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Cormoran Strike #8
The Hallmarked Man
A dismembered corpse is discovered in the vault of a silver shop. The police initially believe it to be that of a convicted armed robber - but not everyone agrees with that theory. One of them is Decima Mullins, who calls on the help of private detective Cormoran Strike as she's certain the body in the silver vault was that of her boyfriend - the father of her newborn baby - who suddenly and mysteriously disappeared.
The more Strike and his business partner Robin Ellacott delve into the case, the more labyrinthine it gets. The silver shop is no ordinary one: it's located beside Freemasons' Hall and specializes in Masonic silverware. And in addition to the armed robber and Decima's boyfriend, it becomes clear that there are other missing men who could fit the profile of the body in the vault.
As the case becomes ever more complicated and dangerous, Strike faces another quandary. Robin seems increasingly committed to her boyfriend, policeman Ryan Murphy, but the impulse to declare his own feelings for her is becoming stronger than ever.
A gripping, wonderfully complex novel which takes Strike and Robin's story to a new level, The Hallmarked Man is an unmissable read for any fan of this unique series.
The more Strike and his business partner Robin Ellacott delve into the case, the more labyrinthine it gets. The silver shop is no ordinary one: it's located beside Freemasons' Hall and specializes in Masonic silverware. And in addition to the armed robber and Decima's boyfriend, it becomes clear that there are other missing men who could fit the profile of the body in the vault.
As the case becomes ever more complicated and dangerous, Strike faces another quandary. Robin seems increasingly committed to her boyfriend, policeman Ryan Murphy, but the impulse to declare his own feelings for her is becoming stronger than ever.
A gripping, wonderfully complex novel which takes Strike and Robin's story to a new level, The Hallmarked Man is an unmissable read for any fan of this unique series.
912 pages, Hardcover
First published September 2, 2025
9352 people are currently reading
25773 people want to read
About the author
Robert Galbraith
26 books32.1k followersThis is a pseudonym for J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series and The Casual Vacancy, a novel for adults.
NOTE: There is more than one author with this name on Goodreads.
Rowling was born to Anne Rowling (née Volant) and Peter James Rowling, a Rolls-Royce aircraft engineer, on 31 July 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, England, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Bristol. Her mother Anne was half-French and half-Scottish. Her parents first met on a train departing from King's Cross Station bound for Arbroath in 1964. They married on 14 March 1965. Her mother's maternal grandfather, Dugald Campbell, was born in Lamlash on the Isle of Arran. Her mother's paternal grandfather, Louis Volant, was awarded the Croix de Guerre for exceptional bravery in defending the village of Courcelles-le-Comte during the First World War.
Rowling's sister Dianne was born at their home when Rowling was 23 months old. The family moved to the nearby village Winterbourne when Rowling was four. She attended St Michael's Primary School, a school founded by abolitionist William Wilberforce and education reformer Hannah More. Her headmaster at St Michael's, Alfred Dunn, has been suggested as the inspiration for the Harry Potter headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
As a child, Rowling often wrote fantasy stories, which she would usually then read to her sister. She recalls that: "I can still remember me telling her a story in which she fell down a rabbit hole and was fed strawberries by the rabbit family inside it. Certainly the first story I ever wrote down (when I was five or six) was about a rabbit called Rabbit. He got the measles and was visited by his friends, including a giant bee called Miss Bee." At the age of nine, Rowling moved to Church Cottage in the Gloucestershire village of Tutshill, close to Chepstow, Wales. When she was a young teenager, her great aunt, who Rowling said "taught classics and approved of a thirst for knowledge, even of a questionable kind," gave her a very old copy of Jessica Mitford's autobiography, Hons and Rebels. Mitford became Rowling's heroine, and Rowling subsequently read all of her books.
Rowling has said of her teenage years, in an interview with The New Yorker, "I wasn’t particularly happy. I think it’s a dreadful time of life." She had a difficult homelife; her mother was ill and she had a difficult relationship with her father (she is no longer on speaking terms with him). She attended secondary school at Wyedean School and College, where her mother had worked as a technician in the science department. Rowling said of her adolescence, "Hermione [a bookish, know-it-all Harry Potter character] is loosely based on me. She's a caricature of me when I was eleven, which I'm not particularly proud of." Steve Eddy, who taught Rowling English when she first arrived, remembers her as "not exceptional" but "one of a group of girls who were bright, and quite good at English." Sean Harris, her best friend in the Upper Sixth owned a turquoise Ford Anglia, which she says inspired the one in her books.
NOTE: There is more than one author with this name on Goodreads.
Rowling was born to Anne Rowling (née Volant) and Peter James Rowling, a Rolls-Royce aircraft engineer, on 31 July 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, England, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Bristol. Her mother Anne was half-French and half-Scottish. Her parents first met on a train departing from King's Cross Station bound for Arbroath in 1964. They married on 14 March 1965. Her mother's maternal grandfather, Dugald Campbell, was born in Lamlash on the Isle of Arran. Her mother's paternal grandfather, Louis Volant, was awarded the Croix de Guerre for exceptional bravery in defending the village of Courcelles-le-Comte during the First World War.
Rowling's sister Dianne was born at their home when Rowling was 23 months old. The family moved to the nearby village Winterbourne when Rowling was four. She attended St Michael's Primary School, a school founded by abolitionist William Wilberforce and education reformer Hannah More. Her headmaster at St Michael's, Alfred Dunn, has been suggested as the inspiration for the Harry Potter headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
As a child, Rowling often wrote fantasy stories, which she would usually then read to her sister. She recalls that: "I can still remember me telling her a story in which she fell down a rabbit hole and was fed strawberries by the rabbit family inside it. Certainly the first story I ever wrote down (when I was five or six) was about a rabbit called Rabbit. He got the measles and was visited by his friends, including a giant bee called Miss Bee." At the age of nine, Rowling moved to Church Cottage in the Gloucestershire village of Tutshill, close to Chepstow, Wales. When she was a young teenager, her great aunt, who Rowling said "taught classics and approved of a thirst for knowledge, even of a questionable kind," gave her a very old copy of Jessica Mitford's autobiography, Hons and Rebels. Mitford became Rowling's heroine, and Rowling subsequently read all of her books.
Rowling has said of her teenage years, in an interview with The New Yorker, "I wasn’t particularly happy. I think it’s a dreadful time of life." She had a difficult homelife; her mother was ill and she had a difficult relationship with her father (she is no longer on speaking terms with him). She attended secondary school at Wyedean School and College, where her mother had worked as a technician in the science department. Rowling said of her adolescence, "Hermione [a bookish, know-it-all Harry Potter character] is loosely based on me. She's a caricature of me when I was eleven, which I'm not particularly proud of." Steve Eddy, who taught Rowling English when she first arrived, remembers her as "not exceptional" but "one of a group of girls who were bright, and quite good at English." Sean Harris, her best friend in the Upper Sixth owned a turquoise Ford Anglia, which she says inspired the one in her books.
