When J.K. Rowling kept Marcus Flint around for an 8th year in Hogwarts, the term “flint” was adopted as a word for an error or continuity mistake in the Harry Potter series.  Some, such as James and Lily emerging from Voldy’s Wand in the wrong order, were even corrected in later editions.

The Cormoran Strike series, sadly, is not immune from this tendency. We have, for instance, heard Strike muse about having both eight and seven half-siblings. Ciara Porter of Cuckoo’s Calling mysteriously changed her surname to Parker by Lethal White.  And so on…  

I’m starting this post for readers to make note of any errors they spot when reading and re-reading Troubled Blood.  I’ll start my list after the jump; please be aware there could be spoilers there or in the comments section.

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This is the final place for any Troubled Blood parallels with any Harry Potter material other than Order of the Phoenix—  or any other Rowling writing, for that matter.  Fantastic Beast allusions welcome. Bonus points for anyone wanting to make comparisons to Casual Vacancy or the Ickabog. 

But, just as we expect lots of parallels between Cuckoo’s Calling and Troubled Blood, we are particularly interested in parallels to the first book in the Harry Potter series.

I’ll just point out one…  and I won’t even spoiler protect it since it is on the cover.  From the opening chapter of Philosopher’s Stone: 

It was a very odd watch. It had twelve hands but no numbers; instead, little planets were moving around the edge.

Sounds a lot like the Hampton Court Astronomy Clock.

Because of the many parallels between Philosopher’s Stone and Order of the Phoenix, Headmaster John has speculated we could see a lot fo echoes of Cuckoo’s Calling in Troubled Blood.  Did you find any?  If so, add them to the comments.  Somehow, I doubt we’ll break the Lethal White record, but who knows?

Spoilers after the jump.

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It is  a truth universally acknowledged, at least on Hogwarts Professor,   that the Cormoran  Strike series is running parallel to Harry Potter:  the many links (see here and here) between Lethal White and Goblet of Fire should be enough to convince any readers more astute than Crabbe and Goyle.  Because of that, we should expect to find parallels between the fifth books of both series.  So, did you see any Dolores Umbridge’s?  Weasley Kings?  Nigredo?  Tell us in the comments!  A full list will be compiled later.  [Read more…]

Starting out on publication day with a test of the ring-structure hypothesis!  If the Cormoran Strike series follows the same pattern as Harry Potter, and the many parallels of Lethal White with Cuckoo’s Calling (see here, here, and here) suggests is does, there should be many points of linkage between Books Three and Five.  All serious Strikers who, like me, are devouring the book as soon as it gets into our hands should make note of them in the comments.  Headmaster John will compile a master list later!

Spoilers after the jump! [Read more…]