[Synopsis]

When a mysterious package is delivered to Robin Ellacott, she is horrified to discover that it contains a woman’s severed leg.
Her boss, private detective Cormoran Strike, is less surprised but no less alarmed. There are four people from his past who he thinks could be responsible – and Strike knows that any one of them is capable of sustained and unspeakable brutality.
With the police focusing on the one suspect Strike is increasingly sure is not the perpetrator, he and Robin take matters into their own hands, and delve into the dark and twisted worlds of the other three men. But as more horrendous acts occur, time is running out for the two of them…

[My Review]
Career of Evil is the third book in the Cormoran Strike series, which I have absolutely loved so far- see my review of the first two, The Cuckoo’s Calling and The Silkworm. So I was really excited to read this installment!
The characters in this series are so great, and they’re just as brilliant in this novel. I love Cormoran as a character, and Robin is such a strong, likeable female. Neither of them are perfect- and certainly in this novel I questioned both of their judgement in certain situations- but they seem real. I still believe that the characterisation in this series is one of its strongest points (along with the storyline too, though, obviously!)
The writing is witty, entertaining and intriguing, and as usual we are given clues as to who may be the real killer as the novel goes on- not that I had any idea, which is usually the case- but reading it as they unravelled it was, as always, really entertaining.
One thing to note is that I did find this novel a lot darker than the previous two; the subject matter, although centering around murder like the first novel, seemed much heavier and, at times, quite disturbing! I still hugely enjoyed it though, if enjoy is the right word… it actually had me thinking about it for days after, particularly when I was walking alone in a dark area or debating walking down a dark alley- something I haven’t even risked doing since, due to visions of the killer in this novel.
I enjoyed reading about Strike and Robin’s relationship  (or ‘non-relationship’ as it might be deemed!) Robin’s relationship with Matthew is tested and the ending left me wishing the next novel were out already so I could read on!
The storyline itself was perhaps a little less absorbing and not quite as full of twists and turns as the previous novels. I don’t know if it quite lived up to them, but I feel that’s more because the first two were such brilliant books. It would certainly be hard to top them! I’d certainly recommend this for fans of the series, and it’s got a storyline that doesn’t strictly require reading of the previous two- but I’d strongly advise you do so that you full understand the characters and their background.
[Rating: 4/5]
Have you read Career Of Evil or any of this series? If so what were your thoughts?