Goodreads Summary:
Private investigator Cormoran Strike returns in a new mystery from Robert Galbraith, author of the #1 international bestseller The Cuckoo's Calling.
When novelist Owen Quine goes missing, his wife calls in private detective Cormoran Strike. At first, Mrs. Quine just thinks her husband has gone off by himself for a few days—as he has done before—and she wants Strike to find him and bring him home.
But as Strike investigates, it becomes clear that there is more to Quine's disappearance than his wife realizes. The novelist has just completed a manuscript featuring poisonous pen-portraits of almost everyone he knows. If the novel were to be published, it would ruin lives—meaning that there are a lot of people who might want him silenced.
When Quine is found brutally murdered under bizarre circumstances, it becomes a race against time to understand the motivation of a ruthless killer, a killer unlike any Strike has encountered before...
My Thoughts:
Often I am let down by the second book in a series. In this case I was definitely not let down much to my delight. I really enjoyed this read. I am not generally a huge fan of mystery but in the case of Robert Galbraith I am becoming a real fan. This is independent of my love of JK Rowling, who is actually Robert. Do not read this hoping for wizards.
The Silkworm picks up shortly after the first book so this book didn't have the tedious introductions to characters as the last. However, this book did give us a better view of Strike and Robin, our two detectives. I like the balance between the current mystery and the lives of Strike and Robin. We get to know everyone without the feel of being rushed through a story.
I will say that I didn't see who the killer was until it was revealed in the book. I was pleased I had guessed incorrectly. This book definitely improves on the first book and leaves me wanting the third. I would (and recently have) recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good read. This holds true to even non fans of mystery.
While writing this review I was watching Castle.
