English Mysteries Club discussion

Is it necessary to have read " ?

It's not necessary...the mystery is totally new and you won't miss a great deal by not having read it (since JKR does try and explain the relationships and all that). If you read Silkworm first then you may find some spoilers for the first book. So it's not necessarily important to have read the first one, but you probably won't understand the characters as well and such. (it's really like all the other long running detective stories...you can easily pick up a Poirot, Rebus or Dagliesh novel from the middle of the pile and be perfectly happy with the mystery and the story, but it is nicer to read them in order for main character development)

hmmmm...we'll see about this one. ;)

Helena wrote: "It's not necessary...the mystery is totally new and you won't miss a great deal by not having read it (since JKR does try and explain the relationships and all that). If you read Silkworm first the..."

Have ordered both from the library....

Have my hands on and have started The Cuckoo's Calling and am next in line for the Silkworm which is due back early next week.

Sandra wrote: "Have my hands on and have started The Cuckoo's Calling and am next in line for the Silkworm which is due back early next week."

Hope you enjoy them. I really liked both, but liked the second one better. (possibly cos she could focus more on the mystery since she was done introducing the characters).

Thanks Helena. I am about 70 pages into The cuckoo's Calling and enjoying it immensely so far.

Jean-Luke wrote: "The Book of the Month for September 2014 is The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith. Discussion will open on the 15th."

I put in my request but I am #268 on the waiting list (for 200+ copies) so may not get the book this month...

Thanks for the inspiration! Our library providentially got 15 e-copies of The Cuckoo's Calling, so even though there's a print waiting list, I was able to download it immediately. Hope to finish it in time to read Silkworm as well before the discussion cools.

I am loving The cuckoo's Calling (While I am waiting for The Silkworm). I like Cormoran Strike, but was surprised to read that he is only 35...I was thinking of him as much older.....kinda like Columbo was how I was imagining him!

I have just finished reading The Silkworm. Can't wait for you guys to get started on it!

I loved Cuckoo's Calling. The Silkworm e-book is quite expensive & my library doesn't have it, so I haven't read it yet. Now I'll have an excuse!

I'm unfortunately going to have to pass on this month's group read. The price was a little steep for me and I do try to read book one in a series if I can. I have a stack of review books to get to this month. I will be watching the thread and seeking a used copy when able. Happy discussion to all of you.

Darlene, if your public library has e-books, or is linked with others in the region that do, or if you can get a card from a big library anywhere, you can check out their e-books for free at any time, anywhere in the world. That's the only way I could get these books.

Of course, we should only do this for books by the rich & famous, not each other's books!

Can I get an email when the book discussion starts? I always miss them, but always read the book!!

So has everyone finished it yet? How did everyone like it?

Helena wrote: "So has everyone finished it yet? How did everyone like it?"


I'm saving it for Friday when I have a long flight + bus ride :p

I read it a while back and need to review it. I did like it a lot and wouldn't mind reading it again.

Corvida wrote: "Helena wrote: "So has everyone finished it yet? How did everyone like it?"


I'm saving it for Friday when I have a long flight + bus ride :p"

Ah yes travelling is the best time for books. :P


I read it back in July and really enjoyed it. I was totally caught by surprise by who the killer was, but then when the explanation came it made a lot of sense. Both main characters are really likeable which is always nice in detective stories so I am looking forward to other books in the series. hope the pace of 1 book a year is kept lol.

I liked the book but the best parts involved the farting couch. Okay, so I have the maturity of a twelve year old but I really laughed at that.

It is difficult to say what I like best about this new series and this book. I love Strike. He's such a Harry Potterish character. I enjoy the relationship between Strike and Robin. I just hope she won't let the tension there drag out too long as seems to be a problem with lots of long-running series. I loved the way she places this mystery in the publishing world. I'm sure there is a good deal of writing what she knows about that. ;)

I do love the relationship that she has going on between Strike and Robin so far. I hope she doesn't ruin that in further books cos it's part of what makes me love the books so much.

It was so much fun how she wrote about the publishing world. So many people there seemed horrible and I have to wonder if any of them are based on real people JKR knows.

