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The Cuckoo's Calling: Cormoran Strike Book 1 by [Robert Galbraith]

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Robert Galbraith

The Cuckoo's Calling: Cormoran Strike Book 1 Kindle Edition

by Robert Galbraith (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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'The Cuckoo's Calling reminds me why I fell in love with crime fiction in the first place' VAL MCDERMID

-----

Now a major BBC drama: The Strike series

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 . . .

A gripping, elegant mystery steeped in the atmosphere of London - from the hushed streets of Mayfair to the backstreet pubs of the East End to the bustle of Soho - The Cuckoo's Calling is a remarkable book. Introducing Cormoran Strike, this is the acclaimed first crime novel by J.K. Rowling, writing under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.

*** The latest book in the thrilling Strike series, TROUBLED BLOOD, is available to pre-order now! ***

-----

PRAISE FOR THE STRIKE SERIES:

'One of the most unique and compelling detectives I've come across in years' MARK BILLINGHAM

'The work of a master storyteller' DAILY TELEGRAPH

'Unputdownable. . . Irresistible' SUNDAY TIMES

'Will keep you up all night' OBSERVER

'A thoroughly enjoyable classic' PETER JAMES, SUNDAY EXPRESS

Print length

561 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Sphere
Publication date

18 April 2013
File size

1644 KB
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Review

The Cuckoo's Calling reminds me why I fell in love with crime fiction in the first place - Val McDermid

One of the most unique and compelling detectives I've come across in years - Mark Billingham

One of the best crime novels I have ever read - Alex Gray

In a rare feat, Galbraith combines a complex and compelling sleuth and an equally well-formed and unlikely assistant with a baffling crime in his stellar debut . . . Readers will hope to see a lot more of this memorable sleuthing team - Publishers Weekly, starred review

Everytime I put this book down, I looked forward to reading more. Galbraith writes at a gentle pace, the pages rich with description and with characters that leap out of them. I loved it. He is a major new talent - Peter James

Laden with plenty of twists and distractions, this debut ensures that readers will be puzzled and totally engrossed for quite a spell - Library Journal

Galbraith's characterisation is splendid and pops off the page, and his sense of place is rich and intense . . . I look forward to reading more about Cormoran Strike. He is fascinating to say the least - Shots

Full and original characters . . . a really good, solid mystery - Morning Star --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Review

"One of the books of the year." (USA Today)

"Robert Galbraith has written a highly entertaining book... Even better, he has introduced an appealing protagonist in Strike, who's sure to be the star of many sequels to come.... its narrative moves forward with propulsive suspense. More important, Strike and his now-permanent assistant, Robin (playing Nora to his Nick, Salander to his Blomkvist), have become a team - a team whose further adventures the reader cannot help eagerly awaiting." (Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times)

"Rowling switches genres seamlessly...a gritty, absorbing tale." (People (3.5/4 stars))

"An extravagant, alien, fascinating world for its characters to explore...great pleasures." (Slate)

"I couldn't stop myself from thoroughly enjoying The Cuckoo's Calling... The book's real magic is in Rowling's distinctive descriptive prose." (Carole E. Barrowman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

"THE CUCKOO'S CALLING reminds me why I fell in love with crime fiction in the first place." (Val McDermid, bestselling author of The Vanishing Point) --internet

This book is so well written that I suspect that some years down the road we will hear the author's name is a pseudonym of some famous writer. Lots of description made one feel like another occupant in the scene. You could feel the weather, the tension, the pain, the atmosphere in the gatherings. The Audible version had great accents. It is a wonderful mystery with a surprise ending, and I look forward to more by the same author --internet --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0091LLCTM
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sphere (18 April 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1644 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 561 pages

Best Sellers Rank: 3,123 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- 2 in Emergency Medicine (Kindle Store)
- 10 in Movie Tie-In Fiction
- 31 in Private Investigator Mysteries (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
23,054 ratings

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Robert Galbraith

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Robert Galbraith’s Cormoran Strike series is classic contemporary crime fiction from a master story-teller, rich in plot, characterisation and detail. Galbraith’s debut into crime fiction garnered acclaim amongst critics and crime fans alike. The first three novels The Cuckoo’s Calling (2013), The Silkworm (2014) and Career of Evil (2015) all topped the national and international bestseller lists and have been adapted for television, produced by Brontë Film and Television. The fourth in the series, Lethal White (2018), is out now.

