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The Silkworm
- Cormoran Strike, Book 2
- Narrated by: Robert Glenister
- Series: Cormoran Strike, Book 2
- Length: 17 hrs and 16 mins
- Categories: Literature & Fiction
Non-member price: $37.98
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eh
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Editorial Reviews
Publisher's Summary
Now a major BBC drama: The Strike series.
When novelist Owen Quine goes missing, his wife calls in private detective Cormoran Strike. At first, she just thinks he 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, it becomes clear that there is more to Quine's disappearance than his wife realises. 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 - so there are a lot of people who might want to silence him.
And when Quine is found brutally murdered in bizarre circumstances, it becomes a 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 the highly acclaimed series featuring Cormoran Strike and his determined young assistant Robin Ellacott.
Please note: This audiobook contains explicit language
Critic Reviews
"One of the most unique and compelling detectives I've come across in years." (Mark Billingham on The Cuckoo's Calling)
"Just once in a while a private detective emerges who captures the public imagination in a flash. And here is one who might well do that... An auspicious debut." (Daily Mail on The Cuckoo's Calling)
"The novel is the work of a master storyteller." (Daily Telegraph on The Cuckoo's Calling)
More from the same
What listeners say about The Silkworm
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Jeremy
- 29-04-2015
An excellent follow up
If you enjoyed The Cuckoo's Calling, you'll no doubt enjoy this.
'Robert Galbraith' does a great job further developing the character of Cormoran Strike, and of course there's an excellent murder mystery! I also really enjoyed some of the observations by Galbraith/Rowling/Cormoran on people and life.
The narration was faultless and really adds to the characters.
This isn't my usual genre of books but I love this series and can't wait for the next one.
4 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 08-08-2019
Holding my Attention
Awesome narration helped to move this cracking story along. I was tempted so many times to jump ahead. The end had me fooled, as is usual for this author. I am enjoying the back stories of our two main players...they are detailed, believable and so interesting!
1 person found this helpful
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- Niall
- 19-06-2019
another rollicking strike adventure
A top book, not quite as good as the first, owing to the large number of characters ( a little confusing at moments). Cormoran continues to fascinate though, and even grows a little in this story.
1 person found this helpful
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- Elizabeth
- 01-06-2019
Had to make myself finish it
Found it slow going. The characters were very diverse, unusual plot but I did not find it a compelling read.
1 person found this helpful
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- M.
- 21-05-2019
Too many characters
Great narration of a way too complicated plot. Far too many characters and sub characters in the wool being written about.
Kept going to the end as enjoyed the development of the main characters relationship , but ended up totally confused by the outcome of the main story.
Let's see how book three in the series goes, before passing over Robert Galbraith
1 person found this helpful
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- Roman
- 14-05-2019
Loved it
loved it, very well developed characters and story line. I'm looking forward to book 3.
1 person found this helpful
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- Leonie
- 16-04-2019
Great as always
A Little grizzly in parts but characters were great. Great narration, good paced story.
1 person found this helpful
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- Janet Walk
- 05-01-2019
OK - but not as good as the 1st book
Not a bad book - but my feeling was that it needed an edit. However the narration was beautiful to listen to - a lovely voice.
1 person found this helpful
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- HR
- 20-12-2018
This Is A Great Series!
This is the second book of the series (I have read four of the books in this series to date) & it’s a great read! JK Rowling (under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith) has created fabulous characters, good plots & interesting twists & turns in this wonderful detective story which has a delightful under undertow of the blossoming love story between the protagonist (Strike) & the deuteragonist (Robin). I can’t wait for the fifth edition where I hope they finally fall into each other’s arms! 😊
1 person found this helpful
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- Linda
- 19-07-2018
Great read.
Excellent. Loved every minute . I look forward to the next books in the series.
1 person found this helpful
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- De Plume
- 05-11-2016
Just as good the second time
I didn't love the first or second Galbraith books, but The Silkworm is pure brilliance. The performance is equally spectacular.
2 people found this helpful
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- Anne
- 27-06-2014
Another great mystery with Cormoran Strike.
What made the experience of listening to The Silkworm the most enjoyable?
The mystery is very well developed with unexpected twists. The setting in a writers and publishers milieu was very interesting. I love the flowing style of writing and the oftentimes moving emotions of the protagonist. Will he ever learn to deal with the damage done to him by his freakish ex and the in his mind, reoccurring scene were the IED explodes?
What did you like best about this story?
The way Cormoran Strike handles his cases and him being a veteran. The development of his assistant Robin also adds to the story.
Which scene was your favorite?
The surprising ending and disclosure of the murder.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I wanted to but couldn't since it was a 17.16 hrs listen.
Any additional comments?
When can I read #3 ?
2 people found this helpful
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- Ian
- 26-06-2014
Pretty much perfect
Rowling is at the top of her game, and reintroduces us to some already well-established characters and adds more to them as we go. She's a natural storyteller, plain and simple, and she does so with smooth and seemingly effortless skill.
The narrator is absolutely flawless. His characters never jar, he never over-eggs his narration and always gives them detail and definition without 'acting' them out.
