The Cuckoo's Calling #discussion

[wanderingheart]

Sorry I'm late - I'm out of town and totally forgot today was the 22nd until just now. So...The Cuckoo's Calling! Let's discuss!

1. What do you think of Cormoran Strike? What are his secrets...and what drives him in the pursuit of the Truth?

2. What makes Lulu Landry's apparent suicide suspicious? Lulu's character is gradually revealed and the story progresses. What kind of person was she?

3. How does the author portray the culture—and the characters—of the fashion world and the very rich?

4. Good mystery writing leads readers astray with red-herrings. Who were you first suspicious of?

5. Does the fact that the book was penned by J.K. Rowling affect your view of it?

6. Were you surprised by the ending? Or did you see it coming? Why...or why not?

[penguin129]

I've been looking for this all day! I was so excited when I finished the book Monday so I could play. Thank you so much for doing this wanderingheart

1) What do you think of Strike? I like Strike's character. He doesn't want anyone to take pity on him for having lost a leg in the war or his broken relationship. I think his chemistry is very good with Robin and enjoyed the interaction of the pair.

2) What make Lula's suicide suspicious? What kind of a person was she? The thing that made it suspicious to me was that arguing was heard before the fall. Also the water on the stairs we heard about from Wilson. She was a good person trying to find her place in and out of the lime light. She really wanted to know where she was from and that seemed very important to her.

3. How does the author portray the culture—and the characters—of the fashion world and the very rich? She portrayed them very well I thought. The accounts of Lula being followed by the photographers all the time and not being able to even try on clothes without workers listening in really gave a view of what it is like to be famous and "hunted".

4. Good mystery writing leads readers astray with red-herrings. Who were you first suspicious of? I thought Uncle Tony was involved. The meeting between him and Strike where Bristow was delayed and kept at the office seemed very fishy to me. Also the way he talked about his niece and the rest of her family.

5. Does the fact that the book was penned by J.K. Rowling affect your view of it? I never read any of the Harry Potter books or saw any of the movies so it didn't have any affect on my view of the story. I compared it to the other books I read by James Patterson. I think this moved slower than Patterson books and the chapters were much longer.

6. Were you surprised by the ending? Or did you see it coming? Why...or why not? I was completely surprised by the ending. Completely! I never saw it coming in a million years. I still don't understand why Bristow hired Strike to investigate. He had already gotten away with murder. He could've gone through life without ever being caught. I never even considered the accident that killed his brother years earlier was murder. I really wanted to see Strike and Robin end up together.

PS I am about 100 pages into the second book.

[mill23]

I'm skipping all the answers because my hold at the library came in today, so I'm off to pick it up! I'll be back in a few days when I'm done!

[penguin129]

Aug 23, 2015 18:20:40 GMT -5 pippacricket said:

penguin129 - How are you enjoying the second book so far? I wanted to read it right after I read Cuckoo's Calling but was afraid that I'd confuse details between the two books when it came time for our discussion!

It like it so far. I may have to go back and read some over again because I didn't have complete silence when I was reading it and had to reread stuff a lot. I guess I can't say much more because I don't want to ruin it for anyone. I do have a feeling the speed is about to pick up very soon after pg 100.

[penguin129]

I've been thinking about why Bristow hired Strike to investigate Lula's murder even though he got away with it before doing so. I think it was all centered around the blue paper aka her will. Bristow thought for sure the money was going to be left to him and when the police on the case investigated and ruled her death a suicide they stopped looking for that paper. He was hoping to find the will and have it reveal the money was left him. Too bad Strike outsmarted him and he got caught red handed committing murder. If he wasn't such a greedy greedy Bas**** he would've gotten away with it all.

[penguin129]

Aug 23, 2015 18:48:20 GMT -5 @mrsjohnmarston said:

Aug 23, 2015 18:17:25 GMT -5 pippacricket said:

Part of me is glad that their relationship is platonic but part of me is also thinking "She could be the one that saves him from self destruction!!!" I think I've been reading to many YA novels...

I wonder if Rowling will keep their relationship strictly professional or will have them become an item later in the series.

I completely get wanting her to save him. I wouldn't be surprised if they have a will they/ won't they kind of storyline. I'm sure Charlotte will come up later in a major way. I hope he's strong enough to stay away from her.