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Currently reading
September 4, 2025Finally! I've no patience for cliffhangers.
I demand resolution!!!
*Check out progress updates for detailed commentary:
Review to come...
I demand resolution!!!
*Check out progress updates for detailed commentary:
Review to come...
Read
November 19, 2024Why do people rate books and write reviews when the book isn't even released yet?????
Currently reading
September 2, 2025Finally, the long awaited day every few years when I find my Cormoran Strike pre-order waiting for me in my kindle/audible app. I am dropping everything to read this now, see you at the other end of the 900 pages.
March 23, 2024
Wow, that TITLE....just amazing...a few chapters set in SARK and with an explosive ending at the end of book #7, no prizes for guessing the sky-rocket expectations!
Saving it with 5 stars🤞🤞🤞
Saving it with 5 stars🤞🤞🤞
Want to read
February 4, 2025I have never preordered a book so quickly, I am SO ready to continue this story. Easily my favourite crime series of all time.
July 24, 2025
Terfs get 1 star
September 3, 2025
I don't even know what to think, I'm too dead after waiting in suspense for my book to come, reading like a crazy person once it did come, barely sleeping for thinking of what might happen, and then finally finishing it in one crazy burst that ended with lots of crying because oh my GOSH THE ENDING. How am I going to survive till the next book comes out???????????
September 5, 2025
3.75 stars because of my Robin-centred frustration; the curse of the even-numbered Cormoran Strike series hits again.
I don't know how or why but my book arrived today, one I had pre-ordered months ago. HAPPY LABOUR DAY WEEKEND TO ME. After everything in the past few months, this alone seemed proof that God existed.
And I loved the book, really; I sat and read it for 8.5 hours straight.
But JKR, how could you do a girl dirty like that? Robin is a character who is close to my own heart because she speaks the same anxiety-language that I do. Robin is a strong-ass woman who does tend to go down the path of least resistance, a character trait that's not great at the best of times. But this is beyond absurd. The way that Robin comes off in this book is totally antithetical to who she is.
SPOILERS BELOW. DO NOT READ ON.
The shit that she puts up with? The *not mentioning the whole "Charlotte knew I was in love with you"* thing? Knowing she doesn't love Murphy but just sticking along with him? Discovering that he's been lying to her and is drinking again and just ... sticks it out? Describes herself as being "shackled" to Murphy and just keeps going?
There's literally not a fucking chance in hell.
Robin might go down the path of least resistance but she is too strong for this; and it's hardly like she needs a different option. She loved her solitude. She just *agrees to move in with him*? WHAT?
It feels like she's just doing all this stuff to avoid an argument or avoid conflict, as opposed to because she really wants it.
I know that we want to draw the whole R&C thing out, but even I think that this is absolutely ridiculous. I love you JKR. But Robin deserved better.
This book fundamentally feels like its entire purpose it to set up multiple story lines for an explosive book 9. And while I look forward to said explosiveness, it feels like this was 800 pages of filler.
AND HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO TED WITHOUT MORE THAN A PAGE.
THEORIES BELOW:
- JKR is obviously setting this up for a showdown at the Ritz (or something very close to it); I've no doubt that Robin says no, and it comes out that she's confused about her feelings; there will be some sort of association between the evening she spent with Strike at the Ritz and the discomfort, fear and anxiety she feels about the impending engagement
- Shit is going to hit the fan between Strike and Murphy
- Strike getting in trouble with the law and being arrested this book is obviously going to happen in a more major way next time; I suspect it will have to do with Bijou. She turns up dead, and Murphy (because of Robin's lies) still thinks that she was with Cormoran. And because of his general vindictiveness, he goes after him.
- It's going to be Murphy v. Strike
I don't know how or why but my book arrived today, one I had pre-ordered months ago. HAPPY LABOUR DAY WEEKEND TO ME. After everything in the past few months, this alone seemed proof that God existed.
And I loved the book, really; I sat and read it for 8.5 hours straight.
But JKR, how could you do a girl dirty like that? Robin is a character who is close to my own heart because she speaks the same anxiety-language that I do. Robin is a strong-ass woman who does tend to go down the path of least resistance, a character trait that's not great at the best of times. But this is beyond absurd. The way that Robin comes off in this book is totally antithetical to who she is.
SPOILERS BELOW. DO NOT READ ON.
The shit that she puts up with? The *not mentioning the whole "Charlotte knew I was in love with you"* thing? Knowing she doesn't love Murphy but just sticking along with him? Discovering that he's been lying to her and is drinking again and just ... sticks it out? Describes herself as being "shackled" to Murphy and just keeps going?
There's literally not a fucking chance in hell.
Robin might go down the path of least resistance but she is too strong for this; and it's hardly like she needs a different option. She loved her solitude. She just *agrees to move in with him*? WHAT?
It feels like she's just doing all this stuff to avoid an argument or avoid conflict, as opposed to because she really wants it.
I know that we want to draw the whole R&C thing out, but even I think that this is absolutely ridiculous. I love you JKR. But Robin deserved better.
This book fundamentally feels like its entire purpose it to set up multiple story lines for an explosive book 9. And while I look forward to said explosiveness, it feels like this was 800 pages of filler.
AND HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO TED WITHOUT MORE THAN A PAGE.
THEORIES BELOW:
- JKR is obviously setting this up for a showdown at the Ritz (or something very close to it); I've no doubt that Robin says no, and it comes out that she's confused about her feelings; there will be some sort of association between the evening she spent with Strike at the Ritz and the discomfort, fear and anxiety she feels about the impending engagement
- Shit is going to hit the fan between Strike and Murphy
- Strike getting in trouble with the law and being arrested this book is obviously going to happen in a more major way next time; I suspect it will have to do with Bijou. She turns up dead, and Murphy (because of Robin's lies) still thinks that she was with Cormoran. And because of his general vindictiveness, he goes after him.
- It's going to be Murphy v. Strike
May 7, 2025
not yet published don’t care one star
September 1, 2025
20/10 Galbraith does it again! This was a wild and absolutely brilliant roller coaster ride from the jump. If you think you are going to solve this one, you are wrong! Just enjoy the ride! A body is found mutilated inside a Masonic silver vault and our favorite detective duo have been hired by a distraught mother to prove that the body belongs to her partner/baby’s father. In addition to the case, things in the agency are akin to a pressure cooker. A declaration still hangs, feelings are unanalyzed and unsaid, bad press hits, rivalry with the Met, sabotage from within, and a race against time on more than one front confront the partners. Will they/ won’t they? Now or never? This book is definitely a crucible and a breaking point for Strike & Robin!
#TheHallmarkedMan
#Strike #Strellacott
#RobertGalbraith
#TheHallmarkedMan
#Strike #Strellacott
#RobertGalbraith
September 3, 2025
As someone who has followed Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott's partnership from the very beginning—long before J.K. Rowling revealed herself as Robert Galbraith in that memorable 2013 The Sunday Times exposé—I can confidently say that The Hallmarked Man represents both a triumphant return to the series' investigative roots and its most emotionally complex entry yet. This eighth installment doesn't merely solve a mystery; it excavates the human cost of secrets, lies, and the desperate lengths people go to protect those they love.
