Épisodes

  • Jonny Rokeby was both Cormoran and Charlotte's Father: The Incest Twist Rowling Has Hidden Inside the Strike Series

    Jonny Rokeby was both Cormoran and Charlotte's Father: The Incest Twist Rowling Has Hidden Inside the Strike Series
    Nov 22 2025
    The Hogwarts Professor comment threads have been jumping so Nick Jeffery and John Granger decided to dedicate a conversation to a review of the Greatest Hits in the last week (to do a complete review yourself, click on ‘Activity’ in the left margin of the Hogwarts Professor Substack home page).After their reviewing the remarkably global and growing audience of Rowling Readers — 36 countries, 46 states! — and tracking The Presence’s location — her yacht seems to be in Fiji but she is touring Levesden Studios? — Nick and John read out fifteen comment subjects and discuss the merits, deficiencies, and promise of each.The lede story is the theory shared by Jaclyn Hayes that Cormoran Strike and the late Charlotte Campbell were half-siblings with Jonny Rokeby in common as their absentee father. From her notes: I think Charlotte was blackmailed (via threat of exposing the relatedness btw her and Cormoran) into marrying Jago to provide him a male heir. Perhaps their relatedness is even an open secret in Charlotte’s family, similar to the “secret” relatedness of Decima and Rupert in THM (another parallel). Charlotte was forbidden from telling Cormoran about the blackmail, but since she’s conniving and obsessed with him, she uses their unexpected encounter at the Paralympics gala to drop hints about her predicament, hoping he’ll solve the mystery and save her or take her back once she’s fulfilled the terms of her marriage/birth agreement with Jago. She then orchestrates another encounter with Cormoran to drop more hints-- this time at Franco’s, which she knows will trigger the memory of her father’s outrage at seeing her and Cormoran dating again. She hopes Cormoran will realize her father was angry because he knew they were related, not simply because he thinks Cormoran wasn’t good enough for her. She then tells Coromoran things would be different if he’d taken the job her father offered him (calling to mind the job Tara gives Rupert to keep him quiet in THM), and says she found out she was pregnant at Tara’s house and later “lost” (not aborted) the baby. Read the whole thing. Ed Shardlow’s response, in which he points out that the hallmark given to silver and DNA testing of human beings have a lot in common, and Tamspells and Jaclyn Hayes discussion of Strike’s dreams in previous books give the Strike:Charlotte::Rupert:Decima theory some heft. Cheryl Rose Orrocks asked for help with research she is doing on a possible divine marker, mythologically divine at least, being placed in each book at the appearance of that novel’s killer. The only holes in her theory at the time Nick and John recorded their conversation were Troubled Blood and Running Grave — and Catherine has since posted a neat solution for Strike 5. Check that out and please share the missing god or goddess from Running Grave!Nick and John also review and discuss:* Ed Shardlow’s idea that the characters creating narratives inside Rowling-Galbraith stories are perhaps best understood as creating their stories as Rowling writes hers, i.e., inspired by Lake material and crafted with the tools in their Sheds;* Vicky’s thank you to Dr Fimi for the Ursula Le Guin quotation;* Ed Shardlow’s ‘RL Mystery’ with back-up from Tamspells and J. S. Maleksen;* Cheryl Rose Orrocks’ YouTube notes about the Dirty Bomb Theory conversation (and just how wrong John is about Carmen the opera and Carmen Ellacott); and* Answers to listener requests for more information — all of which can be found in the Links section below!In the week to come, John pledges to post his Hallmarked Man Names exegesis, Nick is working on his review of Aurora Leigh, the supposed template of Ink Black Heart (and the only book ever confirmed by Rowling as such), they will record their Part Two ring charting this weekend, and John is reorganizing his 2017 seven week online course — Wizard Reading Formula — for which class Paid Subscribers will get a greater than 50% discount.John and Nick thank everyone listening and especially those active on the comment threads and taking part in the Hallmarked Man Ring Reading Workshop!Links to Subjects Discussed in the Conversation Above:Cheryl Rose Orrocks: Can you let me know the title and author of the book about Gothic elements?The one John used for Harry Potter’s Bookshelf was Patterns of fear in the Gothic novel, 1790-1830 by Ann Tracy, now only ‘in print’ via a Kindle version.John read from his much longer Harry Meets Hamlet and Scrooge: Harry Potter’s Hogwarts Adventures as the Gateway to English Literature in the conversation above, in which the list of subjects is spelled out (e.g., the castle, supernatural atmosphere, horror, isolation, subterranean passages, fragmentation and reunion, prophecy, ancestral curse, tainted blood, bond of blood, graveyard, corpses, Decay of Aristocratic Privilege, Rise of Bourgeoisie, forest, memories, dreams, found book, doppelgangers, scar or ...
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    1 h et 46 min
  • Reading Rowling as Myth Maker and Myth Re-Writer: A Conversation with Dr Dimitra Fimi

