The Cuckoo’s Calling | Cormoran Strike Book 1 | JK Rowling as Robert Galbraith | Cliff Note Books
“The Cuckoo’s Calling” is the first novel in the Cormoran Strike series written by J.K. Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. The story introduces the protagonist, Cormoran Strike, a struggling private investigator with a prosthetic leg, and his temporary secretary, Robin Ellacott.
The plot begins when Strike is hired by John Bristow, a wealthy lawyer, to investigate the death of his adopted sister, Lula Landry, a famous model. Lula’s death had been ruled a suicide by the police after she fell from her apartment balcony. However, Bristow believes she was murdered and enlists Strike’s help to uncover the truth.
As Strike and Robin start digging into Lula’s life, they uncover a web of secrets involving her family, friends, and the world of high fashion. They interview various people connected to Lula, including her drug-addicted boyfriend, her troubled biological family, and her adopted family members, each with their own motives and secrets.
Strike discovers that Lula was searching for her biological family, and her relationship with her adoptive family was strained. As he delves deeper into the case, he finds evidence that points to an elaborate plan to murder Lula and make it look like a suicide.
Meanwhile, Strike’s personal life is also in turmoil, as he deals with the aftermath of his breakup with his long-term girlfriend and struggles to keep his fledgling detective agency afloat.
The novel culminates in a dramatic confrontation, where Strike reveals the true murderer and the motives behind Lula’s death. “The Cuckoo’s Calling” showcases Rowling’s ability to create a compelling mystery with richly drawn characters, intricate plotting, and atmospheric settings. The book also sets the stage for the developing professional partnership and friendship between Strike and Robin, which continues to evolve throughout the series.
CHARACTERS
- Cormoran Strike: A private investigator and war veteran with a prosthetic leg, Strike is the central character in the series. He is the illegitimate son of a famous rock star, Jonny Rokeby, and a groupie, Leda Strike. Despite his tough exterior, he is intelligent, insightful, and determined to uncover the truth in his cases.
- Robin Ellacott: Strike’s temporary secretary, later becoming his full-time assistant, Robin is smart, resourceful, and eager to learn more about the detective profession. She is engaged to her longtime boyfriend, Matthew Cunliffe, throughout the novel.
- John Bristow: A wealthy lawyer who hires Strike to investigate his adopted sister Lula Landry’s death, believing it to be murder rather than suicide. He is the brother of Charlie, a childhood friend of Strike who died in an accident.
- Lula Landry: A famous model whose death sparks the central mystery of the novel. Adopted into a wealthy family, she was searching for her biological family before her death.
- Tony Landry: Lula’s adoptive uncle, who has a contentious relationship with her. He is initially a suspect in her death due to their strained relationship and his aggressive behavior.
- Lady Yvette Bristow: Lula and John’s adoptive mother, who is confined to a wheelchair due to multiple sclerosis. She is portrayed as a caring but somewhat overbearing figure in Lula’s life.
- Sir Alec Bristow: Lula and John’s adoptive father, who died before the events of the novel. His business success allowed the family to amass significant wealth.
- Evan Duffield: Lula’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, a musician with a history of drug addiction. He is another suspect in Lula’s death due to their tumultuous relationship.
- Deeby Macc: An American rapper who was supposed to move into the same apartment building as Lula Landry. He plays a key role in the unfolding mystery.
- Tansy Bestigui: Lula’s neighbor who claims to have heard an argument on the night of her death. Her testimony raises questions about the reliability of her account.
- Rochelle Onifade: Lula’s friend, who helps her search for her biological family. She is secretive and has a connection to Lula’s past that plays a role in the investigation.
- Kieran Kolovas-Jones: Lula’s personal driver, who has a close relationship with her and provides Strike with valuable information about her life and habits.
QUOTES
- “People liked to talk; there was no denying it. And there were no better pickings for the dedicated gossip than a really juicy secret.”
- “He had never been able to understand the assumption of intimacy fans felt with those they had never met.”
- “He wondered whether this, the desire to leave a mark, was what drove men like him and Rochelle’s father to make their children in their own image, and whether this, in fact, was the worst thing you could do to a child.”
- “It was a race between the tortoise and the hare, but the tortoise had cash.”
- “The dead could only speak through the mouths of those left behind, and through the signs they left scattered behind them.”