The Intricate Web of Mystery
The novel opens with Decima Mullins, a restaurant owner desperate to prove that the dismembered corpse found in a London silver shop vault belongs to her missing boyfriend, Rupert Fleetwood—the father of her newborn son. What initially appears to be a straightforward case of mistaken identity evolves into something far more sinister and complex. The police believe the body belongs to Jason Knowles, a convicted armed robber, but Decima's unshakeable conviction that her partner met a violent end sets Strike and Robin on a path that will uncover a trafficking ring, multiple murders, and a conspiracy that reaches into the darkest corners of human exploitation.
Galbraith's plotting in The Hallmarked Man showcases the author's masterful understanding of misdirection. The masonic silver shop setting—positioned tantalizingly close to Freemasons' Hall—initially suggests ritualistic murder and conspiracy theories that proliferate through the early chapters. However, this proves to be elaborate window dressing for a far more prosaic yet devastating truth: the systematic trafficking and abuse of vulnerable young women by powerful men who believe themselves untouchable.
The revelation that the corpse belongs to Tyler Powell, a young mechanic from Ironbridge who fell in love with Jolanda (a trafficked Belgian woman forced into prostitution under the name "Chloe"), transforms the narrative from puzzle to tragedy. Powell's attempt to rescue Jolanda by infiltrating the trafficking network through his work at Ramsay Silver demonstrates both his courage and naivety—qualities that ultimately cost him his life.
Character Development and Emotional Resonance
Strike and Robin's Evolving Dynamic
Eight books in, the relationship between Strike and Robin has reached a fascinating inflection point. Robin's engagement to police officer Ryan Murphy creates a tension that permeates every interaction, while Strike's growing awareness of his feelings adds layers of complexity to their professional partnership. Galbraith handles this emotional subplot with remarkable restraint, allowing the romantic tension to simmer beneath the surface without overwhelming the investigative narrative.
Strike's protective instincts toward Robin intensify throughout the case, particularly after receiving anonymous warnings about their investigation. His insistence on taking precautions reveals not just professional caution but deep personal investment in Robin's safety. Meanwhile, Robin's internal struggle between her commitment to Murphy and her undeniable connection to Strike provides some of the novel's most compelling psychological drama.
Decima Mullins: A Portrait of Maternal Desperation
Decima emerges as one of the series' most tragic client figures. Her unwavering belief that Rupert is dead stems not from evidence but from a mother's need to give her son a clear narrative about his father. The revelation that Rupert is actually her half-brother—a family secret that destroyed their relationship—adds devastating complexity to her situation. Galbraith explores themes of family dysfunction, genetic luck, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive impossible circumstances.
Social Commentary and Thematic Depth
The Hallmarked Man continues the series' tradition of addressing contemporary social issues through the lens of crime fiction. The trafficking subplot exposes the vulnerability of young women in the care system, while the masonic conspiracy theories reflect society's tendency to find elaborate explanations for mundane evil. The novel suggests that real conspiracies—the systematic abuse of power by wealthy, connected men—often hide in plain sight, requiring no secret handshakes or ritual daggers.
The exploration of class dynamics remains sharp throughout. Tyler Powell's working-class background makes him an easy target for both the traffickers and the police, while Jolanda's status as an undocumented immigrant renders her virtually invisible to authorities. These social realities drive the plot more effectively than any supernatural conspiracy.
Technical Excellence and Writing Quality
Galbraith's prose in The Hallmarked Man demonstrates the mature confidence of an author fully in command of her craft. The pacing balances investigative procedure with character development, while the dialogue captures distinct voices for each character. The author's research into masonic symbolism, trafficking networks, and police procedures provides authentic detail without becoming overwhelming.
The novel's structure, divided into multiple parts that follow different investigative threads, allows for complex plotting while maintaining narrative momentum. Galbraith particularly excels at the gradual revelation of information, ensuring readers piece together clues alongside the detectives without ever feeling manipulated or confused.
Minor Criticisms and Areas for Improvement
While The Hallmarked Man succeeds on multiple levels, it occasionally suffers from pacing issues in its middle sections. Some investigative threads—particularly those involving Strike's surveillance of the cricketer's ex-wife—feel tangential to the main narrative. Additionally, certain supporting characters, while well-drawn, don't receive sufficient development to justify their prominent roles in the plotting.
The resolution, while emotionally satisfying, relies heavily on coincidence and the convenience of key characters being present at crucial moments. More rigorous plotting could have strengthened these climactic scenes without sacrificing their emotional impact.
Literary Merit and Genre Excellence
The Hallmarked Man demonstrates why the Strike series has transcended typical crime fiction to become literature worth serious critical attention. Galbraith's exploration of trauma, class, and human connection provides substance beyond the mystery solving, while her technical skill in plotting and character development rivals the genre's finest practitioners.
The novel's treatment of trafficking and sexual violence shows remarkable sensitivity, avoiding exploitation while not minimizing the horror of these crimes. This balance between social responsibility and narrative effectiveness exemplifies crime fiction at its most mature and thoughtful.
Final Verdict
The Hallmarked Man represents Robert Galbraith at the height of her powers as a crime writer. The novel successfully balances multiple complex plotlines while delivering genuine emotional resonance through its character development. Most importantly, it respects both its characters and readers by refusing to offer easy answers to difficult questions about justice, love, and moral responsibility.
For long-time series followers, this installment provides both the investigative satisfaction we've come to expect and meaningful development in Strike and Robin's relationship. For newcomers, it offers an accessible entry point into one of contemporary crime fiction's most sophisticated ongoing narratives.
The novel confirms that eight books in, the Strike series remains vital, relevant, and emotionally engaging—a rare achievement in any long-running series. While not perfect, The Hallmarked Man stands as a worthy addition to what has become one of the most important crime fiction series of the 21st century.
The questions it raises about justice, love, and the price of truth will linger long after the final page, marking it as both an excellent mystery and a meaningful exploration of contemporary social issues. In a genre often content with surface-level thrills, Galbraith continues to demand more of both herself and her readers—and consistently delivers work worthy of that ambition.
The Intricate Web of Mystery
The novel opens with Decima Mullins, a restaurant owner desperate to prove that the dismembered corpse found in a London silver shop vault belongs to her missing boyfriend, Rupert Fleetwood—the father of her newborn son. What initially appears to be a straightforward case of mistaken identity evolves into something far more sinister and complex. The police believe the body belongs to Jason Knowles, a convicted armed robber, but Decima's unshakeable conviction that her partner met a violent end sets Strike and Robin on a path that will uncover a trafficking ring, multiple murders, and a conspiracy that reaches into the darkest corners of human exploitation.
