Summary

Silkworm is the second novel in the series set in modern London featuring private detective Cormoran Strike, a veteran of the Afghanistan war who lost the lower half of his right leg in an IED explosion. In general, the novel follows the formula for the classical detective novel. It begins with an introduction to the protagonist Cormoran Strike and the first five chapters lay the groundwork for the unsolved crime, which begins as a missing person case. The large, 6'3" former member of the Special Branch of Investigation (SBI), the plain-clothes wing of the Royal Military Police, is an exceedingly clever investigator who is not afraid to work long hours and has the necessary connections and experience to succeed.

Although Strike has rich clients and business is improving after he solved the widely publicized Lula Landry case, he still lives hand-to-mouth. He has...