The 'whodunnit' story is set in the world of publishing and you know Rowling is an expert witness in telling us what it's like there.
Thoroughly recommended.
2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 06-06-2018
Love it!
Good story, excelent narrator. However, the quotes in the beginning of each chapter did not add anything to the story
1 person found this helpful
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- Sonja Chalmers
- 16-08-2014
Brilliant mystery crime
What made the experience of listening to The Silkworm the most enjoyable?
The quirky and kindly relationship between the detective hero Strike and his ambitious assistant Robin.
What did you like best about this story?
The intriguing characters and fascinating plot.
What does Robert Glenister bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Robert Glenister's intellect and forensic knowledge of the great classics and mythology is evident throughout
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
Jealousy, greed and revenge in literary London
Any additional comments?
Strike is my hero for his extraordinary morality and immense bravery.
1 person found this helpful
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- Jane
- 10-07-2014
The second in this series did not disappoint
Book One, The Cuckoo’s Calling, deftly, convincingly, introduced detective Cormoran Strike and his offsider, Robin (of course). The Silkworm smoothly continues this narrative and with a new ‘case’, though referring to, and building on, the previous one.
This time, the contrast between Robin’s unwavering decency, echoed ponderously by her tedious fiancée, and Cormoran’s life-induced cynicism and capacity for the self sacrificing pursuit of social and legal justice, is further underlined by characters who take these two to the seamy, low life, indecent under-belly of society.
This side of life got to be bit much for me! I’m not a fragile flower: I was just edging on the bored because involving the reader in vile humans can edge towards the gratuitous – and Galbraith was coming pretty close to that line, much closer, I suggest, than in Book One.
But nothing would deter me from following the lives of these two detectives, who were more interesting.
The book was structured with the skill of a consummate and successful author (AKA Rowling).
The reader, Robert Glenister, complemented the material flawlessly: his acting was superb.
Bring on the next book in the series.
2 people found this helpful
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- R. Karlin
- 19-10-2020
not a great choice for audio
I've enjoyed other Galbraith books as audio books, but in this one there were so many characters and so much going on that it was hard to follow this without the ability to flip back to the beginning to be reminded who was who.
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- Jonathan
- 10-10-2020
Pretty good
This is an interesting whodunnit that comes to a fine crescendo. very well narrated too. I did find the irrelevant quotations at the start of each chapter a bit irritating and pretentious.
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- Anonymous User
- 15-08-2020
Absolutely brilliant
From a normal non reader. this book is absolutely brilliant and comes highly recommended .
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- P
- 23-07-2015
Well worth it
Good audiobook, a worthy follow up to the Cuckoo. Can't wait for the next one.
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- Linda
- 06-08-2014
5 star rating based on quality not name
I was lured into the first Cormoron Strike story by the many estatic reviews - and I just loved it. Here was a really interesting main character living and working (rather haphazardly) in the slightly old fashioned London in which I have lived in and loved for years. When I found out that Robert Galbraith was in fact J K Rowling it made no difference to me one way or the other - although I could see why JKR had chosen anonymity. Having so looked forward to this 2nd instalment I was horrified at the appalling reviews and so appealed to my sister and niece who were physically reading the book for an honest view before I spent a credit and downloaded. 'Absolutely great' they both said - and absolutely great is the audible version. I have been listening to 'The Silkworm' until my ears have buzzed (I listen on headphones most of the time). Yes it's a somewhat bizarre plot and yes I did spot who-dun-it but that does not detract in any way from a thoroughly inventive story, great characters and however many hours of enjoyable listening. I cannot help but feel that our national pastime of shooting down anyone successful has come into play here. Go download you won't regret it!
35 people found this helpful
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- Mrs
- 02-07-2014
Not great
Having devoured the Cuckoos Calling (prior to the reveal!) with great relish, I eagerly anticipated this book.
The narrator Robert Glenister did a masterful job and I very much enjoyed the reunion with the main characters Cormoran Strike and his partner Robin Ellacot. However that's pretty much all I enjoyed.
I didn't like the setting in the world of publishing but I think the main problem was the pompous posturing with the names of the suspects and I almost gave up before anyone had even been murdered! I felt that things began to almost veer into the realms of Harry Potter but I persevered with it and things seemed to get back on track.
I would only give this book 3 stars and hope that the author has had her revenge on the publishing world and doesn't lose the plot again.
16 people found this helpful
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- Dragon
- 01-07-2014
Glenister does his level best with this one but...
I much enjoyed the previous Cormoran Strike book (Cuckoos Calling). This one also has quite a good mystery with nice clues of various kinds scattered through the book - some of them 'real' (events observed) and others more inward (e.g. the ideas and nature of a book written by the murder victim). That was an interesting idea and could have made a great story but…
The motivation and final resolution are not strong. There is also a lot of gruesome S-M stuff in the story, and in the story-within, which is somehow toe-curlingly embarrassing in a way that other authors manage to avoid in this type of fiction (c.f. various scandi-noir). The burgeoning romance really lacks subtlety (this was so much better in the first book). And the whole thing is set in a world of literature, critics and editors about which I think the author has too-strong emotional views of her own. And it is long and very repetitive (a lot of description about the hero's missing leg and prosthesis for example) and all that detail is not always internally consistent, even within-scenes.
