The Cuckoo's Calling

By: Robert Galbraith

Narrated by: Robert Glenister

Length: 15 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Published under a pseudonym, J. K. Rowling’s brilliant debut mystery introduces Detective Cormoran Strike as he investigates a supermodel's suicide in “one of the best books of the year” (USA Today).

After losing his leg to a land mine in Afghanistan, Cormoran Strike is barely scraping by as a private investigator. Strike is down to one client, creditors are calling, and after a breakup with his longtime girlfriend, he’s living in his office.

Then John Bristow walks through his door with a shocking story: His sister, the legendary supermodel Lula Landry - known to her friends as the Cuckoo - famously fell to her death a few months earlier. The police ruled it a suicide, but John refuses to believe that. The case plunges Strike into the world of multimillionaire beauties, rock-star boyfriends, and desperate designers, and it introduces him to every variety of pleasure, enticement, seduction, and delusion known to man.

You may think you know detectives, but you've never met one quite like Strike. You may think you know about the wealthy and famous, but you've never seen them under an investigation like this.

Fast-paced and sharply drawn, this dazzling detective novel inspired Strike, the BBC crime drama series that has captivated millions of viewers worldwide.

©2013 Robert Galbraith (P)2013 Hachette Audio

Kinda Saw It Coming

Would you consider the audio edition of The Cuckoo's Calling to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version of The Cuckoo's Calling, but I really enjoyed the performance.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Cuckoo's Calling?

Meeting the designer. His character came alive for me and I could just picture him sauntering around and complaining about Lulu's family.

What about Robert Glenister’s performance did you like?

How he changed the pace and tone of his voice to line up with the characters.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not particularly. I would categorize this book as a light read.

Any additional comments?

I think the last paragraph of the epilogue was a message from J.K. Rowling to her readers. Such a mystery in itself.

'Well written' does not a good book make

(minor spoiler herein) Rowling/Galbraith can certainly write well, but I have not enjoyed any of her post-Hogwarts works. I find the characters mostly shallow and formulaic, not to mention seedy. But the unforgivable sin is presenting a mystery with clues and making it impossible for the reader to solve it based on those clues. Toward the end, all kinds of information comes out but is hidden behind a veil (he whispers "something" in Robin's ear) so that the conclusion is impossible to predict. I knew early on it was about the dead girl's will, but none of the really crucial clues are given. I'm fine with red herrings, but complete plot upheavals make me feel like the author just didn't have the talent for the conceal/reveal balance of the classic mystery writers. I don't enjoy wallowing in the lives of shallow, drug-addicted, morally bankrupt, fictional people, unless there is an intellectual challenge *for which one is rewarded*. So what is the point of reading such a book? None for me.

Better than I expected.

No, this is not about wizards. Still, the storytelling is rather good. I kept listening and was always amused.

Well-written detective story

This book is very well-written. Finely drawn characters and a flawed but decent hero. The plot is intriguing and there are a lot of colorful characters.

awesome

loved this book. the story break held my interest. can't wait to listen to the next one by this author.

Amazing. Great mystery book.

Wow. A great audiobook. Writing and narrative are top rate. Not my usual genre but I would get this author's books anytime. Great buy. Won't lose on this one.

GREAT story

I have heard some very good books on audible, but this story was definitely one of the BEST!
It was SO good that I feel like it deserves a written review.
There were so many twists that I never saw coming. It kept me guessing until the very end.
In my opinion, the narrator, Robert Glenister, was one of the best I've ever heard.
He did an amazing job using different voices for each of the different characters.
VERY satisfied with everything about this audio book!

Who us talking?

There was not enough variety in speech to determine whom was speaking during one on one conversations.

interesting and entertaining

I loved this book. It was entertaining until the last page. Creative and I honestly didn't guess the end which always makes me happy.

Great Listen

The narration was great, but more importantly, so was the story. I've listened to all of the Strike series thus far and the only parts that I find annoying involve his ex, Charlotte. But everything else about the books is fantastic. I thought the plot was much less predictable than most mystery novels. All of the characters are well developed and interesting. I always find myself wanting more of the minor characters in the books because they're so interesting. This book, and all of the others in the series, are definitely worth a listen.