J. K. Rowling has consistently used the headers to her Twitter (X) account to drop clues to the books she has been working on. You can find all of her previous Twitter headers here. As a special early Christmas present to Strike fans, she has changed her header to a charm bracelet filled with clues for the upcoming ninth in the Strike-Ellacott series. Each of the charms on the bracelet are discussed below:
Link 1
A diamond ring in a heart shaped box. Described by Robert Harris Jewellers as “An attractive vintage 9 carat gold ring box charm. This splendid little charm has a gorgeous heart shaped filigree lid, opening to display a pretty two stone ring. A lovely and interesting item dating to 1966.”
This could be “the silver-coloured band hidden in the depths of Murphy’s wardrobe: a tiny, sparkling shackle.” However this is not a solitaire and the band is gold rather than silver. Could this be a ring from another suitor?
Link 2
A diamond encrusted and enamelled gold egg. This egg is from Fabergé, and is by some distance the most expensive item on the bracelet, retailing at $9,770.
The egg is a universal symbol of creation, rebirth, fertility, and potential. Its ability to contain and birth new life makes it a powerful symbol of renewal, growth, and the afterlife, found in spring rituals and Christian Easter celebrations. Robin’s ectopic pregnancy in The Hallmarked Man was a surprise to all except John Granger. This may represent her difficult decision to freeze her eggs to maintain fertility.
A golden anchor. Anchor symbolism primarily represents safety, stability, hope, strength, and steadfastness, stemming from its nautical function of holding a ship secure; it also signifies strong ties, commitment, and love, especially in relationships, and holds deep roots in Christianity as hope in Christ, often appearing in catacombs as a hidden symbol of faith during persecution. Paired with the egg, this could represent Cormoran Strike’s support for Robin.
Link 3
Possibly Cupid and Psyche, but these figures aren’t very distinct. Twitter user, hsmum has brilliantly identified the Hattern Garden jeweller where the pink Angel was purchased.
Link 4
A Trojan horse. This one looks to be sourced from Ogden a jeweller in Harrogate. They say: “Expertly crafted from high-quality 9ct gold, this charm is designed to open, revealing intricate details inside, adding an element of surprise and intrigue. A symbol of cunning and strategy, the Trojan Horse makes a bold statement while offering a delightful, interactive experience.”
This reader is hoping that Strike reflects on the success of his ‘cunning and strategy’ in Hallmarked Man, and tries another tactic.
Link 5
A Jack-in-a-box. Badly-Wired-Lamp identified this on Twitter, and Worth Point describe this as “A terrific vintage English, solid 9 carat gold charm; beautifully modelled as a jack in the box type toy, with a catch-release revealing a tiny silver horned devil inside on a spring!”
A Jack-in-a-box is the archetypal surprise, and it is certain that Strike 9 will contain its share of surprises.
Link 6
A hourglass. Time may be running out! A similar one is available at Butter Lane Antiques who say: “The hourglass (aka sand timer), along with it’s obvious practical uses, has long been associated with death – particularly the brevity of individual human existence. Often found on grave stones from the middle ages through to the Victorian era, occasionally with the words Fugit Hora (Latin: ‘Hours are Fleeting’ or ‘Time Flies’). This miniature hourglass pendant dates from the late Victorian era, and, while it does measure out a length of time (approx. 3 seconds), it was likely intended as a symbolic Memento Mori piece more than anything else.”
Link 7
The white rose of Yorkshire. Robin Ellacott’s home county. White roses symbolise purity, innocence, new beginnings, and reverence, making them popular for weddings (new union), funerals (remembrance, peace), and as tokens of loyalty, respect, and honour, representing a pure, untainted love or deep admiration. They signify fresh starts, quiet love, spiritual connections, and are a timeless way to express deep emotions from joy to sorrow.
A crocodile or alligator. A crocodile may symbolise power, survival, resilience, and primal energy, but also cunning, deceit, and danger.
Link 8
A golden corvid. A crow or raven. I really wanted this to be a chough to symbolise Cornwall, but the beak looks too thick. As Badly-Wired-Lamp pointed out, Strike has a close encounter with a raven in The Running Grave: “A loud bang made Strike start. A bird had hit the office window. For two seconds, he and the raven blinked at each other and then, in a blur of black feathers, it had gone.”
Link 9
A psalter. J. K. Rowling herself has identified this as: “The book is a psalm book and holds real, miniature psalms.” I can find three of these for sale recently. Two were empty and this one has Psalm 23. I can find other designs with the commandments and the lords prayer.
