cormoran strike dni

Strike sideblog. Watch out for Hallmarked Man spoilers! Pat stan. Cormoran is on thin fucking ice.

[patchaunceyluver76]

I have not posted bc I was too busy reading the book and I just started part 10 and my gf is at the epilogue already and somehow for once I HAVE a suspect in mind but I can't read until tonight so I just yapped to her first thing in the morning and she very nicely listened to me as I paced around our bedroom going ITS JUST A HUNCH BUT WHAT IF--

[patchaunceyluver76]

(in my defense I was partly right)

[patchaunceyluver76]

BIG THEORY TIME

This is barely a theory this is just me going off a hunch I have barely arguments and no reasoning

I decided to leave reading part 10 to tonight but yesterday evening I read the first chapter of it and seeing Strike Barclay and Wardle go on a mission made me once again think that really I SHOULD be able to use my brain and think about who could be suspect and as I laid in bed before falling asleep my brain suddenly blasted ITS GRIFFITH ITS HIM and now I can't think of anything else.

Kinda late to have a revelation but I'll take it since usually I have zero theories lol

anyway, my (meager) reasoning since I really don't fucking get WHY he would do this is that Griffith has a connection with music so it made me think of Osgood and his impersonator Oz, and also his cluttered house filled with random, bad taste objects (souvenirs, he said, but what if some of them are trophies) makes it so no one would bat an eye if he had weights with a custom design on them.

Also, from a narrative standpoint, Griffiths appeared cooperative (after his initial freakout) and was depicted as pretty harmless (widower, father of a single daughter) and we all know sometimes witnesses who are cooperative have the most to hide + the volume is all about men being terrible so even "normal" men hanging deeply fucked up stuff sounds on par with the themes.

Now I still have NO CLUE who the body in the vault is though </3 still stupid I fear </3

[patchaunceyluver76]

I have not posted bc I was too busy reading the book and I just started part 10 and my gf is at the epilogue already and somehow for once I HAVE a suspect in mind but I can't read until tonight so I just yapped to her first thing in the morning and she very nicely listened to me as I paced around our bedroom going ITS JUST A HUNCH BUT WHAT IF--

[patchaunceyluver76]

Chapter 68

[patchaunceyluver76]

Part 3 & 4 thoughts!

yes I couldn't stop reading long enough to write part 3 thoughts

WHAT A ROLLERCOASTER OF EMOTIONS. Once again I'll focus more on relationships/stuff happening to Strike and Robin than I will on the case since I'm bad at solving cases (apart from Lethal White, ily Lethal White for giving me my moment)

Strike is finally eating shit as he deserves <3 I will admit that since Nina was my favorite Strike Girlfriend I was giddy to see her again even if her role in the story has changed from adjuvant to thorn-in-the-side. I am curious though about her saying Strike ruined her friend's life and if well get to learn more about that....

Between the slander in the newspaper and the Bijou situation, and the other awkward things that happen to him (Lucy's Christmas party...............) I'm happy with the development and I think it'll do Strike some good. The juxtaposed situations are really interesting too imo because they heavily play on common male fears: being wrongly accused of sexual assault/abuse and getting "baby-trapped"/unwittingly fathering a child regardless of their wishes. What I like here is that we as readers have an advantage over story characters: we know that Strike, for all his flaws, hasn't coerced any woman, and Candy is pure fiction. Fictional as he is, we know Strike can therefore be innocent on this side of things and whatever flaws he has, he isn't an abuser. On the other hand, the Bijou situation is 100% his fault and as Robin plainly put it "nobody made him do it", which ensures that while the Candy slander makes us a little sympathetic to him, I personally (and hope some others too) don't feel too sorry for him. Strike knows he fucked up with Bijou, he has been thinking of it as mistake from the very moment it happened in Running Grave, but nothing less but this would feel like consequences enough. The male reflex to brandish "but I used protection" as the end-all of arguments falls particularly flat here, when we've known Bijou was trouble from the moment she was introduced and Ilsa did her best to warn Strike not to get involved with her. And sure, it is unfair to have the threat of potentially being the father of a child you did not want hanging over your head to become what would surely be the worst scandal of your career if it ended up being true! But Strike's behavior with women over the course of seven volumes makes it difficult to feel too strongly for him. He could have kept it in his pants and we would simply not be here <3 (I may write more about this particular topic once I'm done reading, depending on how it develops)