I'm lagging way behind - still halfway through Cuckoo's Calling - charmed by the characters, but surprised by the wild variation in writing quality. Does this continue in Silkworm? Some passages are lyrical, others so clunky I can't believe she proofread the ms. (E.g., massive overuse of "perusal")

Carol wrote: "I'm lagging way behind - still halfway through Cuckoo's Calling - charmed by the characters, but surprised by the wild variation in writing quality. Does this continue in Silkworm? Some passages ar..."

I havent noticed this in this particular book but I listen to a lot of audio books and then I notice these repetitions in writing all the time. Someone once told me they are like in-built to a writer's mode of operating and they dont even notice. Still some need better proof reading - I really notice expressions, Sue Grafton does it loads ('she made a moue' - really? not again that's the seventh time this chapter!!) Ian Rankin does it so much I stopped reading him for a while, I suppose its how intrusive it is to the narrative that matters. Overuse of phrases is a pet thing of mine - I might even be getting OCD about it (she says making a moue!!!)

I liked both the Silkworm and the previous one, Cuckoo's Calling but thought both had just a bit too much endless interviewing solely for background information. On the other hand, I listened to them on downloaded audible so maybe that had something to do with it.

I, likewise, am half-way through Cuckoo's Calling, and having thought it started well, am now feeling I'm ploughing through turgid writing in parts two and, now, three. Most unusual for me. I appreciate good writing, and this is so clunky (I agree) and far too long. Strike and Robin are good characters, but I'm beginning not to care how the death occurred. This should be 250 pages, not 550. GET ON WITH IT!

Penny, John, you sound like my ideal beta readers. I'm also getting OCD about lazy repetition & padding with info the author liked writing but the reader doesn't need. I curse the day when publishers decided that editing is a costly & needless frill!

I have listened to both of them and what I have found is that the audio reader can make or break some books. In this case, I enjoyed it. I love her characters, so a few duplications of verse is not as big a deal as what they are doing or thinking. I am looking forward to book 3.

Not having read the first book, I was leary about starting this one. What a surprise! I live for finding new authors and this one is great. I'm one if those readers who tries to guess the killer and motive through out the book, and most times I am disappointed at how easy it is but this one continued to keep me guessing.I am super happy with it!

It's true the writing gets a bit sludgy sometimes. Sometimes for pages straight. I found the Harry Potter books got that way too.

But as long as she keeps writing them I'll keep reading them :) Good stories, good characters.

The only thing about The Silkworm is that I've never read a book like the problem book here.

I liked Cuckoo's Calling better. But they were both really good books. She's a good storyteller.

John wrote: "I, likewise, am half-way through Cuckoo's Calling, and having thought it started well, am now feeling I'm ploughing through turgid writing in parts two and, now, three. Most unusual for me. I appre..."

I also felt that it was too long -- enjoyable but too wordy. I could do without the personal stuff (failed engagement etc) but realize that others like that to be included. I agree with Sharla & Helena that the relationship between Strike and Robin was one of the pluses! So perhaps I like the personal stuff more than I thought :P

Tracy wrote: "Not having read the first book, I was leary about starting this one. What a surprise! I live for finding new authors and this one is great. I'm one if those readers who tries to guess the killer an..."

Tracy, finally another reader who enjoyed the book. After all the negative commentary I was beginning to wonder. Of course everyone has a different outlook. That's what makes a discussion interesting I guess.

I particularly enjoyed the part where they are racing through the snow to get Robin on the train. That whole scene represents the relationship of Strike and Robin so well. I also loved that she has these extraordinary skills that pop up like her driving ability.

I also liked the driving skills and her initiative in so many areas. I couldn't improvise the way she does.
And I liked both books. My comment is further up. I just thought there was a bit of extraneous information about backgrounds that could have been cut down but I did like the books. I'll definitely read the next in the series, if there is one.

Diane wrote: "I also liked the driving skills and her initiative in so many areas. I couldn't improvise the way she does.
And I liked both books. My comment is further up. I just thought there was a bit of extr..."

