My rating: 5 of 5 stars
After my initial disappointment with Lethal White, I had high hopes for Troubled Blood. Book five of the Cormoran Strike series exceeded all of my expectations. First, it was a cold case and I'm always up for a good cold case, the farther back the better. Second, the story was very streamlined. It was primarily focused on this one case. While other cases that Strike's agency were working on were brought up, they were just sidelines for the characters of the agency.
In 1974, Doctor Margot Bamborough vanished and was never seen or heard from again. Forty years later, her daughter seeks the help of Cormoran Strike asking him to find the whereabouts of her mother if only to bring peace. As usual, Strike has several suspects. His primary suspect is the famed Essex Butcher who kidnapped, tortured and killed women during that time. However, as Strike and his partner, Robin Ellacott, delve deeper in the Bamborough case, the more they uncover the true madness of mankind.
Meanwhile, Robin is trying to start a new life separated from her husband Matthew. However, it's hard to do when everyone in her life are determined to run it the way they see fit. Even her own family seem to cast judgement on Robin's failed marriage and her demanding job. Strike's father is wanting to initiate contact with his son, but years of distance between the two men has hardened Strike's heart and he wants nothing to do with his biological father or the rest his family.
As Robin and Strike wrestle their own personal demons, they are still wrestling their conflicting feelings with each other. Robin, who has always been the sweet smiling good girl and Strike the hulking reluctant hero with a twisting path are an unlikely duo, yet they bring out both the best and the worst in one another. While everyone else around them can see a potential relationship, their own personal disasters with people and love keep them from at distance from anything beyond work.
I really did enjoy this book. At least I manage to read it in one month instead of 13. My only real problem was there were too many people involved as potential suspects which made the story hard to keep on track. I enjoyed Robin's continual growth as a woman trying to reinvent herself and move on from heartbreak and loss. Robin is so underappreciated by people who refuse to see her as intelligent and capable. Her family aggravated me in many ways as they were constantly looking down on her for her job, and giving in to the rumors that Robin and Strike were in an affair which caused the breakup of her marriage (instead of Matthew's own affair).
Troubled Blood I found to be infinitely better than Lethal White and in spite of its length I found myself going through it rather quickly. I've grown to love both Strike and Robin. Both are flawed and imperfect, but it's those human imperfections in their lives that make them understandable to the reader.
After my initial disappointment with Lethal White, I had high hopes for Troubled Blood. Book five of the Cormoran Strike series exceeded all of my expectations. First, it was a cold case and I'm always up for a good cold case, the farther back the better. Second, the story was very streamlined. It was primarily focused on this one case. While other cases that Strike's agency were working on were brought up, they were just sidelines for the characters of the agency.
In 1974, Doctor Margot Bamborough vanished and was never seen or heard from again. Forty years later, her daughter seeks the help of Cormoran Strike asking him to find the whereabouts of her mother if only to bring peace. As usual, Strike has several suspects. His primary suspect is the famed Essex Butcher who kidnapped, tortured and killed women during that time. However, as Strike and his partner, Robin Ellacott, delve deeper in the Bamborough case, the more they uncover the true madness of mankind.
Meanwhile, Robin is trying to start a new life separated from her husband Matthew. However, it's hard to do when everyone in her life are determined to run it the way they see fit. Even her own family seem to cast judgement on Robin's failed marriage and her demanding job. Strike's father is wanting to initiate contact with his son, but years of distance between the two men has hardened Strike's heart and he wants nothing to do with his biological father or the rest his family.
As Robin and Strike wrestle their own personal demons, they are still wrestling their conflicting feelings with each other. Robin, who has always been the sweet smiling good girl and Strike the hulking reluctant hero with a twisting path are an unlikely duo, yet they bring out both the best and the worst in one another. While everyone else around them can see a potential relationship, their own personal disasters with people and love keep them from at distance from anything beyond work.
I really did enjoy this book. At least I manage to read it in one month instead of 13. My only real problem was there were too many people involved as potential suspects which made the story hard to keep on track. I enjoyed Robin's continual growth as a woman trying to reinvent herself and move on from heartbreak and loss. Robin is so underappreciated by people who refuse to see her as intelligent and capable. Her family aggravated me in many ways as they were constantly looking down on her for her job, and giving in to the rumors that Robin and Strike were in an affair which caused the breakup of her marriage (instead of Matthew's own affair).
Troubled Blood I found to be infinitely better than Lethal White and in spite of its length I found myself going through it rather quickly. I've grown to love both Strike and Robin. Both are flawed and imperfect, but it's those human imperfections in their lives that make them understandable to the reader.
I preferred this one to Lethal White aswell. I love how the Robin and Strike thing is developing, she does slow burn relationships too well. Next book though, I feel like it has to happen! I really liked the closure scene with Matthew though too.
ReplyDeleteThere was no flow with Lethal White, but I definitely felt it with this one. Robin and Strike's relationship is slow burning, but not in an aggravating painful way. There are realistic obstacles that prevent the relationship from developing. I can just say that Matthew got what was coming to him and I can't fee sorry for him at all.
Delete