Strike: The Ink Black Heart - airs 16 Dec

[KiIIingMeDeftly]

Seems like we've been waiting ages for this but it'll finally be shown on BBC One on the 16th.

I don't think the book was as good as Troubled Blood or The Running Grave but I'm still looking forward to it. I wonder what they did with the numerous online chats that appear in it?

You don't have to read them in order for the investigations to make sense because it's a different case every book, but I think you should read them in order for the character and relationship developments.
Things that happen in The Running Grave will be so much more rewarding if you've built up to it.

I just don't understand why they are such short series when there are do many 6 or 8 part series for much shorter books.

I dread to think what a hash the TV version of Running Grave will be.

I'm looking forward to a dramatisation. I thought the book was good and the characters cleverly drawn, but admit to skimming many pages of the moderator chats - then, of course, I sometimes needed to go back and check something, which gets irritating. I think this is one of few novels that will be improved by seeing it played out.

You need to read from the beginning to understand the relationship between Robin and Strike and both their back stories.

Money, as usual. An episode for this type of series costs between £500 - £800K.

Agree 100%. I don't rate Jack Seale's reviews much and he clearly has a problem with JK Rowling, as evidenced by his lukewarm review of Troubled Blood too https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/dec/11/strike-troubled-blood-review-the-shows-real-hook-will-robin-and-strike-finally-get-together

I enjoyed the first 2 episodes last night, although this adaptation is not quite as good as Troubled Blood. But then IBH the book wasn't quite as good as Troubled Blood either!

I enjoy JK Rowling's books and rate her as a person. I didn't think IBH worked on the page, it felt like it needed a tighter edit and the style was more suited to a screenplay. It felt like she using the book to exorcise some personal demons rather than writing a story for the audience. I can't blame her for that, she takes a lot of unnecessary, awful crap online and in her personal life. I really enjoyed TRG, it was just this one that didn't do it for me.

So I watched last night's hour expecting to like it more than the book. Unfortunately I didn't. Like others said, it felt rushed and the characters were introduced as though we should know them already (which we would in the book because they were introduced slowly). Plus the Drek voice got right on my wick, I can't listen to that for another 4+ hours. I don't think I'll bother with the other episodes.

Not as good as the last series so far, but will keep watching.

I kind of miss the fact there is no Dev. An extra foot soldier makes the difference in the office I think? I like Ruth Sheen but shes still no my idea of Pat. I wish Robins hair was not so dark.

The ending of episode 2 was unexpected. And weird.

I read the book fully once and now when I reread I skip all the chat. It is a good book. My favourite is the running grave and troubled blood, then Lethal White. I weirdly love the silkworm despite the gore. I was upset that they only did the book adaptation in two episodes.

I preferred TB and the running grave to this one
I thought Edie was well cast
J K is a good writer , it's just certain people in the media who don't like her much
The Strike books are good

I actually think Ruth Sheen is perfect casting as Pat! In fact, she was who I pictured when I read Troubled Blood. The actress who plays Midge is a welcome addition too, she inserts some humour into things. Barclay is the one who doesn't quite match up to how I pictured him in the books. I imagined him as short and stocky - a bit like the actor who plays Boulting in Unforgotten - not tall and good-looking!

Bit random that they've changed Ryan's name to Richard but perhaps the BBC wants to avoid confusion with the guy who created Glee.

Apparently there is a Ryan Murphy who is a policeman already, so they changed his name ( so I read anyway )
I only read this book once , so I can't remember any of it much or why Edie was killed or whatever. I do remember Robin going undercover , but only vaguely

I'm glad the screenwriter got rid of the Madeleine character and much of the online gaming, but this is the least compelling story of the seven, overly convoluted and with too many characters. Have to agree with @LapsedRunnerC25k about JKR writing the book as a cathartic exercise, rather than putting herself into the perspective of a reader who want an exciting and pacey crime thriller that isn't overlong.

I imagined Barclay to look like a young Ray Winston tbh.
Is he the Scottish one in the book ?

Even on Goodreads all but the first novel are rated at over 4 stars.

Not reading full thread as I'm halfway through - I remember the murderer from the book.
1st episode, pre-credits sequence, the Ritz and the fumbled not-kiss was perfect - exactly as I saw it when reading it.
Midge is fab, already irritated at Murphy, but excellent casting as is Pez-the Peen with his creepy staring. Charlotte's jawline is intimidating..

I’ve just finished watching all 4 episodes, couldn’t wait any longer! I’m a massive fan of the Strike series, absolutely love J.K. Rowlings writing.

I didn’t find it that difficult to read the ink black heart, suppose that’s the benefit of juggling working on my laptop while chatting to my mum friends and online shopping!

Edie was better than I pictured, I thought Murphy wasn’t as handsome as I pictured in my head. I wish they would have made at least one more episode I was would have like more detail but I suppose that’s a budget thing. I think the actors playing Strike and Robin get the chemistry spot on, and as others have mentioned I love Pat!

I really enjoyed IBH once I got to grips with the format and all the different voices and multiple character names.
Agree it could have done with trimming down a bit, but sometimes it's good to be able to immerse yourself in the story for more than a couple of days.

While reading I couldn't image how it would work on screen, and have only seen episode 1 so far as DH wants to watch it as scheduled, and he'd have a fit if I went ahead without him.

The Grauniad review was bollocks, obviously written by someone who is not a JKR fan, for reasons which are nothing to do with her talent or her popularity.

I'm hugely looking forward to The Running Grave when it appears, as it's my favourite of the series so far.

Yes, I am already willing the BBC to get Dominic West and Ruth Wilson to play the Waces!

I think the Running grave will be easier to film as not as much tech involved and just a set needed resembling the retreat place for most of it. This is more complex

Do chatrooms like this really exist, does anyone know?

Chatrooms very much did exist at the time this book was written, but like all things internet, they have changed and have moved on very rapidly.

The book was published in 2021 but is set around 2015. Though there's never been any indication of being set in the near past in the adaptations.

I've never read the books, nor seen any of the series up till now (S5). Has the 'will they, won't they' with Robin and Strike been going on since the beginning? 😀

Do yourself an enormous favour & buy yourself The Cuckoo’s Calling for Christmas.