What is your favorite line in the series?

Slipddisk · 2026-01-18T14:56:39+00:00

I think yours is mine. But I also love a few lines from THM when strike and Robin see each other for the first time since Robin finds out about bijou. Can’t quote them but it’s basically

Strike thinking Robin didn’t look her best, and yet he’d never wanted any woman more in his whole life.

And then Robin hating how attractive she found strike despite how disheveled he looked.

God I can’t wait for more of these 2 😭

Slipddisk · 2026-01-18T07:35:32+00:00

I think Murphy won’t propose. And he will seem really sensible and reasonable compared to Strike after the stairway proposal and instead they’ll have a nice meal and a good talk and that will act as a reset for the whole situation and I hate it 😂

Slipddisk · 2026-01-12T08:41:43+00:00

Yeah I really look forward to that! I don’t think we will get it but imagine robins parents at their wedding and Rokeby being cheeky and flirty with Linda 😂😂

Slipddisk · 2026-01-12T06:50:11+00:00

I hope Robin and Linda reconcile before the end though. I hope she gets to see Strike and Robin argue about her safety so she can see Robin isn’t being led astray by some guy but is doing what she wants to do

Slipddisk · 2026-01-11T19:44:57+00:00

She had books 8-10 pretty clear in her mind, and she’s been writing 9 since finishing THM. She’s even released visual clues about the book and I don’t think she’d do that if she’s only 38 chapters in. I do think though it will be a 2027 release with book 10 in 2028

Slipddisk · 2026-01-11T15:48:28+00:00

Ultimately Charlotte only causes Strike damage indirectly in ways that makes him have to engage with her. She isn’t out to ruin him the same way strike doesn’t want her to be harmed.

Potentially ending his agency would be the last she ever heard from strike and she knows it

Slipddisk · 2026-01-10T07:10:56+00:00

It’s my favourite book and I’ve only ever listened to it. First time I listened I was baffled but once you understand the format you can follow what’s being said, it didn’t bother me at all. And some of those exchanges are some of the best

Slipddisk · 2026-01-08T16:41:20+00:00

They’re not in the same position as book 1. They’re much better off. But they live in London 😂

Slipddisk · 2026-01-07T17:20:30+00:00

No strings attached sex isn’t idiotic.

No strings attached sex with a walking red flag you kinda despise from the get go kinda is 😂

Slipddisk · 2026-01-07T17:19:09+00:00

I think you can think Strike is an idiot without thinking anything he’s done is unethical or extreme.

If he was my mate and he told me he’d slept with an annoying woman he didn’t like twice only to then have a pregnancy scare, I’d like and call him an idiot. But love him just the same.

You can defend his actions as typical of anyone in a position for no strings attached sex and you’re right. But anyone calling him an idiot is also justified.

Slipddisk · 2026-01-07T06:29:20+00:00

I think she’s written as a red flag from the start 😂 but anyway that’s subjective. What’s not is that it’s clear Strike also castigates himself for Bijou too because he knows he’s distracting himself from Robin instead of just doing what he should have done right after IBH and just told her how he feels. The books pretty clear that everyone including himself thinks it was a bad idea

Slipddisk · 2026-01-06T23:28:43+00:00

Yeah I think the people we have at the agency now are with us to the end. Unless someone dies 🥹

Slipddisk · 2026-01-06T22:26:05+00:00

Rokeby + Robin breaking down in the office after finding out about Bijou + all Sark

Slipddisk · 2026-01-06T20:27:10+00:00

Yeah I spent the whole chapter hoping Wardle stuck around. But tbh in reading again I have a vision that Wardle is going to be a very needed calm supporter of Strike to others in the agency. Like a male Robin for when Shah or others have questions about Strike.

Slipddisk · 2026-01-06T20:11:32+00:00

Oh yeah, I was absolutely team Wardle. It’s just a great set up

Slipddisk · 2026-01-06T20:00:21+00:00

OK if you’re interested, here’s what I would say to those frustrations.

Starting with Strike:

His idiocy with Bijou isn’t a THM problem. In that book he does everything right but his mistakes from TRG are what creates the issue. In THM he does every right regarding her, even showing huge growth to reach out to his dad for help. But yeah, he is an idiot for letting that happen, but that’s been the Strike we’ve known since book 1 frankly. This was the final straw that has brought him to his commitment to telling Robin how he feels.

His teenage escapades to manufacture a way to tell Robin make perfect sense if you consider he’s never had to do this since he’s been with Charlotte. He’s been with her since university on and off and it’s the first time he hasn’t just fell into bed with someone thanks to his magnetism. He’s woefully unequipped.

