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Lethal White
Group Read - Lethal White
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Group Read - Lethal White chap 1-11 Spoilers Welcome
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Prologue - I found the prologue in the Kindle preview and just had to read it. This picks back up immediately after the last book, Career of Evil. *we had a group read discussion of that book in late 2015.Summary - Prologue
It is Robin and Matthew's wedding day, post ceremony, and quite an emotional scene at the reception.
Strike was there, he came. Robin is elated he was there and desperately hopeful she can have her old job back. Matthew's perfidy with intercepting Strike's phone calls and messages prior to the wedding is now coming to haunt him and takes away all hope of a happy day.
Chapter one (one year later)Cormoran Strike reflects on his increased business stemming from his catching the Shacklewell Ripper. Still not easy, dealing with unreliable subcontractors and being newly recognizable, he has a professional but distant business relationship with the former Robin Endacott, now Robin Cunliffe.
While Robin is away for a few days to move into a new house, an inadequate temp in the office called Strike back to rescue her from an angry visitor.
Grateful you are writing the summary, Ann. This book would not be easy for me to summarize. There is something about J. K.’s writing that always seems cumbersome. I was surprised Rowling jumped a year ahead after the prologue. The summary of what happened between the wedding and present would have made a good story, I think. I’ll talk more once more of the summary is posted.
Geri I will get the summaries started up again probably this weekend. It is going to be challenging from the audio but fun to do! The book is so good!!
Ann wrote: "Geri I will get the summaries started up again probably this weekend. It is going to be challenging from the audio but fun to do! The book is so good!!"No hurry, Ann! I am reading the book slowly. I want to be able to catch all the details. There’s a lot of drama going on besides the mystery. Some of the drama does make me roll my eyes. The miscommunication between Robin and Strike mostly. It’s hard for me to believe it’s gone on for a year. And they are supposed to be adults? LOL
I am reading slowly to savor it too Geri! I may need to finish it before going back to summarize most of it but have done a bit of this segment.
Chapter 2 (Billy) the angry visitor/ “client” is unwashed and obviously mentally ill, a twenty-something young man in torn filthy clothes with a severe tic who angrily demands Strike help him. It seems Billy witnessed a child’s strangulation years ago when he was a child, his memories appear to haunt him with tidbits- by a horse, burial in the dell, wrapped in a pink blanket, they told him it was a boy not a girl. Jimmy, his brother, denies it happened. Billy runs before police arrive due to the inadequate temp Denise's bungling their summons.
Chapter 3 (we catch up with Robin)Not only off work for moving, Robin is attending therapy sessions for her PTSD. The therapist isn't helping her deal with the unrelenting criticism of her husband and Mother, but she picks up tips to calm herself during the too frequent panic attacks. She stops therapy and focuses on her upcoming house warming party and dealing with her most unhappy marriage, Matthew's complete hatred of Strike and her job and Cormoran's apparent moving on past her to new relationships which are a source of pain. Her wedding night and honeymoon were a disaster and she sorely wishes she had pulled off the bandaid then and left Matthew.
Chapter 4
Strike is on surveillance amid all the excitement of London soon to host the 2012 Olympics.
Chapter 5 -6
Strike heads off in search of Billy and finds his brother, Jimmy Knight, a rabble rouser in a group called Core opposed to the Olympics. He talks to Jimmy who dismisses Billy's story of murder but rouses suspicions especially when Jimmy's girlfriend Flick suspects someone named Chizzle sent a private detective after them
Chapter 7 (the housewarming party)Unable to afford the kind of flat Matthew wanted to buy they have rented a charming old house. While Robin dresses to please Matthew rather than herself and enjoys seeing her friend Vanessa, she dreads seeing Matthew's old fling and co-worker Sarah Shadlock. The party is mainly Matthew's friends. Finally Strike arrives with Lorelei, sparking jealousy. Neither Cormoran or Robin are with the person they want.
