XOX’s Reviews > The Hallmarked Man > Status Update

Lord Branfoot is horrible. Kim switching side is no surprise but still disappointing. She is also horrible. Kim betrayed Strike and Robin by using what she knew about the client to blackmail them. It sounds like she is confident that she could ruin the agency. All is not loss when Strike found out something important.

Kim is a horrible character. Her ex was a married man. His ex wife blamed Kim. Of course. Then she used his ex to get sympathy from Strike and try to come on him, again. Strike makes a stand.

Murphy is blaming Robin for what Kim has done. He is supposed to love Robin and they were house hunting. Why wouldn’t he be on Robin’s side and see this from her perspective.

Robin finds out why the man the agency had been following keep riding the Central line and going no where.

Jim Todd is not a train enthusiast.

That’s also why diverse team being better result. Robin observes something that her male colleagues didn’t pick up.

Bijou Watkins character represents real women that I had a hard time being friend with. Dating married men or men already in long term relationship. And do things to manipulate the man to leave the wife and be with them. Selfish. Shallow and full of….

I hate characters like this. That is also why I hate romance with love triangle. These books are rubbish.

Getting more mysterious warning.

Dominic Culpepper, reporter, angry at Strike. It is not Strike’s fault that his wife js caught cheating. Strike is not even following her. It is her lover that Strike has followed. Why the angry? There will be more gossip news as Strike got famous exes.

Liberty is a beautiful shopping mall. Wooden floors and big brands. Strike is following someone and Robin suggest him to buy gifts there. I’m with Strike on this as I am clueless on the gift buying. I get practical stuff for people I care about.

Strike guessed Robin see the “so sexy” text from
Kim. He defuse it by asking Robin what she thinks of her personally. And then add own negative take on her. That makes Robin feels better.

Robin should have been honest with herself that she care a lot about what Strike thinks of Kim and if they have a chance with each other.

Why is clear communication so difficult for Strike and Robin? They are very effective communicators in all other circumstances. Robin is sitting alone in a pub thinking about the “so sexy” text Strike got from Kim. Strike is thinking about Robin and Murphy moving in together.

Just don’t get it. I hate miscommunication as a plot device in any book. Probably why most romance books pissed me off so much.