When visiting family in St Mawes, Cormoran Strike is approached by a woman hoping to hire him to help find her mother, Margot Bamborough, who went missing 40-years ago in 1974. Having never tackled a cold case before, and with limited chance of success, Strike is still intrigued and adds it to the long list the agency is already struggling to manage.
Whilst partner Robin, is busy juggling many hours of surveillance for the agency along with a messy divorce and unwanted male advances, she can’t help but draw on personal experiences to aid the investigation of Dr Bamborough’s disappearance.
As the detectives come up against possibly the most complex case they have ever faced, filled with leads from the mind of a mentally ill man obsessed with the zodiac and witnesses that are impossible to trust, they begin to learn that even cases that are decades old can still prove deadly…
After 2 long years, I was extremely excited to get my hands on the fifth instalment of this series, which I had pre-ordered months in advance. Not just for the promise of another intriguing and well thought out case, but also to catch up with the two detectives that are fast becoming mine, and many’s, favourites.
This is quite a book, and considerably longer than it’s predecessors which some people could find off-putting. However, if you loved the first four books you will undoubtedly love this one too. It is filled with the character development, intriguing mystery and wonderfully descriptive prose that has earned this author his (her) high status as a much loved writer and creator of worlds.
As someone who reads a lot of titles in this genre, I am usually correctly suspicious of a character from early on, previous works in this series included. However, this story kept me guessing until the very end. There were so many red herrings that were all completely plausible the whole way through, and I loved the fact I was thrown off course over and over again.
Case aside, it was great to continue following the ever evolving relationship between Strike and Robin. I’m still undecided on the outcome I want for these two but in the meantime I’m enjoying watching it play out. Of course, many of the characters from previous books returned and it was brilliant to be back amongst familiar faces like Polworth, Barclay and even Charlotte Ross. Book five also see’s the introduction of some new characters such as Pat, the new administrator for the agency, who I hope will continue to provide more comedy gold throughout the instalments to come.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I knew I would, and eagerly anticipate book six. I just hope it will be a shorter wait this time.
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