A Loved Author, A New Name

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The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling)



So what do you when you are the world renowned author of the Harry Potter Series and everyone wants you to keep writing books like Harry Potter? You create a penname and release your newest novel under that name, which should then give you a shot at having a career outside of Harry Potter. The cover, of course, was blown and everyone knew immediately after the release of The Cuckoo’s Calling that it was written by JK Rowling, and not the debut author, Robert Galbraith. Even though the attempt at obscurity failed the book was a success. Much like her other novel, The Casual Vacancy, JK Rowling stepped out of the realm of magic and into the real world, one of celebrity obsession, drugs, race relations, and murder.

                A young model fell to her death in an apparent suicide and her troubled brother has a hired a wounded veteran, now a private detective, to solve what he believes is an actual murder. Our private eye, Cormoran Strike, is in debt and even though he thinks it may be a waste of time, desperate for money, he takes the case. With the assistance of his newly hired secretary Robin, he delves into the life of Lula Landry, the very successful model who had issues not only with drug use in her past but also with her mental health. Adopted as a young child by a white family, Lula who is biracial, became obsessed with her biological family and briefly before her death had an uncovered her biological mother and was searching for the father she had never met. Strike discovers the paranoia Lula felt due to the media attention she garnered and how she began to question the people who had been closest to her.  But who could’ve or would’ve murdered the young model. The drug addict boyfriend who she was seen arguing with the night of her death? A jealous friend who may have been leaking information to the press? Or a long lost family member?

                I thoroughly enjoyed The Cuckoo’s Calling. JK Rowling used the idea of a deceased model to touch on a lot of issues we see in today’s society: the obsession that’s been created over the young and beautiful in the entertainment industry, mental health and how that can contribute to drug addiction, what makes a family bond and what can cause those bonds to form and break.  Strike is the vessel through which we look at this world. Not blinded by the lights he sees in Lula’s world of “glamour” we get a clear picture of the players in this story. This didn’t lack in suspense at all and I found the ending to be exactly what I needed and didn’t know I wanted. I would suggest this novel to any fans of JK Rowling who have been eager since The Casual Vacancy for another novel. JK Rowling’s talent for weaving an interesting and telling story about our society as always is evident.

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