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The Silkworm

By: Robert Galbraith
Narrated by: Robert Glenister
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Publisher's summary

Private investigator Cormoran Strike must track down a missing writer - and a sinister killer bent on destruction - in this "wonderfully entertaining" mystery (Harlan Coben, New York Times Book Review) that inspired the acclaimed HBO Max series C.B. Strike.

When novelist Owen Quine goes missing, his wife calls in private detective Cormoran Strike. At first, Mrs. Quine just thinks her husband has gone off by himself for a few days - as he has done before - and she wants Strike to find him and bring him home. But as Strike investigates, he discovers that Quine's disappearance is no coincidence. The novelist has just completed a manuscript featuring poisonous pen-portraits of almost everyone he knows. If the novel were published, it would ruin lives - meaning that almost everyone in his life would have motives to silence him. When Quine is found brutally murdered under bizarre circumstances, Strike must race against time to understand the motivation of a ruthless killer, a killer unlike any he has encountered before...

A compulsively readable crime novel with twists at every turn, The Silkworm is the second in J. K. Rowling's highly acclaimed series featuring Cormoran Strike and his determined young assistant, Robin Ellacott.

©2014 Robert Galbraith (P)2014 Hachette Digital
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What listeners say about The Silkworm

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Anti-climactic, yet still enjoyable

This is the second book in a new detective series by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.

The first book "Cuckoo's Calling" was an enjoyable departure from Rowling's typical writing. It focused on a hard-luck detective who begrudgingly takes a case, only to break it open and find an interesting twist at the end.

The second book "Silkworm" follows the same main characters as they track down clues from a gruesome murder.

Rowling does a great job at continuing the character development of the main characters, but many other characters felt like cut-outs with a name. I found many of them similar and unmemorable, especially as they all ran in the same circles and held similar careers.
This shortage of viable characters in the suspect pool, certainly made it difficult for Rowling to create believable Red Herrings, and left me slightly let-down at the reveal.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

The book I most enjoyed listening to this year... Great performance, and as a lover of Cornwall the narrator nails the accent perfectly,

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great book & narration

Suspenseful with many plot twists & turns. Thoroughly enjoyed the well developed characters and the personal quirks and challenges for each. I plan to read more of both the author and narrator!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great Character Driven Mystery

I loved the first book of this series, loving it before I knew that the author was Rowlings. This second book is even better. The author's writing expertise and style paints the most descriptive and rich picture of every scene. A character doesn't just walk into a room and sit down. We see detail through his or her eyes creating a complete visual picture. The writing and the characters far exceeded the mystery plot which still left me guessing, although I didn't see any clues of the whodunit. And the big reveal was kind of lame, pardon the expression.
But I didn't care because I was totally swept along with Strike and Robin. Those two characters made the book for me---absolutely marvelous subplot.
And what a unique character of Strike. Who would have thought that a hero with one leg, suffering physically, dealing with many life's challenges after a bitter break up, having the burden of a famous or infamous father, smoking, drinking and eating too much would be so wonderful and heroic? I adored this guy!
And I'm sorry, and it may be cliché, but I want Cormoron and Robin to get together! I can't help it!
Robert Galbraith is a perfect narrator for this book. His accents, his inflections, his understanding of the emotions is spot on, as they say.
I can't wait to get to the next book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Pretty good story very well read

The narrator was terrific. I liked this book but the story line has some big holes in it, I thought. That said, I’m going to give #3 in series a try as I loved #1.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Superb<br />

An excellent story made even better by the excellent telling if it by those much more skilled with words than I. So that's all I'll say.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Galbraith/Rowling is my favorite

Fantastic read/listen. I love J.K. Rowling - her style of writing is top notch and Glenister's reading really takes you into the story and brings the characters to life. Highly recommended for those who like crime drama. I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Captivating!

As with "The Cuckoo's Calling," I couldn't stop listening. The characters are so vivid and real in my mind thanks to JKR's attention to even the smallest of details. The plot circles around a missing author (of a scandalous book), his family, and those in author's life whom he grotesquely portrayed in his book. Along with that is the continuing tale of Cormoran and Robin as they navigate their working relationship, Robin's desire to become a PI, and her pending marriage to the disapproving Matthew. The narration is spot on. As we all know, poor narration can kill even the best of stories, but that isn't the case here.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

loved it

great sequel! I love the mystery and the twists it had me on the edge of my seat until the end!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Strike 2

Where does The Silkworm rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Great second book in series. Style, location, method of Strikes investigation provide unique series offering not as traditional detective story.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Great play of the countless characters.

Which scene was your favorite?

I enjoyed the developing relationship between Strike and Robin.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Strikes drive to dig for the truth with numerous obstacles.

Any additional comments?

Enjoyed The following characters, Strike, Robin, Orlando, Pippa.

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