In early May, there were favorable reviews in British newspapers. During the next two months it sold 1,500 copies according to the
New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/15/bo...pagewanted=all
Two months is enough time to know that
The Cookoo's Calling wouldn't earn its advance just on the basis of quality.
Rowling could be forgiven for wondering whether
The Casual Vacancy was as bad as
Michiko Kakutani said, or if her reputation caused it to be held to a higher standard. But my feeling is that major newspaper reviewers are mostly good enough not to judge a book by its hype.
Maybe 90 minutes ago I reserved
The Cookoo's Calling at the Brooklyn Public Library, where I am number 30 in line. And now their waiting list is up to 42.