Review of "Lethal White: A Cormoran Strike Novel" by Robert Galbraith

This is the 4th book in Robert Galbraith's (aka J.K. Rowling) series about grizzled private detective Cormoran Strike - a veteran of the war in Afghanistan who lost his leg during the hostilities, and his former secretary, now partner - pretty, strawberry blonde Robin Ellacott. The book can be read as a standalone.



*****

As the story opens Robin is marrying her peevish, self-absorbed fiancé Matthew Cunliffe and it's clear the union is off to a rocky start - especially because of the long-running (but barely acknowledged) romantic tension between Strike and Robin.



Meanwhile, Strike has become famous for solving a serial killer case, and the detective agency is experiencing an upsurge in work.

Skip ahead one year and Robin is unhappily married, Strike is in a casual (on his part) relationship with a woman named Lorelei, and the detective agency has a couple of additional employees.

The action starts when a mentally disturbed man called Billy Knight rushes into Strike's office and - ticcing furiously - claims that he once witnessed a crime. Billy says that - as a child - he saw a girl strangled and buried....but his brother told him to keep mum. When questioned by Strike Billy runs out and disappears, but the detective decides to start investigating anyway.



It turns out that Billy's brother is Jimmy Knight, a socialist rabble-rouser who's currently protesting against the 2012 London Olympics and government in general.



Ironically, Jimmy is actually in cahoots with a government bureaucrat named Geraint Winn, and the two of them are blackmailing Jasper Chiswell (pronounced Chizzle) - the Minister of Culture.....whose office is next to Winn's.

For his part, Jasper Chiswell hires Strike to derail the blackmail scheme by 'getting something' on Winn and locating incriminating photos. Chiswell doesn't explain his misdeed, but says it happened a long time ago and 'wasn't illegal' at the time.



Robin dons colored contacts to go undercover as Chiswell's intern, which gives her the opportunity to spy on Winn and bug his desk. Robin hopes to discover some serious wrongdoing on Winn's part.....which is almost inevitable since the man is in politics 😊.



While working for Chiswell Robin meets his daughter Isabella - a privileged young woman who's worried about her dad.....

.....and his son Raphael - a handsome lothario who's been in prison for a fatal car accident. Raphael tries to hit on Robin, which is awkward all around.



Robin also gets to meet the blackmailer Geraint Winn, a creepy lech whose eyes and hands tend to roam. Winn is married to the Minister for Sport Della Winn, a blind woman working on the Paralympic Games. Both Winns continue to mourn the suicide of their teenage daughter years ago - a sad event they can't let go.



While Robin is working undercover in Chiswell's office, Strike follows Jimmy Knight and attends his political rallies. The detective wants to uncover Jimmy's blackmail evidence AND locate his troubled brother Billy - who furtively called Strike and claimed he was being held prisoner.



Eventually a murder occurs, and Strike adds solving the crime to his to-do list, which includes several cases beside Chiswell - like nailing a doctor who consorts with underage girls.

As the story unfolds we read about bad teenage behavior; excessive drinking; bullying; greed; a diamond necklace; horses; paintings; cover-ups; and more. I didn't guess the solution to the crimes, so well done Robert Galbraith.

The book is very long, mostly because it meanders deeply into Robin and Strike's private lives. We read all about Robin's dissolving marriage to Matthew - who's as obnoxious and sulky as ever. We also learn about Strike's personal affairs, which include visits with his family and friends; a chance re-acquaintance with his former girlfriend Charlotte - who's married, pregnant, duplicitous, and vindictive; and his relationship with Lorelei - who's not so secretly trying to marry him. All this adds interest to the story (for me), and I really didn't mind the length.

I enjoyed the book and recommend it readers who like mysteries, especially fans of the 'Cormoran Strike' series.

FYI: "Strike" is now a British television series.



Rating: 3.5 stars