Our August book club read JK Rowling’s “The Cuckoo’s Calling.” Good reviews aside, I was looking forward to reading something different from Rowling. I absolutely loved the Potter series, and brought my kids up on it. How does a writer write after a phenomenon? “The Casual Vacancy,” didn’t interest me as much as this novel did. But, that’s just the back covers talking. Time is short and my book list is long.
My first mistake was reading this novel after I read a few very fast paced thrillers. It’s not a fast paced book. As one of the ladies from book club said, “It’s a little dense in the beginning.” In and of itself, that’s just fine, I just have to slow down a bit and get in synch with its rhythm. (If you think this is dense, don’t even pick up “The Goldfinch.”)
Cormoran Strike, a one-legged Afghan veteran turned private eye makes a great protagonist with his mind wandering endlessly over his breakup with his estranged girlfriend. As his debt rises he is forced to sleep in his small office with one step in front of the collectors. Strike accidently slams into a young woman coming into his office. The woman, Robin, is a temp secretary he wasn’t expecting. Then, an unexpected potential client walks in his door a few minutes later. Robin stays on and the story takes flight.
The new potential client, John Bristow, wants Strike to look into the suicide of his sister Lula Landry, a world-famous model. Strike, needing money, accepts the case.
As the investigation gets rolling we meet some interesting characters each with his or her own twist. A whodunit set in the glittering world of modeling, where we all know what glitters might not be gold.
About a fourth of the way into the story, I made my second mistake. I seconded guess myself in who and what I thought happened to Lula Landry. Always go with that first gut feeling.
Book club was divided on the book. The ladies who read more literature liked it a lot, while others though it was okay. We had a few discussions on being famous and living in the spotlight, as well as relationships, both family and friends.
I think there are books better suited to book club, but it was an enjoyable read.
Hint: You never know who you can trust, just follow the money.
Rating: 7.5