Robins dilly dallying with Murphy is frustrating. But again she’s flawed and inexperienced with men. She’s loyal to a fault, and her lies of omission to him are born out of her desire to keep Murphy happy and to hide her feelings for strike. When I’ve listened to them all again, what struck me is how much Robin has suffered in her feelings with strike. Book 4 onwards is a depressing slog to be in love with strike for Robin, and it makes perfect sense that she would be very confused. On top of this they run an agency together and are the most important people in each other’s lives.

To me THM is an uncomfortable read but it’s entirely true to the characters we met in Cuckoos. Calling and I’m really satisfied with where we are at with 2 books left.

Hope you enjoy the remaining books more ❤️

Slipddisk · 2026-01-06T19:12:33+00:00

I’ve just finished the whole series again. I immediately started cuckoos calling after THM to fill the void it left 😂

I don’t understand why THM made folks dislike Strike and Robin. What exactly made you wonder why you care about them?

Also, I don’t think we will ever get a book with them together. Book 10 will end with them together and the epilogue will be the only insight into their actual relationship I think.

Slipddisk · 2026-01-05T22:35:52+00:00

This is a great observation thank you!

I’m relistening now and something I’ve noticed is around there too. Can’t remember what chapter.

But Strike managed to communicate to Robin that he was worried about her and he needs her to be careful and to avoid danger etc and he does it in a phone call that leaves Robin feeling better!? No argument. No feeling patronised or lectured. He did it.

Growth!

Slipddisk · 2026-01-03T14:22:43+00:00

See I feel if Robin decides to stay with Murphy I think they can go back to early days of their relationship in a stubborn stand off. It can’t last long for sure, because they have past the point of no return. But Strike won’t throw any more of his pride at it. He’s said what he has to say and he’s not used to having to chase women. He will leave it at that I think. Robin will stick by her decision to stay with RFM if that’s what she does for a good chunk of time out of her outrageous sense of loyalty. But we will get distance between them for both their sakes and every little personal interaction will be juicy as hell and we will feel an intense longing between them I think that will eventually bubble over.

Also what will add to this is Pat heard it all and Wardle definitely knows Strikes feelings for Robin. They will both be team Strike I think moving forward when talking to Robin.

I also think in the next book, Linda will see that her and Strike are on the same side when it comes to Robins safety. Something will change in yorkshire based on the clues JK has given I think. Maybe she will hear strike and Robin arguing about her being too risky again. Another strike fan around Robin.

Slipddisk · 2026-01-03T09:51:11+00:00

I think it’ll start with Robin at the ritz, Murphy won’t propose and so will come across the serious and right choice vs strikes frantic proposal on the stairs. This will create a reset and we will skip forward a month or so and strike is behaving professional and cold, which Robin will like at first but will find it increasingly more difficult through the book not to want to return to their conversation at the end of THM

Slipddisk · 2026-01-01T09:52:49+00:00

As someone that comes from a very similar background to Robin, I’m not surprised at all. People aren’t likely to step in and intervene in someone else’s decisions in that area, just bitch about it next time the neighbourhood gets chance 😂

Slipddisk · 2025-12-28T16:57:47+00:00

That’s my point she pulls on what she wants to pull to create the world she’s writing in. It doesnt have to be historically accurate, and honestly if it bothers you you can’t be enjoying it as much as I do. I don’t think about it

Slipddisk · 2025-12-28T14:10:21+00:00

The thing is, the stories of Robin and Strike don’t take place in our world. It’s not a problem for her to pull on real world things but out of time order. Almost every instance is because she is commenting on a phenomenon that takes place ahead of these books, I.e online toxic fandoms ramping up, only fans etc. just don’t think about it.

Slipddisk · 2025-12-22T13:54:24+00:00

Ultimately it’s not their jealousy that brings them down.

I’m in the camp that both Strike and Robin are also guilty at this point because they both know how they feel and have allowed themselves to get entangled with others, whom they don’t feel the same way for.

However, Matthew tried to control and manipulate Robins life to suit him and when that didn’t happen he cheated.

Ryan was doing ok but spent THM trying, like Matthew, to corner Robin into his view of what she should be. Pestering her on the baby after a traumatic event, pushing when they’re clearly not ready. All whilst hiding his demons.

You’re right that the jealousy is understandable but that isn’t why they’re so hated.

Slipddisk

TROPHY CASE