Anshuman Appanna

I love this series, but this book was a real struggle. The plot felt boring, convoluted, and more like a vehicle for the unresolved Strike–Robin dynamic than a gripping mystery. Unlike earlier installments, the new characters lacked depth, and keeping track of them required notes. Strike comes across as self-serving, having simply replaced his obsession with Charlotte with Robin. What’s worse, it feels as though J.K. Rowling herself no longer likes him—his loyalty, resourcefulness, and decency are diminished. Robin, meanwhile, is stuck in repetitive relationship angst, with little of the warmth or humor that once defined her. Their interactions feel heavy and even unhealthy, making me question whether they should end up together at all.I did like the Strike Rokeby scene - towards the end it did show some progress made .. but again that was just one of the few spots Despite this disappointment, I’ll still read the next book—I’ve invested too much in these characters—but this one was a letdown.