As the TV adaptation of Lethal White is about to hit screens, you still have time (if you’re quick) to read, or re-read, this labyrinthine whodunnit, with Strike and Robin on a twisting trail that leads them through the backstreets of London, into a secretive inner sanctum within Parliament, and to a beautiful but sinister manor house deep in the countryside.
And alongside all this, we delve deeper into the far from straightforward personal lives of our central protagonists.
Whilst you read, perhaps you can consider some of the reading group questions, as posed to readers in the recent #strikereadlong
1. Lethal White takes place in 2012, simultaneously with the London Olympics and Paralympics. What is the significance of this period, and why do you think Galbraith has chosen to set the novel over this summer?
2. Each chapter is headed with a quote from the play Rosmersholm by Henrik Ibsen. How do these quotes relate to the themes of the novel and why do you think they were included?
3. Now that Strike has solved several high-profile and important cases, including catching the Shacklewell Ripper, his profile has grown and he has achieved a level of fame he never expected. How does this make it harder for him to carry out his job as an investigator?
4. The Chiswell family hides a myriad of dark secrets and betrayals. Who do you think is the most reliable member of the family?
5. Throughout Lethal White, Strike and Ellacott are working through unresolved feelings that have been building since the start of the series. How is their relationship different at the end of the book compared to the beginning?
6. Billy Knight remembers seeing a crime committed when he was a young boy. Do we think we can trust Billy’s memories?
7. Lethal White is full of shocking twists, turns and red herrings. How effective do you think these are in the novel, and which was your favourite?
