Had I heard of the book and/or Robert Galbraith before the latter was unmasked as J.K.Rowling?
No.
Did I read “The Cuckoo’s Calling” because of the above ?
Yes.
Is it a good read, regardless of who wrote it?
Yes, yes and yes.
As a non Harry Potter fan (I read the first tome years ago out of a sense of duty, and that was it. Just couldn’t hack the others) I didn’t approach “The Cuckoo’s Calling” – as some people seem to have done – with the intention of finding as many clues as possible that, yes, well, obviously, now you mention it, of course it must have been written by J.K.Rowling.
I read it as a stand alone novel that caught my fancy (because of the author thing, obviously) and it is a great, wonderful read.
I think (and hope and pray) that we might just have here the emergence of a fab new detective (and his indomitable sidekick) in the form of Cormoran Strike and the wonderful, so young but oh-so-wise Robin Ellacott. In other words, Ms Rowling, please, please write a new adventure, and soon.
Mr. Strike is, on the face of it, an unlikely hero. Overweight, one-legged, down on his luck. He drinks too much, smokes too much, wears crumpled clothes and is in a toxic relationship.
He is 100% human, basically, and that is why you relate to him immediately. A clumsy, flawed man whose heart is in the right place, who is intuitively clever with cold facts but pretty lousy with those people who care for him the most – what is not to like and love about the shambling Cormoran? Plus brainy = sexy.
Young Yorkshire born (yaay!!) Robin is cool perfection personified, and what I wouldn’t give to have her run and organise my life, the way she organises Cormoran Strike, her supposedly temp boss.
Since this is a crime thriller, I will not spoil the plot. Worry not.
Suffice it to say that “The Cuckoo’s Calling” is a page turner of note, and that the city of London is more than just a scenic backdrop to the action. London is fabulously evoked, in all her endlessly dug up roads and traffic jams and noise. The flaky fashionistas who people the book, the down on their luck characters who wander in and out of the narrative, the cocky cops – they are all brilliantly depicted.
Loved the book. Can’t wait for the next one, in what I do hope will become a series.
Jut one teeny weeny quibble. Not wild about the title.
I read “The Cuckoo’s Calling” on my Kindle – while camping at 5500 metres in the Himalayas, if you must know. Yeah, showing off, I know!
If you wish to read the book now, after reading my review, couldn’t be simpler. Just click on the link below: