Jayson’s Reviews > The Hallmarked Man > Status Update
Jayson
is on page 103 of 912
Notes:
(1) Wait! Is Robin setting up Murphy to cheat on her?
- I mean, imploring him to have drinks with a female co-worker (who clearly wants to steal him away from her), for the sake of gathering intel, feels like pushing him in the line of fire.
(2) It's interesting how Strike's attitude toward Murphy is mirrored by Robin's attitude toward Kim.
- All four are bent on relationship sabotage!
(Continued in comments)
— Sep 06, 2025 03:40AM
(1) Wait! Is Robin setting up Murphy to cheat on her?
- I mean, imploring him to have drinks with a female co-worker (who clearly wants to steal him away from her), for the sake of gathering intel, feels like pushing him in the line of fire.
(2) It's interesting how Strike's attitude toward Murphy is mirrored by Robin's attitude toward Kim.
- All four are bent on relationship sabotage!
(Continued in comments)
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Jayson’s Previous Updates
Jayson
is on page 899 of 912
Notes:
(1) Okay, well that's the case solved!
- Possibly it's recency bias, but the final explanation feels about on par with what we usually get from the series, albeit not nearly as cut-and-dry as I'd like.
- It doesn't help that the main culprit confrontation scene takes place while Strike's losing blood, possibly drunk, and slurring his voice. So, not the most clear-headed and articulate.
(Continued in comments)
— Oct 10, 2025 07:45PM
(1) Okay, well that's the case solved!
- Possibly it's recency bias, but the final explanation feels about on par with what we usually get from the series, albeit not nearly as cut-and-dry as I'd like.
- It doesn't help that the main culprit confrontation scene takes place while Strike's losing blood, possibly drunk, and slurring his voice. So, not the most clear-headed and articulate.
(Continued in comments)
Jayson
is on page 849 of 912
Notes:
(1) "Had Wright really had a pregnant girlfriend? Why had he visited Abused and Accused? Where was the Murdoch silver? What did the eight digits Niall Semple had left for his wife mean? What were the things that Albie Simpson-White had said Decima was better off not knowing?"
- Framed as Robin's inability to move on once the case is closed, we essentially get a checklist of loose ends.
(Continued in comments)
— Oct 09, 2025 12:00PM
(1) "Had Wright really had a pregnant girlfriend? Why had he visited Abused and Accused? Where was the Murdoch silver? What did the eight digits Niall Semple had left for his wife mean? What were the things that Albie Simpson-White had said Decima was better off not knowing?"
- Framed as Robin's inability to move on once the case is closed, we essentially get a checklist of loose ends.
(Continued in comments)
Jayson
is on page 797 of 912
Notes:
(1) Robin Re: Occupational incidents: "It was absurd. It was ludicrous. These things simply didn't happen. And if they did happen, they certainly didn't all happen to the same woman. What was she doing to attract all this? What was wrong with her?"
- Well, isn't it obvious? It's exactly what Strike keeps telling her: she takes needless risks in a job that's already by nature dangerous.
(Continued in comments)
— Oct 05, 2025 08:20PM
(1) Robin Re: Occupational incidents: "It was absurd. It was ludicrous. These things simply didn't happen. And if they did happen, they certainly didn't all happen to the same woman. What was she doing to attract all this? What was wrong with her?"
- Well, isn't it obvious? It's exactly what Strike keeps telling her: she takes needless risks in a job that's already by nature dangerous.
(Continued in comments)
Jayson
is on page 757 of 912
Notes:
(1) So, this is my one-month anniversary of reading this book—Hurrah!
- I speak facetiously, of course. My original plan of 50 pages and an update a day is now laughable in retrospect.
- Already, if you count my running commentary, it's far and away the longest review I've ever written, and may well be among the longest reviews on Goodreads ever. For all I know, I may already be there!
(Continued in comments)
— Oct 04, 2025 01:55AM
(1) So, this is my one-month anniversary of reading this book—Hurrah!
- I speak facetiously, of course. My original plan of 50 pages and an update a day is now laughable in retrospect.
- Already, if you count my running commentary, it's far and away the longest review I've ever written, and may well be among the longest reviews on Goodreads ever. For all I know, I may already be there!
(Continued in comments)
Jayson
is on page 705 of 912
Notes:
(1) I've mentioned previously, with this series, it's usually around 100-pages in that I'll call it, and confidently declare the book 4-stars. Well, that's obviously not happened... until now, kind of. I'm calling it now and rating this 3-stars—a first for this series.
- Frankly, I've been reading this for nearly a month and any novel of that long a burden can't be higher than 3-stars.
