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

Brit Detective Story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes

What did you like best about this story?

The main character Strike and all of his imperfections. Also the relationship between strike and his temp Robin.

Any additional comments?

Good narration- love reading books with British narrators. The mystery, once solved was a bit unbelievable, but fun to try and figure out.

Put your life on hold...

This is an engrossing, suspense filled mystery that once you start you won't want to stop. The characters are vivid and believable and psychologically interesting. The reader does a great job of inhabiting every one of them.

Loved it

What a surprise to find out who really wrote this. I was not impressed by her first book but, this one is very, very good. The mystery was good and interesting but the characters were wonderful. I immediately looked for the next one in the series and also loved that one so I am waiting patiently for the next in the series.

Long time listener, first time reviewer

I wouldn't bother to write now if this book had gotten the reviews that it deserves, but it didn't. Maureen Corrigan played it way down and I didn't bother to listen for a long time, but for the genre, this is top drawer. The characters are excellent, and it is well plotted. What I am really hoping is that this will become a series.

I mean, it's jk Rowling . What else do you need?

I was on the fence about this one. Private detective , it's been done a million times. This story has all the elements you expect in a classic who-done-it, but the fact that the story is written by jk Rowling makes it worth my one credit. I'll admit the ending had a few surprises I didn't see coming and all in all, it was a good journey. Go ahead, but it and enjoy the story.

Surprising Good

I really enjoyed listening to this book. I enjoyed the fact that Cormoran Strike isn't something hot P.I instead a heavy set man who lost his leg in the war. Also Strike just got out of an unstable relationship and is close to losing his job. That was until John Bristow came to him hoping that Strike will find out if his sister actually killed herself.

The one and only problem I had was that there seemed to extra information that dragged the story a bit. I get why most of it was there as backstory and inner thoughts of the characters. On the other hand though it got confusing and took me to remember what am acting hearing.

Other than that like I said I loved Cormoran and Robins relationship because they grow from being wary to becoming a team. And they make a fun team fort they don't ask much of each other. Yes there are arguments between the two or they know when the other and don't want to talk. They respect each other give each other space and work on it out.

I liked Robin for the fact though she knows she's not getting paid what she should, or that her fiancé hates her temp job. She keeps doing it. Not in spite but because she loves to work on cases and help solve it.
Also the way that Cormoran's mind works to find the answers. The way he writes everything done and thinks it through. In the beginning he is going through a lot so having a case helped him think of other things. He a very detailed person and knows how to ask the right question and how to ask them.
The mystery itself was fun because I kept guessing who it was but was wrong every time. Especially the motive which now that I've think about it makes more sense and just loved how this book ended. Plus in was in London, England which is a place I've been so I see some of it since Strike walks everywhere.
I loved it so much that I already found the next book Silkworm on Overdrive and is excited to keep listening in on the adventures of Strike and Robin.

Loved it!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I really enjoyed the story line, and the performance as it was read. The reader did an excellent job distinguishing between characters, and keeping the story moving along.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

So excited to read/listen to this book! I had no idea who the killer was until the protagonist figured it out for himself. I loved the details in the story, and how well the author brought the story to life.

What does Robert Glenister bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His accent and way he changed his accent made the characters seem real. I could hear the differences between character's backgrounds through his use of accents.

Any additional comments?

Loved it! Would recommend this book to anyone who, well, anyone who reads!

Needed to be Tightened Up a Bit

I picked up The Cuckoo's Calling right after the news broke that Robert Galbraith was a pseudonym for JK Rowling. I've never read any Rowling before but thought why not jump in with her first attempt at a mystery thriller. The Cuckoo's Calling is a pretty straight forward take on the genre. You have a private detective (Cormoran Strike) as the main character and you have an supermodel who commits suicide. Or did she? There are a good number of twists and turns but none of them particularly memorable. There was nothing inherently wrong with the book but it just never hit the pace it was striving for.

The impression I got was that you were really supposed to really fall in love with Cormoran and to sympathize and root for his character. I just never garnered that intended connection. To me The Cuckoo's Calling was a run of the mill mystery thriller that was not a bad read just not a memorable one either.

good story a bit long winded

the story was good though it took a while to get into it. it seemed to me that it would have moved along better with a bit less fluff and though I dont usually have trouble with foul language there were almost entire chapters of it in this book. I don't think that was quite necessary. I enjoyed the naration very much. I would seek out this narrator again.

Excellent holiday read

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

Yes, Robert Glenister is able to develop the characters fully through the use of his voice. Excellent.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Robin is a great character. Not quite a side-kick but an ever evolving character.

What does Robert Glenister bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His ability to take on a variety of characters is excellent.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Desire a detective?

Any additional comments?

A great break from Harry for JK Rowling. This is an excellent 24 hour read.