Robert Galbraith is a pseudonym of J.K. Rowling, bestselling author of the Harry Potter series and The Casual Vacancy, a novel for adults. After Harry Potter, the author chose crime fiction for her next books, a genre she has always loved as a reader. She wanted to write a contemporary whodunit, with a credible back story.

J.K. Rowling’s original intention for writing as Robert Galbraith was for the books to be judged on their own merit, and to establish Galbraith as a well-regarded name in crime in its own right.

Now Robert Galbraith’s true identity is widely known, J.K. Rowling continues to write the crime series under the Galbraith pseudonym to keep the distinction from her other writing and so people will know what to expect from a Cormoran Strike novel.

https://robert-galbraith.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CormoranStrikeNovelsOfficial

Twitter: @RGalbraith

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3 star		12%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from Australia

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Not a book I would recommend

Reviewed in Australia on 10 June 2020

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This may be a new project but it is not to my taste. The language very is crude at times and frankly unnecessary. It was a reasonable plot set in an immoral industry. Frequent writing of swear words in a book does not make it an adult book or a clever writer. If this is an accurate depiction of the current British culture I am glad I left England 50 years ago. Would do better to study the writings of Agatha Christie and Patricia Wentworth or stick to the excellent Harry Potter type book. If the purpose of the novel is to highlight the stupidity of hero worship of popular idols then there is some positives about the book, Not a book I would recommend to waste money buying.

One person found this helpful

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Miss Shezza

A bloody fantastic read!

Reviewed in Australia on 23 May 2020

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Cormoran Strike I love you - andbmany thanks to "Robert Galbraith", I'm now hooked and can't wait to read the next book in The Striker Series...
Great story, fantastic characters and written with the up most Grace and style - a bloody fantastic read!

2 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Would not recomend :(

Reviewed in Australia on 21 September 2020

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Like me I am sure everybody who reads these books are fns of murder mysteries. All I can say from a murder mystery lover to another is that it is very compllicated. The story line is confusing and hard to follow. It wouldn't appeal to me as a good book. I have given this book a solid 2 stars because of this problem. There is unnecessary swearing and a lot of it too. As we are in lockdown this is probably something I would read if I was so desperate. I have definitely read better and would recommend other books over it. (·_·)
COVID SUCKS !!!!!

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Peter Anderson

Engaging characters, great plot and beautifully-written work by JK Rowling's pseudonym

Reviewed in Australia on 6 May 2020

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This series is a great read, written by JK Rowling under her pseudonym Robert Galbraith, presumably so that readers didn't connect the book, in any way, to the Harry Potter series. They are completely unconnected, but the writing and ideas are just as well put together. Within the main who-dunnit-plot, in the Cormoran Strike series, are woven some outstanding sub-plots that I enjoyed as much, or more than, the main plot. For example, Cormoran's offsider, Robin, has a past that is slowly revealed and yet she triumphs despite that past.

2 people found this helpful

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George Bognar

UNEXPECTED GEM

Reviewed in Australia on 24 January 2020

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I had stereotyped J K Rowling as being the author of the Harry Potter series, all of which I enjoyed immensely. Harry Potter is a genre universes removed from the crime/private investigator genre. The Cuckoo's Calling is amazingly well written, in my humble opinion; loved the characterisations and the twist in the tale at the end - never would have guessed it. Now working my way through Book 3, having devoured Book 2.

2 people found this helpful

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roslyn cairns

An absorbing read about a colourful detective and his new offsider

Reviewed in Australia on 18 July 2021

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I loved all the characters in this book, from the hero to the killer, and am keen to meet some again in the next series. I had the advantage of both the ebook and the audible, concurrenty, the latter so entertainingly read with different accents for each person.
I was gobsmacked on learning the identity of the killer.
I found i had clear images of Strike's office and also the murder scene premises.
My only criticism is that early chapters became tedious within the various interviews. I would have preferred alternate ways of presenting us with all the information.
I have already embarked on the second book.

