The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

Cormoran Strike is having some serious troubles with his girlfriend, with paying back his debts and with life in general. But when a wealthy lawyer walks into his office asking him to solve the murder of his famous supermodel sister, he becomes embroiled in a case where everyone has something to hide. Because although the police have already determined that her death was a suicide, something tells Strike there is more to it than that.

How easy it was to capitalize 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.

I picked this up after I learned who the real author was under the pseudonym.  Of course I did. I tried her Casual Vacancy but literary novels are not my thing.  But mysteries are. It was really good, long but good. I enjoyed it. Rowling can certainly write and certainly world-build. She also creates great characters like Cormoran Strike, the main character and detective in this novel. He is flawed but a good person and a very thorough detective. I liked him. And his temporary assistant Robin was also a great character though she needed more fleshing out.

Overall the mystery was very well done and the ending was a surprise. Though there was a part that I guess was hinted at but still felt like it came out of nowhere. I'm happy that there is another book planned because I liked Cormoran and his methodical detective work and his life story and I'd like to see it explored more rather than doled out in bits and pieces.