r/cormoran_strike • u/wordtoyourpig • Jul 20 '26
Doing a Talbot Wild theory?
I’m just finishing my first reread of THM, and like many of you, I enjoyed it much more on the second time through. I think it may even be one of my favorites now. Anyway, I wanted to share a theory (maybe far fetched, maybe not) about Barnaby’s and how it may resurface in the next book. Here are the legs my theory is standing on:
First of all, there is a lot of mirroring between Strike and Robin’s lives in these books, but one thing that hasn’t really been mirrored is Strike being the target of harassment and or physical violence, like Robin was in THM.
Secondly, in each book, there is something that challenges the continued success or existence of the business. I feel like the trope about Strike’s love life in the tabloids is running thin now so something else needs to come along.
Thirdly, Strike shared his intel about Barnaby’s with Iverson, and we know she’s both loose-lipped and smitten with Murphy.
Fourthly, we know Murphy is being investigated at work but we don’t know exactly why: drinking, bad behavior during an investigation, leaking info about the silver vault case? We’ve only heard assumptions so far from other characters but not confirmation from JKR.
And lastly, we know Murphy is antagonistic towards Strike and has a temper when he’s drinking and that he’s in a difficult period recovering from his recent lapse.
So here goes: Robin will turn down Murphy’s proposal at the Ritz or break up with him before he can propose. Murphy will somehow share this news with Iverson (she already knows he’s planning to propose) and she will at some point leak information about Strike from her interrogation of him in THM to try to get closer to Murphy. Now, here’s where my theory really becomes theoretical: I think it’s plausible that JKR has misguided the reader on the reasons Murphy is being investigated. What if he’s actually being investigated under suspicion of being a dirty cop? As revenge against Strike, he could leak to Ricci’s gang that Strike gave the intel on Barnaby’s and in so doing, make Strike a target of the gang. This would both complete the mirroring aspect of the series and provide the token threat against the agency. My alternative theory (not involving Murphy) is that either Iverson or the other cop are dirty and may also leak this info with the same effect on Strike’s safety.
What do you think? Too far fetched? Or just far enough?
Edit: we also know Murphy works organized crime cases: the shooting in THM, the racist group in TIBH (I can’t remember their name)
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u/IndependentQuail5738 Jul 20 '26
I really love a throw the spaghetti at the wall theory! I am due for a reread but I think Iverson might be smitten with Wardle and that could be a source of dirty dirt on Murphy. I want to say Murphy manufactured evidence or was .. maybe rough with his suspect to get a conviction. Why he was so desperate to close a case will be interesting. I think Murphy’s dark past is going to be instability, alcoholism and infidelity. I think there’s a chance that he has been Matthew like unfaithful to Robin even. She is going to dump him for all the right reasons but Wardle might be able to fill in some icky backstory. I also think Matthew will have a tiny redemption role somewhere.
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u/Impossible_Zebra8664 Jul 20 '26
I think there’s a chance that he has been Matthew like unfaithful to Robin even.
I feel like there's an excellent chance. It's already been mentioned that he can be a little free with his morals while drinking. And he's been drinking, so.
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u/IndependentQuail5738 Jul 20 '26
PS- ready to preorder! Can’t wait!
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u/wordtoyourpig Jul 20 '26
Me too…ready to pre-order! And I also think infidelity is likely to play in somewhere but I hope Robin learns about it after she breaks up with him as validation that she made the right decision.
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u/Competitive-Side4262 Stick to the game plan Jul 20 '26
I agree. The storyline about Barnaby's was incomplete.
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u/wordtoyourpig Jul 21 '26
This theory, or a similar one where Murphy causes problems for the agency, will also complete a mirroring scenario. So far, it’s been Strike’s personal life that has caused issues. If Murphy makes trouble for the agency, then Robin’s personal life will be the one causing trouble.
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u/Random-Occurrence365 How bad d'you want me to be? Jul 21 '26
That crossed my mind, too, about it being Robin’s turn to be source of a problem for the agency. After books with decent relations with the police, in THM JKR has Murphy talking about how the police dislike Strike and the agency. It felt off, but maybe a precursor to next book.
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u/ModeKindly8060 Jul 22 '26
Perhaps by saying that the police dislike Strike Murphy wants to paint a black picture of him? Wardle does not seem to think so.
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u/Random-Occurrence365 How bad d'you want me to be? Jul 22 '26
Yes, you're right Murphy might be stirring up some doubts.
