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“How easy it is to capitalise on a person’s own bent for self-destruction; how simple to nudge them into non-being, then to stand back and shrug and agree that it had been the inevitable result of a chaotic, catastrophic life��

And the result is the apparent suicide of a young and talented model, Lulu Landry. Lulu lived quite a complicated life and worked in the challenging and unforgiving business, of modelling, where beauty and flawlessness is a demand, not a bonus. She also mixed in some dubious circles with unsavoury characters and many people who had an unhealthy obsession with her life and actions. Not least her adopted mother. Suffering depression and with the unrelenting demands of the job, it was immediately assumed that Lucy had jumped from a high rise building to her death.

However, not accepting the cause of death, her brother seeks out Cormoran Strike, with his nerdy side-kick Robin to help with the case. She wasn’t on loan from batman �� no this was a secretary turned investigator. Not very original on both counts unfortunately.

Review and Comments

I enjoyed this book overall with some annoyances, like the safe pairing of the troubled detective and the nerdy sidekick. A road many authors have tread. The story begins with an air of mystery as to whether Lulu committed suicide, yet the book blurb describes this as a murder investigation. As this was a predictable and easy to solve mystery, it all felt a bit safe, not very adventurous and written to appeal to the masses. And of course, it has achieved that, so a job well done because this is a successful book and from it, we get a new television series.

Now onto the positives. The writing style is great for murder mystery stories and easy flowing, and although the book was too long, the pace was constant and consistent. Rowling certainly has a way with describing things, people, and places where everything felt real, possible, and authentic.

I liked the character development through the story but unfortunately was more intrigued with the victim than the investigators, whom I am going to have to like because we have a whole series with this flawed detective. That said, I confess to lots of eye rolling at the beginning when I thought �� this is not very original but by the end I was liking Strike more. Let’s hope that continues.

This aside, the range and depth of the other characters was excellent. I was excited with every new character that was introduced and felt they all played a credible part in the overall story.

So, not a very exciting plot because it was so predictable but for the characterisation and the superb writing style, I am rounding this debut novel up from 3.5 stars to 4. I say debut because although gifted, Rowling has made the unusual shift from Fantasy to crime / thriller where I feel the writing style is vastly different, yet this was one of the standouts in the book.

With a character who is “used to playing archaeologist among the ruins of people’s traumatised memories�� then there is more to give in this series. methinks.