The Hallmarked Man Part 8: Spoilers to Chapter 105

Strike and Robin are acting a bit more like themselves in this section. Robin choosing to stay with Ryan because she is concerned about his mental health and accepting partial responsibility (however wrongly) for his drinking is at least more typical of her than being upset with Strike for his womanizing and thinking he might have battered Charlotte. Robin successfully fighting off the attack, and the touching conversation with Rokeby are, again, the type of scenes that have made us love the series.

The Hallmarked Man Part 7: Spoilers in Chapter 1-92.

Finally, I am seeing more about what I love about this series. Strike underwent a bit of transformation on Sark. His pursuit of Robin that he began planning in this book has, until now, been all about what he wants. For the first time, he considered what was good for Robin, and, for her sake,  passed up his golden opportunity. That is actually the Strike Robin (and book fans) fell in love with.  Hopefully, Strike and Robin will be able to return to this lovely island in season in the future....  it sounds like a lovely honeymoon destination. 

The Hallmarked Man, Part 6. Spoilers for chapters 1-80.

While the aggravation I am feeling for Strike and Robin continues for much of this section, it is Robin now that seems to be making the most serious mistakes: getting an offer accepted on a house, telling Linda they are moving in together and continuing to avoid outings with Strike. The conversation with Murphy in the gastropub makes it clear she loves the job more than him. And she feels relief when the house falls through?  She's explicitly connecting the feelings from her Flobberworm days, but going on despite her doubts, yet again.  

This pattern of Strike dropping hints, hoping Robin will respond, and Robin wondering what he means without bothering to ask questions is getting old, and after the increasing closeness they've achieved over the last three books, seems out of character for both. Thanks to a negative paternity test, a savage dog and Strike nearly burning his eyes out with pepper spray, things are perking up by the end, so we can hope the Sark trip will help put things right with Strike and Robin. But then, we hoped that would happen with the Christmas bracelet, too. 

The Hallmarked Man Part 5: Spoilers for Chapters 1-68

My urge to slap these two is getting stronger---  if Robin really thinks this poorly of Strike, she needs to find a new place to work. And she's been in this place before, feeling relief when she was not with Matthew, and she's crazy if she doesn't see the red flags. 

The Hallmarked Man: Part 4: Spoilers for Chapters 1-56.

Well, so much for my hope that the beautiful Christmas gift scene was going to turn things around for Strike and Robin. Remember Linus's  classic line from the Charlie Brown Christmas special: "Charlie Brown, you're the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem." Robin Ellacott has to be the only person who can take the world's most perfect Christmas gift and turn it into an occasion for anxiety and guilt. 

The Hallmarked Man, Part 3: Spoilers for Chapters 1-41.

So, the ride's getting rockier: Culpepper has resorted to outright fabrication rather than just innuendo. I'm glad Fergus came through for them. 

I remember Galbraith saying once that Charlotte's death was originally planned for Book 8. That may explain why there is so much focus on her family and her history---  I really wish we could move on from her. This additional backstory about Charlotte would have been more interesting when she was alive.

A lot of people predicted a major row with Linda and Robin, and it certainly happened. I'm not sure anything was resolved, though. Nor did we see if they reconciled. Finally, I think Linda is re-writing history a bit. In CoE she seemed to, if anything, be encouraging Robin to stay with the Flobberworm. 

Well, my prediction of a Christmas from hell certainly came through in spades. We can see another indication of Strike and Robin's compatibility and she recalls the whiskeys with Strike. Drinking with Strike when she's stressed out helps; drinking without him does not. 

The Hallmarked Man, Part 2: Spoilers for chapters 1-30.

I am really enjoying the mystery of this book, but when it comes to the romance aspect, I am ready to slap the stuffing out of both our protagonists. I realize that Robin is the first attractive woman who has not thrown herself at Strike at first meeting (with the possible exception of Ilsa, who was four at the time) and therefore this is the first time he has actively had to try to convince a woman that he is boyfriend material, but he is acting like a middle schooler with his scheming. As for Robin, I think she sustained brain damage at Chapman Farm. What is she thinking about looking at houses with Ryan? And she is griping to herself that Strike doesn't communicate?  She needs to go look in the mirror; if she is so confused about what he could mean, she has had ample opportunities to ask for clarification.  And  Robs, you are thirty-two years old. If you don't want to go home for Christmas, tell them you have other plans.