It all starts with the disappearance of an attention-seeking author who has just written a book mocking and betraying most of his acquaintances, and, of course, he is dead. Horribly dead. Disgustingly dead. And between his last book, strange wife, devoted lover, successful rival, embittered agent, boss, fans and a range of other intriguing characters Cormoran Strike has got to find a killer.

So, I probably wouldn’t have read this if it wasn’t by JK Rowling. I quite enjoyed The Cuckoo’s Calling, but wouldn’t necessarily have bought the sequel, and definitely not as a hardback. But it’s her, and I did.