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
The head of Persephone. Rowling helpfully provided us another view of this charm to help us identify it. This one is sold as a necklace by Common Era. Persephone plays a crucial role in Psyche’s final trial: obtaining a box of her beauty from the underworld to appease Aphrodite. We know already that the myth of Cupid and Psyche will form the framework for the upcoming books, and Psyche in Hades will certainly need psalm 23!
Brilliant – thanks Nick! The Trojan horse, book of psalms and Persephone head are all particularly intriguing. I’ve been waiting for a raven to play a larger role ever since that raven header all those years ago, which I never felt we’ve quite got the pay-off for. As we know from the Pelican header and IBH she is willing to wait a very long time for the link to materialise – so here’s hoping! The crocodile feels like the outlier – a visit to a crocodile farm? (Remembering that very literal fish header!). Hoping it might be crocodile tears….
Great thanks Nick -the crocodile was an Egyptian symbol
of rebirth too could be a fresh start for Strike and Robin 🤞🏼they were also seen as both protector and destroyer 😬 Could be worrying
Thank you Nick, this is so interesting to read and will no doubt keep us busy for a bit. So glad RFG / JKR was feeling generous this Christmas. Personally, I think the ring charm could symbolize Joan’s since I believe she and Ted got married in the 60s when this was a popular style. Maybe Lucy gives Joan’s to Strike? Some hopeful shipping…
Nick, this is wonderful work on the gold charm bracelet. Thank you for the insights into JKR’s current garden of forking paths. Here is a tiny detail tidbit to add to Link 1, the jeweled heart box with the two diamond ring, from 1966. I’ve just reread The Cuckoo’s Calling; and 1966 is the pincode for the security alarms and front door keypad at 18 Kentigern Gardens where Lula Landry was hurled to her death. The reference, which Strike picks up, is to an announcer’s comment at the win of England over Germany in the World Cup final of that year, “they think it’s all over.” Is this an intentional link between book 1 and book 9?
Nick I’ve been thinking about the crocodile charm for days because like Beatrice I felt like of all the charms it is the least endearing. I was also curious about the corvid charm, wondering why it was gold instead of black or silver. So I googled gold bird and plovers popped up, especially the Egyptian plovers that have this weird symbiotic relationship with crocodiles! The crocodile holds its mouth open while the plover gives it a dental cleaning but this is not photographically substantiated. Herodotus writes about it but pictures of this phenomenon are rare. Then I wondered if the corvid charm was generic enough to include plovers but I don’t think so. And then I found this:
“The Egyptian earth god Geb was depicted as a crocodile guarding the gateway to the underworld. Thresholds mark the entry to the unknown, a realm where usual rules do not apply—an apt parallel to the boundary between the ego and the unconscious. Primordial force, seemingly submerged in psyche’s ancient riverbeds, can erupt to drown, dismember and devour the ego’s claim to autonomy. Moments of dissolution in trauma or periods of psychosis have power as crushing as the crocodile’s terrible teeth and gaping maw.”
This was from an article called The Archetype of the Crocodile at thisjungianlife.com I was stunned at how close this seemed to mirror Robin’s state of mind in THM! Will the sweary psychiatrist suggest her box dreams are this crocodile archetype, that overwhelms her sense of self?
Thank you, Nick! That crocodile is an interesting one! What do you think of the possibility that there is a connection to Britomart in the Faerie Queene(a definite Robin connection in Troubled Blood)? In her vigil at Isis Church, Britomart sees a statue of the goddess with a crocodile at her feet. Isis and crocodiles both come from Egypt, but there is much to unpack; that image is one that is often a source of Faerie Queene deep conversations, and there is far more to that statue. Britomart has a dream in which she is impregnated by the crocodile and gives birth to a lion…hmmm, shadows of Baby Lion from Hallmarked Man? There is much to ponder!
Wow! Thank you, Elizabeth that is amazing. I definitely need to read Faerie Queen.
After having listened to the podcast episodes on the bracelet and the associated imagery involving the potential impending death (of some sort) for Robin, I am wondering whether the perfume that Strike bought for Robin might possibly have some association with the biblical story of the woman who poured perfume on the feet of Christ to prepare His body for burial? I know it might be a stretch, but I can easily see Robin stepping into a sacrificial death situation a la Harry Potter.
I posted over at Substack but Rowling mentioned a Fabergé egg timer on X today! If we think of it as an egg timer rather than hour glass it seems to point to Robin’s impending egg freezing decision.