Final Predictions for The Hallmarked Man (Spoilers for the Chapter 1 preview at the end)

I've made predictions here and there over the course of my pre-THM re-read and assorted other posts, podcasts etc.  I wanted to put this together to have my ideas in one place. I'm going to organize them by category and rationale.

 As far as spoilers go, I have read the part of chapter 1 that was released on audiobook, but nothing beyond that. Predictions that take events from that excerpt into account will be listed at the end after a graphical spoiler warning. The rest of the predictions include spoilers for the cover blurbs, Twitter headers and other pre-publicity releases from RobertGalbraith.com

Predictions based on even-numbered books connection. 

1. The detectives will find a male body, likely in a secondary residence of the victim's. 

2. Strike's knowledge of Latin will be useful to the case.  Decima's name connection to Lachesis will come up at some point. 

3. Strike will have to work with Richard Anstis again, leading to more information about the army being learned, possibly including the circumstances of Strike's medal. 

4. There will be a "Shut up, you stupid woman!" moment, possibly involving a police officer speaking to Decima. Strike will come to the woman's defense. 

5. Strike will dine in a very masculine restaurant with a difficulty man relating to the case. 

6. Strike's leg will be injured badly enough that he cannot use the prothesis. 

7. Pat will develop a respiratory illness, resulting her her chest whistling like Liz Tassel's by book's end. 

8. Strike will visit someone who is confined (jail, hospital, perhaps on the run from police), show great compassion to them and make a promise to help.

9. Some spooky Gothic element: cemetery, crumbling manor, or ghosts. 

Predictions based on connections to Order of the Phoenix. 

1. Corruption in the police, prosecuting attorneys or government officials to echo the ministry corruption

2. I think we might see some sort of turmoil in the Ellacott family, to echo the near-death of Arthur Weasley by snakebite. Sadly, I think the heart episode for Michael Ellacott in TIBH may return in the form of a fatal heart attack for him.

3.  I also sense trouble for Martin and Carmen---  possibly a baby born with disabilities (it was mentioned that Carmen drinks, so fetal alchohol syndrome is possible) or who is facing being taken into care because Martin and Carmen are not fit parents. This might mean pressure on Robin to step in and help Linda care for the baby.

4. At some point, I think Robin will be feeling a lot like Harry did in OotP: like she is losing everything that is important to her. 

5. One of the detectives will make a decision that proves to be a serious error in judgement and results in death or serious injury to someone in the agency or possibly Shanker or a police ally. 

Assorted predictions relating to Troubled Blood, Twitter Headers and other hints. 

1. The agency will make a real enemy of Dominic Culpepper thanks to the investigations related to the cricketer's case. The consequences of this will include Culpepper taken revenge by writing a tell-all book about Strike, Rokeby and Leda, possibly teaming up with Carl Oakden or Jeff Whitaker. 

2. Rokeby and Strike will have to team up to block publication, resulting in their first in-person meeting since Strike was 18. 

3. The long tradition of police corruption relating to Freemasonry will complicate the case. 

4. The main mystery will be complicated by corruption in a DNA lab.  The team's core values of truth and justice will be pitted against each other, causing an ethical dilemma. Exposing the truth about the laboratory could mean the overturning of hundreds of cases of people convicted of serious crimes, most of whom are in fact guilty. One might even be Robin's rapist. 

5. Strike will injure his leg severely on Sark, and have to overcome his fear of horses to get around on the island.  Robin may have to lead him across the Coupee on a big Clydesdale. 

6. Robin and Murphy will have a difficult Christmas, leading to their break-up. 

7. If Murphy falls off the wagon, it will be after the break-up, not before.

8. Lucy and Strike will give Ted's boat to Polworth, over Greg's objections, since he would rather sell it and have the money. 

Predictions for sometime in the series, but not necessarily the next book. 

1. If we meet Switch LeVey Bloom Whittaker, it will be because either he or his great-grandfather have a connection to the Freemasons. However, I think it is more likely that Switch will turn up in Book 9, given that the other books in which he is mentioned are odd-numbered (3 and 7).

2. We will eventually learn more about Dev Shah, including why he had such a strong reaction to the possibility of Will having sex with an underage girl in TRG. 

3. A major mystery, possibly involving the Whittakers, will take the detectives to Yorkshire for an extended period, giving Robin's family a better chance to see her in her professional live and leading to more acceptance from Linda for the job and for Strike. 

4. Strike will use the Rokeby money for some worthy cause, giving to charity or to support someone in need. 

Things I would like to see but not necessarily predicting. 

1. Robin and Murphy run into Matthew and Sarah by chance, in London or Masham.  Robin is wearing some of her most expensive clothes and looks like a million bucks.  Meanwhile, motherhood is not agreeing with Sarah. Robin can sense Matthews regret in being trapped into marriage. 

2. Shortly after, Robin hears that Sarah has left Matthew for a much richer man. 

3. Strike, Robin and Jack go on an outing together. 

4. Pat will repair the Green Dress. 

Predictions created or modified in light of the chapter 1 preview. 

1. My original prediction that Uncle Ted would reveal a long-held secret under the influence of his dementia obviously came to naught.  I thought Strike would find an important clue relating to his past in the St. Mawes house when packing it up to sell. Now that we know he took only one box of possessions that included photos he had not looked through carefully, I think a clue might be in the pictures.  The other possibility is that something is in the boxes that Lucy took. 

2. The fishing priest that Strike took has a very Chekov's gun feel to it, so I think it will be used as a weapon at some point in the series.  However, I am also thinking that Strike will not be the one to wield it. I am thinking Robin might find herself under attack in Strike's apartment and wind up defending herself with it. 

3. One of the missing men that may be connected to the lion hallmark clue will be connected to the Ricci family from TB. 

4. Strike's inheritance from Ted will be re-invested in the business, possibly helping purchase new office space.