    Reading Rowling as Myth Maker and Myth Re-Writer: A Conversation with Dr Dimitra Fimi
    Nov 18 2025
    Dimitra Fimi is Professor of Fantasy and Children’s Literature at the University of Glasgow and Co-Director of the Centre for Fantasy and the Fantastic. Her Tolkien, Race and Cultural History won the Mythopoeic Scholarship Award for Inklings Studies and she co-edited the critical edition of A Secret Vice: Tolkien on Invented Languages which won the Tolkien Society Award for Best Book. Her Celtic Myth in Contemporary Children’s Fantasy won the Mythopoeic Scholarship Award in Myth and Fantasy Studies. Other work includes co-editing Sub-creating Arda: World-building in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Work, its Precursors and its Legacies and Imagining the Celtic Past in Modern Fantasy. She has contributed articles for the TLS and The Conversation, and has appeared on numerous radio and TV programs.When the rightly famous and beloved ‘The Great Courses’ series decided to offer a Lord of the Rings entry for their catalog of the very best in scholarship for adult-learners, they asked Dimitra Fimi to create ‘The World of J. R. R. Tolkien,’ one of their most popular courses and one you can enjoy in an Audible edition.Links Promised in Conversation:A Kind of Elvish Craft: The Dimitra Fimi Substack Site* Miniature Books in Children’s Fantasy* Parabasis: A Tribute to Dionysis Stavvopoulos* On Tolkien’s Letter 131 (4): “Romance” vs. ScienceDimitra Fimi articles at ‘The Conversation’* After 150 years, we still haven’t solved the puzzle of Alice in Wonderland (2015)Kanreki Conversations about Rowling-Galbraith ‘Golden Threads’* Pregnancy Traps in the Works of Rowling-Galbraith* Golden Threads in Rowling-Galbraith (1)* Golden Threads in Rowling-Galbraith (2)* ‘The Lost Child’ Golden Thread* Alternative Explanations of ‘The Lost Child’ Golden Thread* The Induced Abortion Hypothesis* The July 2025 Kanreki IndexOur Ten Questions for Dr Fimi:1. How does a woman born and raised on the Greek island of Salamis wind up in Cardiff studying Celtic Mythology?2. You’re a Tolkien scholar and expert in fantasy and Children’s literature. Tolkienistas are legend for looking down their Ent noses at Harry Potter, though there are important exceptions to that rule (the late Stratford Caldecott, his wife Leonie, Amy H. Sturgis, others). How did you meet the Boy Who Lived and what were your first impressions of Rowling as author?3. You have a lot in common with Rowling, no? Tolkien devotee, serious student of mythology, and a wonderful appreciation of the magic of story, especially magical stories for children. The Tolkien influence on Rowling is well documented though she has tried to belittle it, but her use of myths as templates for her stories is less well known but at least as important. What do you make of her admittedly “shameless” borrowing from folk tales and myths?4. I guess this is a segue to the Cormoran Strike books which are awash in myths -- Leda and the Swan, Castor and Pollux, Cupid and Psyche, Artemis and Tisiphone... Am I missing any?5. You’ve seen Rowling’s recent confirmation of the Cupid and Psyche myth in her tweeted painting of ‘Psyche Ascendant.’ That suggests we’ll see the happy ending of the myth in Strikes 9 and 10. Or does it? What did you see of that myth specifically in Hallmarked Man?6. Running Grave has another embedded text, not a myth per se, one that makes sense in light of Rowling’s love of everything the Bronte sisters wrote. Tell us what made you think of Jane Eyre as you were reading Strike 7.7. Rowling did something unusual in 2019, well, among the unusual things she did that year, in inviting readers to interpret her work in light of their ‘Lake’ inspiration as well as her intentional ‘Shed’ artistry. Writers like Lewis and Tolkien would be aghast at that, though Inkling Studies today necessarily include heavy biographical leanings in almost everything written about those authors. What is your take in general on what Lewis called ‘The Personal Heresy’ and about Rowling as a living author inviting that critical perspective while she is still among us?8. It’s fascinating, frankly, that you are not so compartmentalized in your reading that Rowling is still a writer you read outside of her fantasy and children’s literature. Do you read the Strike-Ellacott stories because you also love a good detective novel or is it your interest in Rowling and whatever she is writing?9. Have you read Christmas Pig? John believes that in fifty years, the Lord tarrying, high school and college students will read Pig as Rowling’s representative work the way we had to read Tale of Two Cities or Christmas Carol to be exposed to Dickens.10. John tries to read imaginative fiction through what he calls an “iconological lens,” a method born of his Perennialist beliefs and life as an Orthodox Christian. In what ways do you think your childhood and secondary education gave you a sympathy unusual for multi-valent texts than those born and raised in relatively ...
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    1 h et 51 min
  • Ryan Murphy is Charlotte Campbell's 'Dirty Bomb'

