A Book Review: Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith (Cormoran Strike #3)

In Career of Evil, Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott return to the streets of London to catch a serial killer. Written by Robert Galbraith (J.K Rowling), Career of Evil is the 3^rd installment in a series of detective novels. This book, as well as its two predecessors, have attracted a massive readership, and they are being adapted by the BBC into a TV series. On Goodreads, Career of Evil has the highest rating out of all 3 books, but is it really that good? Personally, I prefer its predecessor to this book. But let me start this review with a synopsis for the book.

Synopsis:

It was a summer day and Robin was making her way to work. The courier stopped her at the door and handed her a parcel. A while later, a woman's scream broke the silence in the office. Cormoran came running to Robin's desk, only to find her, now pale-faced, staring at a parcel. Inside the parcel sat a grisly artifact – a freshly servered human leg!

Whose leg was it and who would do such a thing? The incident was most likely the precursor to a revenge plot, and Cormoran knew of four people from his past who were capable of such sadism. Now, Cormoran and Robin must solve this mystery before it ruins their professional and private lives.

My thoughts on this book:

The notable strength of this book is its characterizations. The author excelled at depicting the characters' emotions, thoughts, and how their pasts made the way they are today. This book also has plentiful of character developments. The story in this book was not just about catching a serial killer, but it was also about Strike and Robin's personal lives. Where the previous books focused on Cormoran, Career of Evil splitted the focus equally between Robin and Cormoran instead. Furthermore, the hidden romantic tension between Robin and Strike began to surface in this book. Personally, I like reading about Robin. However, I thought the romantic tension was cliched and formulaic; it is almost as if genre fictions just can't have a man and a woman working together without them developing romantic feelings for each other.

The plot in Career of Evil was quite good, but I didn't feel the mystery and suspense with this book as I did with The Silkworm. The story had twists and turns, but the case was easy to solve. This also means, I thought this book was convoluted. It felt like the book was going round after round for 500 pages to solve the puzzle while Cormoran really could have catch the killer at page 200. Having said this, I liked the parts of the book that explored Cormoran and Robin's personal lives; about how, being in demanding jobs such as private investigators placed tensions in their personal relationships. I have read a fair amount of detective novels, and I think Robert Galbraith is one of the best authors at writing characters.

Did I like this book? Yes I did. Aside from a few weaknesses I discussed above (i.e. a convoluted story, the cliched romance sub-plot, and the book felt too long), I thought Career of Evil was an enjoyable read. It took me a while to read this book because so many details in the story required my careful attentions. But it was worth it. Another note, this book also ended at a cliffhanger to make us wonder what will happen to Strike and Robin's business partnership (or, possible romantic relationship?). I heard Robert Galbraith is currently writing the 4^th book in the series which is due for some time in this year, I look forward to reading it.

A Book Review: Echo Burning by Lee Child (Jack Reacher #5)

Lee Child has sold more than 100 million books. All of them are about a man called Jack Reacher. This series is a phenomenal success. Why are these books attracting ten millions of readers? I think I know why.

I think most of us are decent people who want to do the right thing. Our instinct is to help those who are being treated unfairly or in trouble. Sometimes, however, due to the circumstances or our limited abilities, we cannot always help and do the right thing. And so in the daily life, we are a bit frustrated because of that instinct. Jack Reacher, on the other hand, is someone who can, and always, do the right thing. Jack Reacher books have a wide readership, because the stories satisfy our instinct to help people and do the right thing.

Indeed, justice, is the main theme in Jack Reacher novels. In the serie's fifth installment, Echo Burning, good old Jack is once again, dispensing sweet justice in an isolated Texan town.

Synopsis:

The sun was scorching the day when Jack Reacher walked on a country road in Texas. He had no destination. Jack raised a hand to hitchhike a ride but his chances are slim. After all, not only was he in a remote part of the country, but how many people would be out and driving in the fearsome heat? To Jack's astonishment, a white Cadillac pulled over. The door opened, and a beautiful woman invited Jack into the car.

Was fortune smiling on Jack? Inside the air conditioned car, the woman revealed her motives to Jack. Her name was Carmen. She had a little girl and they lived on a ranch in a county called Echo. Her husband was in jail but he would beat her dead when he came home. She pleaded for Jack's help.

Jack was not going to turn his back on this woman. Carmen drove Jack to her secluded ranch, where he discovered prejudice, corruptions, and murders were running rampant in the remote county. Echo, was burning. Jack, however, was determined to set things right...

My thoughts on this book:

Echo Burning is mostly a crime thriller. The book has some action sequences but the emphasis is on the suspense and the problem solvings. I always thought Jack Reacher embodies the characteristics of three iconic heroes; Sherlock Holmes, a wandering knight, and John Wayne. In this book, these characteristics of Jack became more evident; guided by his unwavering determination to see justice done, Jack solved the crime with his unparallelled intellectual and physical prowess. This story has a lot of twists, and it will please a fan of mystery books.

