UK cover This detective novel gained popularity this summer when it was revealed that the enigmatic debut author was really none other than J.K. Rowling of the Harry Potter series. Cormoran Strike is a struggling gumshoe who doesn’t really need, and can't afford, the temporary office assistant the agency sends him one morning at the start of the book. But they become a very good team as they untangle the mysterious circumstances surrounding the apparent suicide of a supermodel named Lula Landry. I quite liked this novel—for its sense of place in London, the strong and very contemporary characters, and their interpersonal dynamics. My only criticism is that pace became a bit plodding in the middle of the book, but in the end it was a rewarding read overall. Maybe if they had really been dealing with a debut author and not the publishing powerhouse that is JKR, the editor could have done his or her job and cut the manuscript down into a leaner, meaner machine.