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The first romantic relationship we're exposed to is that of Robin & Matthew. Their flurry of romance seems to peter out markedly the longer that Robin is employed with the private detective.

What did you think about their relationship; is his often cold demeanor and belittling attitude toward her job a "red flag" (i.e., an indicator of a potentially emotionally abusive relationship) or simply the "growing pains" related to the new stage of their relationship?

What else did you think about Robin & Matthew?

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"Matthew kept hinting that Strike was somehow a fake. He seemed to feel that being a private detective was a far-fetched job, like astronaut or lion tamer; that real people did not do such things." (185)

"Then Robin had lost her temper, and told Matthew that if anybody was blackmailing her it was he, with his constant harping on the money she ought to be bringing in, and his insinuation that she was not pulling her weight. Hadn't he noticed that she was enjoying working for Strike; hadn't it crossed his insensitive, obtuse accountant's mind that she might be dreading the tedious bloody job in human resources? Matthew had been aghast, and then (though reserving the right to deplore Strike's behavior) apologetic; but Robin, usually conciliatory and amiable, had remained aloof and angry. The truce effected the following morning had prickled with antagonism, mainly Robin's." (354)

It's so hard to know, right? Whether your partner's behavior is "just a phase" or a real problem - and even harder when these are just characters in a book and not people that you can talk to and ask questions to gain deeper understanding of their situation.

To me, it did seem more like "growing pains" than "red flags." In the end of the book, he sat with her (view spoiler)[at the hospital while Strike was in surgery (hide spoiler)] and appeared to have come around.

I agree, Emily. It is hard to know. We don't have the opportunity to talk with Robin about her relationship and see how she really feels about the way Matthew was acting. Robin didn't seem scared of Matthew since she did (view spoiler)[ continue to work for Strike in the end. (hide spoiler)] I think Matthew may have been more concerned with her helping support them in their new marriage but his concerns may have been squashed in the end but we don't know since the book ends.

Hi, I'm Courtney and I love the way J.K. developed these characters. Robin starts out so in love with her proposal that it is easy for her to overlook the smallish ways that Matthew is disrespectful until they start adding up. This is very similar to real life when a man tries so hard in the beginning of a relationship and relaxes once he has secured the girl. I think there was a forced intimacy between Striker and Robin with the breast grab on the first day and who can help but fall for Striker with his adorable rumpled-ness and strength/vulnerability balance. Most people are opposed to this idea, but I see romance in the distant future, should this series continue. Will it continue, has anyone heard?

Courtney wrote: "Will it continue, has anyone heard?"

According to Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ -- yes indeed! /book/show/1...

I agree with the comments made so far regarding the relationship between Robin and Matthew. Although I truly wanted to have a heart-to-heart with Robin half-way through the book and point out the ways Matthew is belittling her and being not supporting her career choices, I did not get the impression that Matthew was necessarily showing red flags of abusive behavior.

Glad this series is continuing!