C.B. Strike debuts in June: All the episode synopses

J.K. Rowling’s Cormoran Strike series debuts next month on American TV. Just what can you expect in the 7-episode series?

When Harry Potter fans learned that the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith was actually by J.K. Rowling under a penname, many flocked to buy the books from the shelves. This was a look into a new genre from the author and quickly showed her skills and talent. Now the series is coming to TV.

Strike has already debuted in Britain. After all, it was created by a British company. Now it’s making its way here under the name C.B. Strike to avoid confusion with a series already called Strike. The series will debut on June 1 and run for seven weeks. Now it’s time to find out what you can expect in each of the episodes.

Image courtesy of the BBC

The Cuckoo’s Calling

The first book in the series was adapted into three episodes. It picks up in the dead of winter, when Lula Landry falls to her death from her Mayfair apartment. Cormoran Strike, a down-on-his-luck private investigator and Army veteran, is tasked to solve the murder that looks suspiciously like a suicide. Is it really just a suicide or did someone kill her?

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Episode #1: “The Cuckoo’s Calling (part 1)”

"London, the dead of winter: Supermodel Lula Landry (Elarica Johnson) plummets to her death from the balcony of her Mayfair apartment. After an inquest concludes that she committed suicide due to the pressures of fame, her brother, John Bristow (Leo Bill), seeks Strike’s (Tom Burke) help in finding justice for his adopted sister. Despite Strike’s attempts to get DI Eric Wardle (Killian Scott) to reopen the case as a possible homicide, he is met with a brusque brush-off and left to his own means to prove otherwise. With Robin’s (Holliday Grainger) help, Strike conducts interviews with neighbors, friends and family of the victim, hoping to get to the truth."

Episode #2: “The Cuckoo’s Calling (part 2)”

"After the sudden death of Lula’s friend Rochelle (Tezlym Senior-Sakutu), Strike (Tom Burke) decides to interrogate the rest of Lula’s friends. Strike questions Derrick Wilson (Brian Bovell), the concierge at Lula’s building, to determine his whereabouts when the supermodel died and discover how the potential killer escaped unnoticed. The unoccupied second-floor flat and a bouquet of white roses lead Strike to important conclusions."

Episode #3: “The Cuckoo’s Calling (part 3)”

"Robin (Holliday Grainger) visits a boutique where Lula shopped on the day she died, gathering key information from the salesperson who secretly recorded the celebrated model’s conversation with Rochelle. Strike’s (Tom Burke) tireless analysis of the CCTV footage and a clandestine search of Lula and Bristow’s family home lead him to two possible suspects and eventually point him in the direction of the actual killer."

The Silkworm

The second novel is split into two episodes. Now that Strike is known as the P.I. who solved an impossible case, he’s called in to solve another one. He needs to track down the missing husband of Leonora Quine. Of course, it’s not that simple. Her husband, Owen, is an author who has angered a number of people due to his books and his former bad boy attitude.

Episode #4: “The Silkworm (part 1)”

"Strike’s (Tom Burke) new client, Leonora Quine (Monica Dolan), wants help tracking down her missing husband, the once-infamous Owen Quine (Jeremy Swift), a former bad boy of the London literary scene, now toiling away in relative obscurity. Strike’s first port of call is Liz Tassel (Lia Williams), Quine’s agent, still smarting from her client’s reckless behavior. She has dropped him from the agency after his bombastic, unpublished manuscript, “Bombyx Mori,” caused a stir in the industry with its slanderous, thinly disguised fabulist portrayals."

Episode #5: “The Silkworm (part 2)”

"When Owen’s disemboweled body is discovered, Strike (Tom Burke) and Robin (Holliday Grainger) delve deeper into the hidden meanings and concealed secrets of “Bombyx Mori,” fighting to prove the innocence of his incarcerated widow (Monica Dolan). Strike invites Liz (Lia Williams) to lunch and gains insight into Andrew Fancourt (Peter Sullivan), Quine’s famous literary rival, and the feud between them. By looking more closely at the manuscript and putting the pieces of the puzzle together, the true author of an alternative version of “Bombyx Mori” – and the identity of the killer – are revealed."

Career of Evil

So far, the final book in the Strike series, “Career of Evil” was split into two episodes for the series. The P.I. himself soon becomes the victim in his own case and has to put together a list of potential suspects from his past. Just which suspect is putting him and his secretary, Robin, at risk?

Episode #6: “Career of Evil (part 1)”

"Robin (Holliday Grainger) arrives at the office to accept a package from an impatient motorbike courier. Opening it, she is horrified to discover a severed leg inside, accompanied by famous song lyrics. Interpreting this as a vendetta against him, Strike (Tom Burke) begins to pull together a list of potential suspects from his past, any of whom may have sent the macabre delivery.One of the names, Jeff Whittaker (Matt King), relates directly to Strike’s late mother, Leda (Kierston Wareing), and he asks his longtime friend Shanker (Ben Crompton) to help him track down the degenerate musician, while Robin begins to research all three suspects. Strike and Robin’s time-consuming, close-working relationship begins to rile her fiancé, Matthew (Kerr Logan), and the couple’s arguments become more frequent. Adding fuel to the fire, their investigation takes Strike and Robin to Barrow-in-Furness for an overnight stay."

Episode #7: “Career of Evil (part 2)”

"Strike (Tom Burke) visits several London strip clubs to find out more about Niall Brockbank (Andrew Brooke), who is one of the murder suspects. Robin’s (Holliday Grainger) relationship with Matthew (Kerr Logan) hits a low point and she questions her commitment to marriage. Strike begins to narrow his field of suspects, but the killer continues to taunt them, hitting close to home when he leaves a severed thumb in Robin and Matthew’s tea kettle. Outraged and determined to trap Brockbank, Robin, unbeknownst to Strike, pays Shanker (Ben Crompton) to lead her to Niall’s home, where she tries to question his girlfriend (Emanuella Cole). Brockbank returns home and Robin finds herself in a fight for her life."

Will there be a fourth novel?

J.K. Rowling is working on a fourth novel in the series. However, it’s not out yet. When the book is released, it will likely be turned into another two- or three-part drama. The BBC in Britain isn’t making any more in the series without Rowling’s books first.

When will C.B. Strike air on CINEMAX?

The series will debut on CINEMAX on June 1 at 10/9c. This is the schedule for all the episodes:

Episode #1: June 1, 10/9c

Episode #2: June 8, 10/9c

Episode #3: June 15, 10/9c

Episode #4: June 22, 10/9c

Episode #5: June 29, 10/9c

Episode #6: July 6, 10/9c

Episode #7: July 13, 10/9c

Next: J.K. Rowling completes new Strike book, Lethal White

Are you excited about C.B. Strike? Have you read the novels yet or are you waiting for the series first? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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