It’s about time we faced J.K. Rowling or Robert Galbraith, in the form of Cormoran Strike, private detective, ex-army, with a bad leg blown off in a war in Afghanistan. Does that ring a bell? Of course, it does. It’s like private dective has be one of those FBI, CIA or army guys. Apart from this colossal similarity, this novel doesn’t contain anything which could be said to be a formulaic musing.
With the instalment of The Cuckoo’s Calling, the author seems have created a character which is very close to the way Sherlock Holmes or Dr. Cal Lightman would solve a crime. Only differences would be the gamut of techniques & time taken up in the investigation.
The storyline is when Lula Landry falls to her death, her brother John Bristow hires a private detective to catch the killer. Now, while everyone including the police believes that it was a suicide, John remains firm on his belief that it was indeed a murder at all times. Cormoran Strike has to investigate the alleged murder, when the trail’s already got cold. An impossible murder, with no lead tailing beyond dead ends, will it hamper the investigation or will Strike be able to crack the case?
The whole story has been endowed with great characterization. The plot and the sub-plots stand out with just as much admiration from the reader as for the knack of description. Although, it does seem to deluge its way in the first three hundred pages. That’s when the author brings out a gloomy side of Strike. It doesn’t linger for a long time. This part of the novel, epitomizes with the aura created in True Detective. It is much like by the book investigation, in depth but it sets a sturdy base for the novel.
The second half, after about three hundred pages, the book picks up pace and enthrals the reader. It’s from that point, that the anticipation soars up and isuddenly changes it’s gear.This half is more like Castle, but with no punch lines that puts a glee on the face. Strike mostly keeps every bit of evidence to himself, not showing off what he’s got, very contemplative in case he’s tipping off anything to the murderer.
The Final Word:
Robert Galbraith has got very good understanding of the role of different characters and their mindset, shifting through the dialogues of every person and writing them in the form of third person. It is very difficult thing to do, writing in that fashion. It is believed to be very turbulent, but he pulls it off very pragmatically. Though his description might nag you but the cliffhanger will bring out the better of it. The first half may seem a tidbit tedious, the latter makes up for it. The Cuckoo’s Calling is a terrific, gripping and absorbing novel.
My Rating: 4/5.
Suraj Umarye Financial Services 