"The Cuckoo's Calling" is the debut detective fiction novel by J. K. Rowling, written under the pseudonym of Robert Galbraith. It begins with the death of supermodel Lula Landry, who is half-white, half-black and stunningly beautiful. John Bristow, Lula's stepbrother (both of them being adopted), insists the death is a murder and takes on the services of Cormoran Strike to solve the mystery. Strike is a childhood friend of Bristow's deceased step brother. Working alongside the down and out Strike is Robin, a pretty young woman who has just gotten engaged and is seeking temp work in London.

Strike and Robin delve into the world of fashion, fame, and supermodels to discover just what happened to Lula Landry. As it turns out, Lula's death was indeed a murder, committed by John. John, who is broke himself, was hoping to inherit more than ten million quid from Lula in the event of her death. However, Lula had previously found her biological half-brother. She left everything to him in her will. At the end of the novel, Robin decides she wants to stay on as Strike's secretary and assistant, and Strike readily consents, though he feels bad he cannot pay her as much as she deserves. Robin doesn't mind though, for the job is fulfilling her childhood dream of working to solve mysteries.