Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith (2015)

In the third book of the series, Robin and Cormoran have their most grisly and dangerous case yet.

Book Review: J.K. Rowling can't win. For her masses of fans who adored the Harry Potter books to little bitty pieces, nothing she writes will ever again be as good, even a book as excellent as The Casual Vacancy. The literary critics, however, will never give Rowling the credit she's due for a book as excellent as The Casual Vacancy, because she wrote the Potter books, which were both YA and a beyond-massive success. Which brings us to the three books, including the most recent, Career of Evil, of the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith. All are excellent detective stories and well worth reading. For me, when reading a series (this, Hunger Games, whatever) the test of each installment is: "Will I read the next one?" By this standard Rowling and Galbraith pass with flying colors. After Career of Evil, I can't wait for the next one. I enjoyed The Silkworm a wee bit more than this or The Cuckoo's Calling, but I know other readers enjoyed this one more. Career of Evil is darker and more bloody than the last book, but just as good in most every way. Strike is flailing about trying to keep his business and life together, but all is falling apart. We learn more about Robin's and Cormoran's back stories and their current story also. Very English, very London, A good read indeed. No real flaws, tho occasionally, not often, the writing is a little more slapdash than expected, but it's not a serious distraction and I'm sure Rowling was quite busy while writing this. And this criticism circles round to my first paragraph: we expect virtual perfection from her. A final footnote: is J.K. Rowling a massive Blue Oyster Cult ('70s/'80s American rock band -- look up "Don't Fear the Reaper" on YouTube) fan or what? Each chapter begins with a title or line from one of Blue Oyster Cult's songs, and their music has a place in the story as well. And really there's no point in talking any more about this book. If you enjoyed The Cuckoo's Calling and The Silkworm, you must read Career of Evil as well. Just gotta. [4 Stars]