Thank you both so much! I agree with Bea Groves (and others) that JKR/RG probably planned the series originally as 7 books but later decided to expand it. I think that's why the romance keeps having to be dragged out.
Thank you, again, for this reread analysis! My enjoyment of my own reread is increased enormously by your insights. I totally agree that the phrasing Strike chose in supposedly telling Robin he is in love with her is very meaningful. It shows that he is still hedging his bets by being less than straight forward and that lack of straightforwardness allows Robin to go off with Murphy as if nothing has been said. Imagine if Strike had instead said something like "Before you go off on this weekend with your boyfriend, I want to tell you something that I should have said a long time ago; I am in love with you and want us to be more than business partners." Personally, I think this dialogue makes more sense than how Jo wrote the scene since she describes him as a trapeze artist taking a big risk. I love this series but agree with others that the "will they/won't they" trope has been dragged out too long. But there is still a lot to love about the world of Strike and Robin that Jo has written and I cannot wait for THM.
Thank you both so much! I agree with Bea Groves (and others) that JKR/RG probably planned the series originally as 7 books but later decided to expand it. I think that's why the romance keeps having to be dragged out.
Thank you, again, for this reread analysis! My enjoyment of my own reread is increased enormously by your insights. I totally agree that the phrasing Strike chose in supposedly telling Robin he is in love with her is very meaningful. It shows that he is still hedging his bets by being less than straight forward and that lack of straightforwardness allows Robin to go off with Murphy as if nothing has been said. Imagine if Strike had instead said something like "Before you go off on this weekend with your boyfriend, I want to tell you something that I should have said a long time ago; I am in love with you and want us to be more than business partners." Personally, I think this dialogue makes more sense than how Jo wrote the scene since she describes him as a trapeze artist taking a big risk. I love this series but agree with others that the "will they/won't they" trope has been dragged out too long. But there is still a lot to love about the world of Strike and Robin that Jo has written and I cannot wait for THM.
Fantastic insights, thanks for doing this Louise. I never thought of the legilmency connection between Charlotte and Voldemort before!!