The Ink Black Heart

Edie Ledwell, co-creator of the online cartoon The Ink Black Heart, asks for help unmasking Anomie, the troll who has hounded her for years. Robin refers her to another agency, and days later Edie is stabbed to death in Highgate Cemetery beside her partner Josh Blay, who is left paralyzed. Robin joins the fans' online game and spends weeks reading moderator chats. A far-right group tries to frame Edie, a parcel bomb hits the agency and another suspect is murdered. Anomie is Gus Upcott, son of the cartoon's agents, who goes after Robin with a machete and ends up subdued by her. Strike breaks up with Madeline and puts Robin's name on the agency door.

1. ChangeMadeline never shows up

   In the book, Madeline is a fully drawn character, kind and with no big flaws, which makes the breakup harder. On screen she never appears: we only see her frustration as Strike goes missing.

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2. ChangeLess forum, more faces

   The book spends page after page inside the online game's chats. The show presents most of those users in person, since chat logs don't play well on screen.

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3. ChangeThe near-kiss, no inner voice

   The show captures the awkward office mood after the near-kiss. The book goes further, into what each of them thought and regretted.

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