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 … 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…
Career of Evil is the third in the highly acclaimed series featuring private detective Cormoran Strike and his assistant Robin Ellacott. A fiendishly clever mystery with unexpected twists around every corner, it is also a gripping story of a man and a woman at a crossroads in their personal and professional lives.
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Not far into Career of Evil yet, but I was just telling @merrycoin, @lahsaiez, and @dianacow that the most surprising thing so far is how similar my eating habits are to Cormoran Strike, the grizzled PI hero of the series. Some things that Cormoran and I have both done:
1) Insist that we buy food after we’ve already stopped for lunch on a road trip, because maybe we’ll be hungry later. (“But we already ate!” “But we *know* there’s good food here, and who knows what the food will be like later??”)
2) Put some danishes from a hotel breakfast in some napkins in your pocket because, again, YOU JUST DON’T KNOW, OKAY?
3) Comforting a very upset person at a pub while also just sort of wondering if they’re going to order dinner, because you would very much like to order dinner but don’t want to seem insensitive.
I’ve really enjoyed all of Galbraith’s books, but I absolutely adored Career of Evil. The mystery was compelling and kept me guessing throughout and when the villain was ultimately unmasked, proved to be a worthy adversary for Strike’s detective prowess. While I thought the earlier books in the series were a but quieter but still excellent, this one was a page-turner and despite the massive length, had me loath to set it down even for a moment.
This series really is mystery gold. Cormoran Strike is such an intriguing and complex character. His voice is so relatable and really adds to the novel’s pacing. Robin is also a favorite of mine, and the tension between them really adds to the novel’s impact. Galbraith left us on a bit of a cliffhanger there and I’m so excited to see where the next book picks up.
If you’re looking for a smart, flawlessly crafted mystery series with fabulous characters and an atmospheric setting, then definitely give these books a shot. Each book keeps raising the bar. While Career of Evil is my favorite to date, they’re all wonderful reads and reading them in order definitely lends to a better understanding of the unfolding relationships between the characters.
I love these people. Like the plot. Didn’t see who the bad guy was. Thought it had to be someone else.
The third book in the Strike series rebounds greatly from the slump I felt reading book two. The mystery as always was nail biting. It kept me guessing until the very end as to which one Strike’s suspects was the true culprit, or, at times, if any of them were and he was slowly losing it. The personal relationship between the two main characters is still what keeps me coming back to these books though and i literally screamed out loud at the way this book finished. Thank the book Gods i have number four already downloaded and ready to roll because I can’t imagine waiting to see what comes next for our gritty detective and his determine partner in solving crime.
The characters in the Cormoran Strike novels have integrity, kindness and courtesy. These are definitely personality characteristics to be admired and Galbraith/Rowling is most qualified to create such role models.
This book is the third in a series, and it is definitely much darker and grittier than the previous two. It’s well-written and easy to read, and it definitely kept me guessing as to who the real killer was, but the subject matter and grisly characters are tough to handle.
This is the third book of a series, and they just keep getting bigger and better. This one was not only good with an easily followed plot, the main characters are getting more endearing and it’s harder on the reader to see them at odds with each other. The detective, Strike, and his “secretary cum partner” are a formidable team, as long as he isn’t obsessively trying to protect her. I highly recommend this book and the other two of this series.
This is another great read from the pen of this esteemed author/ess!
Throughout this gripping read the characters continue to grow and progress towards what seems to be an inevitable conclusion for both criminals and investigators. There are surprises in store though as Strike and Robyn muddle through their personal lives while trying to corner an elusive killer…and maybe more….
The story is as frustrating as it is gripping when the reader reaches the same conclusions as the investigators in some cases only to be thwarted at the last second. Sometimes it is the readers place to scream at the pages at how obtuse Strike seems in the face of his predicaments.
I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery/ thriller
I own a soft back copy of this book
I can’t say enough about what a great writer Robert Galbreath is, when I found out this author wrote the Harry Potter series I thought wow, she was wasting her time with those. She has created some really interesting and complex characters in this particular series, I’ve read them all and am really looking forward to reading more from Really great storyline.
I’m thoroughly enjoying the Strike series. So far, on starting each instalment I’ve had a sense of coming home, and on finishing that I’m slightly bereft. Looking forward to what happens next for Robin and Cormoran after Career of Evil.
Extremely well written, kept me guessing right to the end. A real page turner
I love these people. Like the plot. Didn’t see who the bad guy was. Thought it had to be someone else.
Love Cormoron Strike!
Read 5.10.2019
Great. Googly. Moogly.
I never, E V E R saw that coming [there was a lot of really amazing red herrings in this book]. Holy COW.
This one was just so so good. I think that it is really my favorite of the series [though I loved the first one because of me actually knowing who the killer was and and the why; all because I saw a James Bond movie] and makes me just want to dive into the 4th one. I will not be doing that, as I have a lot of books on my plate, but as soon as I can, I am diving in. I love both Cormoran and Robin and their relationship and chemistry is just so real and believable. I wish I had a Cormoran in my life that is for sure [though there are moments he reminds me of my ex and then I’d want him as far away from me as he could possibly get].
SUCH a great series!!!
*** DISCLAIMER*** For those who are queasy or have a problem with language – these books, and this one in particular, are not for you. This book deals with dismemberment and the detail that goes into this book is amazing; there were moments where I was queasy and I DO NOT get queasy [to quote my friend Joy – “You LIKE gross”]. There were absolutely things about dismemberment and people who do that that I don’t think I ever needed to know. But it all made for a spectacular and amazing read. As to language, there is a lot. I mean, A LOT. If language [colorful and not so colorful if you know what I mean] offends you, stay far far far away from these books.
Terrific series! Waiting for more
A little too romantic for me….but very good anyway
Big fan of Strike and here’s where he truly finds his feet, sorry, foot.
Really loving the series. Cormoran Strike is the perfect flawed protagonist. I’m continuing to enjoy both his story arc and Robin’s as well. The series starts off with Robin’s boyfriend proposing to her. He seems perfect. Their relationship seems perfect. But by book 3, we learn it is anything but.
Career of Evil is about a serial killer who has his sights set on Strike. But he doesn’t just want to kill strike. He wants to destroy him, and he starts off by delivering a severed leg to Robin.
Strike figures it could be one of four men, and the story is about him and Robin trying to figure out which. No big mystery, no big twist. But a riveting tale all the same based on the characters and plot.
I also listened to it on audiobook, which as an extra layer of awesome. Robert Glenister is a spectacular narrator.
I am not a huge detective novel fan but this series is quite entertaining. This is the third book in this series. The characters are likable, the story is riveting. There’s a lot of humor as well as the seriousness of a killer on the loose. I am terrible at figuring out the bad guy so I’m always surprised. The chemistry between the main detective and his secretary/partner keeps the reader wondering where it’s gonna go. An all around fun detective book.
I am a fan of Robert Galbraith’s Cormoran Strike series, but this was my least favorite of the four. It was a good read, but rather creepy with the severed leg delivery to Strike’s office and the characters who long to have a limb lopped off. I had to finish the book, but I had to take it in small doses. Admittedly, I have a low tolerance for ghoulishness, though.