My reading list is usually (always) crowded with fantasy and sci-fi titles, so every once in a while I try to include books that are more or less set in the real world. I settled on The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith, mostly out of my curiosity on how J.K. Rowling, albeit under a pseudonym, would fare as a mystery writer. Since I've yet to get around to reading A Casual Vacancy, I wanted to discover how she writes characters that don't involve Harry Potter and wizardry.
Cormoran Strike is a private investigator who is in need of a serious win. Already suffering from a missing leg during his time in the army and the infamy of being the bastard son of a famous rock star, he just broke up with his longtime girlfriend and have to live in his office. On the day that Robin Ellacott reports for work as a temp secretary, a service which he couldn't really afford, John Bristow arrives with a case for him to solve. Six months prior, supermodel Lula Landry fell to her death in front of her residence. Considered to be an open and shut suicide case, John wants Cormoran to re-investigate Lula's death, stating that he doesn't believe that his sister would actually take her own life.
I'm not much of an expert when it comes to mystery novels, but I found The Cuckoo's Calling to be more than a decent effort in the genre. The core mystery to be solved is interesting, with Cormoran delving into the unusual beginnings and rather extraordinary fame of Lula Landry. He finds himself learning about the lifestyles of the privileged and famous young, and whatever pitfalls that may come with the perks. Cormoran's investigation, however hampered by his personal failings, unwanted recognition as Jonny Rokeby's son, and the omissions of those who don't want their own dirty laundy to be revealed, slowly paints the picture of the vibrant Lula. Somehow, despite being dead for the entirety of the story, she is as engaging a character as Cormoran.
I really liked Cormoran Strike as a lead character, and not just because I love his name. He would be the first to recognize that he's in a less than fortunate state, both in his personal and professional career, but he does get the job done. He knows his strengths and uses them with efficiency, at least when it comes to the investigations that he is commissioned to perform. He isn't above self pity, but he somehow succeeds in compartmentalizing the different aspects of his life so it doesn't hinder his work on the case. He's a character that's easy to empathize with, which is always high up on my list as a reader.
I just wish that the heavy-handed hinting that he would eventually form a more than professional connection with Robin Ellacott was dispensed with, since she can be a strong character on her own. We see glimpses of her potential and what she can contribute to Cormoran, and I look forward to the day she finally reveals that being a private investigator is a longtime dream of hers, but I wanted more of her in the pages of The Cuckoo's Calling. Then again, given that this is the first in a book series, I suppose that it's understandable that Cormoran should be the focus (the series features his name, after all).
I enjoyed reading The Cuckoo's Calling, with its strong lead character and central mystery that just begs to be solved the right way. Getting to the point in fully appreciating The Cuckoo's Calling can take time, however. The attention to detail is laudable, but I felt that there were parts of the story that could have been more concise in their execution. There were times when it felt like the novel was far longer than it appeared, and not just because pages are dedicated to describing the rather deplorable personal life Cormoran finds himself in during the course of the investigation.
But patience ultimately pays off. All those varied details would eventually form a rather interesting tapestry that allowed Cormoran to reveal what really happened to Lula Landry that fateful night. A resolution a smidgen less satisfying might have caused me to cross off reading The Silkworm. For now, the Cormoran Strike series stays in my reading list.
Happy reading!!Labels: Book Series, Books, Cormoran Strike, J.K. Rowling, Mystery, Reading List, Robert Galbraith, The Cuckoo's Calling
