Ron K. (WhidbeyIslander) - , reviewed on 11/3/2018 + 715 more book reviews

We Used To Have Such Good Times Together -- The Everly Brothers, "So Sad"

I enjoyed the first two Strike books, but found myself wishing this one would end sooner. Book two's chapters were headed with obscure quotations from obscure (at least to me) books. This one had chapters headed by quotes from songs by Blue Oyster Cult - also obscure to me (like many, I suspect "Don't Fear the Reaper" is the only song of theirs to come to mind.) My favorite mystery book (Rim of the Pit by Hake Talbot) had such quotations at the head of each chapter, but they were germane to the chapter's content - although some were probably fabricated for effect.

The chapters narrated by the mysterious killer stalking Robin quickly grew tedious, took you out of the main story line, and were skimmed by me after a while. The evolving relationship between Strike and Robin kept my interest, but his obsession with his former antagonists almost grew tiresome. I would have preferred a more straightforward plot where the two main characters concentrated on solving the mystery, not chasing all over Britain looking for possible culprits who had a hateful grudge about Strike.

The ending wrapped things up (sort of, left a few things up in the air), and I suppose the next book in the series will fill in "what happened next" adequately, since this one sort of left you hanging.

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