Reviews

• Good book!

  My friends recommended this with info about the author being JK Rowlings. It was flashy, interesting and fun! Could not wait for the books so just downloaded it. First time to use kindle but very good alternative for popular books that have a long waiting line;)

• シリーズの続きが読みたくなる

  主人公のStrikeとアシスタントのRobinのキャラクターにまず惹かれました。ストーリ、プロットもやや強引なところもあるものの最後の部分はドキドキして楽しめました。 二人の今後が気になり、今このシリーズの二作目を読んでいるところです。

• いち著者の作品として

  ハリーポッターが大好きで、そちらも全シリーズAmazonで買って読みましたが、そのローリングの作品ということで買ってみました。最初はノロノロとした進行に感じたものの、だんだんとスピードが乗ってきて、あとは勢いで読めた感じです。ハリーポッターシリーズのように、プロットが工夫されている印象でした。

• 期待通り

  期待通り

• 読ませるけど長い

  文章は上手いのだが、とにかく長い。 「ハリー・ポッター」のような異世界の話でもないのに、日常の些細な描写が延々と続き、読み進めるのに苦労した。 ただ、なんとか読み終わってみれば、まあまあの読後感。これで3分の2の長さだったらお勧めしたい。次回作に期待。

• 形容詞多く、重い展開

  ハリーポッターは、ファンタジーであっても英国的な荘重さを醸し出すことで、新たな世界を切り開いた。その同一著者が、ミステリーであっても形容詞を多用し、違った感覚を読者に感じさせたかったのだろうか。 それが、ただ、重いとしか感じられなかった。 痛快さ、時間を忘れさせるドキドキ感、あるいはミステリーでも何か勉強にるというような点、どれかがあれば納得するが、残念ながらどれも、合格点ではなかった。 形容詞を１００％感じ取れる語学力があれば、異なった印象を持つのだろうか。 これは、この本に三ツ星でなく、自分に三ツ星を付けるべきか。 ページターナーとは行かない本で、其れなりの覚悟が要るだろう。

• slow paced

  A detective mystery differs from other whudunnits in that it's more important who and how solves the murder than who and how commits it. So far, Cormoran Strike only stands out because of his peculiar name, one leg missing, and a famous father. He's not Sherlock, nor Marlowe, nor Mrs Marple. He's fleshed out enough to make him a recognizable human being, but not one I would necessarily like or care for. We don't observe his deductive skills directly, only his talent for making people talk. Like Poirot, he collects facts and statements, but keeps his conclusions to himself until the big reveal. Rowling (aka Galbraith) pulls wool over our eyes with red herrings and conflicting truths, but she does it from the safe distance of a stage illusionist cloaked in darkness, not a one that sits at your table with his sleeves rolled up and still manages to pull a rabbit out of your nose. Still, the plot is original and well thought out and the final twist unpredictable, I dare to say. Rowling has a knack for creating characters who are not what they seem, and keeping her stories together. There are plenty of details to help us visualize the locations, the looks and the feelings flashing on the characters' faces, but they also slow down the pace considerably.

• 『Goblet of Fire』で挫折した人は避けたほうが無難

  ハリー・ポッターシリーズを１巻から読んできて『Goblet of Fire』のクィディッチのワールドカップのところで挫折したという知人がいますが、ああいう感じで三分の二くらいはだらだらと進みます。 そのあいだに主人公コーモランのバックグラウンドや性格が少しずつ明かされ、秘書のロビンとの協力関係も進展するので無駄な記述ではないのですが、とにかく冗長。しかも新鮮味がない。 スーパーモデルや映画プロデューサー、人気のラップシンガーなどが登場するので、億万長者になったローリングさんが見聞きしたセレブの世界を克明に描いてくれるのかと期待するも上っ面だけですし、スマホやインターネットの利用も誰もがやっているようなこと止まり。 最後の長大な探偵ひとり語りの謎解きも古臭いです。 きちんと真面目に書かれてはいるけれど、J.K.ローリングという名前がついていなければ「そこそこの作品」で片づけられてしまうのではないでしょうか。 とはいえ、がんばって最後まで読むうちにコーモランとロビンには好感を持つようになったので、シリーズとして続くなら２作目もとりあえず読んでみるつもりです。でも、それもローリングさんだからかなあ。

• Loved it. Can't wait for more in this series!

