Lethal White by Robert Galbraith

Lethal White by Robert Galbraith

Review of the novel Lethal White by Robert Galbraith

Published by Sphere

First Published: 18 September 2018

Dedication: To Di and Roger, and in memory of the lovely white Spike.

Cost: £8.99 (UK Paperback 2019)

ISBN: 978-0-7515-7287-2 (Paperback Edition - 774 pages)

This is the fourth Robert Galbraith novel, all have been very successful and enjoyed by fans of the author. This review will cover aspects of the story that will contain spoilers if you have not read the book or reviews on the story.

Lethal White is much longer than the previous books, however, the story and plot means the reader is given an in-depth insight into the murder investigation and the personal lives of the two detectives, throughout the story.

Lethal White describes a complex investigation taken on by Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott. The story picks up where the previous story ended, continuing the activities of the Private Detective agency. We discover that Robin has recently been made a partner in the firm and as a result is expected to take on more challenges that put her personal safety at risk.

However, the story begins with a Prologue. It’s Robin’s wedding reception following her marriage to her long-time boyfriend, Matthew.

He couldn’t remember when he had last been commissioned to photograph so handsome a couple. There was no need for tactful tricks with the new Mr and Mrs Matthew Cunliffe, no need to angle the lady so that rolls of back fat were hidden (she was, if anything, fractionally too slender, but that would photograph well). [.. . ] The only thing that needed concealing, and it could be retouched out of the final pictures, was the ugly scar running down the bride’s forearm: purple and livid, with the puncture marks of stitches still visible.

Things are not going well; with the photographer is trying to capture swans in the background of the bride and groom. The tension between Matthew and Robin get worse as the reception progresses and culminates in words of anger when Cormoran Strike eventually makes an appearance.

Chapter 1 takes up the story one year on from the wedding. Strike and Robin have shot to fame as a result of the capture of the Shackewell Ripper murder case, and although it brings some additional business to the detective agency, it’s a profile they could do without. Strike receives a call to return to his office where Billy Knight, a male with a history of mental illness, is terrorising his receptionist. As Strike interviews Billy, it seems that much of what Billy says is incoherent as he recalls the murder of a young girl. With the mention of the police, Billy storms off, leaving Strike with a curious belief in the murder story.

The plot that runs throughout the story has a number of aspects to it, but Strike begins to see a common link between them when Jasper Chiswell, Member of Parliament serving as the Minister for Culture, asks him to investigate a blackmail attempt on him. Robin is put to surveillance work in Chiswell’s office, at the House of Commons, where we are soon introduced to various members of the MP’s family; his under-appreciated daughter Isabella; his illegitimate son Raphael, and his young erratic wife Kinvara. Robin places a recording device in the office of the blackmailer and plays back the tape to Strike. The details of the recording provide further leads to investigate and expose further links to the Knight family, and the Chiswell family.

This is a complex story and alongside the investigation, the reader is exposed to the moments of anxiety and panic attacks that haunt Robin following the Shackewell Ripper murder case. We also discover more about the problems Strike has to cope with as a result of wearing a prosthetic leg. Added to this, Robin’s marriage goes through a tormenting time, to the extent that she leaves Matthew to live in a bedsit accommodation. Interwoven with the investigation, we also experience Strikes continuing girlfriend problems.

When Jasper Chiswell feels that the investigation work by Strike and Robin is getting nowhere, he calls them to his home to discuss terminating their contract. But when Strike is late for the appointment, Robin enters the house only to find Chiswell dead, ‘sitting in a Queen Anne chair, his legs splayed, his arms dangling, and he seemed to have a shiny grey turnip for a head’.

Keen to get paid for the lucrative job, Strike is fortunate that the family want to discover if Jasper’s death was suicide or a murder.

Finally, the investigations come to a close and the information Strike has given to the police, results in an arrest and a confession from Jason’s wife, Kinvara. But there is a twist at the end. When Robin receives a number of text messages, she agrees to meet up with the person sending them, only to realise too late, that it is a trap. With her kidnapper holding a gun to her head Robin tries to stall for time while she thinks of a way to escape. In response to questions, Robin goes through the investigation conclusions, a telling that covers twenty pages. As she nears the final solution, she can hear a police siren and sees blue flashing lights out of a nearby window, which is obscured from her kidnapper.

With a great splintering of wood, the door crashed open. [The kidnapper] spun around, pointing the gun at the large figure that had just fallen inside. Robin launched herself over the table to grab his arm, but [was] knocked backwards with an elbow and she felt blood spurt as her lip split.

[The kidnapper] stood up, stooped in the cramped space, the barrel of the gun in his mouth. Strike, who had shouldered in the door, stood panting feet away from him, and behind Strike was [a police officer].

Then there was a small, metallic click.

Although the case is solved, Strike feels there is one further aspect that needs to be resolved. He meets up with Billy Knight and reveals what the young boy actually saw on the night that has tormented him for years.

Galbraith weaves a captivating story, which includes the text messages on mobile phones belonging to various characters. The story is extremely well written and in places, it was difficult to put down, but 774 pages take a while to read to the conclusion, but it’s a real page-turner. Perhaps this is the best Strike Cormorant story so far – they keep getting better. It’s fluently written and the story is convincing and a great murder mystery. Rating 5 stars.

Dr Sheppard

15 May 2019