The Cuckoo’s Calling Book Review

By: S.C. Ali

Founder/Author

The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith (later revealed to be J.K. Rowling) is Galbraith/Rowling’s first attempt at adult crime fiction. Since my debut novel, The Bronze Treasures, is under the same genre, it was only natural that I was drawn to this book. In addition, I grew up with the Harry Potter series, and thus have always been a fan of J.K. Rowling’s writing. As a result, I was very interested to see how Galbraith/Rowling shifts her talents toward adult fiction. I can definitely say that The Cuckoo’s Calling doesn’t disappoint.

The story follows a British military veteran turned private investigator named Cormoran Strike. The novel analyzes Strike’s investigation of the suicide of a celebrity supermodel named Lula Landry with the help of the deuteragonist, Robin Ellacott. Robin is a beautiful young lady who is hired as Strike’s temp secretary but has a deep interest in becoming a detective.

The characters of The Cuckoo’s Calling are one of the book’s greatest strengths. Galbraith/Rowling goes into meticulous detail in terms of their appearances and mannerisms. She doesn’t only do this with the main characters, but even supporting characters whom Strike interviews throughout the novel. There is also an additional emphasis on Strike and Robin’s thought processes. It is not as detailed as Sherlock Holmes’ method of deduction, but it is adequate for the purposes of the book. In addition, Galbraith/Rowling does an excellent job of intertwining the supporting characters to give a complete portrait of Strike’s life.

The Cuckoo’s Calling also has a tenacious sense of realism, which seems to be the general trend of art at present. It isn’t outlandish by any means. The descriptions of the characters and their world around them are very practical. This is a great departure from the Harry Potter series, where part of the “magic” of those pieces was not only the plot, but the world that those characters live in. The Cuckoo’s Calling takes place in England, and the description of the different locations within England is authentic. Due to this realistic tone, I envisage that The Cuckoo’s Calling will appeal to a much wider audience compared to Harry Potter.

The plot itself was strong and suspenseful. As I was reading through it, I wanted to find out more and more about the case. Without giving away too much details, based on the testimonies and tangible evidence that Strike collects, it turns out that the death of Lula Landry was a murder rather than the widely reported suicide. Moreover, since this was the death of a celebrity, Strike has a chance to interview famous people in addition to her adopted and biological family members. It demonstrates Strike’s expertise in interviewing different social statuses, a great testament to the rich character. Because it does not follow a Holmesian deduction, which is more precise and astute, it actually results in more suspense. If Strike had divulged his entire reasoning process at the beginning, then there would be nothing left to discuss.

It is only fair that I discuss the weaknesses of The Cuckoo’s Calling. Personally, I found the introduction to be a bit lacking. It didn’t have a strong narrative hook, and I didn’t really become engrossed in the book until the third chapter. However, this weakness is minute compared to the great acclaim that this novel has garnered from many including myself.

In conclusion, I think that The Cuckoo’s Calling is an exceptional start to Robert Galbraith/J.K. Rowling’s detective fiction works. This book marks the first of a series of books based on the cases of Cormoran Strike, and the world he lives in. I think that Rowling’s ability to delve into this genre successfully demonstrates her literary prowess as a writer. Overall, I enjoyed the book thoroughly and can’t wait to read the next book in the series, The Silkworm.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

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