The Silkworm

By: Robert Galbraith

Narrated by: Robert Glenister

Length: 17 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Private investigator Cormoran Strike must track down a missing writer - and a sinister killer bent on destruction - in this "wonderfully entertaining" mystery (Harlan Coben, New York Times Book Review) that inspired the acclaimed HBO Max series C.B. Strike.

When novelist Owen Quine goes missing, his wife calls in private detective Cormoran Strike. At first, Mrs. Quine just thinks her husband has gone off by himself for a few days - as he has done before - and she wants Strike to find him and bring him home. But as Strike investigates, he discovers that Quine's disappearance is no coincidence. The novelist has just completed a manuscript featuring poisonous pen-portraits of almost everyone he knows. If the novel were published, it would ruin lives - meaning that almost everyone in his life would have motives to silence him. When Quine is found brutally murdered under bizarre circumstances, Strike must race against time to understand the motivation of a ruthless killer, a killer unlike any he has encountered before...

A compulsively readable crime novel with twists at every turn, The Silkworm is the second in J. K. Rowling's highly acclaimed series featuring Cormoran Strike and his determined young assistant, Robin Ellacott.

©2014 Robert Galbraith (P)2014 Hachette Digital

Long, good story,

This was well written and interesting. As an audible book it is well worth the money as it is long and keeps you engaged. I'm glad I listened to it, I"m not sure I would have stayed with it in written form. Narration is well done.

Very good - less satisfying than Cuckoo's Calling

Any additional comments?

Another great lesson in how an author can create wonderful characters. This story was less compelling than the previous work but still a very entertaining read. At the risk of sounding like Mozart's royal critic "too many notes" there just seemed to be too many characters, too many suspects. Perhaps less would have been more in this case.

Snappy, entertaining, and suspenseful

Have you listened to any of Robert Glenister’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Robert Glenister was excellent in the Cuckoo's Calling and is even better in the Silkworm. Does an amazing job of the various characters.

Any additional comments?

Really excellent, snappy, intelligent, yet easy listening. Smooth and clear enough to follow while jogging or cooking but still makes your brain work! An excellent audiobook.

True Excellence

This second installment does not disappoint. Galbraith/Rowling masterfully builds on the characters from the first book while also building a twisted tale that had me guessing. I had everything in front of me, yet repeatedly cycled through the suspects without ever coming to the right conclusion. Anyone who reads mysteries and often spots "whodunnit" three pages in knows what a treat it is to ride the mystery to the end. I know there's one more book, I can only hope there are still many more to come.

Robert Glenister is absolutely outstanding. Please let him always be Strike.

Detective Strike Strikes Again for Justice

Where does The Silkworm rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Among Mysteries it stands alone. Very original. Creative Characters. Literary content exudes throughout the story. Love Strike, his character, his conversations, the way he thinks through things. Love the evolution of secretary's role. Suspenseful ! You never know who done it until the very end. The descriptive writing is lovely. Loved the literary captions before each chapter.

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

Yes! The suspense is subtle at first and then builds up until he determines who the killer is.

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

His lovely British Accent.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No. Just loved the way it is written.

Any additional comments?

Keep them coming Robert Galbraith. Love Love Love Detective Strike.

Hooked.

Would you listen to The Silkworm again? Why?

By the end of the novel, every plot twist, suspicion and question is tied neatly into an intricate bow. I would listen again just to fool myself into believing that I 'knew it all along.'

What did you like best about this story?

If this series ever became a movie, I would insist Robert Glenister be the voice-over for whichever burly man cast as Cormoran Strike. He embodies the character so well and still manages to voice the female parts beautifully. And that's something else to note about the story-- The characters are so finely developed and real and I love that Robert Galbraith (AKA J.K. Rowling) often inserts a very strong, intelligent woman as a leading role.

The novel is captivating from start to finish. Couldn't turn it off.

Have you listened to any of Robert Glenister’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not heard Robert Glenister before but was pleased to find he continued reading the series and might seek out more books with his narration.

Any additional comments?

A must-read for mystery-lovers and fans of J.K. Rowling.

Love me some Cormoran Strike!

You will NOT find a better combination of characters and narrator then this series on all of Audible. I promise you.

I like the first book more than this, only because I didn't "root" for any suspect's innocence because they were all (very purposefully) unlikeable. In her first book I cared about who was going to get caught.

I downloaded the first book four days ago, this book just two days ago and I will be downloading the latest installment of this incredible series as soon as I'm finished writing this review. My husband can't stand me this week- I haven't taken my headphones out of my ears for even a minute!

good book

I liked the book. I love the narrator. I like the writing style and love the main characters. I had ideas who the culprit would be, but I was never positive throughout the entire book. So it was a good plot development. And good character development as we learn more about the main characters. The only part of the plot I didn't love was the investigation was about writers and publishers, which was kinda lame, and about weirdo fiction, which was disturbing. And the quotes from other books at the beginning of the chapters was just annoying. I could have used a little more time at the end to wrap up the story before being over. But overall I really like this series and am sad that there are not five more ready to read. I hate waiting once I find a series I enjoy.

MUST READ....TO THE VERY END!

loved loved loved it! The narrator is perfect for his character. if you enjoyed Cockoo's Calling you will love this one even more. Mystery, suspense, humor and you will want more. Could not put it down. you want NO need to know what happens next!.

Strong Second Entry in Her New Series

This dark story is very engrossing and hard to put down. The story lines of the hero and his assistant deepen and move forward in a satisfying way. There is so much bad writing out there in the detective fiction genre that to find such craft as is found here is a refreshing quaff. The narration is first rate, with distinct and unstrained characterizations. Please keep them coming, Ms. Rowling, and I will keep listening!