There have been positive comments as well as negative and that's as it should be. I guess when I really like a book I want everyone else to like it too but that's not possible. Carol talked about how editing isn't what it used to be and I do agree with that. It seems like every book I read these days could use some extra editing. Generally speaking I don't mind some padding as long as the story keeps moving and for me these books do that very well.

Do you think it is because it might be intimidating to edit this particular author? She is a bit popular, so I've heard. Lol

Diane wrote: "Do you think it is because it might be intimidating to edit this particular author? She is a bit popular, so I've heard. Lol"

Absolutely true. It's the same problem political figures have getting straight answers--nobody dares. A similar problem to the one Meryl Streep mentioned, how when she got famous she lost being able to watch how people in public move, speak, etc. when they don't know they're being watched.

But it's also that publishers have chopped editing from their priorities.

Susan wrote: "I have listened to both of them and what I have found is that the audio reader can make or break some books. In this case, I enjoyed it. I love her characters, so a few duplications of verse is n..."

I agree with you about the audio reader Susan. The first book I ever listened to (and I can no longer remember what it was) I disliked the reader and it almost put me off trying again. But the next one I listened to was better....and I love whoever narrates MC Beaton's Hamish MacBeth series.

I am half way through Silkworm (I had to wait for it from my library, then it was late being returned) but enjoying it immensely so far. Yes, it has briefly been a bit "sludgy" (I love that term) but it hasn't detracted from the story.
If you were all editing - what would you have left out?

Sandra wrote: "I am half way through Silkworm (I had to wait for it from my library, then it was late being returned) but enjoying it immensely so far. Yes, it has briefly been a bit "sludgy" (I love that term) b..."

That's a really good question, Sandra. I may have to go back and take another look to answer that one. I suspect Diane has a good point about editors being intimidated about editing this particular author. :)

I honestly love both books. Looking back now that I am reading all the comments I suppose it was a bit overly long and I am sure there were some parts that could've been cut out, but for me it didn't take away from me thoroughly enjoying the books. I especially enjoy both characters and their relationship throughout has been really interesting. So I guess that means I'll keep reading them as long as she keeps the characters interesting.

Re comments 29, 34 from me and Leslie. I finished the last 300 pages in a rush yesterday, and in the end thoroughly enjoyed Cuckoo's Calling. Gave it 4. Agree with Leslie about never quite knowing how much personal stuff I like. OK in this instance.

Still think a bit too long, and one dimensional in the sequence of Strike's interrogations.

I shall read Silkworm soon, though, expecting to enjoy it. And hoping there are many more.

Did anybody but me find that Bombyx Mori didn't sound like a very plausible, realistic book? Even for literary fiction? I sure wouldn't want to read it!

Corvida wrote: "Did anybody but me find that Bombyx Mori didn't sound like a very plausible, realistic book? Even for literary fiction? I sure wouldn't want to read it!"

No, I didn't think it would have an audience except for the people involved. No one else would have any idea of what it was about or care.

Corvida wrote: "Did anybody but me find that Bombyx Mori didn't sound like a very plausible, realistic book? Even for literary fiction? I sure wouldn't want to read it!"

That's the whole point, isn't it? It wasn't a very plausible book... not even a relatively plausible book. It wasn't a book, it was a hate letter.

Luisa, you're absolutely right! haha

Corvida wrote: "Did anybody but me find that Bombyx Mori didn't sound like a very plausible, realistic book? Even for literary fiction? I sure wouldn't want to read it!"

Actually, it sounded like Umberto Eco to me!!

Corvida wrote: "Did anybody but me find that Bombyx Mori didn't sound like a very plausible, realistic book? Even for literary fiction? I sure wouldn't want to read it!"

It certainly didn't sound like a book I would ever read. But I think the point of the book was just to affect the people involved (and it definitely achieved that goal)

Leslie wrote: "Corvida wrote: "Did anybody but me find that Bombyx Mori didn't sound like a very plausible, realistic book? Even for literary fiction? I sure wouldn't want to read it!"

Actually, it sounded like ..."

That's the one I couldn't think of! Baudolino. I laughed at the descriptions of how bad Bombyx Mori was supposed to have been.

Leslie wrote: "Actually, it sounded like Umberto Eco to me!! "
Thanks, lol