There is something about the detective novels by JK Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith that, to me, seems immediately classic. It's so bizarre in some ways to think that the writer of these novels is the same as the writer of the most famous books in modern history, the Harry Potter series. It's like she was writing in this style all her life but the way Rowling embodies the endlessly masculine Cormoran Strike, the hero and detective in these novels, impressed me beyond measure. To say these novels are perfectly weaved page-turners is an understatement. To also say that I wish there was ten more of them to read right now says a lot for what Rowling has done here. I was so impressed with how she wrote Harry Potter and I loved those books. But, after reading The Cuckoo's Calling and The Silkworm, my appreciation of the Scottish author soared even further.In 2013 a debut novel by an author named Robert Galbraith was released to overall great reviews. The cover boasted a blurb by Val McDermid which read "The Cuckoo's Calling reminds me of why I fell in love with crime fiction". Quite a statement from a crime fiction legend. The book sold well for a debut novel and the style was complimented all round.
And then a rumor began about the author of the book which caused quite a stir. Robert Galbraith was supposed to be a former soldier and not a lot else was known about him when suddenly, through a huge lack of indiscretion, a woman on Twitter claimed that Robert Galbraith was in fact author JK Rowling in disguise as it were. Journalist India Knight came by this information, the writing in The Cuckoo's Calling was read alongside other JK Rowling work and, eventually, the truth came out.
Although almost nobody knew that Rowling had written the novel - including most of her closest friends - a lawyer in the firm hired by Rowling told his wife the secret. She in turn told her friend and it was this friend who tweeted the identity behind Galbraith. Rowling was reportedly livid and she was right to be. With these novels she got a chance to anonymously write again about something that could not be further from the wizard that made her the richest author in the world. And to say that this series is a far cry from the series that made her famous is an understatement but, like Harry Potter, she created something extremely special in a genre that, in some ways, had been done to death. And that was no mean feat.
What is interesting about the Cormoran Strike novels is that they contain a couple of big themes close to Rowling's heart. The first, The Cuckoo's Calling, deals with celebrity and is quite close to the bone for Rowling who was involved in the phone hacking scandal and the Levison Tribunal. The second, The Silkworm, deals with the writing world.and I love how close to her heart these subjects are and how she has written them into these novels.
But, the really great aspects of these novels are what set them apart, for me, from a lot of crime genre novels; the main element being the character of Cormoran Strike and his assistant/secretary/partner in crime-solving Robin. Strike is written wonderfully. It would have been impressive enough that the made up persona of a very similar sounding author, Robert Galbraith, had written him. But to see the voice and persona Rowling has created for Strike is even more impressive and quite unique. He is a something of a damaged genius, and you find detectives in crime literature that match that description since Arthur Conan Doyle created Sherlock Holmes, but Strike in endearing in a way I haven't quite seen before and his mixture between broken mess of a man and meticulous, quick thinking, sometimes potty-mouthed detective is so endearing it's very hard to leave his world once the story ends. And his relationship with Robin is something to behold.
I don't want to give to much away about the books apart from the style being superb, the pace being perfect, the writing being truly gold as it has always been with Rowling throughout the Harry Potter series - it's my favourite thing about reading her work - and the twists and turns that occur throughout these first two novels that quickens your pulse and leaves you still speeding through the novel to see who dunnit.
It was announced just a few days ago that BBC One and Bronte Film and TV are collaborating, with the input of Rowling, to make a series based on these novels so you will be hearing a lot more about Cormoran Strike soon. And that is no bad thing.
I feel like I'm doing a public service here to recommend The Cuckoo's Calling and The Silkworm to you. And, since I have already given these novels as gifts twice, if you want to treat someone over Christmas to some gripping and highly enjoyable holiday reading, you can't do much better than these.
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