"The Ink Black Heart" by Robert Galbraith

Publisher: Mulholland Books
ISBN: 9780316413039
Copyright: 2022

This novel is the sixth book in the Cormoran Strike detective series by Robert Galbraith, and once again the author provides the reader with a well crafted story that keeps you glued to the page throughout the entire novel, all 1012 pages.

The Cormoran Strike series is one in which the characters develop over time, and it therefore necessitates being read in the correct order (primarily to avoid confusion regarding the underlying plots). In this instalment, the duo of Strike & Ellacot are on the trail of a what at first seems to be a random act of violence against the developer of an animated show, but this soon turns out to only be the beginning.

The plot is intricately woven, and character-driven which lends authenticity to the events portrayed. The real world details of London where this story is primarily set (as are the others) adds to the story even more. Both the lead characters have their flaws, but this makes them seem so real that you'd almost expect to see them doing their jobs if you visited London.

A fantastic mystery, that is the work of a master storyteller.

"Troubled Blood" by Robert Galbraith

 

Publisher: Little, Brown & Company

Copyright: 2020

ISBN: 9780316498937

This is the fifth book in the Cormoran Strike series, and they keep getting better each time. It is very easy to get carried away reading this book, and allow the time to pass until you almost miss your bus stop, or realise it's getting pretty late and you'd better get some sleep before work in the morning.

Galbraith's characters are so well  conceived that they just jump right off the page. In addition the plotting is very intricate, but in such a way that if you want to try and figure out the puzzle before the detective you'll definitely have to pay attention.

The story itself revolves around a cold case from forty years earlier, and a young lady who wants to find out what really happened to her mother, a doctor, when she disappeared after leaving the clinic she worked at on a rainy night. This story also treats us to the developing relationship between Cormoran Strike & Robin Eldacott who are partners in the detective firm, along with the various other who work with them.

Excellent story. But for best enjoyment read the series in order, as the characters do change over the course of the novels. Looking forward to the next instalment.

"A Member of the Family" by Nick Vasile

Publisher:Tom Doherty Associates 1993
Edition:First Tor edition.
Copyright Date:©1993
ISBN: 0312853491
Characteristics: 320 pages

This book is a fascinating look (albeit fictional) at the world of the Mafia. I found it to be well researched, and the characters very believable. In some instances it might be compared to "The Godfather" by Mario Puzo, however I believe it is superior to that work in that it tells a concise story rather than telling you the history of a family. This is not to put down Mr. Puzo's work which was also very good, but which is also very long.

Mr. Vasile is a Washington D.C. undercover police officer and New York City private eye and used his experiences in the telling of this story. This same background was also been given to the lead character Paul Dante.

The story revolves around Dante who is hired by the Washington D. C. Mafia to locate a missing person, the newly married son-in-law of the Benedetti Family's underboss Santo Benedetti, and brother to the godfather.

There are a lot of twists and turns in this novel which I believe is why I enjoyed it so much as the author gets you thinking about why things happen the way they do, and then as many good authors do he'll throw you a curve that you never expected.

The only bad thing I can say about this book, is that it seems to be the only one that Mr. Vasile has written, which is a shame as I would love read more of his work.

High recommended.