Return of Strike after a few years absence. Only worth watching for Tom Burke whom I haven't seen since 2019 with his appearance on stage in Rosmersholm. Though good in places it does become predictable who the actual suspect is by the time part 4 is concluded. Along the way we still get the longing looks between Strike (Tom Burke) and Robin (Holiday Grainger) but as he later reveals she's his best friend and he doesn't want to f*ck it up cos that's what he'll do. Well, based on his past romantic encounters he's probably right.
This one kicks off with Strike in Falmouth, visiting his adoptive parents, Ted (Ian Radford) and Joan (Linda Bassett) as she is dying and has possibly a few days/weeks to live. He's approached by Annie (Sophie Ward) the daughter of a missing GP, Margot (Abigail Lawrie) who vanished 50 years ago. The main suspect Dennis Creed (Kenneth Cranham) a serial abductor/killer. With various flashbacks the story is pieced together and Strike agrees to take on the case as obviously it has brought home some memories to him about what his adoptive mother is going through and also how he did have real feelings for his birth mother, Leda. The office has had a revamp and more open planned with Strike taking on a PA, Pat (Ruth Sheen) and his two PI assistants, Saul (Jonas Armstrong) and Sam (Jack Greenlees).
The detective who initially investigated the case was himself looked at as crackpot with his theories and was replaced by another whose son is on the force and a friend of Strike's. Margot disappeared after being on her way to meet her friend, Oonagh (Finola Flanigan). Witnesses saying they spotted a white van, a woman sees two women having an altercation and the pub was accessible by foot. He does tell Annie that the case is very cold and there's no guarantee they will get to solve it. but this is Strike of course he and Robin will solve it. Apparently Margot was a feminist and also caring. She and Oonagh started out as hostesses/waitresses at a club frequented by men and here she catches the eye of Peter. An artist and apparently they were meant to have had an affair and he painted her nude. She was supposed to be his muse. One night as they argue Oonagh comes to her rescue but he threatens them that if she reveals anything about him, he'll come after them. Thus an obvious suspect.
This is based on the fifth book Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling) and with all the controversy with her opinions and views this becomes more of a take it or leave it series. Most will recall some of the books are topical and political commentary is contained within, this however has been toned down here. Perhaps more so for a wider TV audience.
Annie wants this investigation kept from her father who was interviewed but wasn't a suspect. Her colleague, Dr Gupta has some home movies of the Christmas party from 1974 and other footage. With info from their friend, DI George Layborn (Samuel Oatley) they begin their investigation and footage on an 8 reel comes to light which is disturbing to say the least and they don't know if it was Margo who was being attacked by three men. One of them branding a knife and wearing a ring which Strike recognizes from the party footage.
Strike is back and forth visiting his step mother and also Lucy (Sarah Sweeney). His sister, loves them as real parents whereas Strike has a soft spot for his own mother, Leda). It's Robin's birthday but he doesn't recall or know and sets off to buy her perfume, tho Carnal isn't one he'd go for. Not with them teetering on the bring of lust, er, romance I mean. So he buys her flowers instead. Also Matthew (Kerr Logan) wants to rush through the divorce. Family crawls out of the woodwork here, as his brother Al Rokeby also shows up wanting him to come down for the Christmas do and his father wants him there. Now he wants to acknowledge his existence.
