Some mysteries need a list of characters to keep everyone straight in the readers’ minds. THE INK BLACK HEART is one such crime novel. I had a devil of a time keeping everyone straight and to make matters more difficult there are a lot of social media identities to keep track of.

I ran across a fan website that celebrates the Robert Galbraith/Cormoran Strike–Robin Ellacott series and has a lot of nice features — including the much-needed list of characters. The site is called strikefans.com and has a lot of fun information about the series, such as the fact that Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling) is working on the next book of the series and that the series is intended to go for 10 books.

Here is the List of Characters for those who are brave enough to read the 1,012-page book. Keep this list handy. I promise you will refer to it.

If the name is indicated by a link, you may click on the link for additional information.

Allan Yeoman – Edie Ledwell’s agent.

Andy Hutchins – Strike and Robin’s longest-standing subcontractor who hands in his notice at the beginning of the book.

Angela Dawlish – An officer with MI5.

Bram de Jong – Nil’s trouble-maker son.

Cormoran Strike – You know who he is.

Dave Polworth – Strike’s oldest friend.

Dev Shah – The newest subcontractor at the agency.

Edie Ledwell – Co-creator of The Ink Black Heart cartoon and murder victim.

Flavia Upcott – Daughter of Katya and Inigo.

Grant Ledwell – Edie’s uncle.

Gus Upcott – Son of Katya and Inigo.

Heather Ledwell – Edie’s aunt.

Henry – Madeline’s son.

Hugh “Axeman” Jacks – A man Robin’s cousin tries to set her up with.

Ilsa Herbert – Strike and Robin’s friend.

Inigo Upcott – Husband to Katya, Josh’s rep.

Jack – Strike’s favourite nephew.

Jago Ross – Charlotte’s husband.

Joan Nancarrow – Strike’s aunt.

Jonny Rokeby – Strike’s biological father, a famous rockstar.

Joshua Blay – Co-creator of The Ink Black Heart cartoon and Edie Ledwell’s ex-boyfriend.

Katie – Robin’s favourite cousin.

Katya Upcott – Representative of Josh Blay.

Kea Niven – Ex-girlfriend of Josh Blay.

Leda Strike – Strike’s late mother.

Lucy – Strike’s half-sister.

Madeline Courson-Miles – Strike’s new girlfriend.

Mariam – Runs the North Grove Art Collective and teaches classes.

Matthew Cunliffe – Robin’s ex-husband.

Max Priestwood – Robin’s live-in landlord in Earl’s Court.

Michael Ellacott – Robin’s father.

Michelle “Midge” Greenstreet – Subcontractor at the agency.

Mitch Patterson – A rival of Strike and Robin’s detective agency.

Nick Herbert – Strike and Robin’s friend.

Nils de Jong – Helps run the North Grove Art Collective, husband to Mariam.

Pat Chauncey – Strike and Robin’s office manager.

Penny Polworth – Dave Polworth’s wife.

Phillip Ormond – Edie Ledwell’s boyfriend.

Preston “Pez” Pierce – Artist and resident at North Grove Art Collective.

Prudence DonLeavey – Strike’s half-sister.

Rachel Ledwell – 

Richard Elgar – Head of Maverick Films in the UK and one of Strike and Robin’s clients.

Robin Ellacott – You know who she is.

Ryan Murphy – A DCI with the Met police.

Sam Barclay – Subcontractor at the agency.

Sarah Shadlock – Matthew’s wife.

Seb Montgomery – An old friend of Josh Blay who helped animate the first two episodes of the cartoon.

Ted Nancarrow – Strike’s uncle.

Tim Ashcroft – Friend of Josh’s and once the voice of The Worm in the cartoon.

Vanessa Ekwensi – Robin’s friend and Met detective.

Wally Cardew – YouTuber who was once the voice of Drek in the cartoon.

Yasmin Weatherhead – Once Edie and Josh’s assistant.

Zoe Haigh – Works part-time at the North Grove Art Collective.