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Final Thoughts:
(1) As good as this got toward the end and as much as I preferred the ending to what everyone was hoping for, it wasn't enough to make this my favorite in the series. That remains "The Ink Black Heart." But this got close.
(2) We never got any mention of creosote tea! That's disappointing.
- Robin's the only person who makes tea the way Strike likes, and hence it's symbolic of their unspoken intimacy.

Chapters 130�136:
(1) So, turns out the supposed solution to Daiyu's suspicious death was a red herring!
- Though, the actual outcome isn't as beguiling a twist, albeit much more elaborate, so it's a bit of a letdown.
(2) Boy! the ending was something, wasn't it?
- Who knew all it would take was for Ilsa and Charlotte to cease pressing Strike about the elephant in the room to spur him into action?
(3) And so we wait.

Chapters 121�129:
(1) Robin's in peril at the climax, because of course she is.
(2) While not stated outright, what happened to Daiyu is pretty much clear.
- Heck of a twist if it sticks.
(3) Good as it's getting, I feel like I'm going to finish disappointed.
- With less than 50-pages left, there's barely enough space to wrap up the mystery let alone have Robin break up with Ryan and have a feelings talk with Strike.

Chapters 112�120:
(1) I had to remind myself that "Asian" in the British context means South Asian, whereas in America it means East Asian.
(2) Well, Chekhov's gun went off. Here's hoping Chekhov's axe isn't far behind.
- The axe being explained/used is up there with creosote tea as things that need to happen before this book is over.
- I'd have included the romance angle, but that's been like the boy who cried wolf.

Chapters 105�111:
(1) "[Strike] was staring at the board while eating, willing his subconscious to make one of those unexpected leaps that explained everything."
- These eureka moments, at least to me, make or break a detective novel.
(2) I had to remind myself that the age of consent in the UK is 16.
- I understand it varies by jurisdiction, even within the US, but it's commonly understood in North America to be 18.

Chapters 98�104:
(1) As of this moment, this is my second favorite in the series behind "The Ink Black Heart."
- That could still change. "The Ink Black Heart" didn't really kick into high gear until the last third, so there's still time for this to wow me.
(2) Tasha Mayo looks to be a recurring character going forward.
- A decent addition. Though definitely not commensurate compensation for the big series departure.

Chapters 91�97:
(1) Strike: "If the f****r tries using a skeleton key again, he'll get his comeuppance."
- So, it's booby trapped? I picture him getting a "Home Alone" style paint can to the face.
(2) I'd totally forgotten about Flora Brewster.
- I'd appreciate this revelation more if I remembered who she is.
- With a book of this length, you need more regular reminders of who people are and their relation to others.

Chapters 82�90:
(1) Why does Robin always have to cut it so close?
- Thank goodness for Jiang, that's all I'll say.
- She's definitely not a damsel-in-distress, but being vulnerable and imperiled is her recurring theme.
(2) Ironic, literally running away from religion, but with the absolute blind certainty a savior is at the end waiting for you.
(3) Well, it looks like at least one of my bold theories may be correct.

Chapters 73�81:
(1) It's come to the point where I dread reading Robin chapters.
- The abuse Robin must/chooses to endure is increasingly gross and perverse.
- Not that they're bad, just really uncomfortable.
(2) That lawnmower scene was something else!
- Prediction: The TV adaptation will not be 100% faithful to the source material.
(3) Somehow I doubt, "Hey, wanna spirit bond?" will ever catch on as a pick-up line.

Chapters 66�72:
(1) One thing I appreciate about this series is that it's fairly agnostic when it comes to modern politics.
- Brexit and Trump are brought up as news events, but no moral judgement's passed.
- Strike's pretty much apolitical. Robin's politics are fairly clear, but only if you read between the lines.
(2) Bold theory: I predict the axe will be used as a weapon!
- It's Chekhov's gun... er, Chekhov's axe.