Bruno

Stephen Ellacott’s Labrador that was put down when Robin was a child.

Angus

Angus was Robin’s childhood pony. There’s a photo in Robin’s childhood bedroom of a twelve year old Robin, “…riding her old Highland Pony Angus, a shaggy, strong and stubborn creature who had lived on her uncle’s farm and on whom Robin had doted, his naughtiness notwithstanding.” Career of Evil, Chapter 13

Strike and Robin discuss Angus in chapter 23 of Career of Evil where Robin says, “‘He was a bugger. Always carting me off.'” 

Rowntree

Rowntree is the Ellacott family’s old chocolate Labrador. He makes his first appearance in The Silkworm when Robin returns to Masham for Mrs. Cunliffe’s funeral and then again in Career of Evil when she is home for her dress fitting.

In Career of Evil, When Robin is looking up acrotomophilia in her bedroom during the 2011 Grand National, she hears her father shouting at Rowntree to get out of the living room because he had farted. Rowntree comes to Robin’s room.

We see Rowntree again in Troubled Blood during Robin’s trip home for Christmas, where he’s described as “too arthritic these days for early morning frolicking….” Troubled Blood, Chapter 30 

It can be assumed that Rowntree gets his name from the candy/confectionary company Rowntree’s, which is based in York and at one time was the fourth largest chocolate manufacturer in the world. Check out their website here.

Mr. Poop:

Mr. Poop was the name of the Quine’s old cat who was buried in their back garden. In their search for Owen Quine, the police dug him up after finding “disturbed earth.”

“‘And I’ll lay you odds they’ll find a dead cat called Mr. Poop,’ snarled Strike.'” The Silkworm, Chapter 38

Tigger:

Tigger is the Jack Russell terrier that Strike and Robin meet when they interview Lorraine MacNaughton in Corby in Career of Evil. When the dog rushes out to bite Strike’s metal ankle, Robin grabs him by the scruff of the neck and immediately earns his respect. Tigger spends the remainder of the interview on Robin’s lap.

Gwynn

Della Winn’s guide dog is a golden Labrador named Gwynn, a name that means “white” and/or “blessed” in Welsh or Cornish — the perfect name for the Welsh woman’s light-haired companion.

Badger

Badger is the name of the Chiswells’ overweight black Labrador who is eager to make friends with Strike and Robin. 

Rattenbury:

Rattenbury is the name of Jasper Chiswell’s Norfolk terrier who immediately begins barking and growling at Strike and Robin when they visit Chiswell House. He’s described as rough coated and having a face like “a malevolent monkey.” Lethal White, Chapter 42

Interestingly, Francis Rattenbury was a British architect who was murdered by his second wife’s lover. This is an amazing clue to Lethal White’s killer’s identity hidden in plain sight. You can read more about Francis Rattenbury’s life and murder here.  

Romano & Mystic:

Romano and Mystic are Kinvara’s two stallions she keeps at Chiswell House. When Strike and Robin arrive to interview the Chiswell family, Robin is surprised that the stallions are together, telling Strike that it isn’t normally done. We then see Romano injure Mystic, which Kinvara blames on Robin’s driving. 

“‘She’s got stallions in together.’

‘That’s bad, is it?’ asked Strike, as a hairy creature the color of jet lashed out with teeth and back legs at an equally large animal he would have categorized as brown, though doubtless the coat colour had some rarefied equine name.” Lethal White, Chapter 42

Lady:

Lady was Kinvara Chiswell’s horse who was suffering from laminitis, a disease of the hoof. Jasper Chiswell had Lady put down while Kinvara was away, causing a very memorable fight and further consequences later on.

Totilas:

Totilas is the name of the stallion that Kinvara wanted to breed with one of her mares. “’No, it had to be Totilas, he was the best, she was fixated on using him.’” Lethal White, Chapter 63

Totilas is actually a real horse who was considered to be one of the best dressage horses in the world. He was approved for breeding in 2009 with a stud fee of €5,500, which was considered a very high price. In 2010, an embryo by Totlas sold for €32,000.

You can read more about Totilas here. 

Ossie and Ricky

Nick and Ilsa adopt two kittens in Lethal White that Nick names Ossie and Ricky after two Spurs players he loved in his teens. Often nervous even around Nick and Ilsa, the kittens don’t warm easily to Strike and avoid him by hiding on top of tall cabinets. It doesn’t say exactly what kind of cats they are, but they’re both described as having green eyes and it’s mentioned that Ricky has a black tail. 

