Plot Synopsis

Adapted from J.K. Rowling's global bestselling novels written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, C.B. STRIKE is a one-hour series that centers on Cormoran Strike, a war veteran turned private detective operating out of a tiny office in London's Denmark Street. Though he's wounded both physically and psychologically, Strike's unique insight and his background as an SIB Investigator prove crucial to solving three complex cases which have eluded the police. Though she begins as a temporary secretary, managing Strike's chaotic life, Robin soon becomes involved with his caseload and begins to see her true potential. The series includes stories based on all three books: "The Cuckoo's Calling" (three episodes) was published to critical acclaim in 2013 and went on to be a global bestseller, followed in 2014 by "The Silkworm" (two episodes) and "Career of Evil" in 2015 (two episodes). C.B. STRIKE had its U.S. premiere on Friday, June 1, 2018 at 10pm ET/PT on Cinemax.

On Wednesday, January 20, 2021, the four-part "Lethal White" story of C.B. STRIKE had its U.S. premiere, airing as the fourth series in the UK but called Season 2 in the US. Early in the day, HBO Max released all four episodes and at 10pm ET/PT, HBO aired the first episode, with a new episode debuting each Wednesday thereafter, through February 10. Based on the fourth novel in J.K. Rowling's "Cormoran Strike" series (under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith), this four-part story returns to the story of Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott, who are back -- and at odds -- following Robin's wedding to Matthew. But there's no time to mull on the new distance within their professional relationship, as a frightening visit from a potential client puts a new case on the table -- and Robin and Strike set to work looking into reports of a strangled child. With the detective agency thriving, the duo are also recruited to investigate the blackmail of a Government Minister and Robin is tasked with going undercover in the House of Commons.

The four-part "Troubled Blood" story of C.B. STRIKE made its U.S. debut on Monday, February 6, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT on HBO. A new episode airs each Monday through February 27. Picking up in Cornwall, war-veteran-turned-private detective Cormoran Strik is approached by a woman seeking help locating her mother, Dr. Margot Bamborough, who went missing in 1974. Intrigued by the thought of their first cold case -- particularly one nearly 40 years old -- Strike and his trusted partner Robin Ellacott agree to take on what becomes a fiendishly complex case. As the pair navigate untrustworthy witnesses, suspects, and even a notorious serial killer, Strike must deal with a devastating family diagnosis, while Robin juggles a messy divorce.
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C.B. STRIKE's four-episode story, "The Ink Black Heart," made its U.S. debut on Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 9pm ET/PT on HBO, and episodes will be available to stream on Max. This is the sixth story of the crime drama in co-production with BBC and based on J.K. Rowling's best-selling crime novels written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. In "The Ink Black Heart," Strike and Robin are hired to investigate a murder involving a creator of a cult TV cartoon and an anonymous online troll known as "Anomie." With a complex web of online aliases, business interests and family conflicts to navigate, our heroic pair find themselves in a case that stretches them to their limit with the threat of this mysterious killer around every corner. The cast for "The Ink Black Heart" includes Tom Burke, Holliday Grainger, David Westhead, Christian McKay, Emma Fielding, Tupele Dorgu, James Nelson-Joyce, Ruth Sheen, Jack Greenlees, Natasha O'Keeffe, and Caitlin Innes Edwards.