Chapter 8 (back in the office)
Billy has left a desperate voice message t hat he is being held captive. They are called by Jasper Chiswell (Chizzle) minister of culture who is insistent on meeting to discuss hiring them. The connections to Chizzle mount up. Cormoran investigated his older son's death in t he army, he knows his daughter Izzy
Chapter 9 (Chiswell's club)
Jasper Chiswell is being blackmailed. Geraint Winn, husband of the minister of sport, Della Winn, is helping pressure him to pay Jimmy Knight. The connections grow. The strangulation Billy witnessed is dismissed by Chiswell.
Chapter 10 (taking the case)Strike and Robin discuss the case in a pub. Robin will use her identity as Venetia Hall and go to work at the House of Commons as Chiswell's goddaughter. Sarah Shadlock spots them there.
Chapter 11 (Friday night at Lorelei's flat, Chiswell's listening devices and searches for Billy and clues for finding and stopping Jimmy's blackmail)
Lorelei and Strike have been together for months, comfortable but neither professing love. Chiswell agrees to have Robin in his office to plant listening devices in Geraint Winn's neighboring office. The online search for background on the Chiswells and the Knights reveal a very angry Jimmy Knight but no Billy.
Geri: Yes there are a few eye rolls with the numerous times Strike and Robin have misfired in their obviously both meant-to-be and doomed personal relationship - beyond their equally and obviously successful professional one. But the dialog and the situations are a delight to read and I am mildly amused at their misfires while feeling sorry that Robin is taking such a mental beating. At least she isn’t giving up on her career and I respect her for that and her determination to get past the PTSD. I also respect her for her kindness to Matthew, but why can’t she see that at this point it isn’t kindness at all?
I suppose this is the perennial question too. Will a successful professional partnership change for the worse if the partners become romantic?
I’ve decided it’s fun to have the partnership questions as an intriguing side story alongside the main case and its mysteries.
Thank you Ann for summarizing!!!I am sooooo loving this book! We truly have come a long way in the Strike/Robin side story since the first book. I definitely have a few eye roll moments when the misfires occur where I find myself saying “oh come on already!” But I think all of this build up will make for quite the scene when we finally get there!
Ann I agree- I am loving the Side story to go along with the case. It adds some more depth to things. And I also respect Robin for not giving up on the career and making sure that is a priority and that she doesn’t reflect what’s best for her. However I do feel like at this point the marriage is so obviously dead in the water.. when is it time to call a spade a spade? I know she’s trying to give it a shot but the constant feelings of dread at home have to be exhausting for her (and him) at this point that it’s just time!
As far as the case, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about it- if it would be interesting and keep me intrigued (I didn’t fine the Career of Evil case as fascinating as the Silkworm case) but I have to say I’m definitely feeling more invested in this one and am truly curious about the details. Definitely hooked!
Karly: The case has me intrigued too, I think in part because of the glimpses into the House of Commons and the "upper-crust" families, especially the Chiswells / Chizzles. The nicknames and pretensions, the various homes and pubs visited make me feel I am in London. And the backstory details are adding depth to the characters. Karly wrote: "As far as the case, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about it- if it would be interesting and keep me intrigued (I didn’t fine the Career of Evil case as fascinating as the Silkworm case) but I have to say I’m definitely feeling more invested in this one and am truly curious about the details. Definitely hooked!"
Ann wrote: "I suppose this is the perennial question too. Will a successful professional partnership change for the worse if the partners become romantic? ."
Strike’s past relationships have made him wary of relationships and expressing his feelings. So that is probably one reason he has allowed this distance to grow between them. So their business relationship may suffer if they become romantically involved. But right now both Strike and Robin are just leading their partners on. That bugs me more than if they get into a “may not be right” for them relationship. But I know most authors don’t want to get their main characters together too soon. They fear interest in the books may fizzle. So I think it is too soon for anything real to occur between Strike and Robin.
The mystery so far is keeping my interest. I do think Billy did see something when he was a boy. I was a little surprised Strike didn’t take Billy seriously at first. But I’m glad he did investigate the situation some. Chiswell’s response when Strike asked him whether Chiswell killed anyone was curious. He may not have killed anyone, but he may have been indirectly nvolved, I think.
