Book Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Cormoran Strike – Book 8

Book summary by chapter of The Hallmarked Man. Includes spoilers from the appearance of the ring to the end of the book. A hallmark can certify metal—but also scars. Cormoran Strike inherits a ring from his mother that drags him back into the wreckage of his childhood. Through murders laced with poetry and warped pasts, he and Robin chase a killer who carves his mark into living flesh. Truth gleams like cursed silver: revealing old horrors and new choices. As the case closes, there’s no kiss or vow—just a shared path, clearer than ever.

Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott in a damp underground corridor, surrounded by cracked tiles, a broken phone, and silent tension – Chapter-by-chapter Summary - The Hallmarked Man

Introduction – The Hallmarked Man

Justice was never pure—but now, it’s unclear who even holds it. In The Hallmarked Man, the eighth book in the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith, crime takes the shape of memory, and the past stops echoing—it strikes. This time, the case doesn’t arrive with paperwork, but with a cry long ignored, returning now to destroy everything in its path.

Strike, physically weakened, takes on a high-risk investigation into a network of abuse buried for decades. The victim doesn’t want money—not even justice—just the truth. As he follows the trail of a group as powerful as it is untouchable, Robin must navigate the lingering scars from their previous mission, the fears that no longer stay silent, and the emotional bond that deepens in the most painful of silences.

Because when truth comes marked, every answer can leave a new wound. To follow this story from the very beginning, start here: Reading order of Cormoran Strike ➤

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Reading Order ➤

Chapter Navigation

• Chapter 1 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – A Painful Journey to Delamore Lodge

• Chapter 15 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Stolen Silver and a Nameless Corpse

• Chapter 30 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Confessions, Lies, and a Broken Friendship

• Chapter 45 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Oz’s Shadow and the Name of the Killer

• Chapter 60 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Jealousy, Surveillance, and a Costly Mistake

• Chapter 75 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Disappearances, Threats, and Personal Dilemmas

• Chapter 90 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Secret of Barnaby Rudge and the Hidden Junkyard

• Chapter 105 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Rokeby’s Forgiveness and Robin’s Confession

• Chapter 120 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Semple’s Corpse and Shah’s Redemption

FIRST PART

Chapter 1 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – A Painful Journey to Delamore Lodge

Under the incessant rain of Kent, Cormoran Strike drives wearily toward Delamore Lodge, annoyed by Robin’s absence, sick for the first time in six years. His body aches after the days in Cornwall, where his uncle Ted died and he himself carried boxes and memories alongside his sister Lucy. Nostalgia, physical exhaustion, and emotional weight accompany him throughout the journey. Although he had considered canceling the meeting, he decided to go ahead out of a mixture of professional responsibility and the need for distraction. He reflects on his relationship with Lucy, his suppressed grief, and the symbolic value of the few objects he took from his childhood home. As he drives toward the unsettling house of his potential client, Decima Mullins, his suspicions about a woman he considers melodramatic increase. About to reach his destination, his bad mood grows along with a deep distrust of what awaits him in that unexpected encounter.

Chapter 2 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Secret Buried at Delamore Lodge

Delamore Lodge turns out to be a ruinous house, with broken windows and an untended garden, far from the style Strike had imagined. There he is greeted by Decima Mullins, disheveled and nervous, who demands absolute confidentiality, especially about her whereabouts. During the interview, Decima reveals unexpected connections: she is the sister of Valentine Longcaster and is related to Sacha Legard, both names linked to Strike’s tormented past. Her request is unusual: she wants Strike to prove the true identity of a corpse found in the vault of a jewelry store, convinced it is her missing partner, Rupert Fleetwood. Although the media claimed it was a thief named Jason Knowles, Decima says she has information from a retired chief inspector that indicates otherwise. She believes the body belongs to Rupert and maintains there are physical and temporal coincidences. In desperation, she asks for help to confirm her suspicion. Strike, incredulous, perceives emotional instability in her and serious doubts about her version.

Chapter 3 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Hospital, the Lie, and Robin’s Loss

Robin Ellacott is not sick as her boyfriend said, but hospitalized after a medical emergency: she suffered an ectopic pregnancy that required the removal of a fallopian tube. Without telling Strike anything, she tries to hide the situation, avoiding letting her mother find out. Internally, she struggles with guilt, bewilderment, and physical pain. While connected to an IV drip, she reflects on when the contraceptive failure occurred, related to a moment of tension with Murphy, her partner. The surgeon’s diagnosis is devastating: the other tube is also damaged, and he suggests Robin consider egg freezing. Although the medical team treats her kindly, she feels isolated, silent, absorbed by disbelief. She cannot process the news or project the future. The recent case she worked on, infiltrating a dangerous cult, also continues to affect her mind. With no strength to speak, she ignores her mother’s call and sinks into emptiness.

Chapter 4 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Doubts About the Found Body and Dangerous Connections

From his car, Strike calls Robin to tell her what happened with Decima Mullins. She, still in the hospital, pretends to have a throat illness and listens in silence. Strike summarizes Decima’s strange request: to prove that her partner, Rupert Fleetwood, is the corpse found in a jewelry vault. Although the dead man was initially identified as Jason Knowles, a thief with a record, doubts about his identity still persist. The connection with figures from Strike’s past, such as Valentine Longcaster and Sacha Legard, complicates the case emotionally. Robin suggests that if they don’t take the investigation, Decima will seek another detective. Although Strike perceives imbalance in the woman, he considers investigating minimally to confirm whether the police truly identified the body with certainty. The conversation between the partners revives unresolved tensions related to the late Charlotte. Robin, uncomfortable and emotionally vulnerable, ends the call when she senses Murphy is about to enter her room.

Chapter 5 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Consequences of Silence and a Shared Mistake

Robin receives her boyfriend Ryan Murphy at the hospital. He arrives distressed and laden with gifts, but both avoid dramatizing the situation. When explaining the diagnosis, Robin feels a mix of shame and pain, revealing that the infection that damaged her tubes may have been the result of an untreated illness following a rape in her adolescence. Murphy blames himself for the condom failure during a conflicted night between them, but Robin absolves him. She, however, recognizes that she should have taken the morning-after pill but prioritized work. Both process what happened with difficulty, not knowing how to face the implications for their future. Robin insists on keeping the secret from her family, especially her mother, and says she will be able to manage on her own when she returns home. Despite the fragility of the moment, they cling to the idea of moving forward together, though with a wound that has not yet healed.

Chapter 6 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Ted’s Legacy and the Truth Strike Doesn’t Want to Admit

Cormoran Strike returns to his office on Denmark Street feeling down after his beloved uncle Ted’s funeral. Although he tries to distract himself with pending cases, he becomes obsessed with searching images of Charlotte and her social circle, reopening old emotional wounds. While investigating Rupert Fleetwood and his surroundings, including chef Decima and her family, he uncovers complex relationships and details that strengthen his decision not to take Decima’s case. Kim Cochran, a new member of the agency, arrives with progress on a suspect named Plug, involved in a dark family situation. After meeting with Kim, Strike cooks alone in his apartment, submerged in deep sadness, reflecting on his suppressed feelings for Robin Ellacott. He remembers Ted as the only example of a “right man,” and with renewed impetus, decides that the time has come to act on the emotional front before it is too late.

Chapter 7 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Investigation of the Corpse in the Silver Vault

Robin is discharged from the hospital after surgery but fails to recover emotionally. Plagued by nightmares and persistent anxiety, she tries to focus on the investigation of the mysterious murder in the silver vault. Through a series of articles, she discovers that the mutilated body found in the Ramsay Silver business vault was identified as Jason Knowles, although many theories pointed to Masonic rituals. The case became a media phenomenon, with speculation about symbolic execution, until authorities dismissed any connection to Freemasonry. Robin, however, maintains doubts, especially because of Decima’s insistence that the corpse could be her missing boyfriend, Rupert Fleetwood. As she tries to reconnect with reality, she receives a call from Kim Cochran, who suggests an emotional rapprochement between her and Strike. This insinuation seeds discomfort in Robin, who begins to wonder if the feelings she has tried to repress for her partner are resurfacing more strongly.

Chapter 8 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Rupert Fleetwood’s Aunt’s Lies

While surveilling a client’s ex-wife, Strike contacts Rupert Fleetwood’s aunt, Anjelica Wallner, by phone in search of answers about his whereabouts. The conversation, however, turns into an explosion of hostility. Anjelica, of explosive and haughty character, accuses Decima of being self-interested and spurns any attempt at reconciliation between her and Rupert. Although she claims her nephew is in New York and that the police are satisfied with his whereabouts, her evasions leave Strike with more questions than answers. She admits that Rupert had been threatened, but attributes it to bad decisions and dangerous friendships, especially related to drugs. Her refusal to provide more details or direct contact with Rupert increases Strike’s suspicions about a more complex situation. This conversation confirms his perception that Decima’s case is riddled with family secrets, money, old resentments, and possibly a danger they have not yet fully understood.

Chapter 9 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Robin, Between Love, Guilt, and Truth

In the midst of her physical recovery, Robin receives a visit from Murphy, who brings her dinner and shows genuine concern. However, the conversation turns tense when he mentions the idea of freezing her eggs, a proposal that awakens in Robin a mix of sadness, anger, and confusion. Although Murphy shows willingness to support her, she feels invaded and pressured. Added to this is the revelation that, in order to obtain police information on the silver vault corpse, Murphy will have to contact a woman with whom he had a romantic past. Robin, hurt but determined, accepts this condition, aware that the search for truth weighs more than her discomfort. In parallel, she confirms that she loves Murphy but also acknowledges that Strike still occupies an emotional space she has not managed to vacate. The conversation about children, trauma, and work exposes deep differences that Robin would prefer to continue ignoring.

Chapter 10 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Reunions, Birthdays, and a Promise of Information

Strike’s birthday begins with discomfort, as he prefers to avoid celebrations. However, upon arriving at the office, he finds a festive atmosphere organized by his colleagues, including gifts and a cake from Pat. Robin officially returns to work, showing renewed enthusiasm. During a team meeting, several cases are discussed, including surveillance of the suspect Plug and progress with the client nicknamed “Mr. A.” Kim Cochran provides new information and mentions the suspension of the investigator on the silver vault case, which rekindles doubts about the corpse’s identity. Robin receives a message from Murphy: he has obtained the information she asked for but warns that it is extremely sensitive. This reinforces the importance of the case for Robin and the emotional closeness she feels to Strike, who appears genuinely happy for her return. While everyone celebrates with cake, Robin and Strike agree to speak privately, aware of how much remains to be said.

Chapter 11 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Murphy’s Revelation and the Tension in Robin’s Apartment

Robin invites Strike to dinner at her apartment with Murphy, who has obtained confidential information about the case of the body found in the vault. The dinner, although apparently casual, is charged with tension. Murphy reveals that the corpse, publicly identified as Jason Knowles, has not actually been officially confirmed for strategic reasons: the murdered man could have been an informant infiltrating an arms trafficking network. The brutality of the crime suggests a planned settling of accounts. While Murphy insists they should not take the case, Strike begins to consider otherwise, especially because of the physical similarities between Knowles and Rupert Fleetwood, Decima’s missing boyfriend. Murphy’s authoritarian tone annoys both partners, and Strike responds with cold courtesy, stating that they must discuss it before making a decision. The atmosphere among the three becomes uncomfortable, and Strike says goodbye saying he has a date with Bijou, leaving Robin visibly affected.

Chapter 12 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Lies, Jealousy, and Not-So-Professional Decisions

Robin prepares her apartment for the visit from Strike and Murphy, feeling uncomfortable for having lied about Strike’s current relationship with Bijou Watkins. Inside, she continues to reflect on whether the feelings she is experiencing for her partner are real or a fantasy derived from their close working relationship. The dinner takes place with increasing tensions: Murphy is clearly hostile toward Strike, while the latter maintains a provocatively calm attitude. Murphy delivers highly confidential information about the case: Knowles, the presumed victim, had dangerous connections and was executed by his own uncle, suspecting he was an infiltrator. The body was purposely disfigured to prevent identification. Despite the seriousness of the case, Strike seems to enjoy confronting Murphy and ends the evening by telling a lie about a supposed date with Bijou. Robin is caught between two men who are silently competing for something more than an investigation: her trust, her time, and perhaps her love.

Chapter 13 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Decision Made: The Corpse Case Will Be Theirs

Robin and Strike meet again during surveillance in Belgravia, and although she still feels embarrassed about the lie regarding the “lawyer girlfriend,” he shows understanding and even humor about the matter. While following a client’s ex-wife, Strike shares that Decima Mullins has contacted him again, begging him to investigate the identity of the corpse. Despite the risks and Murphy’s opposition, Robin agrees to take the case alongside Strike, emphasizing that the truth matters more than personal tensions. Strike, for his part, internally acknowledges that this investigation will be his perfect opportunity to be closer to Robin, taking advantage of joint trips and private moments. Both show a genuine interest in solving the mystery of the body in the vault, but their decisions are also motivated by hidden feelings. The chapter ends with Strike determined not to let more time pass before confessing what he feels for her.

SECOND PART

Chapter 14 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Murder at the Heart of the Temple

On the first of December, Robin leaves a surveillance to meet with Strike in front of Freemasons’ Hall. They walk toward Ramsay Silver, the shop where William Wright’s body was found. Kenneth Ramsay, the owner of the shop, welcomes them warmly and recounts the discovery of the corpse: mutilated, naked, with a Masonic sash and a Salem cross carved on the back. The crime took place in the underground vault, where he now allows them to enter. Ramsay mentions that Wright seemed interested in Freemasonry, having searched terms like “vigilante justice” and “ritual murder” on his computer. He also had sent a strange email to someone named Osgood. Ramsay recalls that Wright briefly left that Friday for a duplicate delivery, an event that could have been key. Strike and Robin perceive that the shop’s security was minimal, facilitating a possible internal robbery. As they return to the street, the case becomes more intriguing: Masonic ritual or criminal cover‑up?

