Page 18 | Troubled Blood - *Spoiler-laden discussion*

EllacottObsessive · 2020-11-22T20:48:47+00:00

Setting this up for Strike and Ellacott fans to talk about spoilery things.

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EllacottObsessive · 12/12/2020 08:56

Certainly possible, yes. Personally, I think the epigraph is a ambiguous enough to allow for some speculation, which was no doubt intentional. And yeah, I don't genuinely think Rowling is just going to have him propose in the first chapter of Strike 6 and that's that. I'm completely fine with her stringing it all out as long as possible, actually, though I understand the eagerness about it, obviously.

But I do think a reading of a more romantic than friendly realization makes more sense in context. Like I say, maybe not the big romantic realization (and really, I'm just have fun with that suggestion anyway) but yes, I do think more than just bezzie mates, because he's already got to that place of honesty 20 chapters before.

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parentalhelpline · 12/12/2020 07:54

Thanks, Lunde - will check them out.

The thing is, EO, maybe one could read that last chapter as a culmination of friendship, not love. The epigraph seems to suggest that friendship is better than romantic love. Maybe the Mazankov and Krupov reference is to the idea that with a bit of effort with presents and attention (strapping her to his back), he won't have to ruin his career for the sake of a woman. As the tarot cards say, they can reach a calm and equilibrium by being best friends, 'harmony of the male and the female', interpreted in the largest sense (as partners and friends).

Just a thought 😉

Lunde · 12/12/2020 00:01

@parentalhelpline

Lunde Is that series by Baldacci good? His books borrow very well in my library service but I've never read them.

I really enjoyed the King and Maxwell series. I really liked the fact that they were a pretty equal partnership. If anything Michelle is the more physically adept (former Olympian, martial arts, weapons) whereas Sean is often the one doing research in the law library. The plots often stray into issues of state/military intelligence, where they use former secret service contacts.

Like the Strike series they need to be read in order

Split Second
Hour Game
Simple Genius
First Family
The Sixth Man
King and Maxwell

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EllacottObsessive · 11/12/2020 23:58

Yeah, pretty much there on in. I mean the text flirting earlier in the chapter is worth the price of admission alone. But everything on the last two pages, from choosing the perfume to hugging by the flowers and both remembering the wedding hug, to the kissing of the stubbled cheek and then that final paragraph (which I am going to pronounce emphatically is Strike's decision to stop dicking about pretending he doesn't and shouldn't want her ) is just pure feelings. I loves it, I do.

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ISmellLikeRobin · 11/12/2020 22:26

Yup! I've got it on Kindle & have it set to continuous scrolling so I'm not sure what's on the last 2 pages but I just read the last scene again & managed to get all the way to "If they’re strong enough to cover up the smell of that car, they aren’t fit for human inhalation" before I started grinning enough that DH asked what I was reading! It's such a perfect scene!

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EllacottObsessive · 11/12/2020 20:05

God, those last two pages are like crack cocaine on a reread, aren't they?

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EllacottObsessive · 11/12/2020 20:04

If we don't get some info about what goes down at the Ritz, I will sulk.

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ISmellLikeRobin · 11/12/2020 19:22

I'm going to be really cross if the next book doesn't pick up exactly where TB left off, or it at least needs to have some very detailed flashbacks.

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EllacottObsessive · 11/12/2020 18:27

I agree that a sneak raid on JKR's files would scratch an itch. I'm loving fanfic, some of which is really excellent, but I am dying to know if she is going to give us Robin's birthday meal the night after the Ritz. I might be prepared to beg, actually.

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AlaskaBird · 11/12/2020 17:48

Thanks, EO!
I've just re-listened and re-read all of them...nearing the end of TB and I'm bereft!!

ISmellLikeRobin · 11/12/2020 17:40

I started to think perhaps I might quite like to own some perfume for when I want to pretend like I'm a proper actual grown up woman & not just a mum... Then I discovered that L'Absolu seems to have been discontinued. Ah well, that saves me spending ridiculous amounts of money on something I'll probably change my mind about & never use!

Does anyone want to join my criminal gang? I'm planning on heading to JKR's house & stealing her computer so I can find out what happens next. I'm not really, just in case that's not clear...!

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EllacottObsessive · 11/12/2020 14:39

Sorry, knee deep in Silkworm research atm, so brain a bit addled. But yes, combination of things iirc. I'll have to reread (oh, the struggle) to summarise and I don't have time today.

