In the epic fifth installment in this “compulsively readable” (People) series, Galbraith’s “irresistible hero and heroine” (USA Today) take on the decades-old cold case of a missing doctor, one which may be their grisliest yet. Private Detective Cormoran Strike is visiting his family in Cornwall when he is approached by a woman asking for help finding her mother, Margot Bamborough–who went … her mother, Margot Bamborough–who went missing in mysterious circumstances in 1974.
Strike has never tackled a cold case before, let alone one forty years old. But despite the slim chance of success, he is intrigued and takes it on; adding to the long list of cases that he and his partner in the agency, Robin Ellacott, are currently working on. And Robin herself is also juggling a messy divorce and unwanted male attention, as well as battling her own feelings about Strike.
As Strike and Robin investigate Margot’s disappearance, they come up against a fiendishly complex case with leads that include tarot cards, a psychopathic serial killer and witnesses who cannot all be trusted. And they learn that even cases decades old can prove to be deadly . . .
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Love the whole series
I love these books. I hated it when this one ended. Next one will be out in 2022??
I will miss these people while waiting for the next book.
A cold case. A forty year old cold case. Strike hasn’t done a cold case before this.
What kind of clues could still exist?
“Troubled Blood” is the fifth novel in Robert Galbraith’s “Cormoran Strike” series. In this instalment, Cormoran and Robin are pulled into the investigation of a physician, who disappeared without a trace 40 years ago. The police always assumed she was a victim of Dennis Creed, a serial killer living in the area who kidnapped, abused and killed young women. After forty years, no one is particularly positive that the pair will come up with anything that the police missed but the determined duo decide to do whatever is in their power to discover the mystery of the missing doctor.
“Troubled Blood” is the fifth novel in this series but it is also the longest, at nearly 1000 pages. Due to this, I have put off reading it, even though I thoroughly enjoyed the other Strike novels. I was finally able to give this book the dedication and commitment it deserved.
Of course, I love Robin and Strike. Right from the beginning they had the “will-they-or-won’t-they” chemistry that, when mixed with the mystery and intrigue brought on by an English detective plotline, created a heck of a good read. Although the potential romance has STILL not transpired, “Troubled Blood” still delivers.
With this novel, there are a lot of characters and potential suspects (and of course, after 40 years, there would be) , so it can be a little cumbersome to sort through all the potentials. That, combined with the extremely detailed astrological theories and zodiac signs that pepper this book, makes parts of “Troubled” a bit hefty to read through. But for the most part, the story is engaging and the characters are quirky and charming.
Galbraith (a.k.a Rowling) know how to write a series without overdoing it. There is still enough meat in this storyline to keep the Strike series going. The ending brings about a concrete and satisfying conclusion, but still leaves enough dangling to keep you engaged and interested in any future novels.
This is the latest from the pen name of J.K. Rowling and it’s a long one. That being said, and perhaps my greatest complement, was that I truly missed Robin and Strike when the book concluded. It’s a great mystery, but it’s the characters and the time Rowling spends drawing them out that sets “Troubled Blood” apart.
An excellent read, this book was definitely a page-turner, full of twists and turns and carefully crafted well thought out characters.
Thoroughly recommended!
This 900 page stunner is utterly fantastic! We know the author knows how to keep us entertained exploring the characters so we get to know them so well.
I’m ignorant of the controversy surrounding this book (and, frankly, controversy tends to make me want to read a book more than glowing recommendations from the majority of people — Where the Crawdads Sing objectively sucked, though it was incredibly popular).
However, I’m loving the characters and feel like I’m learning about how my wife thinks through the main character. It’s wonderful.
Love the relationship between Robin and Strike
I love this series so much. First off, I love all of the cases that Strike and Robin have to solve each book. They are original and I never see the outcome in advance. I can’t believe how intricate the plots are. But more than anything else, I love the romantic tension between Strike and Robin. Galbraith (Rowling) is unsurpassed in her skill at creating heart-palpitating will-they-or-won’t they/should-they-or-shouldn’t-they. I can’t get enough. I had to pace myself because I didn’t want this book to be over. I will go back and reread certain passages again and again. My favorite love story since Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett.
I was eagerly awaiting the latest book in the Cormoran Strike series. Troubled Blood if not quite what I expected but it did not disappoint. For one thing, it’s quite dense in terms of word count. It’s not as action-packed of some of her older titles. Yet there’s a LOT going on, most of it interesting and entertaining. The plot has a gazillion twists and turns and endless possibilities like in a chess game that keep you guessing. The characters are original and interesting, especially the two protagonists, Strike and Robin. I was curious to see how their romantic feelings for each other would play out. Not saying at the risk of being a spoiler, but It certainly held my interest. Now I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
I’ve been hooked on this series since book one and just finished book five—”Troubled Blood.” It’s a whopper of a book, size-wise, at over 900 pages. When I opened my library copy, I wondered whether I’d mistakenly ordered the large print version, but no, it was the regular book.
It’s also a whopper of a book in the story it delivers. It’s not often a mystery stays with me, and in this case, it wasn’t so much the mystery at the heart of the book as it was the relationships and family dynamics among the main characters. One reviewer captured my feelings when she wrote, “Galbraith has created a pair of characters who live on in your head after the book is closed.”
