our eagerly-awaited summer read: The Silkworm by JK Rowling

Okay, technically The Silkworm is written under JK Rowling's pseudonym, Robert Galbraith. Rowling published her first crime novel, The Cuckoo's Calling, in 2013 under this pen name. The Cuckoo's Calling received rave reviews when it was first published; critics claimed it was 'hard to believe this is a debut novel' and named Galbraith as an 'author to watch'. When news finally got out that The Cuckoo's Calling was actually Rowling's work, the novel immediately became the number 1 bestseller in the UK.

Now, Rowling is releasing The Silkworm, sequel to the wildly successful The Cuckoo's Calling. This novel will continue to follow the story of Cormoran Strike, a rough and disgruntled (but very loveable) private detective. Strike is called in to investigate the disappearance of a novelist who has just completed a manuscript detailing the life-ruining secrets of everyone he knows. When the novelist is found brutally murdered under bizarre circumstances, Strike must hunt down a unique and ruthless killer.    

This sequel to The Cuckoo's Calling will simply be a must-read summer novel. I was never a huge crime/thriller/mystery reader, but anyone who has read the Harry Potter series will know that JK Rowling is a tremendous storyteller. She has an incredible ability to give life to the most unusual but believable characters, and craft make-believe worlds that seem only just beyond our reach. As a Rowling fan, The Cuckoo's Calling and The Silkworm are a must-read. I loved The Cuckoo's Calling because it delved deeply into human character and psychology, focusing equally on the murder mystery at hand and on the lives of those involved. Rowling is also able to command a large cast of unique characters with ease, and the most appealing of these is certainly Cormoran Strike. An Afghanistan veteran and the forgotten illegitimate son of a 70's rock star, Strike is gruff, intimidating, and awkward but as loveable as a teddy bear.  

The Silkworm will be released on June 19 in the UK and on June 24 in the US, and is available for pre-order at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.