    Ryan Murphy is Charlotte Campbell's 'Dirty Bomb'
    Nov 10 2025
    Nick Jeffery and John Granger sat down today to talk about the wonderful comment threads beneath their Hallmarked Man posts since publication day. They see every comment on every thread and realized no one else was seeing the brilliant theories and ideas from the Hogwarts Professor community.John was tasked with reviewing every comment post publication comment thread to identify the best offering they had not discussed in previous posts. Nick had the harder job of culling that list down to the best ten ideas; he balked and chose thirteen. John added two, just because.They both recommend you click on the links below as you listen to Nick and John embrace, push back, and marvel at the great Serious Striker conversations to be had here.The best of the best? J. S. Maleksen’s ‘Dirty Bomb Charlotte,’ which makes the credible argument that Rowling has written a back-stage scenario in which Charlotte seduces Ryan F. Murphy to destroy Robin Ellacott. Why? When? What? How? Read the comment beneath the #1 link below and listen to Nick and John talk, no, rave about this seemingly off-the-wall bit of speculation.And then wade through the rest! Thank you to all the contributors to our conversations; please remember it was Nick, not John, who decided not to use your idea. Hallmarked Man Names and Part One ring-charting later this week — stay tuned!Links to Reader Ideas and Theories from the HogPro Comment Threads1. J. S. Maleksen: ‘Dirty Bomb Charlotte:’ Ryan Murphy Killed CharlotteThank you for discussing my first Running Grave RFM comments.As you may have noticed, my theory is a bit of a work in progress. In keeping with the Hogwarts Professor/ Rowling Studies standards, I am striving to put it all together and set forth a textual basis for my contention that the relapsing, unstable RFM we see in the later parts of RG and all of HM is the dirty bomb left by Charlotte with the intent of exacting revenge on Robin and Strike.In RG, after listening to a portion of Charlotte’s final 3 voicemail messages, Strike frets about the possibility that Charlotte will seek out RFM and spin a web of lies to him. He expresses concern in his inner monologue that RFM would have no loyalty to Strike and that RFM could use the information to turn Robin against him.Understanding that I may be in nutter drawer/Gateshead territory and mindful that I am diverging from my original post slightly, I contend that RFM met up with Charlotte at some point, maybe in the month or two, before she died. She used McCabes (the agency she hired to get dirt on Jago in IBH) to get info on Robin, discovered RFM, contacted him seduced him, and filled his head with lies about Strike and Robin.On the night Charlotte dies, RFM is there. They are drinking together. They get into a fight. She assaults him (like she assaulted Strike and Dormer) and because ‘he is mean and aggressive when he gets drunk’ (yes this is where this line from Wardle in RG becomes relevant) he hits her back, they fight, and she dies. He makes the murder look like a suicide, writes a suicide note that is based on the information she has given him about Strike and her family and her kids. There is nothing in the suicide note about Strike being in love with Robin. Remember, the only evidence that this appears in the note is Strike’s egotistical presumption that is based solely on Strike’s conjecture.RFM uses his position at the Met to make sure the final determination is suicide.The guilt and self-loathing he feels thereafter causes him to spend as much time as possible in Spain (rather than taking the earlier flight to see Robin after she escapes from Chapman Farm.) It also causes him to declare his love for Robin on his first night back with her. He’s drinking and unraveling and he thinks if he can make it work with Robin and rescue her from an abusive Strike, it will make up for the fact that he committed murder.This also explains his mistakes in the gang shooting case, including roughing up a suspect and all of the descriptions of him being overly stressed and exhausted including on the night he got Robin pregnant.This is the thought process that led me to post under Nick’s ‘Charlotte was Murdered’ thread. It just took me a little longer to articulate it.Once again, thanks to both of you for all of the fine work you do.* Catherine: Strike 9 will be about Strike searching to find Lost Robin/Psyche3. June McGarry: Incest Part 1 — Leda and Ted Half-Siblings4. Tamspells: Incest Part 2 — Charlotte Raped by Dino Step Father5. Vicky: Names Idea 1 — Decima Mullins – Shirley Mullens6.Kathleen OConnor Names Idea 2 — Rupert Fleetwood – Lady Patricia Fleetword-Chiswell7. Sandy Hope: Cupid and Psyche 1 — Psyche’s Sisters in Hallmarked Man8. Kelly Loomis Cupid and Psyche 2 — Chelsea Arts Club Cupid, Etc.9. June McGarry: — Strike lies to READERS about Paternity Test10. Ed Shardlow — Planet Narnia Theory for Strike series* Ed Shardlow: The Five ...
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    1 h et 32 min
  • Charting Hallmarked Man as Ring Composition: An Introduction and Invitation

