Is this the best Strike book ever?

[heathspeedwell]

I know they have all been good, but I've just finished the latest Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling) book and I really think it's the best one so far. Who agrees? (At this point I think we need to avoid any spoilers but surely we can say how much we have enjoyed every single second of it).

JKR did that interview with Megan Phelps-Roper who grew up in the Westboro Baptist Church last year. (The Witch Trials of JK Rowling, on Spotify.) I wonder whether she also interviewed Megan about her own experience of growing up in the church as part of her research for the Running Grave.

@MargotBamborough good thinking!

I didn't think of that, but now you say it, it makes perfect sense. No wonder JKR has been thinking about religious cults.

I think I will listen to the Witch Trials again in light of this latest book.

I'm a third of the way in and love it. I think they have all been brilliant and thought The Ink Black Heart was incredibly clever - I don't understand the negativity around it.

I’ve downloaded it today.

tomorrow will mostly be reading.

Oooh goody, this is my weekend reading.

Looking forward to it, I absolutely loved Troubled Blood, if it's as good, or better than that well a treat for sure.

I'm heartbroken to have finished it 🤣 it was sooooo good!

@Applecrumbleyum IBH must have been impossible on Audible. The side by side conversations they have online are a terrific representation of how online conversations can happen in real life, but really hard to render in a readable format. It's best in hard copy, okay on a Kindle, can't imagine it works as an audiobook. I have read it several times and the plot is great if you can get past the annoyance of occasionally having to read those conversations.

I absolutely LOVED running grave though, every word of it! YANBU OP 😁

I'm so jealous of all of you who haven't read it yet!!!

It is incredible. I’ve got about 6 hours left on audible. She’s such an outstanding writer. Agree ref the research - it’s meticulous. I also think I’ll have to listen/read to all the earlier ones again as I’ll so miss it when it’s finished. For those still reading there is a mega thread on the r/cormoranstrike subreddit where you can discuss by parts / chapters with no spoilers

@AllotmentTime that's exactly how I feel, I didn't want it to end even though of course there were a lot of nail-biting moments. I think tonight I'm going to re-read some of my favourite bits of this one then go back to the very first one again, knowing what we know now.

I’ve been reading and listening to lots of cult survivor media over the past year. I think NXIVM was an inspiration for the book, along with the more obvious FLDS. Obviously lots of cults use similar tactics but there were some little details, descriptions of people, and general vibes that felt very familiar from that. I recommend ‘the Vow’ and ‘a little bit culty’ podcast if anyone wants to immerse themselves in some real life cult stories. Some really horrific stuff, but very interesting and with wider application to understanding certain social dynamics.

I agree, so very good! I sped through it and now planning to listen to it at a slower pace.

Ooh nice thread. I’m about 2 hours in and was dreading it a bit after the last one on audible - I’d image the text version was a lot easier to gloss over but it was kind of painful to hear for 30 odd hours! My mind is already going to The Church of Scientology personally.

I really enjoyed Black Ink Heart, found it absolutely engrossing. So looking forward to the new one, thank you all for reminding to buy it now.

I’ve got about 70 pages to go and I’m glued, it’s absolutely brilliant. Loving some of the character development for minor characters too. The plot is a corker.

It’s outstanding, best one yet for me.

I voted YANBU and I haven't even bought it yet, let alone read it 😂 But I think each of the Strike novels has been even better than the previous one so I can well believe this. It's on my birthday wish list!

I'm just getting into listening to it and almost don't want to because I can feel how intense it's going to be! I care so much about the characters now after all the books and with JKR's brilliant writing. Or not exactly writing, since the attraction isn't the words, but the plots and characterization and the ways she explores complex ideas and feelings and social issues through them.

I actually really enjoyed Ink B H on audible because the narrator is so good.

I read it way too fast, really enjoyed it.

I started it (on audible) today, so far it is great, I’m about 2 hours in. I found IBH a hard listen, I think it would have been easier to read, but I’m so happy this book is so long as it will take me ages to finish. She is a genius.

Just finished it - absolutely loved it, just feeling a bit lost as what to read while waiting for the next one.

I have listened to all the Strike books on Audible (some several times) and actually really enjoyed IBH because of the brilliant narration. I ordered Running Grave a while back and the forgot about it ,so was so delighted when it automatically downloaded. Going to start listening tomorrow.

I love this series and very excited about the new book but I still can’t decide whether to buy the book or audiobook. Ive listened to a couple as audiobooks and they are great in that format and it means I can listen while I’m at work or driving etc but nothing beats the pleasure of having a really good book to look forward at the end of the day!

Also as an aside i listened to IBH on audible and found it fine once I got used to the format, still enjoyed it a lot!

I think it is ! Just literally finished it 5mins ago , and am so sad that'll be it for another year or so til the next book.
Great plot , didn't see all the twists and turns , and the best of endings ...

wait never mind! Ignore my post!