The 3-5 links to The Hallmarked Man: One set predicted by Double Wedding Band, another not.

One of the reasons I was especially looking forward to the publication of The Hallmarked Man was that it was the first real test of the Double Wedding Band model. (See here, here and here for background information).  In short, I think we see three basic patterns in the Strike series that are best accounted for by viewing the 10-part series as two overlapping rings: the first staring with CC and ending with TRG; 

1. The basic "turtle-back" connections that are so obvious in Harry Potter should be seen in both rings, 
1. Book 2-Book 6
2. Book 3-Book 5
3. The beginning-turning point-end triangulation between Books 1-4-7. 
2. The "ring correspondence" connections, where Book 1 of the first ring (CC) connects to Book 1 of the second ring (LW) and so on. This gives us the following: (note that the starred connections are duplicated in the turtle-back triangulations, above).  
1. CC-LW*
2. Silkworm-TB
3. CoE-TIBH
4. LW-TRG*
5. TB-THM
6. TIBH-Book 9
7. TRG-Book 10. *
3. While not necessarily a part of the Double Wedding Band, there is also good evidence for the Leapfrog Effect: the tendency of odd-numbered books to pair with other odd-numbered, and evens with evens. This gives us 20 total pairings, four of which (2-6, 3-5, 1-7, and 4-10) are already listed above. 

It is the ring correspondence component of the model that got its first real test for predictive power with THM.  I originally came up with the Double Wedding Band to explain the large number of linkages between CoE and TIBH and between Silkworm and Troubled Blood. These two connections are not predicted by the turtleback or leapfrog effects, but are accounted for by the ring correspondence. 

Thus, I went into THM with two testable hypotheses:  

• First: If the ring correspondence model works, then The Hallmarked Man, as the 5th book of Ring 2 (and #8 in the series), should have lots of correspondences with Troubled Blood, the fifth book of Ring 1. 

Furthermore, the ring correspondence could potentially help answer the question that has been nagging us: what happens to the idea of Strike being a parallel series to Harry Potter once we hit book 8 and are out of Potter books? 

• The answer (and second hypothesis) is, we back up and look for connections to Book #5 of Harry Potter, Order of the Phoenix. 

Did the Double Wedding Band model pass the test?  Find out below.

2-4-6-8, What Do We Appreciate? : The Hallmarked Man connections predicted by the Leapfrog effect.

A big feature of the Double Wedding Band model (see here, here and here for background information) is that it incorporates one of the more obvious patterns of the Strike series: the Leapfrog effect, or the tendency of odd numbered books to connect with odd numbers and and evens with evens. The Hallmarked Man continues this pattern  

What I am most excited about is those connections that have, thus so far, turned up in all four the even-numbered books. I'm going to call this the "Truly Appreciated" list, both because I was happy to see them and because I think they should top the list of predictions for book 10. 

The Hallmarked Man: The Strike series answer to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child? (Spoilers for both!)

The thematic connections between the first seven Cormoran Strike books and the corresponding Harry Potter books is something I and other Strike enthusiasts have written about extensively.  Some examples include:

• My Harry Potter Academic Conference talk from 2023. 
• The Troubled Blood-Order of the Phoenix parallel noted at the time of publication. 
• Irvin Khaytman's essay on the connections between The Ink Black Heart and The Half-Blood Prince
• Beatrice Groves' magazine article on the same topic.
• Connections between The Running Grave and The Deathly Hallows
• Links to dozens of other posts on the topic. 

The thematic similarities between the first seven Strike books and the Harry Potter series makes me think it is highly likely that, as reported by UK Sunday Times Arts editor Richard Brooks in February 2014, Rowling initially planned the Strike series as seven books. The Times was, after all, the paper that used forensic literary analysis to document similarities between Cuckoo's Calling and other Rowling works, and it seems unlikely they would publish that claim unless they had reason to believe it was true, although their source of information may have been out of date  Galbraith immediately denied that seven books were planned and by July 2014, announced there would be more than seven books, perhaps even an open-ended series.  By April 2023, the author had decided the series would be complete at ten. The simplest explanation is, after being outed much sooner than planned, "Galbraith" rethought the series plan. And, as we well know, whether writing as Rowling or Galbraith, this author is selective about how much of the planning process is shared. 

So, is there any point in considering the Parallel Series Hypothesis, now that we've hit #8 in the Strike Series?  Find out after the jump. 

The Hallmarked Man: What I think may come next.

