By this time, most readers know that this book, the author's first venture into crime fiction, was actually written by J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series. "The Cuckoo's Calling" introduces readers to Cormoran Strike, a London private detective with a famous rock star for a father, a complicated family, and a prosthetic leg to replace the one he lost in Afghanistan. He is also coming off a bad breakup, and has just acquired a temporary secretary, Robin, who has always had a secret fascination with detective work, and their working relationships is one of the highlights of the book as they have great chemistry.
Strike is asked to investigate the death of a young supermodel named Lula Landry (called “Cuckoo” by her friends), which was ruled a suicide. Her brother pays Strike handsomely to re-investigate the case, believing that she couldn't have taken her own life, and the journey takes them into the world of high fashion and famous people.
It's a fun read, although it dragged a bit in places, and I thought it could have used another round of editing, and I still don't quite get the title. The plot also took a few strange turns, and I'm not sure that Striker's conclusion could have resulted in his sifting of the clues that were provided. But I really liked Strike and Robin and would probably read the next installment.
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