The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith (J.K.Rowling)

I've managed to finish reading the 2nd novel in J.K.Rowling's (written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith) Cormoran Strike series The Silkworm. There were times when I wasn't at all certain I would finish this book - to say nothing of finishing all seven books in the series.

I understand that in this day and time, writers of crime/mystery novels feel the need to write in a more graphic manner. However, the amount of violence and bizarre sexual activities in The Silkworm was a bit much for me. That's not to say that the sex and violence was gratuitous....it was a necessary element to the story, but these were elements I thought were a bit over the top. It remains to be seen if I'll return to the series.

A Question of Belief by Donna Leon

As I write this post,Donna Leon has published 33 books in her Commissario Guido Brunetti series. I've just finished reading #19 in the series - A Question of Belief. Leon published the first novel in the series, Death at La Fenice in 1992 at the age of 50. Leon will turn 82 in September (2024) and by publishing #33 - A Refiner's Fire earlier this year, Leon is maintaining a pace that many younger writers would envy.

Like many of her novels, A Question of Belief contains within it more than one story line. One of the two main stories in this book revolves around a charlatan who takes advantage of susceptible individuals with claims of knowledge of astrology, palm reading and other bits of occult "wisdom". The other story deals with the murder of a court clerk. Wikipedia describes the book this way:

Brunetti learns of a curious pattern at the courthouse: cases involving a certain judge and usher are repeatedly postponed in a way that benefits a certain lawyer. What's more, the usher is leasing an apartment from the lawyer at an extremely low rent — until he is murdered.

I'm not inclined to give spoilers; like in a good many of Leon's novels, this novel ends with us knowing the outcome, but that outcome isn't resolved in a matter normally found in traditional crime fiction. It leaves one with the feeling that justice isn't necessarily served well in the Italian legal system.

The Little Sparrow Murders by Seishi Yokomizo

 

Although Seishi Yokomizo had written more that 75 mystery novels and was famous in his native Japan for creating the fictional detective Kosuke Kindaichi, he is not as well known in the English speaking world. Only six of his mystery novels have been translated into English: The Honjin Murders,The Inugami Curse,The Village of Eight Graves, Death on Gokumon Island,The Devil's Flute Murders and the one I've just finished reading, The Little Sparrow Murders.

The mystery in The Little Sparrow Murders revolves around a Japanese folk tune - a children's tune - a Temari song - wherein the Little Sparrows are three young girls, murdered in line with the words of the song.

Like all the novels by Yokomizo, this one, written in 1957, is a top notch mystery. I was kept guessing until the very end.

Sadly, Seishi Yokomizo's novels aren't translated into English fast enough to suit me....a new one comes out about once a year. I haven't read when the next one is due to be released, but I suspect it will be in 2025.

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

Anyone familiar with this blog knows that I'm a huge fan of books dealing with time travel. Over the past few years I've written more than two dozen blog posts covering the subject with the actual number of time travel books read totaling more than that.

It was only natural that upon learning of The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley I'd download the book and put it into the queue.

I've mixed thoughts on the novel. Overall, the book has great potential, but I'm sorry to say that Ms. Bradley doesn't live up to the challenge.

Sadly, the book seems uneven. At certain points, the book hits home only to turn unexpectedly bland.

To make things worse, the book suffers from a bit of "wokeness". The folks from the past tend to be very often "politically incorrect" which doesn't sit well with the folks in the present. With the writer being a millennial, the wokeness isn't surprising.

In an online interview, the author describes the novel as a time travel/romance. I didn't particularly care for the romance.

The book isn't a total flop, but I don't really recommend it.