Harry Bosch meets The Corrections.This epic is populated by representations from all across the human spectrum, a one legged man, a woman making her way back from a brutal rape, a lesbian couple looking for closure on the death of one partner’s mother, all types of developmentally challenged persons including fragile X syndrome, people of all socioeconomic status, more accent variations than I could track, psychopaths at their various levels, and lots of mental illness and personality disorders, in all their various forms. Throw in a heavy dose of multiple types of sexual paraphilia, graphically depicted encounters that end in prostitutes needing medical care, as well as murders and rapes, along with a dose of the Italian mafia and that’s only pieces of this puzzle. There is also the sturm and drang of the two partner’s approach/avoidance to the possibility of romance between them against a background of a divorce for the female, and multiple family challenges for the other, and because well, there isn’t enough to cope with here already, we have to wade into the dynamics of Strike’s ex-lover and his father just to kick it up a notch. Even the weather and Cornish politics gets a starring role.I’ve never read Rowling before and I bought this particular novel because of all the controversy. I wanted to judge it for myself. My mistake: I thought I was buying a regular detective novel. At 250 pages (on the Kindle) I sadly woke up and saw I was in for what felt like a prison sentence without parole. I finished it because I wanted to prove to myself I could.What I liked:1) The dialogue is very good.2) Characterization: Rowling is good at it and endows each person with memorable traits.3) The writing flows even if the events drag.4) Many of the psychological observations are absolute gems (I'm a licensed psychotherapist).5) Character arc:a) Robin comes off as a decent, empathic person. She has a history that has wounded her. She’s young and her lack of basic entitlement and life skill shows in her uneven handling of men who demean her. The character was realistic but grated on me with her avoidance of even little things that need to be addressed directly. She needed to take a 1980s assertiveness class and given this takes place in the 2000 somethings, I didn’t understand why she wouldn’t be in therapy or something to support her growth. I guess one could say her development is in the questions she’s beginning to ask.b) Strike is also realistic, but mostly a jerk with nothing to make me want to spend time in his company. He is, down deep, not so different than the criminals he pursues, but has found socially acceptable ways to channel the reaction to his childhood narcissistic injury. He has two speeds, rage and self-pity. In between he intellectualizes. I felt he understood that he was *supposed* to feel, being a very observant type, but he had no idea how to do it, he either had to be told how the expression would look or needed role modeling. For a 29 year old (Robin) to get mixed up with this 41 year old, orally fixated chain smoker, whose previous romantic involvement mimicked marrying the emotional version of his mother, is not a recommendation. I didn’t really see growth here, but again, I haven’t read the previous books. He understands his social mistakes, apologizes to make life easier on himself, and then repeats. Even his interest in Robin seems based on thinking about his future needs vs who she is, although in the final chapter he remembers her birthday, an improvement over the prior year where he had to be reminded.c) As partners, they agree to communicate better, especially in situations of high danger, but all this takes place while both are drunk and drunken promises don’t count. I guess that will be for future books.What I didn’t like:1) Too long. It needs massive editing2) It suffers from identity confusion. There is (excellent) literary examination of family dynamics, there is the whodunit murder mystery, there is the romantic teaser, and finally, it could easily serve as an instruction book in competing schools of astrology – complete with drawings - which certainly plays no useful part other than to stretch the already insufferable length.3) While I understand the author is making a statement about the status of women in society and the obstacles faced (which I in general support), and is making a statement regarding women’s safety in general, I really can’t stomach graphic violence or demonstrations of cruelty for its own sake. I don’t believe a really talented writer needs to do that to make a point. Also, the misogyny is constant to the point of overdone.4) The resolution of the murder mystery didn’t even come close to the perpetrator until the last 5%. Nine hundred 20 pages littered with red herrings and suddenly Cormoran Strike has an epiphany and goes straight to the murder’s house. This irritated me. It almost felt like the author didn’t know who the murder was either - until even she got sick of the whole thing then abruptly ended it while retrospectively twisting the explanation Strike offers to fit the narrative. Convoluted doesn’t begin to describe this.In summary, the only thing this book lacks is the presence of a transsexual person because, as we say in America, it contains everything but the kitchen sink. Had this been a literary examination of family, I would give it five stars. Had it been a properly edited detective novel, I would give it four stars. As it stands, I give it three, not because it entertained me (my usual measurement) but out of generosity, simply for occupying me for the 13 days it took to read it. If you read for length, you will get your money’s worth as it consumes 944 pages. If you read for resolution of a plot, you will likely be frustrated to the maximum of your tolerance.