I would have to call The Hallmarked Man, in one sense, the most predictable of the Strike series we have seen to date. I say this not because it wasn't a very original storyline with lots of twists and turns, but because, atypically for me, I made several predictions that turned out to be a lot closer to true than I normally get. For example:

• The agency would make an enemy of Dominic Culpepper that would lead to him publishing scandalous stories. 
• Yes, I thought it would be the Strike/Leda/Rokeby angle, not the Strike's sex life angle, but 
• I was correct in that the need to neutralize Culpepper would be the occasion for Strike to meet Rokeby. 
• Strike would find a male body in the victim's secondary residence. This was fulfilled when Todd was found in his mother's apartment, where he had been staying. 
• Carmen and Martin's baby would be born with disabilities, possibly fetal alcohol syndrome
• We got arm paralysis instead, but given Carmen's behavior at Christmas, I wouldn't rule out FAS yet. 

Once the book started, I guessed

• The incest angle, as soon as I put together Decima's and Rupert's somewhat confusing family tree. 
• That Chloe was Jolanda, as soon as I saw the violet bracelet.
• That Ted's inheritance would be used for the agency.
• I initially predicted new office space, but then when the Land Rover died I figured it would go for that. 

So, I've been consulting my creosote-colored tea leaves to  consider what might happen after the explosive ending.  Here is my idea. 

The Hallmarked Man's Final Chapter: What I liked and what I didn't.

I'm not sure I have ever written an entire blog post on a single seven page chapter of a Strike book, but there is a first time for everything. This scene, like the rest of the book, is such a mixed bag with parts that make me melt and parts that make me cringe.  Both Strike and Robin behaved sensibly at times and acted like complete idiots (and completely out of character) at others. Let me make if clear, it does not bother me that they did not become a couple. It did bother me that they seemed to be so out-of-character at the time.  So, here goes!

The Hallmarked Man Epilogue: First impressions and full book spoilers.

Wow!  That was not the ending many people expected (or wanted!) I was left with a lot of mixed feelings, loving parts of the final chapter, while at other times feeling like I did pre-Sark in this book.  In other words, feeling like I'd like to slap both Strike and Robin silly.  

While it was certainly kind of Strike to go to Niall Semple's funeral, it was rather foolish of him to give up the trip to Sardinia with Robin. I think it is likely they could have had a more reasonable conversation there than in the stairwell. Looking back, given that Strike remembers investigating suicides in the military and expresses worry for Wardle in his depression, we should have expected that suicide was a possibility for Semple. 

The Hallmarked Man, Part 10, Spoilers for everything but the epilogue.

At last, the resolution to the crime. Glad to see Midge and Robin teaming up on a mission. It's amusing to see that Midge has decided to shag the Ellen of "WishIwaswithEllen" fame; I wonder what the original Buffypaws thought of that. But doesn't Ellen live in Manchester, where Midge and Beth lived?  That's about 200 miles away. Maybe Ellen moved...

I thought it was incredibly funny to see Mr. Ramsey with his butt sticking out of the cupboard, sobbing over the discovery of his precious silver. In addition to poking fun at the upper class, this book takes good aim at people with excessive attachment to things. 

The Hallmarked Man Part 9: Spoiler through Chapter 116

Yet another good, compassionate and understanding conversation between Strike and Robin where they sound like their old selves. Between Strike appropriately insisting Robin take extra security precautions, echoing her own words from TIBH, and the takedowns of Branford, Kim and Tara, we are seeing more of what we've traditionally loved as Strike mysteries pick up the pace as they wind to a close. This book has definitely been moving in a better direction since Part 7. 

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. 

The Hallmarked Man Ch 1-13 spoilers: Epigraphs and the client's family tree.

 More from the Books-a-Million preview.  (For my initial impressions, see here.)

If you are like me, all the relationships the new client was trying to explain got a bit confusing, so I put together a family tree that I think is correct. I also want to talk about the new epigraph sources we have. 

The Hallmarked Man Part 1 Preview: Spoilers through Chapters 1-13

I finally got access to a longer English preview yesterday via the Books-a-Million site (click on "Look Inside:" if you want to see). I spent yesterday poring over the first 13 chapters, or most of part 1. Wow!  Do not proceed if you don't want spoilers.  I am staying off social media now, as there are later-book spoilers floating around-- apparently some bookstores are a bit careless about putting them out before the official date.  I ask all readers to observe the warning in the post header and not post comments with spoilers beyond Chapter 13. 

I actually enjoyed being able to read the section through twice.  Maybe I will try to discipline myself into doing that for the rest of the book, to savor the experience.  Of course, that's what I said with TRG and that resolve evaporated after Charlotte died. 

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