I’m not going to lie, my expectations were high when I purchased this book. Being a fan of Ms. Rowling’s work I expected to be drawn in like I was the first time I read Harry Potter. My bad. Ms. Rowling’s brilliance comes from knowing how to write different styles. For Potter fans, getting used to a new voice, a new method, can be difficult.

A Cuckoo’s Calling begins with a murder to get our attention then plummets into the world of Cormoran Strike, who’s recent breakup with his lifelong flame has him crashing down into debt and disillusionment of all things female. I struggled to like Cormoran but was intrigued by his temporary assistant, Robin. I admit the only reason I kept reading through the first and second parts of the book is because I knew it couldn’t get any worse. I was correct.

As I read on I let go of wanting the next Harry Potter experience and let myself be plunged into a dark, cynical world of fame, paparazzi, drug abuse and murder mystery. Once I let go of WHO I was reading I ended up enjoying WHAT I was reading. The end of the book does not disappoint (and I was annoyed with myself for not seeing who the killer was, it was quite obvious) and I immediately purchased the next book in the CB Strike series.

Well done, Mr. Galbraith. I look forward to reading The Silkworm.