The Last Best Book

Sue loves her books in audio form. For the past three years, she has subscribed to audible.com, where for a monthly fee, she is able to download one book per month at somewhat reduced rates. She has built up quite a library, For the most part, I prefer to read in the old fashioned way — although sometimes in the newfangled digital sort of variation.

In the past few months, I have borrowed quite a few online books from the library. It has been quite nice to download a book from the comfort of my armchair. Sometimes, they are available instantly, but, at other times, I can put them on hold. The library then sends me an email when a book becomes available, and then I have another instant download.

I do prefer reading at my own pace, which does go faster than listening, but there is something to be said for occasionally sitting back and having someone read to you, especially when that someone is usually a pretty accomplished narrator.

Last fall, Sue obtained Career of Evil, by Robert Galbraith, who is really JK Rowling of Harry Potter fame. I am here to tell you that she writes a good mystery too.

Her protagonist, Cormoron Strike, is a disabled (as in missing part of one leg) Afghanistan vet who has his own struggling detective agency in London and who manages to solve cases that the police fumble. This third Strike novel begins with his assistant and partner, Robin Ellacott, receiving a severed hand in the mail.

Sue actually obtained the book last fall, and I put it on my winter reading (listening) list. I thought that I would savour it during one my winter colds or flues: except that I didn't get one, so I kept putting it off. Finally, back in April, I had had enough of waiting and decided to listen in full good health. I am here to declare that I was well rewarded with an absorbing, well narrated story.

I read mysteries mostly. I find that whether the book is top notch or more mediocre, I can at least trust it as, for one thing, good will triumph over evil. In a series, I get to know and like heroes such Thomas Lynley (Elizabeth George), Inspector Banks (Peter Robinson) or Superintendent Gamache (Louise Penny), and their stories keep going. I like the sustained relationship. Of course, there are scads of other series, but these seem to be the big 3 in my mind, although I suppose that I now add Galbraith/Rowling to that list.

So, I am choosing Career of Evil by Galbraith (Rowling) as my favourite recent book. Your choice: read or listen, but I do recommend that you stop and listen to a good story every now and then. This book will stand on its own, but one might as well start with The Cuckoo's Calling followed by The Silkworm.