The Cuckoo's Calling [NOOK Book]

( 62 )

Overview


A brilliant debut mystery in a classic vein: Detective Cormoran Strike investigates a supermodel's suicide.


After losing his leg to a land mine in Afghanistan, Cormoran Strike is barely scraping by as a private investigator. Strike is down to one client, and creditors are calling. He has also just broken up with his longtime girlfriend ...
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The Cuckoo's Calling

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More About This Book

Overview


A brilliant debut mystery in a classic vein: Detective Cormoran Strike investigates a supermodel's suicide.


After losing his leg to a land mine in Afghanistan, Cormoran Strike is barely scraping by as a private investigator. Strike is down to one client, and creditors are calling. He has also just broken up with his longtime girlfriend and is living in his office.

Then John Bristow walks through his door with an amazing story: His sister, thelegendary supermodel Lula Landry, known to her friends as the Cuckoo, famously fell to her death a few months earlier. The police ruled it a suicide, but John refuses to believe that. The case plunges Strike into the world of multimillionaire beauties, rock-star boyfriends, and desperate designers, and it introduces him to every variety of pleasure, enticement, seduction, and delusion known to man.

You may think you know detectives, but you've never met one quite like Strike. You may think you know about the wealthy and famous, but you've never seen them under an investigation like this.
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Editorial Reviews

Library Journal
Lula Landry, a celebrity model rumored to have a drug problem, falls to her death one snowy night. Even though the police rule it a suicide, Lula's brother asks struggling London PI Cormoran Strike to investigate. Cormoran knows what he's up against: the rich are famously good at blockading information sharing. Nonetheless, he and his new assistant, Robin, forge an effective partnership as they interview fashion insiders, jealous boyfriends, and dysfunctional family members. The results are devastating. Cormoran's own celebrity roots and status as a wounded veteran (he lost his leg in Afghanistan) color a fascinating tale that explores the lifestyles of the rich and the unhappy. VERDICT Laden with plenty of twists and distractions, this debut ensures that readers will be puzzled and totally engrossed for quite a spell. Galbraith's take on contemporary celebrity obsession makes for a grand beach read. It's like a mash-up of Charles Dickens and Penny Vincenzi.
The New York Times - Michiko Kakutani
…a highly entertaining book…Ms. Rowling—er, Mr. Galbraith—seems to have…studied the detective story genre and turned its assorted conventions into something that…showcases her satiric eye…and her instinctive storytelling talents.
Publishers Weekly
In a rare feat, the pseudonymous Galbraith combines a complex and compelling sleuth and an equally well-formed and unlikely assistant with a baffling crime in his stellar debut. When office temp Robin Ellacott reports for work, she’s unprepared for the shabby office or the rude greeting she receives from London PI Cormoran Strike. Soon after, John Bristow arrives and asks Strike to look into the putative suicide of his adopted, mixed-race sister, supermodel Lula Landry. Strike reluctantly agrees, even though the police have concluded a high-profile investigation. A decorated Afghan vet with an artificial lower leg, Strike begins a meticulous reinvestigation that leads him into a world of celebrities and wannabes, as well as deep into Landry’s sad rollercoaster life. The methodical Strike and the curious Ellacott work their way through a host of vividly drawn suspects and witnesses toward an elegant solution. Readers will hope to see a lot more of this memorable sleuthing team. Agent: Zoe King, the Blair Partnership (U.K.) (Apr.)
Val McDermid
"THE CUCKOO'S CALLING reminds me why I fell in love with crime fiction in the first place."
Mark Billingham
"Cormoran Strike is an amazing creation and I can't wait for his next outing. Strike is so instantly compelling that it's hard to believe this is a debut novel. I hope there are plenty more Cormoran Strike adventures to come. A beautifully written debut novel introducing one of the most unique and compelling detectives I've come across in years."
Mike Cooper
"Robert Galbraith's debut is as hardbitten and hard-driving as its battered hero. CUCKOO'S CALLING scales the glittering heights of society even as it plumbs the dark depths of the human heart. A riveting read from an author to watch."
Duane Swierczynski
"The private eye novel is not dead. It was merely waiting for Robert Galbraith to give it a firm squeeze, goosing it back to bold, new life. Hardboiled crime fans are going to go cuckoo for this one. I haven't had this much with a detective novel in years."
Owen Laukkanen
"A remarkably assured debut. Robert Galbraith's portrayal of celebrity-obsessed modern London is at once beautifully written and utterly engrossing, his characters so real you could eat dinner with them, his ever-coiling plot guaranteed to keep you up past your bedtime. I couldn't put it down."
Booklist
"Instantly absorbing, featuring a detective facing crumbling circumstances with resolve instead of clichéd self-destruction and a lovable sidekick with contagious enthusiasm for detection. Strike bears little resemblance to Jackson Brodie, but Kate Atkinson's fans will appreciate his reliance on deduction and observation along with Galbraith's skilled storytelling."
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780316206860
  • Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
  • Publication date: 4/30/2013
  • Sold by: Hachette Digital, Inc.
  • Format: eBook
  • Sales rank: 1
  • File size: 726 KB