Chapter 15 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Stolen Silver and a Nameless Corpse

After visiting the vault, Strike and Robin walk along Wild Street, theorizing that the thieves escaped with the stolen silver from there. In a nearby pub, they examine the catalog of the stolen items, all unique Masonic pieces of great symbolic value. Robin questions the motive: why steal items so difficult to sell? Both doubt that Lynden Knowles, a traditional criminal, is behind the crime. They also analyze the email sent by Wright to a certain Osgood and review possible identities of the corpse, dismissing Tyler Powell and Niall Semple due to lack of solid evidence. Robin, still uneasy about having lied to Murphy about Bijou Watkins, suspects that Inspector Truman may be a Mason, given his erratic behavior. The conversation turns to the moral dilemma of the case. Strike argues that helping Decima, even if they do not reveal that Wright was Fleetwood, can give her closure. Robin, increasingly involved, agrees with that approach.

Chapter 16 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Jealousy, Disappearances, and a Secret Plan

Strike discovers that Robin and Murphy are house‑hunting together, which generates a mix of jealousy and frustration in him. Even so, he decides to use the corpse case as an excuse to spend more time with Robin: trips, confidentiality, and exclusive investigation. Meanwhile, Robin works from home reviewing Niall Semple’s profile, a former paratrooper with mental issues who disappeared after his mother’s death. He had left his car near the airport but was never found. Semple’s wife is still waiting for him. Robin feels compassion for her, but nothing connects Semple to Wright. Meanwhile, Strike calls Graham Hardacre, an old military comrade and Mason, to ask for help with the symbols found on the body. He also contacts Sacha Legard, who agrees to talk about Valentine Longcaster but remains distant. Strike decides to travel to see Sacha in person. Between advances and new leads, his romantic and professional plans dangerously intertwine.

Chapter 17 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Suspicions, Jealousy, and a Lost Key

Strike informs Robin that Barclay was detained while surveilling a property in Ipswich, although the police released him without charges. He then tells her that Kim solved the “Mr. A.” client’s case, leaving her free on Sunday. Robin spends it with Murphy at a lunch by the Thames, where they agree to visit a house in Wanstead. Although she tries to relax, Robin hides her discomfort over the tensions with Strike and her secret about the corpse case. On Monday, both visit the boarding house where Wright lived. Mandy, a neighbor, greets them and describes Wright as muscular, tanned, and paranoid, always fearing someone. She recalls that he asked her to deny his presence if anyone inquired about him and mentioned someone named “Rita Linda.” He also had a strange sample of blood in a tube. Mandy comments that Wright was visited by a young Asian woman and a man with dark glasses, both with a key. After his death, they took his suitcase.

Chapter 18 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – An Unexpected Lead and Mysterious Visitors

Inside the flat, Mandy and her partner Daz provide details about William Wright. They say he was reserved, feigned an accent, and lived in constant fear. Mandy saw him with a young woman of Southeast Asian appearance wearing a floral pink blouse, who arrived with a suitcase and left soon after. The second visitor was a white man with curly hair and dark glasses who arrived with an empty suitcase and left with it full. Both had keys, suggesting unauthorized access after the death. Strike and Robin suspect they took key evidence. Additionally, Wright spoke of someone called “Rita Linda” and had shown a tube of blood, alluding to a possible sample against an assailant. Mandy compares photos of Tyler Powell and Rupert Fleetwood with Wright but is not sure. The couple also confirm that Wright spoke as if someone was pursuing him. The visit leaves more questions open and reinforces the mystery of the case.

Chapter 19 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Texts, Tensions, and New Connections

Robin and Murphy visit a house in Wanstead that does not meet their expectations. After parting ways, Robin goes to a pub alone. Meanwhile, Strike, also in a pub, texts her asking about the visit. The messaging intensifies as they analyze AbusedAndAccused.org, the forum William Wright consulted. The site is filled with desperate accused people and users seeking revenge. They also agree to inform the police about the visitors to the flat. When Robin sees on Strike’s phone a message from Kim saying “SO SEXY,” she feels jealous. Strike asks her opinion of Kim, admitting that it is starting to irritate him. Robin feels relieved. They coordinate to meet the next day to review case images. Robin senses a change in Strike’s tone and wonders if something more is happening. The conversation leaves an emotional tension latent between them as Wright’s case becomes increasingly murky.

Chapter 20 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Case Complicates and the Clock Is Ticking

A threatening message arrives on the agency’s voicemail, demanding that a case be abandoned without specifying which one. While Pat installs an aquarium, Strike receives a call from Calvin Osgood, whose name was stolen by someone called “Oz,” a man with curly hair and a fake Instagram account. Oz is linked to Wright by an email. Meanwhile, Robin and Strike review new recordings from the Ramsay Silver shop, discovering that Pamela, the manager, mishandled protocol: the vault was left open that night and Wright briefly left. Both returned, but later the vault was shut down and the crime occurred. The corpse appeared mutilated, with a Masonic sash, and the hands were missing. It is confirmed that the police were unaware of the visitors to the flat. Robin compliments Strike’s shirt and they feel they are close to a key breakthrough. Wright’s case tightens, full of symbols, deception, and hidden risks.

Chapter 21 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Warnings and Secrets from the Shadows

Strike meets with Shanker in a Clapham pub to talk about the case of the body in the vault. Shanker reveals that Rupert Fleetwood was not murdered, but rather paid Dredge to leave him alone. However, the most shocking part is that the corpse in the vault was not Jason Knowles, who was indeed killed, but elsewhere. Shanker warns that the man found was the victim of a professional hit, and that investigating could put Strike in danger. The killer allegedly worked for a powerful Freemason who ordered the execution to silence a blackmail attempt. Though he has no names, Shanker is certain the Masonic circle is involved. Despite his doubts, Strike senses Shanker is being truthful, and begins to suspect the investigation has led them into dangerous territory protected by powerful influences. Intrigued and alert, he decides to visit Wild Court, the crime scene, to continue connecting the dots.

Chapter 22 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Doubts, Loyalties, and the Price of Continuing the Investigation

Strike calls Robin to tell her about Shanker’s warning regarding the body in the vault and the danger of continuing the investigation. Robin, at home with Murphy, is forced to reply cryptically to avoid raising suspicion. In the morning, Robin resumes surveillance of Plug and ends up following his teenage son through the streets of Camberwell, suspecting he is acting on his father’s orders. Meanwhile, Strike waits at Liberty’s and loathes the task of buying Christmas gifts. They speak on the phone and analyze the alleged contract killing: they believe the setup in the Masonic store doesn’t make sense if the killer wanted to avoid suspicion. Despite the warning signs, Robin believes that abandoning the case won’t reduce the risk, as the killers might assume they’re still investigating. They both conclude it’s better to be aware of the threat. Between jokes and tension, their professional bond continues to grow stronger.

Chapter 23 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Scandals, Resentments, and New Clues

Robin and Strike barely see each other, occupied with other cases, but they continue to dig for data about the body in the vault. In parallel, the trial of Mitch Patterson draws public attention: his former employee Farah Navabi testifies against him, leading to a conviction for espionage. An article signed by Culpepper attacks Strike, portraying him as manipulative and promiscuous, with anonymous quotes that Robin recognizes likely came from Nina. Although the piece infuriates Robin, she considers it unfair. While surveilling Two-Times, she receives a message from Murphy containing the article, which increases her annoyance. Later, a call from Ironbridge informs her that Tyler Powell’s grandmother is hospitalized, but his relative refuses to talk about him. Meanwhile, Strike tells her he’s going to Ipswich following new leads. Robin then decides to visit Pamela Bullen-Driscoll, a key figure at Ramsay Silver, to try to obtain direct information.

Chapter 24 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Tears, Fragments, and a Heavy Revelation

Robin visits the London Silver Vaults and manages to access Pamela Bullen-Driscoll, who is emotionally fragile. After helping her through a crisis, Robin gains her trust and obtains valuable details. Pamela confirms that Kenneth Ramsay overpaid for the Murdoch collection hoping to resell it, and that the delivery arrived late on Friday. She inspected the items and discovered that one was mistakenly sent to Bullen & Co. Wright was the one who retrieved it. Pamela reveals that the email sent to Calvin “Oz” Osgood was written by Wright and that the security system was poor. She also confirms she identified the body as Jason Knowles, though now admits she’s not absolutely certain. She also mentions a text message received on the day of the murder that made her leave early. She agrees to give Robin a short video where Wright can be seen. Robin, satisfied, calls Strike, who congratulates her for obtaining such key information.

Chapter 25 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Suspicious Deliveries and a Dead Driver

Strike travels to Ipswich and discovers that Plug’s friend was convicted of animal cruelty, adding a disturbing layer to the case. After returning to London, he visits Gibsons to investigate Larry McGee, the driver who delivered the Murdoch collection. There he learns that McGee died of natural causes after being fired for misconduct and suspected theft. Diana Boadu and the delivery chief, Carter, explain that McGee acted alone and that during the key delivery, he left his partner claiming a migraine. It is suspected he used that time to tamper with the deliveries. Strike discovers that McGee boasted of future income, and after being fired, he was seen at a pub claiming he had been approached by a “hot blonde.” Guard Bradley describes him as a fantasist but mentions McGee was expecting money. Days later, he was found dead at home. Strike begins to suspect something was swapped during that delivery.

Chapter 26 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – An Unexpected Visitor and a Coded Message

Strike and Robin discuss Larry McGee, the driver who expected a large sum of money before his death. They discuss their suspicions about the silver center and the altered delivery, concluding that Wright was never seen with the item, which could mean it was stolen. Back at the office, Strike finds an envelope with his name written in an artificial style. Inside is a message in pigpen cipher, which, once decoded, reveals that the man in the vault was “dangerous,” his name was Dick de Leon, and he was murdered by someone who appears on television. While processing this new lead, he receives an unscheduled visit: Ralph Lawrence, who claims to know Angela Darwish and denies the body is Niall Semple. Though he hints at being with the secret services, he provides no proof. Strike, skeptical, suspects an attempt to silence the investigation and responds firmly. He then resumes contact with Semple’s wife.

Chapter 27 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Hidden Calls and a Warning from the Past

Robin wakes up exhausted in Murphy’s flat after a night spent reviewing Osgood and Oz’s online activity. Overwhelmed by nightmares and pressure, she goes with Murphy to see another house. In the middle of the visit, she receives a call from Dilys Powell, Tyler’s grandmother, who confirms her grandson has been missing since believing he was the murdered man. Dilys mentions Griff, a friend of Tyler’s, and agrees to talk to Robin after Christmas. Though she tries to share the experience with Murphy, she hides key details and pretends everything is fine during the visit. Afterward, she contacts Strike, and they share updates. Strike reveals that Ralph Lawrence might be MI5 and that Semple was SAS, possibly from E Squadron. He also mentions the coded message about Dick de Leon, linked to someone on television. Both conclude that powerful forces are trying to silence them and agree to stay informed and take precautions going forward. Robin also updates him on Midge.

Chapter 28 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Dark Testimonies in a Leather Lane Pub

Strike meets Jim Todd, the cleaner from Ramsay Silver, in a Holborn pub. Todd confirms he helped move the box that was supposed to contain the silver centerpiece but never saw inside. He says Wright was fascinated by Freemasonry and saw him enter Freemasons’ Hall looking for Temple 17. Todd believes Wright wanted to assess the treasure’s value and plan the theft. He also mentions a man who loitered around the shop, apparently ignored by Wright, raising suspicions of possible collusion. Upon seeing photos, Todd identifies Niall Semple and considers it possible that Dick de Leon was Wright. He describes Wright as cautious and reserved, with a thick beard and artificially tanned skin. He also recounts how Pamela and Kenneth discovered the corpse and details the brutality of the murder. Strike senses that Todd is evasive when talking about the website Abused and Accused and about Larry McGee, leaving open questions.

Chapter 29 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – A Physical Threat and the Return of the Past

Robin locates Albie Simpson-White working at Harrods and arranges to interview him later. While waiting, she receives a message from her mother and enters a crowded food hall. There, an unknown man grabs her neck, pinning her amid the crowd. He forcefully presses a small rubber object into her hand: a toy gorilla. Before fleeing, he whispers a threat alluding to a traumatic past. Robin, frozen in shock, recognizes the connection to her university rapist, who used a gorilla mask. Though the attacker is unknown, the message is clear: someone knows she was the witness “G.” She leaves the building shaking, watching her surroundings, and calls Strike, who reacts with concern and urges her to take precautions. Robin promises to be careful, though she decides not to tell Murphy anything. The fear revives a buried trauma, and the investigation now blends with a personal danger.

Chapter 30 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Confessions, Lies, and a Broken Friendship

Robin dines with Albie in a pub near Harrods to talk about Rupert Fleetwood. At first, Albie is evasive, but gradually he describes how Rupert worked at Dino’s club and endured constant humiliation from Dino Longcaster. He says Rupert was nicknamed “the jellyfish” and belittled in front of clients. When Longcaster discovered his relationship with Decima, the abuse intensified. Albie claims Rupert stole the nef in a desperate act, fed up with the mistreatment. Though he says he doesn’t know Rupert’s whereabouts, Robin notices contradictions and suspects he’s lying. Albie admits that Rupert loved Decima and didn’t abandon her out of self-interest. Robin tries to connect the disappearance to fear of retaliation or bigger problems, but Albie refuses to go deeper. In the end, he suggests Rupert “had no choice,” reinforcing the idea of an external threat. Robin is convinced Albie knows more, but the young man remains silent and leaves.

