By: S.C. Ali
Founder/Author
After finishing Robert Galbraith/J.K. Rowling’s first adult crime fiction novel, The Cuckoo’s Calling, (see review here), I was very excited to read The Silkworm. I was so excited that I actually ended up reading it earlier than I had anticipated, and spent almost an entire workday reading half of the book.
The Silkworm is military veteran turned private investigator Cormoran Strike’s second mission following the events of The Cuckoo’s Calling. Although it isn’t required, I highly recommend reading The Cuckoo’s Calling prior to The Silkworm. It will help establish a sense of continuity in the series. The deuteragonist, Robin Ellacott, has now become a permanent fixture in Strike’s office as his full-time secretary. She was actually offered different higher paying and more posh jobs compared to working with Strike, but her passion to become a detective motivated her to stay with Strike. This novel explores the disappearance of a famous author, which during the course of Strike’s search, turns into a murder. The author, Owen Quine, writes what he had dreamed would become his magnum opus, entitled Bombyx Mori. However, Strike finds Quine’s mutilated corpse, and the tone of the novel shifts to a whodunit case.
The development of the professional (and somewhat personal) relationship of Strike and Robin was by far the strongest point of this book. It is clear that they are becoming more comfortable working with one another, as Robin has learned some new and useful information about Strike’s past that gives her a better portrait of who he is. As for Strike, there are certain situations where he requires Robin’s help, and I like how Galbraith/Rowling seamlessly incorporated this into the plot. My favorite part of the book was when Strike and Robin made a pit stop at Burger King and discussed their working relationship. Since the events of the first book, Strike has become somewhat of a celebrity. Robin is instrumental in doing some behind the scenes work and being an extra pair of eyes and ears for Strike throughout the investigation. However, Robin’s deep involvement in Strike’s investigation of the famous author takes a toll on Robin’s personal life and her relationship with her fiancé, Matthew. During the Burger King scene, Robin makes it very clear to Strike that she doesn’t intend just to work as Strike’s secretary but rather train to be a detective. Strike responds excellently saying that he considered it, but there are certain sacrifices that she will have to make in order to become an effective private investigator. This includes but is not limited to working extra hours and sometimes on weekends. After a brief argument about Robin’s work-life balance, they reconcile.
The plot itself moved at a medium pace. However, there were some plot holes in this novel that made it inferior to The Cuckoo’s Calling. First and foremost, the culprit behind the murder framed another major character related to Mr. Quine. Therefore, while Strike is investigating, he has to try and rectify the accusations against the major character. As a result of this dual task, the case does not follow a logical sequence like the first one. In addition, while the comparison of literary characters in Bombyx Mori with real people that were part of Owen’s life was admirable, it leads to some inconsistencies and a choppy feel to the book. There were some points where it was difficult to keep track of the Bombyx Mori characters and the actual characters of The Silkworm. Third, Strike’s reasoning in The Silkworm towards the end follows a quasi-non sequitur. He focuses more on his hunches than the evidence at first. While this can be powerful, I feel like other literary detectives (such as Sherlock Holmes) incorporate a delicate balance of intuition and factual evidence. I think that this approach can work with Strike’s character, but wasn’t utilized to the fullest in The Silkworm. Finally, although Rowling’s descriptions are a strong point with her books, I feel like the descriptions of the settings in England were a bit too much and it detracted from the main plot.
Despite its flaws, The Silkworm was a great sequel to The Cuckoo’s Calling. I came in with very high expectations because I thoroughly enjoyed The Cuckoo’s Calling, so it is only natural to be a bit critical. Nevertheless, the character relationships were fantastic. There were different dimensions to this book compared to The Cuckoo’s Calling, making it an interesting addition to the series. Moreover, Rowling/Galbraith did rectify the flaw of the first book. The narrative hook in The Silkworm was strong and encapsulates you immediately. The ending of the book also had a warm and tender feeling to it, and sets up well for the next book in the series. Rowling has announced on Galbraith’s official website that the next book in the series will be released this autumn, and is entitled Career of Evil. I can’t wait to read it and I will definitely share my impressions upon its completion.
Overall rating: 4/5
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