Troubled Blood - *Spoiler-laden discussion*

I am also very relieved that we see so little of Matthew in this book. I really hated that relationship. Even I felt lighter, never mind Robin.

What I do find interesting about Robin's feminist journey is that she only stands up for herself, truly stands up for herself, when she can't take the shit any more, eg at the dinner we could she her getting more and more worked up but she stays quiet because she's the nice girl, the peace-maker. When she is outside with Strike, she is clearly in a heightened state and tells him how he's been a dick. She is self aware enough to know that she is the one who has to go back in to smooth things over.

Same with the smarmy, handsy Morris. She puts up with a lot, and only when she feels threatened, does she lay into him.

So, in the next book, I would like to see Robin be more assertive on a day to day level and not just when she can't take any more.

I must say, her journey is very realistic. I used to put up with a lot and then bam! But then I used to cry when I got angry because I wasn't used to expressing my anger and I couldn't cope with it.

I finished TB yesterday and am feeling bereft since. I'm enjoying reliving the love here.

I had watched the series but bought the books recently in support of JK and have read them back to back. There's so much more in them than the tv series (not surprisingly) especially in the Robin/Strike relationship. It will be interesting to see how they adapt TB and what makes the cut.

I don't usually read crime thrillers but these are so well-written and the quality of the relationship between Robin and Strike adds a whole other dimension to them.

The feminist journey is a thing of beauty. Like others, I loved the dinner party for Strike's annihilation of the "warriors" at the table. But it was uncomfortable because of Robin's own discomfort. That's a hard thing to write and a hard balance to achieve. Part of JKR's skill is in the capturing and reflection of the complexity and messiness of life and the layers of experience that shape a human being. Clearly a thing she understands.

I cannot wait for the next book.

The descriptions of how the old pimp - who once organised the rape and murder of a woman and filmed it - now lived and was treated vs how that old woman who used to be a prostitute was living really stayed with me. Ugh. The part where Robin was cornered by the pimp's son while she was undercover was nerve-racking.

I reckoned it was adult baby thing when Robin saw her in the supermarket buying dummies and other baby stuff

I've not watched any of the tv series but they absolutely HAVE to have the adult baby kink guy. I guessed right away what was going on, couldn't believe it took them so long to work it out.

What implications?

Nah, they've got include 'What do you say, Robin, first one to break Barclay's nose wins the night?'

The thing about chapter 58 is how interior it is. I think it will be quite hard to write for the screen in a way that tells us what we need to know but also leaves the important things for their friendship moving forward unsaid.

I like the advanced driving stuff too but got very cross with the filmed version where she bucketed across a field and zoomed through a wood in a tiny car. That wasn't advanced driving, it made a mockery of what advanced driving actually is.

I wondered if that was to do with budget or something - easier & cheaper than filming a mass pileup.

I like the advanced driving stuff too but got very cross with the filmed version where she bucketed across a field and zoomed through a wood in a tiny car. That wasn't advanced driving, it made a mockery of what advanced driving actually is.

And how does she manage to do surveillance in an old Land Rover? They're very obvious. They're noisy and they smell (fumes, not wet dogs and wellies ) Should be a soulless, million-selling hatchback.

Adore the books

I'm certain that will go Empress along with the Cornwall storyline and the other minor cases. The BBC will be desperate to avoid controversy

I think chapter 58 is safe because that's all about their relationship. They'll keep all the Charlotte stuff too

I’m wondering whether they’ll keep the references to Creed cross-dressing. They’ve removed all previous references to transgenderism AND transableism, after all.

Oh, I found my people!! I adored this book (one the whole series and keep telling people they must read them) - I only came to the series through buying this book in support of JKR, and then going - oh there are 5 , I better start at No.1. I devoured them, had a month of bliss of reading the 5, and am now bereft that I have no follow up to pick up.

I love everything about them, the detail, the sense of place, the fact that Robin is such a brilliant driver, the stories of the victims, who become alive through the book. I was cross at Robin in the earlier books because she seemed unable to stand up to the odious Matthew, but she got there in the end and it almost seemed sweeter because she came to all the conclusions herself - although I was disappointed that it was hi affair that caused her to end it and not his actions and controlling personality towards her.

The dinner party was divine - I almost felt I was there, looking at the smug, woke, bearded, face of the opinionated twat. And her take down of Morris was awesome. I particularly liked that it happened in front of Barclay and Strike so there were witnesses to his awfulness and there was no room for Morris to paint a different picture.

I know! There's no way we're going to get the next book before next autumn at the very earliest, is there?