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Original poster

SPOILER ALERT Hallmarked Man (Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott)

803 replies

Civilservant · 01/09/2025 13:44

Spoiler thread for posters who have read or listened to The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith (J K Rowling) and would like to discuss it!

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Original poster
Civilservant · 01/09/2025 18:51

Link to the MN shared anticipation thread (no spoilers there as of end of August, just plenty of theories and speculation): https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/what_were_reading/5291498-new-cormoran-strike-book

New Cormoran Strike book | Mumsnet

Released September 2025!!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/what_were_reading/5291498-new-cormoran-strike-book

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Original poster
Civilservant · 02/09/2025 13:39

LOTS going on in first couple of chapters. Robin continuing to go through the mill 😨

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Crategate · 02/09/2025 13:40

Omg I hadn't realised it was out! Shit I need to do some work this week....but...

TeaHagTeaBag · 02/09/2025 14:03

Only a few chapters in, but that's quite a whammy each.

Allmarbleslost · 02/09/2025 14:33

Mine is being delivered by 6pm apparently! Looking forward to getting stuck in

TeaHagTeaBag · 02/09/2025 16:24

Also very funny so far.

Serpentstooth · 03/09/2025 07:59

I can no longer turn pages if a book. Does anyone know when ebook released?

Original poster
Civilservant · 03/09/2025 08:25

I’d imagine it’s been released, I’m listening to the audio version.

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Original poster
Civilservant · 03/09/2025 11:33

Not very far on, chapter 17. Fun bit is Ryan is wanting to make it up to Robin for a mix of reasons (he’s seeming shady) and suggesting a trip to Paris as an option. Robin asks him to get sensitive police information to help Robin and Strike with a potential case 😆

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Flixon · 03/09/2025 14:19

Ryan’s water bottle contains alcohol. That is my prediction …. (At Chapter 35 now) …

PlanningMayhem · 03/09/2025 18:59

Not reading any of this thread until I finish the book but I’ve just read page 330!!! OMG!

Gowlbag · 03/09/2025 19:00

Still in my dressing gown having been reading since 8.00am but I finished it. It was so good, I didn’t even remotely work anything out and the denouement blindsided me completely.
I did slam it down at the end with a cry of ‘You can’t leave Boom Basil there!’
I should feel like I wasted my day off but I don’t, so there!

Original poster
Civilservant · 03/09/2025 19:48

Fast reading, @Gowlbag !

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Petesplumbing · 03/09/2025 19:56

Finished - good grief!

EmpressaurusKitty · 03/09/2025 19:58

I’ve finished it but it sounds like discussing the ending would be too much of a spoiler?

Lunde · 03/09/2025 19:59

Robin seems to have a knack of meeting controlling men and then being too embarrassed to leave them

EmpressaurusKitty · 03/09/2025 20:18

Lunde · 03/09/2025 19:59

Robin seems to have a knack of meeting controlling men and then being too embarrassed to leave them

It’s Matthew on the honeymoon all over again, isn’t it?

Dolphinnoises · 03/09/2025 21:36

Also finished it - waiting decent period so we can discuss this…

CordeliaNaismithVorkosigan · 03/09/2025 22:21

Also finished it - really enjoyed it but frustrated by having to wait for the next one!

Snapespeare · 03/09/2025 22:52

I'm finished! A combination of audible before my hard copy was delivered and actual book..Immensely satisfying and I'll likely relisten to audible with the knowledge of having read it, so I can trace the breadcrumbs.

TheHallmarkedMan · 04/09/2025 00:48

Finished it. It was amazing, although I knew who did it almost immediately they were introduced. Can’t wait to talk about it properly

Lunde · 04/09/2025 01:04

Am about a third of the way through - hopefully read it by the weekend

Really feeling like shaking the pair of them with all the things they are avoiding saying to the other

Snapespeare · 04/09/2025 06:44

I experienced a similar point of exasperation where I wanted to knock their heads together and I don't think you're at it yet
@Lunde.

The ending!

I write. (to a degree) I want to gift myself the next chapter that Galbraith has so cruelly denied me!

Untailored · 04/09/2025 06:56

Not sure why everyone is being so coy. This thread is clearly marked as spoilers so anyone who hasn’t read it would only have themselves to blame if they looked at it.

I thought it was rather poetic that it all happens in the stairwell, where they first met.

Dolphinnoises · 04/09/2025 07:18

There was someone taking part upstream who was only a few chapters in. But you’re right.

Much as I love the books I was getting to the stage where I thought “what else is she going to put in their way? A falling piano?”

Let the record show I bloody knew there was more to the Bijou storyline, although I did think he was actually the father and Bijou had covered it up when she discovered he wasn’t rich.

I’ve been mulling on something someone said on Reddit about how Strike is growing and Robin isn’t. JK said they were both growing in this book. I think Robin’s blinkers have come off about Strike. In the first books she was growing to realise she’d fallen for him but felt intimidated as he was older, more sexually experienced and she felt Charlotte was so beautiful. Now she’s beginning to feel clearer about how she feels about men in general - unfortunately Strike’s shagging about because he can’t have her has made her feel he’s an unreliable potential life partner.