The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith.

                 The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galraith.

"Her head had bled a little into the snow. The face was crushed and swollen, one eye reduced to a pucker, the other showing as a sliver of dull white distended lids."

A dramatic opening, the death of a beautiful supermodel in suspicious circumstances, having fallen from her Mayfair penthouse caused a big stir with the paparazzi. Detective Inspector Roy Carver and Detective Sergeant Eric Wardle were on the case. Lula Landy, like the late Princess Diana was one of the most photographed women in the world. It seems that both women were hounded to death by the pressure of celebrity and attention.

Her death dominated the news showing her "flawless face, her lithe and sculpted body" but within three months "The frenzy wore itself into staleness." Lula was an interesting character, having been adopted by a wealthy white family. She had been investigating her biological roots and had discovered a black half-brother who she had made contact with. She was expelled from school for dabbling in drugs and ran off to London to live rough with addicts. Her on-off boyfriend was an addict, violent at times, a musician called Evan Duffield and she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She had been signed up by Guy Some the fashion designer after winning a modelling contract worth 5 million pounds over 2 years. When she died she had accumulated a fortune of 10 million.

Before her death there had been a row with Duffield and he became chief suspect but at this stage, the conclusion amounted to: "The poor cow jumped. There was no one else there." No further investigation.

Three months later we meet her adopted half-brother, John Bristow, a lawyer for Landry, May and Patterson. He chooses Cordoran Strike , Private Detective with an equally interesting past who is down on his luck. His military career came to an abrupt end with a serious injury when he lost part of his leg. His long term girlfriend and his turbulent relationship with Charlotte has finally floundered and he has nowhere to sleep other than his office in Denmark Street. His finances have hit rock-bottom and he has acquired a temp called Robin, intelligent and down-to-earth who he cannot afford without any paying clients. Bristow seems to be the lifeline that Strike desperately needs. He chose Strike to reopen the case of Lula because of his connection with Charlie who was John's adopted brother who died when he was 9 years of age. Strike and Charlie had been bosom friends for two months prior to Charlie's fatal accident. "They say my sister killed herself. I don't believe it."

Strike is initially sceptical and reluctant to take on the case having decided that the police investigation was thorough and he believed the final verdict of suicide. But he is interested to hear evidence from a neighbour, Tansy Bestigui who overheard a heated argument seconds before Lula died. She was convinced that Lula was pushed over her balcony. The police had dismissed her evidence because she had been taking cocaine.

Strike takes on the case and he is offered twice the going rate which will partly solve his mountainous debts. A string of interviews with all of the characters who had had contact with Lula make it compelling reading and the suspense is kept ticking over until the finale which is likened to an Agatha Christie climax when the murderer is revealed, and all the facts of the case spilled out in thorough detail. Cormoran Strike comes out of this very well. He outwitted the police force and deserves our uttermost respect. By the end of the case his reputation has spread and he has clients coming to his dingy office. Things are looking up.

You'll have guessed by now that J.K. Rowling was the author. When she sent her manuscript anonymously to Orion Books it was rejected. The sequel was published recently: "The Silkworm" which I am sure will be as successful. Rowling is certainly a master storyteller and I loved it.

A six-part adaptation is advertised in the Radio Times (3rd to 9th October 2015) as BBC1's Future Big Hitters. Rowling is a senior producer. 11 treats to Come. Charlotte Moore.

Publisher: Sphere.  ISBN: 978-0-7515-4925-6

REVIEW it by Carol Naylor.

Copyright 2014. Permission must be obtained from the author before any of this article review is reproduced.

The Strike series can be seen on BBC 1 at 9.0.p.m. UK time on 27 August and 2 8 August  2017.