It's no secret that Robert Galbraith is really J. K. Rowling, writing under a pen name presumably to dissociate her work for adults (such as this novel) from her young adult work. And fair enough; this kind of mystery, featuring rather gruesome crimes, has very little to do with Harry Potter. Admittedly, this is my first of the Cormoran Strike novels. I decided to pick up a copy in light of the political controversy surrounding it, and I'm rather glad that I did.Let's begin, in fact, with that political controversy, because I think it needs acknowledgment (especially considering it's the source of most of the criticism directed toward this book). There is a substantial number of people calling for the publisher to stop production of this novel. Indeed, a disturbing number of people, many of them actually bearing Harry Potter tattoos (because apparently they take their lunacy laced with irony), and a few of whom I had hitherto actually respected, have been calling for anyone who reads their random scribblings to burn the book. Some, indeed, have been desperately trying to get attention on the Internet by actually filming themselves burning copies of Rowling's novels. Why would people do such a thing? Because they've gotten it into their heads that the contents of this particular novel are "transphobic."I point all of this out both to explain the reason I picked up this novel, starting a series in the middle rather than going immediately back to the first volume (namely, because I give no quarter to would-be censors of literature and will always endeavor to read almost anything that large numbers of people insist I shouldn't) and to make it abundantly clear that, without exception, the people complaining about this book on political grounds either haven't read it, or lacked the capacity to understand it. Indeed, the issue they complain about (the inclusion of a male character who cross-dressed to get close to his female victims) is barely even in the book at all, and certainly isn't what the book is "about," nor is it presented in a way that anyone could possibly find offensive who wasn't deliberately looking for excuses to complain about something.What is in the book, instead, is a delightfully complex tale of a pair of detectives attempting to solve a decades-old missing persons case whose initial investigation had been bungled by a police detective in the middle of a mental breakdown. Beyond the mystery, we are also treated to an incredibly rich collection of subplots involving the personal lives of a small but extraordinarily believable cast of characters. Admittedly, it took me several chapters to get myself up to speed regarding those characters' history, having not read the previous books in the series, but that doesn't detract from a story that captures the reader's interest from page one and doesn't let go until the conclusion nearly 1000 pages later.And that, in fact, is my one point of criticism: the book is, quite frankly, excessively long, filled with tangents that seem just a little too great in number and just a little too long in duration. While I respect and celebrate that the novel isn't only a mystery but also an interpersonal drama, the alternations between mystery and drama occasionally drifted into territory that made the novel feel just a bit of a slog in a few points. I can't single out any one particular element that was uninteresting or that I think should have been cut entirely, but I can't help but feel that it would have been a nearly perfect novel had it been 200 pages shorter. With none of the elements excluded but all of them presented just a smidge more succinctly (and with a bit more action and less exposition in certain parts), I think the book could have found its way into the pantheon of classic modern mysteries.As it stands, it's still no slouch. Despite some minor flaws (and certainly contrary to what the politically-minded naysayers would have you believe), it remains a great novel that manages to successfully hit emotional notes across the entire range of the human emotional spectrum, ranging from disgust and horror to grief and sorrow, to laughter and love. And it does this while delivering a mystery that never fails to keep the reader guessing. With regard to the mystery itself, I'm not at all ashamed to admit that I was not able to predict the ending despite all of the necessary clues being present throughout the text. If that's not a good mystery, I don't know what is!I began by pointing out that this was my first Cormoran Strike novel. It certainly won't be my last. I highly recommend it.

This book is fantastic (speaking as someone who has actually read the book, unlike some 'reviewers' on the internet who just want to sabotage ratings and slate the author - thank you, Amazon, for not being like a certain highstreet bookstore who lets people add libellous posts about the author and who have absolutely no intention of reading the book but just want to vent their anger).This book is a fantastic addition to the series, with another great mystery to solve and one which further develops the relationship between Strike and Robin. It is gripping and full of twists and turns.It's heavy and there are almost 1,000 pages but that just makes it value for money! Cannot wait for the next book in the series.Don't just follow the hateful rhetoric online blindly, read the book yourself and you will see that the torrent of abuse levelled at Rowling in respect of this novel is entirely unfounded.

