The Cuckoo's Calling

The Cuckoo’s Calling: A Cormoran Strike Novel is a murder mystery set in modern London, England. It follows war veteran Cormoran Strike and his new secretary, Robin Ellacott, as they try to uncover the true circumstances surrounding the death of a young model named Lula Landry (Bristow). The author, Robert Galbraith, is a pseudonym for J. K. Rowling, the famous novelist who wrote the Harry Potter series. Published in 2012, it was awarded the 2013 Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the Mystery/Thriller category and became a best-seller once the author’s identity was discovered. BBC One developed a television adaptation called Strike that aired in 2017. The novel’s title refers to the murder victim, Lula, who was affectionately called “Cuckoo” by her friends. This is also a reference to the slang use of the word “cuckoo,” which is a derogatory term for those living with a mental health condition.

This guide uses the First North American Edition published in 2013.

Content Warning: This novel contains depictions of substance use disorders, violence, warzone-related trauma, racism, and emotional manipulation. Further, the novel references mental health conditions, suicide, sexual assault, and financial manipulation.