Bookending Car Rides and Robin's Developing Backbone: Troubled Blood Read-along, Ch 19-36 (Part 3 of 5).

Welcome back to the Troubled Blood Read-along.  I apologize for the unexpected interruption but I am back to to blogging and planning three catch-up posts, in hopes of starting the most recent volume in the series, The Ink Black Heart, on schedule next week. Believe it or not, at the end of IBH, we will be a mere three days from the release of The Running Grave. For those of you who have read the briefly released preview, I am writing a spoiler-filled series of posts on that, and what it might mean for the rest of the book, on this blog.  All TRG spoilers will be written in blue.

On to Chapters 19-36 of Troubled Blood. This section begins on Strike's birthday, with the partners' drive to interview Janice and Irene, and ends shortly after New Year's with the interviews at Hampton Court and Broom House. I was struck by the change in Robin's approach to Strike's sour mood. In Chapter 19, she takes his grumpiness in stride, and merely inquires if anything is wrong.

Robin watched Strike emerge onto the pavement, carrying a leather-bound notebook, and noted that he looked as grumpy as she’d ever seen him.

“Happy birthday,” she said, when he opened the passenger door. Strike immediately noticed the card and the small wrapped package lying on the dashboard.

Fuck.

“Cheers,” and climbed in beside her, looking even grumpier. As Robin pulled out onto the road, she said,

“Is it turning thirty-nine that’s upset you, or has something else happened?”

Having no desire to talk about Rokeby, Strike decided an effort was required.

“No, I’m just knackered. 

On the way to Hampton Court, she pushes back considerably more.

“Everything all right?” she asked, when he opened the passenger seat door.

“Fine,” he said shortly, climbing into the passenger seat and slamming the door. 

“Happy New Year.”

“Haven’t we already said that?”

“No, actually,” said Robin, somewhat aggravated by his surliness. “But please don’t feel pressured into saying it back. I’d hate you to feel railroaded—”

“Happy New Year, Robin,” muttered Strike.

I think this is a sign that she is getting less patient with by his moodiness and a preliminary hint of the blow-up that is to come on Valentine's Day. 

Both of these car trips lead to some of the best interviews of the series. The Irene and Janice one is a delight to re-read, both to enjoy laughing at Irene's excess ("I'm guessing lamb bhuna.") and to scrutinize Janice's testimony, noting when she is truthful and when she lies. The Phipps interview at times is like watching a Family sketch on Carol Burnett, with more quarreling than we've seen since the Chiswells, through which Strike manages to stuff his face with cake. But, it ends on a sober and much more sentimental note, with Roy's breakdown and the apparent start of reconciliation between him and his daughter. 

There's lots of good stuff between the bookends, too. Some favorite moments include:

• Strike seeing the 80-year-old's birthday and wondering who will be with him in his old age, followed by a solitary night with a takeaway in his flat, given that he lied to both Ilsa and Lucy, telling each he was going to the other's for dinner.
• Strike getting and deleting the nude photo of Charlotte, which will cause so much trouble for him in IBH. 
• The lovely interview with Oonaugh Kennedy in Fortnam and Mason.
• Strike's steadfast denial that he has flu, all evidence to the contrary. 
• Robin's postcard scheme to nail Postcard being a rousing success. 
• The image of Shanker at Hamley's, swapping Monster High dolls.
• Strike's aborted effort to buy Robin perfume. 

Both Strike and Robin wind up having miserable Christmases, Strike's with flu, poisoned chocolates and a snuff film, Robin with a nosy family, the looming specter of Matthew and Sarah in Masham, all topped off with a dick pic from Morris.  

Strike's post Christmas visit to Cornwall provides a nice contrast. Strike is able to enjoy chatting with her, for once, share information about his case and Joan is able to confide her funeral plans in him. This heartwarming scene shows the special relationahip and unique roles they play in each other's lives. 

I also enjoyed seeing Max gainfully employed and happy for once and Strike respond positively to Prudence, starting that relationship which will develop more over the next book. And, it's nice to see Robin tie up a few ends on the Bamborough case while Strike is in Cornwall. 

I'll be back soon with a summary of Chapters 37-54.