Who's got their copy of Robert Galbraith's (JKR) latest?

[ParmaVioletTea]

Just picked mine up from my local bookshop. And my local Waterstone's had a whole window full of the book, with a special half-price offer.

I have started reading it; slipping into another story of characters who feel like old friends.

(Heretical opinion: I think Ms Rowling is a better writer in the Strike series than Harry Potter, but she still needs an editor.)

I started it on Audible but my new job is exhausting and I kept dozing off, then having to rewind. Over the weekend I bought the book and started at Chapter 22 (for the third time). I got further in, but am still struggling with fatigue and lack of time. It's killing me not getting far with it! With The Running Grave, I read it in just two sittings; rarely been so gripped and terrified by a narrative, I was a bag of nerves at work waiting to finish it.

I'm very invested in the plot and loved Glenister's vocal characterisations. However, I am extremely time-poor at the moment and the suspense is killing me. Rarely have I been this tempted to fake an injury so that I can lie in bed and get on with a book.

My wife has just finished it last night, had it pre-ordered as usual

I liked IBH because it was a good story well told, and because there was the underlying Strike/Robin narrative, but the self-obsessed internet dwellers were all such bloody awful people (and I think we can all guess where the idea came from!) that I would have been happy for them all to have been murdered by the end

I also found the 'chat' very hard to read, plus it was hard to keep up with who was who online and in real life, and how the two worlds crossed over...

I love this series. DH keeps catching me reading about cults, fetishes, bodies and porn ahahahahhaaha!

He was reading over my shoulder at the bit where Matthew was reading over Robin’s shoulder when she googled stump fetishes 🤣

I’ve finished it and feel bereft. It will be so long until the next one 😢

I am really enjoying it. I'm listening to it which is saving me to flick to the end to find out what happens with Robin and Strike which I would definitely do if I had a paper copy!!

It was my favourite one so far. I never wanted it to end. I'm seriously considering re-reading them all from the start now just to get over my sense of loss that it's going to be at least a year before the next one.

I haven't finished the book yet, but I did smile at the Tunnocks teacake mention Although, it was shocking that the man (not Strike) ate half of it then put it down!! Who does that?!

I’ve just bought this in Waterstones, got a free scowl from the young gender non conforming woman on the till too 😀

Just finished. I need to read it twice, the second time with a notebook so I can get all the characters. JKR knows how to write a good story.

😁

Just finished it. Loved it. Spotted the MN Easter Egg. It’s such a rich world with characters you can believe are real people, although I do now see them in my mind’s eye as the actors in the TV show. The casting of that is pretty perfect, apart from Barclay, who I’ve always thought of as older and more Scottish, like Mark Bonnar. Off to the other thread to discuss spoilery things.

I have just started it on Audible. I am beyond happy, it has been such a long wait.

I like all the extra bits and characters.

With so many books I can work out the whole done it by the superfluous character. But JKR weaves in so many I've never worked it out fully.

I also like the more mundane bits of the agency that show it isn't all the big cases and introduces the humour.

My favourite line from this one is "you'd think I'd fucking eaten it" in regard to the fish (also love Pat)

Straight in at number one in the Sunday Times bestsellers.

The Sunday Times Bestsellers List — the latest UK book charts

www.thetimes.com/article/c5ffe854-28da-40b8-92d8-dc2e07dc679f?shareToken=65416b8ecfe501bdf1d005bdfe581db3

Bloody pleased for her, it's a poke in the eye to all those who try to cancel her!

I also like the extra characters and the business of the agency but sometimes she goes on just a bit too long - I found this in The Running Grave more than the earlier ones, felt a bit hammered, I suppose.

Writing down the characters is a good idea. I have ADHD and skim read and forget who is who. This one is more humorous with Strike’s comments.

Mine arrived yesterday and I read him driving into Kent straight away, then the next chapter at three to make the insomnia pass unnoticed. Is this really Temple Ewell, I thought, and decided it was just the name, to be as far from Cornwall as possible while sounding interesting.

That shocked me too! I was wondering if there was a deeper meaning in it. Maybe JKR doesn't actually like eating them😂

Have to say I burst out laughing when I saw that mention. I thought the "gift" as mentioned earlier would be less subtle. JKR has a wicked sense of humour. I love the Stick Man reference and the little girl's reply too.

Aw, I missed this opportunity having bought the e-version. I would hope I would get a really big (and confused) scowl being gender non-conforming myself.

Enjoying the book immensely. Reading extra slow because... well, how long to wait till the next one?!

Btw does anyone think both Strike and Robin's taste in the opposite sex is just awful (apart from Strike and Robin obv)??

I was watching Endeavour on Sunday and found myself thinking "now, he'd be a nicer chap for Robin" The whole time difference wouldn't work, though.🤔 Also, it's not real, so there's that.
Strike is not a good match for her, although I can see the appeal.

I am now feeling a bit unhappy about Robin. It's like Dorothy Dunnett doing horrible things to Francis Crawford. Cormoran's amputation is before bookworld, which somehow feels different.

I think putting a Tunnock’s Teacake down and forgetting it is perfectly reasonable. It’s not like it was a Caramel Wafer.

Or a jaffa cake.