THIRD PART

Chapter 31 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Suspicions Among Graves and Shadows

Robin visits the cemetery where Niall Semple’s mother is buried, hoping to find clues about his disappearance. Seeing fresh flowers on the grave, she deduces that someone is visiting, even though his wife hasn’t heard from him. An elderly man confronts her and reveals that a man visits the site regularly, suggesting that Niall might be alive. Robin responds cautiously, thanks him, and leaves. She then meets with Strike to share updates, and they decide to keep investigating the link between Wright and Semple. While analyzing the video Pamela provided, they notice details that reinforce their suspicions about the corpse’s identity. They also discuss the clue related to the Abused and Accused channel and note that several elements point to a deliberate staging of the crime scene. Robin suggests interviewing Sacha Legard, Dick de Leon’s ex, and Strike considers it’s time to contact Longcaster.

Chapter 32 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Mask Falls at a Comedy Club

Strike attends the comedy club where Edie Ledwell performs, a former member of Dick de Leon’s circle. During the event, he observes the crowd’s comments and the venue’s atmosphere. After the show, he manages to have a brief conversation with Sacha Legard, who, though initially hesitant, agrees to speak with him later. Strike notices she seems emotionally affected and suspects she knows more than she admits. Meanwhile, Robin is surveilling Plug and follows the teenager to a location linked to Dredge. There, it becomes clear that Plug is running suspicious errands for his father. Robin decides to follow the teen again later, without revealing her intentions to Murphy. At the end of the day, the partners exchange information and agree that it is crucial to talk to Valentine Longcaster. Both believe his involvement may be key to unraveling the ties between Dick de Leon, the murder, and the subsequent cover-ups.

Chapter 33 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Evasive Statements and Half-Truths

Strike and Robin visit Valentine Longcaster at his luxurious country home. Longcaster is polite but evasive and constantly tries to redirect the conversation. When asked about Dick de Leon, he insists he barely knew him and claims ignorance about his life outside the Masonic circle. Robin watches closely, noting his tension whenever the night of the murder is mentioned. Strike notices the host trying to manipulate the conversation and refusing to confirm basic details. Despite his superficial friendliness, Longcaster makes it clear he doesn’t want them digging further. When they mention Ralph Lawrence, Longcaster’s expression hardens, and he ends the meeting. After the visit, Robin and Strike agree that the man is hiding information and may be directly involved in Dick de Leon’s death. They decide to focus on the contradictions in his story to move the investigation forward.

Chapter 34 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Broken Masks and Fragments of the Past

Robin visits Sacha Legard in her apartment, finding a woman exhausted and emotionally affected. During their conversation, Sacha talks about her relationship with Dick de Leon, describing him as charismatic but unstable. She reveals he felt persecuted and spoke of powerful enemies without naming names. She also admits that Dick feared betrayal from his own friends. Robin presses for details about Dick’s activities in his final weeks, and Sacha recalls he had acquired a valuable object he planned to sell. Although she doesn’t confirm it was the stolen nef, she admits Dick was hiding it. In the end, Sacha gives Robin a notebook Dick had left at her place, filled with cryptic notes that could be key. Robin thanks her and leaves, knowing she has gained an ally. Later, she shares the contents with Strike, and both agree the notebook might hold the motive behind the murder.

Chapter 35 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Digital Trails and the Shadow of Betrayal

Strike and Robin review the notebook Dick de Leon left Sacha, finding coded names, schedules, and Masonic symbols. As they analyze them, they detect a pattern suggesting secret meetings with influential members. Meanwhile, Robin investigates posts on the Abused and Accused website and finds one linked to Dick, where he exposes secrets that could ruin reputations. They realize his murder was meant to silence him. Meanwhile, Murphy becomes increasingly uneasy about Robin and Strike’s closeness, creating tension in their relationship. Robin begins to feel that Murphy does not respect her professional independence. Strike, on his end, tracks down a contact who can confirm whether Dick was the one posting on the forum. Everything suggests Dick was trying to blackmail powerful figures using information gained through his Masonic access. The case takes a sharp turn, and the web of cover‑ups begins to collapse under pressure.

Chapter 36 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Interrogating Sacha Legard and Rupert’s Past

Cormoran Strike meets Sacha Legard at the National Theatre bar to talk about her cousin Rupert Fleetwood. While feigning interest in the artsy environment, Strike perceives the actor’s evasive behavior as he downplays his connection to Rupert and dodges questions about the nef theft. Sacha claims he was in Mexico during Rupert’s conflict with Decima and Valentine, but eventually admits to witnessing an altercation between them at his birthday party at Claridge’s. Rupert, who wasn’t invited, was thrown out by security after confronting the Longcaster family. Strike detects contradictions and evasions that deepen his suspicions. He presses Sacha about Rupert’s whereabouts and whether he really went to New York, but Sacha insists he only knows what he was told. Tension rises when Charlotte is mentioned, revealing old resentments. Strike leaves the meeting convinced something important is being covered up.

Chapter 37 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Family Confrontation and Defense of the Agency

During the Christmas stay in Masham, Robin overhears her mother and Murphy talking behind her back about the Strike-prostitute scandal. Angry, she goes to the kitchen and confronts them, clarifying that the story published in the paper is false and that the agency never hired Candy. She also reveals that Strike is suing the journalist. She argues with Linda, who expresses concern for her safety and throws hurtful comments about her career. Robin explodes, feeling constantly judged and held back by her mother since the rape she suffered years ago. The argument escalates until Michael and Stephen arrive with Annabel, interrupting the conflict. Still furious, Robin finds in a Telegraph article a photo of Branfoot with Victor Lambert, a Ramsay Silver client, reinforcing the theory that Branfoot is involved in Wright’s murder. She decides to call Strike to share the discovery.

Chapter 38 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Discovery of Victor Lambert and Link to Branfoot

Strike works at the office on Christmas Eve while Robin calls from Masham. She tells him that Victor Lambert, a Ramsay Silver client, appears alongside Lord Branfoot in a Telegraph photo, suggesting a possible link between the politician and the campaign against the agency. The idea that Branfoot is connected to Wright’s murder begins to take shape. Robin also hears that Truman, the detective who leaked the case, is a Mason, further complicating matters. Strike reports that Sacha Legard shared valuable details about the family dispute over the stolen nef and suggests speaking with Cosima if Valentine Longcaster refuses. Meanwhile, Robin deals with her mother’s passive hostility and the discomfort caused by Murphy’s lies. Her conversation with Strike brings relief. The day ends with a mysterious phone call from a desperate woman at the Golden Fleece pub.

Chapter 39 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Drunkenness in Masham and Confrontations at the Bay Horse

After a fight with Murphy, Robin joins her siblings and their partners at the Bay Horse, the local pub. There, she drinks several whiskies while observing tensions between Martin and his girlfriend Carmen, who is pregnant and rough-mannered. Amid the noise, she runs into her ex-husband Matthew and his current wife Sarah, also pregnant. Sarah’s critical gaze toward Robin and Murphy reignites old resentments. A young stranger approaches Robin to question her about working with Strike and alleged sexual coercion, causing discomfort and anger. Visibly shaken, Robin steps outside for air. There, she exchanges a few words with Matthew, who hints he thought she’d end up with Strike. Drunk and confused, Robin recalls the coded message left at the office and unsuccessfully searches online for a woman named Rita Linda. The name resonates as a key clue. Eventually, she decides to return inside the pub.

Chapter 40 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Christmas Nightmare at Lucy’s and New Clues

Strike arrives late to the Christmas party at Lucy’s house, bringing gifts and accumulated fatigue. After a day investigating the porn world in search of the woman who left the coded message, he discovers it was Fyola Fay. Despite wanting to keep digging, he is forced to socialize among dull acquaintances, old suitors, and judgmental relatives. He tries to escape to the garden while receiving strange messages from Jade Semple, who hints that someone used Niall’s card after the murder. Back inside, he’s splashed with vomit by a lactose-intolerant child and endures an awkward encounter with Marguerite, who finds a compromising sexual image on his phone, misinterpreting his professional research. Between drunks, vomit, and false impressions, Strike replies to an incoherent message from Robin that may be key: a new cipher. His night ends in isolation, frustration, and a stronger resolve to continue the case.

Chapter 41 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Broken Christmas and an Unforgettable Gift

Christmas Eve ends disastrously for Robin, drunk and emotionally drained after fights with her mother, with Murphy, and the tension of being surrounded by pregnancies. After vomiting in the bathroom, she returns home with Stephen while Murphy walks off, upset. A tense scene with Martin and Carmen makes her feel even more guilty. Once in her room, Murphy accuses her of lying about Strike, after reading an accidental message. Robin tries to explain, but the atmosphere turns cold and awkward. Later, alone in the bathroom, she opens Strike’s gift: a silver bracelet with seven meaningful charms. Each represents a shared memory—from the Land Rover to the small Masonic orb. Robin bursts into tears, overwhelmed by the level of detail and affection behind the gift. She feels with certainty that she’s in love with Strike, and sends him an emotional message. Strike, in Bromley, replies warmly. Their bond grows stronger.

FOURTH PART

Chapter 42 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – A New Year Marked in Blood

Strike spends New Year’s Eve surveilling Plug at a North London bar while exchanging cryptic messages with Jade Semple, who agrees to meet him. Returning to the office in the early morning, he finds a large red “G” painted on the door—a possible threat linked to Freemasonry or Robin’s past as witness G. Erasing it doesn’t ease his unease. At home, he listens to a hostile voicemail from Valentine Longcaster, furious about Strike’s attempts to contact him. Charlotte still casts her shadow from the grave. He then gets a coded message from Jade, who agrees to meet on the 17th, though she seems watched. Strike reflects on Robin’s Christmas gesture—her five kisses and joy over the gift. Despite the dark context and rising threats, he senses the year begins with real chances of progress—both in the case and with Robin.

Chapter 43 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Crossed Guilt and Secrets in Motion

Robin, filled with doubts since opening the bracelet, feels Strike’s gift was too meaningful to be just friendly. Though she tries to convince herself she loves Murphy, she can’t ignore the growing emotional tension. She’s lied about the reason for an upcoming trip with Strike to Crieff and Ironbridge, where they’ll investigate William Wright candidates. Meanwhile, she pretends to be interested in houses with Murphy, knowing something inside her is shifting. Her communication with Strike remains professional, but each message carries unspoken emotion. She feels like a cheater—not for her actions, but for what she hides and wants. Meanwhile, Gretchen Schiff, former flatmate of murdered Sofia Medina, displays evasive behavior that raises suspicions. Robin senses something important is being hidden. The anxiety she carries seems to announce an imminent change—like a storm approaching, everything points to an emotional explosion.

Chapter 44 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Lies, Blackmail, and an Unexpected Lead

While Robin pursues the Gretchen lead, Strike deals with family disputes over selling his uncles’ house in St Mawes. He convinces Lucy to accept a fair offer using emotional arguments about family legacy. He then manages to reach Zacharias Lorimer, a former friend of Rupert, via FaceTime. Lorimer tries to dodge the subject but ends up revealing key details: a debt to a dangerous drug dealer, that Rupert was unstable, and may have turned to theft to escape. He also mentions Tish Benton, another person close to Rupert who might know more. Strike notes every detail on his case board, where he also sees Robin has flagged Reata Lindvall, an old murder case. Though he doesn’t yet see the link, he leaves it up. The chapter ends with Strike planning to help Robin replace her Land Rover—showing how much he wants to remain in her life beyond the professional.

Chapter 45 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Oz’s Shadow and the Name of the Killer

Robin meets Gretchen Schiff and her boyfriend Max at a central London pub, determined to gather information about Sofia Medina, whose death remains unsolved. Skillfully, she confronts the couple’s evasiveness, sensing they fear the curly-haired man who accompanied Sofia days before her murder. When Robin suggests Gretchen is hiding something, she breaks down and admits Sofia had a secret affair with a married man she called Oz. He had given her an expensive ruby necklace and planned a special trip. Robin deduces this was the mysterious Calvin Osgood—also tied to the name “Oz” and other case elements. Terrified of incriminating photos the man holds, Gretchen fears retaliation. But she finally confirms the name. Robin, with determination and compassion, secures a key confession: Oz is directly connected to Sofia’s murder.

Chapter 46 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Secrets Between Oz, Medina, and the Nameless Corpse

Strike and Robin meet at the office before lunching with Decima Mullins, reviewing theories about the cleanup at Wright’s flat. Strike suggests Oz may have returned for the weights Medina couldn’t lift, exposing his involvement. Robin, still unsure of Medina’s role, investigates a missing girl linked to Oz. They also consider candidates for Wright’s identity, including Dick de Leon and former MP Branfoot, who may have been blackmailed. Kim Cochran interrupts with new evidence: photos of the mutilated body and shocking details like empty eye sockets, missing ears and hands, and a Masonic symbol carved into the back. She also brings news of four suspects ruled out and a Peugeot seen with a couple. Privately, Kim reveals that Bijou Watkins, Strike’s former lover, is under surveillance on Honbold’s orders—raising both professional and personal alarms for Strike.

Chapter 47 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Corpse, the Symbols, and a Foot in the Blood

Kim unveils the vault corpse photos: a horrifically mutilated body, missing genitals, eyes, and hands, with a Masonic symbol carved into its back. Robin, shocked, notes the theatricality of the killing. The livor mortis pattern suggests post-mortem repositioning. A partial bloody footprint under the body could point to a woman’s presence, based on the small size. Kim confirms that the four men seen at Wild Court were foreign students, clearing them. She also reveals Jason Knowles was lured away, confirming an NCA mole. A Peugeot with a couple—possibly Oz and Medina—was spotted in the area. In private, Kim tells Strike that Bijou is being watched by order of Honbold, who hired the same detective who had previously gone public. Strike begins to fear a much larger scandal.

