The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith/JK Rowling

The Hallmarked Man is not a favorite, but I applaud its complex story and cast of characters (even though I had to go back often to determine who was who) and how Strike and Robin’s personal story moved forward. Not an easy task following the conclusion of The Running Grave.

Reading the entire series in order is probably the best way to enjoy this 8^th book in particular. It reaches back into previous stories and characters more than any of the others in my view.

The use of actual locations (such as Sark and several pubs -- The Engineer, The Falcon, The Prince of Wales), which I pause to look up to get a feel for where Strike and Robin meet or hang out, makes the story more compelling. I’ve heard JK Rowling say she visits these places which is probably why she can bring them to life so vividly. The terrorist attack on Westminster Bridge is another example of reality feeding fiction.

Another location, the Denmark Street agency office stairwell, is a prominent location for big plot developments from the very beginning of the series. So interesting to see that particular spot incorporated once again in a significant way in The Hallmarked Man.

There are tough scenes that crop up in all the Strike novels, but The Hallmarked Man in particular has sections that were difficult to read. I make a special effort not to let them ruin my enjoyment of the rest of the book.

JK Rowling did an excellent interview series in three parts called “On Writing.” In Part One, she said she wrote the final chapter of book 8 (The Hallmarked Man) first, not her usual approach. But she knew where she was heading. She said, “It’s a very important final chapter for the whole series. I doubt any word of it would change. It’s completely formed.”

I get that now.

The Perks of a Book Series

 

Similar to a television series, readers of book series have the joy of coming back for more not just week-after-week, but any time they want. They don’t have to wait on the whims of programmers to learn what happens next in the live of the characters who populate a story. The big difference is a reader must call upon his own imagination to envision these individuals – how they look, feel and react to their day-to-day experiences, typically filled with drama.

Watching programs like Succession, The White Lotus, or The Newsroom provides a level of excitement viewers likely lack in their own lives. But then, often more than a year might pass before the next installment. What to do?

I turn to detective books, often in series format. My favorite is JK Rowling/Robert Galbraith’s Cormoran Strike series (which is now also a TV show). While I wait for the next installment to come out, I have other inspiring authors I can rely to. Favorites have been Tana French, PD James, and Louise Penny. Most recently, books by Faith Martin and her main protagonist, Hillary Green, are filling the void nicely.

Women are often the more clever crime solvers. I’ve been following Robin Ellicott, and her skill development, for years and anxiously await the next chapter in her life, romantically and professionally. September 2, 2025 is on my calendar for the release of Book 7, The Hallmarked Man.

As a crime/mystery writer myself, it is not surprising that I have taken the series approach to my work as well. As I create my protagonists – Hannah Hart and Mike Gavin – I become invested in their lives, learning more about them as I write each book. It’s also important to provide enough backstory to allow for stand-alone possibility. That information needs to be carefully woven into the story line to maintain the plot’s integrity. A challenge, but very doable.