Book Review: Career of Evil
After having read The Cuckoo's Calling and The Silkworm, I was really excited for J. K. Rowling's Career of Evil (In case you are blissfully unaware, Robert Galbraith is just a pseudonym), the third novel in the series featuring investigator duo Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott. But imagine my dismay as I turned over the last page and realised that Career of Evil is not just plain bad, but qualifies as one of the worst mysteries ever written! Nor have I felt this cheated and exasperated, which is extremely disappointing considering her previous two outings.
Things start off quite interestingly though when a severed leg is delivered to Strike's office, much to the revulsion of his partner-cum-secretary Robin, who cannot but shrink back in horror at the very thought of having received the package in person, let alone fathom who could have committed so grisly an act. But Strike figures it all out in a flash. He matter-of-fact says it has got to be one of the four people from his past, men he hasn't seen in decades. Listen, this is London we are talking about, alright? Not any isolated village. That Strike chose to fixate only on these four misogynistic men in the entire city makes it evident that Rowling intended to give the mystery a "personal" angle, thereby letting her explore backstories and cover new ground.
Which is like inviting disaster to your doorstep, because it's tricky and a tough act to pull off. I understand this is inevitable when you are writing a series (look what happened to Jack Reacher), but shouldn't the author at least remember she is supposed to be telling a story in the first place, which means having a memorable plot filled with decent-to-well-etched characters, one that moves at a pace, while not exactly gravity-defying, isn't lethargic to begin with. Career of Evil misses out on all counts, and the final big reveal is so unexciting and limp, I might as well have read it in some foreign language. For a series that's chiefly a vehicle to explore the blow hot, blow cold relationship between Strike and Robin, there are unmistakable signs that it's beginning to get repetitive, tedious and dull.
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| Career of Evil |
Which is like inviting disaster to your doorstep, because it's tricky and a tough act to pull off. I understand this is inevitable when you are writing a series (look what happened to Jack Reacher), but shouldn't the author at least remember she is supposed to be telling a story in the first place, which means having a memorable plot filled with decent-to-well-etched characters, one that moves at a pace, while not exactly gravity-defying, isn't lethargic to begin with. Career of Evil misses out on all counts, and the final big reveal is so unexciting and limp, I might as well have read it in some foreign language. For a series that's chiefly a vehicle to explore the blow hot, blow cold relationship between Strike and Robin, there are unmistakable signs that it's beginning to get repetitive, tedious and dull.
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