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. 

Don't get me wrong, this is a great read and I am reading or listening every non-working minute I can. But after the tenderness of the Fellbrigg Hotel in TRG, it is hard to see Strike and Robin crossing signals so many times. If this was the first book I ever read about them, I would be hard pressed to say they are romantically well suited for each other. 

Is it a little suspicious that both the Ramsey son and the Fleetwood parents died in ski accidents?  Death by avalanche is a bit hard to engineer, but a jet ski explosion would be at least feasible to arrange (it was the means of dispatching one of my favorite soap opera characters back in the day).

Albie Simpson-White is a name with double white meanings, since the presumed nickname for Albus means white. Simpson, interestingly, means "Son of Simon" which sounds more appropriate for Rupert ("red") who is the son of Peter.  Interesting that we are seeing more alchemical colors in names. 

It is also an interesting outburst  from Nina about Strike ruining the life of a friend of hers. My first thought is Giles Harmon, whom we have been told is published by Roper Chard and who it is suggested is in hiding after the UHC scandal broke: probably wanted for statutory rape. Nina could be his editor, but would that make him a friend? 

Given the snide remarks about "untruthful memoir" I am cautiously optimistic I am right about a sleazy book by Culpepper, Whittaker and/or Oakden about Strike, Rokeby and Leda might appear. I would still think there would be some sense of good will of Roper Chard for Strike, given that, thanks to him they got to publish a bestseller by Owen Quine, with the author conveniently dead so they didn't have to deal with his narcissism during the editing and marketing process. He also rid them of Liz Tassel. But, if they blame him for the loss of Giles Harmon, he might be on their naughty list now. 

The distress of Pamela over her impaired vision is understandable, and we see Robin's typical compassionate response. But she also blurted out something about needing her husband and I don't remember Robin following up with that.  Is she just upset that he isn't there or has something else happened? At least Strike's assessment of Ramsey's business skills seems accurate. 

Kim, if Farah Navabi wants to open her own agency, don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. I hear Morris, Nutley and Littlejohn are looking for jobs, too. 

Another meeting with Shanker, and another warning. Why do I get the feeling Strike will take Shaker's advice and get Robin jewelry?  Maybe a silver bracelet on Sark? 

Robin mentioned she liked blue and green scarves. Those colors match the two sexiest dresses she owns. But perhaps the most interesting thing is that Strike has an different gift idea for Robin. Something related to the Land Rover?  Had he been planning to install a heater, radio or Bluetooth?

I'm more heartbroken about the Land Rover than I was about Rowntree. Part of me wishes Strike would use the proceeds of the St. Mawes house sale to buy her a new one, but she'd never accept that. 

The Harrod's incident was a shocker and I don't get why Robin didn't call the police immediately. Surely Harrod's has security cameras? And if she suspects DNA on the gorilla, shouldn't it be tested?  If there is any chance that the perp the MI5 guy is interested in is involved, I bet they would get some cooperation in trying and at least running it through a database.

Either that's a gorilla in the shed and the connection to the rape is pure coincidence, or someone involved with the case (police, lawyer) or someone the rapist/murderer (I was right about him being both!) knew in jail has gotten involved. I guess there is a slim chance someone in her family said something to someone he shouldn't (I'd suspect that blabbermouth Jonathan) but that seems unlikely. 

I was wondering what was happening to the Happy Carrot with its owner and chef hiding out with a secret baby. 

Christmas is coming and I am predicting a miserable one for both our heroes. 

Continuity errors:

I'll try to compile a master list later, but my first is one that both Nina and Strike seemed to make:  that he had sleep with her twice. I think it was actually three times:  once the night of his birthday, once the night she cooked and the atmosphere curdled and once the night of Charlotte's wedding, the "night he didn't fancy spending alone." 

And who is this "Strangler" that everyone seems to be referring to?  Donald Laing was the Shacklewell Ripper and, as far as we know, did all of his killing by stabbing, not strangling. The only perp we've had that has killed by strangulation is Dennis Creed, who "throttled" Louise Tucker.  But Strike didn't capture him, only got the confession and location of the body. And Creed already has the "Essex Butcher" nickname. 

Connections to even-numbered books: 

• The threatening phone messages evokes memories of both the severed leg with Robin (2) and the bombing with Pat (6). 
• Culpepper, who we met in 2 and who we were told "raked over" Strike's history in the tabloids in 4, makes more trouble here (One prediction met!  Now we just need him to write an unauthorized memoir of Jonny, Leda and Strike).
• A probably MI5 agent interviews the detectives as in 4 and 6. 

The Silkworm:

• Nina Lascelles and Roper Chard reappear!!  And with the same "What are you doing here?" that we heard from her last time. 
• Murphy seems to be having some of the same issues with his gang shooting that Anstis had, arresting the partner instead of the real culprit. 

Lethal White:

• "Don't see many this age still on the road," said of the Land Rover, just as the cop said on the verge. Only this time, the answer was "It's on its last legs" instead of "It's never let me down yet."  (Sniff!) 

The Ink Black Heart: 

• We had a rare case of a carry-over case from Miss Jones from Book 5 to 6.  In THM, we have many more, with continuations of the cricketer (now Mr. A) and the Patterson case from Book 7, not to mention regular references to the UHC. 

Connections to #5 books

 Troubled Blood:

• Shanker warns Strike away from a case. 
• Strike feels awkward at Liberty's at Christmas, and his dislike of buying presents reappears. 
• Another Kim=Morris note: sending the partner she wants to bag an inappropriate text. At least no actual nudity yet. 

Order of the Phoenix:

• Tabloid newspaper printing misleading stories about out hero.