Chapter 48 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Suspicions, a Baby, and the Tale of Giant Cormoran

Strike contacts Ilsa and confirms his fear: Bijou Watkins had a baby who might be his, explaining Honbold’s surveillance and a super-injunction to block press coverage. Though Strike used protection, Ilsa says Bijou may have tampered with used condoms to get pregnant—leaving Strike horrified at possibly being an unaware father. Meanwhile, Robin, unaware of all this, confronts Kim, who leaves the office smugly. Back inside, Strike tries to sound normal and discusses the case with Robin. They analyze the corpse staging, delayed mutilations, and the possibility Medina didn’t notice blood traces. Robin learns her nephew Barnaby was born via C-section. Strike then reveals he was a giant baby himself, hence his name “Cormoran,” after the mythical giant. Both try to refocus on the investigation.

Chapter 49 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Decima, a T-Shirt, and Tears at Quo Vadis

Over lunch at Quo Vadis, Strike and Robin face Decima Mullins’s desperation. She insists Rupert is the vault corpse based on his build and the money he received—perhaps from selling the stolen nef. She denies he knew Oz or Medina and says he’d never have gone to Sacha Legard’s party, contradicting other accounts. Robin is moved when Decima, sobbing, recalls Rupert’s “White Lion” T-shirt, which he considered lucky and wore during joyful moments—like learning he would be a father. As she tells the story, Decima breaks down. Strike questions her about other corpse candidates like Semple and Powell, seeking her consent to investigate. Though devastated, Decima agrees, reaffirming her desire for truth. The scene ends with her blaming herself for Rupert’s death, feeling guilty for having confronted him before he vanished, and screaming, “I killed him!”

Chapter 50 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Rift Between Partners and Ghosts From the Past

After an emotionally draining meal, Robin and Strike leave the restaurant and argue over their approach. Robin believes Decima is mentally unstable and that searching for alternative corpse identities only prolongs her pain. Strike insists proving the body isn’t Rupert is exactly what Decima needs. Tension rises when Robin suggests Strike is driven by ego or rivalry with the police—claims he indignantly denies. Despite their points, Robin walks off, mentioning she has surveillance that night. Visibly affected, Strike calls Pat, who confirms that Bijou Watkins wants to talk. Knowing he must now face that personal issue, he calls Bijou while looking out at Ronnie Scott’s, burdened by a potential unwanted fatherhood, a fragile client, and growing tension with his partner. The chapter closes in heavy silence between the detectives, with a storm of secrets about to explode.

Chapter 51 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Bijou and the Threat of DNA

Strike answers a call from Bijou Watkins, who begs for his help to prove that her daughter is not his, but Andrew Honbold’s. Strike, furious, accuses her of deliberately using him to provoke jealousy and dragging him into a scandal. He accuses her of tampering with used condoms, a tactic he claims to know from a reliable source. Bijou, desperate, insists that Ottolie is Honbold’s daughter, but says he refuses to take a paternity test. She pleads with Strike to take the test himself to clear his name, but he flatly refuses, fearing that his involvement would only strengthen the narrative tying him to the child. Refusing any implication, he demands to be left out of it and urges her to confront Honbold legally. The tense, accusation-filled conversation ends abruptly as Strike hangs up—angrier and more worried than before.

Chapter 52 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Suspicions on the Circle Line and Dangerous Rumors

While surveilling Jim Todd, Robin faces a moral conflict about continuing the Decima Mullins case. At the same time, she struggles with Murphy’s pressure over housing plans and the overwhelming presence of babies in her life, which revives memories of her ectopic pregnancy. During a shift change with Shah, he mentions hearing that Bijou Watkins called Strike—deepening Robin’s unease. Shah voices concern for the agency’s reputation, recalling past scandals linking Strike to controversial women and cases. Robin tries to downplay it, but doubts grow. She then follows Todd onto the tube. Though she tries to stay focused, her thoughts keep drifting to Strike and his recent contact with Bijou. As Todd boards the train, Robin feels increasingly uncertain about the trust between her and her partner.

Chapter 53 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – A Limping Foot and Secrets of the 32nd Degree

Trying to distract himself from the stress caused by Bijou, Strike reorganizes the case board. He studies the partial footprint under the corpse and deduces it belongs to someone with an irregular step—possibly a person with a slight limp. He also examines the number 32 stitched into the Masonic sash found on the body and confirms it represents a high Masonic rank: Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret. While reading Secrets of the Craft, Strike finds a metaphor comparing the virtuous woman to silver, and punishment for confusing lust with the sacred. The passage unsettles him as it reminds him of Bijou. Then, he gets a call from Barclay, panicking after accidentally eating shrimp, to which he’s allergic. Unable to continue surveillance on Plug, Barclay asks Strike to cover. Strike agrees and heads to Camberwell, ready for the night shift, with Bijou still on his mind.

Chapter 54 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Jim Todd’s Filthy Secret on the Tube

Robin follows Jim Todd during a long Circle Line ride, observing his erratic behavior. Todd changes seats multiple times without clear reason, while Robin—distracted by suspicions about Strike and Bijou—maintains a careful watch. At one stop, a group of teenage girls boards, and Robin recognizes a pattern. Todd positions himself across from one girl and discreetly slides his phone beneath her miniskirt to record. A passenger notices and shouts at him. Amid the chaos, Robin tries to stop him, but Todd escapes at Barbican station. The scene finally reveals his reason for endlessly riding the tube: sexual harassment of minors. Frustrated at failing to stop him and overwhelmed by other personal issues, Robin is left shaken by the discovery, her thoughts still spinning over Strike’s connection to Bijou Watkins.

Chapter 55 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Coded Talk and Human Bargains

Strike arrives in Camberwell to relieve Barclay and take over surveillance on Plug. Soon after, Plug leaves his mother’s house and heads to Queen’s Road Peckham station, where he meets a large, menacing man. Intrigued, Strike tails them and overhears fragments of their coded conversation. They speak of a “she” who “has more to give,” and discuss a deal, mentioning an offer of a thousand pounds they deem insufficient. The dialogue continues on the train, referencing Ipswich, “problems,” a woman called “Gaz’s bitch,” and a disturbing hint at exploitation. Though the context remains unclear, their words and demeanor suggest illegal dealings and possible human trafficking or coercion. Strike discreetly takes notes, determined to uncover the truth behind these encounters. The tension of the moment adds to his growing emotional burden—weighted by the case, secrets, and personal conflicts.

Chapter 56 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Tears at the Office and a Threat in the Dark

Robin loses sight of Jim Todd after chasing him through Barbican station, frustrated at not catching him after witnessing him upskirting a teen on the tube. Still shaken, she calls Strike under the pretext of reporting the incident, but her calls go straight to voicemail. Fearing the worst, Robin suspects he’s with Bijou Watkins. Her fears are confirmed when she calls Ilsa, who, unaware that Robin didn’t know, reveals Strike might be Bijou’s child’s father. Devastated, Robin hangs up and breaks down alone in the office, crying over the pain, repressed jealousy, her ectopic pregnancy, and unrequited feelings for Strike. Just then, an anonymous threat is delivered—warning her to drop the investigation. Despite the fear, Robin pulls herself together, cancels the Scotland trip with Strike, and drafts a professional email suggesting alternative tasks. Pain, anger, and betrayal define her lonely night.

FIFTH PART

Chapter 57 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Whisky, Memories, and a Secret Lodge

Cormoran Strike, devastated after Robin’s cold message about moving in with Murphy, boards the Caledonian Sleeper alone to Glasgow, canceling his Lake District plan. Drowning in whisky and self-pity, he replays his mistakes, the now-irreversible rift with Robin, and the fear of being Bijou’s child’s father. Guilt over the Reata Lindvall incident pushes him to investigate—discovering she was murdered with her daughter in 1998. On the train, Kim sends him articles about Nina Lascelles and one about Charlotte, deepening his spiral. He then bumps into journalist Fergus Robertson, who reveals that Oliver Branfoot belongs to the same Masonic lodge as suspect DCI Malcolm Truman. Strike, drunk but clear-headed about the link, becomes resolved to investigate Truman further—no matter who it upsets, including Murphy. The night ends with him staggering, burdened with more questions than answers.

Chapter 58 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Mystery Producer and the Swedish Clue

Robin wakes early to question Tia Thompson, former classmate of Sapphire Neagle, outside Juniper Hill school. Though distracted by anger at Strike and discomfort with Murphy, she intercepts Tia before school starts. The young woman shares that Sapphire met a supposed music producer at Jimmy’s café, who promised her work as a backing singer for Ellie Goulding. Tia never met him, but Sapphire said she’d verified his identity online. Tia adds that he gave her a necklace he claimed had rubies, though they were just cheap beads. At the end, Tia recalls a key detail: he told Sapphire she looked like a Swedish girl he once knew—sparking Robin’s alarm over a potential link to Reata Lindvall. This revelation offers a crucial lead in the case. Tia heads into school, leaving Robin hopeful despite the emotional chaos around her.

Chapter 59 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Under the Rain, an Unexpected Confession

Cormoran Strike arrives in Crieff, hungover and exhausted after a night of drinking, to interview Jade Semple. In constant rain and with Pom Pom, Jade’s outrageous dog, they walk through a park while she vents her anger and grief. She talks about her relationship with Niall, his obsession with Freemasonry after a brain injury, and a blonde woman with a face tattoo who used Niall’s secret card. She recalls Niall mentioning “William Wright,” tied to local Masonic history—connecting him to the corpse in the vault. Jade reveals Niall changed after the death of his friend Ben and that a mysterious man from the Ministry asked her for a cryptic note Niall left before disappearing. As they walk, Strike slips painfully into the mud but presses on. In the end, Jade offers him a photo of Niall’s farewell message—an unexpected breakthrough in the corpse investigation.

Chapter 60 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Jealousy, Surveillance, and a Costly Mistake

Robin conducts surveillance at God’s Own Junkyard, hoping to spot hairstylist Valentine Longcaster. In the cold and her foul mood, she runs into Ciara Porter, one of Strike’s exes—fueling her jealousy and emotional discomfort. Alone among warehouses and mechanics, she reflects on her relationship with Strike and the men in her life. Things worsen when she receives an angry call from Murphy, confronting her over the unauthorized corpse photos Kim Cochran obtained. Robin tries to explain she didn’t request them, but Murphy explodes, accusing her of endangering a police investigation. The call ends with Robin hanging up, overwhelmed by frustration and anger. In the freezing cold, with an inactive surveillance target, she feels alone and trapped—unable to trust her partner or her colleague. Meanwhile, a masked man watches her silently, heightening the scene’s tension.

Chapter 61 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Secrets Among Numbers and Lodges

Back southbound, Strike stops in Moffat to rest his injured knee and review the cryptic note Jade sent him: a series of words with no apparent connection, among them “RL knows where.” He researches online about the botanist William Wright and military Freemasonry, discovering that several SAS figures were Masons. Upon receiving a call from Wardle, he learns that the leak of the photos of the corpse has caused internal sanctions and anger within the police. Wardle, dealing with depression, contemplates leaving the force and Strike offers him a job at his agency. Though he doesn’t express it, Strike feels more alone than ever, trapped between the weight of the investigation, the hostility of the police, and the growing emotional distance with Robin. The day remains gray, his body aches, and the case fills with loose ends, mysterious symbols, and powerful men in lodges watching him from the shadows.

Chapter 62 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Robin’s Collapse Before Strike’s Past

After hours of waiting, Robin manages to intercept Valentine Longcaster outside God’s Own Junkyard and convinces him to talk about Rupert Fleetwood. At a nearby restaurant, the conversation quickly turns tense. Valentine, visibly drugged and aggressive, reveals his disdain for Fleetwood, whom he calls an opportunist. He claims that Rupert fled to the United States and that Decima should have paid him for the stolen nef. Then he attacks Robin personally, suggesting she was Strike’s lover and ridiculing her with the nickname “pit pony,” supposedly used by Charlotte. In a dark twist, he insinuates that Strike was violent with Charlotte, blaming him for her death. Robin tries to stay strong, but doubts accumulate. Is what Valentine says true or defamation? How well does she really know Strike? The encounter ends with threats and Robin devastated, facing an emotional storm where the truth seems as elusive as the culprits of the case she investigates.

Chapter 63 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Gorilla in the Dark

After the tense encounter with Valentine, Robin receives a distressing call from her mother: Carmen has given birth prematurely and the baby may have a serious arm injury. Grief‑stricken and confused, Robin leaves the restaurant, but her night worsens when she realizes a man is following her down a dark street. Fear turns to terror when she sees the man wearing a gorilla mask approaching with a knife. Screaming to Ilsa on the phone, she describes the attacker and, in a moment of highest tension, the man throws the knife at her feet and flees, leaving her unharmed but shaken. The episode reignites memories of previous attacks and leaves Robin disturbed, powerless and with a ceremonial object in her hand. The threat is clear: they want her to drop the case. But she, though frightened, stands firm, determined to continue even if she must do so alone.

Chapter 64 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Daggers, Secrets, and Robin’s Solitude

Alone and trembling, Robin picks up the dagger her attacker threw and discovers the Masonic symbol on its hilt. She hides it in her coat and returns home without telling Murphy what happened. During the call with her mother, she learns that her nephew has been named Dirk and that there is tension in the hospital after an argument between Martin and the doctors. Robin, unable to console her family or fully protect herself, feels trapped between personal duties and professional threats. In her apartment, she stores the dagger next to the rubber gorilla from Harrods, wondering if both objects came from the same man. Fear invades her, but so does guilt: she failed to recognize her stalker and cannot even trust her partner. While showering, she mentally reviews her injuries, physical and emotional, understanding that she can no longer share her truth with anyone. The threat now lives inside her.

Chapter 65 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Under the Bridge, Tension Grows

Strike arrives in Ironbridge with physical and emotional pain, carrying an inflamed knee and the certainty that he has lost any chance with Robin. They meet in silence, trying to appear normal, but the discomfort is palpable. While having coffee, he recounts his interview with Jade Semple, lying by omitting embarrassing details and pretending to have asked about Reata Lindvall. Robin, still upset by recent lies, confronts him with facts about the supposed producer who contacted Sapphire, who said he reminded her of a Swedish girl. Tension escalates when Strike proposes tailing a refugee girl for clues, and Robin firmly rebuts him. Their communication is tense and fragmented. However, just before leaving, Strike remembers a key lead: a mysterious woman had said that “everything is hidden under the bridge.” Robin, for her part, discovers in the bathroom a smudge of mascara that Strike did not mention, feeding her silent anger even more.

