I've missed reading a good, solid mystery novel. And I've also missed JK Rowling's signature style of narration and description. I don't think I've read anything by her since Harry Potter, and that was over a decade ago. The Cuckoo's Calling was like coming home in a way.

Successful mystery novels all share a trait that, in my opinion, is one which makes or breaks them. Of all the details and clues thrown at the reader, the important ones need to stick. But not overtly. They need to subtly fuse themselves just inside the subconscious, ready to be retrieved at a later point when putting the whole mystery puzzle together. When some new mystery novel is lauded in the media as a must-read, I often assume it successfully figured out how to navigate that delicate balance of story, clues and revelation.

Really, really great book! My first time listening to this author and am greatly looking forward to the next books in the series! Highly recommend it!

Mystery lovers who like a clever, well-organized puzzle will definitely enjoy this.

I liked the book. Interesting story and characters. I was a bit put off by the amount of foul language though. That's why I took 2 stars. I understand the 'trying to be "realistic" Nevertheless, I read a lot of detective thrillers and the likes and have enjoyed books that I can't put down that doesn't necessarily exploit this resource to a limit. I respect her as a writer. Is my first read under this pen name. I will continue to explore the series and see.

Really enjoyed this book. A little different from your regular detective read. Interesting characters.

As with most mysteries, it’s not until the very end that I figured it out. Fun read.

JOANNE'S MYSTERY PICKS

Cormoran Strike is having a bad day. He has just broken up with his fiancée of 15+ years and is now virtually homeless, resorting to sleeping in his office. His PI business is floundering, and he is up to his eyebrows in debt. His prosthetic leg (the result of his tour in Afghanistan) is giving him grief and the temp agency has sent him another secretary who is surplus to his needs.

And then John Bristow walks through the door. Wealthy, and the brother of Charlie and Lula, both now deceased, Bristow could just be Cormoran’s ticket out of his troubles. Charlie, a school mate of Cormoran’s, died years ago when he rode his bike into a quarry; Lula Landry, the famous model, committed suicide a few months back by jumping out of her apartment window – or so the police concluded. It’s Lula’s death that Bristow wants Cormoran to investigate because he believes it was anything but suicide.

So Cormoran insinuates himself into the world of high fashion, rock stars, and dysfunctional families (the least of which is his very own).

Galbraith (the pseudonym of J. K. Rowling) has created a fresh new character in Cormoran – someone who endears himself to the reader after the first chapter. I enjoyed every page of this novel – the humour, the cleverness of the plot, and the well formed characters. Cormoran is a character I want to read more of!

A classic J.K. Style novel with twists and turns and a very long plot. Need to stay invested for what you hope is a good plot payout

Why has the OPL allowed me to put a hold on the large-print edition of this book when it no longer appears to have a copy of it?

another name for JK Rowling. didn't like this book much