    Charting Hallmarked Man as Ring Composition: An Introduction and Invitation
    Nov 8 2025

    When Running Grave was published, John Granger charted each Part’s chapter sets, the Book-as-a-Whole, and then the Book as the concluding novel of a seven book series. It took him weeks and weeks, it yielded astonishing revelations via Rowling-Galbraith’s structural artistry, and… it was a rather joyless affair. No one joined him in the process to verify or discount via a separate but simultaneous reading what he found, no one learned how to do it while looking over his shoulder, and very few appreciated what it was all about.

    Fast forward to September 2025 and the publication of Hallmarked Man. Nick Jeffery and John had collaborated in a month-long Lake-and-Shed reading marathon of everything Rowling had written as well as the Golden Threads running through all her work. They were looking for a new Special Project they could offer the growing list of Paid Subscribers in addition to the weekly conversations and articles they posted for all comers. Why not do a series of posts only the most Serious Strikers would be interested in, a full-on charting of Strike 8?

    John has posted three Ring Composition throat-clearing exercises complete with video and transcripts — the Heart of Ring Composition, the Mechanics and Mystery of Ring Composition, and a Case Study in Reading a Strike Novel Ring (Career of Evil) — to warm up the niche audience for this adventure. In the conversation above, Nick and John lay out their hopes for this series, namely, that participants will leave with:

    * an adamantine grasp of what charting a book involves (chapter notes, latch, turn, and t-back lines with explanations);

    * a clockworks understanding of Strike 8 ‘structural artistry,

    * charts they’ve drawn of the Parts’ chapter sets as well as the Whole Book; and, most important,

    * a Ring Reading Skill Set to be deployed on classic novels as well as contemporary favorites, an essential for those who love to read and re-read the Greats, alive and dead.

    We’ll start with Part One next week; there’s a blank ring below for you to give it a shot and John’s first draft to compare and contrast with your findings.

    This kind of thing is not for everyone, of course, so most of what goes on here is for all subscribers. Nick and John will be posting about the Hallmarked Man’s new names, Browning’s The Ring and the Book (a big part of Strike 8’s epigraphs), more on the Cupid and Psyche backdrop to the series (it solves some of Robin’s most mysterious behaviors, believe it or not!), and the hidden-in-plain-sight Rowling favorite author and book imbedded in her latest work (no hints!). That’s in addition, again, to Nick and John’s discussions of the theories and insights of HogPro readers, the alchemy, Who Moved the Stone?, the Masonic Symbolism, and the book they rushed to overlook, Maid of the Silver Sea.

