Who's got their copy of Robert Galbraith's (JKR) latest?

[ParmaVioletTea]

Just picked mine up from my local bookshop. And my local Waterstone's had a whole window full of the book, with a special half-price offer.

I have started reading it; slipping into another story of characters who feel like old friends.

(Heretical opinion: I think Ms Rowling is a better writer in the Strike series than Harry Potter, but she still needs an editor.)

True. it's like House having the opportunity to cure every super-rare disease that somehow ends up in his hospital 😂

This is similar to what Strike thinks at her wedding in Lethal White. They never recognise her for the strengths that actually make her exceptional, just keep trying to find the qualities they think a nice girl should have. It’s partly why she loves Strike, because he does value these parts of her.

Just finished it!
Aghhhhhhhhh, do we really have to wait a year for the next instalment?!?!

My concern is that it will be even longer. Stop buggering around on TwiX woman and WRITE!

I can see a point of view that they're worried about her, but it's an excellent depiction of a) how women aren't supposed to do what men do and it's seen as odd when they do, and b) what families still quietly expect for women, in that we'll settle down into a wifely world of maternity and caring for others.

Lucy’s dad is still around, (had to look this up. His name is Rick Fantoni). Maybe he had input into Lucy’s name.

Probably been mentioned, (still trying to get my head around the new Mumsnet layout and finding navigating threads tricky) but I really want Robin to take some time out, to be by herself and have some therapy. She may even realise that though she loves Strike, they aren't suited, he is happy with a Spartan existence and she may want home comforts...
Also a lot of characters in this one, I had to make notes and refer back to work out who was who and what was going on!
But loved it all of course. Can't wait for the next corker!

I’m in hospital in my own room so I have it on audio. Everyone that’s been it to do things has asked about it. I didn’t realise it would be so sweary though! I have to quickly pause it at times. I only have three hours left so will finish today.

Is this with a read for somebody who did not enjoy a casual vacancy? I’ve always tended to avoid her adult writing after that, I enjoyed Harry Potter when I was younger, but I think it might have just landed at the right time for me!

I read A Casual Vacancy when it first came out and didn’t enjoy it. I hated every character in it. I do love the Strike books though and mainly because you grow to care for the main characters (not just Strike and Robin). And the plots are excellent.

Yes. I tried reading The Casual Vacancy and it put me off trying the Strike novels until the combination of my admiration for J K Rowling personally and Cuckoo’s Calling turning up at the local bus stop library got me over it. Really glad I gave them a chance because they are now amongst my favourite crime/detective novels.

Please can someone explain the origin of why Tunnocks teacakes relate to MN? I have seen Tunnocks mentioned on previous FWR threads but never understood the in joke.

Might be reaching a bit, but given her love of Blue Oyster Cult, she may have named Lucy in tribute to their song 'Nosferatu' (which is based on Dracula)?

@TheNeighboursComplain I think it started off originally in one of the long running tribunal threads, perhaps Allison Bailey’s. I also have a vague memory of an attempt to cancel Tunnocks by the people on TRSOH when Tunnocks did something unacceptable like retweet a post by someone who may once have expressed a vaguely terfy opinion.

Anyway, there’s lots of hanging around if you’re listening in online to a tribunal and so people naturally (this is FWR!) veer off topic to fill in the time and food and snacks is a perennial topic. This lead to a long running argument discussion on which Tunnocks product is the best. Some swear by the caramel wafer but I’m a dark chocolate Teacake (only available in Scotland) girl. Some weird people like the snowballs.

I think it’s a variation on one of those internet laws. The probability of Tunnocks being mentioned on a long running FWR thread increases with the length of the thread.

Tunnocks received a request from a conference for a donation of their lovely tea cakes and caramel wafers. They sent some.

The conference was the LGB Alliance’s conference and the response to their politely thanking Tunnocks online was a storm of ever so offended TRAs. How dare people who sell cakes and biscuits give some to people guilty of wrongthink!

The rest is Mumsnet FWR history…

And isn’t there a top end restaurant called something like ‘The Happy Carrot’? Which I thought was a nod to the rabbit sanctuary?

Oh I like that idea. Also, Robin and Prudence go for dinner in The Running Grave at a restaurant in London that J K Rowling and other GCs have famously met at, and which was attacked (and I think vandalised?) by TRAs. Annoyingly the name escapes me right now.

I think she's better on Strike than H.Potter, but yes please to the editor!

Thanks for the explanations re Tunnocks.

I'm a caramel wafer fan but am happy with the teacakes too 👌

Il Portico. I think one of their other restaurants got trashed by TRAs after the owner dared host a fund raiser for Lumos.

I've just gt about halfway through so read the Tunnocks bit. I wondered if this was the Easter egg?

I went to Il Portico because I'd read about it being trashed by TRAs. It's a fabulous restaurant, well worth a visit.

Yes, the food at Il Portico is utterly amazing.

This is now high on my list of things to do when one of my London based friends and I get a day pass from childcare together!

Make sure you’re hungry! The food is so full of flavour that it’s very filling.