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We got off to a bit of a slow start with our discussion threads for The Cuckoo's Calling - sorry about that! There was a lot to unpack...

So: Did you figure out who did it?? (Or were you as surprised as we were?)

Please be mindful about posting spoilers in the other threads and give a warning when doing so. In this thread: SPOIL AWAY.

Nope, which I both liked and disliked about the book. I liked seeing how Lula's murder played out, and how all the characters played a part in the final story. But at the same time I felt that it was nearly impossible to put together a plausible explanation. As if you could pick any one of the characters and make up a reason how they had done it and why. Maybe it was just me, but I stopped trying to figure it out. But I DID think the end was pretty griping

I still don't totally understand why he hired the detective- the insurance money alone or the ego. Help!
I read so fast because I was excited and I think I must have missed something.

I agree completely, I never understood why he hired Strike. Another thing that didn't make sense to me was why her real brother ran away instead of calling police or going for help

I was surprised by the ending because I wouldn't have thought the one person to hire Strike would be the murderer.

I'm also still having an issue with why John hired Strike. He could have continued to blackmail Rochelle. Was it his thinking that the money would've gone to his mother and since his Mother knew he was evil (because of his brother) she would've left her money and Lula's to possibly her brother (Tony)? Maybe John thought he had his tracks covered and the investigation would lead to Jonah's (Lula's brother) capture instead?

Carlos wrote: "...But at the same time I felt that it was nearly impossible to put together a plausible explanation. As if you could pick any one of the characters and make up a reason how they had done it and why. ..."

I agree!! There were moments when Strike would have an epiphany and I'd go back a few pages and wonder "Now, why does it matter that Wilson slipped on some droplets of water? AM I AN IDIOT?! EXPLAIN YOURSELF, STRIKE/GALBRAITH/ROWLING!!"

Courtney wrote: "I still don't totally understand why he hired the detective- the insurance money alone or the ego. Help!"
Carlos wrote: "I agree completely, I never understood why he hired Strike."
Ashley wrote: "I'm also still having an issue with why John hired Strike."


I've been thinking a lot about this, too! I think it's got to be a combination of narcissism and psychopathy.

I don't have my book in front of me, but didn't John say something like he hoped that Strike would pin it on Lula's biological half-brother so that he would go to jail. That way, if Lula's will ever did surface, her half-brother would never be able to claim the funds anyway since he would be in jail?...

(Which doesn't make sense to me from a legal standpoint, just because you're in jail doesn't mean you can't inherit funds, does it?)

I thought it was a good twist that John had committed the murders of both his brother and sister. I didn't see it coming - especially about his brother.

I agree that John was narcissistic and a psychopath. He might have thought that he had planned such a perfect murder that no none would be able to figure it out, and he might have been trying to divert any suspicion away from himself.

I thought it was a little surprising, though, that his mother and uncle knew about the murder of his brother and never did anything about it.I would have thought that they might have been concerned about Lula's safety.

Janet wrote: "I thought it was a little surprising, though, that his mother and uncle knew about the murder of his brother and never did anything about it.I would have thought that they might have been concerned about Lula's safety"

I agree!