As for me, I especially liked the descriptions about Jack's thoughts, about how the cogs were turning in his head, not only during problem deductions, but also in desperate situations. For example, out of the two major action sequences in this book, one of them was a bar fight. It was brawl where Jack took on two assailants. The book described how Jack assessed the surroundings and quickly derived a strategy to take down his opponents. It was believable, it was something a person with special training could do in the same situation. Furthermore, the final deduction in this book was impressive and the ending was satisfying. It is on par with the works of Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle.

I also wish to make a note that Echo Burning, (or, Jack Reacher novels in general) is a fascinating combination of both western and noir. On the one hand, the story is rooted in the vein of western, about a wandering hero coming to a small American town to help the weak and dispensing justice. On the other hand, the story is also bearing the trademark of a noir; dark, with a slight moral ambiguity, and it is set in the modern day. The book is very atmospheric but it is also very easy to read. Lee Child wrote the book in his signature style, hardboiled and punchy. This book is a page turner, it is difficult to put this book down and it will make you forget your favorite TV series.

I highly recommend Echo Burning. This is a very good crime thriller, and it is a solid installment in the series. Every Jack Reacher novel tells a standalone story. This means, a new comer to the series can pick up any book and just start reading it. The crime/detective fictions may be a popular genre, but Jack Reacher books have this special flavor, western and noir, and I can't think of any other books quite like them. If you like crime and mystery books, then you owe it to yourself to read one of these Jack Reacher books.

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith (Cormoran Strike #2)

In the last month, my book club read a crime/mystery novel called The Silkworm. Written by one Robert Galbraith, The Silkworm told a story of a disabled English detective called Cormoran Strike.

Who is Robert Galbraith? Who is this author? It turned out, this author is one of the most famous authors of our time, and I am pretty sure a lot of people have read this author's books. You see, Robert Galbraith is in fact, J.K Rowling's pseudonym.

Ah, J.K Rowling, surely you have heard of her, yes? Indeed, a lot of people would have heard of J.K Rowling, the author of Harry Potter books. Hang on a minute, did I just say Rowling wrote crime/mystery novels using a male pseudonym? Yep, that is right. In fact, The Silkworm is the second book in a series of detective novels featuring Cormoran Strike. The first book in the series is called The Cuckoo's Calling. Meanwhile, here is another fact; Galbraith's (Rowling's) detective novels are quite successful and BBC has adapted these books into a TV series called Strike.

The question, is this book any good?

The short answer, I opine that The Silkworm is a very good book. The long answer? If you are interested, then feel free to read on as I expound my thoughts about this book.

Synopsis:

A middle aged woman, grey haired and slightly plump, walked from the snow ridden street into Comoran Strike's office. The lady introduced herself as the wife to Owen Quine, a novelist whose writing career has seen better days. Owen, it turned out, was missing, and she was hiring Strike to find him and bring him home.

It sounded as if Strike found an easy employment – find a missing man and bring him home. However, as Strike investigated the case, a realization dawned on him that this is more than just a missing person case. The mystery surrounding Owen's disappearance is entwined with a manuscript called Bombyx Mori, where it told a grotesque and macabre story in which Owen attacked everyone he knows with a venomous portrayal. While Strike was pondering on the significance of this bizarre manuscript, he made a haunting discovery in an abandoned house..

My thoughts on the book:

Admittedly, prior to my book club's introduction to The Silkworm, I was not aware of Rowling's endeavor in writing crime/mystery novels. Instead, my previous impression of Rowling was confined to her Harry Potter books. The Silkworm, however, made me realize Rowling's versatility as an author. She is just as good at writing crime novels as she is good at writing Young Adult books.

The Silkworm is not, however, an action-packed "thriller". While the story centred around a gruesome crime, but it doesn't have fight scenes nor the car chases typical in the many books in the genre. No, this book is not a thriller at all. One is bound to meet disappointments if he/she comes to this book expecting octane-driven actions such as the ones in Lee Child's Jack Reacher books. Yet, I like The Silkworm precisely for this reason; instead of explosive action scenes, this book treats its reader with well rounded characters and an intricate plot, one of suspense and tension.

Firstly, let's talk about the book's protagonists, Cormoran Strike, and his assistant, Robin. The book explored the emotions, on how their past history affect their characters in the present. The Silkworm has good character developments, and it is something that other books in the genre do rarely, if at all. The in-depth characterization made Strike and Robin impressionable and likable characters, and their relationship was interesting. Meanwhile, Galbraith/Rowling invested an equal amount of details into portraying her support characters, where she skillfully fused every character's background story with the book's central mystery. The book invites its reader to do some deductive works of their own to solve the mystery. Yet, this book is also packed with twists and turns to surprise you and throwing your expectations off the course. As a mystery novel, The Silkworm is a success and a fun read, and it also has an interesting theme about the book publishing world.