And Sarah.....I’m not sure what will happen there. But I am sure something will happen!
And I really can’t wait to finally know what it is that Chiswell is being blackmailed for!
Karly: you and me both! And Strike and Robin. Makes you wonder if it will be worth the buildup. If its related to the murder Billy saw then I suppose it will be. Karly wrote: "And I really can’t wait to finally know what it is that Chiswell is being blackmailed for!"
Geri wrote: "There’s a lot of drama going on besides the mystery. Some of the drama does make me roll my eyes. The miscommunication between Robin and Strike mostly. It’s hard for me to believe it’s gone on for a year. And they are supposed to be adults? LOL..."Geri, I couldn't agree with you more. This aspect of the story feels like a romance novel or a sitcom where the rule is "for maximum effect keep the potential lovers apart as long as possible." I hate plots that bank on the refusal of one or both parties to come clean and admit their feelingsl. Geez, if that happened as often in real life as it does in fiction the population growth would be zero!
Other than that, though (or maybe because of it, there's a reason writers keep doing that LOL) I am all in and enjoying the story and the characters that are being brought in. And can't wait to see where they mystery takes us.
Ann wrote: "Prologue - I found the prologue in the Kindle preview and just had to read it. This picks back up immediately after the last book, Career of Evil. *we had a group read discussion of that book in la..."Ann, I was so annoyed when Rowling left us with that cliffhanger at the end of the previous book, and so glad she picked up and got right into at the beginning of Lethal White. And I was so glad Matthew's perfidy was exposed. I was spitting nails when it happened. Such a betrayal. He is too selfish to surive with Robin much longer. I can't stand him. He's mean and jealous, a bad combination.
Ann wrote: "Chapter 10 (taking the case)
Strike and Robin discuss the case in a pub. Robin will use her identity as Venetia Hall and go to work at the House of Commons as Chiswell's goddaughter. Sarah Shadlock spots them there. ..."
That Sarah is trouble. Does anyone predict she will be back in Matthew's bed (or he in hers) before long? I love that Robin has a new friend in Vanessa, however; she seems cool
I hated that Robin put away the emerald green dress (which would have knocked everyone out including Strike, I bet) and went with the gray so Matthew wouldn't feel threatened. I wonder if she will leave Matthew during this book (or if Rowling will wait until the end to drop another cliffhanger....)
Carol: Yes! we had a long wait for the next action after the cliffhanger didn’t we! I was very happy she jumped right back in at the beginning. Don’t get me started on Matthew; ugh. I do not see any redeeming qualities or actions. Carol/Bonadie wrote: " I was so annoyed when Rowling left us with that cliffhanger at the end of the previous book, and so glad she picked up and got right into at the beginning of Lethal White. And I was so glad Matthew's perfidy was exposed.."
Carol- I agree with Ann, I could go on and on about how much I loathe Matthew. His actions make my skin crawl and just infuriate me constantly.And yes! So happy she picked up right where career of evil left off! Also agree about the missed-connection romance bit. I found myself saying out loud “oh come on already!”
Just wanted to jump on and say thanks Ann for your summaries! I’m doing a re-read after finishing The Tunning Grave and enjoying this 5 year old thread!
Emma, thank you! I am doing a re-read of The Cuckoo's Calling, slowly betwween other books and loving the tidbits and nuance I had forgotten. :) Emma wrote: "Just wanted to jump on and say thanks Ann for your summaries! I’m doing a re-read after finishing The Tunning Grave and enjoying this 5 year old thread!"
Look at you two! I think watching the TV series is the closest I will come to revisiting the books, at least for now. I wonder when they will release the next season?
Carol, good question! soon I hope. I see they are adapting The Ink Black Heart for the season six TV series and filming starts this month! Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Look at you two! I think watching the TV series is the closest I will come to revisiting the books, at least for now. I wonder when they will release the next season?"
Ann wrote: "Carol, good question! soon I hope. I see they are adapting The Ink Black Heart for the season six TV series and filming starts this month! ..."Hooray! Can't wait!
If the first to post please briefly summarize to guide the discussion.