Chapter 66 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Under Pressure in Ironbridge

Strike and Robin travel to Ironbridge to speak with Dilys Powell, Tyler’s grandmother, who suspects her grandson might be the man killed in the silver shop. On the way, Robin notices Strike’s physical wear. Not finding Dilys at home, they visit her neighbor Ian Griffiths, who invites them in and offers tea. Griffiths tells them that Tyler was socially ostracized after a car accident where his ex‑girlfriend Anne‑Marie died and his new boyfriend, Hugo Whitehead, was left in a coma. Although Tyler wasn’t driving, everyone blamed him. Griffiths describes him as a good boy, abandoned by his family, and says that before leaving he mentioned something related to “silver.”

Chapter 67 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Broken Memories

Dilys returns home and speaks with the detectives. Despite her physical frailty and mental confusion, she insists that Tyler did not tamper with the car in the accident. She recalls having heard him mention the word “silver” before leaving. Robin checks Dilys’s phone and discovers that Tyler stopped texting her in June, but then another number appeared claiming to be him, something Dilys did not believe. They also provide relevant physical data: Tyler is right‑handed, has a birthmark on his back, is allergic to peanuts, knew about mechanics, and had owned an air‑rifle shotgun. Dilys shows resentment toward those who abandoned her grandson.

Chapter 68 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Frictions and Suspicions

Strike and Robin discuss the case in a pub. They talk about Tyler’s possible involvement and his sudden disappearance after the murder. Robin tries calling him with no success. Tension between them explodes when she reveals she was threatened with a Masonic knife the night before. Strike becomes furious for not having been informed. They argue heatedly about Masonic influence in the investigation and about their relationship with third parties like Murphy and Charlotte. Robin leaves in indignation. Before going, she confronts Strike about a call she received from Bijou Watkins, suggesting it could generate more scandals. Strike is left alone, frustrated and in growing personal and professional conflict.

SIX PART

Chapter 69 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Fiona Freeman’s Confession

After a night of insomnia and eye irritation from a chili burn, Robin watches Fiona Freeman, whose legal name is Fyola Fay, with Barclay. When Fiona’s boyfriend, the imposing porn director Craig Wheaton, leaves the house, Robin takes the opportunity to confront her. At first Fiona denies everything, but Robin pressures her with a fake threat about a camera that recorded her leaving a note at the office. Finally, Fiona confesses that the murdered man is Danny de Lion, known in the porn industry, who was introduced to a wealthy man by Craig. This subject, a married Mason and public figure, secretly filmed people in his flat using two‑way mirrors. Danny disappeared after threatening to make those recordings public. Fiona, terrified of Craig, admits having left an anonymous note to alert the agency. The information links the murder to blackmail networks, power, and covert voyeurism.

Chapter 70 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Secrets Between Curry and Threats

Strike receives an email from Robin with Fiona’s recording and deduces that the murder is linked to Oliver Branfoot, patron of a youth home where Craig Wheaton grew up. She requests tailing Albie Simpson‑White, out of respect for Decima’s original assignment, and he agrees. Strike visits Wardle, who is on leave for depression, to exchange information. Wardle confirms that the testimony about Calvin Osgood is true and that the police are upset with Strike for getting ahead in the investigation. During their dinner, Strike receives a distressed call from Bijou: Andrew threatens to reveal the paternity of his daughter Ottolie and demands a DNA test. After hanging up, Strike reflects on his possible fatherhood. Later, Robin calls from urgent care: Plug, the father of a bitten child, has hidden that the attack occurred in a house used for illegal dogfights. The case darkens further, connecting crime, power, blackmail, and clandestine violence.

Chapter 71 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Suspicions, Surveillance, and New Testimonies

Robin, disguised with a wig and glasses, tails Albie Simpson‑White to a pub in Notting Hill, where Kim Cochran relieves her. While watching, Robin receives a long message from Chloe Griffiths that reveals a disturbing profile of Tyler Powell: controlling, aggressive and linked to negative experiences with several girls, including Zeta. Chloe offers Zeta’s number for future reference. Robin forwards this information to Strike just as he calls her to offer a private visit to Temple Seventeen, which Robin rejects because she is upset with him. Kim joins the surveillance and Robin indicates that Albie’s companion could be Tish Benton. Meanwhile, Strike prepares to meet Bijou and plan a secret date at the Savoy to get a DNA test, trying to avoid being detected by paparazzi or the press. The investigations move forward, but the personal tension between Robin and Strike continues.

Chapter 72 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Secret Temples and Symbols Under Scrutiny

Strike secretly coordinates a DNA test at the Savoy hotel with Bijou, using his knowledge of discreet routes to avoid surveillance. Then he meets Graham Hardacre, a Mason friend and ex‑military man, at the Freemasons’ Arms pub. Hardacre, who keeps his Masonic loyalty but agrees to share information, confirms that “GAOTU” means “Great Architect of the Universe” and that certain Masonic rituals include symbols like bridges and floating human parts, elements that could match Semple’s trauma. They both visit Temple Seventeen in Freemasons’ Hall, decorated with cryptic symbols like the Lion of Judah, ritual tools, and a chained swan. Although they find no clear evidence about William Wright, the visit reinforces the idea that Masonic symbols could be used to divert the investigation. Hardacre emphasizes that although Freemasonry has ethical rules, it doesn’t make dishonest men virtuous. Strike stores these clues mentally to analyze them later.

Chapter 73 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Evidence, Predators, and Personal Tensions

Robin meets Strike at the restaurant where she is surveilling “Mrs Two‑Times’s” wife and, although trying to keep her distance, they share key breakthroughs. Strike reveals that Jim Todd, the cleaner, is an ex‑convict for rape and white‑slave trafficking with a darker history than suspected. He also confirms that Pamela was misled by a false message that took her out of the shop before the crime, suggesting someone knew intimate details about her life. Robin reports on Ivor Powell, who shows indifference toward his son Tyler, and mentions Zeta, a young woman who had an unsettling experience with Tyler. Both reflect on the presence of multiple sexual offenders in the case and how their impulses could have been key in the murder. The tension between Robin and Strike grows, especially when talking about Kim Cochran and her preferential treatment toward Strike. In the end, Robin mentions her new house with Murphy, leaving Strike emotionally struck.

Chapter 74 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – DNA, Crossed Pasts, and a Hotel Full of Secrets

Strike goes to the Savoy hotel to take the DNA test with Bijou and confirm whether he is the father of her daughter. In a luxurious but oppressive room, Bijou arrives with her baby and nervously follows the procedure. Strike, feeling no connection to the child, does the test in the bathroom and hands it over, remaining emotionally distant. The tension rises when Bijou accuses him of coldness, but he insists he only wants to resolve the matter. After the test, he leaves her alone in the room, aware of the risks if the press finds out. The brief interaction reveals Strike’s deep discomfort with a possible unwanted paternity and his inability to bond with a woman he already considers part of the past. Alone again, the vault case continues to advance, but Strike’s personal life becomes heavier.

Chapter 75 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Disappearances, Threats, and Personal Dilemmas

Robin receives news that Jim Todd has disappeared, probably after recognizing her. While surveilling Cosima Longcaster without success, Robin faces professional frustration and personal concerns: her family is in crisis and she has not yet bought gifts for her nephews. Later, Zeta, a young woman from Ironbridge, contacts her fearfully: she indirectly accuses Tyler Powell of trying to run her over after speaking badly of him in a pub, and mentions that he used to sabotage cars. Robin tries to reassure her, but the call ends abruptly. That night, at a dinner with Murphy to celebrate the acceptance of the offer on their future home, Robin faces a difficult conversation: he wants to know if she wants children. Although Robin does not rule out the possibility, she admits she doesn’t know. The emotional pressure of her professional life, the weight of so many harmful men in her investigations, and personal expectations with Murphy intertwine, leaving Robin feeling trapped.

Chapter 76 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – A Lost Lead and the Shadow of an Impostor

Strike, restless due to the lack of news about the DNA test, visits Jim Todd’s former lodging in Holborn. After meeting a young cook, he discovers that Todd was last seen a week ago and that someone else was looking for him: a white man, wearing sunglasses and with a slight limp. The suspect matches the description of William Wright. Upon going up to the flat Todd occupied, Strike finds a poker book with dyslexically written notes, reinforcing his theory that Todd wrote Wright’s fake résumé. This connects Todd with the killer’s infiltration into Ramsay Silver. The information and the evasive behavior of the new occupants of the room strengthen the suspicion that Todd is in hiding. Strike pays them for the book and leaves his card, hopeful that a new lead about the man who was looking for Todd will lead them to the hidden truth.

Chapter 77 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Valentine’s Day Tensions and a Fractured Relationship

Valentine’s Day begins badly for Robin: Murphy gives her a symbolic plush toy, but the mood turns tense when they receive news that they have lost the house they wanted to buy. The phone conversation leads to an argument where insecurities, reproaches, and jealousy arise, especially about her professional bond with Strike. Robin does not respond to several calls and feels liberated, although guilty. Later, when relieving Strike on a surveillance, they face a new threat together: Plug and other men are organizing a brutal dog fight. As they prepare to follow them, Robin receives conciliatory messages from Murphy, but she is already emotionally distant. The tension with Strike dissipates as they share new leads about Danny de Leon, possible real identity of Wright, and the mysterious surveillance apartment. Robin, torn between what she wants and what she thinks she should want, begins to question her life with Murphy and her relationship with Strike.

Chapter 78 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Masonic Ritual, Revelations, and the Shadow of William Wright

On the way to the site of the clandestine fights, Strike and Robin exchange crucial findings. Strike reveals that Danny de Leon, linked to the lion symbol and possible identity of Wright, could be on Sark, a remote island. Additionally, he discovers that William Wright’s résumé shows signs of dyslexia, which connects Jim Todd as a possible author and accomplice in his infiltration into Ramsay Silver. They talk about the Masonic connections of the case, including a disturbing ritual involving a bridge and floating human remains, which could have influenced Semple. The conversation turns to the different suspects and how each fits or does not fit the complex crime scene. Robin avoids answering Murphy’s calls, and the emotional tension between them intensifies with a mixture of confessions and silences. Strike, exhausted, confesses feeling manipulated by women like Bijou and acknowledges his need for affection, even if misdirected.

Chapter 79 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – In the Heart of Darkness: Fights, Danger, and Betrayal

Following Plug to an illegal venue in Ipswich, Robin and Strike infiltrate a brutal dog fight. Pretending to be participants, they manage to enter thanks to the appearance of their Land Rover. Inside, they observe the hostile environment: men filming, mutilated dogs, and clandestine betting. Strike discreetly records Plug and others involved, including the man with the account book. The tension escalates when an attendant suspects Strike and confronts him. At that moment, they release an aggressive dog that lunges at him. Seeing him fall, Robin acts quickly: she uses her pepper spray and rescues him, but Strike also gets some of the chemical in his eyes. With the crowd chasing them, Robin revs the car and they escape at full speed, leaving behind blows, screams, and chaos. The scene reinforces the severity of the world they investigate, where violence and impunity reign. Both are left wounded, physically and emotionally, but their bond strengthens amid danger.

Chapter 80 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Milk, Confessions, and the Promise of a New Direction

After the attack, Robin takes Strike to a service station. Blind from the spray and with a wounded leg, he refuses to go to the hospital. They use milk to relieve the burning in their eyes and stay a moment in the car, where the tension between them disappears. In that intimate space, Strike breaks the silence: he confesses that he is not the father of Bijou’s baby, freeing himself from an anguish that had haunted him in secret. Robin, still affected by her argument with Murphy, feels relieved and moved by his honesty. Strike admits his past mistakes and his tendency to seek comfort where he can instead of facing what he truly wants. In an unexpected gesture, he proposes to Robin that she accompany him to Sark to investigate Danny de Leon. She agrees. Amid physical and emotional pain, a new complicity arises: a breath of fresh air among shadows, with the possibility of a clearer future.

SEVENTH PART

Chapter 81 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Secrets That Hurt and an Emotional Escape

While Strike recovers from the wounds inflicted by the dog attack, his good spirits resurface with the prospect of the trip to Sark with Robin. She, for her part, deals with the growing tension in her relationship with Murphy, who subtly confronts her about the lost pregnancy. In a late‑night conversation, Murphy asks what she would have done if the pregnancy had been viable. Robin, devastated by the question, avoids giving a clear answer. The next day, a fight with Kim Cochran unleashes her accumulated frustration, revealing a growing exhaustion with the lack of professionalism of some team members. Additionally, upon reviewing a surveillance video from Ramsay Silver, she notices a slight awkwardness in William Wright’s walk, which could reveal key details. Meanwhile Wynn Jones, Powell’s friend, begins sending her suggestive messages, and Robin remains caught between the personal and the professional, facing emotional decisions she can no longer postpone.

Chapter 82 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Nameless Bones and Unanswered Questions

Robin and Strike travel toward Sark, each carrying personal tensions. While she tries to forget Murphy and her rising emotional pressure, he, worn out by insomnia and the Plug case, struggles to stay awake. On the plane, Robin shares her findings on the Reata Lindvall case: fragmented bone remains found in Belgium suggest a deliberate attempt to avoid identification. Only one person’s DNA was found, which could mean that Jolanda, the daughter, is still alive. Although Strike has trouble concentrating, his attention sharpens as he recognizes similarities between this crime and Wright’s. In parallel, Robin moves forward with Wynn Jones, Powell’s friend, trying to obtain information about the mention of “silver” in previous calls. Meanwhile, her relationship with Murphy subtly deteriorates. Discomfort, fatigue, and emotional doubts cloud the air as both detectives approach the island and, possibly, a dangerous truth.

