Book Review: The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons!

  My first reading slump of the year arrived a week ago. I resolved to do a re-read and a graphic novel to keep the flow going in my reading. It was by no means an easy thing to have happen, since this year had me averaging one or two novels per week. Luckily I have friends in the literary world that have excellent book recommendations. Enter Cormoran Strike, hard-boiled private investigator that brings back the noir tales of the past.

  The Cuckoo's Calling is written by Robert Galbraith, a pseudonym of J.K. Rowling. It is published by Mulholland Books, and imprint of Little, Brown and Company. In it we are introduced to supermodel, Lula Landry. She is the bright It-Girl of the fashion world, and even though she has plenty of demons in her past, she seems stable and happy. But one morning the young woman takes a dive off the balcony of a luxurious apartment building. Her death is shocking and the police have ruled it as suicide. But Lula's brother, lawyer John Bristow, is certain that his sister would never kill herself. He fears foul play, and seeks out an acquaintance of his from his youth to help him catch a killer. That acquaintance is Cormoran Strike, ex-military police and private investigator. 

Having just broken up with his long-time girlfriend, Strike is more down and out than he would like people to believe. He is currently sleeping in an office that may be taken from him. His father, a famous musician, hounds him through third parties to pay back a loan. And he is growing increasingly close to his temporary secretary, Robin Ellacott, who was just recently engaged. But Cormoran hears out Bristow, and after some reluctance, takes the case. The money will help Strike with expenses at least. Cormoran and Robin begin to work the Landry case almost immediately, assembling the puzzle surrounding the model. The pieces include Lula's boyfriend, model friends, her adopted family, her birth mother, a drug-addicted neighbor, and a designer that was like a brother to her. Police reports and witness statements begin not to mesh. And the more Strike investigates the more he is convinced that Lula Landry did not throw herself to her death. But will his knowledge of her last days make Strike the next victim of a desperate killer?

  The Cuckoo's Calling harkens back to the gritty detective stories of old. There are dark alleys, musty offices, and shady characters. Cormoran Strike is a large bull of a man who is despite his best intentions intimidates even when his does not wish to. He is a flawed and troubled character that wishes for his misfortunes to be kept quiet. Robin is the perfect companion for Strike, since he understands that she is observant about his current situation, but discreet with her acknowledgment. I was thinking back to Perry Mason, Ellery Queen, and other old-time detective genres when reading this novel. It added a shadow of danger and I could not stop reading. Rowling may have changed her name to author this book, but her excellent character development and world building is on display here as they were in her Harry Potter series. And when the story ended and the reveal came, I was set to read the next book. I did not want to leave this literary world yet.

  I read this book in part with the excellent narration of actor, Robert Gelnister. His presentation of the Cuckoo's Calling was captivating. As I listened to him read, chapters melted away. His Strike was gruff and often done with a smile. He understood the main characters very well, even managing to change voice and accent to further envelope me in the story. Brilliant!

  The Cuckoo's Calling was a strong four star read. Rowling's first entry as Robert Galbraith was smart, funny, and suspenseful. At almost five hundred pages, this novel flies by relatively fast. The characters and world building are excellent. And the return to the noir era of detective stories was a welcomed return. I look forward to the next three novels in this series. If you love a great detective novel with twists and turns, this one is for you.     

   Have fun reading this week. Let me know in the comments below what you are reading.

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  Because there is always time to read,
   Xepherus3 

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