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.
Among the list of cases they are currently working with, Postcard reads like a dark retelling of Hagrid’s over-the-top Owl Post attempt from the opening of Philosopher’s Stone. “Yet they gave evidence of knowing far more about the man’s movements and private life than a stranger should have.”
Evan: This is a more brilliant insight than you realize. Well done!
I loved this part:
“She and Barclay had once gone digging for a body together, and such things create a bond.”
Because it made me think: like fighting a troll! 😀
Beth: I love that connection! And, I am really liking Barclay more and more as this book progresses. If Cormoran and Robin are Harry and Hermione, I nominate Barclay for Ron.
Another connection to CC: It is the only other book where Strke’s fondness for Tom Waits is mentioned.
If we want a connection to LW, we have Robin and Barclay “digging” up a body, and using almost the same language when prying up something heavy.
Robin (in LW): “Come-on-you-bloody-thing”
Barclay (in TB): “Come-oan-you-f******r”
Though, I must say, I was disappointed to see Izzy get a cameo, but not find out if the Stubbs was real.
Evan’s brilliant comparison of Postcard with the Letters from No One paid off in spades, as the culprit was twice described as “owlish.”
Anna is 11 when her life is upended by the revelation that she has been lied to about her parentage all her life, just as Harry was. The recovery of her mother’s locket with her own baby picture in it brings comfort to her at the end, just as Hagrid’s gift of a photo album to Harry comforts him.
In TB Part 1 Chapter 1, there’s a reference to a child being left with a parent’s sibling with a note as explanation.
“Precisely what Leda had said in the note she left on the kitchen table, Strike had never known.”
In Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Chapter 1 Dumbledore leaves Harry on the doorstep with a letter.
“He laid Harry gently on the doorstep, took a letter out of his cloak, tucked it inside Harry’s blankets, and then came back to the other two.”
Another great catch, Tara!