I really hope Charlotte doesn't return. That is a story line I can definitely live without. 

[penguin129]

Aug 23, 2015 20:09:03 GMT -5 pippacricket said:

Aug 23, 2015 20:05:44 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

I've been thinking about why Bristow hired Strike to investigate Lula's murder even though he got away with it before doing so. I think it was all centered around the blue paper aka her will. Bristow thought for sure the money was going to be left to him and when the police on the case investigated and ruled her death a suicide they stopped looking for that paper. He was hoping to find the will and have it reveal the money was left him. Too bad Strike outsmarted him and he got caught red handed committing murder. If he wasn't such a greedy greedy Bas**** he would've gotten away with it all.

Ahh yes! That's right! I was thinking a lot about why he hired Strike today as well. The only reasoning I could come up with, besides him being crazy, was that it would make him look less suspicious because he was playing the role of caring big bro.

He really is such and idiot and greedy. Wasn't he in line to get his mother's fortune when she died? or am I remembering that wrong?

[penguin129]

#2womanbookclub pippacricket and penguin129.

[penguin129]

So I read some discussion on Amazon. They are saying Bristow knew the half brother was supposed to get the money and he tried to frame the half brother for the murder so he (Bristow) would get the money instead. I remember that happening now. That is what Lula (or is it Lulu) and Bristow were fighting about. The half brother was seen on video as well as Bristow.

[penguin129]

Aug 23, 2015 20:30:35 GMT -5 ugaqueencity said:

Aug 23, 2015 20:07:16 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

I really hope Charlotte doesn't return. That is a story line I can definitely live without. 

I should probably go back and read this part again, but did it allude to Charlotte faking a pregnancy?

Yes,  it did. 

[penguin129]

Aug 23, 2015 20:35:01 GMT -5 ugaqueencity said:

Aug 23, 2015 20:28:55 GMT -5 pippacricket said:

I don't remember if it was mentioned but I would assume he and Lula would receive her inheritance. Also, was there mention of whether he had money problems? Or was he just greedy for no reason other than to just be greedy?

I also think there wasn't much money left from the mother due to her pill addiction

Hmmmm....

[penguin129]

Chartlotte Spolier book 2

SPOILER: Click to show

She hasn't resurfaced yet in the second book. I think there was only a brief mention of her.

[penguin129]

Aug 23, 2015 20:50:26 GMT -5 ugaqueencity said:

Aug 23, 2015 20:48:31 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

Chartlotte Spolier book 2

SPOILER: Click to show

She hasn't resurfaced yet in the second book. I think there was only a brief mention of her.

Thank goodness. She was engaged again so hopefully she just goes away. I need to pick up the second book. Doesn't a third one come out this fall?

Career of Evil comes out in Fall

[penguin129]

I have to be honest though I thought the book was just ok. That's what I rated it in Good Reads. James Patterson books move a lot faster and I feel like I get a lot accomplished because his chapters are so short. I was starting to read Zoo before I decided to join the book club this month. Now that is on the back burner so I can finish book 2 of Strike.

[penguin129]

Aug 23, 2015 21:03:30 GMT -5 pippacricket said:

Aug 23, 2015 20:57:26 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

Cuckoo's Calling was definitely slow at parts. Rowling seems to like to give a lot of detail.

I don't normally read a lot of books in this particular genre so I gave it 5 stars on Good Reads. If I can't put the book down (and the ending doesn't suck), it'll usually get at least a 4 star rating from me.

I just signed up for Good Reads this month so I haven't worked out a system like yours yet. It sounds good though. I think I kept reading it so I could join in on this thread.

[penguin129]

Aug 23, 2015 21:06:17 GMT -5 ugaqueencity said:

Aug 23, 2015 20:57:26 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

I hadn't read many mystery or suspense novels in a really long time so I think I had the benefit of not expecting much. I might need to check out some James Patterson books now.

A co-worker told me about him years ago when I told her how much I loved reading R.L. Stine books when I was a kid. There are so many book out there I haven't ready by Patterson yet. I keep going back to him. I needed to broaden my horizons.

