The Running Gag of the farting office couch.
The Cuckoo's Calling
- During his first meeting with Robin, Strike saves her from falling down the stairs... by grabbing her chest.
- It's more of a Genius Bonus for readers relating to the above, but during their initial chat about the temp job, Strike jokes about Robin being the perfect name. Strike's talking about 'Robin' being a good name for a great detective's sidekick, referencing Batman, but Robin blushes bright red. It takes a bit of working out (or asking a Brit), but Robin thinks Strike's referring to the robin redbreast bird.
Career of Evil
- While Strike is in the office talking to an old colleague and friend of his named Shanker, Robin tells him that "I've done the most important e-mails. I'll head off and do Platinum now," in reference to a girl who they've been tailing on behalf of her over-suspicious boyfriend, who thinks she might be cheating on him.Shanker: "'Ead off and do Platinum?"Strike: It's not as good as it sounds.
- One of Strike's clients is a mother whose ex-husband is violating their custody agreement, terrorizing and intimidating their kids and caretakers. Strike finally presents the woman's lawyer with his evidence against the man, designated "Mad Dad."The solicitor was delighted with the copious evidence that Strike had laid in front of him, which vividly documented Mad Dad's constant violations of the custody agreements. "Oh, excellent," he beamed over an enlarged picture of the youngest son cowering tearfully behind his nanny as his father snarled and pointed, almost nose to nose with the defiant woman. "Excellent, excellent..." And then, catching sight of his client's expression, he had hurried to conceal his glee at this vision of her child's distress and offered tea.
- Strike is forced to treat a couple of interview subjects to an expensive lunch in order to ensure their cooperation. He despairs at what is clearly an upscale choice of restaurant as the bank account balance is depleted due to a complete lack of cases due to the recent negative press of Robin having been sent a severed leg by a crazed killer with a grudge against him. Then they get there and get the menus..."I've told him not to mind what he orders." Tempest told Strike comfortably. "He didn't realize how much you'll made from solving those cases. I've told him: the press will have paid you loads just for your story. I suppose that's what you do now, try and solve the really high-profile ones?" Strike thought of his plummeting bank balance, his glorified bedsit over the office and the shattering effect the severed leg had had on his business.
Lethal White
- Strike makes a call while a busker sings "No Woman No Cry" in the street below. At two points in the call, the song's lyrics match what is happening in the call at that point.
- Robin being uncharacteristically petty during a terrible argument with Matthew by correcting him on the pronunciation of Chiswell's name (which is treated similarly to Guy Somé's in the first book). The fact that she takes the time to do this while her marriage is going down in flames around her is darkly hilarious.Robin: - it's pronounced Chizzle -
- The valuing of a painting:Drummond: — but it was worth peanuts. Peanuts.
Strike: How much, at a guess?
Drummond: (dismissively) Five to eight thousand at a push.
Strike: Quite a lot of peanuts to some people.
Troubled Blood
- In one chapter, Robin realizes that Strike has forgotten her birthday. Having done the same thing the previous year, she figured that he would have made an effort to remember this year, but apparently not. The events shift to Strike's perspective for the next chapter. At the end of it, he checks his phone following a lengthy interview to find two text messages have come in. One of them is fairly lengthy and involves Strike's brother Al inviting him to a reunion of their father's band, something he wants no part of. The second text, which is from his friend Ilsa, is said to be much shorter. It reads as a follows: "It's Robin's birthday, you total dickhead." (end of chapter)
- Robin and Strike have an extended discussion regarding Talbot's astrology theories, which tests Strike's patience, as he considers it to be all nonsense. Then, they end up having a phone conversation with a witness, which ends up being so much blather as well. Robin finally manages to get the talkative witness off the phone, and turns to Strike, asking him what he thinks. He points up at the sky."What?" said Robin, looking up into the blue haze. "If you look carefully," said Strike, "you might just see an asteroid passing through the house of bollocks."
- Wolfgang’s interest in the casserole (described as “the object of his devotion,”) during the otherwise tense dinner is especially funny to dog owners.Wolfgang was lying as close to the hot door as he could manage without burning himself, reminding Robin of fans who camped out overnight in hope of catching a glimpse of pop stars.
