After finishing The Silkworm, and re-reading The Cuckoo’s Calling, one thing is clear: there are a million different directions this series could go. Between Cormoran’s extended and largely dysfunctional family, the assorted supporting characters we’ve met and the tantalizing hints dropped about both the protagonists’ histories, there remain enough questions to fill up the five remaining books, even if our heroes’ never get another paying client (though for the sake of their wallets, I hope they do!)
One thing I have already noted: Strike claims to have eight half-siblings. The Wikipedia article on his rock-star daddy lists 6 through his father; we also know his sister Lucy. Either Rowling miscalculated or Supergroupie Leda still has one more offspring out of there we haven’t heard about yet. Beyond that… will Strike ever establish a relationship with his father? What really happened when Leda died? What drove Robin away from her psychology degree and into the unusual hobby of stunt driving? Why is Charlotte continuing to taunt Cormoran, confirmed child-hater, with a miscarried/aborted/never existent baby. And most importantly, how did Matthew ever manage to slip the otherwise sensible Robin a love potion?
I’ve had a little time to consider John’s idea that the Cormoran Strike series would parallel the 7 books of Harry Potter. Here is my response. Spoilers, ho! [Read more…]
Recent Conversation