The Cuckoo's Calling ~ Review and SPOILERS

[rattlesnakeroot]

Let's use this post for SPOILERS about The Cuckoo's Calling.

Or if you prefer, there is thread on TheHPN for more in-depth discussion:
The Cuckoo's Calling - Spoilers and ReviewsI finished reading The Cuckoo's Calling last night, and I was not disappointed. I thought the book was a successful mystery, although perhaps a little repetitious at times

Comments

[i_the_7th_seal]

Congrats on finishing the book. I guessed the whodunnit in the beginning, but then JKR succesfully distracted me with red herrings. I was sure the culprit was Bestigui at one point - only it was just too obvious.

I didn't see Cormoran's one-night-stand as Don Draperish at all. While there is definite pathology in Don's relationships with women (it seems like he seeks affairs compulsively, without achieving any real pleasure from them and as a poor substitute for his incapability to have any meaningful relationship with any living person, seeing as he's emotionally-stunted and incomplete, despises himself, is self-destructive ... yeah, I'm a fan of the show as you can see from my icon) --- Strike, on the other hand, had a mutually beneficial and enjoyable sex without any strings attached with a woman he found extremely attractive (and who apparently reciprocated the sentiment). There was no indication of pathological behavior from either party. I also don't think a beautiful young woman who enjoys non-committal sex warrants being labeled a bimbo. Ciara just wasn't given as much space for character development because the plot didn't require it.

One thing that I miss in JKR's non-HP books is the brilliant humor. There were maybe some very mildly amusing parts here, but nothing too funny. Not that a crime novel needs to have the readers in stitches, but there were numerous genuinely humorous moments in HP and here - not so much (let alone in Casual Vacancy which is grim and depressing on purpose).

And when I'm on the topic of comparing it with HP, there are no obvious self-reference here as there were in Casual Vacancy, presumably because JKR initially thought she wouldn't be outed as the author, but as you point out, there are some similarities nonetheless.

What I noticed was her playing with the meanings of the character names again - as you mentioned, we have a Cormoran(t) (a large voracious bird), diving for the truth of the story with the aide of Robin (a small songbird that's always busy jumping about). And at the heart of the mystery there is a girl nicknamed Cuckoo (who is adopted into a nest where she doesn't belong and overshadows her less glamorous brother).

Cormoran (without a t) is also a giant from Cornish mythology, which is the most obvious reference, but the bird analogy is not too much of a stretch, I think.

My biggest eyebrow-rising moment was Strike figuring the code to the safe as the date Bristow killed his brother. That was a bit too children fantasy series for me, a highly intelligent person would just pick random numbers no one can figure out.

[rattlesnakeroot]

Not knowing much about Cornish mythology, I didn't catch the Giant reference - thanks for that! :)

Cormoran seemed more obvious to most people I've talked to, but maybe because some of us are birdwatchers. And then he's the son of Leda, associated with swans. When you throw in the name Robin and the Batman joke - black wings/cape and all like a cormorant - it becomes more apparent.