At nearly 900 pages, The Hallmarked Man is a long but rewarding read. When I first picked it up, I didn’t even bother to read the blurb. Only later did I realize that Robert Galbraith is a pseudonym for J. K. Rowling, and this is the eighth book in the Cormoran Strike series. I’m grateful I gave it a chance and now I can’t wait for the ninth installment.
The story begins when Decima Mullins contacts the detective agency run by Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott. She wants answers about a body discovered months earlier in the vault of a silver shop. The police believed it to be William Wright, who turned out to be using the false identity of a convicted armed robber named Jason Knowles. The police were unable to obtain DNA confirmation because the body had been heavily mutilated. But Decima is convinced the victim was her young lover, Rupert Fleetwood, who vanished at the same time.
Strike and Robin suspect the murder might be tied to a priceless collection of Masonic treasures recently purchased by the silver shop. The body’s ritualistic wounds and the hallmark engraved on its back suggest a symbolic and sinister motive.
As the investigation unfolds, Strike and Robin navigate a maze of false identities, possible suspects, and personal struggles. Strike, worn down by old enemies and unspoken feelings for Robin, struggles to stay focused. Meanwhile, Robin faces the lingering trauma of her last undercover case. Together, they make an extraordinary team, both flawed and deeply human yet utterly compelling.
Rowling’s storytelling is as sharp and immersive as ever. Her attention to detail, complex plotting, and emotional depth make this a standout read. Every question finds its answer by the end, leaving me completely satisfied and eager for what comes next. 5⭐