Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith

Another great crime caper in the Cormoran Strike series by story-teller extraordinaire, JK Rowling.

When a severed limb is sent to the now-famous detective’s office, care of his long suffering colleague Robin, the duo set to tracking down the sender – not to mention the owner of the leg. Strike has narrowed down the list of suspects to three likely culprits but he and Robin must work through the clues quickly to catch the offender before any further crimes are committed.

Whereas The Cuckoo’s Calling was a classic whodunit which skirted around the gore and violence of the actual murder, and The Silkworm gave us the feeling that Rowling was flexing her thriller-writing muscles, and having a lot of fun with her grisly narrative, Career of Evil takes the depictions of crimes to another level.

Focusing on three sinister characters from Strike’s past, the book covers seriously unpleasant themes such as domestic violence, drug addiction, torture and child abuse, making it faintly reminiscent of Rowling’s first adult title, The Casual Vacancy. The identity of the killer is a surprise (although not necessarily in the way you might expect) with plenty of obligatory red herrings thrown into the mix.

Whilst I very much enjoyed the journey, what has stayed with me from this book is the development of the relationship between the two protagonists, Strike and Robin. I was left feeling a bit like a child watching her parents kiss – a bit uncomfortable and not sure I liked it! It’s not that I worry Strike and Robin’s eventual embrace might affect the dynamic of the story (which it undoubtedly would), it’s more that the two just aren’t believable as a couple. Forcing two such incompatible characters together would smack of predictability and a lack of imagination, and would bother me enough to prevent me reading another installment.

However, if Rowling resists the urge, this series has the potential to become a modern-day classic and, like Harry Potter before it, one that I will enjoy reading again and again.

Posted by RJB

Catalogue Link: Career of Evil

Harry Potter: Revisited

I am not ashamed to admit it, I am 25 and I LOVE Harry Potter.

Over the years, admittedly more in recent years, many people have given me the side eye when I proclaim my love for all things Potter. Some have even gone as far as telling me that they feel sorry for me! An adult who liked to read kids’ books?

Sorry for ME? Here are the reasons why I don't feel sorry for me.

Harry Potter has been my constant companion since the Christmas my brother and I received The Philosopher's Stone and Chamber of Secrets. I believe I was 8. What started as a bed time read-aloud quickly became an all-out war over who would be allowed to read the next chapter first, once lights were meant to be out, of course. That year also brought my first Harry Potter party. It wouldn't be my last!

Over the years I have visited Hogwarts, the Burrow, Hogsmead and Diagon Alley enough that I know them like the back of my hand. I know Ron and Hermione well enough to know that we would be great friends (I always felt that a fourth friend named Kristen was needed). I know that if I had received my owl inviting me to attend Hogwarts I would be in Ravenclaw… but we all know how unreliable owl post is these days.

I remember the summer at the end of high school where my best friend and I had a race to see who could read the whole series the fastest, back to front, because what better way is there? The online Harry Potter quizzes we would take, just to make sure there was nothing we didn’t know.

Don’t even get me started on the madhouse our house became when a new Harry Potter book was released! Mum had to buy AT LEAST two copies to help meet the household demand. Over the next few days there would be a house full of tired, grump kids (and adults) who were all too afraid to shower, use the bathroom or go to sleep because the minute they put the book down it would be snapped up by other family members who were circling like wolves. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was the first book that kept me up all night, there was no way I was letting it out of my sight until it was finished!

As I sit here listening to my Harry Potter audiobook, colouring in my Harry Potter colouring book reminiscing over my recent 25th birthday (Harry Potter themed of course) I feel very lucky. At a young age I discovered a series of books that hooked me. I discovered a series of books that grew as I did. I discovered early on that any book can be enjoyed by anyone of any age and that there is nothing wrong with that.

Kristen's top junior fiction picks - December

Looking for a new series from the junior fiction series? Look no further than Kristen’s December picks!

Mapmaker chronicles by E.L Tait (suitable for ages 10+)

 The King of Verdania has heard rumour that a neighbouring kingdom is in possession of a map that suggests that the world is not flat. Such knowledge brings power and Verdania will not be left behind. He declares that the explorer that brings him the most comprehensive map within a year will win whatever their heart desires. 3 men step forward. 10 young men from throughout Verdania will be trained, and paid dearly, to become mapmakers but only 3 will be picked to join the explorers on their expeditions.

Although Quinn, 14, is the youngest of five farmers sons his mother has taught him how to read and write, a skill that normally only those of noble upbringing experience. He is more than happy to stay in with small world he knows but predictably he is picked as one of the 10 young men who are to be trained. Follow Quinn as he sets sail. The things he sees make him question everything he has ever known.

I could not put this series down- I read the first two over a weekend and then blabbed to anyone that would listen about how great it was! A great introduction to fantasy but at the heart of it is a story about a boy growing up.


Harry Potter Series by J.K Rowling

Harry Potter lives in a cupboard under the stairs and has spent his life at the beck and call of his Uncle and Aunty (who are perfectly normal, thank you very much!) and rotten cousin Dudley until a mysterious letter arrives. His Uncle and Aunty try to do whatever they can to stop Harry receiving the letter and before long hundreds if not thousands are arriving daily, all by owl!

Who would have guessed that Harry Potter was the most famous Wizard that the world (well wizarding world) had ever known? Harry Potter is the Boy Who Lived!

Follow Harry as he attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He must learn all he can about the wizarding world, along with making friends, navigating school and saving humanity from He Who Shall Not Be Named.

These have been my favourite books since I was 7 years old (best Christmas present ever, Mum!) and I want everyone else to love them as much as I do.


Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket (suitable for ages 9+)

Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire are bundled off the live with their distant uncle, Count Olaf, after the mysterious death of their parents in a fire. Upon arrival, they are dismayed to discover that Olaf has no interest in them whatsoever and seems to go out of his way to make their stay as unpleasant as possible. The only thing that Olaf does seem interested in is their rather large inheritance.

Violet is a hugely talented inventor, Klaus is an avid reader and remembers everything and Sunny is great at biting things. With no one to help them, they must help themselves.

Throughout the series, the Baudelaires meet more distant relatives than they thought possible and find out more about their parents mysterious death all the while avoiding Olaf at every turn.

This is a great read aloud series, written in a unique style. Snicket makes the reader very aware that they are reading a story and he will often break the forth wall to give the reader more information.


The “Just” series by Andy Griffiths

If you have a reluctant reader, or someone that enjoys captain underpants, Diary of a Wimpy Kid or just plain gross stuff, this is the series for you!

Andy has a wide collection of books made up of short stories based on events from his childhood. If you can think of an awkward situation, Andy has experienced it AND written about it!

My favourite story revolves around Andy’s massive desire for a bath with is hampered by the fact that their house only has a shower. Throw in industrial grade super glue, a flushing toilet, boiling hot, then freezing cold water a broken shower head and your Dad’s boss coming over for an important dinner and you have comedy gold.

Andy has been a favourite of mine since my little brother received a copy almost 15 years ago!