Galbraith's plotting in The Hallmarked Man showcases the author's masterful understanding of misdirection. The masonic silver shop setting—positioned tantalizingly close to Freemasons' Hall—initially suggests ritualistic murder and conspiracy theories that proliferate through the early chapters. However, this proves to be elaborate window dressing for a far more prosaic yet devastating truth: the systematic trafficking and abuse of vulnerable young women by powerful men who believe themselves untouchable.
The revelation that the corpse belongs to Tyler Powell, a young mechanic from Ironbridge who fell in love with Jolanda (a trafficked Belgian woman forced into prostitution under the name "Chloe"), transforms the narrative from puzzle to tragedy. Powell's attempt to rescue Jolanda by infiltrating the trafficking network through his work at Ramsay Silver demonstrates both his courage and naivety—qualities that ultimately cost him his life.
Character Development and Emotional Resonance
Strike and Robin's Evolving Dynamic
Eight books in, the relationship between Strike and Robin has reached a fascinating inflection point. Robin's engagement to police officer Ryan Murphy creates a tension that permeates every interaction, while Strike's growing awareness of his feelings adds layers of complexity to their professional partnership. Galbraith handles this emotional subplot with remarkable restraint, allowing the romantic tension to simmer beneath the surface without overwhelming the investigative narrative.
Strike's protective instincts toward Robin intensify throughout the case, particularly after receiving anonymous warnings about their investigation. His insistence on taking precautions reveals not just professional caution but deep personal investment in Robin's safety. Meanwhile, Robin's internal struggle between her commitment to Murphy and her undeniable connection to Strike provides some of the novel's most compelling psychological drama.
Decima Mullins: A Portrait of Maternal Desperation
Decima emerges as one of the series' most tragic client figures. Her unwavering belief that Rupert is dead stems not from evidence but from a mother's need to give her son a clear narrative about his father. The revelation that Rupert is actually her half-brother—a family secret that destroyed their relationship—adds devastating complexity to her situation. Galbraith explores themes of family dysfunction, genetic luck, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive impossible circumstances.
Social Commentary and Thematic Depth
The Hallmarked Man continues the series' tradition of addressing contemporary social issues through the lens of crime fiction. The trafficking subplot exposes the vulnerability of young women in the care system, while the masonic conspiracy theories reflect society's tendency to find elaborate explanations for mundane evil. The novel suggests that real conspiracies—the systematic abuse of power by wealthy, connected men—often hide in plain sight, requiring no secret handshakes or ritual daggers.
The exploration of class dynamics remains sharp throughout. Tyler Powell's working-class background makes him an easy target for both the traffickers and the police, while Jolanda's status as an undocumented immigrant renders her virtually invisible to authorities. These social realities drive the plot more effectively than any supernatural conspiracy.
Technical Excellence and Writing Quality
Galbraith's prose in The Hallmarked Man demonstrates the mature confidence of an author fully in command of her craft. The pacing balances investigative procedure with character development, while the dialogue captures distinct voices for each character. The author's research into masonic symbolism, trafficking networks, and police procedures provides authentic detail without becoming overwhelming.
The novel's structure, divided into multiple parts that follow different investigative threads, allows for complex plotting while maintaining narrative momentum. Galbraith particularly excels at the gradual revelation of information, ensuring readers piece together clues alongside the detectives without ever feeling manipulated or confused.
Minor Criticisms and Areas for Improvement
While The Hallmarked Man succeeds on multiple levels, it occasionally suffers from pacing issues in its middle sections. Some investigative threads—particularly those involving Strike's surveillance of the cricketer's ex-wife—feel tangential to the main narrative. Additionally, certain supporting characters, while well-drawn, don't receive sufficient development to justify their prominent roles in the plotting.
The resolution, while emotionally satisfying, relies heavily on coincidence and the convenience of key characters being present at crucial moments. More rigorous plotting could have strengthened these climactic scenes without sacrificing their emotional impact.
Literary Merit and Genre Excellence
The Hallmarked Man demonstrates why the Strike series has transcended typical crime fiction to become literature worth serious critical attention. Galbraith's exploration of trauma, class, and human connection provides substance beyond the mystery solving, while her technical skill in plotting and character development rivals the genre's finest practitioners.
The novel's treatment of trafficking and sexual violence shows remarkable sensitivity, avoiding exploitation while not minimizing the horror of these crimes. This balance between social responsibility and narrative effectiveness exemplifies crime fiction at its most mature and thoughtful.
Final Verdict
The Hallmarked Man represents Robert Galbraith at the height of her powers as a crime writer. The novel successfully balances multiple complex plotlines while delivering genuine emotional resonance through its character development. Most importantly, it respects both its characters and readers by refusing to offer easy answers to difficult questions about justice, love, and moral responsibility.
For long-time series followers, this installment provides both the investigative satisfaction we've come to expect and meaningful development in Strike and Robin's relationship. For newcomers, it offers an accessible entry point into one of contemporary crime fiction's most sophisticated ongoing narratives.
The novel confirms that eight books in, the Strike series remains vital, relevant, and emotionally engaging—a rare achievement in any long-running series. While not perfect, The Hallmarked Man stands as a worthy addition to what has become one of the most important crime fiction series of the 21st century.
The questions it raises about justice, love, and the price of truth will linger long after the final page, marking it as both an excellent mystery and a meaningful exploration of contemporary social issues. In a genre often content with surface-level thrills, Galbraith continues to demand more of both herself and her readers—and consistently delivers work worthy of that ambition.
September 3, 2025
I NEED to talk about this book! I've just binge read the Hallmarked Man in 2 days. I booked time off work and warned my family I'd be holed up in my room devouring this book.
If you've read it you'll know that the first few chapters really set the tone for this installment. I feel like my guts have been twisted up and yanked repeatedly with each of the many MANY monumental developments/losses/setbacks/revelations. I don't think I've ever felt so much stress and anxiety reading a book. I wept when I read about Ted passing away. It also felt like such a small blip after Joan's prolong battled in Troubled Blood. Ted was just gone and Strike still seemed to dwell more on Charlotte ( I am so tired of reading page after page of repetition about how toxic she was).
The mystery was complex, and I felt like it was extremely messy but expertly done. I just kept thinking, "Why?!" right until the end. I found it difficult to really connect with Decima. Usually I feel as invested in the clients desire for answers as the partners do, but I suppose the whole case is skewed by Strike's alterior motives in taking the case. Robin and Strike start off only mildly intrigued by the actual mystery and only get more invested the more people warm them off. Natural I suppose for Strike in particular to have heightened interest once he's been told to butt out of it but I found as a reader I didn't start to really care who was in the vault until half way through the book. As always the conclusion connected all the dots and by the time answered were given I was deeply invested in each 'Wright'. Brilliant.