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Sylvia

Wonderful characters and plot

Reviewed in Australia on 23 August 2014

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This is the first Cormoran Strike novel I have read. I quickly followed it by another because I enjoyed it so much. Tearful, unattractive and priviledged young man appeals to Cormoron to solve the mystery of the assumed suicide of his much loved and beautiful adopted sister. Although there were many characters and suspects, the final expose was a complete surprise in spite of clues offered throughout. What I really loved about the book were the characters. They were depicted in a very efficient and 'true' manner. Sometimes I found it confusing because Galbraith tends to assume the reader knows London as well as he. I felt I needed a map a great deal of the time. Cormoran Strike, the one legged private detective and his offsider, Robin, the female "temp" secretary he is assigned are wonderful together making a very balanced and amusing 'strictly business only' couple. I would recommend this book to anybody who enjoys a well rounded 'who dunit' that has impeccable plot lines and great characters.

4 people found this helpful

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Tania M C Lewis

Compelling and intelligent

Reviewed in Australia on 5 February 2020

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Forget who wrote this novel. Instead immerse yourself in a thunderingly good tale of betrayal and murder. A plot driven narrative, populated with exciting and well drawn characters, The Cuckoo’s Calling is unforgettable and unputdownable. It’s magic!

One person found this helpful

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Matt Jardine:, award winning author of 'How to be a Buddhist Millionaire' & 'The Hardest Path'.

Not since reading 'Love in a time of Cholera' have I enjoyed description like this...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 July 2019

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As an author of non-fiction books, I thought it was high time that I took on the writing of a fiction novel as my next challenge.

My agent had suggested it previously, but now I was ready.

In his book 'On Writing, Stephan King suggests that all authors should do two things to improve their craft: read and write, a lot.

I was interested to see how JK Rowling under the pseudonym of Robert Galbraith (sorry if this is a plot spoiler for you), would handle the transition from writing for children to adults.

I'll tell you how well she managed it: I became so engrossed in the first of the series of Cormoran Strike detective novels that I forgot about studying her work and just enjoyed it.

You don't need me to summarise the story, after all, that's what the back cover is for, but I will say that I am in awe of Galbraith/ Rowling. I have not since reading 'Love in a time of Cholera' by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, found another author who makes a detailed description of the 'mundane' as entertaining as Galbraith.

it's an unbelievably tricky skill to walk the tight rope between superfluous and necessary description (I know all too well, often falling the wrong side).

I still don't l know how she does it, but now I'm too busy reading the strike novels solely for pleasure to care.

PS: I sent the book to my dad in Cornwall who is now also hooked!

Enjoy.

Matt :)

61 people found this helpful

Catherine

Lightning can Strike twice

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 April 2020

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Let’s get this out the way- I’m a huge Harry Potter fan. I used to manage the children’s section in my local bookshop, and I read every kids book going. I would tell all my customers the same thing- Harry is the best. You can’t beat it.

Having said that...I prefer Corm.

Seriously, how does JK do it? She has a masterful grasp of plot, character, pacing, the works. I am also constantly amazed by how good she is at coming up with character names!

The story is artful in it’s simplicity. Model dies after hurtling from a balcony, did she fall or was she pushed? Add a complex cast of starry, shallow, money hungry, a-moral characters and you have a great yarn ahead of you.

The main reason it’s so compelling is the man himself, Cormoran Strike. It’s hard to create a detective without being cliched, and somehow JK has done it. Who knew a one legged army vet with a penchant for beautiful, psychotic women would be so interesting to read about. I also love Robin, who manages in this book to be wide eyed and eager without going full Enid Blyton.

Stellar as always. I recommend it to everyone.

(Special mention to Robert Glenister, best audiobook reader I’ve ever heard)

32 people found this helpful

Leigh

Not as Magical as HP

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 September 2018

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The book is written in third person narration and written from the perspectives of Cormoran Strike and his assistant Robin Ellacott. I found the writing style quite difficult, it was written in the same style as the Harry Potter series, with the same kind of descriptions being used, for example these are the first two sentences, The buzz in the street was like the humming of flies. Photographers stood massed behind barriers patrolled by police, their long-snouted cameras poised, their breath rising like steam." Which to me seems quite awkward and it just doesn't sit right with what the book is about and its general tone. To me the writing style for Harry Potter helped add to the magic of the story, it enriched it, here it just seems out of place and distracts from the story.

The story focuses on Cormoran Strike and his P.I business. He is asked by a former class mate's brother to investigate the death of his sister, who was a supermodel and which the police have decided was a suicide. We then go along with Cormoran as he investigates her death.

I did this like this book, it was a good read and Rowling weaves quite a few different plot points together well and we get to know the both Cormoran and Robin quite well, as there is a lot of their backstory in the book. The plot isn't massively complicated though and while there are a few twists and turns as the events unfold, it all feels a bit underwhelming in the end.

