The Ink Black Heart

By: Robert Galbraith

Narrated by: Robert Glenister

Length: 32 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

The latest installment in the highly acclaimed, internationally bestselling Strike series finds Cormoran and Robin ensnared in another winding, wicked case.

When frantic, disheveled 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 cocreator 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 Robert Galbraith (P)2022 Mulholland Books

I love it

I have read all the reviews about the online chat dialogue ... I do understand the criticism, but think the chat is well done and it's contemporary isn't it? It's the world we live in now. In so much of the recently published novels, the fact of our collective online presence is usually just skimmed over. Authors write as if people are barely online at all. They give characters cell phones and email but they basically carry on like it's 1990. So, I think JKR has been really innovative to give this "new" form of evidence and plot development.

Since this is an audio book, Mr. Glenister having to read the names of each participant in the chat seems initially repetitive but it's like so much about audio book listening, like an accent or a voice, you get used to it.

And then ... there is Strike and Robin and the newer Pat (who I love) and it's all there and there is the pitch perfect reading by Mr. Glenister. You slip into the world of Cormoran and Robin.

I am aware of the online battle JKR is bravely engaging in. She can't possibly completely separate the very public cruelty she is experiencing from her writing... write what you know, correct? And novels may be made up, but you draw from your experience to guide the people, places and things in your narrative.

Loved this one. Makes me re-listen it's predecessors. Love Robert Galbraith. Love Strike. Love Robin. Love this series.

Performance of chats good

I disagree with other reviewers about the reading of the online material - to me, it brings the chats to life and I don't need to see the printed material. I'm just part way through, but really enjoying so far.

awesome

Just such an awesome read/listen. Thanks to all involved.
Good series and characters... seems like I could walk right into their office to hire them.

Doesn’t disappoint

For fans of Cormorant Strike, this is a worthy sequel to the previous books by Robert Galbraith.

Your warnings

I do love the Strike Series. I read a number of the reviews of Ink Black Heart and with some trepidation I purchased the book. I have finished 3/4 of the book. I must say I am well over 60 years old and have never been on twitter, instagram or played video games. The lingo is a bit foriegn. Maybe the warnings prepared me. I did not have issues following what was happening. may have missed some of what fss is but it certainly did not take away from what the story line is/was. Really enjoy R. Glenister as narrator I would ask why he pronounced LOL and not l.o.l. Anyway ... I say if you like JK have a listen. She's great. Robin and Corm will never get together ... they can't !

Never a dull moment!

I’ve read or listened to all of the Cormoran Strike books and they’re all equally riveting. This was fantastic. And Robert Glenister’s narration never disappoints! I feel as though he’s spoiled me as a listener - he’s truly the gold standard! If you’re new to the series, you should start with the first book so you understand the relationships. But you could also listen to this on its own.

Amazing reader of this audio book

Wow. The reader of this audio book was awesome. I loved listening to this book. He captured the characters with his voice changes. Highly recommend.

Love the Cormoran Strike Series

I love the Cormoran Strike series and the writing of Robert Galbraith/JK Rowling.

As always, Robert Glenister is superb and I love his narration of the series.

Here are three things I disliked about the story:
1. The reading of the online handles was very tedious to listen to. God bless Robert Glenister and the production team that had to record all of them!
2. I typically love the quotes at the start of each chapter. But because the book was lengthy and the action sometimes carried over, towards the end of the book, hearing them was also a bit tedious.
3. And finally, ENOUGH ALREADY with Robin and Strike!! We’re six books in just let them get together!! Please stop stringing us along! I was quite annoyed with the ending. We get it, it’s hard for him to commit but seriously, enough already. Stop inching us along like traffic!

Love the writing getting a bit impatient

Loved the story, finding the white supremacy information in the UK an eye opener, but I must admit that I am getting impatient at the perceived sluggish pace of relationships.

Perhaps not the best book for audio

I agree with what other listeners have said - the chat room parts are lengthy, confusing, and use too many abbreviations (many may not know what these mean). Overall, it’s a good story that didn’t need to have the chat part. An explanation of what was said may have worked better. I get that this book’s story falls mainly on chat room convos, but it just didn’t make for the greatest listen. I imagine the actual book may do better on that part. The narrator was exceptional. The romantic relationship between Cormoran and Robin is dragging on too long. Personally, I’d like to see that blossom quicker. I do recommend this book.