Annnndd then we come to the relationship of those two absolutely infuriating detectives! Arghhh!! The emotional bloody rollercoaster ride this book is left me crying, raging, crying again and squealing. Poor Robin having her heart broken so many times by Strike and he doesn't even know it's happening! I am of the opinion that the partners won't truly be together until the last book, #10. Strike has a long way to go to convince Robin he really does "want her permanently". I want them to be together but it seems still like such a far off prospect. I'm sad that Ryan lapsed and that's the driving factor in Robin and his relationship issues. I hoped Robin would own up to not being ready for what Ryan wants rather than have their not buying a place together be due to Ryan's drinking.
I was SHOOK that Strike went to Rokeby. Reading that chapter was difficult due to the tears in my eyes. That he apologized. That he was honest with Strike about his regrets a what went on with Leda. I was so so so happy to have this happen.
I'm still trying to return to reality.
If you've read it you'll know that the first few chapters really set the tone for this installment. I feel like my guts have been twisted up and yanked repeatedly with each of the many MANY monumental developments/losses/setbacks/revelations. I don't think I've ever felt so much stress and anxiety reading a book. I wept when I read about Ted passing away. It also felt like such a small blip after Joan's prolong battled in Troubled Blood. Ted was just gone and Strike still seemed to dwell more on Charlotte ( I am so tired of reading page after page of repetition about how toxic she was).
The mystery was complex, and I felt like it was extremely messy but expertly done. I just kept thinking, "Why?!" right until the end. I found it difficult to really connect with Decima. Usually I feel as invested in the clients desire for answers as the partners do, but I suppose the whole case is skewed by Strike's alterior motives in taking the case. Robin and Strike start off only mildly intrigued by the actual mystery and only get more invested the more people warm them off. Natural I suppose for Strike in particular to have heightened interest once he's been told to butt out of it but I found as a reader I didn't start to really care who was in the vault until half way through the book. As always the conclusion connected all the dots and by the time answered were given I was deeply invested in each 'Wright'. Brilliant.
Annnndd then we come to the relationship of those two absolutely infuriating detectives! Arghhh!! The emotional bloody rollercoaster ride this book is left me crying, raging, crying again and squealing. Poor Robin having her heart broken so many times by Strike and he doesn't even know it's happening! I am of the opinion that the partners won't truly be together until the last book, #10. Strike has a long way to go to convince Robin he really does "want her permanently". I want them to be together but it seems still like such a far off prospect. I'm sad that Ryan lapsed and that's the driving factor in Robin and his relationship issues. I hoped Robin would own up to not being ready for what Ryan wants rather than have their not buying a place together be due to Ryan's drinking.
I was SHOOK that Strike went to Rokeby. Reading that chapter was difficult due to the tears in my eyes. That he apologized. That he was honest with Strike about his regrets a what went on with Leda. I was so so so happy to have this happen.
I'm still trying to return to reality.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
November 12, 2024How can 15 people be reading when it's not even out yet!
Want to read
September 30, 2024Can anyone guess when the book will be released? this becomes torture on so many levels
September 4, 2025
I think this series is at a loss. The mystery was buried by the repetitive scenes with the same old drama, the two MCs refusing to divulge their feelings but remaining jealous and petty. This could’ve been 500 pages if we just cut down the personal drama to one scene of each trope (it’s to the point where these scenes are tropes of the series). It’s so much filler. What do you have to gain by making your book 1000 pages long when you have nothing new to say?
Once again, it’s Robin getting deeper into a toxic relationship with someone she doesn’t want to be with, continuously putting herself in danger, keeping secrets… it’s just gotten really tired and totally overshadowed the actual investigation. Sacrificing a respectful portrayal of your main female character to create bogus conflict always pisses me off. And there are no other redeeming depictions of women in this series.
And you know the mystery is always so convoluted with so many characters with relationships between them to keep track of, it all got so bogged down by this extremely non-romantic subplot.
Once again, it’s Robin getting deeper into a toxic relationship with someone she doesn’t want to be with, continuously putting herself in danger, keeping secrets… it’s just gotten really tired and totally overshadowed the actual investigation. Sacrificing a respectful portrayal of your main female character to create bogus conflict always pisses me off. And there are no other redeeming depictions of women in this series.
And you know the mystery is always so convoluted with so many characters with relationships between them to keep track of, it all got so bogged down by this extremely non-romantic subplot.
Currently reading
September 4, 2025#cormoranxrobin FOREVER AND EVER!
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FREAKING FINALLY! Can't wait to get started.
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FREAKING FINALLY! Can't wait to get started.
Want to read
November 28, 2024I can’t wait to read this book! Don’t know when it’s coming or what’s the plot of this part but I need to read more stories about my fav detectives Cormoran and Robin asap!
September 5, 2025
I’m really torn on this. I want to start this whole thing by making it clear that I have been a huge fan of the Strike/Robin series and I am reviewing this from that perspective. I’m a fan. I like it better than Harry Potter, and I’ve been waiting for The Hallmarked Man with bated breath. I’ve liked every previous book in the series, with #5 (Troubled Blood) being one of the best books I’ve ever read.
To say that The Hallmarked Man has let me down would be an understatement. Right from the moment I unpacked the box and saw the incredibly cheap, thin quality of the paper, this has been nothing but deflation.
I just don’t enjoy this book. There is some good writing, as always, and some interesting developments and scenes (it isn't a total loss) but...900 pages is a major commitment to make to any story, and you should probably feel some level of passion for the book to stick it out for that long. I like long books. I’ve always enjoyed the length of the books in the Strike series—I think it is a unique signature of this particular series and a great way to experience deeper, more complex mysteries and more in-depth character study than you usually get in detective fiction. This is the first time I genuinely think that this book is too long.
We’ve got two major threads in any Strike book. Let’s look at them separately:
The Mystery
First, we have the main case in this book. Rowling has always been a great crafter of mysteries and the cases in most of the previous books are interesting, complex, twisty and full of original and fascinating characters. My absolute favorite part of the Strike series has always been the interviews. I love watching Strike and Robin interview suspects and witnesses and seeing how they glean information. Rowling is a master of bringing people to life in just a short scene.
The main case in The Hallmarked Man is needlessly convoluted and difficult to follow. The cast of suspects and related parties is legion and it’s very hard to keep track of who everyone is in relation to everyone else without literally taking notes while reading. I found the inciting “we’ll take the case” bit of the story to be underwhelming. Strike is incredibly judgmental of Decima, the woman who hires them to identify the body of a man found dead in a silver vault. He doesn’t like her at all, and has no personal stake or interest in the mystery. In the other books, it’s been more than idle curiosity that has driven things, especially as it gets going.
From there, we get introduced to a succession of possibilities for who the dead man could be and each one of them is pretty underdeveloped, with their own set of supporting characters who are both hard to keep straight and lacking in intrigue. There are lots of details and diversions and dead ends, with all kinds of things thrown in such as the Freemasons, the Isle of Sark, silver grading, the pornography industry, Charlotte’s aristocratic family, MI5…it’s a lot.