[penguin129]

I'm headed to bed ladies. I hope more people join in tomorrow and later in the week. I really enjoy the discussion.

[wanderingheart]

HEY. I'm here now...so stop trying to take my book club from me pippacricket! #jk #youknowyouremysoulmate #READHARRYPOTTERNOW

1. What do you think of Cormoran Strike? What are his secrets...and what drives him in the pursuit of the Truth? He was a complex character. At first I hated him, but then I got to like him as the story developed. He seemed self destructive at first but I think he's just been dealt a shitty hand. He has a rich and famous dad who won't claim him, a bad childhood as a result of that, a woman who had him wrapped around her finger only to ditch him and get engaged in a few weeks, and a job that's led to a dead end. Poor guy.

2. What makes Lulu Landry's apparent suicide suspicious? Lulu's character is gradually revealed and the story progresses. What kind of person was she? I really went back and forth on her. I couldn't make up my mind...was she a spoiled rich brat who was handed everything in life? Or was she someone who was trying to pay it forward with what she was given? I mean her friendship with Rochelle really confused me. Her friends said she befriended her out of pity, but Rochelle was blackmailing Bristow so how is that a true friend?

3. How does the author portray the culture—and the characters—of the fashion world and the very rich?I like what some of you have said - I never thought of it from Strike's point of view...it was a life he was very close to being a part of, but never had. Despite the cut throat and dog eats dog world that the fashion industry is normally painted as, I liked the loyalty and friendships shown to Lula (with Guy and Ciara).

4. Good mystery writing leads readers astray with red-herrings. Who were you first suspicious of?Almost everyone...I really DID NOT see it coming. Especially that Bristow killed his brother...that blew me away. I figured it wasn't a suicide pretty early on, because it would be a pretty awful plot to have it turn out to be a suicide after all. I was suspicious of Evan (the boyfriend) and the Uncle at first.

5. Does the fact that the book was penned by J.K. Rowling affect your view of it? Nope. I love J.K. Rowling and all things Harry Potter, but this was really completely different in her style and approach. Maybe because it's a completely different world that she's painted in Harry Potter, but it did not sway my perception at all.

6. Were you surprised by the ending? Or did you see it coming? Why...or why not?Oh yeah. It did drag a little at the end, but I was really surprised. It's been interesting to read you guise's opinions on why Bristow approached Strike to begin with, because that was my biggest question at the end of it. Like dude...you got away with it. The police ruled it a suicide...why go to a PI to disprove that?! I get he was after the money but that was a HUGE RISK.

Ok. Paging getzystark because I know you have stuff to share about this book!!!!

[wanderingheart]

Also I must be in the minority here - because I would have been really creeped out if Strike and Robin got together. I did NOT want them together.

[wanderingheart]

Aug 23, 2015 22:46:27 GMT -5 pippacricket said:

Aug 23, 2015 22:25:43 GMT -5 wanderingheart said:

Also I must be in the minority here - because I would have been really creeped out if Strike and Robin got together . I did NOT want them together.

Creeped out? Why? I'm pretty neutral about whether or not they become a couple but just curious as to why you feel that way.

I'm not exactly sure - maybe because he was her boss, and she was his apprentice, if you will. I just liked their dynamic as it was, without adding any romantic feelings into it. 

[rablissful]

Finishing this today, I swear! Will be back later to respond to you all.

[risscaboobs]

Aug 23, 2015 21:03:30 GMT -5 pippacricket said:

Aug 23, 2015 20:57:26 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

I have to be honest though I thought the book was just ok. That's what I rated it in Good Reads. James Patterson books move a lot faster and I feel like I get a lot accomplished because his chapters are so short. I was starting to read Zoo before I decided to join the book club this month. Now that is on the back burner so I can finish book 2 of Strike.

Cuckoo's Calling was definitely slow at parts. Rowling seems to like to give a lot of detail.

I don't normally read a lot of books in this particular genre so I gave it 5 stars on Good Reads. If I can't put the book down (and the ending doesn't suck), it'll usually get at least a 4 star rating from me.

She does! And what I LOOOOVE about her is that those little details will come out in books way down the line sometimes, and it's just awesome how she ties a series together with something mentioned in book one being important in book 7 (for example).

[risscaboobs]

I'm late to the discussion! Sorry!!

