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This thread is open to discuss one of the two Monthly Group Reads - "The Cuckoo is Calling"

We had a tie on the Poll this month, so I thought I would include both books - due to the lack of participation in the discussion of the last 2 monthly group reads. If the Group discussion continues to lag, I may consider referring the book (or books) elected to "Buddy Reads", where 2 or more individuals can discuss the books between themselves.

I've read this book too and will also be checking here to see what everyone else thinks. I didn't read the Harry Potter books and The Casual Vacancy was so bad I couldn't finish it. I was a little reluctant to read this one, however, I'm glad I did. It was very good.

Is there any gratuitous nudity in this book?

Aaron wrote: "Is there any gratuitous nudity in this book?"

If there was, you wouldn't be able to see it anyway!
JK, I am starting this book today and will let you know if there is anything that you might not want to share with your niece and nephew...

This is the synopsis:
"After losing his leg to a land mine in Afghanistan, Cormoran Strike is barely scraping by as a private investigator. Strike is down to one client, and creditors are calling. He has also just broken up with his longtime girlfriend and is living in his office.

Then John Bristow walks through his door with an amazing story: His sister, thelegendary supermodel Lula Landry, known to her friends as the Cuckoo, famously fell to her death a few months earlier. The police ruled it a suicide, but John refuses to believe that. The case plunges Strike into the world of multimillionaire beauties, rock-star boyfriends, and desperate designers, and it introduces him to every variety of pleasure, enticement, seduction, and delusion known to man.

You may think you know detectives, but you've never met one quite like Strike. You may think you know about the wealthy and famous, but you've never seen them under an investigation like this.

Introducing Cormoran Strike, this is the acclaimed first crime novel by J.K. Rowling, writing under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith."


Ok, I am on chapter 14 of 46 and since I have read tons of detective novels, I think I already have it figured out - I won't say anything in case I am wrong, but I am just wondering why JK Rowling chose to write a detective novel, but didn't bring anything new to the table.
The book is is well written, and the protagonists are engaging, but this detective story has the same type of plot and characters as just about any other I have read:
1. The down and out detective who once commanded repect, but is now in poor physical and financial condition.
2. His crazy girl friend kicks him out, but he's too proud to admit how bad off he is to his friends, so he works and sleeps in his office, with occasional breaks for alcohol consumption.
3. Then, a smart, pretty girl who has always liked the idea of being a private eye, arrives as a temp for office work.
4. That same day, a timid, rich client gives him a high profile case to solve.

I don't know - I'm sure I will enjoy the story because I love detective novels, but perhaps I am being unfair and am expecting more since JK Rowing is such a beloved author.

Terry wrote: "Aaron wrote: "Is there any gratuitous nudity in this book?"

If there was, you wouldn't be able to see it anyway!
Just kidding, I am starting this book today and will let you know if there is anything that y..."

Aaron, for both group read books this month,I would advise you to read the books before you pass it on to your niece and nephew because the subject matter of both books deals with violence, some crude language, some implied drug use and sexual situations that are not offensive to me, but you may feel otherwise.

I'm on chapter 22 now and have a question that keeps rolling around in my mind -
Do you think that John Bristow was secretly in love with his adopted sister, Lula Landry?

I have this book!! Gonna start reading it in a few days....

I actually really enjoyed this book quite a bit. To answer Terry, I actually did kind of get that vibe from him as well. I felt like it was admiration combined with jealousy.

This book was really slow going for me but I'm glad I gave it another chance as I read it in a couple of days.

I started to enjoy this book more at the end - I found it rather slow moving - all those interviews and not much action, but the ending kind of redeemed the rest of the book for me. I like it when things are wrapped up and explained. I grew to love the two main characters, Comoran Strike and his lovely assistant, Robin, and I think I would read another one in this series, but I wouldn't run out and buy it as soon as it was released, probably wait until I could get it from someone else or used.

Ashley wrote: "I actually really enjoyed this book quite a bit. To answer Terry, I actually did kind of get that vibe from him as well. I felt like it was admiration combined with jealousy.

This book was really ..."

Now that I finished the book, I think John Bristow was (view spoiler)[ too mentally disturbed to love anyone, especialy someone who was getting the attention he thought he deserved. He thought he got rid of one distraction (his brother)then they adopted another, a beautiful, troubled girl, who took all the attention away from John for good. (hide spoiler)]

I read the book! I really liked it, the story was great and I loved the characters too. Some parts were a bit boring, I have to admit and it doesn't even come close to Harry potter.....but it really won't be proper to compare the two, so this book was really good!