Off the Top of My Head

By Paul Murray

Last Christmas was the first year our daughter Diva chose presents for family members by herself with her own pocket money. She bought me two secondhand books from the Soap Box in Westport, “The Narrow Road to the Deep North” by Richard Flanagan, which won the Booker Prize in 2014. It’s about the Burma-Thai Railway and prisoners in Japanese POW camps, an impressive choice for my reading taste. The other book appeared to be a generic, trashy detective novel by someone I’d never heard of and would never have bought myself.

I promised Diva I’d read them both and started on “The Silkworm” by Robert Galbraith. I thought it would be a good summer holiday read by the pool, at the beach, afternoon siestas, that sort of thing. However, I was immediately captivated by the story, the quality of the writing, the confidence of the protagonists, their character development and interplay…the story was real and compelling…I read the entire novel in a day.

The book grabbed me and took me on an adventure with the unlikely characters the story evoked, and I thought, Who the hell is Robert Galbraith? I asked Dr Google, and guess what? Robert Galbraith is none other than J.K. Rowling. The book Diva gave me for Christmas was the second in the seven books in the “Strike” series of novels she wrote under the pseudonym. It’s Happy Potter for adults and genuinely unputdownable. I’ve now read four and found the first book in the series “Cuckoo’s Calling” in the Karamea Library this morning.

The series is set in London and features the enigmatic Cormoron Strike, a ruggedly handsome, illegitimate and estranged son of faded rock star Jonny Rokeby and “supergroupie” Leda Strike. He is also a British war veteran (Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch) who lost his lower leg in Afghanistan and is now a determined civlilian detective and owner of a private investigation service. Strike is simple, grumpy, ruggedly handsome, physically imposing, likes beer, burgers, fish and chips, and easily relatable. Despite his gruff persona, Strike has a strong sense of justice and compassion, particularly in his interactions with vulnerable clients and victims. His troubled past and strained relationship with his famous father add layers of depth to his character, shaping his approach to his personal and professional life.

The other main character is Robin Ellacott, an attractive young lady from Yorkshire, who arrives at Strike’s office to do some temporary secretarial work and finds a passion and aptitude for detective work and soon becomes an indispensable partner in the firm. Ellacott is complex, intuitive, courageous, determined, fashionable and very feminine.

Rowling, one of the most successful authors of all time, chose to cloak herself in anonymity to enable creative freedom and break free from the stereotype of her iconic Harry Potter legacy. By assuming the persona of Robert Galbraith, Rowling could explore new genres and narratives without the burden of expectation and comparison.

Yet, despite her efforts to remain incognito, Rowling’s true identity as Galbraith was eventually unveiled, leading to a surge in interest and sales for the Cormoran Strike series. While some may view this revelation as a calculated marketing ploy, others see it as a testament to Rowling’s commitment to her craft and her willingness to take risks in pursuit of artistic fulfilment.

Writing under the nom de plume of Galbraith has enabled Rowling to venture into the realm of crime fiction, crafting intricately plotted mysteries populated by flawed yet compelling characters. Far removed from the magical halls of Hogwarts, these novels delve into the gritty realities of crime and investigation, incorporating Rowling’s storytelling prowess. From the brooding private investigator Cormoran Strike to his resourceful partner Robin Ellacott, Galbraith’s protagonists captivate readers with their depth and complexity, drawing them into a world where the line between good and evil is often blurred.

The novels have been made into a BBC TV series, which is currently on NEON for New Zealand viewers. However, in my opinion, the books are infinitely better than the show.

I rarely read novels by female writers…It’s not sexist; I just prefer a masculine writing style. However, Galbraith’s prose has interesting female perspectives that added to the complexity of the narrative. Strike and Ellacott have complicated personal relationships with their respective partners, but their close working relationship and mutual respect lead them to fall secretly in love without acknowledgement or discussion for fear of compromising their friendship and professional relationship. This creates ongoing tension throughout the series…I’m on the sixth book, and they still haven’t shared their true feelings. HELP! I’ve been tricked into enjoying feminine locution!