    It’s a great time to be a Rowling Reader — and to be either a paid or free subscriber to Hogwarts Professor! Thank you for your support and engagement with the conversations here.

    Hogwarts Professor is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hogwartsprofessor.substack.com/subscribe
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    26 min
  • Hallmarked Man vs the First Seven Cormoran Strike Novels (2)

    Hallmarked Man vs the First Seven Cormoran Strike Novels (2)
    Nov 5 2025

    Nick Jeffery and John Granger do a Compare and Contrast test of the latest Cormoran Strike novel, The Hallmarked Man, and the previous seven books in Rowling-Galbraith’s longest series of novels. Adapting a list of ‘Greatest Hits’ moments from the first ‘Reading, Writing, Rowling’ podcast John did with Katie McDaniel and a panel of Potter Pundits in Roanoke, Virginia, Nick and John share their favorite moments first from the series and then from Strike 8 before contrasting the quality of these highlights.

    The point of the exercise? Besides being a fun review of Strike-Ellacott adventures, a Greatest Hits collection of their highs and lows, Agency cases and sub-contractors included, the absence of any Hallmarked Man moments that merit a ‘Best in Series’ badge suggests that Strike 8 will be remembered best for how it set up Strikes 9 and 10.

    Whatever your thoughts about that thesis, please share the scenes on your Greatest Hits list, both for the series and Hallmarked Man, per the numbered categories below. Nick and John have a few more to run through that they couldn’t get to on their first ‘go’ at this; feel free to share categories they should discuss in addition to the ones listed here:

    * Top Pat Chauncey scene

    * The One Scene that You Remember Most Often or ‘That Changed Your Life’

    * Top ‘Text-within-a-Text’

    * Funniest Scene

    * Top ‘Drop the Book’ moment

    * Best ‘Narrative misdirection/Ostrananie’ Moment

    * Conclusion: Series and Hallmarked man

    John is working on his charting of Hallmarked Man for the paid subscriber list as well as reviewing and revising his 2017 online course, ‘Wizard Reading Formula.’ More on those projects and the Kanreki Series in his next conversation with Nick; stay tuned!

    Links to Ideas, Posts, and Theories Mentioned

    * Talbot’s ‘True Book’ in Troubled Blood

    * Kathryn Kent’s weblog post in The Silkworm

    * The Goldfish in the Agency Office

    * Running Grave and Hallmarked Man overlaps, and Ryan Murphy’s involvement.

    * Three Take-Aways from Hallmarked Man: What We Know Readers will say in Ten Years about Strike 8



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hogwartsprofessor.substack.com/subscribe
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    1 h et 36 min
  • Hallmarked Man vs the First Seven Cormoran Strike Novels (1)