Chapter 83 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Sark: An Island Without Cars and with Buried Secrets

Already in Sark, Robin and Strike discover a picturesque but austere island, without automobiles and with dirt roads. After disembarking, they head to the house of Danny de Leon’s family, where they meet his older brother, Richard. He, distrustful and armed with a log, denies knowing Danny’s whereabouts since June. The conversation is tense and evasive, and his lack of surprise at the possibility that Danny is dead arouses suspicion. Later, while Robin buys a cane to help Strike walk, she crosses paths with Richard again, who, upon seeing her, flees hurriedly. At the pub, the barman reveals that Danny is alive and works as a gardener at a nearby house. Back at the Bel Air, Strike shows Robin cryptic social media posts by Rena Liddell, the sister of the missing soldier, revealing a possible mental disorder. The discovery reinforces the murky connections between the cases and fuels new lines of investigation.

Chapter 84 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – An Unwanted Call and an Unexpected Attack

Following the lead provided by the barman, Robin and Strike head to the house where Danny de Leon works. On the way, Robin receives a call from Murphy, who insists on revisiting the painful conversation about her loss. Tired, Robin tries to keep her composure as her emotions overflow. Just as she tries to end the call, she witnesses an alarming scene: Danny, upon seeing Strike approach, attacks him with a shovel, hitting him in the face and knocking him to the ground. Robin runs and manages to stop Danny, restraining him with a quick move while Strike struggles to his feet. Confusion and fear dominate the scene until they manage to calm Danny, who, scared and agitated, agrees to speak with them inside the house. Tension grips the air, marking the start of a confrontation that could finally reveal the truth they’ve been chasing for months.

Chapter 85 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Confessions in Sark and Branfoot’s Invisible Threat

In the kitchen of the house, while Robin treats the wound on Strike’s face, Danny confesses that he fled to Sark after feeling threatened by a man sent by Branfoot. His fear intensifies upon learning that his secret might be exposed. Richard joins the conversation, initially skeptical, but eventually realizes the seriousness of the danger. The brothers argue violently until Strike separates them, demanding answers. Danny reveals he was warned by an anonymous contact about his supposed death and the risk of being “eliminated” for knowing too much about Branfoot’s covert videos. Despite his fear, Richard promises they’ll prepare their mother before Danny goes public. Robin defends giving him time, but Strike insists on urgency: as long as Danny remains hidden, Branfoot will keep lurking. The chapter ends with Danny emotionally shattered and Robin realizing that exposing the truth not only brings justice but also mortal risk.

Chapter 86 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Confessions on the Island of Sark

After the brutal clash with Danny de Leon, Robin and Strike take shelter in a bar in Sark to recover. Despite the pain and bruises, Strike maintains his ironic humor as they both try to figure out why the victim was murdered in the vault. The conversation turns personal when Robin mentions her family and a newborn nephew with partial paralysis, triggering internal tensions related to her recent loss. Determined to care for Strike, Robin goes to buy food, and upon returning, they share an intimate dinner at the B&B where they’re staying. Despite the setting being ideal for confessions, Strike hesitates to declare his love. Instead, he proposes hiring Wardle for the agency. Amid fatigue and rain, they arrive at the Old Forge, where Robin, while cooking, receives a message from Murphy that unleashes a wave of emotions, setting the stage for a deeply revealing chapter.

Chapter 87 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Robin’s Lost Pregnancy Secret

While Robin cooks at the Old Forge, a devastating message from Murphy exposes built‑up tensions in their relationship, including the loss of the baby and the emotional distance between them. After responding honestly, Robin joins Strike for dinner but can’t help breaking down in tears, finally confessing that she lost a pregnancy due to an ectopic pregnancy caused by a past infection from her rapist. The conversation becomes deeply intimate when Strike, moved, offers silent and genuine support. Robin admits her doubts about motherhood and her fear of having to give up the investigative life she loves. Strike, though longing to confess his love, chooses to remain silent so as not to burden her further. Later, by the fire, they resume the investigation, trying to understand why Wright was murdered in the vault. Though the conversation remains professional, their bond has grown even stronger and painfully significant.

Chapter 88 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – A Call from the Shadows and an Unexpected Betrayal

Back in London after a tense journey through Storm Doris, Strike feels dejected, burdened not only by his physical wounds but also by the growing certainty that Robin and Murphy will solidify their relationship. While on surveillance, he receives an unexpected call from Rupert Fleetwood, who claims to be alive but refuses to reveal his location. Shortly after, a hysterical woman calls him from a phone booth, demanding to meet at the Golden Fleece, adding more mystery. At the bar where he waits, Kim arrives late and battered, explaining she was assaulted by the ex of the man she was dating, who has committed suicide. Drunk and vulnerable, Kim crosses boundaries with Strike, trying to seduce him, but he firmly rejects her, fed up with accumulated tensions. What seemed like a simple surveillance night turns into a whirlwind of emotions, disappointments, and firm decisions, as Strike deals with his loneliness and the personal chaos surrounding him.

Chapter 89 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Truth Hidden in the Sports Bag

Back in London, Robin wrestles with latent fear from the murder cases and her personal life, striving to maintain her commitment to Murphy. Although she spends the weekend with him, a revealing call from Strike about Rupert Fleetwood, Kim’s resignation, and new case leads shake her. Soon after, Robin video calls Wynn Jones, Tyler Powell’s friend, who confirms he pretended to be Tyler to reassure Dilys, Tyler’s grandmother. Amid mockery and foul language, Wynn reveals details about Chloe, the girl Tyler truly loved, and his disdain for the accusations he faced after the accident. However, the conversation leaves Robin with an unease she can’t quite define. Upon discovering the “LugzCarz” profile, she suspects it belongs to Tyler, but it offers no concrete leads. Later, while cleaning Murphy’s bag, she finds hidden vodka, confronting her with the devastating truth: her partner hides a serious alcohol addiction.

Chapter 90 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Secret of Barnaby Rudge and the Hidden Junkyard

While surveilling Plug in Haringey, Strike witnesses the arrival of a man who seems familiar. Watching him enter the “Brian Judge Scrap” yard, his memory links the name to the rhyming nickname “Barnaby Rudge,” a clue revealing the location of the mysterious “Barnaby’s.” Recognizing the driver as Marco Ricci, a criminal tied to past cases, he understands the place is tied to illicit activities. Although Plug appears carrying a puppy, Strike decides not to follow and stays hidden, guided by his intuition. Shortly after confirming Marco has left, he hears suspicious noises from inside the yard, suggesting evidence might be getting destroyed. He quickly calls Shanker, demanding to know if he’s involved with Barnaby’s. Although Shanker denies any personal connection, he becomes visibly shaken upon hearing the police might be closing in. Loyal to his code, Strike gives him a warning, aware of the possible repercussions.

Chapter 91 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Murphy’s Hidden Alcohol Secret Revealed

When Robin finds vodka in Murphy’s water bottle, the truth becomes undeniable: her partner has been secretly drinking. Upon confronting him, Murphy breaks down in tears, confessing that his relapse began after a mistake on a police case that ended with several children dead. He justifies his addiction as a consequence of the trauma and promises to return to AA. However, Robin, hurt by months of lies, decides not to comfort him. She makes it clear that the house purchase must be canceled and that she needs time to think. He begs, assuring her that she is the best thing that has ever happened to him, but Robin remains firm. Although she claims to love him, her decision is made: she needs to walk away. With her suitcase already packed, she crosses the threshold with a frozen heart, aware that this time, the secrets have broken something fundamental. There are no shouts or reproaches, only the devastating calm of disillusionment.

Chapter 92 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Double Murder and a Truth in Decay

After being unable to contact Robin, Strike decides to visit the address of Nancy Jameson, Jim Todd’s mother. At a depressing apartment block in Harlesden, he convinces a group of teenagers to watch his car while he goes up. After several unanswered knocks, he enters the flat with a lockpick, followed by the youths. The stench alerts him: in the living room he finds the decomposing bodies of Todd and Nancy. He has been brutally stabbed; she murdered with a clean knife wound. The scene reveals that the corpse has been partially eaten by a starving cat, and a lamp still lit suggests days of abandonment. Despite the disgust, Strike combs through the place searching for clues before the police arrive. He finds a book about poker under a pillow and a bloody paperweight, possibly the murder weapon. As neighbors begin to gather, he takes mental notes of every detail, knowing that the truth of this case is closer than ever.

EIGHTH PART

Chapter 93 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Interrogation at Scotland Yard and a Silent Deal

After finding the Jamesons’ bodies, Strike is taken to a police station where he gives his statement without a lawyer. He is questioned for trespassing and transferred to Scotland Yard, where inspectors Northmore and Iverson receive him. During the tense interrogation, it is hinted that Strike’s client might have been pregnant, a fact that throws him off. Despite accusations of interfering with police investigations, Strike remains calm, defends his actions, and offers information about “Barnaby’s,” revealing it to be a scrapyard run by Marco Ricci. The police show interest in this lead, and in exchange for not filing formal charges for trespassing, they give him a warning for improper use of lockpicks. Strike, though exhausted, leaves with the feeling of having benefited, aware that the case has taken a new direction and that his information has gained weight within the official investigation now seeming to take him more seriously.

Chapter 94 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Robin’s Emotional Crossroads and Impossible Forgiveness

Overwhelmed by Murphy’s betrayal and his multiple late-night messages, Robin gets up before dawn, unable to sleep. Her boyfriend sends her a video discarding the alcohol, confessing that he had been investigated at work for drinking on the job, hiding that truth for months. He claims he didn’t want to burden her after her ectopic pregnancy and swears love, begging her not to leave him. Robin, caught between compassion, guilt, and disappointment, remembers how she too has kept parts of her life hidden, especially her connection to Strike. Although she feels hurt and betrayed, she cannot ignore that Murphy was by her side during difficult moments. She wonders if leaving him could cause irreversible harm. The anguish leads her to reflect on her own decisions, admitting that even if she hasn’t lied outright, she has concealed many truths. Unable to decide, she chooses to distract herself with work, while Murphy’s messages continue to echo in her mind.

Chapter 95 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Four Crimes and a Conspiracy in the Shadows

Robin meets Strike at a café after a sleepless night. He recounts his experience with the police, finding the bodies, and his interview with Iverson and Northmore. They talk about the possibility that William Wright was actually Rupert Fleetwood after a neighbor mentioned he had a pregnant girlfriend. While Robin struggles between loyalty to Murphy and growing emotional chaos, they analyze the connections between the murders: Jim Todd, possibly implicated in Wright’s murder, might have been eliminated by Oz to prevent him from talking. Strike theorizes that Oz is a methodical killer who has acted multiple times without detection. They also converse about the Masonic link between key figures and the possibility of a secret entrance in the Freemasons’ Hall. With new clues, such as Tish Benton’s return or the attempt to locate Hussein Mohamed, they both advance amid suspicions, veiled leads, and unresolved personal tensions.

Chapter 96 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Robin Confronts Cosima and the Rupert Enigma Intensifies

Robin deals with the tense reconciliation with Murphy, who confesses to having assaulted a suspect during an investigation. Although she decides not to leave him in his crisis, Robin remains wary. Meanwhile, in the pouring rain, she tries to confront Cosima Longcaster outside Dino’s club in search of information about Rupert Fleetwood. The young woman flees, but her father, the imposing Dino, invites Robin inside. In the luxurious club, Longcaster shows her contempt for Rupert, revealing that he stole a valuable silver piece and that she considers him an opportunist like his father. Robin manages to get Cosima to admit, though evasively, that Rupert caused a scene at Sacha Legard’s party, confirming that something significant happened before his disappearance. Upon leaving, Robin senses that Cosima is hiding a secret. Meanwhile, a mysterious man in a Honda Accord seems to follow Robin, suggesting that someone else is watching the missing young man’s case closely.

Chapter 97 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Coded Clues, Hidden Theories, and New Threats

Robin and Strike meet at the office late at night. She investigates a mysterious code that Niall Semple left his wife: a possible key date related to his disappearance. At the same time, Robin confesses to Strike that she believes she is being followed by a man in a Honda Accord, which fuels theories about surveillance by the police or even MI5. While they discuss secret accesses to the antique shop, Strike begins a dive into the dark side of the internet searching for traces of Oz and Sofía Medina. There he discovers disturbing pages where subscribers with offensive names and potential clues that could link Oz with Medina appear. The atmosphere fills with tension when they receive a call from Rena Liddell, seized by fear, and another from Midge, alerting them to a possible revenge attack related to illegal dog fights. The dangers increase and each new finding plunges them further into a case loaded with violence and secrets.

Chapter 98 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Mrs Two-Times’s Betrayal and Murphy’s Threat

Strike receives an unexpected nighttime visit: Mrs Two-Times, who discovers that she has been watched on her husband’s orders. Far from being angry, she proposes a shift in loyalties: that Strike now watch her husband, whom she accuses of frequenting escorts. Strike agrees. As she leaves, she mentions that the fish in the aquarium seems to be dying. Later, Wardle joins Strike and comments that he has quit alcohol, but the conversation takes a disturbing turn: Murphy was caught drinking at work and could be fired. Wardle adds that Murphy plans to propose to Robin, which hits Strike emotionally, who tries to hide his discomfort. Alone, and after reviewing digital clues on criminals and killers, he sinks into a melancholic state. The chapter closes with Strike, drunk, trying to save the dying fish, a symbol of his own emotional decline, while everything around him seems to crumble beyond repair.

