In looking over various connections between the Strike books and structural models that have been proposed to explain them, onc thing has become very clear: so far, there is a strong pattern of even-numbered books connecting with even, and odd-numbered books connecting to odd. Some of these connections, like Book 2-Book 6 and Book 3-Book 5, are predicted by ring composition, but many are not. For lack of a better term, I'll call this the Leapfrog Model.
Some of the compiled lists are available among mine and others' writings the old Hogwarts professor site, more recent are on this site.
In the interest of having all connections in one place, I will compile a full set here.
Odds: Evens
Book 1 and Book 3 Book 2 and Book 4
Book 1 and Book 5 Book 2 and Book 6: See also here and here.
Book 1 and Book 7 ; see also here.
Book 5 and Book 7; see also here.
More after the jump.
Lethal White-The Ink Black Heart Connections
- First note, these are the only two books with colors in the title, and good alchemical colors the are, too, albeit in the wrong order. Wouldn't it be interesting if Book 8 had "red" in the title. Or. was red covered by the Blood in Book 5, making an alchemical trio?
- As noted, Billy Knight and Edie Ledwell both turn up unannounced in office, dishevelled and in a "bit of a state" to ask for help.
- Both scare the receptionist, who thinks they are crazy and call a detective for assistance.
- Both visit the bathroom.
- Both leave with the detective who saw them wishing they could help, but without any formal agreement to do so.
- Both trigger follow-up consultations with the police.
- After he remains celibate throughout TB, we thought Strike had learned the "restaurants and brothels" lesson: that a long term relationship without love or serious commitment will ot work; it's essentially a series of one-night stands with the same woman. Then enter Madeline. Other than missing the restaurant part--she doesn't make any effort to keep Cormoran fed-- she is basically Lorelei II.
- Both are successful business owners.
- Lorelei is a vintage clothing dealer who wears "jewel tones;" Madeline is a jeweler.
- Both recently ended long-term live-in relationships.
- Both want more from the relationship than Strike wants to give and accuse him of using them.
- Strike hopes for a quick break-up with both by phone; they both want a public scene.
- Strike's close relationship with Jack, which started in LW, continues with texts and communications, even if their outings are put on hold.
- Robin goes undercover multiple times as Venetia Hall and in other identities (Bobbi Cunliffe, Jessica Robbins).
- Another serious leg injury that keeps Strike from wearing his prosthesis.
- Strike and Robin both turn up for each other when they are overwhelmed with obligations and worried about a hospitalized family member.
- Both feel similar washes of relief when they see the partner had shown up unexpectedly to help: Robin in the ICU, Strike at her new apartment
- Robin faces the weapon-wielding killer at the end, and manages to survive long enough for help to arrive.
- The barge's wooden door is splintered when Strike shoulders it in to save Robin; Gus is in the process of splintering the bathroom door when help arrives at the Upcott home.
- Our heroes are urged to dig up graves for clues: Billy says "she'd let you dig" in the dell; Flavia makes anonymous calls telling them to dig up Edie.
- Nutley is hired and leaves the agency in disgrace in both books, even though he isn't named in the first.
- A suspect becomes romantically interested in Robin in one of her undercover identities (Raff, Pez).
- We have a group of left-wing political radicals in LW, right-wing political radicals in IBH.
- A pregnant Charlotte tells Strike she doesn't to be "tied down" to her twins in LW and intends to leave once they are born; her actions in IBH show she does not genuinely care for them and is willing to have them be with their abusive father if it frees her up for her own pleasure (whether with Strike or Landon).
- Charlotte and Strike's meeting in Franco's is covered in the tabloids, Raff (disguised as Matthew) uses it to coerce Robin into meeting him, which endangers her life. Jago Ross threatens tabloid coverage of Charlotte and Strike to coerce Charlotte into a divorce settlement and threaten Strike's business.
- Robin has to explain to a non-horse-fancier what an outdoor school is.
- Both Jasper Chiswell and Jago Ross favor their one legitimate son over their daughters. So does Inigo Upcott.
- Robin moves house in both books. She insists on renting when she and Matthew can't find the right flat for purchase in LW, in TB she buys her own place.
- Robin is invited to a young goth-ish woman's very cheap flat in both books (Flick's, Zoe's). Both flats have no room for clothes storage, lots of stuff pinned on walls and substandard plumbing.
- Both women have abusive "boyfriends" that leave them in tears during much of the book.
- A privileged but mistreated son kills his father.
- An out-of-control dog is an important clue.
- Strike and Robin bug Winn's office; Gus bugs family home.
- Maverick films wants Anomie's identity so they can dig up dirt and neutralize the threat he poses to their film project. Chiswell wants dirt on Winn so he can neutralize the threat Winn poses to his political career.
- Strike and Robin check in with each other regarding physical (Strike) and mental (Robin) health in both books.
- A dead body is found sitting upright in a chair after the detectives illegally enter the victim's residence.
- A new hire is made at the beginning of the book who proves to be good at undercover work (Sam, Dev).
- Both are men with a wife and child.
- Andy Hutchins joins the firm in LW, and departs in IBH.
- Strike calls Hutchins a "stupid f*cker" for not telling Strike his MS was flaring. Barclay calls Strike a "stupid f*cker" for not telling his agency his leg was bad.
- The detectives are interviewed by people they suspect of being MI5 agents but who do not reveal their affiliation in both books.
- Strike tells Robin "I'm afraid you're going to wind up f*cking dead and I'll have to live with that" in LW; Robin tells Strike "I don't want to f*cking kill yourself." in IBH.
The Leapfrog model predicts that there will be the fewest echoes between consecutive books. In general, that holds for the Strike series. If anything, we see more contrasts: such as John Bristow yelling at Strike that he doesn't look like he can afford to turn down paying clients in Book 1, and Strike sacking a paying client in Book 2 to take on Leonora Quine. But there is one major exception to that, which is the many connections between books 5 and 6. More about that, and why my new structural model predicts it in a future post.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments are moderated.