Character Analysis: Cormoran Strike

Character Sketch: Cormoran Strike (The Cuckoo’s Calling)

Cormoran Blue Strike was born on November 23, 1975. His father is famous rockstar Jonny Rokeby and his mother, Leda Strike, a groupie. His relationship with his father is very weak, most likely owing to the fact that he has only ever spoken to him a few times. Strike had a difficult childhood as a result of his family moving often. Consequently, he knows many diverse parts of London, which definitely helps with his employment. It is implied he has a strong connection to Cornwall, where his reliable aunt and uncle live. He is only close with one of his half-siblings, Lucy Strike. Nevertheless, their relationship is insinuated to be troubled at times, yet they get along as best they can

and have each other's best interest at heart. Cormoran has many old friends from previous investigations, thus being able to find useful information when it comes to the Landry case. His closest confident appears to be his secretary, Robin Ellacott. Though their relationship has been strained in the past, their future seems welcoming after she decides to stay and become Strike’s permanent secretary. His closest companion before Robin was most probably his longterm partner Charlotte Campbell, who before he began the investigation of the Landry case.
Cormoran has dark curly hair for which he has been given some unfortunately terrible nicknames about and has a height around 6’3”. He is a physically large man with an excessive amount of weight. He’s had his nose broken twice and is described as “not conventionally handsome”. Yet, he has caught the attention of presumably beautiful women (e.g. Ciara Porter, Charlotte Campbell). He is described often to be eating, consequently having a negative impact on his weight. He was in Afghanistan in the war after a bomb attack, which resulted in the loss of his leg. He then left the war and went into recovery, and decide to leave and become a private investigator.
Strike is an obviously intelligent man, having made extremely clever connections and discoveries as of the Landry case and even previous to such. Nevertheless, he has made the mistake of trying to correct his misfortunes with excessive drinking. He conveys the impression of being unable to cope with certain difficulties (i.e. Charlotte getting engaged to Jago Ross, the difficulty of getting around with his amputated leg).
Cormoran is heavily in debt after no longer living with Charlotte and lives in his office. He will likely do any case that comes to him, having a deep need for cash. Moreover, he still uses some of his earnings for personal purposes, with little regard for their cost. While he should keep in mind how badly he needs money and not purchase meaningless luxuries (i.e a dress for Robin that she clearly did not need to acquire, the purchase of excessive alcohol at the pub).
Overall, Cormoran Strike is a very determined, intelligent and persistent man who will go too far lengths to accomplish any case.