Chapter 99 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Robin Discovers the Hidden Ring and Faces the Truth

On Saturday, Robin plans to rest, but an unexpected invitation from Murphy to lunch with his parents shatters her plans. At the same time, Strike, stressed by the workload, demands that she work covering Mrs Two-Times, causing tension between them. As she gets ready, Robin sees from her window the man with the Masonic knife, dressed in his green jacket, increasing her fear. Once at Murphy’s parents’ house, Robin tries to please her in-laws, though she senses veiled judgments and underlying tension. During the Liverpool-Arsenal match, she takes the opportunity to discreetly investigate on social media, focusing on Chloe Griffiths, Rupert Fleetwood, and the impostor Oz. After the parents leave, Murphy confronts her, accusing her of being distant. The argument ends abruptly with her departure. While searching the flat for hidden alcohol, Robin finds instead a jewelry box: a engagement ring bought days earlier. Horrified, she flees, fearing the engagement more than the stalker.

Chapter 100 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – A Broken Truce and a Fish with a Revealing Name

Strike leaves early for Hereford to avoid Robin, convinced that Murphy has proposed marriage to her. He refuses to answer her email, believing the lunch was with future in‑laws. On the way, Midge informs him that she located Branfoot’s flat and documented his suspicious nighttime visits. Robin calls him to share new findings: a bar in Yeovil where Tyler Powell may have worked. Strike responds coldly, hiding his disappointment, and the tension erupts in a bitter exchange that ends with Robin hanging up. Back at the office, Robin notices that the fish named Cormoran is in a separate container; it has been isolated for floating erratically. The instructions written by Strike reveal unusual care for the sick fish. Both women watch it regain its balance, and Robin decides to return it to the tank. Meanwhile, Strike drives, regretting his words and recognizing his own emotional self‑sabotage. The fish, with its name, is now a symbol of his inner turbulence.

Chapter 101 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The MI5 Trap and Strike’s Warning

Strike arrives in Hereford and allows himself an indulgent meal at Beefy Boys before meeting with Rena Liddell, who supposedly arranged to see him at the Golden Fleece pub. But waiting for him is Ralph Lawrence, an MI5 agent. In a premeditated setup, Rena has been committed to a psychiatric hospital after trying to obtain a weapon, and Strike realizes the meeting was manipulated to watch him and silence possible revelations. Lawrence tries to question him about his connection to Rena, suggesting a dangerous link. Tired of games, Strike confronts him, accusing the agent of being responsible for Rena seeking contact with him. He walks out without cooperating, making it clear he will not be intimidated. Enraged and frustrated, he decides to fulfill his promise to Robin to go to Yeovil, where he investigates the bartender “Dave” lead, with no results. The tension between government secrets and growing personal pressure begins to hit him hard.

Chapter 102 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Suspicions in Ironbridge and a Devastated Father’s Confession

Still angry with Strike, Robin resumes surveillance on Plug, feeling emotionally exhausted by the work and her relationship with Murphy. At night, she travels to Beaconsfield to interview Faber Whitehead, father of Hugo, the young man who died in the Mazda accident. In a conversation filled with pain, Whitehead directly accuses Chloe Griffiths of sabotaging the car after a fight at the Horse & Jockey pub, where she threatened Hugo and Anne‑Marie. He mentions CCTV footage showing a female figure near the Mazda and insists that Tyler Powell could not be the culprit, as he was in Ironbridge at that time. Although lucid, Whitehead is obsessed with blaming Chloe, describing her as manipulative and violent. Robin takes note of every detail, including the possible jealous motivation over a gift from Tyler. After the interview, she writes to Chloe asking for answers, unaware that true danger awaits her in her car, parked in the darkness.

Chapter 103 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Attack in the Land Rover and Robin’s Counterattack

Inside the Land Rover, Robin is brutally attacked by the man with the Masonic knife, who lunges at her intending to subdue and abduct her. The struggle is desperate: he grabs her throat while trying to drag her to the driver’s seat. Despite the panic and lack of air, Robin manages to free a hand and gropes for her defense spray. Through blows and grappling, she manages to spray his face repeatedly until he begins to cough and loses strength. With a well‑placed punch, she disorients him just enough to continue her defense. With the strength of fear, Robin sprays him again and again, even feeling the sting of the gas in her own eyes. Finally, she can scream with all her might, grabbing her attacker by the hair just as a passerby intervenes and helps her immobilize the assailant. Thus, Robin survives by seconds, becoming her own heroine.

Chapter 104 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – A New Media Threat and a Desperate Call to Rokeby

While returning to London, Strike receives an alert that a devastating article about him is about to be published. Culpepper, fueled by a new source, plans to reveal an alleged love triangle between Strike, Bijou, and Andrew Honbold, insinuating that Bijou’s child might be his. Although Strike has DNA proof that exonerates him, he knows the reputational damage would be immediate. Desperate, he calls Bijou and then, as a last resort, turns to her father, Jonny Rokeby. At his luxurious home, Rokeby greets him with sarcasm but agrees to put him in contact with his powerful lawyer, Denholm. Despite their differences, the two men share a moment of candor, talking about mistakes, family resentments, and past wounds. Rokeby, with tears in his eyes, asks Strike for a new chance to have real contact as a father. Media tension mixes with family trauma, leading Strike to reluctantly agree to share a beer in the future.

Chapter 105 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Rokeby’s Forgiveness and Robin’s Confession

At Rokeby’s house, Strike receives a call from Robin. She is at the police station, shaken after the attack. She tells him that the assailant could be Oz, who wore the same green coat and was subdued thanks to her spray and the help of a passerby. Though trying to remain strong, Robin cries and admits feeling responsible for not having checked the car, where a tracker was hidden. Strike suppresses his anger, worried about her safety. She mentions that Murphy will come to pick her up. After hanging up, Strike, still shaken, returns to Rokeby, who reveals that Prudence thinks Robin and Strike should be together. Shortly after, Denholm calls: he manages to stop the baby article and begins steps to force Culpepper to apologize for past defamations. In an unusual gesture, Rokeby shows vulnerability, confesses his pride as a father, and asks to keep in touch. Strike, moved, agrees. For the first time, a reconciliation seems possible.

NINTH PART

Chapter 106 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Robin’s Trauma and Strike’s Unexpected Comfort

Robin, affected by the attack she suffered, tries to appear normal in front of Murphy but is tormented by flashbacks, injuries, and the fear of being seen as “the easy victim.” Despite her efforts, she cannot ignore that her priority is no longer her relationship but her work at the agency. Strike orders her to rest, pressured by a call from Murphy that reveals the gravity of his emotional state. Robin agrees to work from home. Strike, with empathy and firmness, imposes security measures: no lone places and no night work. Robin, touched by feeling valued, cries silently. Strike reveals that he visited her father, Jonny Rokeby, to stop a defamatory note. After hanging up, Robin immerses herself in old forums related to Reata Lindvall, convinced that working is her only way to heal. The emotional connection between them strengthens, even at a distance, while danger still lingers.

Chapter 107 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Meeting with Branfoot and Robin’s Secret Plan

While Strike investigates Wade King, a violent former driver who might be linked to the criminal network, he prepares for dinner with Branfoot. Robin, still sensitive, dresses elegantly to attend. At the luxurious Goring Hotel, she meets Strike and confirms she is not wearing a engagement ring, which awakens new hopes. The surprise comes when they discover that Kim Cochran, a traitorous former agency employee, accompanies Branfoot. Observant, Robin throws a jab at Kim, implying she has been watched by a mediocre detective. During the dinner, Branfoot tries to appear friendly while launching veiled threats, revealing personal information about Robin and Murphy. Strike, though angry, remains calm, awaiting a crucial piece of information. Tension increases with every moment, but both detectives prepare to strike back. Between silences, glances, and expensive dishes, they know they are in the heart of the enemy and that the truth is about to erupt.

Chapter 108 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Branfoot’s Blackmail and Kim’s Fall

In a dinner full of manipulation, Branfoot reveals his cards: to use Decima and Murphy’s secrets to discredit the agency and pressure Strike and Robin to abandon the Ramsay Silver corpse case. While Branfoot insinuates Masonic and police links, Strike receives a key message: Ed Billings, the married cop with whom Kim had a sexual scandal. Taking advantage of the tension, Strike unmasks Branfoot: he knows about the Black Prince Road flat, the secret recordings, the attempted murder of Danny de Leon, and the links with Craig Wheaton. Then, he corners Kim, who betrayed him by leaking information to the press and to Branfoot. Strike threatens to ruin her reputation if she does not shut up. Humiliated, Kim leaves the restaurant. Robin, contained, confesses she enjoyed the scene. Both feel strengthened after defeating two enemies, while the suspicion of a trafficking network grows around Wade King.

Chapter 109 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Journey to the Past and the Weight of the Unsaid

Strike sets out for Northumberland to confront Tara Jenson, Charlotte’s mother. The journey is full of painful memories: his time in the army, his toxic relationship with Charlotte, and the moment Robin appeared in his life, symbolizing a new path. As he drives, he reflects on mistakes made, his feelings for Robin, and the certainty that he wasted his chance at happiness. He remembers how Robin, with her loyalty and courage, has been his true support, unlike Charlotte, wrapped in manipulation and self‑destruction. He also laments that Robin is still with Murphy, convinced they will soon become officially engaged. In this introspective and melancholic atmosphere, past and present mingle, and Strike prepares to face a woman as damaged as her daughter, with the purpose of finding the truth about Rupert Fleetwood and his connection to the stolen nef, the mysterious missing silver ship.

Chapter 110 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Secret of the Nef and the Confrontation with Tara Jenson

Strike presents himself at Heberley House posing as a Cartier deliveryman to gain access. When confronting Tara Jenson, Charlotte’s mother, he discovers that Rupert Fleetwood, a fugitive, sold her the stolen valuable nef in exchange for six thousand pounds. Tara, with her classic verbal venom, blames Strike for Charlotte’s suicide, but he does not let himself be manipulated. He presses until she confesses that she also arranged, through her contacts at the Clairmont chain, for Rupert to get a job at a hotel abroad. Although she does not know which one, she confirms that she helped cover for him. Strike suspects that this network of favors hides something bigger and that Rupert holds key information. The chapter ends with a confrontation filled with anger, contempt, and painful truths between two people marked by the memory of a woman destroyed by her surroundings. Strike obtains the lead he needed to resume the search for Rupert.

Chapter 111 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Truth About Rupert and Strike’s Decision

From York, Strike informs Decima that Rupert sold the nef to his ex-wife Tara Jenson and then fled. Although Tara did not reveal his exact whereabouts, she claimed to have gotten him a job with the Clairmont hotel chain. Devastated, Decima refuses to believe it, but Strike insists the case is closed. After hanging up, he has lunch at a pub, where he receives a call from Layborn: Wade King was in France during the key dates, ruling him out as a suspect. This piece of information further disrupts the case theory. As he picks up his vaporizer from the floor, Strike remembers the cylinder William Wright dropped—supposedly a blood sample—and begins to suspect it was something else. With the case officially closed, Strike wants to move on, but disjointed details persist in his mind like pieces that still don’t fit. Despite the exhaustion and apparent end, a new doubt takes root in his investigator’s intuition.

Chapter 112 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Robin Faces the Trauma While the Case Lingers in Her Mind

Robin, forced to leave the anonymous corpse case, feels emotionally trapped. Although she tries to focus on administrative tasks, she cannot help obsessing over loose details: Niall Semple’s numbers, Chloe’s bracelet, the whereabouts of the stolen silver. As the days go by, her PTSD symptoms worsen: insomnia, startle responses, and constant anxiety. When Murphy cancels dinner due to handling a terrorist threat, Robin feels guilty for comparing their tasks. However, her fear becomes real upon returning home and being intercepted by two men, one of them Wade King, who tries to leave her a message featuring a gorilla image. Her brother Martin, visiting unexpectedly after being kicked out by his partner, confronts King and saves Robin from a dangerous situation. The incident seals the return of danger and confirms that the case is far from over for her.

Chapter 113 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Robin Returns to the Case as Strike Reveals a New Theory

After a tense night, Robin decides to go to the office. Strike recounts his violent confrontation with Plug and his gang, where Dev Shah was injured, and suspects they’ll lose him as part of the team due to Kim Cochran’s influence. However, he reveals that he’ll continue the case on his own. Excited, Robin proposes investigating the weights from Wright’s apartment, suggesting they might hold visual clues about his identity. Although Strike finds the theory extravagant, he agrees to interview Hussein Mohamed. Later, Robin receives a hostile reply from Chloe Griffiths but confronts her with new information. In the end, Strike reveals a key discovery: security cameras captured a large crate being taken to the basement, supposedly containing the oriental centerpiece, but in reality, it hid William Wright’s body. The finding changes the entire perspective: the killer only had the opportunity to act in the basement, and the murder was carefully planned.

Chapter 114 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Robin Fears for Strike After the Westminster Attack

Martin returns to Yorkshire after reconciling with Carmen, and Robin, once again alone, tries to maintain her routine. Though she feels vulnerable in her flat, she decides to work from home. Through WhatsApp, she resumes contact with Chloe Griffiths, who admits that Tyler Powell mentioned working at a pub, possibly in Wolverhampton. Just then, Murphy calls alarmed: there’s been an attack on Westminster Bridge, and he fears Robin is nearby. Although she is safe, she knows Strike was in the area following a suspect. She calls him repeatedly, to no avail, until he finally answers from St Stephen’s Tavern, unharmed. Trembling, Robin realizes how deeply affected she is. A disturbing thought crosses her mind: would she have felt the same terror if Murphy had been involved? Though she forces herself to believe she would, her emotional impulse betrays her. The external attack mirrors the internal chaos she has lived with for weeks.

Chapter 115 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Meeting with Rena and the Hidden Clue on the Bridge

Shaken by the attack, Strike heads to the Engineer pub to meet Rena Liddell, fearing her fragile mental health has worsened. He doesn’t find her, but a comment about a “bridge” prompts him to explore nearby. Beneath one, he finds Rena in deplorable condition, with a fake gun and paranoid thoughts. He convinces her to come to the pub, where she reveals that Niall Semple gave her a pendant with a supposedly magical chessboard and promised to leave her more objects “on the bridge.” She also mentions a heavy suitcase, likely containing some of the stolen silver. Though she mixes fantasy with memory, Strike extracts valuable clues: Niall trusted Rena and may have hidden part of the loot for her. The story, though fragmented, confirms Rena holds key pieces to understanding the case, while Strike, increasingly close to the truth, must face the shadows of the past.

