The Cuckoo's Calling (Cormoran Strike, #1) in Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge

Sep 15, 2013 CrystalIsReading on StoryGraph rated it really liked it

Shelves: mysteries, around-the-world-challenge, audio

Brilliant writing, in a story I would NEVER have suspected was written by J.K. Rowling. Rich, unique characters in a distinctive London setting. Cormoran Strike is unforgettable. Robin is likable and resourceful and strong and confident, although not possibly as distinctive as Strike, and they make a great team. I look forward to seeing their development as characters as the series continues.
The other characters were distinctive as well. From ugly duck secretaries to celebrity hangers-on to the Brilliant writing, in a story I would NEVER have suspected was written by J.K. Rowling. Rich, unique characters in a distinctive London setting. Cormoran Strike is unforgettable. Robin is likable and resourceful and strong and confident, although not possibly as distinctive as Strike, and they make a great team. I look forward to seeing their development as characters as the series continues.
The other characters were distinctive as well. From ugly duck secretaries to celebrity hangers-on to the famous and the infamous, the author seems to grasp a different world and transmit it with crystal clarity through her writing. Everyone in the story is described in detail. Other than Cormoran and Robin, I didn't like or get very invested in any of the other characters, but I certainly had a strong sense of who they were and what they were like. Lula grew as a shadowy figure throughout the book as well, and by the end, I felt sympathy for her, if nothing else. there was so much smoking by the characters that I was as grossed out as I would have been if I'd been there in person--but it seemed to fit with the characters and the setting, as did the bad language, specifically the all-too-frequent use of the C word. ick. I get it, but ick.
All of the above DOES mean that the writing is very wordy. Dialogue scenes between Cormoran and the various people he interviews seem to go on forever, although the information hidden throughout those interviews is invariably vital when Cormoran finally wraps up the mystery. I had more patience with such description-heavy writing than usual, though, probably because it was well-written and interesting and felt as vital to the unraveling of the mystery as it turned out to be. I also really enjoyed not being able to guess the identity of villain halfway in to the book. I really had no idea who the villain was until the author finally revealed it. Listening to the audio version did this story even more favors, as the narrator has a wonderful accent and delivery, and a chameleon-like ability to portray various genders, ages, classes, and ethnicities. I greatly anticipate listening to the next book in the series as well. ...more

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Jul 20, 2013 Agatha Donkar Lund rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2013, fiction, mystery

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 12, 2013 Kelly rated it it was amazing

Very good, loved the twists and turns. JK Rowling does such a great job of keeping you on your toes. It was so much fun to read a book written for adults and look forward to more books featuring this detective. I highly recommend for lovers of mystery and JK Rowling.

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Mar 01, 2021 Susan rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2021

I was uncomfortable with some of the language in the book, especially around describing character's features or manners.

At the end I was invested in both Cormoran Strike and Robin as characters, and would be interested in reading more in the series. ...more

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Sep 21, 2013 Janie rated it it was ok

So, I'd read Ikea assembly instructions if "Robert Galbraith" wrote them, because I do think "he" is truly brilliant. This book was disappointing. Where Rowling creates such beautiful characters (in HP AND in Casual Vacancy), there were none here. ...more

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