While Strike is busy suffering consequences, I'd like to give Robin a warm hug and tell her to PLEASE go to therapy. Or at least, yknow, talk to a friend. I love her but the amount of lies and secrets piling up is staggering and she cannot go on like this for the entire volume. The fight with her mom, while cathartic, is ill-timed in that it isn't followed by a resolution and therefore leaves Robin jagged at the edges and still bottling up her feelings. I felt like a fool for not seeing coming the fact she'd stumble into Matthew at the bar in Masham, but it went.... surprisingly well? As awful as it is, it was satisfying to see Robin sparky with him (9 kids, but she had them all adopted) and Matthew and Sara not painting the picture perfect happy couple now that they've got other things on their plate. Matthew's surprise at Robin having a new, handsome boyfriend that isn't Strike made Ryan's jealousy later even worse, because yes, technically they're both right, and yet it all feels so unfair to Robin- her choices always under scrutiny, no matter what she does.

The end of part 3 was both heartwarming (alright, they're *really* in love, I get it) and bittersweet, because it would be so much easier if Strike didnt behave like an ass the rest of the time and if Robin could come to believe that Strike does love her, helplessly so, and doesn't just want to stop her from settling down. Part 4 perfectly mirrored this to tear it all apart: Robin's elation at the gift replaced with her outburst of tears at the situation, the very tender text exchange replaced with the impersonal, professional email and the physical distance switched for emotional one (Robin in Masham but loving Strike with all her heart vs Robin literally sitting in the inner office of their shared agency to send the coldest email in a long, long while).

The case? What case? (I'm tired of typing on my phone so I'll stop here, maybe next time I'll manage to write about the case. No promises though <3)

[patchaunceyluver76]

Me in part 1 & 2: wow Strike is being such a dick I hope Consequences happen so he can reflect on how much of a fuck-up he is

Part 3 & 4:

[patchaunceyluver76]

Part 1 thoughts

ITS SO GOOD TO SEE ROBIN AND STRIKE AGAIN!!!!!!

There, needed to get that out of the way. Now, on to the rest: Strike is being a twat so far and on one hand I'm obviously amused by it, but on the other hand I didn't not really expect that him coming to terms with bring in love with Robin would come with such pattern of thoughts/behavior. I do love how sparky the narration is in regards to his attitude though. Get a grip Strike!

Robin's ectopic pregnancy was such a shock to me and it's an interesting way to force her to confront the subject of children and (not) wanting (/being able to have) some, but it made me feel terribly for her. Especially when Murphy brought up the subject of eggs freezing and Robin rightfully snapped at him when he tried to push it. I like how seriously it's depicted, and how Robin's words really drive home the fact that it is not an easy procedure to go through.

Also, the motif of death/birth in this first part is definitely captivating: Ted's and Rowntree's deaths juxtaposed with talk of pregnant women (Robin's friend Vanessa, and family members) and, obviously, Decima and her secret newborn that she is adamant no one learns the existence of. Plus the mystery of Decima wanting the proof her boyfriend is dead when everyone else thinks (or at least says) is alive....

I will admit, upon reading the summary before the book was out, that the case didn't seem too interesting to me, though I didn't doubt I'd change my mind as I read, and as planned I'm getting hooked. Strike's dismissal/reluctance at taking up Decima's case was well-written, and I like how his interest is piqued just as mine was as I kept on reading. I don't have anything to say about the case itself because I'm terrible at this sort of thing, but I'm properly intrigued now lol. What a shady case for sure....

Now on to part 2!!

(And obviously I loved Pat's tin can with princess Diana's face on it. Thank you Pat for being the MVP once again. I wonder if she's the one who suggest the common gift for Strike's birthday.)

[same-shit-different-blogname]

Yes!

Finally someone else reading it that's annoyed by Strike and some of his behaviours and patterns! Why this need to sort of ambush Robin with his feelings, why does he need to use his ex girlfriend's suicide note to do it, etc. I keep seeing people annoyed at Robin but all of her thoughts make sense to me for her character!?