“’The cats don’t like me.’

’Nick says they can tell you’re a Gooner.’

’The comedy circuit lost a shining light when your husband decided on medicine.’” Lethal White, Chapter 36

 Brown Panther

Brown Panther is the horse Strike bets on when he and Robin are at Newbury Racecourse in Lethal White.

“’Brown Panther,’ Strike said through a mouthful of burger, as they approached the track. ‘Except he isn’t, is he? Black mane, so he’s—‘

’—a bay, yes,’ said Robin. ‘Are you upset he isn’t a panther, either?’” (Lethal White, Chapter 64)

Brown Panther was a real racehorse with a career spanning from 2010-2014 during which he won eleven of his twenty-eight races. He was popular in the media due to his wins and because he was bred and owned by England footballer Michael Owen. You can find more information on Brown Panther here.

The race that Strike and Robin attended was, in fact, a real race. Brown Panther really did come in second at the 2:30 race on 18 August 2012 at Newbury Racecourse. You can see the results of that race here. 

Spotty

Spotty was the “ancient, miniature spotted horse” that belonged to Tinky Chiswell. Izzy describes Spotty as, “awfully sweet” and said, “‘She’d follow you around like a dog if you were in the garden…'” Lethal White, Epilogue 

Cagney & Lacey

Strike and Robin’s new clients, Anna and Kim, have two ragdoll cats named Cagney and Lacey. Cagney’s blue eyes remind Strike of Joan and she immediately takes to Strike, hopping up onto his lap. Kim explains that Cagney “absolutely loves men,” while Lacey “doesn’t really like anyone, even us.” Troubled Blood, Chapter 6

The names Cagney and Lacey come from an American police drama from the ’80s about two female detectives. Read more about the show here. 

Noddy

In chapter 65 of Troubled Blood, while Strike and Robin are on a day trip to Skegness for an interview, Robin reminisces about her time there as a child. She tells Strike that her favorite part of Skegness was riding the donkeys, and she remembers how she and her brothers would race for first pick. Noddy was the name of the black donkey that she and her brother Stephen both seemed to favor.  

“‘No donkeys,’ said Strike, glancing back over his shoulder at the beach.

‘Never mind,’ said Robin kindly. ‘I think you’d have been a bit heavy.'” Troubled Blood, Chapter 65

Wolfgang

Wolfgang is the “elderly rough-coated dachshund” of Robin’s new live-in landlord, Max Priestwood (Troubled Blood, Chapter 9). Robin helps care for Wolfgang when Max is out working, and the dog and Robin appear to have bonded and enjoy each other’s company. 

Bluey & Billy Bob

“Two budgerigars, one blue, one green, chirruped in a cage in the corner of the sitting room.” Troubled Blood, Chapter 38

Bluey and Billy Bob are the two budgerigars belonging to Deborah and Samhain Athorn. Samhain says that “Bluey’s cleverer’n Billy Bob.” Troubled Blood, Chapter 38

Of course, “Bluey” is also Charlotte’s nickname for Strike. Readers will have noticed the name Bluey right away — and the fact that the bird is quite clever — but perhaps the most interesting bit here is that Strike appears not to have noticed.

John and Yoko

Named after John Lennon of the Beatles and Yoko Ono, these two parrots are seen in chapter 24 of The Ink Black Heart when Robin watches a YouTube video of Kea Niven, who she tells the camera that John and Yoko are lovebirds. They are owned by Kea’s mother Sara who keeps and breeds tropical birds.

Ozzy

Ozzy is the white umbrella cockatoo owned by Sara Niven, who lets the bird fly loose around the house. Sara tells Strike that the cockatoo doesn’t like men. When Strike is leaving the house in King’s Lynn, the cockatoo attacks him, leaving him with a deep bleeding gash above his brow. A neighbour gives him a handkerchief to soak up the blood.

Buffy

Buffy is the cat that Midge and her girlfriend Beth had together when living in Manchester. Beth was a player in Drek’s Game and her username was Buffypaws. Robin later adopts the username and login to spy on Anomie in the game.

Jort

Jort is Nils’ and Mariam’s cat in the North Grove Art Collective. When Robin goes to the art collective with Pez she learns that the cat has gone missing.