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

Interesting characters

Would you listen to The Cuckoo's Calling again? Why?

I would certainly listen to a second title in this series. I hope there is one. I'm not actually much for British fiction, but I found this unusual and interesting. Kept me guessing til the very end.

Who was your favorite character and why?

It's hard to choose a favorite between the principals of the Strike Detective Agency. She's resourceful, determined, and just finding her potential. He's jaded, damaged, and doggedly brilliant. They're perfect foils for one another.

Too, too drawn out and detailed

Way too detailed, way too long for the story. Performer was wonderful! Maybe so detailed because it was an intro?

The best book I have read all Year!!!!

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

The audio edition gives you more of a feel who the characters are.

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

I never knew what was going to happen next.

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

Robert Glenister brings passion to the characters

Excellent story

Would you listen to The Cuckoo's Calling again? Why?

Definitely. I enjoyed character development.

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

Revealing of "whodunit "

What about Robert Glenister’s performance did you like?

Pace and expression. He did not seem to read the book but to make characters come to life.

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

Do not understand why so many characters had to smoke!

Elegantly Written, Great Story

You really can't go wrong when it comes to JK Rowling! Fantastically written and a great story line. She develops the characters very well.

Great mystery!!

What did you love best about The Cuckoo's Calling?

I love the way the story builds, fact by fact, without excessive violence or threats but with plenty of fascinating movements and intriguing characters and in a writing style that's so easy and engaging.

Who was your favorite character and why?

By the end of the novel Strike is a very fully developed and endearing character. I especially loved how his relationship with Robin, his temporary secretary, developed mostly through unspoken statements, tiny actions that said a lot and built trust between them.

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

The accents. They type of accent each character had said a lot about their class and attitude and filled out the characters more than I could have with the limited amount of accents I have in my American head.

Any additional comments?

I really hope this is the start of a series!!!

Needed more action

I liked the plot thread very much. But I kept thinking about how it could be punched up into something more riveting. I would have started with the murder...with Tansy on the balcony shivering in the cold...watching the body fall. Or at least something a little more gripping than a "first day on the job" cliche. Instead we got interview after interview. I thought I should get out a notebook and start taking notes.

That said, I liked the main characters....Cormorant Strike and his assistant, Robin. There is just the right amount of tension / respect / attraction to make me want to read more books in the series.

Glenister is an excellent reader! The voices were just right.

Mediocre Mystery

I really wanted to love this book, since I absolutely love JKR and the HP series. Sadly, I was disappointed. I felt that it was lacking in character development and in action. Throughout the book, I found myself looking at the audiobook player to see how much longer I had to go. For me, it was a struggle to finish. I felt very little attachment to the characters and just wanted to find out whodunnit and move on. #mystery #whodunnit #meh #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

Meh

Not great. Should have been a short story. Definitely not gripping. I struggled to get through it.

Good Mystery With Details

Even though I'm not a big fan of Harry Potter (sacrilege, I know) I really enjoyed this book written under the pseudonym. (I wonder why the need for a pseudonym, however).
I was impressed with the love it or hate it reviews here, but I found the writing to be wonderfully detailed such as when Strike walks into the luxury flat, the reader is treated to a beautifully descriptive picture of the surroundings. This detail carries over into the characters, as well, one of the best is the fashion designer with all his dramatics and flair.
I loved the background of the characters and the subplots going on with the families---especially with Robin and her relationship with her fiancé and Strike.

A SORT-OF SPOILER ALERT:
I did sort-of guess the killer, but it didn't dampen my enthusiasm with the continuing mystery
.
Mostly, Cormeran Strike is such a singular hero. He's not handsome or sophisticated and how amazingly different for this character to have one leg. I found his character to be so refreshing, as well as his angst-ridden relationship with his ex-girlfriend and his mysterious military background.
Of course, it's de rigueur that almost everyone in Britain drinks and smokes, along with constant antics of the paparazzi.
The only minor thing I found to be jarring were the quotes at the beginning of the chapters.
I thoroughly enjoyed Robert Glenister's performance.
I will definitely get the next Audible book.