(Continued in comments)
— Oct 01, 2025 10:30PM
(1) I've mentioned previously, with this series, it's usually around 100-pages in that I'll call it, and confidently declare the book 4-stars. Well, that's obviously not happened... until now, kind of. I'm calling it now and rating this 3-stars—a first for this series.
- Frankly, I've been reading this for nearly a month and any novel of that long a burden can't be higher than 3-stars.
(Continued in comments)
Jayson
is on page 651 of 912
Notes:
(1) Strike gets hit in the face with a spade: "Though the gash made by the spade had stopped bleeding, the left side of Strike's swollen face was turning purple as the bruises rose to the surface."
- First the muddy fall, then the dog mauling, now this! Strike's been a real punching bag this book!
- SMH... seems like something that might cause someone to postpone a certain declaration.
(Continued in comments)
— Sep 29, 2025 12:30PM
(1) Strike gets hit in the face with a spade: "Though the gash made by the spade had stopped bleeding, the left side of Strike's swollen face was turning purple as the bruises rose to the surface."
- First the muddy fall, then the dog mauling, now this! Strike's been a real punching bag this book!
- SMH... seems like something that might cause someone to postpone a certain declaration.
(Continued in comments)
Jayson
is on page 601 of 912
Notes:
(1) "Robin's Valentine's Day started badly. Murphy had stayed over at her flat ... Murphy was still annoyed that she had to work that evening..."
- How about that? A guy upset about not celebrating Valentine's Day. Not to sound all gender-normative, but you never really see that. Every guy I know would be happy to be let off the hook!
- Plus, why not just do it the night before?
(Continued in comments)
— Sep 27, 2025 04:30AM
(1) "Robin's Valentine's Day started badly. Murphy had stayed over at her flat ... Murphy was still annoyed that she had to work that evening..."
- How about that? A guy upset about not celebrating Valentine's Day. Not to sound all gender-normative, but you never really see that. Every guy I know would be happy to be let off the hook!
- Plus, why not just do it the night before?
(Continued in comments)
Jayson
is on page 551 of 912
Notes:
(1) Robin makes homemade pepper spray from "a potent mixture of chillies, cayenne pepper, garlic and vinegar."
- I don't know too much about UK law, but if pepper spray is illegal, isn't this the equivalent of 3D-printing a handgun?
- Garlic's an interesting addition. You'd think all the other ingredients would be harsh enough already. Is it to make it extra-effective against vampires?
(Continued in comments)
— Sep 25, 2025 07:40PM
(1) Robin makes homemade pepper spray from "a potent mixture of chillies, cayenne pepper, garlic and vinegar."
- I don't know too much about UK law, but if pepper spray is illegal, isn't this the equivalent of 3D-printing a handgun?
- Garlic's an interesting addition. You'd think all the other ingredients would be harsh enough already. Is it to make it extra-effective against vampires?
(Continued in comments)
Jayson
is on page 497 of 912
Notes:
(1) I don't know what to make of how Robin's been written thus far. She's like a totally different person!
- At best, one could argue that multiple traumatic events have caused her not to be her usual self; but even that doesn't explain her ridiculous thought process.
- Honestly, it feels like most of my notes this book are just me reacting with bewilderment to Robin's wacky reasoning.
(Continued in comments)
— Sep 23, 2025 12:25AM
(1) I don't know what to make of how Robin's been written thus far. She's like a totally different person!
- At best, one could argue that multiple traumatic events have caused her not to be her usual self; but even that doesn't explain her ridiculous thought process.
- Honestly, it feels like most of my notes this book are just me reacting with bewilderment to Robin's wacky reasoning.
(Continued in comments)
Jayson
is on page 452 of 912
Notes:
(1) "Yet Strike had form on hiding things about his sex life, as Robin knew only too well..."
- It might just be me, but aren't sex lives meant to be private? I feel like we all agreed on that.
- Why does Robin feel entitled to know anything about Strike's sex life?
- If you ask me, Strike's not "hiding" anything, he's just being a decent human being and (I daresay) a gentleman.
(Continued in comments)
— Sep 20, 2025 09:30PM
(1) "Yet Strike had form on hiding things about his sex life, as Robin knew only too well..."
- It might just be me, but aren't sex lives meant to be private? I feel like we all agreed on that.
- Why does Robin feel entitled to know anything about Strike's sex life?
- If you ask me, Strike's not "hiding" anything, he's just being a decent human being and (I daresay) a gentleman.
(Continued in comments)
- Being November 2016, I was wondering how this would handle the inevitable topic of Donald Trump.
