Career of Evil, by Robert Galbraith

Even darker and grimier than the first two, this third outing of private investigator Cormoran Strike sees his business and his partner’s life threatened by a vicious killer with a personal grudge. Strike identifies three potential perpetrators, including his stepfather and two ex army types he came up against in his previous career as a military police officer. All three are violent and sadistic psychopaths who have taken delight in making victims of vulnerable women. We find out more about the pasts of both Strike and Robin, learning what makes them tick as they reveal more of themselves to each other and become closer while undertaking this very personal investigation. The identity of the killer is cleverly concealed for most of the book – it could be any of them or none of them, with the reader kept guessing as the tension mounts. Galbraith’s grasp of fine detail adds layers of complexity to the plot, while the treatment of the relationship sub plots takes away some sympathy for both Robin and Strike. This is a difficult read at times, with its horrific level of violence against women.