Saturday, August 24, 2013

The Cuckoo's Calling; Robert Galbraith


Author: Robert Galbraith
Publication Year:  2013 
Publisher: Mulholland Books
Edition: audio 
Source:  publisher

Reader: Robert Glenister (nice job)
Date Completed: Aug - 2013
Rating: 4/5
 

I finished the audio version of The Cuckoo's Calling a few weeks ago, and I was immediately thinking about the possibility of a next installment -- Hopefully, it's in the works.

In this crime/detective novel I was hooked immediately.  A super-model, Lula Landry (aka Cuckoo) has fallen to her death from her penthouse balcony in London. Was it suicide or murder?  Her (adopted) brother, John Bristow, does not believe Lula would take her own life, but the media has caused all sorts of rumors to fly.

Private detective Cormoran Strike, a former Army military man who lost his leg in Afghanistan has been hired to find out what really happened. He's a strong and  interesting character who has a lot of baggage, but he's really intelligent and he knows the difference between right and wrong. He, combined with his female partner, 20-something Robin Ellacott, worked for a temp agency and was hooked up with Strike. She thinks she might want to be a PI. She's smart and bit abrasive, and together they made for an interesting twosome.

There were a lot of characters in the novel -- plenty rich and famous models and rock stars etc. Too many characters is usually a problem for me with an audio book, but I didn't find it too difficult to stick with the story. After Lulu's death has been established at the very beginning of the novel, I'd say the remainder of the first half of the book is about getting to know a little bit about each of the characters/suspects.  The author does a great job of dosing out info slowly. The first half was mostly about getting to know the players but with no real clues to make you say, "he/she did it".  It is only later on in the novel that more helpful info is revealed which made me anxious to try to narrow down likely suspects.  I was satisfied with the way the story ended as well.

Although the story dragged in parts, I thought that the writing was very good.  I would definitely read the next in a series if there is one.

14 comments:

  1. Well Diane, you hooked me from beginning to end. This sounds like a great book and one I would definitely enjoy reading.

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  2. Glad you enjoyed it, Diane. Nice when the end of a book makes it worth hanging in there :)

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  3. That does sound good but when I first saw the title I thought it was about our neighbors!

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  4. I hadn't really thought about reading this before your review... wonder if a series is in the works??

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  5. I wasn't interested in this book at all until I found out that JK Rowling wrote it. Now I want to read it!!

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  6. I wanted to read this before I found who the author was, but I still haven't found the time. Glad to see that it's a good one.

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  7. This one does sound fascinating. Thanks for sharing.

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  8. I own it, but I'm terrified to read with all the expectations and hype. Glad to hear you enjoyed despite some dragging plot moments.

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  9. Great review. I am anxiously awaiting the next audiobook featuring Strike, coming out next year!

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  10. I have no desire to read this one, although many have given it good reviews.

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  11. I'm so glad you liked it! I'm almost finished reading it myself and was thinking the very same things.

    *crossing fingers* for a next instalment!

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  12. I have this one in my queue to read and am really looking forward to it. I am glad you enjoyed it, Diane!

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  13. I do always love a good mystery and the fact that the author can handle a large cast of characters well is a big selling point for me.

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  14. I definitely want to read this one. I've heard really good things about it!

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