    Hallmarked Man vs the First Seven Cormoran Strike Novels (1)
    Nov 3 2025
    Nick Jeffery and John Granger do a Compare and Contrast test of the latest Cormoran Strike novel, The Hallmarked Man, and the previous seven books in Rowling-Galbraith’s longest series of novels. Adapting a list of ‘Greatest Hits’ moments from the first ‘Reading, Writing, Rowling’ podcast John did with Katie McDaniel and a panel of Potter Pundits in Roanoke, Virginia, Nick and John share their favorite moments first from the series and then from Strike 8 before contrasting the quality of these highlights.The point of the exercise? Besides being a fun review of Strike-Ellacott adventures, a Greatest Hits collection of their highs and lows, Agency cases and sub-contractors included, the absence of any Hallmarked Man moments that merit a ‘Best in Series’ badge suggests that Strike 8 will be remembered best for how it set up Strikes 9 and 10.Whatever your thoughts about that thesis, please share the scenes on your Greatest Hits list, both for the series and Hallmarked Man, per the numbered categories below. Nick and John have a few more to run through that they couldn’t get to on their first ‘go’ at this; feel free to share categories they should discuss in addition to the ones listed here:* Top Strike-Ellacott Moments* Ellacott taking care of wrecked Strike* Strike taking care of wrecked Ellacott* The Two having a frank conversation about the Agency, their vocation* The Two having a frank conversation about life and their relationship* Top Mystery Reveal* Top Agency Subcontractor moment* Top Agency case not the focus of the novel* Top Strike Confront-the-Killer moment,* Top “Magical” Moment (heart-rending/opening)* Top Moment-that-We-didn’t-know-was-a-Moment-until-later* Top Saving People MomentJohn is working on his charting of Hallmarked Man for the paid subscriber list as well as reviewing and revising his 2017 online course, ‘Wizard Reading Formula.’ More on those projects and the Kanreki Series in his next conversation with Nick; stay tuned!Links to Ideas, Posts, and Theories Mentioned* Roanoke ‘Reading, Writing, Rowling’ Harry Potter Review[‘reading, Writing, Rowling’s] first episode was recorded at CoLab in Roanoke, Virginia, at the May 2017 Roanoke Harry Potter Fest and celebrates 20 years of Harry Potter. Listen to a stellar crew of Hogwarts professors discuss [with hosts John Granger and Katy McDaniel] their favorite moments in the Harry Potter series, inspired by Bloomsbury Publishing’s recent reader poll. Guests Louise Freeman, Elizabeth Baird Hardy, Emily Strand, and Lana Whited identify the best moments featuring the trio friendship, surprises and narrative misdirection, wizard magic, Snape, texts-within-the-text, and those inspirational messages that make the Harry Potter series profound and emotionally resonant to readers worldwide.* Rowling’s Favorite Painting and What It Suggests about Her Artistry and Meaning: Caravaggio’s ‘Supper at Emmaus’Professor Groves suggests strongly that what Rowling took away from her “mesmerised” “slow mining” of Caravaggio’s Supper at Emmaus was the central Mystery of the Incarnation of Christ, the “guiler beguiled” idea of Aulen’s Christus Victor. I find that argument compelling and want to build on it. There are embedded symbols in Supper at Emmaus that I think the fascinated Rowling would have noticed as she looked at the painting in the National Gallery, at the print on her wall in Exeter and London, and at the image on her first website, symbols beyond the “realism” of the Christ as imagined by Caravaggio and the revelation at the breaking of bread of His divinity.* Robin is Sterile Prediction: Chlamydia to Ectopic Pregnancy (December 2023)The thesis of this Hogwarts Professor essay — what I hope will be the subject of our second ‘Rowling Studies’ podcast here — is that Robin Venetia Ellacott will not have children with Murphy, Strike, or any other partner, because she cannot, at least not without some extraordinary efforts via in vitro conception and surrogacy. I will attempt to explain how this infertility is possible, to detail the ‘Lake’ suggestions from Rowling’s life and personal experience that shows she is more than familiar with this condition among women, and to share the ‘Shed’ literary markers in Running Grave and Rowling’s other novels that this is indeed what she has in mind for Strike’s partner Robin.Means Before Motive: How is it Possible that Robin is Sterile?In a word, “Chlamydia.”* The Hallmarked Man’s Mythological Template ‘Cupid and Psyche’s importance for grasping the depths of Strike 8, from the “necessity” of the Silver Vault and the three men in Robin’s life, to spaghetti carbonara and ‘Maid of the Silver Sea’ (links list to previous posts, 2021-present on this subject)* Charlotte Was Murdered, Mate; It Wasn’t a Suicide* The Strange Death of Charlotte Campbell: Could the Psycho-Ex be the Focus of a Murder Investigation...
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    1 h et 24 min
  • Hallmarked Man Reader Theories and Insights

