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The Cuckoo's Calling

By: Robert Galbraith
Narrated by: Robert Glenister
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Publisher's summary

Published under a pseudonym, J. K. Rowling’s brilliant debut mystery introduces Detective Cormoran Strike as he investigates a supermodel's suicide in “one of the best books of the year” (USA Today).

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, creditors are calling, and after a breakup with his longtime girlfriend, he’s living in his office.

Then John Bristow walks through his door with a shocking story: His sister, the legendary 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.

Fast-paced and sharply drawn, this dazzling detective novel inspired Strike, the BBC crime drama series that has captivated millions of viewers worldwide.

©2013 Robert Galbraith (P)2013 Hachette Audio
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Featured Article: The 20 Best Mystery Audiobooks to Entertain Your Inner Sleuth


Looking for the perfect audiobook to keep you engrossed and engaged during your next long drive, weekend chores, or a long work day? Look no further than this list of puzzling, mind-bending mysteries that will have you holding on to every word as the narrator pulls you in on the search for clues. We’ve narrowed this wide-spanning genre down to 20 of the best mystery audiobooks we’ve heard so you can get to listening and searching for answers.

Editor's Pick

Warning: will cause a fierce attachment to fictional characters and an inability to press pause
"The Cuckoo’s Calling is a masterfully written gritty detective story that hooks you and refuses to let go until its pulse-pounding conclusion. J. K. Rowling (writing under a pseudonym) shows off her literary range in this compelling thriller. The only good thing about finishing this one is the three more equally unpauseable Cormoran Strike thrillers that are ready to listen to and get lost in."
Catherine H., Audible Editor

What listeners say about The Cuckoo's Calling

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    22,473
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The Cuckoo's Calling

Listening to this series again. Cormoran Strike is a fascinating person as is Robin, his secretary. Their characters are well drawn and fully fleshed by the author. The detecting job is interesting as the work proceeds. Everything comes together to hold the reader's interest. The reader has the perfect voice for Strike and draws the listener in, making the story believable.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Meh

I guessed the ending very early and waited the whole book to see if I was correct.69

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great Murder Mystery

loved it. Best momennt:when Commoran & Kiera got together. Excellent narration. Great listen!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Plot and interesting Characters

Where does The Cuckoo's Calling rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The best book I have listened to in a long time, the other would be another one by the same author

What did you like best about this story?

The Plot and Characters

What about Robert Glenister’s performance did you like?

Great reading, good expression and portrayal of the characters.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Brit Detective Story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes

What did you like best about this story?

The main character Strike and all of his imperfections. Also the relationship between strike and his temp Robin.

Any additional comments?

Good narration- love reading books with British narrators. The mystery, once solved was a bit unbelievable, but fun to try and figure out.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Put your life on hold...

This is an engrossing, suspense filled mystery that once you start you won't want to stop. The characters are vivid and believable and psychologically interesting. The reader does a great job of inhabiting every one of them.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved it

What a surprise to find out who really wrote this. I was not impressed by her first book but, this one is very, very good. The mystery was good and interesting but the characters were wonderful. I immediately looked for the next one in the series and also loved that one so I am waiting patiently for the next in the series.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Long time listener, first time reviewer

I wouldn't bother to write now if this book had gotten the reviews that it deserves, but it didn't. Maureen Corrigan played it way down and I didn't bother to listen for a long time, but for the genre, this is top drawer. The characters are excellent, and it is well plotted. What I am really hoping is that this will become a series.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I mean, it's jk Rowling . What else do you need?

I was on the fence about this one. Private detective , it's been done a million times. This story has all the elements you expect in a classic who-done-it, but the fact that the story is written by jk Rowling makes it worth my one credit. I'll admit the ending had a few surprises I didn't see coming and all in all, it was a good journey. Go ahead, but it and enjoy the story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Surprising Good

I really enjoyed listening to this book. I enjoyed the fact that Cormoran Strike isn't something hot P.I instead a heavy set man who lost his leg in the war. Also Strike just got out of an unstable relationship and is close to losing his job. That was until John Bristow came to him hoping that Strike will find out if his sister actually killed herself.

The one and only problem I had was that there seemed to extra information that dragged the story a bit. I get why most of it was there as backstory and inner thoughts of the characters. On the other hand though it got confusing and took me to remember what am acting hearing.

Other than that like I said I loved Cormoran and Robins relationship because they grow from being wary to becoming a team. And they make a fun team fort they don't ask much of each other. Yes there are arguments between the two or they know when the other and don't want to talk. They respect each other give each other space and work on it out.

I liked Robin for the fact though she knows she's not getting paid what she should, or that her fiancé hates her temp job. She keeps doing it. Not in spite but because she loves to work on cases and help solve it.
Also the way that Cormoran's mind works to find the answers. The way he writes everything done and thinks it through. In the beginning he is going through a lot so having a case helped him think of other things. He a very detailed person and knows how to ask the right question and how to ask them.
The mystery itself was fun because I kept guessing who it was but was wrong every time. Especially the motive which now that I've think about it makes more sense and just loved how this book ended. Plus in was in London, England which is a place I've been so I see some of it since Strike walks everywhere.
I loved it so much that I already found the next book Silkworm on Overdrive and is excited to keep listening in on the adventures of Strike and Robin.

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