JK Rowling crime novel to hit UAE shelves this month

Dubai: The new crime novel by JK Rowling will reach the UAE this month, as large numbers of orders have already been made by bookshops.

Since news broke last week that the crime novel The Cuckoo’s Calling, published under the pseudonym Richard Galbraith, was actually written by the Harry Potter author, it has witnessed a giant leap in sales London and is now Amazon’s best-selling book. Rowling fans in Dubai have been visiting bookshops to check which day it will be received.

UAE bookshops say they have ordered a large number of copies due to the increased demand from customers.

The novel’s protagonist is a war veteran investigating the death of a supermodel in London.

Magrudy’s spokesperson Minna Watson told Gulf News: “We ordered a sufficient number of Rowling’s new novel. After the media coverage the book has received, we do expect it to be as popular and fast-selling in the UAE as it currently is in London. “

Watson also added that the novel will be about Dh85 and will take around two weeks to reach the store.

Other bookstores, such as Borders, are also expecting a shipment around this month, but have not confirmed the exact date yet.

Madhavi Vachani, Borders marketing manager, said “We have had so many customers asking about the novel and when it will be received. After Rowling’s significant success with her previous Harry Potter novels, Cuckoo’s Calling will certainly be a fast-selling book here in the UAE.”

Fans of JK Rowling’s mystery novels, like Sylvia Sarkies, a 20-year-old Egyptian cannot wait until the novel reaches the UAE. She told Gulf News that “Rowling has always been an exceptional writer and is always full of surprises.”

“I grew up with Harry Potter and with her imagination and creativity, and I really can’t wait to read it. I also think it will reach the UAE at a perfect time because its summer time and I love reading novels during this period.”

Mary Achkhanian is an intern at Gulf News