Synopsis
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.
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.
Review
Although I still found the story enjoyable, I couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed after the adrenaline rush of “Career of Evil.” It’s like the excitement peaked there and didn’t quite match up in this installment.
Nevertheless, the classic whodunnit element that defines the series was still present, and I had a blast trying to piece together the puzzle of who committed the crime. That suspense is what keeps me hooked every time.
However, I’m still not sold on the romantic subplot between Robin and Strike. I believe Robin deserves a storyline that empowers her beyond just a romantic entanglement.
In this book, it felt like Galbraith opted for a more direct approach in unveiling the villain, which I found intriguing. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, a new twist would throw me off track, keeping me guessing until the end.
Overall, while the book was enjoyable, it did feel a bit lengthy at times, a common observation I’ve had with previous entries in the series. Despite this, the gripping narrative and constant plot twists made it a worthwhile read.
Vocab Builder
- Shambolic – obviously disorganized or confused
- Peregrinations – a long journey or period of wandering
- Perfidy – the state of being deceitful and untrustworthy.
- Humidor – an airtight container for keeping cigars or tobacco moist.
- Pusillanimous – lacking courage and resolution: marked by contemptible timidity.
- Vituperative -marked by harshly abusive criticism
- Suffragette – a woman seeking the right to vote through organized protest.
- Bestiality – savagely cruel or depraved behaviour.
- Nubile – (of a young woman) sexually attractive.
- Unctuous – too smooth, polite, and agreeable in speech or manner
- Febrile – having or showing the symptoms of a fever.
- Obstreperous – noisy and difficult to control.
- Canter – a pace of a horse or other quadruped between a trot and a gallop, with not less than one foot on the ground at any time.
- Vicissitudes – a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.
- Clodhopping – a large, heavy shoe.
Crawling Over the Pages 