All could have been improved enormously and probably redeemed with some serious and stringent editing. But this author doesn't seem to like editors very much.
The reading is great and Glenister does a great job with pace, voices and mood.
47 people found this helpful
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- Claire
- 08-07-2014
Robin and Strike, book 2
Would you listen to The Silkworm again? Why?
Yes, in the fullness of time, because I enjoy the central characters, Robin and Strike, and the way their histories and lifestyles are believably depicted, and their relationship is developed for the reader largely via their separate internal thoughts. The author is very strong at creating colourful, distinct characters whose actions are always true to the inner landscapes they keep hidden but the reader knows well.
As with all good mysteries, I enjoy the way the author weaves clues throughout the book and the minor characters' actions keep you guessing.
Would you recommend The Silkworm to your friends? Why or why not?
I would. Although Robert Glenister's narration takes a while to get used to and he falters on changes of accent very occasionally, overall it is well done, and he performs the dialogue very well. If anybody read/listened to the first Strike book and enjoyed it, they will no doubt want to find out what happens next in the lives of Cormoran and Robin.
What does Robert Glenister bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
He performs the dialogue brilliantly, getting across emotions, grudging sentiment and evasiveness of characters particularly well. The accents are generally believable, and he plays the humour of various scenes in Strike's office nicely.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
I enjoy the switches between Robin's perspective and Strike's, and the snowy car journey out to Devon is a good example of this - we see Strike's admiration of Robin increase along with Robin's own self-esteem - it's a nice passage which cements their budding professional partnership, respect and friendship even under incredible pressure. I found myself desperately hoping Robin would make the train in time (even feeling that her engagement is surely doomed - I didn't want it to fall out under the horrible circumstance of missing her mother-in-law to-be's funeral!) which surely shows how I have connected to and warmed to the character, something that doesn't happen with every book you read.
Any additional comments?
Looking forward to a third book, hopefully with a more exciting mystery - I wasn't invested in the Quine murder in quite the same way I found myself hooked on the mystery of Lula's balcony drop in the first book. Ultimately, I am really enjoying the two central characters and want to read more of their Christie-esque sleuthing.
4 people found this helpful
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- Louise
- 29-06-2014
Not as good as the first book
I was a little disappointed with this book...the story was nowhere near as good as the first Strike book. I don't know If I found it confusing or boring, but I found myself replaying parts again and again...I think this was due to boredom...the story didn't hold my interest and my mind would wander and I'd lose the plot. I didn't really like the characters and didn't care what happened to them, all in all a bland book with no real depth, and no intrigue, but well narrated.
19 people found this helpful
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- Helga
- 25-06-2014
Meeehhh
The problem with writing a thriller nowadays is that the seasoned reader knows to suspect everyone and expect the unexpected. This leaves the writer with the problem of having to have a unique twist or two (plot) and/or writing so well that the reader will follow on a convoluted journey (narrative) which they can easily circumvent by reading the last chapter. The plot was ridiculous and over-complicated and the narrative was - well, not well enough written to hold my attention. And so very, VERY long!
It went on for so long that I even started to get a bit fed up of Robert Glenister's voice - and I'm a huge fan.
Not absolutely awful but if this had been written by an unknown writer it would never have been published.
8 people found this helpful
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- S. Coakley-Evans
- 30-06-2014
Lightening strikes twice
Cuckoo's Calling was brilliant, The Silkworm if possible even better. Really interesting characters drawn with complex humanity and depth. Setting of London in winter was really evocative. The writing brilliantly matched with a reader of huge talent. One could almost believe it was a dramatisation such were his variety of voice changes. Only down side were the uneccesary Latin quotes and chapter introductory snippets. A trivial issue though, c'ant wait for the next Strike episode.
21 people found this helpful
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- Peaches McStabby
- 16-07-2014
Excellent
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes. It's a great well crafted mystery with interesting character storylines too.
Have you listened to any of Robert Glenister’s other performances? How does this one compare?
Yes. This performance was just as excellent as the other one I have heard. Great character performances. RG is the best audio artist I have heard.
15 people found this helpful
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- Miss L V Bennett
- 26-06-2014
Gripping, fascinating and very very likeable.
What did you like most about The Silkworm?
Strike continues to unfold into an incredibly stubbly character, sullied and brilliant. Also the storytelling and description is a powerful whirlpool.
Any additional comments?
I just loved this book, a great sequel... Really looking forward to Book 3!
6 people found this helpful
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- TheMacs
- 23-06-2014
very disappointed
After waiting so long for the release what a disappointment. This book is so slow and so long and so boring by the end I didnt care one bit who dunnit, I was just glad it finished. I've only ever turned a book off once before(the bat by jo nesbo) but this on several occasions was nearly my second. The narrator was excellent and just as well. Apart from the two main characters you just couldn't care less about any of the others. I could rant on in detail but already wasted over 17 hrs on this book.
33 people found this helpful
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