- One thing I appreciate about this series is that it's fairly agnostic when it comes to modern politics. It's always been very clever in not having either main character express a clear political bias, which keeps them both universally likeable. No one wants to feel admonished in their escapist immersions, no less by beloved characters.
- Having said that, this isn't a non-political series. Characters have opinions, they just keep the clearly divisive ones to themselves, as one does in polite company. We (readers), are the polite company.
- While Strike's pretty much apolitical, Robin's politics are fairly clear, though only if you read between the lines.
- One aspect of this series that's often overlooked is how much of a time capsule it is for the date its set. It's never been set in the present: the first book was set three years prior, and it's only spanned six years over the course of eight books published from 2013-2025. I'd even go as far as to count it as historical fiction. In which case, of course it's going to mention things like the Royal Wedding, the 2012 Olympics, the 2015 UK General Election, and Donald Trump. Because how could it not? Though it does so in a way that acknowledges, reacts, but never alienates.
(4) Murphy disapproving of Strike's use of police contacts and involvement in police matters—and Robin's defense of Strike—are some delicious cracks starting up in their relationship.
- After all, it's Robin's business too, so it's in her interest to exploit police resources if available.
(5) Kim being passive-aggressive about (Robin's) divorce and Robin's satisfaction at Strike ignoring Kim in favor of her is just the perfect amount of office cattiness.
- They have a very Betty and Veronica dynamic... clearly, Robin is Betty and Kim is Veronica.
(6) Shanker here plays the part of The Baker Street Irregulars.
- Having street contacts and being able to go places Strike and Robin can't, he's put on drug dealer duty... as in inquiring about a drug dealer, not being one.
(7) Strike spending his birthday with Robin and Murphy seems like the opposite of a party... the presence of pizza and pudding notwithstanding.
- The work spouse meeting the actual spouse (or boyfriend in this case), I'd say it's awkward for everyone involved!
(8) Here's what I don't get about Robin, she resents Murphy's suspicions about her and Strike's relationship yet she just admitted (in that one really long sentence) that she's in love with Strike.
- You can't have it both ways! Seems to me Murphy's concerns are entirely justified.
(9) Robin to herself: "[Strike's] not in love with you, he was just being an annoying sod."
- I mean, can't both be true?
(10) "[Robin's] flat was mostly unchanged since the last time Strike had been here, when he'd been sleeping over, though unfortunately only on the sofa bed."
- Why unfortunately? Where else would he sleep at Robin's place? ... Oh!
(11) Info-dumping chapters are my least favorite, though the summit at Robin's flat is at least spiced up with jealous tension.
- The interview with Ramsay later on, well, not so much. Unless you consider Ramsay glancing down at Robin's chest a couple times "spicy."
(12) We get the meaning of the book's title at the end of Chapter 12.
- Apparently, a hallmark is a letter carved into something. In this case, a man's back.
- Fairly early for a titular reference. I remember it took forever for the meaning of "Lethal White" to get explained.
(13) Strike's guiding principle in terms of decision making seems to be whatever result might best drive a wedge between Robin and Murphy.
- I guess Strike can't really have his feelings talk with Robin so long as she's in a relationship.
- Against his better judgement, he wants to take the case simply because Murphy doesn't want him to.
- Murphy, I suppose, doesn't want Strike getting any more fame or plaudits by showing up the cops again. The business, and its success, is what binds Strike and Robin professionally.
(14) This awkward meal between Robin, Murphy and Strike reminds me a lot of that awkward meal between Robin, Matthew and Strike. I believe it was at a pub.
- Seems like an intentional callback to me.
- The main difference is that Robin wanted Matthew and Strike to be friends, whereas Strike and Murphy were already friends, but much less so now.
(15) I guess I jumped the gun when I suggested that Strike couldn't have his feelings discussion with Robin while she was still in a relationship with Murphy.
- He seems to have it teed up for some future investigative road trip or whatnot.
(16) Bold Prediction: Murphy will propose to Robin while at her parents' home over the holidays!
- Possibly he'll take the opportunity to ask Robin's dad for his blessing... he seems like the type.
(17) Strike to Robin: "But, if investigating [the case] is going to cause trouble between you and Murphy, we'll pass."
- Strike cleverly manipulates Robin into insisting they take the case by playing on her professional pride.
- Strike's essentially a homewrecker at this point... is it bad of me for cheering him on?
(18) "No matter the risks, no matter the possible fallout, [Strike] now intended to seize the first auspicious moment to tell [Robin] what he felt, and if no such opportunity arose naturally, he'd engineer one."
- Yeah, I'll believe that when I see it. It's been eight books of this adolescent hemming-and-hawing melodrama!
- Well, at least it adds tension to every moment they're alone together. That's something.