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AlaskaBird · 11/12/2020 14:18

I've just re-listened to TB and I'm still slightly confused by how, exactly, Strike worked out who the killer is. A combination of things, I think, but can anyone summarise, please?

MyVisionsComeFromScent · 11/12/2020 12:36

I liked Flowerbomb when I first put it on this morning, but as it's dried, I'm less keen I think. It seems a bit "old lady" on me. I'll rotate back to Narciso tomorrow

ISmellLikeRobin · 11/12/2020 12:34

Thanks for the summary of the other podcast... Don't think I'll bother trying to overcome my disembodied voices issue for that! Her life isn't relevant?! That's literally what half the story is!

parentalhelpline · 11/12/2020 01:07

Lunde Is that series by Baldacci good? His books borrow very well in my library service but I've never read them.

parentalhelpline · 10/12/2020 20:19

Knew you'd love it

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EllacottObsessive · 10/12/2020 19:58

Their verdict was - for a long book(!!!) they didn't feel bored, and for a genre they have no real interest in they thought it was good, but they think all that background detail about Robin's life was pointless.

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EllacottObsessive · 10/12/2020 19:46

Holy shit, that podcast.

"We can't pronounce Galbraith or Cormoran and we're a bit intimidated by a book longer than a slim paperback, we don't do any research beyond reading the book because we had it on the shelf and we make asinine comments, complain that there are no rooftop chases or global conspiracies and obviously do the obligatory lies about the content of Troubled Blood and Rowling's views.'

I mean, shit. I was baffled as to why my podcast was taking off, but if this is my direct competition, it makes so much more sense.

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EllacottObsessive · 10/12/2020 19:30

I loved the King and Maxwell adaptation and it was cancelled on a bloody cliffhanger. I was so peeved.

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Lunde · 10/12/2020 19:04

@parentalhelpline

Empress I appreciate her subtle grip on reality.

I've been thinking back to various novels which have detective duos - and there are not too many - and it's hard to think of those in which both detectives take part equally in coming to the solution. I'd have to read back some of the Laurie King, Elly Griffiths and Elizabeth George books to check, though. (I don't like any of those as much as I like the Strike novels, of course.)

I can understand how it has worked so far for Robin and Strike, as she is very obviously the junior partner in experience. I agree it would be interesting to see a storyline in which Robin gets the solution before Strike, or in which they disagree and Robin is proved right, just as a development of her character in skills and experience. I wonder how Strike would deal with it, though - he does like to do a little bit of enigmatic showing off when he finally gets it.

The equality of the sexes in detective duos is pretty hard to find.

The only one I can think of - off hand - is Sean King and Michelle Maxwell in David Baldacci's "King & Maxwell" series about the two former Secret Service agents who set up as private detectives.

parentalhelpline · 10/12/2020 11:27

Oh to have the confidence of two young blokes to talk utter bollocks on their podcast:

open.spotify.com/episode/3PtCfTyT2sBjBPvWgKQwx4?si=xuxmVQTcStq95ZPTy00QZQ

This makes our own dear Clara look even better, if that were possible.

parentalhelpline · 10/12/2020 08:49

Empress I appreciate her subtle grip on reality.

I've been thinking back to various novels which have detective duos - and there are not too many - and it's hard to think of those in which both detectives take part equally in coming to the solution. I'd have to read back some of the Laurie King, Elly Griffiths and Elizabeth George books to check, though. (I don't like any of those as much as I like the Strike novels, of course.)

I can understand how it has worked so far for Robin and Strike, as she is very obviously the junior partner in experience. I agree it would be interesting to see a storyline in which Robin gets the solution before Strike, or in which they disagree and Robin is proved right, just as a development of her character in skills and experience. I wonder how Strike would deal with it, though - he does like to do a little bit of enigmatic showing off when he finally gets it.

EmpressWitchDoesntBurn · 10/12/2020 06:42

I’m re-reading Cuckoo & bits keep popping out at me -
‘Frolicking coyly as she gazed out at him through a shower of petals, her enormous breasts draped in white, she was as unlike a real woman as... the obese man with the ponytail who was working the pumps behind the bar’,
‘A fan site called LulaMyInspirationForeva.com, run by a person of unknown sex’.

EmpressWitchDoesntBurn · 10/12/2020 06:37

@EllacottObsessive

I'm thinking it through, and yes, think you're right. I'm tired, though. But yes, I think I'd like to see that dynamic play out.

I suppose that could be seen as part of Robin’s learning curve, couldn’t it? Strike’s been doing this a lot longer. I’d like to see that play out too.