The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith (aka JK Rowling) – Published by Sphere, April 2013

Lula Landry, supermodel, dies after falling from her balcony; all the signs are that she took her own life, but her brother isn’t so sure. He employs a private investigator, Cormoran Strike, a wounded veteran and old school friend of his late brother’s, to find out the truth. In the great tradition of detectives, Strike has “issues” – an unhappy childhood, a broken romance, serious debts, no home, you name it…!

This is Ms Rowling’s first crime novel, with plenty of twists in the plot and references to St Mawes!

Verdict: I loved the Harry Potter stories and this is a well written book, but I don’t think it’s a great book. I didn’t “get” why so much was made of the fact that Cormoran Strike had a prosthetic leg (the result of injuries received in Afghanistan), nor did I see the need for the classical quotes at the start of many of the chapters – neither seemed to add anything to the plot.

That said, a friend who had the audio book really loved it. To get the best out of the story, maybe it needs Robert Glenister’s wonderful reading voice. ***