J.K. Rowling has been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately.
Don’t let that determine whether or not you read her most ambitious novel, Troubled Blood written as Robert Galbraith. The novel has more than 900 pages making this the longest book in the series and a somewhat daunting page turner.
The basic premise is that Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott are asked to look into the disappearance of Margot Banborough who disappeared forty years previously. Despite their reluctance Strike is intrigued by the case which is presented to them by Margot´s daughter who was a child at the time. As the investigation is long, it means we as the readers can follow Strike and Robin for a longer period.
Throughout the book they attempt to keep the agency running whilst sorting out their private lives. For long time fans of the will-they-won’t-they relationship, there is much to relish. The book had all the elements to make it fantastic but unfortunately it could not live up to the premise. The investigation is drawn-out. Most of the lines pursued are of the red herring variety. The perpetrator, once revealed, feels unworthy of the pages that have had to be turned. Which is part of the problem with the book.
Like the earlier books in the series, the story can be read on its own but its best read from the first book, The Cuckoo’s Calling so you can appreciate the ongoing narrative.
Troubled Blood will no doubt shoot up the bestseller lists. But In this reviewer’s opinion will only leave the true fans of the imperfect Cormoran Strike satisfied. SP