Chapter 116 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Yellow Lion and Robin’s Revelation

Alone and afraid in her flat, Robin receives a call from Midge with the recorded testimony of Hussein Mohamed. He describes yellow weights with a black lion symbol that William Wright tried to hide during a casual visit. He also mentioned an iron and a suit, suggesting Wright expected to start a new job. Robin deduces the weights were stolen and later hidden. Mohamed never told the police, assuming they had seen them. He also mentions Wright recommending a food bank on “Stone Road,” but Robin discovers it’s actually Strone Road. Chloe Griffiths then responds with hostility, but Robin fires back with a new question about the night of Anne-Marie’s accident. As she pieces together clues, she notices seemingly banal details: misheard names, symbols like the lion, and ultimately, the meaning of a particular name. What she discovers is so shocking that she immediately calls Strike.

TENTH PART

Chapter 117 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Final Theory and Robin’s Fear

Robin and Strike share their discoveries and theories about William Wright over the phone. Though they believe they’ve pieced things together correctly, they fear the police will dismiss them due to a lack of solid evidence. Robin finds an eBay listing where the weights with the black lion were sold, confirming Wright bought them in cash. Strike plans an operation with Barclay and Wardle, warning of the legal risks. Robin, increasingly anxious, fears Sapphire Neagle is dead. After hanging up with Strike, Robin receives a call from Murphy, who has booked a dinner at the Ritz for her birthday. The unexpected gesture awakens deep unease in her, as she senses something is off in their relationship. Meanwhile, Strike tries to focus on the night operation’s preparations, though his thoughts keep returning to Robin and the fear she might accept a marriage proposal he couldn’t bear. Both feel they are approaching a decisive point.

Chapter 118 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Undercover Plan and Ironbridge Surveillance

At dawn, Strike meets with Barclay and Wardle, who will drive the rental car to Ironbridge while he remains hidden until nightfall. Knowing he’s been seen there before, he trusts his team to prepare the ground. He warns them to avoid any physical confrontation, as they can’t afford more media exposure. As they travel, the trio discusses the possibility of a criminal network led by Oz, and Strike makes it clear that his plan is strategy, not impulse. Though their jokes relieve some tension, everyone knows that night’s operation could expose them. As they divide roles, Strike reserves the most critical moment: entering the target residence. The operation must be conducted in total silence, avoiding mistakes. While his team heads north, Strike stays in Banbury, waiting for the right moment. Yet his mind remains torn between professional risk and the growing weight of the personal.

Chapter 119 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Wall Opening and Kenneth Ramsay’s Hope

Robin and Midge arrive at Ramsay Silver with tools hidden in their bags. Kenneth Ramsay, exhausted and anxious, lets them into the shop. In the basement, Robin crawls into an old wardrobe, where she finds a recently nailed wooden board. With effort, she removes the panel and discovers bricks placed irregularly. Using a mallet, she strikes until one of the bricks falls and hits metal. Asking for a flashlight, Robin shines inside and discovers a hidden chamber full of silver: the nef, the ceremonial dagger, the oriental centerpiece, and more. There are also bloodstained clothes that appear to belong to William Wright. They call Strike to confirm the treasure never left the shop. As Ramsay collapses with emotion, Robin goes up to comfort him. Strike confirms everything fits and suspects Oz used the hideout to conceal evidence. The discovery validates his theory and strengthens his resolve to catch the killer.

Chapter 120 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Semple’s Corpse and Shah’s Redemption

While Robin and Midge discover the hidden silver, Strike waits for updates in Banbury. During the wait, he receives an unexpected call from Shah, who apologizes for believing Cochran’s lies and doubting the Wright case. Grateful, Strike assures him he’ll keep paying him until he recovers. Then, Midge calls to report the discovery: Robin has found not only the silver but also bloodstained clothes that seem to belong to Wright. Relieved, Strike asks Robin to persuade Ramsay not to disclose the find yet, to avoid suspicion. Meanwhile, George Layborn calls to confirm they’ve found Niall Semple’s body, adding another tragic piece to the puzzle. Finally, Barclay reports that Oz has left in a van with other men and that Wardle is tailing him. Strike prepares to approach Ironbridge, determined to close the case and finally confront the killer.

Chapter 121 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Discovery Beneath the Killer’s Trap

Strike returns at night to the small village by the River Severn, unsettled by what he now knows about Ian Griffiths. Darkness makes the bridge and riverbank feel threatening, and as he approaches the old Powell house, he meets Barclay, who confirms that several men have left in a van and the place appears empty. Strike decides to enter, armed with lockpicks and Ted’s heavy fishing mallet. After opening the back door, he finds the interior thick with a foul smell once masked by incense, and in the living room he discovers evidence of Griffiths’s manipulative past, including photos of Chloe and a red collar that seems to symbolize punishment and control. Suddenly, he hears a mobile phone upstairs and footsteps revealing someone’s presence. He hides just as a large man, Wynn Jones, appears. When Jones tries to climb down through an open trapdoor, Strike strikes him on the head, sensing that something worse than an accomplice lies below.

Chapter 122 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – The Prisoner Beneath the Floor

Jones falls through the trapdoor after Strike’s blow and lies unconscious on the concrete of the basement. The detective climbs down and finds Sapphire, sickly and bound to a pipe near the floor, nearly naked and surrounded by objects of abuse: a sponge‑filled bucket, two enormous sex toys, and an overpowering stench. Strike covers her with his coat and confirms that the chain restraining her cannot be removed without tools, but he must check whether Jones is alive. When he attempts to climb up for help, Sapphire begs him to free her, and he tries to quiet her just before hearing men entering through the back door. Strike hides in the darkness as music by Steely Dan drifts from above. Ian Griffiths approaches the trapdoor, and Strike pulls him down the ladder. In the struggle, Griffiths slices Strike’s ear with a blade, causing heavy bleeding, though Strike manages to disarm him before ending up trapped with Sapphire, the killer, and Jones, who begins to regain consciousness.

Chapter 123 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Bloody Justice Amid Ruins and Lies

Bleeding from his mutilated ear, Strike drags Griffiths up into the living room, where Wardle and Barclay arrest the remaining men. Despite the pain, Strike notices the suspect’s twisted limp and confirms his theory linking him to Tyler Powell’s murder, determined to prevent the killer from slipping away through legal loopholes. In the chaotic room, filled with symbols of youth manipulation and musical paraphernalia, Strike interrogates Griffiths and his accomplices, pressing them with details only the real murderer would know— including the digital impersonation used to pose as Tyler after his death and connections to old sexual exploitation rings. The truth begins to crumble when Sapphire reveals that another victim lies buried beneath the floor, and Barclay tackles Griffiths when he tries to escape. The men’s phones confirm the deception as sirens approach from the bridge, moments before Strike loses consciousness amid blood, pain, and the blurred image of a poster showing Jesus smoking.

EPILOGUE

Chapter 124 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Justice, Corpses, and Secrets from the Basement

Eleven days after Ian Griffiths’s arrest, Strike attends Niall Semple’s funeral in Hereford, dressed in black with his ear bandaged after surgical reattachment. Although Robin was meant to accompany him to close the basement case, a call from Jade Semple forces a change of plans. As he reflects on the media’s indifference toward Semple, he receives a call from Wardle: the Wolverhampton weights have been found along with a pair of human hands in Petts Wood, reinforcing the link to Tyler Powell’s murder. Sapphire has begun speaking, revealing disturbing details of her captivity and the abuses inflicted by Griffiths and his network. Strike calls Robin, who is in Sardinia, and together they mourn the tragic story of Jolanda and Tyler. Later, at the wake, Ralph Lawrence shares confidential details of the failed military mission that shaped Semple’s and Liddell’s lives. Finally, Jade tearfully confesses that the suitcase code was the date she lost her baby.

Chapter 125 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Truth Among Ruins and Flowers in Sardinia

Robin arrives at the Hotel Serenità in Sardinia to locate Rupert Fleetwood, who works there under a different name. She finds him visibly shaken, and they agree to talk during his break. On a terrace covered in bougainvillea, Rupert breaks down upon learning he has a son, and Robin tells him that Decima still loves him. He confesses that he fled after discovering that Decima is his half‑sister, the result of an old relationship between his mother and Dino Longcaster. Rupert learned this from a careless remark by Valentine and a DNA test that confirmed the connection. Ashamed, he admits stealing the Legard nef and selling it as an act of revenge. Robin insists he must tell Decima everything, as she has spent months feeling guilty over his presumed death. Still emotionally shattered, Rupert asks for details about his son and promises to take responsibility. Meanwhile, Robin knows her own future with Murphy is approaching an inevitable crossroads.

Chapter 126 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Incest, Redemption, and Broken Promises

Decima meets with Robin and Strike at the office to thank them and confirm that Rupert has made contact. Although devastated by the truth of their kinship, she plans to return to London with her son Lion and resume her work. She asks them to keep the biological link between her and Rupert a secret to protect the child. Strike surprises her with unexpected sensitivity, suggesting that the boy will be fortunate if he has love and stability, regardless of his origins. Robin, still without the engagement ring she fears receiving that night, is moved by her partner’s compassion but also feels guilty about her emotional closeness to him on Murphy’s birthday. Later, alone, Robin and Strike recall Tyler Powell and Jolanda with sorrow, victims of the network they helped dismantle. As they part, Strike casually asks about Robin’s date, and she nervously confirms she is going to the Ritz with Murphy. Watching her leave, something shifts within him. He runs after her.

Chapter 127 Summary – The Hallmarked Man – Stairwell Confessions and the Long‑Awaited Declaration

At the last moment, Strike catches Robin on the stairs and begs her not to make the same mistake twice. After confirming she knows about Murphy’s imminent proposal, he finally says it: he tells her he is in love with her. Robin, stunned, accuses him of acting out of fear of losing her, reminding him of all the times he pushed her away. Their argument escalates, filled with long‑buried resentments, until Strike, without planning to, asks her to marry him. Enraged and shaking, she refuses and storms down the stairs—only to return moments later to confront him with even more pain. Ultimately, she walks away from him again. Pat, who overheard everything, scolds him with surprising wisdom: it wasn’t the right moment or place, but there is still hope. Strike is left alone, aware that this time he is not a victim of circumstance but the author of his own fate. He looks at the name on the office door and realizes he has just risked everything for love.

Conclusion – The Hallmarked Man

Some marks don’t show… but they burn forever. The Hallmarked Man is not just a chapter-by-chapter summary—it’s the chronicle of a case that leaves Robin and Strike more exposed than ever. This time, the enemy isn’t a killer, but a system shielding the guilty behind golden surnames. Every step toward the truth is a defiance against those who swore this would stay buried.

And yet, the most devastating blows didn’t come from outside threats—they came from within: Robin battling to hold herself together, and Strike confronting the limits of his body… and his heart. There was no clear redemption this time. Only pain, a partial victory, and the bitter truth that not everything can be fixed. But even in that darkness, something endures: the silent vow not to give up.

Because beyond this series, more stories await—other worlds, other mysteries still unfolding. To keep exploring, visit the Other Sagas of the Blog page ➤

FAQs – Chapter by Chapter Summary – The Hallmarked Man

What does the inherited ring symbolize in “The Hallmarked Man”?

The ring that Cormoran Strike inherits from his mother represents far more than a piece of jewelry. It’s a symbol of his fractured childhood and unresolved family trauma. As the story unfolds, the ring becomes a key that reopens buried memories and ties directly into the mystery he’s trying to solve. This object carries emotional weight, linking the case to Strike’s inner world and raising the stakes. In a novel where every mark matters, the hallmark on this ring is as much about identity as it is about loss.

Who is the real identity of the mutilated corpse found in the vault?

Initially labeled as Jason Knowles, the corpse discovered in the vault at Ramsay Silver may in fact be Dick de Leon, a man entangled in Freemasonry and a controversial online forum. The disfigurement, Masonic sash, and the Salem cross carved into the skin suggest a symbolic execution. As the investigation deepens, it becomes clear this wasn’t a random killing—it was a silencing, carried out with precision. The uncertainty around the corpse’s identity becomes a focal point, challenging every assumption the detectives hold.

How does Robin’s medical emergency shape the emotional arc of the novel?

Robin’s ectopic pregnancy and resulting fertility crisis leave her physically and emotionally shaken. The trauma isn’t just personal—it affects her relationship with Murphy, her sense of agency, and how she approaches the investigation. As she hides her condition from Strike, the silence adds tension to their partnership. Her experience infuses the story with urgency and depth, highlighting themes of vulnerability, choice, and the cost of prioritizing justice over self-care. It’s one of the book’s most quietly devastating threads.

What role does Freemasonry play in the murder case?

Freemasonry is more than a background detail in The Hallmarked Man—it’s a shadowy force shaping the crime itself. The body found is marked with Masonic symbols, and the scene echoes ritualistic elements. Several suspects, including powerful figures like Valentine Longcaster, are linked to Masonic circles. While some characters try to dismiss the connection, evidence mounts that the murder was a calculated act meant to protect secrets within the order. The detectives soon realize they are not just solving a crime—they’re confronting a protected power structure.

Why do Strike and Robin choose to continue the investigation despite repeated warnings?

Strike and Robin persist not out of recklessness but because they understand the nature of silence. Warnings only confirm they’re getting close to something dangerous and hidden. Abandoning the case won’t protect them—truth already has its grip on both. For Robin, it’s also a test of independence; for Strike, a chance to right personal wrongs. The decision reflects who they’ve become: two people who refuse to let threats rewrite the narrative. Their resolve is emotional, ethical, and deeply personal.