I found there was also a little bit of spitefulness in Rowling's writing style too, towards many of the characters, mainly the female ones and the celebrities, while there seems to be hints of outward dislike to Rowling's press in the book. I can't really put my finger on exactly what it was, but there seemed to be an edge of smugness and spitefulness while Rowling is narrating scenes involving them.

I will be reading the next book in the series as I am intrigued enough by the characters of Cormoran (even though he seems to be a copy of Hagrid, less the half giant part of course) and Robin.

35 people found this helpful

Jasmine T

Dull and derivative.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 January 2019

Verified Purchase

I bought this book because so many of my friends and colleagues were raving about the Cormoran Strike series and getting excited about the release of the fourth book and I had to keep warning them not to reveal any spoilers. And the Harry Potter series is definitely well constructed and worth reading. Plus, I like a good detective story, so it seemed like a sure thing.

Unfortunately, this is *not* a good detective story. It is a very mediocre one, with a plot that owes much to the infinitely superior 'An Unsuitable Job for a Woman'. The characters are unappealing: Strike reminds me of Cracker-without-the-charm (which may be because Galbraith/Rowling is rewriting Hagrid who was also played by Robbie Coltrane) and her only way of letting us know that Robin isn't nice-but-dim is to repeatedly tell us 'she asked intelligently', 'she looked round intelligently', 'she listened intelligently', &c. Honestly, the lady doth protest too much.

So I'm now going to let my friends and colleagues sing the praises of this series to high heaven and reveal as many spoilers as their hearts desire -- no skin off my nose: I won't be wasting my time reading any more of this disappointing series. Ms Rowling should, I feel, stick to children's fiction which is where her true talents lie.

29 people found this helpful

SusannahB

Enter Cormoran Strike

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 September 2020

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In J.K.Rowling's/Robert Galbraith's 'The Cuckoo's Calling' the reader is introduced to Cormoran Strike, an Afghanistan veteran who has lost part of a leg and who now works as a private detective, and one with a personal life that is in a bit of a mess. Enter strawberry blonde, curvaceous Robin Ellacott, who is newly engaged to stolid fiance, Matthew, and who arrives to work as a temp for Strike - a job she finds fascinating, despite Matthew's criticism of Cormoran Strike and the work itself. When Strike is visited by John Bristow, the older brother of a childhood friend of Strike's and asks him to investigate the death of his famous supermodel sister, Lula Landry - a death that was classified as suicide by the police three months ago, but which John Bristow is convinced was murder - Strike and Robin become involved in case that brings them into the orbit of a whole range of characters including supermodels, rockstars, film makers, rappers, fashion designers et al, alongside those whose lot in life is much less glamorous. Robin, despite noticing that Strike's private life is in a shambles, admires the detective for his diligence and orderliness in the line of duty and, keen to become involved in his investigations, she finds herself taking on much more than would normally be expected by an office temp - something that does not go unnoticed by Strike, who is surprised by her initiative and resourcefulness, and also something that does not go unnoticed by Matthew who resents Robin's commitment to her new job and her new boss. But was Lula Landry murdered, as her brother insists? Or did the incredibly beautiful young woman, whose so-called private life was a very troubled one and who was constantly hounded by the press, decide to end her own life?

The last time I read something by J.K.Rowling was years ago when I read the Harry Potter books to my son - who absolutely loved the series and I enjoyed reading them to him; however, when the author moved to writing adult fiction I must admit I had no real interest in reading them. This was, for me, a fairly average crime novel: the plot was not hugely original (and I had little difficulty working out who the perpetrator of the crime was), the troubled detective with a messy private life is one we've seen many times before, and some of the supporting characters were rather stereotypical. That's not to say there weren't parts to the novel that interested me and kept me entertained, but the plaudits on the book's cover and on the inside pages ("wonderfully fresh and funny"; "one of the must unique and compelling detectives I've come across in years"; "unsurprisingly excellent"and so forth) led me to expect more from this than it actually delivered. I do have a couple of the sequels in this series which I bought together with this particular title for my son who is now old enough to read adult novels and expressed an interest in the Cormoran Strike books (although the excessive amount of four-lettered words has made me reluctant to hand them over!) and as I've now bought them I may well read them at some point, but I have other books that I am more excited about reading before I start on these.

3 Stars.

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