Book info

• Title Lethal White
• Author Robert Galbraith
• Year 2018
• Genres Mystery, Crime

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 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.

Thoughts

I always prefer the audiobooks of these Cormoran Strike mysteries, read so expertly by Robert Glenister. I’ve listened to this one at least once before, but sat through all 25 hours of it again in preparation for the upcoming release of the next book in the series. It’s a long one, this, and the mystery is sprawling. I quite liked it up until the murder halfway through, all that House of Commons and blackmail stuff was kind of interesting. Once it turned into a murder investigation, though, I started to lose the plot a bit. There are so many people, so many elements to it, it’s hard to keep track of who everyone is and what they are doing. I also think the mystery at the heart of it, once it’s all revealed, is so convoluted, I still can’t really get my head round it.

The real disappointment of this book though, is that you can put up with any quality of mystery as long as you’re developing the Robin/Strike relationship. And that does happen but they spend a significant amount of this book apart - either self-imposed or because they are on the job somewhere. It isn’t until really near the end that they open up again, and that’s just… well, that’s not the relationship drama we’re looking for. And I was so frustrated by Robin and her weakness with Matthew. Thank god she finally got some backbone and stood up to him.

I don’t think I enjoyed this book very much but it’s not going to stop me devouring the next one as soon as it comes out!

Rating: 2 / 5