    Hallmarked Man Reader Theories and Insights
    Oct 27 2025
    Nick and John have posted eight Hallmarked Man conversations since its publication last month and, as interesting as their back-and-forth talks have been, South Wales to American Fly Over Country, Lake to Shed, much of the best theorizing and interpreting of Strike 8 has been happening in the comment threads beneath those posts and in email messaging with John. Determined that these insights wouldn’t be lost or invisible to Serious Strikers, they chose ten of the most challenging for a fun introduction to the fandom conversations readers not privy to the backchannel moderators network or who neglect the comment threads are missing.In addition, Nick shares the credible speculation that Rowling’s weeklong absence from tweeting has been because she is on her Samsara yacht in the South Pacific, circling Bora Bora, believe it or don’t. John quizzes Nick, too, about the election in South Wales, Caerphilly to be exact, and the reason the results in that dependably Labour area have the UK buzzing (and why Strike readers might expect the populist party victories will color Strikes 9 and 10).A quick ‘table of contents’ for their hasty review, then, followed by links and transcripts! Enjoy — and, yes, have at in the comment threads, please, the locus of Strike fandom conversations.* Ed Shardlow: Gorilla Ryan* Vicky: Boxes and Plush Toys* Sandra Hope: Traditional Symbolism* Justin Clavet: Only Fans Gaffe (Ed Shardlow -- ‘Not Proven’ error)* Bora Bora* Justin Clavet: On Manhood* Ed Shardlow: Ickabog Parallel Book Theory* Sandra Hope: Hallmarked Man as Rowling’s ‘Greatest Hits’ allusion collection* LC - Dorothy Sayers* Kathleen O’Connor -- Alternative Incest* Caerphilly elections -- UK meaning* Ring Composition ProjectPromised Links and Transcripts:* Ed Shardlow’s ‘Gorilla Ryan’ TheoryThe Ryan the Gorilla theory came to me at the point in the book where Robin has an epiphany following an impulse to look up the meaning of a name. I think this was the Jolanda-Violet realisation, but I thought she’d suddenly realised the full extent of Ryan’s dark side, with the significance being the previously noted meaning of his name “Sea King” suggesting a connection between him and Wade King.That theory seemed very flimsy at first, but on further examination it might have some mileage. There are some notable differences between the attack in the Land Rover and the previous ones. Although we imagine the attacker wearing a gorilla mask, there’s no mention of it, and in fact it says she can see his face. Also the Land Rover attacker makes no demands that she, “Stop” or, “Leave it”. She hits Wade with the pepper spray, which of course, would be difficult for Ryan to cover up, but she didn’t inflict any such injuries on the gorilla attacker. Wade clearly intends to hurt her, whereas the other attacks had no physical violence and look very much like they were just intended to scare her.1) It’s hinted that Branfoot knows about Robin’s rape, and she says it’s on the internet, but we never get any indication that King or Griffiths know about it. Strike and Robin never consider that the attacker might be someone who knows about it because they’re close to Robin. That seems like an oversight.2) The gorilla attacker never refers to a specific case. Murphy may be scaring her into quitting the job and getting away from Strike, whereas a suspect would want her to stop investigating their specific case.3) The police don’t take the rubber gorilla and dagger for DNA testing. That’s pretty strange, unless there’s someone on the inside blocking the investigation.There’s a bit of an issue with the guy in the green jacket, who presumably Robin can see isn’t Ryan when he’s on the industrial estate and outside her flat. Presumably that was Wade.So, there would need to be some explanation for how or why Murphy is wearing the same jacket when he accosts her with the ceremonial dagger. But that’s not insurmountable.Murphy would have been very surprised to encounter Matthew (sic, he means ‘Martin’ -ed.), who he knows from Masham, outside Robin’s flat. The narrative very much prompts us to think there’s something going on with Murphy, but then we put this down to his work issues and associated relapse, but perhaps that blinds us (and Robin) to another possibility. And if it is the case, then Strike hasn’t just let Robin go to dinner with his romantic rival, but she’s heading into mortal danger. Were his instincts subconsciously alerting him to the threat? Did he leave it too late to shout, “Brake!” again?Nicola Reed’s Objection to ‘Gorilla Ryan’ (Sandy Hope, too)Kathleen O’Connor’s Cogent Counterpoint to John’s Incredulity about No One Noticing How Short Faux-Wright was in the Ramsay Silver footageVicky on the Interpretation of Robin’s “Stuffed Toy” DreamBrenna Hill asks ‘Why is the New Ellacott Puppy Named Betty?’Sandra Hope Jumpstarts Conversation...
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    1 h et 49 min
  • Hallmarked Man Q&A with Nick Jeffery and John Granger (2)