JK Rowling writing under the name of Robert Galbraith gives us another great novel with Cormoran Strike. Of course I know that some will think this is perhaps too long, and we can already see people on here reviewing this before they have even read it. Here then we see Robin going through a rather acrimonious divorce with Matthew, with the wondering still if Cormoran and Robin will get it on. For their detective agency, things though are looking up, with bringing in new detectives to help them solve a number of cases on their books. As this book opens we see Cormoran down in St Mawes, Cornwall as his aunt is dying from aggressive cancer. Down in the local pub so he is approached by a woman, and a new case is started for the agency. On the 11th October 1974 this woman’s mum, a GP, suddenly disappeared, and has never been seen again.The first major cold case for the agency, although this is the main plot if you like behind this tale, it is not the only thing that is covered by this book. We see other cases being solved the family dynamics surrounding Cormoran, his father and his aunt, and something that I am going through at the moment, the deterioration of a close family member, who really you are just waiting to die (something which made me end up taking longer to read this book than I would have). This of course will resonate with a number of people, as will the issues of growing old, general physical sickness, and mental health problems. So, we are given a fully fleshed out story here that takes in many issues, but at the heart is of course the nearly forty year old mystery of what happened to a certain female doctor. Cormoran is given a year to try and solve this case by the client, but things are not that simple, or looking that good. Some of the people who they would like to interview have deceased, the original chief detective on the case was suffering with mental impairment, and when he was eventually replaced, so everything had to gone over from the beginning. With gangsters still around when the disappearance occurred, having to rely on people’s memories from years in the past, and a serial killer operating in the area at the time, so something that is difficult in itself seems to be near nigh impossible.The mystery plotting is very good, although with careful reading you may be able to solve it, and although I expect a number of people will start mentioning Agatha Christie, I would say really in a few places this made me think of some of Margery Allingham’s novels. Of course with a serial killer mentioned in this tale, and the current showing of the Nilsen drama on TV people will be looking for parallels, although the killer in this story is more depraved, and did more than just murder, and only preyed on women.What stands out here of course is the characterisation, and the fully thought out scenes, and you will find some great people here, although a number are really quite loathsome. This book does make you think of family, and also whether there is real evil in the world, or just madness. With the original detective on the case, we see his own notes that he kept on the mystery, and thus get an insight into him, and the way he started using astrology to try and save the case, with extracts (including pictures) which shows how wrong he was, but also at the same time how near he was to really solving the case. An intriguing read this is a book that is hard to put down and makes for one of those reads where you can just curl up and read to your heart’s content.

Read this much awaited book on my kindle over 2 days and was not disappointed. Feeling bereft now that I have finished reading the book. There is no doubt that Robert Galbraith (aka JK Rowling) is one very talented author. The characters of the two protagonists sprang to life for me through the brilliant writing. I shared their humour and laughed out loud with them. I felt their happiness and smiled for them. I felt their pain and sorrow and cried with and for them. The book had me gripped right from the start to the point that I did little else but read over the two days.As well as the brilliant story lines, equally captivating for me is the development of the relationship between Strike and Robin. I recommend reading the books in sequence (Book1 The Cuckoo's Calling, Book2 The Silkworm, Book3 Career of Evil, Book4 Lethal White and Book5 Troubled Blood). Robin started as a temporary assistant but Strike soon realises that he functions better with her working alongside him. Strike also admitted to himself that he does not dare put a name to the feelings he has for Robin.I just wished that I understood all of the Edmund Spenser quotes at the beginning of each chapter. I think that I may have to do a bit of research to enlighten myself.Sincerely hope the situation surrounding Covid-19 will be under control soon so they can adapt this book for TV Series 5. Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger who starred as the two protagonists in Series 1 to 4 have been really outstanding. What screen chemistry and how endearing are they. They are the two who I imagined when I was reading ‘Troubled Blood’. So fingers crossed that they get casted again.While I wait for Book 6 to be available (please let that be soon), I am going to re-read Books 1 to 5 - no doubt avidly again because I am so invested in the two principal characters.

I have ordered the book and on audible to take me through many hours of walking. I will update when i have completed. The book looks and feels awesome!!!I have completed the book and it is the best one by far. The plot was intricate and captivating - I did not expect the murderer to be who it was. The relationship between Strike and robin matures in this book (No, they do not get together, but wasn't brought to the forefront as inn lethal white). The relationship lasted through turbulent time and evolved through personal struggle and the need to find answers. Robin finally manages to shake off the 'temp' role and is finally recognised for the work she puts in the agency as a partner. I can't wait for the next one and I hope the dramatised version has more than 4 episodes to do due justice to it.

I'm absolutely hooked, can't put it down. As in was up half the night reading and today very, very tired... Husband tried to make me put it down ... was unsuccessful. Ipad just ran out of charge, total disaster, otherwise would probably be reading right now over my lunch break!Loving the same super smart storyline, good new idea of a cold case. I was immediately sucked in to wanting to know what happened to this lady and how come.Strike seems pretty miserable in the first couple of chapters and critical even of his old friend Polworth and his aunt Joan who until now has always seemed like a source of comfort to him. However where I'm at now in the book (about 1/3 of the way through...) they're sharing some good bonding times.I'm guessing there's no other reviews yet as everyone's still reading and I will update once I'm done, which at this rate will be tomorrow ...