- “He had never encountered the police in the role of victim before, and he had never known how much insolence a man in plain clothes could convey by the mere act of taking out a notebook and pen.”
- “Strike knew that his best weapon had always been his refusal to believe in the reality of other people’s lives: that they had the same intensity of feeling, the same depth of understanding, the same essential humanity as himself.”
- “Every human life is a puzzle that does not exist: a journey between two eternities of darkness, with no guide to the traveler save that which he learns for himself.”
- “You could find anything on the Internet, except, it seemed, the person who was trying to hide from it.”
Joanne Rowling, better known by her pen name J.K. Rowling, is a British author, philanthropist, and screenwriter, most famous for creating the Harry Potter series. Born on July 31, 1965, in Yate, Gloucestershire, England, Rowling always had a passion for writing, and she began working on the Harry Potter series during a delayed train journey from Manchester to London in 1990.
J.K. Rowling published her first novel, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” (known as “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” in the United States), in 1997. The series went on to become a global phenomenon, selling over 500 million copies worldwide and translated into more than 80 languages. The Harry Potter franchise also includes successful film adaptations, spin-offs, and theme parks.
After completing the Harry Potter series, Rowling decided to explore different genres of writing. In 2012, she published “The Casual Vacancy,” a contemporary adult fiction novel that dealt with social and political issues in a small English town.
In 2013, Rowling released “The Cuckoo’s Calling” under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. The decision to write under a pen name was motivated by her desire to publish a work without the hype and expectations associated with her famous name. She wanted to receive honest feedback and have the book judged on its own merits, rather than being compared to her previous work.
However, her identity as Robert Galbraith was revealed shortly after the publication of “The Cuckoo’s Calling,” when a law firm associated with her inadvertently leaked the information. Despite the revelation, Rowling continued to write the Cormoran Strike series under the Galbraith pseudonym, with five novels published in the series as of September 2021.
Writing as Robert Galbraith allowed Rowling to explore new genres, styles, and themes in her work, showcasing her versatility as a writer beyond the world of Harry Potter.
SUMMARIES
Chapter 1: The novel opens with the news of famous model Lula Landry’s death after falling from her apartment balcony. The police consider it a suicide, but questions still linger.
Chapter 2: The reader is introduced to Cormoran Strike, a struggling private investigator dealing with the aftermath of a breakup with his long-term girlfriend, Charlotte. Strike’s financial situation is dire, and he is on the verge of losing his detective agency.
Chapter 3: Robin Ellacott, a young woman recently engaged to her boyfriend Matthew, arrives at Strike’s office as a temporary secretary. Although Robin’s true passion lies in detective work, she has never had the opportunity to explore it professionally.
Chapter 4: John Bristow, a wealthy lawyer, hires Strike to investigate his adopted sister Lula Landry’s death. Bristow believes that she was murdered, and he wants Strike to uncover the truth. Bristow is also the brother of Strike’s late childhood friend, Charlie.
Chapter 5: Strike and Robin begin their investigation by reviewing the police case file, which provides details of Lula’s final moments and the people who were close to her.
Chapter 6: The investigation leads Strike to interview Lula’s neighbor, Tansy Bestigui, who claims to have heard an argument on the night of Lula’s death. However, her testimony is unreliable due to her being under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time.
Chapter 7: Strike interviews Wilson, the security guard who was on duty the night Lula died, and learns more about the building’s security measures and potential witnesses.
Chapter 8: Strike talks with Lula’s friend Ciara Porter, a fellow model, and learns more about Lula’s state of mind and personal life. Ciara reveals that Lula had a tumultuous relationship with her boyfriend, Evan Duffield.
Chapter 9: Robin’s fiancé, Matthew, expresses his disapproval of her working with Strike, and their relationship becomes increasingly strained. Meanwhile, Strike continues to interview people connected to Lula, including her driver, Kieran Kolovas-Jones.
Chapter 10: Strike visits Guy Some, Lula’s fashion designer friend, who provides insights into Lula’s life in the fashion industry and her relationships with other people in the industry.
Chapter 11: Strike meets with DI Eric Wardle, the detective in charge of Lula’s case, to discuss the police investigation and gather further information. Wardle is skeptical of Strike’s involvement but cooperates nonetheless.
