Book Review: “The Cuckoo’s Calling” by Robert Galbraith

I liked the principal character, Cormoran Strike from the very beginning. Besides him being a bear of a man, an injured war veteran with an interesting family history, he also comes across as a vulnerable person which gives him some down-to-earth qualities and flaws, making him more human than most of the people around him.

Cormoran Strike is a private detective whose failing business receives a ‘leg-up’ when a lawyer, John Bristow, asks him to investigate the death of his super model sister, who the police are satisfied in labelling a suicide. John, however, is unconvinced, believing her death as suspicious.

Although Strike’s finances are tight, he is obliged to hire a temp, Robin Ellacott, to help out in the office. For Robin, working for a PI is a dream-come-true, and she goes beyond the call of duty, much to her fiancée’s disapproval, to make a difference to Strike’s investigation.

“The Cuckoo’s Calling” is brilliantly written, which is hardly surprising when I realised that the author, Robert Galbraith was the pseudo name for J.K. Rowling. That aside, the novel is so gripping that it was hard to put down, which is perhaps why it only took me four days to get through the 552 pages!

The story has a wide range of characters all, more or less, vying for those base human desires: greed, money, and power, where someone will stop at nothing to achieve them.

All in all, the many twists and turns, the bouts of jealousy, resentment, and discontent, have you guessing at who the killer is. Because, yes, John Bristow was right all along – his sister was murdered. However, it is not until the very end that the culprit is revealed.

5 Stars goes without saying for this fantastic story.

RLB – Tomewriter

Book Review: “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

How does one review this incredible piece of literary genius? The blurb on the back cover says it all, and I can’t even begin to imagine how to better it.

I must admit it took me a while to get into this unusually written story, but I was glad that I persevered with it. When it came to the end, I was saddened it had; for “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” was one story which could have gone on forever!

Okay, so for those of you who haven’t yet read it, here’s a very brief synopsis, as any more info given will spoil it for you – but make sure you add it to your “to read list”.

Juliet Ashton is an author with “writers’ block” [join the club]. Having penned some successful stories during World War II, she is now troubled at what to do next, until she receives a letter from Guernsey. Dawsey Adams has acquired a book of Charles Lamb (English Essayist and Poet: 10 February 1775 – 27 December 1834), which has Juliet’s name and address written on the inside of the front cover.

It is the beginning of a series of letters between the two of them, and many more characters, including her best friend, and her best friend’s brother who happens to be Juliet’s publisher. Slowly the correspondence reveals the origins of the society and its unusual name, during the time when Guernsey was occupied by German military forces during the Second World War.

“The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” is made up in its entirety of a series of letters commencing in January 1946 through to September 1946.

What makes this book a wonder is that, although it was the brainchild of author, Mary Ann Shaffer, it was finally completed by her niece, Annie Barrows, when Mary Ann’s health gravely deteriorated.

Annie’s afterword sums it up, and I can honestly say, I have never come across a book such as this. It is a wonderful and truly delightful story; one I don’t believe can be equalled.

For those of you who are of a sensitive nature, make sure a box of tissues isn’t too far away!

5 stars (if not more) are definitely well-deserved.

RLB – Tomewriter

PS. I will make a point of buying the film which was released in 2018…… I can’t wait!