Quote:
Originally Posted by rkw
Whoever leaked this wrecked her chance at grass roots reader level literary validation any time soon.
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I thought she already got this years ago.
I think she did lose out on receiving objective mainstream media reviews for the next book in the Cormoran Strike detective series. Every reviewer will have read the first book in the series, which sounds fair, but means too much will be made of whether the series is getting better or worse.
I read the book last weekend. As I think has been said in this thread, it can be criticized for lack of plot originality. But I can't fully follow most mystery plots anyway. The most important thing to me is characterization, and the detective is an excellent character. The book has a basis in research, teaching me a lot about what it is like to lose a leg. There's also good material on what it's like to be famous in popular culture, something Galbraith/Rowling obviously didn't need to do research on.
The villain's characterization is mediocre, but isn't that true for most mystery novels, even award winners?
I'm on the fence with the plausibility of the detective's assistant, and especially of her fiancé's inability to see that you can't deny your lover a dream job right in the local commuting area.
It sounds like I am damning the book with faint praise. But Cormoran Strike is a more fully realized character than the detectives in most prize-winning mysteries.
Anyone who thinks J. K. Rowling is politically too far left may be surprised to find that the book is quite patriotic.