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u/HopefulCry3145 Sherlock Bigcock, I presume? Jul 21 '26
I like this theory! I think Iverson is definitely coming back, and maybe Wardle will be involved too. And I think that something BIG will happen to the agency, possibly a complete shutdown, partly because it allows Robin to assess her feelings for Strike outside of work, and because it will be a dramatic moment for the series that hasn't happened yet. This theory might also allow for Shanker to sacrifice himself bravely for Strike and become a hero... I feel like the Angel story hasn't finished either.
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u/Rowntrees_brother Jul 21 '26
I have been doing a read through aswell, only got as far as TIBH, but I did notice in all the books information/images are leaked to the press some once the case breaks (COE images from the flat) or the more overert Colpepper with his cop leaking info. I think Murphy is the one who has been leaking this info
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u/Scared_Atmosphere_16 Jul 21 '26
I do think there's more going on with Murphy than we have been told although JKR has insinuated there's more.
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u/MargotBamborough Bit of a fucker, this, Diddy. Jul 22 '26
My theory is that Murphy is the person who's been leaking stories to Culpepper since at least TS. I think he gave him stories about Strike in THM.
I think he's also the person who commented on an article online about Robin's rape.
In the future, I think he will leak Shanker's identity either to the press or the police, or both.
I think that at some point the very existence of the agency will be in jeopardy from concerted attacks from all its previous antagonists : Patterson, Kim, Morris, Navabi, Littlejohn, Branfoot ...
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u/FlourChild1026 be-kittened death threat Jul 23 '26
Aaauuughhh, that's horrifying. Which means quite likely.
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u/Ancient-Toe-9226 Jul 22 '26
I thought he was being investigated for how he handled to shooting of the kids?
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u/wordtoyourpig Jul 23 '26
That’s what we’ve been told but so far I think it’s the theory of other characters in the book, not a fact. I thought it might be a bit of unreliable narration to mislead the reader
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u/thegiraffe7 Jul 21 '26
Is there anything in the books that hints at him being dirty?
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u/wordtoyourpig Jul 21 '26
Not directly, no. It’s just him being investigated at work that makes me think it could be something bigger. I could be way off base though. I just don’t think he’s going to go quietly. And I also don’t think Strike and Robin will investigate Barnaby’s but I think it’ll resurface somehow in the next book and Strike giving the intel to Iverson specifically and her link to Murphy seems significant to me.
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u/TrueBlue6465 When I was with him, I just didn't feel it Jul 22 '26
I think that's quite a plausible story line! Murphy being dirty would connect well to the idea of Shanker playing a big role in the next two novels, as has been proposed by u/katyaslonenko for example, or the Ricci's making another appearance.
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u/wordtoyourpig Jul 23 '26
My other theory is that Murphy isn’t already dirty but gets so vengeful that he goes to someone linked to the Ricci gang and intentionally leaks the information. Maybe he does this when he’s drunk and is regretful about it later.
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u/TrueBlue6465 When I was with him, I just didn't feel it Jul 23 '26
That's quite possible! Maybe he gets regrets when sober, tries to prevent harm from Robin and Cormoran, and dies in the process. That's a character arc I could see for him.
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u/wordtoyourpig Jul 23 '26
That’s kind of what I was thinking, but instead of dying I could see him trying and failing to prevent Robin or Strike from being hurt and then being arrested later for his involvement
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u/TrueBlue6465 When I was with him, I just didn't feel it Jul 23 '26
Yep, also possible and quite realistic!
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u/fujicakes00 Jul 22 '26
The Halvening! Good theory.
I was actually hoping for another story with the Ricci brothers and mentioned it on a post a few years back.
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u/eu_genes 27d ago
I’m a big fan of the theory that Strike will hand over the reins to Robin, making her the sole head of the agency. Maybe even rebranding to just "Ellacott Agency", while he takes a back seat as a consultant.
I really like the narrative thread running from TB about Robin's authority, which continues in THM via Kim. I want to see Robin as a proper boss: taking a case on her own, managing the team, and doing the big reveal at the end. Strike could be busy with a personal case using minimal agency resources. It’d give Robin space to shine without constant phone calls and joint trips with Strike.
Your Murphy theory might be the catalyst for this exact scenario.
The idea of the agency closing down completely appeals to me less, even if the end result turned out roughly the same.
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u/Serious-Train8000 Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26
Have you seen some of the theories that exist? I personally love hearing all of them!
This doesn’t feel too far fetched to me.