Meet the Author

After several years with the Royal Military Police, Robert Galbraith was attached to the SIB (Special Investigative Branch), the plain-clothes branch of the RMP. He left the military in 2003 and has been working since then in the civilian security industry. The idea for Cormoran Strike grew directly out of his own experiences and those of his military friends who returned to the civilian world. 'Robert Galbraith' is a pseudonym.
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 62 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(40)

4 Star

(7)

3 Star

(7)

2 Star

(2)

1 Star

(6)
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 62 Customer Reviews

  • Posted Wed Jul 17 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    I Also Recommend:

    Cryonic: A Zombie Novel

    I've read two good books so far this summer. This one and Cryoni

    I've read two good books so far this summer. This one and Cryonic: A Zombie Novel.

    Rowling doesn't disappoint with her first foray into the world of mystery novels. She keeps you guessing right until the end as to who the guilty party is. A good mystery is a lot of fun regardless of your preferred genre of books.

    I read somewhere recently that Agatha Christie has outsold every author (other than the Bible) and she has sold more than a billion books. Like the works of Christie, Cuckoo's Calling is a classic British whodunnit.

    Robin is a strong, intelligent woman who works alongside Strike without any forced sexual tension. As they uncover more and more about the victim (a murdered supermodel) you really begin to care for the characters' discovery process.

    I won't say much more about the mystery because I don't want to spoil, but you can imagine a book about a murdered socialite and supermodel offers plenty of interesting suspects. Perhaps the only silly thing with the novel was Rowling's overuse of smoking as a character trait. It's laughable how often her characters would light up a cigarette.

    88 out of 88 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue Jun 25 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    Fantastic. Read it!!

    I noticed there was no review when I purchased this - and had to come back to leave one because this book was BRILLIANT!
    Set in London which is a plus, great characterisation - in fact, really ORIGINAL characters which is refreshing - and really well tied in storylines. Just loved it - wish it wasn't a debut novel, and hope he writes more. One of the best books I've read in a long time.

    80 out of 102 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Wed Jul 03 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    The Real Deal!

    This debut mystery by pseudonymous author 'Robert Galbraith' certainly lived up to the hype - and then some. The only surprises for me in reading it was: 1) it is a first book and 2) it's been described as hardboiled and crime noir. While there are certain aspects of the story that may be dark, I didn't find the book to fall into that category at all.

    The author's previous career in England's Royal Military Police adds a genuineness to the story, especially with the main character, one Cormoran Strike, a war veteran injured during his latest tour in Afghanistan. Broken up from his wealthy fiancee and literally out in the streets, Cormoran takes to sleeping in his dingy and cramped office while trying to scrape by doing PI work.

    Into his life come two people who will have a significant impact. The first is a client who's seeking answers into the apparent suicide of his supermodel sister. The second is the appearance of a temporary assistant Cormoran requested prior to his abrupt downward spiral. The temp, Robin, turns out to be a perfect ying to Cormoran's yang. She's bright, tactful, intuitive, resourceful and shows a real knack (not to mention passion) for the work.