Chapter 12: Strike interviews Bryony Radford, Lula’s personal makeup artist, who shares her observations of Lula’s behavior leading up to her death. Bryony’s testimony paints a picture of Lula as a troubled individual.
Chapter 13: Robin takes the initiative to investigate Lula’s interest in a boutique called Vashti, where Lula made a purchase on the day of her death. This discovery leads Strike to explore a possible connection to Lula’s biological family.
Chapter 14: Strike speaks with Tansy’s husband, Freddie Bestigui, a film producer with a reputation for aggression. Freddie denies any involvement in Lula’s death and attempts to discredit Tansy’s testimony.
Chapter 15: Strike and Robin visit the crime scene, Lula’s penthouse apartment, to gain a better understanding of the circumstances surrounding her death. They examine the balcony from which Lula fell and consider various scenarios.
Chapter 16: Strike questions Derrick Wilson, the security guard, about discrepancies in his original statement. He learns more about Lula’s movements on the day of her death and the presence of an unidentified man in the building.
Chapter 17: Strike interviews Lula’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, Evan Duffield, who shares his perspective on their turbulent relationship and provides further insight into Lula’s final days.
Chapter 18: Strike visits Lula’s adoptive uncle, Tony Landry, who has a strained relationship with Lula and a history of aggression. Tony denies any involvement in Lula’s death but reveals his concerns about her lifestyle and the people she associated with.
Chapter 19: Strike learns more about Lula’s biological family, which includes a heroin-addicted mother and a brother with a criminal record. He begins to suspect that Lula’s interest in her biological family could be a key factor in her death.
Chapter 20: Robin’s relationship with her fiancé, Matthew, continues to be strained as her involvement in the investigation deepens. Meanwhile, Strike’s financial situation worsens, and he is forced to make difficult decisions about his future and his detective agency.
Chapter 21: Strike interviews Marlene Higson, the mother of Lula’s biological half-brother, who reveals that Lula had reached out to her shortly before her death.
Chapter 22: Strike and Robin visit a library to research Lula’s biological father, Major Joseph ‘Joe’ North, who had a complicated past and several children with different women.
Chapter 23: Strike interviews Deeby Macc, an American rapper who was supposed to move into the same apartment building as Lula. Macc provides valuable information regarding Lula’s final night.
Chapter 24: Strike meets with Rochelle Onifade, a friend of Lula’s who was involved in helping her search for her biological family. Rochelle is secretive and uncooperative during the interview.
Chapter 25: Strike and Robin visit Lula’s grave and learn more about the circumstances of her funeral, including a mysterious incident involving a veiled woman.
Chapter 26: Robin makes progress in her personal life by standing up to her fiancé, Matthew, and asserting her commitment to her work with Strike.
Chapter 27: Strike interviews Jonah Agyeman, Lula’s biological half-brother, who shares his perspective on Lula’s search for her roots and her relationship with their mother.
Chapter 28: Strike and Robin attend a party at Guy Some’s house, where they gather further information about Lula’s life in the fashion industry and her relationships with various people in the business.
Chapter 29: Strike questions Tansy Bestigui again to clarify inconsistencies in her testimony. He learns that Tansy had a motive to lie in her initial statement and had been influenced by her husband, Freddie.
Chapter 30: Robin continues her independent investigation by tracking down a crucial witness who may have seen Lula on the night of her death. Meanwhile, Strike’s financial situation remains precarious, and he worries about the future of his detective agency.
Chapter 31: Strike talks to Detective Inspector Eric Wardle again, who provides more information about Lula’s case and shares details of a recent suspicious death, that of Rochelle Onifade, Lula’s friend.
Chapter 32: Strike and Robin re-examine the security footage from the night of Lula’s death and discover an important clue about an unidentified man wearing a Guy Fawkes mask.
Chapter 33: Strike interviews Nico Kolovas-Jones, Lula’s biological half-brother on her father’s side, who reveals Lula’s fascination with her biological family and her attempts to connect with her siblings.
Chapter 34: Strike and Robin visit the boutique Vashti to gather more information about Lula’s visit to the shop on the day of her death. They meet with an employee named Bryony, who provides additional details about Lula’s final hours.
Chapter 35: Robin’s relationship with her fiancé, Matthew, continues to deteriorate, as Matthew grows increasingly resentful of Robin’s dedication to her work with Strike.
