Galbraith series hits audiobook milestone ahead of paperback launch

J K Rowling's Cormoran Strike series, written under the name Robert Galbraith, have hit an audiobook milestone for Little, Brown ahead of the fifth novel's paperback release.

Each audiobook in the series has now topped 100,000 audio downloads in the UK, the publisher said - a first for any Little, Brown Book Group series.

Fifth book Troubled Blood (Sphere), originally published in hardback in September 2020, launched with the highest audio pre-order to date for the series, and audio sales across Cormoran Strike novels are now at more than 600,000, the publisher says.

All five audiobooks are read by actor Robert Glenister, who also starred in the BBC TV adaptation of Lethal White. He said: “I’m absolutely thrilled that the audio versions of these fabulous books have proved so popular over the past few years. They are a joy to read and I feel both flattered and privileged to have been asked to read them. Roll on number six.”

Paperback publication of Troubled Blood this month is supported by an "extensive and innovative" campaign that also features the work of Glenister. Sphere says it will reach more than 10 million readers nationwide, using linear TV advertising for the first time, An “atmospheric and eye-catching advert”, voiced by Glenister, will launch across Channel 4-owned channels from 24th June.

It will be complemented by smartscreen six-sheet panels at high-footfall sites outside Tesco stores to support the supermarket's edition, which includes an exclusive Q&A with the author.

A major social media advertising campaign, anticipated to reach more than 1.5 million impressions, has already been launched, and will run through the autumn, dovetailing with a schedule of organic content running through the Galbraith social media channels. This organic content includes audiobook extracts, a readalong with 20 international influencers, styled book photography and shares of reader and press reviews.

Troubled Blood was the winner of the Crime and Thriller British Book of the Year Award 2021 and is currently shortlisted for two Crime Writers’ Association awards.