Play Book Tag discussion

It's been ages since I first read The Cuckoo's Calling, the first novel of the Cormoran Strike series. Cormoran Strike is a disabled war veteran with plenty of psychological baggage and day to day problems whose PI business is struggling and flirting with bankruptcy and financial collapse. His on-again, off-again girlfriend has ended their relationship and told him to move out.

The story opens at a crime scene where Lula Landry, a beautiful supermodel, has jumped from her balcony in an apparent suicide. Did she jump or was she pushed? Fast forward three months later where Strike gets a visit from John Barstow. John's older, deceased brother, Charlie, was Strike's best friend when they were children. Barstow believes Strike is just the man to investigate what happened to his sister, whom he believes was murdered. At the same time we meet Robin Ellacott, who has been dispatched by an agency to be his temporary secretary.

Lulu lived a complicated life and worked in the challenging and unforgiving modelling business where beauty is a demand, not a bonus. She also mixed in some dubious circles with unsavory characters and many people who had an unhealthy obsession with her life and actions. Especially her adopted mother. Suffering depression and with the unrelenting demands of the job, it was immediately assumed that Lula had jumped from a high rise building to her death.

There are a variety of interesting and well developed characters in this absorbing mystery. The plot was complex enough to keep me guessing up to the end. I loved the interaction between Robin and Strike. In fact, Robin is one of the best things the novel has going for it.

When a drew the "multiple reads"tag I wanted to read something I had enjoyed in the past but long enough ago that I could reread it without remembering the plot. I think that the author has improved the characters and story over the years. I continue to be a fan.