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

It never gets old.

I love it! Again. My 3rd reading of this book and it never gets old. I love the narrator, the plot and especially the characters. A genuine look see into another world.

Great story, pacing and use of language

Not surprising that this became a series. Strike is a complex, real and gritty personality that unfolds beautifully over time. Solid book!

Entertaining

This was a fun read, in classic style, where the detective explains whodunnit at length. As long as you expect that, it’s good. Think Hercule Poirot or Sherlock but with salty language. The narrator was terrific! I found myself quickly liking the likable characters, not liking the nasty ones, and having mixed feelings for a few, not just from the author’s writing, but from the narrator’s nuance.

"Moonlighting" Enters the 21st Century

Those of us old enough to remember the TV series that introduced us to a young Bruce Willis can't help but be reminded of "Moonlighting" while listening to this audiobook. I loved that series, and now I'm hooked on Strike and Robin.

Cormoran Strike is a former soldier who lost one leg in Afghanistan. He's now hobbling through life creating more debt than income as a private investigator. Then a high-priced lawyer walks into his office and wants an investigation done on the so-called suicide of his very famous sister. Strike is rolling in high cotton now. He's a wonderfully complex, slightly enigmatic character still facing demons from his time in service and from a brutal break-up with his fiance. His family tree is... unusual, which also causes some angst for him when anyone figures out whose son he is. Basically, Strike is a private person who simply wants everyone to stay out of his private life. Too bad it doesn't work that way.

His temporary office assistant, Robin, offers intrigue of her own. She's just working temp jobs until she lands something full-time. Her initial impression of Strike is not so great; he's sleeping in his office, looks ridiculously unshaven and disheveled, and just seems like a train wreck of a guy. She's glad this is only a temp job.

The author has created two unbeatable characters here, with their intelligence, determination, abilities, wit, and easy camaraderie. Despite the apparent ease with which they work together, there is a delicious underlying and subtle sexual tension. Strike is just really glad that Robin is engaged-- that puts her squarely out of bounds and makes things easier.

The plot itself is tightly woven, full of characters with secrets to keep. The ancillary characters are just as much fun as Strike and Robin, creating an unforgettably fun and engaging read. Fans of good, character-driven fiction, well-written mysteries, or thrillers will enjoy this story. I'm looking forward to the next book!

Great book!

Read this before I knew it was JK Rowling. I really enjoyed it and was pleasantly surprised to find out it was her. What a well rounded author!

Loved the narrator!

I found the story to be well written. The characters were believable and the narrator did a great job. Would recommend to friends.

A joy to listen to

What rich, complex, fully realized characters. What marvelous dialogue. Lots of twists and turns in a plot that skews off into the farfetched...but I really didn't care since it was so much fun to listen to this novel and to absorb the different inflections and verbal tics of the characters. I'm already looking forward to the next Galbraith novel...and, gee, he writes with the same sure hand and love of language as that other fine British novelist--what'shername--who wrote those wonderful Harry Potter books.

Great narrator, ok story

It was a pretty easy listen thanks to the narrator. The story was ok, a bit too un-real.

Good base story but too much unnecessary detail

I was conflicted on this book and found it a bit difficult to get through at times. I’m not someone who enjoys a lot of over description or details and this books does that a lot. The core story is interesting but I felt like it dragged on and was longer than necessary. The narrator does a great job, if it wasn’t for him I’m not sure I could finish this book.

Couldn’t stop listening

I loved everything about the narrator. He added so much to my listening. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire plot and characters. Next is to download next in this series!