The first line of the Amazon description reads, “A breathtaking, labyrinthine epic, “Troubled Blood” is the fifth Strike and Robin novel and the most gripping and satisfying yet.” I agree wholeheartedly.
When I glanced at the Amazon reviews to see how other readers felt about the book, I was surprised to learn that some had shunned the book because it was mistakenly described in some media reports as some sort of diatribe against transgenders. I certainly didn’t get that sense from the book.
I must admit I skimmed portions of the book that went overboard, in my opinion, on astrology. Perhaps it would have run only to 700 pages without some of that detail. Still, there are likely plenty of readers who will enjoy reading about astrological signs and tarot cards and how they play into the investigation. Oddly enough, after finishing this book in which Rowling mentions Aleister Crowley, a British occultist, I heard him referenced in a BBC murder mystery. I wouldn’t have taken note of his name if I hadn’t read “Troubled Blood.” What a strange coincidence.
I’ve heard book six is in the works and can’t wait. If it’s only half as good as this one, it will be a winner.
This won’t be a long review. I’d be writing into next week if I discussed all this greatness at length. To say I LOVED this book doesn’t even cut it! Outstanding, Gripping, Terrifying, Triumphant… This story deserves EVERY great accolade imaginable.
I’m mostly an audiobook reader and what a treat my commute has been over the last few weeks! Strike was as gruff and cute as ever. Robin…oh Robin…she actually worked my nerves a bit in this one, but definitely redeemed herself!
I didn’t know how they’d solve this one-talk about a cold case-but the shocks, surprises, misdirection… This is unpredictability at its finest. There are several spots that are hard to read/listen to, but the story is well worth it.
Ms. Rowling deserves a writing break more than anyone, but oh how I wish there was another installment ready tomorrow.
One of my favorite series, and this one did not disappoint. Good twists, great characters. Made for a great escape.
This may be J.K. Rowling’s best book, and I’ve read all of them. I’m not sure everyone will agree, but not everyone wants to read a 900-plus-page behemoth. Me, I was ready to sink into my sofa with my favorite hot beverage and tune out the real world for as long as possible. TROUBLED BLOOD is a long, delicious read. The cold case Strike and Robin are hired to investigate after 40 years is a tricky one, but people who aren’t dead or senile remember things. And some of them lie. Other cases occupy many pages. We are privy to the back-room goings-on in what is now a thriving detective agency. There is the ever-vile Matthew, now Robin’s ex but still stirring up trouble. And most intriguing of all is the Strike-Robin relationship. The author brings every scene into real-life focus with spot-on dialog, a pantheon of intriguing characters, and a plot you can sink your teeth into. I didn’t watch television for nearly two weeks. It delivered the goods. Thank you “Robert Galbraith” Oh, and P.S., not a single transgender person in the book. NOT ONE!
The most recent case for private detective Cormoran Strike does not disappoint. It’s a gripping read, despite the 927 pages in the paperback I read. Maybe it didn’t need to be this long, but I enjoyed the detailed investigation of a cold case by Strike and his wonderful partner, Robin Ellacott. Their hunt persists for more than a year, allowing time for twists in the detectives’ own lives and their agency. The resolution is unexpected but satisfying – the best kind.
Easily the longest book I have ever read. I think this one has THE GOLDFINCH beat by a few pages, but somehow when I put down TROUBLED BLOOD, I couldn’t wait to get back to Robin and Strike. I love these characters and this series.
This is the 5th in the Cormoran Strike series. I’ve enjoyed all of them. Only complaint is that it’s too wordy like John Grisham novels. Otherwise it’s a great story line that is very well written to keep you wondering until the very end. The author does a fantastic job of weaving several stories into one. It’s full of twists and turns and I never would have guessed who was responsible for the murders. I also really enjoy the interaction between Cormoran and Robin. This series is a well written mystery with wonderful characters that you can picture in your mind. Well done! Looking forward to reading the next one when it comes out.
This was a very long book, the fifth in the series, and to be honest, the best one. The main characters are very believable, endearing, and sometimes easy, and sometimes hard to understand. The plot is easily followed, but there were some twists and turns in this book that had me dizzy! The ONLY thing wrong with this book is the length! It should have been split, just like the fourth book. However, I still highly recommend this book and I am sorry the author ended with this book.
500 to 600 pages too long!!! I appreciate description but it was way too much. Too many characters and too convoluted. Really there wasn’t any action so it became very tedious reading. I understand why some of the sides stories were included but some I didn’t. I like Robin and Cormoran but Troubled Blood was a real disappointment. I would never recommend this book. In my opinion there was just too much beating a dead horse. There were some side stories that just flew out the window. I get this was a cold case but Robert Galbraith did not do a good job of writing this story. I read from Broward County Library.
Love the fourth installment of Cormoran Strike and his partner Robin. It took a while to read this book because it’s 900+ pages, but once I got into it, man it was great. Hard to guess whodunit. If you like to get in deep, this is the suspense book for you!.