[patchaunceyluver76]

Omg, who could feel annoyed at Robin?!? I mean, I know she's been lying a lot in this volume, but if anything her motivations at least make perfect sense and she has genuine reasons to be a mess concerning some things and making sometimes ill-informed choices.

Strike has none of that, and it's frustrating to see that accepting his feelings has led him to adopt such a selfish, stubborn point of view about what he ought to be doing and how. His heart may be in the right place (loving Robin and stopped lying to himself about it) but the way he's been going about it has never made me want Strellacott to fail more. I'll be back to shipping them when he stops being a dick, for now I just want consequences for him :/

[patchaunceyluver76]

Part 2 thoughts!

I have zero theories i suck at these btw <3 no thoughts head empty only goldfish and midge love life

Strike continues to be a twat :/ i'm still torn between the comedy of it (c'mon strike, you're not THAT stupid! and the narration makes it clear he KNOWS when he's being unreasonnable/childish, etc.) and the fact that his behavior is off-putting at best. I genuinely don't like it and it's pissing me off to witness his stupid thoughts and "plans". Made worst by the fact that he is still, also, the Strike we know and love, who also knows how much the Land Rover means to Robin and offers to get a new one partly on company money (+had Christmas gifts plans for Robin yet considers changing them to fit the new situation). It's infuriating and I can't wait for him to either get some more character development or be met with a nasty surprise when his plans lead him nowhere bc he's being, frankly, a dick about it.

The chapters were packed full I feel like I'm already on the edge of my seat! Chapter 29 was scary though and I'm really worried about Robin; so far there's been a lot of mentions of how going undercover at Chapman Farm left a deep mark on her, and now the threat of aggression is hanging around again in a vicious, unexpected way.

It's fascinating to see the plot come together; there are so many different actors and sides in this and it's all very intriguing. Crime lords, secret services, freemasons, very possibly shady stuff related to the porn industry too...

The one thing of note I've managed to spot is, pretty obviously, the recurrence of Lion: the baby's name, the silver-related term, and now the pornstar name. It'll definitely keep on being relevant...

[patchaunceyluver76]

A bit more thoughts now that I'm awake!

Now, this isn't in any way a theory because I've got nothing to base it on, but given the themes of this volume, and the unusual demand from Decima (in the sense where many a distressed lover would rather detectives find their loved one alive rather than want proof of his death), I do wonder if Rupe is alive... the added information from part 2 with the cipher makes me hope that the body in the vault isn't his and he may still be alive. Robin's meeting with Albie was interesting in that regard too: while he's obviously hiding things (potentially very important things), and while it could be a misdirection, I found it interesting that he didn't talk negatively of Decima and of Rupert and her, and said their relationship was genuine.

So while I've got nothing to base it upon on, imo it could be thematically interesting to have Rupert still be alive (but in hiding, fleeing from a situation too dangerous to extract himself from otherwise) and reunite with Decima and the baby at the end of the volume, if their love is indeed genuine. (I say the baby and not *his* baby on purpose bc I think the identity of the baby's father may not be as straightforward as it seems).

Like, obviously it's probably too naive/nice of me to expect a "happy" ending, but the fact we simply do not know the identity of the body makes for interesting, quite unique drama, so playing around with expectations would be cool!

[patchaunceyluver76]

Part 2 thoughts!

I have zero theories i suck at these btw <3 no thoughts head empty only goldfish and midge love life

Strike continues to be a twat :/ i'm still torn between the comedy of it (c'mon strike, you're not THAT stupid! and the narration makes it clear he KNOWS when he's being unreasonnable/childish, etc.) and the fact that his behavior is off-putting at best. I genuinely don't like it and it's pissing me off to witness his stupid thoughts and "plans". Made worst by the fact that he is still, also, the Strike we know and love, who also knows how much the Land Rover means to Robin and offers to get a new one partly on company money (+had Christmas gifts plans for Robin yet considers changing them to fit the new situation). It's infuriating and I can't wait for him to either get some more character development or be met with a nasty surprise when his plans lead him nowhere bc he's being, frankly, a dick about it.

The chapters were packed full I feel like I'm already on the edge of my seat! Chapter 29 was scary though and I'm really worried about Robin; so far there's been a lot of mentions of how going undercover at Chapman Farm left a deep mark on her, and now the threat of aggression is hanging around again in a vicious, unexpected way.

