Okay, I can't do this review seriously without first acknowledging the elephantitis in the room. Robert Galbraith is simply a pseudonym for J.K. Rowling, who wanted to see if her writing was still considered great when her fame was removed from the title. I grew up reading Harry Potter, so that bias should be considered when reading this review. If you did not like the Harry Potter series or her style of writing, then this book will not be for you. What made Harry Potter so great was not only the story and wonder-filled world; it was the characters and their interactions with each other. The conversations, small little side ventures together, and many, many interesting and fleshed out characters are what makes Rowling's prose so fun to read, and she removes herself from the story completely, allowing the reader to immerse themselves in the story (unlike other great writers, like Cormac McCarthy, who use their prose for beauty). That being said, The Cuckoo's Calling is a very good novel in its own right.
Continuing a brief synopsis, Strike is a Londonian veteran who is missing a leg but never lets it interfere with his life. He is a private investigator who is assigned a receptionist, Robin, from London's job placement, and she quickly adapts to his work and shows genuine interest in what he does. A wealthy man, John Bristow, hires Strike to investigate the murder of his adopted sister, a famous supermodel named Lula Landry. Her death was ruled a suicide, but Bristow wants Strike to investigate nonetheless, suspecting something more sinister going on. The story then quickly becomes a lot of dead ends and red herrings, with seemingly nothing connecting together. As the story progresses however (very much like Harry Potter), small details and disconnected events begin to come together and finally result in a big reveal that honestly surprised me. If for nothing more than the mystery, this novel would be worth a read.
But what captivated me was not so much the mystery as the characters. Strike is a very complex man, hiding his prosthetic leg and doing his best to appear normal while also trying to live on an extremely tight budget. He and Robin also develop a mentorship that definitely hints at signs of attraction, resulting in some tense situations, but it doesn't progress very far because of Robin's engagement (for which she moved to London) and Strike's recent breakup. Robin goes through relationship strife with her fiancé due to working for Strike and placing herself in danger, and not settling down into a traditional role where she is submissive to him. Meanwhile, Strike has had essentially a lifelong on-off relationship with his ex-fiancée where she repeatedly cheated on him, and after the most recent episode, he finally left her. These very different relationship issues further cloud Strike and Robin's relationship with each other, and I honestly look forward to how it progresses in the future (I will post a review of The Silkworm, the next Strike novel, within a few months).
In summary, I highly recommend this more mature novel to all grownup Harry Potter fans and crime mystery fans. Rowling is at the top of her game with her characters, and although the story has some clichés, it was still an absorbing read (much like Harry Potter where it is incredibly difficult to put the book down because you're too interested).
Best Print Edition: Amazon, Paperback, $13.75
Best Electronic Edition: Amazon, Kindle, $10.99
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