Lethal White is the fourth book in the Cormoran Strike series from the international bestselling author Robert Galbraith.
“I seen a kid killed…He strangled it, up by the horse.”
When Billy, a troubled young man, comes to private eye Cormoran Strike’s office to ask for his help investigating a crime he thinks he witnessed as a child, Strike is left deeply unsettled. While Billy is obviously … child, Strike is left deeply unsettled. While Billy is obviously mentally distressed, and cannot remember many concrete details, there is something sincere about him and his story. But before Strike can question him further, Billy bolts from his office in a panic.
Trying to get to the bottom of Billy’s story, Strike and Robin Ellacott-once his assistant, now a partner in the agency-set off on a twisting trail that leads them through the backstreets of London, into a secretive inner sanctum within Parliament, and to a beautiful but sinister manor house deep in the countryside.
And during this labyrinthine investigation, Strike’s own life is far from straightforward: his newfound fame as a private eye means he can no longer operate behind the scenes as he once did. Plus, his relationship with his former assistant is more fraught than it ever has been-Robin is now invaluable to Strike in the business, but their personal relationship is much, much trickier than that.
The most epic Robert Galbraith novel yet, Lethal White is both a gripping mystery and a page-turning next instalment in the ongoing story of Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott.
Did not want it to end. More, please, sir; Mr. Galbraith! Four of four has not disappointed! We need more of Strike and Robin! Love this series. It is sooo smart!
Another good episode in the Cameron Strike and Robin Ellicott series. Ending with hopes for a future new story of their relationship.
I love these Cormoran Strike detective stories, but felt a good bit of editing would have helped move this one along.
This latest Cormoran Strike/RobinEllicott mystery really takes its time, creating a dense tapestry of characters, circumstances, misdeeds and secrets, then slowly unwinding them to a satisfying conclusion.
Have read all the Cormoran Strike novels and they have all been great, but I think this one is the best so far.
Fabulous series!
A great book in a wonderful series.
I love the Strike books, they are entertaining complex story lines with humor and pathos and Strike and his partner are engaging characters. Very well written and engrossing.
Great book that keeps you guessing until the end. Detail so rich you could actually hear the sounds and smell the smells of London, wonderfully done. Great audio performance by the narrator!
LETHAL WHITE was a fantastic mystery with a case that was as captivating as it was thrilling. But boy this book was LONG!!!! 656 pages or 22 hours – that’s one HUGE book!!
What stood out to me the most was how much effort the author took with his two main characters. The book is not just about the case that Comoran took on. Although this book is a mystery, a good part of this book was dedicated to the background and the present life of both, Comoran and Robin.
I adore those two!
Given that both characters are in a relationship in this book, the author took his time to delve into their backstories and very personal feelings throughout this story. I was enthralled by this very in depth look into both Comoran and Robin’s inner thoughts.
And wow, did Robin impress me!! She really came into herself in this book. When it came head to head, she was able to hold herself with self-assurance, smarts, and expert detective skills. BRAVO!!
And I love how easy it was for Comoran to acknowledge this and give her compliments and assurance without feeling like he was being diminished himself – not like Matt that twit.
I love the feel of an old school mystery novel. And Lethal White featured the perfect mix of following clues, unearthing answers and smart detective work. The story and its case kept me on my toes, with a mystery that was intriguing as well as complex.
Unfortunately at times it dragged a little, and Charlotte was still as annoying as ever, and Matt is a guy that I wouldn’t wish on any woman. Whine, whine, whine! He just couldn’t shut up.
On the other hand the supporting cast was colorful, entertaining, and added a wonderful British flair to the story. Especially since the narrator did an amazing job with the different voices, dialects and distinctions.
So, all in all Lethal White was a fantastic addition to the Comoran Strike series. And I can’t wait to see it on TV.
Very satisfying next book in this series.
By all rights, I should be knocking one or two stars off the rating because this series has now established a pattern for being so obtuse in its “big reveal” final chapters that the reader is left wondering what exactly got revealed. It’s like Rowling-as-Galbraith is fiendishly determined to prevent anyone AT ANY POINT from having that “Aha! I get it now!” moment. In good faith, the reader collects clues like puzzle pieces, turning them this way and that, beginning to see how some might fit together, but then the author suddenly snips them into entirely different shapes and you learn the picture on the jigsaw box doesn’t even match the pieces.
The chapters are littered with red herrings, which is fine and even entertaining, but in each book, Cormoran Strike struggles with a jumble of disparate facts that suddenly come clear with such a staggering cascade of insight that by now it ought to be acknowledged as supernatural, but it never is. I do wish Galbraith would find a cleaner way to outline people, means and motive for the central case that the rest of the plot winds itself around. Its resolution is always the least satisfying part of these books, and, you know, that’s not how crime novels are supposed to work.
However. I’m not knocking off any of my 5 stars. I just frigging love these books too much. Many have noted that like the Harry Potter series they are getting longer with each volume. I absolutely do not care. I luxuriate in these books. I love the characters – how they’re described, their backstories, their complexities their inner thoughts and turmoils; I love the story, and I don’t care that there are long periods without heart-pounding action; I love the elegant but unpretentious way she writes, and I love the settings and how she describes them. I find my curiosity constantly pricked enough to Google for more – the White Horse of Uffington, Franco’s in Jermyn Street, Le Manoir de Quat’Saisons (that suite does exist!), the divey looking basement dining room at Pratt’s club – and I can picture the author doing site inspections of them all, notebook in hand.
I wouldn’t say that you need to read all the other books first, but because there are so many references to Book #3’s central case, and because of its lingering consequences for one of the main characters, I think it would be helpful to read Career of Evil first.
I really love the Cormoran Strike character and his partner, Robin. Despite their flaws, they are good people
I really enjoyed spending time with these characters again and was sorry when I finished the (very long) book. I saw some people on Facebook discussing how much they didn’t like the book. They thought it overlong, over-complicated and turgid. What’s interesting is that I couldn’t disagree… and I still loved it. Rowlings has created two great characters. Usually, it’s hard to create one so kudos to her.
Great book (again) in the Cormoran Strike series. Well developed. All of our favorite characters and a couple new ones added. I really like where we left Cormoran and Robin. Opens up a lot of doors.
Love the characters! This is the best book of this series. I hate waiting for the next one!!
I loved this last installment of Robert Galbraith’s Strike novels. The hunky one-legged hero is just my cup of tea! He can put his prosthetic under my bed anyday. 🙂
I love the romantic tension between Strike and Robin and the fact that it escallates through the book. I haven’t read the first three, I watched them on TV, but it didn’t matter, I felt like I was right up there with the overall plot. I hadn’t missed a thing. So the TV adaptations must have been quite true to the books. For a great, action-packed, romantically intense read, I’d recommend Lethal White!
I can’t wait for more . The characters seem real and the plots leave you not wanting the book to end.
The adult version of the Harry Potter series. I am in the middle of this one and loving it as I have the prior books in this series. I hope there is another one after this one.
I love this author (aka: JK Rowling) and everything she writes. The other book in the series drew me in with the characters and their relationship. This book has an interesting story line and mystery. Well worth the read.