Chapter 36: Strike interviews Rochelle’s social worker, who shares valuable information about Lula and Rochelle’s relationship and their shared interest in Lula’s biological family.
Chapter 37: Strike learns more about Rochelle’s death, which is officially ruled a suicide but raises questions about possible connections to Lula’s case.
Chapter 38: Strike interviews Alison Cresswell, the director of the shelter where Rochelle stayed, who provides insight into Rochelle’s life and her relationship with Lula.
Chapter 39: Strike and Robin visit the clothing factory that produced the dress Lula wore on the day of her death. They discover that the dress was custom-made, suggesting a possible clue to the case.
Chapter 40: Strike interviews a key witness, Graham Hardacre, who confirms the presence of the unidentified man wearing a Guy Fawkes mask in the vicinity of Lula’s apartment on the night of her death.
Chapter 41: Strike interviews Tony Landry again, pressing him for more information about his involvement in Lula’s life and the night of her death. Tony remains uncooperative and defensive.
Chapter 42: Strike continues his search for the man wearing the Guy Fawkes mask, tracking him down to a nearby hotel. He learns that the man is a Ukrainian immigrant named Vasyl who was hired to deliver a package to Lula.
Chapter 43: Strike returns to the scene of Lula’s death to reexamine the crime scene and piece together the events of the night. He begins to form a new theory about what really happened.
Chapter 44: Strike confronts John Bristow with his suspicions about Bristow’s involvement in Lula’s death. Bristow denies any wrongdoing and insists that Lula was murdered.
Chapter 45: Strike talks to the police about Rochelle Onifade’s death, which he believes is connected to Lula’s case. He provides new information that casts doubt on the official ruling of suicide.
Chapter 46: Strike interviews Ciara Porter again, who reveals that Lula was planning to meet with someone the night she died. This information supports Strike’s developing theory about Lula’s death.
Chapter 47: Strike follows a lead on a mysterious veiled woman who attended Lula’s funeral. He discovers that the woman is Lula’s biological mother, Marlene Higson, who had been trying to establish a connection with her daughter.
Chapter 48: Strike and Robin visit the scene of Rochelle Onifade’s death and uncover evidence that her suicide may have been staged to cover up a murder.
Chapter 49: Strike interviews Guy Some again, who shares new information about Lula’s activities on the day of her death, including a secret meeting with a mysterious individual.
Chapter 50: Strike talks to Charlotte, his ex-girlfriend, who inadvertently provides a crucial piece of information that brings him closer to solving Lula’s case.
Chapter 51: Strike reviews all the evidence he has gathered throughout the investigation, connecting the dots and solidifying his theory about what happened on the night of Lula’s death.
Chapter 52: Robin tracks down a crucial witness who provides important information about the circumstances surrounding Rochelle Onifade’s death, further supporting Strike’s theory.
Chapter 53: Strike confronts John Bristow at his office and accuses him of murdering Lula and Rochelle. Bristow initially denies the accusations, but as Strike reveals the evidence he has gathered, Bristow’s facade begins to crumble.
Chapter 54: Strike explains how Bristow, motivated by jealousy and a desire for the family inheritance, killed Lula and then staged her death as a suicide. He also reveals that Bristow killed Rochelle to prevent her from exposing the truth about Lula’s murder.
Chapter 55: Bristow, realizing that he has been caught, attacks Strike in a desperate attempt to escape. Strike subdues Bristow, who is then arrested by the police.
Chapter 56: With the case solved, Strike and Robin’s partnership appears to be at an end. Robin prepares to leave the detective agency and return to her life with her fiancé, Matthew.
Chapter 57: Strike’s reputation as a private investigator is restored following the resolution of Lula Landry’s case. He receives an influx of new clients and is able to save his failing agency.
Chapter 58: In a surprising turn of events, Strike decides to hire Robin as his permanent assistant, acknowledging her invaluable contributions to the investigation. Robin accepts the offer, and their partnership continues.
In these final chapters, Strike’s persistence and keen detective skills lead him to solve the case, bringing justice to Lula Landry and Rochelle Onifade. The successful resolution of the case revitalizes Strike’s career and solidifies the partnership between Strike and Robin, setting the stage for their future adventures together.