Book Review - Robert Galbraith's The Ink Black Heart
The Ink Black Heart by Robert Galbraith
Published by: Mulholland Books
Publication Date: August 30th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 1024 Pages
Rating: ★
To Buy
Edie Ledwell and Josh Blay are the creators of the successful cartoon The Ink Black Heart. An unknown assailant attacked them in Highgate Cemetery, killing Edie and leaving Josh paralyzed. The authorities believe that Edie was targeted by The Halvening, a right-wing terrorist group that targets powerful women. Robin isn't so convinced. Before her death Edie Ledwell had come into the agency to talk to Robin about an online harassment campaign directed against her by someone going by the name Anomie. Anomie is a hardcore fan who co-created the popular Drek's Game based on The Ink Black Heart. Ever since Edie disparaged Drek's Game in an interview Anomie has turned nasty. With film rights for The Ink Black Heart about to be signed the harassment had intensified to the point that Josh was led to believe that Edie herself was Anomie trying to get sympathy by playing the victim. Because Anomie's intelligence is eerily accurate. Not many people knew that Edie tried to kill herself, and yet within minutes Anomie had posted the details, down to which hospital Edie was admitted to. But Robin turned down the case, cybercrime isn't something she and Strike deal with. Though she did refer Edie to some other agencies that could help her. Obviously they didn't otherwise Edie wouldn't be dead and the producers of the film wouldn't be asking Robin and Strike to take on the case. Robin won't let Edie down a second time. Because of Edie's conviction that Anomie has to be someone close Robin and Strike compile a list of her acquaintances, especially those from the North Grove Art Collective, where Edie and Josh met and many of their friends still live. And they develop what they think is a foolproof form of elimination. If someone isn't online when Anomie is, well, then they couldn't be Anomie, right? Proving their ignorance of the internet and the need for an agency that specializes in cybercrime. What's more, it seems that all of their suspects are playing Drek's Game under pseudonyms. Ex's, both romantic and business, agents, family, anyone could be a suspect, but only one is a killer. To find that out Robin is going to have to get close to those in Drek's Game. But is it wise to interrogate someone who could be anyone and who brags that they killed Edie? They are playing with fire and they might just get burned.
She did it. She actually fucking did it. She wrote over a roman à clef that clocks in at over a thousand pages about how she, a white billionaire, is the victim at the hands of her unhinged fans. Talk about a persecution complex! Talk about an ego! I mean, the words almost fail me because I can't believe that anyone would be so lost in their own little bubble that they would think that writing this screed would be acceptable. Though it's not just the whole "woe is me" of it, because that might have been slightly tolerable, it's how she is the victims of her fans. Her fans have killed her for being who she is. Well, if this is what you really think of your fans, well, can anyone blame them? The fans are just, I mean, I really can't believe she would say this stuff let alone write it, but then again I hang my head every time she opens her mouth these days. She vilifies them and degrades them and makes them the obvious choice for who killed "her." Because they are all so beneath her that any one of them was capable of doing the deed because she betrayed them by being true to herself. I mean, the rage I feel on behalf of anyone who has ever loved her writing just infuriates me. How could you say these things about the children who literally made you a billionaire!?! Who lived in your magical worlds only to be told that they aren't worthy of the worlds anymore. They have been expelled from Narnia for being disabled and overweight and victimized and abused. Oh, and let's not forget that after creating this mammoth cast of characters with online personas and elaborate backstories she decides that the killer is the incel son of Josh's agent. An acne riddled mess who never leaves his room and doesn't limit his death toll to just Edie. That ending was a cop-out! I mean, at least it wasn't the Nazis, but remember, those Nazis are also out to take down powerful women. But if you can't beat them join them. And while you're at it why not totally forget that this book is set in 2015 so there wasn't a female Doctor yet and no one used Karen as an insult. Unless the "K" in J.K. stands for Karen and she's actually the OG Karen!?! And the thing is, I don't want to bait this Karen, especially because she's left behind a certain tax bracket. She's vindictive, as this book shows, and she'll come for you. And I just want to stay away from this fucking toxic dumpster fire. If you don't believe me and don't feel like reading this, watch the show. Having to distill down this toxicity to only four hours was a fete that succeeds while also making you feel physically ill. There's a lot of hate in the world and why someone would want to pile on, and pile on their supporters, is beyond my comprehension.
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