In short, I found the main case both confusing and boring. I was simply not invested in it, and this is after the incredibly compelling and emotional investigations in Troubled Blood, The Running Grave, The Cuckoo’s Calling, etc. Those books had victims you felt compassion for and wanted to see get justice. We barely get to know anyone involved in the case in this book. It is just detail piled on top of detail on top of detail.
There are also the minor agency subplots we always get in the books, to see the other work they are doing at the time. I thought the nature of Plug’s crimes was pretty obvious from the get-go, so that didn’t interest me. And the entire Kim subplot was one huge and annoying cliché—a female worker who flirts outrageously with Strike and disrespects Robin continually.
I am glad to see Wardle, a strong supporting character since book one, join the agency. But there simply wasn’t enough Barclay and Pat in this book.
The Personal Life Stuff
One of the hallmarks (yuck yuck) of this series has always been the way it balances the personal lives of the characters with the mysteries. That balance has always been just about right for me in the past, with a good mix of investigation and the interpersonal drama (families, trauma, health and, of course, the continual slow burn simmering tension between Strike and Robin).
The balance was off in The Hallmarked Man. I think part of the reason I had such a hard time connecting with the case, apart from it being convoluted, was the fact that the book kept abandoning the mystery in favor of a LOT of endless internal dialogue and dithering from both Strike and Robin about their feelings towards each other. While I’ve been a shipper in the past, wanting these two to end up together, I’m not so sure anymore. A lot of this book honestly felt soapy.
Strike wants to find the perfect moment to tell Robin how he feels but, of course, he gets interrupted over and over again. He won’t just speak up. His preoccupation with Robin actually impacts his work in this book, making him a worse detective. Robin is worse. In fact, Robin is the worst part of this book and my biggest disappointment of all. I love this character. She has long been one of my absolute favorites. I barely even tolerated her in this book. She’s always been flawed, and that’s part of what makes her human and interesting, but rather than grow in this book (as Strike has done in the last few volumes), Robin backslides. She gives in to all of her worst impulses. Her lying and secret keeping. Her inability to be honest with herself about how she feels. That one especially drives me nuts. She knows she loves Strike. She knows she doesn’t love Murphy. But she actively works to ignore and question both of those truths.
I don’t even like Murphy (he is Matthew 2.0 with the constant questioning of her job and Strike) but she treats him *horribly* in this book. Her behavior is selfish. She’s stringing him along, even though she knows he wants children and that she doesn’t want to have children with him (not that she’ll admit it to herself). She refuses to act and has mired herself again in exactly the same situation she was in with Matthew. And then she gets mad at Strike for not saying anything! Girl, you have a voice too. She also thinks the worst of Strike at times. He would be heartbroken to know that, even for a moment, she thought he might have been abusive towards Charlotte. Her fears have made her not very nice to other people. Thank goodness she is going to therapy. She needs to work on all of this very badly.
And ugh. I continue to loathe Charlotte who isn’t even alive anymore and we STILL have to deal with her drama and hear all over again about her terrible behavior and sick relationship with Strike. It’s just like the saga of Strike’s mother and father. I’m over it. I no longer care. If one of the last two books features Leda Strike’s death as the main mystery, I have literally no interest in that.
This book is so long in large part because of so much repetitive miscommunication, misunderstanding and angsty bs from both Strike and Robin. Just. Talk. To. Each. Other. There is slow burn and then there is simply dragging it out and tormenting your readers, long past the point of it being entertaining any longer. I’m not sure I even think they belong together anymore. Their relationship has become unhealthy and destructive. Everyone is miserable for most of this book, and that made me miserable to read.
Other things:
- Two multi-book minor supporting characters die at the beginning of this novel and I thought they both deserved more than a few sentences before the narrative moved on.
- I never wanted to hear from Bijou Watkins again. Guess who returns?
- I’m with Lucy about Strike’s favoritism towards his nephew Jack. It stinks. I get that Luke is a little shit, but what has Adam, the youngest, ever done to Strike? He literally only gets Jack a Christmas present and gives the other two vouchers.
- I don’t know if this has been the case in the past, but I really noticed while reading this book how much everyone drinks all the time. It’s booze all the time for everybody.
I’m sad, honestly. I’ve been looking forward to this for months but I just didn’t like it at all. And it ends on another cliffhanger, of course, but I’m not sure I even care anymore! Hard to believe, considering how much I’ve loved this series for so long.
To say that The Hallmarked Man has let me down would be an understatement. Right from the moment I unpacked the box and saw the incredibly cheap, thin quality of the paper, this has been nothing but deflation.
I just don’t enjoy this book. There is some good writing, as always, and some interesting developments and scenes (it isn't a total loss) but...900 pages is a major commitment to make to any story, and you should probably feel some level of passion for the book to stick it out for that long. I like long books. I’ve always enjoyed the length of the books in the Strike series—I think it is a unique signature of this particular series and a great way to experience deeper, more complex mysteries and more in-depth character study than you usually get in detective fiction. This is the first time I genuinely think that this book is too long.
We’ve got two major threads in any Strike book. Let’s look at them separately:
The Mystery
First, we have the main case in this book. Rowling has always been a great crafter of mysteries and the cases in most of the previous books are interesting, complex, twisty and full of original and fascinating characters. My absolute favorite part of the Strike series has always been the interviews. I love watching Strike and Robin interview suspects and witnesses and seeing how they glean information. Rowling is a master of bringing people to life in just a short scene.
The main case in The Hallmarked Man is needlessly convoluted and difficult to follow. The cast of suspects and related parties is legion and it’s very hard to keep track of who everyone is in relation to everyone else without literally taking notes while reading. I found the inciting “we’ll take the case” bit of the story to be underwhelming. Strike is incredibly judgmental of Decima, the woman who hires them to identify the body of a man found dead in a silver vault. He doesn’t like her at all, and has no personal stake or interest in the mystery. In the other books, it’s been more than idle curiosity that has driven things, especially as it gets going.
From there, we get introduced to a succession of possibilities for who the dead man could be and each one of them is pretty underdeveloped, with their own set of supporting characters who are both hard to keep straight and lacking in intrigue. There are lots of details and diversions and dead ends, with all kinds of things thrown in such as the Freemasons, the Isle of Sark, silver grading, the pornography industry, Charlotte’s aristocratic family, MI5…it’s a lot.
In short, I found the main case both confusing and boring. I was simply not invested in it, and this is after the incredibly compelling and emotional investigations in Troubled Blood, The Running Grave, The Cuckoo’s Calling, etc. Those books had victims you felt compassion for and wanted to see get justice. We barely get to know anyone involved in the case in this book. It is just detail piled on top of detail on top of detail.
There are also the minor agency subplots we always get in the books, to see the other work they are doing at the time. I thought the nature of Plug’s crimes was pretty obvious from the get-go, so that didn’t interest me. And the entire Kim subplot was one huge and annoying cliché—a female worker who flirts outrageously with Strike and disrespects Robin continually.
I am glad to see Wardle, a strong supporting character since book one, join the agency. But there simply wasn’t enough Barclay and Pat in this book.
