Book Review: We have many reasons to thank J.K. Rowling: saving books, reading, and literacy for a start. And now we can thank her for the first book in a great new detective series, The Cuckoo's Calling. Rowling has created an intriguing and very English version of the (somewhat) hard boiled detective novel; at least Cormoran Strike looks as if he should be a tough guy detective. Well situated in time and place, her detective is to London what Philip Marlowe was to L.A. Although the pacing in The Cuckoo's Calling is deliberate and there is a certain stretch where little seems to happen, her vivid, detailed descriptions and solid character development kept me reading relentlessly. And speaking of characters, Strike's accidental secretary (he literally runs into her!), Robin, promises to be one of the most irresistible people Rowling has created -- and that's saying something. I'm guessing as the first book in a series there was some table setting going on in The Cuckoo's Calling, so I very much look forward to the next book as even better, and this one was an irresistibly enjoyable read. [3.5 Stars]
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