The Mercy Chair and The Running Grave: thrilling, unputdownable

Titles: ‘The Mercy Chair’ and ‘The Running Grave’

Authors: ‘M.W. Cavern’ and ‘Robert Galbraith (AKA J.K. Rowling)

My Rating*: 5/5

The Mercy Chair

‘The Mercy Chair’ is the 6^th novel of the ‘Washington Poe’ series. Washington Poe is a serious, reclusive, yet a ruthless detective in Cumbaria Police department. He lives a lonely life with his dog in an isolated Cumbaria area called Shepherd’s Croft. He is assisted by a genius academic mind called ‘Tilly’, who can hack into any system, analyse all kind of complex mathematical data, solve any equation. She is a social misfit yet very loyal to Poe, who also cares for her in ways no one would. They are together to solve some of the most heinous crimes that shook Cumbaria.  It all started with “The Puppet show” the first one of the Washington Poe series. The series is getting darker and darker.

The Running Grave

The second book is ‘The Running Grave’ by ‘Robert Galbraith (AKA J.K. Rowling) is the 7^th novel of the ‘Cormoron Strike’ series. Cormoron is a war veteran turned private detective now based in London. He wears a prosthetic leg, since one of his leg was blown off in action in Afganistan. ‘Robin’ who joins his office as his secretary/assistant, is more than that. She is smart and good in her work. Since the first novel of the series “The Cukkoo’s Calling”, she has excelled in her work and has been involved more and more in the thrilling detection work. The chemistry between the Strike and Robin is intriguing and ends up in readers wanting more…

Why this review together…

Well both are my favourite authors, both British, both have created strong memorable protagonists and now what’s with these two of my favourite writers  that both of them chose to write about religious cults! And it is the reason to write about these two books together. Both “The Mercy Chair’ and ‘The Running Grave’ are equally dark.  In ‘The Mercy Chair’, somewhere in the plot I thought that I have guessed it! (and I was partially right) but then the story turned and towards the end there was a big twist in the tale!

There are certain stories that one knows are stories made by the imagination of the author,  yet fill one’s mind with dread. Also, one takes a breath of relief when they end (and these two definitely end well!). These two are such stories, which one reads in anticipation of what next? And of course one feels a void when they are over….

Washington Poe with Tilly and Cormoron Strike and Robin are two modern day detectives who will live forever like Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Miss Marple or Sir Arthur Connan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. I wonder what will happen if their paths crosses somewhere with Poe and Tilly meets Strike and Robin?

Without revealing any plots I would just say that if you haven’t read these books or explored these series by Cavern and Rowling yet, don’t waste time and go ahead and plunge into the work of some really good, thrilling detection.