Goodreads Synopsis:
A brilliant debut mystery in a classic vein: Detective Cormoran Strike investigates a supermodel’s suicide. After losing his leg to a land mine in Afghanistan, Cormoran Strike is barely scraping by as a private investigator. Strike is down to one client, and creditors are calling. He has also just broken up with his longtime girlfriend and is living in his office.
Then John Bristow walks through his door with an amazing story: His sister, the legendary supermodel Lula Landry, known to her friends as the Cuckoo, famously fell to her death a few months earlier. The police ruled it a suicide, but John refuses to believe that. The case plunges Strike into the world of multimillionaire beauties, rock-star boyfriends, and desperate designers, and it introduces him to every variety of pleasure, enticement, seduction, and delusion known to man.
You may think you know detectives, but you’ve never met one quite like Strike. You may think you know about the wealthy and famous, but you’ve never seen them under an investigation like this
My review:
A huge Harry Potter fan I was not disappointed by J.K Rowling’s well written crime debut, penned under the name of Robert Galbraith. Though I must confess that I was quite perturbed by the slow pace of the novel in the opening chapters. Nevertheless this didn’t put me off. I read on and I am so glad that I did. The novel picks up pace as Strike’s shattered confidence grows. I wonder if this is an intentional device? J K Rowling’s amazing gift of story telling is evident in her engaging plot, colourful characters and eye for detail. They are striking!
The main character, Cormoran Strike, an ex soldier, wounded in combat, has been invalided out of the army. Missing the camaraderie of the armed forces he appears to be a little lost. He sets up as a private detective. The pace of the novel is slow in the initial chapters mirroring his struggle to make ends meet. He has few paying customers, and is beset by financial difficulties, and death threats. An unhappy love affair has resulted in him sleeping in his own office. A new temporary secretary, Robin Ellacott, appears just when he feels he can least afford her. Initially Robin comes across as this empty headed girl obsessed with her recent engagement to her accountant fiancé. But Robin’s character doesn’t disappoint. Her kind nature, obvious excitement and involvement in the case, all endear the reader to her.
Strike is investigating the mysterious circumstance surrounding the death of the famous supermodel Lulu Landry. It is not clear whether she fell from the plush balcony of her London home or if she was pushed. Lula Landry’s adopted brother approaches Strike asking him to take on the case. He seems certain that his sister did not jump. To begin with Strike is reluctant to take on the case as the police have clearly stated a suicide verdict. As Strike sets out to investigate, we can’t help but be impressed by his attention to detail and his ability to extract information. The pace of the novel quickens as does our excitement reading it, right up to the stunning conclusion. J.K. Rowling’s wonderful array of characters are portrayed with humour, depth, and believability.
My rating:
4 Stars.
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Have you read The Cuckoo’s Calling? Do you leave a comment in the box below I’d love to hear from you.
Bye for now,
Marje @ Kyrosmagica xx
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