The Personal Life Stuff
One of the hallmarks (yuck yuck) of this series has always been the way it balances the personal lives of the characters with the mysteries. That balance has always been just about right for me in the past, with a good mix of investigation and the interpersonal drama (families, trauma, health and, of course, the continual slow burn simmering tension between Strike and Robin).
The balance was off in The Hallmarked Man. I think part of the reason I had such a hard time connecting with the case, apart from it being convoluted, was the fact that the book kept abandoning the mystery in favor of a LOT of endless internal dialogue and dithering from both Strike and Robin about their feelings towards each other. While I’ve been a shipper in the past, wanting these two to end up together, I’m not so sure anymore. A lot of this book honestly felt soapy.
Strike wants to find the perfect moment to tell Robin how he feels but, of course, he gets interrupted over and over again. He won’t just speak up. His preoccupation with Robin actually impacts his work in this book, making him a worse detective. Robin is worse. In fact, Robin is the worst part of this book and my biggest disappointment of all. I love this character. She has long been one of my absolute favorites. I barely even tolerated her in this book. She’s always been flawed, and that’s part of what makes her human and interesting, but rather than grow in this book (as Strike has done in the last few volumes), Robin backslides. She gives in to all of her worst impulses. Her lying and secret keeping. Her inability to be honest with herself about how she feels. That one especially drives me nuts. She knows she loves Strike. She knows she doesn’t love Murphy. But she actively works to ignore and question both of those truths.
I don’t even like Murphy (he is Matthew 2.0 with the constant questioning of her job and Strike) but she treats him *horribly* in this book. Her behavior is selfish. She’s stringing him along, even though she knows he wants children and that she doesn’t want to have children with him (not that she’ll admit it to herself). She refuses to act and has mired herself again in exactly the same situation she was in with Matthew. And then she gets mad at Strike for not saying anything! Girl, you have a voice too. She also thinks the worst of Strike at times. He would be heartbroken to know that, even for a moment, she thought he might have been abusive towards Charlotte. Her fears have made her not very nice to other people. Thank goodness she is going to therapy. She needs to work on all of this very badly.
And ugh. I continue to loathe Charlotte who isn’t even alive anymore and we STILL have to deal with her drama and hear all over again about her terrible behavior and sick relationship with Strike. It’s just like the saga of Strike’s mother and father. I’m over it. I no longer care. If one of the last two books features Leda Strike’s death as the main mystery, I have literally no interest in that.
This book is so long in large part because of so much repetitive miscommunication, misunderstanding and angsty bs from both Strike and Robin. Just. Talk. To. Each. Other. There is slow burn and then there is simply dragging it out and tormenting your readers, long past the point of it being entertaining any longer. I’m not sure I even think they belong together anymore. Their relationship has become unhealthy and destructive. Everyone is miserable for most of this book, and that made me miserable to read.
Other things:
- Two multi-book minor supporting characters die at the beginning of this novel and I thought they both deserved more than a few sentences before the narrative moved on.
- I never wanted to hear from Bijou Watkins again. Guess who returns?
- I’m with Lucy about Strike’s favoritism towards his nephew Jack. It stinks. I get that Luke is a little shit, but what has Adam, the youngest, ever done to Strike? He literally only gets Jack a Christmas present and gives the other two vouchers.
- I don’t know if this has been the case in the past, but I really noticed while reading this book how much everyone drinks all the time. It’s booze all the time for everybody.
I’m sad, honestly. I’ve been looking forward to this for months but I just didn’t like it at all. And it ends on another cliffhanger, of course, but I’m not sure I even care anymore! Hard to believe, considering how much I’ve loved this series for so long.
September 4, 2025
Frankly quite an annoying read. The plot is unnecessarily complicated and sprawling with far too many dead ends and underdeveloped characters. The most irritating problem with it though is how repetitive it is, particularly when considering the rest of the series. A lot of the story beats are ones we’ve seen before and despite this being the 8th book in the series, the main characters somehow have barely developed whatsoever. Still making the same stupid decisions, learning nothing from their past experiences and breeding conflict between each other mostly through lack of communication and pointless secret keeping. I also found it annoying how often the characters repeat to each other events I’ve just read about - I don’t need to read all this again, it’s only like four pages back!!
The only real saving grace for me is that the book is very well written. Even during the most tedious sections of the narrative, there is still plenty of beautiful imagery and vivid world building to enjoy. I likely wouldn’t have finished the book without it, and I’m glad I used audible credits to get the audiobook instead of using my own money.
The only real saving grace for me is that the book is very well written. Even during the most tedious sections of the narrative, there is still plenty of beautiful imagery and vivid world building to enjoy. I likely wouldn’t have finished the book without it, and I’m glad I used audible credits to get the audiobook instead of using my own money.
September 3, 2025
4.5. Minus a bit for a few too many characters and a little too much recycling from previous books, but otherwise, screaming, crying, throwing up, etc. When’s the next one.
September 4, 2025
Infuriatingly convoluted case, but the central relationship keeps me reading this series against my better judgment.
June 22, 2025
5.0. Gonna be 5 stars no matter what the words!! Bring it JKR. Can’t wait to read and dissect our favorite detective duo.
September 4, 2025
I’ve never read a Strike book faster, I loved it. The crime was complicated and violent and dark, which hasn’t really been seen since Career of Evil.
I spent so much of this book just enjoying it, with side moments of fear and disgust. Plus one shocking moment when the least likely character made me tear up.
Robin really goes through it in this one, and felt the fear far more than her time at Chapman Farm, because there was always an element of safety with the agency close by, here she seemed so much more alone and at risk.
I spent so much of this book just enjoying it, with side moments of fear and disgust. Plus one shocking moment when the least likely character made me tear up.
Robin really goes through it in this one, and felt the fear far more than her time at Chapman Farm, because there was always an element of safety with the agency close by, here she seemed so much more alone and at risk.
September 4, 2025
Compelling
Another page turner in the Strike/Robin series. As the blurbs say, terrific plotting with plenty of misdirection, absorbing developments in the central characters, fascinating glimpses into the lives of people at every level of society. Long, and completely engaging. After a little rest up, may there be more. It’s great to dive into a book knowing that you’ll not be able to do much else till you finish it.
Another page turner in the Strike/Robin series. As the blurbs say, terrific plotting with plenty of misdirection, absorbing developments in the central characters, fascinating glimpses into the lives of people at every level of society. Long, and completely engaging. After a little rest up, may there be more. It’s great to dive into a book knowing that you’ll not be able to do much else till you finish it.
June 3, 2025
this is the shit my grandparents would read.. and I mean that in the worst way possible
September 4, 2025
I am a very big fan of the Cormorant Strike mysteries, and this certainly is an excellent addition to the series. The case and investigations are engaging, the narrative certainly evolves and follows interesting paths. There is so much that happens in this book. Some past grievances are resolved, the relationships between secondary characters grow and take on new importance in our main characters lives, and new additions to the agency enliven and enrich the unfolding narratives from across this series.
