Rowling’s return

The beloved author of the Harry Potter series is back.

This time, she’s writing under a cloak of invisibility — the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.

Rowling’s most recent book, “The Cuckoo’s Calling,” introduces Private Detective Cormoran Strike and his enthusiastic secretary, Robin Ellacott. 

Afghan war veteran and former special investigator for the British Police, Strike typifies the mystery genre’s down-on-his-luck private detective.

He has lost his fiancée, his apartment, his right leg and is well on his way to losing his business when salvation arrives in the form of the wealthy John Bristow.

Bristow’s sister Lulu Landry recently plunged to her death from the balcony of her London penthouse.

Authorities and the media have ruled the troubled model’s death a suicide, but Bristow isn’t so sure.

As the mystery surrounding Landry’s death thickens, Strike enlists the help of his new secretary, Ellacott.

Though I’m a huge Harry Potter fan, I was a little dubious when I started reading this book.

Her last book, “The Casual Vacancy,” didn’t really interest me, and I was worried that “The Cuckoo’s Calling” would echo that sentiment.

But, after a few chapters, I was hooked.

“The Cuckoo’s Calling” isn’t a super fast-paced read, but Rowling’s rich description and witty dialogue kept me turning the page.

I thought Rowling might bring back similar characters to those I loved in Harry Potter, but instead the author gave me a whole new set of protagonists to root for.

“The Cuckoo’s Calling” features characters who are unique unto themselves — though, I will admit that Strike, 6-foot-5 with a hairy body and a terrible way with women, reminded me ever so slightly of Hagrid. 

Strike’s cynical attitude and vast experience in investigation counters Ellacott’s practical cheerfulness and naive resourcefulness. 

They have the interesting, endearing relationship of complete opposites who slowly (and sometimes grudgingly) become partners by the end of the book.

I’d recommend this great crime-suspense novel to anyone who enjoys authors Agatha Christie, G. K. Chesterton or Arthur Conan Doyle.

Just like their famous predecessors, Strike and Ellacott will captivate you and keep you caught up in the mystery until the very last page.

­— jenfagan@indiana.edu

Follow columnist Jenna Fagan on Twitter @jenna_faganIDS.