It's fascinating to see the plot come together; there are so many different actors and sides in this and it's all very intriguing. Crime lords, secret services, freemasons, very possibly shady stuff related to the porn industry too...

The one thing of note I've managed to spot is, pretty obviously, the recurrence of Lion: the baby's name, the silver-related term, and now the pornstar name. It'll definitely keep on being relevant...

[patchaunceyluver76]

Delulu thought but since there cannot be a Strike Girlfriend Per Book anymore for obvious reasons, I joked to my girlfriend about Midge taking up the mantel. I think Midge should bag a beautiful interesting woman every book if Tasha and her don't get back together so we can still follow the trope of the detective who attracts very pretty women

[patchaunceyluver76]

Robin fooling herself into thinking she can totally keep Ryan in the dark about what Strike and her are investigating and it totally won't blow up in her face

[same-shit-different-blogname]

Me n the other 20% of the Strike relationship poll, how are we feeling 😭

[same-shit-different-blogname]

Thoughts after finishing Part One:

Spoilers!

Secrets- Thematically interested in the sensitivity of withheld information. Decima asks Strike to not tell anyone about the baby. Strike tells Robin, who tells Ryan (will this have fallout?). Simultaneously Ryan is very strict about the sensitivity of the information he’s got. Is it because he’s on the line for it?

The Masonic- is it a ritual crime linked to the Freemasons? Or is it dressed up to look that way? There's a lot of emphasis on how the body has been arranged for the police to find. The ritual aspect— hallmarked, and in a Freemason sash— but also missing eyes and hands, fake tanned (to disguise skin colour?) Is the body not even ‘William Wright’s’?

Controlling the narrative- a number of characters are quite intent on framing the case in certain ways rather than looking at facts. Whether deliberately or accidentally, Anjelica has kept Rupert out of police interest and allowed for his disappearance. Truman also quick to dismiss Masonic connections because he's a Freemason himself. And the killer themself/ves has also dressed the crime up a certain way too.

[patchaunceyluver76]

Part 1 thoughts

ITS SO GOOD TO SEE ROBIN AND STRIKE AGAIN!!!!!!

There, needed to get that out of the way. Now, on to the rest: Strike is being a twat so far and on one hand I'm obviously amused by it, but on the other hand I didn't not really expect that him coming to terms with bring in love with Robin would come with such pattern of thoughts/behavior. I do love how sparky the narration is in regards to his attitude though. Get a grip Strike!

Robin's ectopic pregnancy was such a shock to me and it's an interesting way to force her to confront the subject of children and (not) wanting (/being able to have) some, but it made me feel terribly for her. Especially when Murphy brought up the subject of eggs freezing and Robin rightfully snapped at him when he tried to push it. I like how seriously it's depicted, and how Robin's words really drive home the fact that it is not an easy procedure to go through.

Also, the motif of death/birth in this first part is definitely captivating: Ted's and Rowntree's deaths juxtaposed with talk of pregnant women (Robin's friend Vanessa, and family members) and, obviously, Decima and her secret newborn that she is adamant no one learns the existence of. Plus the mystery of Decima wanting the proof her boyfriend is dead when everyone else thinks (or at least says) is alive....

I will admit, upon reading the summary before the book was out, that the case didn't seem too interesting to me, though I didn't doubt I'd change my mind as I read, and as planned I'm getting hooked. Strike's dismissal/reluctance at taking up Decima's case was well-written, and I like how his interest is piqued just as mine was as I kept on reading. I don't have anything to say about the case itself because I'm terrible at this sort of thing, but I'm properly intrigued now lol. What a shady case for sure....

Now on to part 2!!

(And obviously I loved Pat's tin can with princess Diana's face on it. Thank you Pat for being the MVP once again. I wonder if she's the one who suggest the common gift for Strike's birthday.)

[denmark-street]

Chapter 3 ✔️, I'm already at 6% of the book. Only JKR's writing has this effect of 'oh no I'm reading to fast I don't want this to end'

[patchaunceyluver76]

Book acquired! 😎

[patchaunceyluver76]

Preuve à l'appui <3

[patchaunceyluver76]

Book acquired! 😎