    How Cormoran - aided greatly by Robin- navigates towards the sordid truth of the supermodel's death, as well as coming to terms with his own situation in life,is a marvel to watch unfold.

    By turns humorous, poignant, clever and twisty, The Cuckoo's Calling is always engaging and rings with authenticity. I was astounded that this was a debut - in the author's assured hands, it is anything but.

    79 out of 108 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Jul 14 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    Recently read this and was blown away!! I love a good mystery an

    Recently read this and was blown away!! I love a good mystery and usually stick with a select group of mystery authors but gave this one a chance and LOVED it.. and to top it off I found out today when researching Robert Galbraith for other titles, that the true author is none other than J.K. Rowling! I was ecstatic to discover this as I love Harry Potter and quite enjoyed The Casual Vacancy as well, definitely looking forward to more from Ms Rowling!!!

    45 out of 65 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    This book grabbed me from the very beginning and I'm enjoying ev

    This book grabbed me from the very beginning and I'm enjoying every minute of it. I like my characters interesting and well developed so this meets the bill.. Let's hope that JK Rowling will continue to write under this pseudonym and continue this series.

    14 out of 27 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Sat Jul 13 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    more from this reviewer

    An amazing, thought provoking novel!

    An amazing, thought provoking novel!

    14 out of 30 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sat Jul 13 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    Jk rowling wrote this.

    Rowling,jk..use your real name. Not gonna read this,psuedonyms are stupid

    10 out of 562 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    this book is good even thiugh ive only reaf the sample

    I heard about this book on the today show and thought it looked like a good read and the sample is captivating. This is one book i am looking to buy

    6 out of 31 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Sun Jul 14 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    J K Rowling tries her hand at adult fiction. Under the pen name

    J K Rowling tries her hand at adult fiction.
    Under the pen name Robert Galbraith, Rowling actually wrote a fairly good crime novel.

    5 out of 46 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Sun Jul 14 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    It's JK Rowling! No wonder it's good.

    It's JK Rowling! No wonder it's good.

    5 out of 50 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Jul 14 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    JK Rowling is the real author

    She revealed she wrote it recently .

    4 out of 76 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    lasr Last comment

    that "horse's" comment had nothing to do with jk rowlings newest book

    3 out of 70 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    Great

    No wonder its awesome its J.K. rowling! But no offense Ms. Rowling, but why use a pseudonym? Everybody knows that its you! Still, amazing book.

    3 out of 28 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Jul 14 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    The author is really JK Rowling.

    The author is really JK Rowling.

    3 out of 79 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Wed Jul 17 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    Kik messanger

    Im trying to reach out to barnes in noble can you please get kik messagener on this nook. I dont have nook color or anything . Not the first one with just books i can get apps on mine so can u add kik messanger as a app .. please. I would love my nook more after that

    2 out of 39 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    Love horses?

    Do you love horses? Are you ages 9-13? If so, try the Canterwood Crest series by Jessica Burkhart. Sasha Silver arrives at Canterwood Crest Academy with her horse Charm. But not everyone welcomes her with open arms. Enter the Trio, a group of girls- Julia Myer, Alison Robb, and the leader, Heather Fox. Sasha, the Trio, Nichole and her horse Wishful Thinking, and Sasha's new bestie, Callie Harper, are all trying out for the advanced team. Who will earn the coveted spots? Five girls. One school. And some serious drama.

    2 out of 147 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Jul 18 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    Shoul i buy?

    I'm in need of a good book right now and i just turned 11 so do you think i should purchase it and is it appropite or not????

    1 out of 23 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Jul 18 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    Two Thumbs Up!

    A great read! I would love to see a Comoron Strike series!

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Wed Jul 17 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    Perfect...

    J.K Rowling put the perfet amount of everything in this spectacular book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Jul 14 00:00:00 EDT 2013

    I love j.k rowling!

    I loved the harry potter series, so i bet this.is another phenominal book by the amazing author j.k rowling.

    1 out of 47 people found this review helpful.

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 62 Customer Reviews
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