Cuckoo's Calling by J.K. Rowling

As soon as I saw a tweet about JK Rowling's pseudonymous mystery, I wanted to read it, even though I gave up on *The Casual Vacancy* after only a few chapters. Something pseudonymous, presented as a newbie's work, would have undergone much more strenuous editing than her other work, something that I felt had been the major problem with her final Harry Potter books (my husband refers to Deathly Hallows as Harry Potter and the Grumpy Camping Trip). I love mysteries, and I (mostly) loved the Harry Potter books, so I really wanted to give this a try. I was also searching for the perfect airplane book...

Overall, *The Cuckoo’s Calling* is a satisfying mystery, and it also shows Rowling working to develop her craft. The story begins with a hook--not so much about the mystery, which only really gets interesting later, but with the introduction of the lead characters. One of Rowling’s trademarks, or at least in these last two books, is an elaborate device for introducing characters. In *The Casual Vacancy,* the death of one character becomes a lens for introducing others. Likewise, *Cuckoo’s Calling* begins with several elaborate devices to introduce the characters--life-changing events that allow for reflection and a literal crash that brings the protagonists together. It seems like Rowling is trying out these narrative devices, and the opening shows much more thought about the shaping of her narrative than the ending, which is pure exposition.

As for the mystery itself, Rowling is in her element in this book and produces an engrossing puzzle with a plausible solution. Rowling handles suspense well, so that the narrative builds and becomes more absorbing as it moves along. Her central characters are fully fleshed out and are, for the most part, believable. The backstory for the main character, Cormoran Strike, is revealed slowly over the course of the novel in such a way that Rowling presents a double mystery. I do wish that she had done a bit more “showing” rather than “telling” in characterizing his ex-girlfriend, but that is the main area where her characterization falls short.

Since this is the 8th (or, rather, 8 and a halfth) book by Rowling that I've read, I feel like I've got some perspective on her as a writer. I’ve always thought that one unexpected aspect of reading multiple works by an author is the way in which the reader learns about the author’s preoccupations. I first noticed this in junior high school when my guilty pleasure was V.C. Andrews’ novels, which gave me the distinct sense that Andrews was highly suspicious of doctors. Likewise, I’ve been struck by Patricia Cornwell’s detailed interest in home security systems and Barbara Pym's insistence that one should always leave a bath "as they'd like to find it." In *Cuckoo’s Calling,* Rita Skeeter and the predations of the press make another appearance as still darker and more destructive creatures. The tabloid press and its insatiable hunger for information about celebrities becomes another suspect, one that is never exonerated, even if it cannot be held directly responsible. There's a clear sense in this novel of Rowling's own outrage at being hunted by the press. I suspect that the media frenzy over this new novel isn’t going to give her any reason to change her mind.