    Hallmarked Man Q&A with Nick Jeffery and John Granger (2)
    Oct 18 2025
    Nick Jeffery and John Granger continue their Q&A conversations about Rowling-Galbraith’s Hallmarked Man (if you missed the first discussion, click here to catch up). As usual, the pair promised to send links and notes along with their recorded back and forth for anyone wanting to read more about the subjects they discussed. Scroll down for their seven plus one questions and a bevy of bonus material they trust will add to your appreciation of Rowling’s Strike 8 artistry and meaning. Cheers!Q1: What is the meaning of or artistry involved with Pat Chauncey’s three fish in the Agency’s fish tank, ‘Robin,’ ‘Cormoran,’ and ‘Travolta/Elton’?Mise en Abyme (Wikipedia)In Western art history, mise en abyme (French pronunciation: [miz ɑ̃n‿abim]; also mise en abîme) is the technique of placing a copy of an image within itself, often in a way that suggests an infinitely recurring sequence. In film theory and literary theory, it refers to the story within a story technique.The term is derived from heraldry, and means placed into abyss (exact middle of a shield). It was first appropriated for modern criticism by the French author André Gide. A common sense of the phrase is the visual experience of standing between two mirrors and seeing an infinite reproduction of one’s image. Another is the Droste effect, in which a picture appears within itself, in a place where a similar picture would realistically be expected to appearSnargaloff pods (Harry Potter Wiki)“It sprang to life at once; long, prickly, bramble-like vines flew out of the top and whipped through the air... Harry succeeded in trapping a couple of vines and knotting them together; a hole opened in the middle of all the tentacle-like branches... Hermione snatched her arm free, clutching in her fingers a pod... At once, the prickly vines shot back inside and the gnarled stump sat there looking like an innocently dead lump of wood“— The trio dealing with the Snargaluff plant in sixth year Herbology classSnargaluff was a magical plant with the appearance of a gnarled stump, but had dangerous hidden thorn-covered vines that attacked when provoked, and was usually best handled by more than one person.Juliana’s Question about the Oranda Goldfish:did anyone else notice - I confess to only noticing this on my second re-read of THM- that Travolta, Pat’s third fish, dies?What do we think about this? Could this mean Mr. Ryan F. Murphy dies…? Or could it just be foreshadowing of the fact that him and Robin don’t end up together? I think the fish symbolism was quite humorous and delightful paralleling such a deep and intricate plot. Just wanted to know if anyone noticed this tinge of humor towards the end of the book… As for the fish theory, Pat’s three fish in the tank: Strike, Robin and the third, she calls, Travolta — ironically, named after a “handsome” man. I’m thinking JKR meant Travolta, the fish to symbolize Murphy…What I was referring to in my original comment: the three fish = the love triangle between Ellacott/Murphy/Strike. I was asking: since Travolta died in Chapter 113, do we think this foreshadows Murphy either dying physically, or just that Robin and Murphy do not end up together?John’s ‘Fish and Peas’ Response:It’s a relief to learn that Travolta’s most famous role wasn’t a character named Ryan Murphy that everyone in the world except myself knows very well. Thank you for this explanation!There’s more to your idea, though, I think, then you have shared. Forgive me if you were already aware of this textual argument that suggests very strongly that these Oranda goldfish have been an important part of Rowling’s plan from the series from the start. In brief, it’s about the peas.In Part 2, Chapter 3, of ‘Cuckoo’s Calling,’ Robin and Matt are having their first fight about Strike and the Agency. The chapter ends with an odd note that this disagreement has blemished the Cunliffe couple’s engagement.“She waited until he had walked away into the sitting room before turning off the tap. There was, she noticed, a fragment of frozen pea caught in the setting of her engagement ring.” (73)Your theory that the fish bowl is an embedded picture of the state of Robin’s feelings for Murphy and Strike, a Mise en abyme of sorts, is given credibility in the eyes of this reader by the appearance of frozen peas as the cure for the dying Cormoran goldfish. It is hard for a Rowling Reader to believe that these two mentions of frozen pea fragments were coincidental or unrelated, which means that (a) Rowling had the office Oranda goldfish scene-within-the-scene in Strike 8 foreshadowed by the Strike 1 tiff, and (b) therefore of real significance.There is another pea bit, of course, in ‘Troubled Blood’ at Skegness, a passage that links Robin’s heart or essence with peas.Strike was still watching the starlings when Robin set down two polystyrene trays, two small wooden forks and two cans of ...
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