I just absolutely love this book. I did not suspect the brother for a while when I first read it. I think I suspected just about everyone by the end of it though lol.

Everyone must read book 2 now!!

Also, I would be completely fine if Robin and Strike became a couple.

[getzystark]

I always want there to be a romantic story line. ALWAYS.

Also I had no fucking clue who the killer was. Like zero. I'm always pleasantly surprised by endings like these.

I love, love, loved all of the characters and how in depth the author detailed their personalities and motives.

I have a patient, I'll be back.

[getzystark]

Also, I legit forgot that JK wrote it.

Double also, I listened to the audio book and it greatly improved the experience for me. The reader does all of the voices and he did a fantastic job.

I will forever be indebted to risscaboobs for suggesting the way of the audio book.

[risscaboobs]

Aug 24, 2015 11:15:30 GMT -5 getzystark said:

Also, I legit forgot that JK wrote it.

Double also, I listened to the audio book and it greatly improved the experience for me. The reader does all of the voices and he did a fantastic job.

I will forever be indebted to risscaboobs for suggesting the way of the audio book.

Always audiobooks. Yes! The narrator was fantastic!

[rablissful]

Aug 23, 2015 20:49:00 GMT -5 pippacricket said:

The mother was also legitimately ill though as well, right? So I'm sure medical expenses were piling up too.

They're in England, friend. Everything is pretty much free there. No medical bills like here in the US.

[rablissful]

I FINALLY FINISHED! I've had the book for awhile but haven't been in the right state of mind to actually read.

1. What do you think of Cormoran Strike? What are his secrets...and what drives him in the pursuit of the Truth? I like Cormoran. He is a selectively secretive guy due to his injuries and his father. He doesn't want to be given any handouts. I can appreciate that, which is why practically nobody in my professional life knows about my fibromyalgia. No need for pity.


I'd say his strive for wanting the truth stems from his mother's death, he knew something was fishy but since he was 20 and in college nobody believed him.

2. What makes Lulu Landry's apparent suicide suspicious? Lulu's character is gradually revealed and the story progresses. What kind of person was she? Pretty much everything. I didn't think get bi-polar disorder had anything to do with it, and as the story progressed (finding her mother, the water droplets, Tansy not being a complete liar, the will, the commitment ceremony even if she broke up with him that night) it became more and more obvious this was foul play.

I can't really tell wholeheartedly what type of person Lula was. By all accounts she was happy and a sweetheart, but with a selfish side. It was obvious she had youngest child syndrome as well. I do wish I got to know the real her.


3. How does the author portray the culture—and the characters—of the fashion world and the very rich? Snobby, selfish, with the air they are better than everyone.


4. Good mystery writing leads readers astray with red-herrings. Who were you first suspicious of? The Bestigui's. I totally thought the husband did it and Tansy was covering it up. Then I thought it was the uncle. I knew the brother was cray cray, but I didn't think he was stupid enough to hire somebody.


5. Does the fact that the book was penned by J.K. Rowling affect your view of it? It gave me high hopes for it. I'm working my way through HP a second time now. The first quarter of it was boring to me, but definitely picked up!

6. Were you surprised by the ending? Or did you see it coming? Why...or why not? I was surprised. I saw it coming a bit at the very end when he went to see Lady Bristow. Between the phone and the looking through the closet it was obvious he was glad John wasn't there. Not to mention going over Charlie's death again.

I'm a sucker for J.K.'s monologues (cough still mad about the last HP movie cough). I loved Cormoran's at the end when he confronted John. It was perfect. Also obvious he was trying to get him to attack for even more proof that he is crazy and is the murderer.

I'm glad her actual brother will get the money. Something good to come out of everything.

[rablissful]

Aug 24, 2015 14:35:44 GMT -5 pippacricket said:

Aug 24, 2015 14:16:40 GMT -5 rablissful said:

They're in England, friend. Everything is pretty much free there. No medical bills like here in the US.

Also this was me reading your response:

love you hahaha

[rablissful]

Also, loved Robin.

DNW her and Cormoran getting together. At all. They work too well together in a professional manner.

No unnecessary love stories, plskthx.

P.S. I was irrationally happy that she's staying to work for him.