  Again, (as in another review) I am moved to use other's descriptions in my review, because there seem to be people out there who express themselves as I would like to, but can't seem to find the words. However, I did include some of my own words, which follow the "quoted sections." I also need to say that I only bought the book after I found out it was written by J.K. Rowling. I'm glad I did. "Keris Nine" said "It's hard to put your finger on exactly what it is that makes The Cuckoo's Calling such a terrific new Private Investigator crime fiction debut...it's an utterly compelling read with strong characters that wraps you up completely and thrillingly into the investigation." I love these characters and want more of them! I felt as I did at the end of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo...I missed her. I miss Cormoran and Robin. I even miss Guy! "Karen" said the compelling descriptions "made one feel like another occupant in the scene. You could feel the weather, the tension, the pain, the atmosphere in the gatherings." Oh wow...the pain Cormoran was having was his leg made my leg hurt. What descriptions! "Sid Nuncius" said "I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a very well-written and engrossing read and promises to be the start of a very good series." All I can add to that, Sid, is from your lips to J.K. Rowling's ears! He also went on to say: "I think the book's real strength is the dialogue; I found the many interview scenes utterly engrossing and the various voices thoroughly believable as well-drawn characters emerge. This made the whole book come to life for me and develop as a very classy crime novel." This is not your Harry Potter dialogue...it's very raw, but as much as I hate overuse of any one word...especially a swear word...the swear word used frequently in this novel fits each character and I felt was quite believable and utterly understandable...given each situation and each character. "S Riaz" commented, "Both Strike and Robin, are fully fleshed out characters that we care about deeply by the end of the book." Love them...want more of them. He went on to say "I would say that Cormoran Strike is the best new addition to the P I genre that I have read for a long time. He certainly deserves a series and I hope to see him appear in many more books. There were tantalising glimpses of his past which need much further exploration and perhaps the author can be kinder to him in the next book and, at least, get him a proper place to sleep. I feel he will serve the author well and deserves a little looking after! If you enjoy really intelligent, well written crime novels (P D James, etc) then this will be a book you will love. Great start to what will, hopefully, become a long running series." And, lastly (and, by the way, I only stopped because I was afraid you were getting bored!), "d kemp" said exactly what I was thinking, too: "While crime/thrillers/detective stories are my preferred genre, I rarely read first-time novels. ...It was a complete delight. I was fascinated by the story, cared about the main characters and can't wait to read, what I'm certain will be, the follow-up books in this series. In addition to the believable plot, great characters and vivid description of London I loved the way Mr Galbraith entered the psyche of both his male and female protagonists so convincingly."

• Super

• Chandler and Hammett, eat your heart out!

  Yes, I know; surely not? But this is THAT good. I haven't enjoyed a private eye yarn this much in a long time. And it will undoubtedly have been by one of the aforementioned gentlemen. "Mr" Galbraith is a very descriptive, very humorous writer. Mr Galbraith is a very talented writer. The plot, like all private detective stories, involves a murder; or two. It also has a cast of characters ranging from the psychotic to the oddball - including the main protagonist. There is a depth of knowledge at work here. Not just through painstaking research but also through experience. The background of wealth, throwaway media coverage and fashionista is described at all times with just a hint of forked tongue and is all the more compelling for it. Even the homeless and down and out get a knowledgeable wink. The basic storyline concerns our anti-hero trying to track down the killer of a supermodel having been hired by her brother to do so. If there is a killer, suicide being the official verdict. Various sides of London life are portrayed with accuracy and humour as Cormoran Strike seeks to get at the truth. I won't give any more away than that. The plot isn't complex because it doesn't need to be. This is an introduction to a few characters that I personally hope to encounter again and again. I loved this book and I would recommend it to anyone who likes their detective novel filled with humour rather than descriptive gore. Interesting and realistic characters rather than polarised heroes and villains. Looking forward to the next one which is coming up fast on the rails. A one legged private eye searching for a serial killer. You got to love it! Can't wait!

• a real page turner , brilliantly written.

  JK Rowling is pure joy to read. Her style is unique and uncomparable. Reading her books makes you think that writing is as simple as breathing (which of course is not, at all - I've read from her website that she's extremely well organized and keeps spreadsheets with all the info for each character). I have truly enjoyed the whole Strike series and all the twists and developments in both the misteries and the relationship between Strike and Robin. For all London lovers, finding out about lovely pubs and curious venues is yet another source of delight in these books. I believe this Author fully deserves the amazing success she's had.

• Thoroughly enjoyable whodunnit

  As many others, I guess, I bought this book because of its author, J. K. Rowling, not knowing what to expect. I was curious. I’ve just turned the last page, and I wasn’t disappointed. What I particularly remarked is Rowling’s ability not only to build up a solid plot but to make her protagonists and other characters come to life and become likeable – or not so likeable, and without filling page after page with sterile character introductions, but by subtly making the character human and realistic in their strengths and weaknesses through the subtle ways she describes not only what they do but how they do it, and what their reactions are. Rowling makes you feel you're present yourself. This is an author who knows her stuff. Once started, it’s difficult to put this book down.

Purchase links