Jonny Rokeby

Jonny is Strike’s biological father, a world-famous musician and multimillionaire who never wanted anything to do with his son by supergroupie Leda Strike had to be forced into accepting paternity with a DNA test. Born 1st August 1948, Jonny is the lead singer of legendary rock group The Deadbeats, who shot to fame in the seventies. Multi-Grammy award winner and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of fame, his face is instantly recognisable with his Harlequin face and wild eyes. Other than his height however, he looks nothing like Strike. Strike has only met him twice, once when Leda took him to the studio where Jonny was recording when he was seven, unannounced and unwelcome, and once when he was about to head off to university. Strike was deeply hurt by the neglect – his half-sister Lucy has a much better relationship with her biological father – but felt his father’s fame overshadowing him at the same time. One of the blessings of joining the army for Strike was discovering that, for once, no one cared who his father was.

Jonny Rokeby, who’d been almost entirely absent from his eldest son’s life, had nevertheless been a constant, intangible presence, especially during Strike’s childhood.

Troubled Blood, Robbert Galbraith

One of Jonny’s other children, Al, visited Strike in hospital after his leg was amputated, bringing an offer of money from their father to start the agency. Strike agreed to it on the strict understanding it was a loan, which seems to have offended Rokeby. It seems Strike is the only one of Rokeby’s children who has consistently turned down offers of money and made his own way in life. Rokeby has tried to establish contact since Strike became a name in his own right as a detective. Strike has strongly rejected his advances and finds his efforts to reach out after years of neglect cause him waves of anger and profound resentment. Rokeby sends Strike a birthday card, which Strike, thinking of all the years he really wanted one, throws in the bin; pressures Strike to attend the Deadbeats anniversary party for a family photo, and even calls, asking Strike to visit him which leads to an explosive, angry reaction from his son (Troubled Blood).

Rokeby has been married three times, and has seven children, including Strike. Maimie is his daughter by his first wife, Shirley Mullins, who he met at art school. Gabriella and Daniella are his daughters by his second wife model Carla Astolfi and are a television presenter and jewellery designer respectively. Alexander and Edward are his sons by his third wife, film producer Jenny Graham. Al is thinking about going into business with a friend and Edward, known as Eddie, is the lead singer in his own band. Prudence, Rokeby’s daughter by actress Lindsey Fanthorpe, is a successful therapist, living in Strawberry Hill.

Strike’s half-brother, Al, has helped him in the past, getting him into restaurants and clubs, and even driving for him (The Silkworm), and Strike has discovered he likes Rokeby’s other illegitimate child, Prudence Donlevey settling into a friendship, and the role of new uncle to her children. Robin likes Prudence too, borrowing clothes from her for her undercover work infiltrating the UHC (The Running Grave).