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The Ink Black Heart

Cormoran Strike, Book 6

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About this listen

 ***NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES***

THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, JULY 2023

'A superlative piece of crime fiction' SUNDAY TIMES
'There can be no denying [Galbraith's] considerable talents as a crime writer' GUARDIAN
'Fans will be as entranced as ever' DAILY MAIL

When frantic, dishevelled Edie Ledwell appears in the office begging to speak to her, private detective Robin Ellacott doesn't know quite what to make of the situation. The co-creator of a popular cartoon, The Ink Black Heart, Edie is being persecuted by a mysterious online figure who goes by the pseudonym of Anomie. Edie is desperate to uncover Anomie's true identity.

Robin decides that the agency can't help with this - and thinks nothing more of it until a few days later, when she reads the shocking news that Edie has been tasered and then murdered in Highgate Cemetery, the location of The Ink Black Heart.

Robin and her business partner Cormoran Strike become drawn into the quest to uncover Anomie's true identity. But with a complex web of online aliases, business interests and family conflicts to navigate, Strike and Robin find themselves embroiled in a case that stretches their powers of deduction to the limits - and which threatens them in new and horrifying ways . . .

A gripping, fiendishly clever mystery, The Ink Black Heart is a true tour-de-force.©2022 J.K. Rowling (P)2022 Hachette Audio UK Action & Adventure Crime Thrillers Detective Fiction Mystery Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Private Investigators Thriller & Suspense Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Thriller Crime Suspense Business
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Most relevant
I can understand the complaints and frustrations of the other reviewers regarding the long passages of chat room dialog. It is hard to listen to and for this reason, I think that overall, this is a book that is probably better read than listened to.

On the plus side, the narration by Robert Glenister is fantastic as always. And regarding the subject matter, I think it’s an important topic and it’s good to see it addressed in this way.

Without a doubt, over the past few years we have all become aware of the dark side and toxic nature of social media platforms. Anonymity used as a shield to hide behind and lob insults and bullying at anyone whose opinion isn’t shared.

JK Rowling is a fantastic, imaginative writer, not afraid to speak her mind and the Strike series, so far, has been brilliant. I’m going to listen to the end and then I’m going to go out, buy the book and read that from start to finish.

Pros and Cons

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Have just completed this epic listen on audiobook, and having read some of the reviews of paper book and kindle readers, I think this might be the only one of the Strike novels that should be listened to rather than read..

Glenister's narration of the book is superb, his best performance of Galbraith's work to date, and his talented rendition made the online interaction portion of the story come to life.

A Hefty listen, but well worth it.

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I was looking forward to this book so much and couldn't wait to download it ...
Robert glenister is fantastic .. he does a wonderful job
I did have to keep going through the early Twitter/chat room messages back and forth but stuck with it and after a while it didn't bother me .. it's how the world seems to be now.
It showed how so many hide behind a keyboard and how vulnerable people really are in the social media of today.
I look forward to the next book ☺️

updated review

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While I can understand the points made in some of the negative reviews about social media talk... It was a necessary component of the narrative. If you have never seen or experienced this virtual world and come across 'fandom' types, it must be seem bonkers... It is bonkers. That is the point. I don't think the storyline would have worked without it.

As usual JKR is a consummate reader of people in all their complexity and motivation.
Despite this being sharp social commentary about the dark side of social media, characters are rounded and believable. There are no crude cartoon villains, stereotypes and tropes, despite the ignorant noise and deliberate bad faith from the usual suspects. Even the worst have their stories unfold with the reader able to make sense of and sympathise with their experiences and perspectives. This I think is the hallmark of great storyteller.

The Strike and Robin relationship moves on in a satisfying direction.. Again, it has an authenticity that sustains it over a long read, in a series of long reads. (or listens in this case).
I appreciate the supporting cast of reoccurring characters. There is no skimping on the consideration given to their parts and overall impact. My favourite being the scene stealing Pat, the office manager.

The narration is top class. Truly.

Now for the long wait to find out what happens next🙄

Love this series

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Well worth the wait.
Great narration.
Kept me interested and guessing all the way through.

Didn’t disappoint

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