The Cuckoo's Calling cover art

The Cuckoo's Calling

Cormoran Strike, Book 1

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About this listen

Now a major BBC drama: The Strike series.

When a troubled model falls to her death from a snow-covered Mayfair balcony, it is assumed that she has committed suicide. However, her brother has his doubts, and calls in private investigator Cormoran Strike to look into the case.

Strike is a war veteran - wounded both physically and psychologically - and his life is in disarray. The case gives him a financial lifeline, but it comes at a personal cost: the more he delves into the young model's complex world, the darker things get - and the closer he gets to terrible danger....

A gripping, elegant mystery steeped in the atmosphere of London - from the hushed streets of Mayfair to the backstreet pubs of the East End to the bustle of Soho - The Cuckoo's Calling is a remarkable audiobook. Introducing Cormoran Strike, this is the acclaimed first crime novel by J.K. Rowling, writing under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.

©2013 Robert Galbraith (P)2013 Hachette Digital Crime Thrillers Detective Fiction Mystery Private Investigators Psychological Thriller Thriller & Suspense Crime Exciting Suspense

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Editor reviews

The Cuckoo’s Calling is Book 1 of the brilliant Cormoran Strike series written by Robert Galbraith with this unabridged crime thriller audiobook edition narrated by English actor Robert Glenister. A beautiful model falls from a snow-covered Mayfair balcony and suicide is suspected. Private Investigator Cormoran Strike knows better, suspecting as always foul play is at hand. Delving deep into the young model’s past he is unwittingly embroiled in the dangerous web of crime that is rife throughout the city of London. Available now from Audible.

Critic reviews

"The Cuckoo's Calling reminds me why I fell in love with crime fiction in the first place." (Val McDermid)
"One of the most unique and compelling detectives I've come across in years" (Mark Billingham)
"One of the best crime novels I have ever read." (Alex Gray)
I rarely add reviews but had to for this book! Once I started the book I was glued to my earphones completely. Brilliant 'who done it' with no lull points. The only downside is it finished and there isn't another in the series.... yet I hope!

The Cuckoo's Calling

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I couldn't put this one down and would highly recommend this to anyone. I am hoping that the author has written more though, at the time of writing this was the only book. Can we have some more please!!

Great Story, brilliantly told

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I really enjoyed Cuckoos Calling. It's kept me entertained through various tedious journeys. Going to get the next one.

stunning

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Fantastic!! Robert Glenister is utterly perfect narrating this book, I have laughed lots at the brilliant difference voices he uses, Story is also fantastic and kept me guessing.
Next one please Robert Galbraith and it has to Robert Glenister to read!!!

Absolutely flippin brillant

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What made the experience of listening to The Cuckoo's Calling the most enjoyable?

The characters are very endearing and believable. The narrator was superb. There's been a lot of fuss about who wrote this book, but I don't care, as what's important is that they wrote an excellent story with likeable characters. I hope there's more to come!

I don't care who wrote this I loved it!

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book unreservedly. It's entertaining and well written - if a little implausible - and utterly compelling. I couldn't stop listening to it.

I would say that it's light listening, though with pretensions to be more. I found the latin passages at the beginning of the sections rather irritating and mannered.

The plot is easy to follow and the characters are interesting and likeable. I found that the beginning of the story didn't flow that well, though maybe it was the way in which it was read.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Strike, the detective, was the character that interested me most, and the interplay between him and his secretary/temp, Robin.

What three words best describe Robert Glenister’s performance?

Can't describe it in three words. He read well, though the detective's accent was very odd!
The beginning was slow, and he was reading it as if it was a work of great importance, which to be honest, it isn't.

Any additional comments?

If you find this book slow to begin with, persist!

Cuckoo's calling

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utterly hooked, disappointed no further work from this author. reader Robert Glenister the best I have ever heard. hurry up with next book

brilliant story exceptional reader

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Have been meaning to listen/read one of the Strike novels for ages, and this finally got to the top of the list. Well - why have I been procrastinating. I absolutely LOVED this. The story was excellent, and I love Strike and Robin's characters. The rest of the cast were well described, and as others have said, you have to be alert for all sorts of useful information not necessarily signalled as such! Loved it so much, have immediately bought the next two books, and am half-way through #2. Superb series.

And Robert Glenister - what can I say. I did not realise it was him reading it when I bought the book. After the first session of listening, when I kept thinking 'this guy sounds like Robert Glenister when he was reading the early Billingham Tom Thorne books'..... I was delighted to see I was spot on. I could listen to RG until the proverbial cows come home. And I was really impressed at the breadth of his performance across so many diverse characters. He really is a superstar, and I hope that they manage to keep him for all future performances (I still hanker after him on the Thorne books!).

Fantastic - loved it!!

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I was so worried, after the disastrous "The Casual Vacancy" (all copies of which should be rounded up and recycled), that J K Rowling might have been a one trick pony and that the brilliance of the Harry Potter series might never be replicated in anything else she wrote.
I am delighted to discover that my fears were unfounded. This is perhaps not quite in that league but it's very good indeed, with the central characters well conceived and a good story. Finishing this first one leaves you waiting for the next one, and she's clearly laid down the foundations for as long a series as she can keep thinking up the ideas.
The narrator is very good too. Some of the Audible books I've listened to recently have had American narrators whose grasp of punctuation has been tenuous so it's been nice to listen to somebody for whom reading is clearly not a chore.

Excellent.

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good characters and interesting plot. Peter james's endorsement was the reason to get this and it was a great choice. One of the best I have ever heard/read.

well written and engaging

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