Adapting any of the the Strike-Ellacott series for the screen comes with its own challenges. None more so that the sixth in the series The Ink Black Heart. I found the text logs, particularly the moderator channels a difficult read in book form, and practically impossible in audio book. With the simultaneity of messages providing vital clues in the original text. I was very interested how the most ‘on line’ of the series would adapt to the small screen. To help get a non-book readers perspective I will be watching the series with my wife, Sarah, who long ago fell in love with the television series, but has never read the books.
We both agree that Strike on the box is perfect viewing for cold and dark winter evenings, and The Ink Black Heart didn’t disappoint. Muted lighting, chunky sweaters and delightfully retro seventies furnishing in Denmark Street made for a seasonal and comforting watch. Adapting novels of this length will always be a challenge, but Tom Edge (who is also adapting The Christmas Pig for animation) seems to have managed this magnificently. Of course a lot of my favourite lines didn’t make it to the script, from the arcade to leaving the Ritz lasted only three minutes, but there is at least one clear hat tip to the book readers. Robin’s open in the Rivoli bar is to ask Strike: “how did you learn about sheep diseases?”. An unlikely line to use at an intimate tête-à-tête, but the following ribald tale of the flashing knight of the realm, superbly acted by both the leads lent the necessary intimacy, and produced in Sarah, a genuine distress at the rebuffed ‘almost kiss’ by the taxi stand.
We are yet to see Highgate Cemetery, but High Grove commune is just as I imagined it, complete with the Bohemian residents. There is a large cast to introduce, and it is yet more justified praise to Tom Edge that this didn’t feel forced, and the hour long episode kept it’s pacing. Toward the end we learn how the in game chat is likely to be shown, both visually and with a crude, computer generated, voice. We are left with Anomie confessing to the murder, now we just need to find out who that is!
