The Silkworm

By: Robert Galbraith

Narrated by: Robert Glenister

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

Bombyx Mori - A Successful Spell

For me, one of the joys of a sequel, especially when it has been announced that there will be at least one other to follow, is the comfort I develop with the characters as they bloom. From their humble beginnings in Cuckoo's Calling, Cormoran Strike and his Watson-esque side-kick Robin Ellacot felt like people I wanted to spend more time with. Knowing Robert Galbraith's talent for character development (consistently captivating us through 7 volumes penned under Galbraith's nom de plume of J.K. Rowling), continuing on from Cuckoo was a given which paid off. The duo is back on the case looking for novelist Owen Quine who has gone missing since writing a scathing quasi-fictional manuscript that paints his associates in the publishing world in the darkest tones possible. When his body is found, elaborately murdered in a ritualistic play that mirrors Quine's manuscript, his colleagues are all suspect.

Here Galbraith shows her/his wonderfully inventive mind creating the eccentric characters and names as colorful as the residents that populated the Potter series. She also pokes some good-spirited fun at the publishing world that she reigned over in her rise to a billion dollar author. Even as *Galbraith* JK's talent is distinct, and a pleasure to read. It flows effortlessly, carrying the reader along through a world Rowling always seem to thoroughly inhabit in all of her writings and incarnations. This style is her strength. The plot of Silkworm is interesting and holds your attention, but it is theatrical more than plausible, with a bit of over achieving on the part of the murderer. Still, it makes for fun reading, as good as any in this genre.

A Sensational, quirky mystery full of character

Would you consider the audio edition of The Silkworm to be better than the print version?

N/A as I am visually impaired and cannot read in print.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The detective and his assistant. The way they play off each other is masterful and classic of the great duo sleuths throughout time. There is always that tease of a developing romantic interest.

Which scene was your favorite?

Difficult to say. One would be the birthday dinner party Strike's sister gives him when he shows up with an unexpected date.
The drive when a near accident is averted ...`

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I listened over the course of two days. It was riveting, but then I am a fan and loved the first book in this series.

Any additional comments?

The descriptive and atmospheric prose is wonderful. The portrayals of the diverse cast of characters rings true. If I had one negative to make, it would be that I skipped over the graphic descriptions of the murdered body. That was a bit too much for me.

Go Jo!!

Any additional comments?

Jo Rowling that is (the woman behind the Galbraith name). Great series, great characters, intelligently written - keep it up J.K. More Strike and Robin please!

Excellent addition to the series

I'm not sure what it is about this series, but I absolutely love it. This is certainly not the best mystery I've ever read, but there is something about the excellent writing, intriguing plot, and loveable (though flawed) characters that brings it all together so successfully. The relationships between the people in the book are what I find most intriguing.

If you enjoy mystery, suspense, and well written and complex character development this might be for you.

4 stars denotes "It's great"

Really enjoyed Cuckoo's calling, and enjoyed this one just as much. It's another whodunnit, and with Cuckoo's calling I had at least thought of the killer as being the culprit, but never with Silkworm did the killer come on my radar as the culprit! This is a great series and Robin and Strike are becoming more and more familiar to me. These books are well worth the credit and I am ordering Career of Evil as soon as I finish this review.

Really good but not as great at the first one

I loved the first book, the second one was really good but not as good as the first one. I listened back to back from book 1 to book 2 maybe it was too soon. Overall I did enjoy it

unique characters and plot w/in plot.

interesting characters, plot. we liked the detective and new assistant. reader excellent. he did a great job w/ the character who was short of breath...I wanted to assist her breathing!

In love with CB Strike & Robin!

Galbraith’s character descriptions are so incredible, I can picture the person to a T. I love his hero and heroine. They are relatable and sometimes make me chuckle aloud. One of the first mysteries that keeps me enchanted that I can’t stop reading. Glenister does and excellent job narrating and really gets into character!

suspenseful till the end!

The narrator does an excellent job with the different characters. Great read for suspense lovers!

Enjoyable read!

Great narration: Love it when you don't have to even think about which character is speaking. Detective story with some nice twists in the plot.