Due to its complex plotting, however, the Silkworm may feel convoluted at certain places. I had to re-read some paragraphs to remind myself of who was who, and who did what. However, this was a minor inconvenience and it did not hamper my enjoyment of the book. Furthermore, for those acquainted with the crime/thriller genre, this book may feel slow paced. This is because The Silkworm is character-driven instead of being action oriented. However, as I discussed earlier, I like The Silkworm precisely for its well-rounded character development. Make no mistake, The Silkworm does possess the "page turning" quality that made the books in this genre addictive reads. This book's suspense and the tension will compel you to keep reading until the very end.

After I read The Silkworm, curiosity drove me to watch the BBC TV series and comparing the two. Which one was better? The book or the TV adaptation? I think they are different mediums for telling a story, and so each one has its own merit. However, I do prefer the book. Perhaps my preference for the book is influenced by the fact that I read the novel prior to watching the BBC series. However, I thought the TV adaptation felt rushed and the narratives incoherent. Therefore, for those who have yet to experience the story of The Silkworm, I would recommend reading the book first. My bookclub did me a great service by introducing me to the world of Cormoran Strike, and from the local library I have already loaned the next book in this series. I recommend this book to my fellow readers who are fond of crime and mystery novels.

Until the next time, happy reading.

A Book Review: Deadhouse Landing by Ian C. Esslemont (Path to Ascendancy #2)

Deadhouse Landing, by Ian C. Esslemont, is the second book in the Path to Ascendancy trilogy. This is a prequel to Steven Erikson's acclaimed series, Malazan Book of the Fallen. The trilogy began with Dancer's Lament, where it explored the humble origins for Dancer and Shadowthrone (AKA Kellaved), both key characters in the Malazan series.

A few weeks ago I read Dancer's Lament. It was superb; excellent storytelling, good humors, and great characters. I was hooked by the story. I wanted more of it. Fortunately, Deadhouse Landing, the sequel, was already waiting for me on the bookshelf. With much eager I resumed Dancer's and Kellaved's misadventures. I read Deadhouse Landing in 3 days. It was just as good as its predecessor, if not better.

Synopsis:

Dancer and Kellaved, two comrade in arms, their ambitious plan went pear-shaped in Li Heng. The duo fled to a small island city called Malaz, where pirates and gangs controlled its streets. Soon, the island's environ rekindled Kellaved's old passion to take over the world. Between Dancer and Kellaved, the two partners hatched a scheme to take control of Malaz by subduing the other power factions on the island. To do so, they joined forces with a band of Napans who allegedly fled from their home land due to a civil war. Things were finally looking good for the duo and success was in their grasps. However, their plan went skew when Kellaved became fascinated with an alien and dangerous structure on the island known as Deadhouse.

My thoughts about the book:

Deadhouse Landing is a fast-paced book with great characters. In this book, Dancer and Kellaved were once again plotting to take over a city, and they do so with cloak and daggers. This time, they are going up against gangs and pirates. This book is like The Godfather set in the grimdark fantasy world. One can expect knife fights in the dark alleys, naval battles, shady deals and treacheries galore. The cast has increased in size since Dancer's Lament. Yet, Esslemont weaved every character's background story, seamlessly, into the main plot. The narratives in Deadhouse Landing were intricate and complex, but the main story was very easy to follow. Esslemont flashed out his characters well, even the smallest support character made an impression on me.

Dancer and Kellaved reamined the highlights of this book. I liked the portrayals, for how Kellaved's strange fascinations with Deadhouse, affected the dynamics in their friendships. I am very fond of this duo, whose ambitions often turned into misadventures that borderlined hilariarity. However, there are also moments when these two partners, one an assassin, the other a mage, flashed their true powers to remind me that they are dangerous individuals not to be trifled with. Aside from Dancer and Kellaved, the third character who arrested my interest was Dassem. I will not spoil Dassem's part in the story. Let me just say Dassem is the incarnation for awesomeness (especially at the ending).

Those who are initiated with the Malazan series will also identify many familiar faces in this book. I am unable to talk about every one of them because there are too many. Although a noteworthy mention here is the origin story for Empress Laseen. Deadhouse Landing showed us what she was like before she became the empress. Laseen's origin story was indeed fascinating. It will satisfy the veterans of the Malazan books.

The characterizations in this book are impressive, but Esslemont also deserves credit for the depictions of the fight and battle scenes. In this book, the action scenes are energetic and nail-biting. The fight scenes are not the main focus in the story, but it brought tension and suspense to the book, making it a very entertaining read.

I adore Deadhouse Landing as much as I adored Dancer's Lament. Between all the novels I read in 2017, these two books are my favorites in the epic fantasy category. My woe is the wait for the next book. The third book in this trilogy titled, Kellaved's Reach, does not yet have a release date. However, judging by the previous publishing history of one book per year (Dancer's Lament in 2016 and Deadhouse Landing in 2017), I am hoping at some time in 2018, the third book will be within the clutch of my grubby hands. Meanwhile, I highly recommend the Path to Ascendancy trilogy to those readers who enjoy the epic fantasy genre.