New Cormoran Strike book

[Hallelujah2020]

Released September 2025!!

I feel Strike has to become a father (one way or another) at some point... full circle with Charlotte "pregnancy" at the beginning.

I think that Ryan’s alcoholism must feature at some point either before or after they break up - otherwise why include that up front?

Preordered my copy today, currently re reading the silkworm but I haven’t left enough time to reread all. Wondering whether there’s time to start lethal white or just skip to TRG…

IBH gets a lot of flack but I love it.

It is super complicated with many characters having at least 3 differnt names etc - real, twitter handle, game handle - which is challenging.

If you can get your head around all of that it is a wonderfully crafted story.

for these reasons I do think IBH is better on a re-read when you can take your time. Its great on audiobook too.

By the time I saw it on TV I'd forgotten whodunit, well, for quite a long time, any way.

I wouldn't be unhappy to see that. He might think he would be unhappy with it at the moment, but I'm waiting for a few more years.

The idea of Corm being a poor thing is quite novel. He has had a rocky time though. Thank goodness for Joan and her husband -Ted?

It will make it a lot easier to read
But you will also miss one of the series best (IMO) mic drop moments - mind you I only picked it up on a re-read.
Vikas "Hold on there is someone at my door" <shudder>

again on a reread so many manipulations are revealed especially re the villan, and the Halvening crew.

I think the way she wove this plot & revealed this story is brillantly masterful.

But as a fast reader so much in IBH went over my head initally. Being able to take things very slowly on the re- read is really worth it with IBH.

I enjoyed Ink Black Heart.

But dislike the portrayal of the Charlotte character, over the series, the obsessive/suicide/mad woman trope seemed unrealistic (though appreciate this is crime fiction so lots of things are) and stereotypical.

The character I really disliked was the one who was with Strike briefly and she was lawyer I think ?
It was almost as if JKR was trying to make a more middle class character into a brainless stupid one but she obviously wasn’t. Not his type at all either , but most of them arn’t and he hasn’t any clue about most women really. He shouldn’t have gone near her at all.
Same with the one who made the jewellery ( I can’t recall names or be bothered to find out, sorry !)
Charlotte was so bad for him on every level.
It’s a wonder that went on as long as it did.

Yes some of the Strike’s women and sex plots/characters have been clunky/cringey!

I do feel like I need to go back and read everything in the series again to make the most of the writing, I’m just so short on time! 😂

Oh, I find Charlotte to be a very credible character...

This is why audio books were invented- for endless rereads available at all times 🤩

Hello all!
I am relistening for the umpteenth time to the Robin and Strike books in order to be fully immersed in that world when The Hallmarked Man falls into my eager hands.
I thought I would pace myself and one book each week would get me there!
Of course, I get properly engrossed and think just a few more chapters and I’m already at Troubled Blood, book 5, with 4 weeks to go.
I came on to ask my fellow enthusiasts for suggestions for listening to other authors in between Rowling to eke them out.
In writing this however I have answered my own question.

I am going to listen to Terry Pratchett, beginning with Tiffany Aching, the Wee Free Men.

Has anyone else started on their reread/relisten?

I am very excited and love the series, yes of course a lot of it is unrealistic - it is fiction! But I find the natures of the main characters very realistic indeed.

My predictions - well I think Robin is going to go on her weekend away and that relationship is going to progress.

Obviously I want something to happen between strike and robin. maybe a one night stand leaving robin unsure who the father is?

I definitely want a strikling or two arriving at some stage.

I want to know more about Switch, strike's half brother by leda. He should come storming in as an arch villin, maybe, or maybe hes dead and someone steals his identity and cons strike.

What about Strike's twitching legs and face -a neurological condition?

Ted will detereorate, I think Pat will die - she is a fantastic character, but think back to Harry Potter, how many times did you really care about a death because you knew and liked the character so well?

But eventual happy ending for strike and robin is a must

Just rereading them all and I'm up to Career of Evil, which I don't remember at all! Also rewatching the TV series as I go 😄

Oh that’s a good idea.
I might try that too, it may slow me down!

Yes, although I've seen them all before I didn't watch concurrently with the books, so it's interesting to read the book and then immediately compare the TV adaptation.

There is a new tv series coming too, Running grave

You should have tried it on audible! God it was clunky. But I liked the story and the commentary on identity politics and cancel culture.
Philip Glenister...well he's great at doing all the characters justice-except Strike. He's just too "Ooarr Jim lad!" for me. I always think he should have a mix between a cornish and London accent. Conversely, i think Tom is too London. Anyway, I'm miffed because I've got a long flight on the 2nd and was hoping to binge it then. Return flight it is.

Mick Herron and Stuart MacBride(yes gritty tartan noir, but funny too.)

Also really looking forward to this being released, currently re listening to career of evil as that's the only one I haven't listened to in a while, it's so creepy, although I still prefer it to Silkworm which is by far my least favourite.

Agree with others that IBH that I appreciated Ink Black Heart so much more on a re-read, but I wouldn't recommend skipping over the chats as there are so many clues that can be picked up once you understand who everyone is.

Anyway counting down the days until Hallmarked Man comes through my letter box, planning to read the hardback and then settle back and let Robert Glenister read it to me afterwards. He is so good, although his pronunciation of Ciara Porter still annoys me, surely it should be like Keira as in Knightly rather than Kee - ara.

I really appreciate JKR’s books on so many levels- but especially how they are written to be reread and reread again. each read (or listen) reveals more & more about plot, characters, back stories etc. so many clues & foreshadowing & so well executed.

even more impressive is how this all unfolds over the entire series too.

masterful.

@RubieChewsDayive come to peace with Silkworm but really struggle with Career of Evil. I don’t know if I will read it again. I love it for the strike & robin bits, but the crimes cilantro etc are so difficult.

Switch is definitely going to show up at some point, he's been mentioned too many times not to, and my prediction is that Shanker mentioning him in TRG was a deliberate reminder to the reader in preparation for the upcoming book.

I don't want Pat to die 😥or Berkley as I feel like he would also be on a list of characters we really like and care about.

Does anyone else listen to the Strike and Ellacott files podcast, they have a predictions episode for Hallmarked Man which is entertaining, and at 3 hours long will definitely fill some of the wait for the book to be released!! I don't recommend it for people who haven't read the full series though as it will have spoilers.