Cormoran Strike, a veteran of Afghanistan with a prosthetic leg to show for his time overseas, is trying to make it as a small time private detective in London.  He is barely scraping by, and is now also arrears on his office rent-a major problem considering his office is also where he is living since the break up with his long term girlfriend.  But in spite of this reality, combined with his inability to face it, the temp agency continues to send a secretary to his office every week.  This time, Robin Ellacott, fresh from Yorkshire shows up and somehow her youthful, positive presence brings a change of luck to Strike’s moribund practice and suddenly Strike is investigating the death of Lula, a beautiful super model who fell to her death in an apparent suicide three months earlier.  

Investigating a celebrity’s death, especially one that happened months ago carries with it a certain amount of baggage.  But as Strike investigates the dysfunctional family dynamics, and sorts through the strange circumstances of Lula’s death very public death, he becomes convinced that it was murder and not a suicide.  Robin, who has always secretly wanted to be a private detective, becomes an integral part of the investigative process, even as she brings order to the chaos that he calls his office. Her insights help move the investigation along, and Strike begins to rely on her even as he realizes that he could never afford to have her stay on permanently.

 I was struck many times by the wonderful descriptions and the great writing, for example here is Strike, musing on the city around him: 

This was the hour when he found London most lovable: the working day over, her pub windows were warm and jewel like, her streets thrummed with life and the indefatigable permanence of her aged buildings, softened by the street lights, became strangely reassuring.

Rowling also captures the naive and youthful Robin with the same assurance as she captures Strike in all his cynical war weariness. Each character emerges with their own personality, that extra something that makes then seem real and knowable; a gift of a good writer. 

Yes, this is that book, the one that J.K. Rowling published under the pseudonym of Robert Galbraith, but don’t let that hold you back from reading it.  It is a well written detective novel with interesting characters and all sorts of twists and turns in the plot line. A wonderful read! 

Brenda’s Rating: ****1/2 (41/2 Stars out of 5) 

Recommend this book to: Sharon. Marian, Keith and Lauren

Book Study Worthy? No

Read in ebook format.