While it is a good book, and I read it in under 3 days, it is not as good a story as The Running Grave. I have given it four stars, rather than five, because although I enjoyed this book, parts of it feel repetitive.
Generally, it does capture the audience and keep one enthralled for the entire storyline, it is a harder story to read or connect with. I believe part of this is due to the nature of the case and the actions of the various perpetrators. When reading one cannot help but be reminded of how sick and depraved some individuals can be. While the crimes are no different than what we have read before in other books in this series, somehow the bluntness of the instruments of storytelling and world building realize it more completely in this tale. While the Cult of Daiyu, while horrifying, was somehow more fantastical, the Masons had no veneer of David Bowie’s Heroes to sparkle up this investigation.
The prevarication and indecision of our main characters became grating after a while. It may be true to life that individuals do not always make timely or good choices, a reader can understand this. However, that is only if the explanation or thoughts behind some of those choices for the reader are clearly articulated. A couple of times through this story I felt that the author was inventing obstinacy and contrivances for space rather than revealing the true source of the chasms that separate individuals. This is not something I have experienced in other books in the series, and it felt like an inconsistent characterization of our leads. I’m not saying that it was wrong to have that obfuscation, rather I do not think it was explored in a way that made sense given the historical events in the lives of the characters. I am going to assume that everyone who is reading this far into the review has read The Running Grave. What probably disappointed me most about the story was that this takes place within the year of that books conclusion, but the author does not make reference to the numerous significant challenges and traumas she placed in front of and om one of the leads in this story. I think this was a missed opportunity to provide resonance for the choices made by most of the characters.
Also, much though I love our leads, I wish we could spend a little more time with some of our subcontractors. There is a general roulette wheel feeling to their introduction and later inclusion in these stories. We have a great cast of secondary investigative characters Shaw, Midge, Barclay, and many other others, but I’ve noticed we have not grown with them beyond the book in which they are introduced. I wish we spent more time with them in addition to the amount of time we spend with Robin and Strike.
Despite the challenges in some of the things I have outlined above, I must say the bright spot of this entire book is the growth and transformation we see in Pat and Strike’s relationship. It is certainly one of my favorite parts of this entire book, I loved it so much I went and looked up the Black Oranda. I found one that could be a twin for little Cormoran.
Despite not loving this book as much as previous entrants, I end this review looking forward to the next story. I know from how this one ends, Book 9 is sure to have an explosive beginning.
While it is a good book, and I read it in under 3 days, it is not as good a story as The Running Grave. I have given it four stars, rather than five, because although I enjoyed this book, parts of it feel repetitive.
Generally, it does capture the audience and keep one enthralled for the entire storyline, it is a harder story to read or connect with. I believe part of this is due to the nature of the case and the actions of the various perpetrators. When reading one cannot help but be reminded of how sick and depraved some individuals can be. While the crimes are no different than what we have read before in other books in this series, somehow the bluntness of the instruments of storytelling and world building realize it more completely in this tale. While the Cult of Daiyu, while horrifying, was somehow more fantastical, the Masons had no veneer of David Bowie’s Heroes to sparkle up this investigation.
The prevarication and indecision of our main characters became grating after a while. It may be true to life that individuals do not always make timely or good choices, a reader can understand this. However, that is only if the explanation or thoughts behind some of those choices for the reader are clearly articulated. A couple of times through this story I felt that the author was inventing obstinacy and contrivances for space rather than revealing the true source of the chasms that separate individuals. This is not something I have experienced in other books in the series, and it felt like an inconsistent characterization of our leads. I’m not saying that it was wrong to have that obfuscation, rather I do not think it was explored in a way that made sense given the historical events in the lives of the characters. I am going to assume that everyone who is reading this far into the review has read The Running Grave. What probably disappointed me most about the story was that this takes place within the year of that books conclusion, but the author does not make reference to the numerous significant challenges and traumas she placed in front of and om one of the leads in this story. I think this was a missed opportunity to provide resonance for the choices made by most of the characters.
Also, much though I love our leads, I wish we could spend a little more time with some of our subcontractors. There is a general roulette wheel feeling to their introduction and later inclusion in these stories. We have a great cast of secondary investigative characters Shaw, Midge, Barclay, and many other others, but I’ve noticed we have not grown with them beyond the book in which they are introduced. I wish we spent more time with them in addition to the amount of time we spend with Robin and Strike.
Despite the challenges in some of the things I have outlined above, I must say the bright spot of this entire book is the growth and transformation we see in Pat and Strike’s relationship. It is certainly one of my favorite parts of this entire book, I loved it so much I went and looked up the Black Oranda. I found one that could be a twin for little Cormoran.
Despite not loving this book as much as previous entrants, I end this review looking forward to the next story. I know from how this one ends, Book 9 is sure to have an explosive beginning.
September 5, 2025
I was lucky enough to be on a beach vacation during release week so I was able to give the book my undivided attention. That being said, ugh. This was by far my least favorite in the series. I think I’m so invested in Cormoran and Robin that I had no interest in the silver / masons / Rupert mystery.
You know they’re going to solve it and you know you’re going to be in the dark until the 85-90% mark so whatever?! It didn’t help that the case never grabbed my attention so I was unbothered by who the body in the vault was.
I really hate what JKR has made of Robin in this story, she’s kind of a horrible person? I understand that she’s going through a lot after UHC and dealing with PTSD, but that doesn’t mean you can lie, gaslight and sulk your way through life.
As always, Pat & Barclay remain the MVPs for me!
*I originally rated this a 3 but then I realized I waited 2 long years for THIS????? Oh hell no!
You know they’re going to solve it and you know you’re going to be in the dark until the 85-90% mark so whatever?! It didn’t help that the case never grabbed my attention so I was unbothered by who the body in the vault was.
I really hate what JKR has made of Robin in this story, she’s kind of a horrible person? I understand that she’s going through a lot after UHC and dealing with PTSD, but that doesn’t mean you can lie, gaslight and sulk your way through life.
As always, Pat & Barclay remain the MVPs for me!
*I originally rated this a 3 but then I realized I waited 2 long years for THIS????? Oh hell no!
September 5, 2025
Very disappointing read. The story went on for way too long, and the plot unnecessarily convoluted.
September 4, 2025
As per every book by Galbraith, I have never been able to predict or identify who the killer was. I adore a long narrative where you’re not sure what direction you’re heading. Despite the mounting frustration I have with Cormoron and Robin’s absolutely ABYSMAL communication structure, my annoyance at Robin’s refusal/dismissal of understanding and reconciling her own limitations or weak points, I actually love the long winded “will they won’t they” tension. Stop giving the people what they want!!! Make them yearn for more!!! You’re always guaranteed that in this series. The final page of the final chapter had me literally gagged and I was LIVID that there was such an enormously palpable cliffhanger. I’m already itching for the next one. The longer the book the better!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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