The Silkworm

I know, I know. I'm a horrible JK Rowling fan, this book has been out for nearly three weeks and I'm just now getting around to reading. I'm awful! I loved the first Comoran Strike novel and I'm glad to say I loved the newest addition as well! For readers that haven't read the first book, don't be alarmed. As with any good mystery series they all serve well as stand alones and don't have to be read in order.

This mystery was fast paced and had me guessing the entire time. I had no idea how it was all going to possibly come together. This mystery follows the disappearance of a b-list author. His wife contacts Detective Strike to find him after he's been gone for ten days thinking that he's off on some writer's retreat or worse with a mistress. Strike soon finds out however, that things are much, much worse.

For fans of JK Rowlings, mysteries, and anything set in London.

The Cuckoo's Calling

Wow, what an exciting romp! I enjoyed this work infinitely more than I did Rowling's other non-Harry Potter piece, "The Casual Vacancy." This is just a good ol' fashioned murder mystery with a down on his luck detective and a bright beautiful secretary.

The story opens with the "suicide" of world famous model, Lula Landry, and all the hype it caused. Fast forward to three months later and Lula's adopted brother hires a private detective to look deeper into the mysterious circumstances shrouding Lula's death. Comoran takes the case even though he doesn't think there's anything to be uncovered, but he soon discovers just how wrong he was. He and his secretary Robin team up to find the lost and scattered breadcrumbs that lead them into a life so distinctly different from theirs, the life of the rich and famous.

This fast paced novel will keep you turning pages and guessing who killed Lula (if she was killed after all). Highly recommended and I can't wait to read the next in the series!