Summary: The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith
When a troubled model falls to her death from a snow-covered Mayfair balcony, it is assumed that she has committed suicide. However, her brother has his doubts, and calls in private investigator Cormoran Strike to look into the case.
Strike is a war veteran – wounded both physically and psychologically – and his life is in disarray. The case gives him a financial lifeline, but it comes at a personal cost: the more he delves into the young model’s complex world, the darker things get – and the closer he gets to terrible danger . . .
Review: The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith
The Cuckoo’s Calling is the debut crime fiction novel by Robert Galbraith, the pseudonym used by acclaimed author J.K. Rowling. Published in 2013, it introduces the characters of private detective Cormoran Strike and his assistant Robin Ellacott. At nearly 500 pages, The Cuckoo’s Calling is a gritty, atmospheric read that marks an ambitious foray into the mystery genre for Rowling.
The story follows war veteran turned private investigator Cormoran Strike as he is hired to reinvestigate the presumed suicide of supermodel Lula Landry. She fell to her death from her luxury apartment balcony three months earlier. Police ruled it a suicide, but Lula’s adoptive brother John Bristow suspects foul play. He offers to pay Strike a healthy salary to review the case files and pursue any new leads.
Strike is reluctant to take the job at first. His business is failing, he’s mired in debt, and he recently split from his long-term girlfriend. But he’s intrigued enough by the large paycheck to look into Lula’s case. He also hires a temporary secretary named Robin Ellacott to assist with paperwork and logistics.
The early chapters vividly depict Strike’s gritty London milieu, painting a picture of a down-and-out detective hustling for work. We learn about his background as a military policeman in Afghanistan, where he lost part of his leg to a bomb. This impairment adds a unique layer to Strike’s character. He suffers frequent pain and discomfort, yet the prosthetic doesn’t slow him down as he pounds the streets looking for clues.
Rowling devotes considerable time describing Strike’s physicality and how he navigates the world as an amputee. For instance, we learn how he removes his false leg at night, massages the stump to ease swelling, and occasionally catches the prosthetic at an odd angle causing him to stumble. These nuanced details about the daily impacts of wearing a prosthesis help further humanize Strike. He comes across as a fully-formed, authentic character dealing with both the minor annoyances and major life disruptions that limb loss causes.
Lula’s world is also well-realized. She’s a beloved celebrity known for her exotic beauty, having risen from a hardscrabble childhood as the mixed-race daughter of a groupie. Through flashbacks, we see Lula’s tumultuous family relationships and history of drug abuse. The night she died, she had cocaine in her system and was clearly distraught about something. Is that enough evidence to cast suspicion on suicide? Or could jealous friends, meddling family, or an obsessed stalker be hiding the truth behind her death?
Strike and Robin work methodically through the evidence, interviewing Lula’s friends, family and neighbors to piece together her final days. Rowling does an excellent job laying the clues while still concealing the killer’s identity until the very end. Her experience writing mystery in the Harry Potter books is evident.
Several intriguing subplots bolster the main whodunit. Robin is engaged to a dull accountant but finds herself increasingly drawn to Strike’s rugged yet appealing demeanor. References to Strike’s rockstar father cast doubt on whether the private eye business is his true calling. Rowling’s writing is both cinematic and humorous, vividly conjuring Strike and Robin’s gritty London and their amusing banter during stakeouts. The mystery’s resolution is satisfying, with the killer’s motives nicely foreshadowed yet hidden. Red herrings about jealous exes and obsessive fans do their job misdirecting readers from the ultimate perpetrator.
The novel drags a bit in the middle, getting bogged down in excessive detail during the many interviews Strike and Robin conduct. The pacing picks up again once they are hot on a suspect’s trail. A tighter narrative would likely improve, but the characterization and detective work still shine through despite the occasional lull.
Where the book excels most is in the authentic portrayal of its leads. Strike is a multifaceted character who defies easy stereotypes. His hulking size and brusque manner contrast with his sophisticated intellect and unexpected thoughtfulness. The scenes depicting his army background provide insight into the experiences that shaped him. Meanwhile, Robin’s journey from wide-eyed temporary assistant to crafty investigator in her own right is equally compelling. We root for both these damaged yet relatable characters to succeed.
The vivid worldbuilding is another highlight. The gritty details of Strike’s dilapidated office, his bleak temporary housing, and the various neighborhoods he traverses make London come alive. Rowling doesn’t shy away from the city’s roughness, taking readers into pubs, homeless camps, and rundown estates that highlight its socioeconomic disparities. Her atmospheric descriptions of the chill, incessant rain also perfectly capture London’s climate.
Readers will even pick up some detecting skills themselves as Strike explains surveillance techniques, online sources, and ways to coax information from reluctant witnesses. The novel feels meticulously researched, lending credibility to Strike and Robin’s methods. The police may write Lula’s death off as suicide, but Strike demonstrates how a dedicated private eye can uncover truths others miss.
Overall, The Cuckoo’s Calling succeeds in launching an appealing new detective series anchored by the complicated, charismatic Strike and his sidekick Robin. It may not reach the heights of classics by Christie or Doyle, but Rowling’s terrific characters and twisty mystery still make for a highly enjoyable read. Fans will be eager to pick up the next Cormoran Strike novel and see where these unconventional PIs head next. For a debut mystery, Rowling demonstrates rare talent that is sure to only increase as she settles into the genre.
The novel’s greatest strength is the rapport between Strike and Robin that drives the story. Rowling takes care to build their relationship gradually and organically, not forcing any romantic tension too soon. The will-they-won’t-they dynamic develops naturally as mutual respect and affection grows between them. Robin functions as more than just Strike’s sidekick, bringing valuable skills and insight to the case. Their back-and-forth banter brings levity to an otherwise dark tale. This strong character development indicates rich story potential for the series moving forward.
In conclusion, The Cuckoo’s Calling stands on its own as a compelling whodunit filled with indelible characters and a vivid sense of place. Rowling has avoided potential pitfalls like overly complex plotting or implausible twists that some mystery newcomers fall into. Her background writing beloved bestselling fiction shines through in the realistic characters, strong writing, and well-structured narrative. Any minor shortcomings are outweighed by Rowling’s outstanding achievement in transitioning to a new genre while creating an exciting new franchise. Crime fiction aficionados and Rowling fans alike will relish The Cuckoo’s Calling and eagerly anticipate further adventures with the magnetic duo of Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott.