Lethal White, by Robert Galbraith

The events of this latest novel of private investigator Cormoran Strike and his partner Robin take place a year after the last one. But there is a preamble that follows on directly after the previous novel, which explains the fraught nature of their personal and professional relationship. Set against the backdrop of the London Olympics, Strike’s latest investigation is kicked off by an encounter with a young man who has serious mental health issues. A parallel investigation reveals that Billy's story intersects with political intrigue, blackmail and privilege. As in the previous books the geography of London is almost a character in itself and the there is such an interesting take on modern life in the UK, with its class divisions and historically entrenched attitudes. Lethal White is a tome of more than 600 pages, but nevertheless is an easy read. It helps that sidekick Robin is not brutalised – at least not physically as she was in the first three instalments. The ending is a bit of a letdown, swamped in unlikely exposition and the obligatory threat to Robin’s life, which is a pity after a long, well-constructed lead-up.