Top critical review
2.0 out of 5 starsToo long, and shockingly, occasionally boring.
Reviewed in Australia on 8 November 2020
In preparation for reading this book decided to skim read Lethal White to catch up - big mistake. Ended up reading every word of that instalment and loving it (once again). So when I picked up the epically heavy Troubled Blood my expectations were way high.
Oh, Lord give me strength, by about the 700th page I was struggling. Boredom, shockingly had begun to settle in. All this twaddle about star signs, what a waste of my time and energy. All these little red herring paths the author made me travel down, only to get information that was, in effect, useless.
And all of Cormoran's woes. At first I was sympathetic, especially when it came to his Aunt, but he's a grown up, life has a tendency to pile crap on you, and as he began to act more and more like a tantrum throwing, sullen teenager I began to lose my patience and respect for him. Communicate man. Speak. And for pity sake stop taking your anger and moods out on Robin. And Robin, stop bloody taking his guff.
The Shifty storyline went on way too long. The whole book went on way too long. It should have had 400 pages cut from it easily making it a much more tight, gripping read. The past detectives and families. The serial killer and the prison visit. All twaddle.
The ending did come as a surprise - but it felt like the author had to wrench the storyline in rather a torturous manner to set the murderer up.
This was self-indulgent best selling author waffle at its very worst. Reminding me all too often of the out of control Laurell K Hamilton and her massive tomes with vast wastes of chapters.
Publishing company, Editor - please, for the readers' sake, rein your author in.
