Publisher: Sphere Books
First Publication: 2014
Series: Cormoran Strike Book #2
Previous Book: The Cuckoo’s Calling
Next Book: Career of Evil
Book Review: Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
Silkworm is the second crime novel in the Cormoran Strike series written by J.K. Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Published in 2014, it follows private detectives Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott as they investigate the gruesome murder of novelist Owen Quine.
At over 450 pages, Silkworm builds on the gritty world Rowling established in the first book The Cuckoo’s Calling. The mystery is challenging, with an expansive cast of potential suspects. She continues developing the complex relationship between Strike and Robin that hooked readers in The Cuckoo’s Calling. Silkworm delivers another thrilling page-turner while avoided the pitfalls of many detective novel sequels.
The story opens with Strike’s detective agency gaining popularity after solving the Lula Landry case. But the infamy comes at a cost—Strike is swamped with clients and barely keeping up. When author Leonora Quine hires Strike to find her missing husband Owen, he’s initially reluctant to take the case. But the sizable paycheck convinces him to search for Quine, who disappeared after a public fight with his wife.
Strike and Robin quickly learn Owen had violent fallings out with many people. He ruthlessly caricatured recognizable figures in his unpublished novel Bombyx Mori, a bizarre allegorical tale full of twisted violence and explicit sexuality. The abrasive Quine managed to alienate and frighten everyone from his wife and in-laws to his editors and agent.
So there is no shortage of potential suspects when Quine is found brutally murdered, surgically dismembered and left in a remote location. The crime scene mirrors the gruesome deaths depicted in Bombyx Mori, suggesting someone is sending a twisted message. Now Strike and Robin must sift through the long trail of people Quine burned on his path to literary notoriety.
Silkworm balances a sprawling cast without becoming confusing. Quine himself emerges as uniquely unlikable—a petty narcissist who ruthlessly exploits people for material. Flashbacks to his youth explain the childhood traumas that warped his personality. The extensive interviews provide an intriguing peek into the London publishing scene. Rowling draws on her personal experience to realistically portray bitter writers, cutthroat editors, weary agents, and the churning rumor mill linking them all.
The mystery itself is engaging, interspersed with plenty of twists, turns and red herrings. Strike’s new fame draws increased public scrutiny, adding an extra challenge to his discreet investigating. The final reveal of Quine’s killer is shocking yet makes perfect sense in hindsight. Rowling shows a gift for layering clues seamlessly into the narrative.
But she wisely keeps characterization the core focus. Half the novel follows Strike and Robin working the case, the other half depicts their personal lives beyond the job. These insights into their families, romances, insecurities and daily routines humanize Strike and Robin. The further we get inside their heads, the more they feel like real people versus stock heroes.
Robin’s impending marriage to her dull fiancé Matt causes understandable anxiety. She oscillates between pursuing modeling gigs for independence versus settling down per Matt’s wishes. Meanwhile, Strike struggles with an ex-flame who undermines his business and kisses his married best friend. Rowling excels at portraying the messiness of adult life. As readers, we sympathize with Strike and Robin’s relationship woes even when they make poor choices.
This strong character development drives the story more than the mystery itself. Crime fiction often treats protagonists thinly, but Strike and Robin feel wholly authentic. We enjoy following their lives, not just their casework. The slow evolution of their rapport is navigated thoughtfully, with simmering attraction complicated by their employer-employee status.
Rowling’s rich prose pulls you into their world. She makes mundane tasks like an all-night stakeout or bloodwork analysis at the lab feel intriguing through vivid details. The unsavory characters Strike encounters highlight London’s seedy underbelly. The novel’s length allows deeper dives into Strike’s past, military service and family dynamics. References to his rock star father, groupie mother and difficult childhood explicate his guarded nature.
By the conclusion, Strike has survived both a serial killer and turbulent romances to return wiser and battle-tested. Robin chooses to leave her fiancé, an act of courage suggesting she won’t be held back from realizing her potential. Readers feel hopeful for both these appealing characters who defy stereotypes.
Of course, a few flaws keep Silkworm from true greatness. The plethora of suspects grows confusing at times. Quine’s pretentious allegory Bombyx Mori excerpts slow the pacing when mentioned. But Rowling avoids any major pitfalls of craft. Her natural storytelling gifts shine through.
Ultimately, Silkworm succeeds mightily in avoiding the “sophomore slump” that stymies many second installments. The mystery intrigues, but more importantly, Rowling deepens our connection to her realistic protagonists. She deftly balances crime plot with character study, keeping readers invested in both Strike and Robin’s personal and professional lives. You care about them beyond just solving the case.
Rows of squat, rat-colored tenements stretched off into the mist on either side. He glanced self-consciously over his shoulder and saw nothing but a couple of incurious pedestrians braced against the April wind. His hand closed over the cold metal of the gun in his pocket and he drew it out. The weight of it never failed to provide some reassurance.
Silkworm proves Rowling equally skilled at crafting gripping mysteries as imaginative fantasy tales. Her gifts for storytelling and insight into human nature translate powerfully to this grittier genre. Crime fiction fans will relish the page-turning plot. But it’s the memorable characters that make you eager to continue accompanying Strike and Robin on their journey.
The novel ends with their partnership strengthened, both now unencumbered by ill-suited romantic attachments. Where they take their complex relationship next remains engrossingly unclear. What is certain is that readers will desperately await the chance to dive back into their world. With Silkworm, Rowling solidifies her place as a premier contemporary mystery writer able to deliver compelling stories across genres.