Fans may have guessed J.K. Rowling's next book title
Jo Rowling loves a little mystery. The Harry Potter author, whose bestselling Cormoran Strike detective series is due for a fourth installment, decided to indulge some curious fans on Twitter this Tuesday when they asked about the book's name.
After an hour of online interaction, we don't have a conclusive answer — but the title might be staring us in the face.
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It all started with a politely curious tweet from one Alexa Marie:
@jk_rowling Can you give a hint as to what the next Strike novel will be called?
— Alexis Marie⚡️ (@Lumos405) March 14, 2017
She didn't ask for the whole title, for surely none can be so bold. Perhaps that's why Rowling gave it — but missing the bulk of the letters.
_ _ _ H _ _ _ H _ _ _ https://t.co/fa0rJRKnCS
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 14, 2017
In 2006, Rowling's old website revealed a piece of paper with a game of hangman that fans used to figure out the title Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
.@jk_rowling Lethal Charm... Eighth Child... Gothic Chain...? #CormoranStrike
— lizo mzimba (@lizo_mzimba) March 14, 2017
One of the most popular suggestions for word #1 was "lethal," given the murderous nature of the mysteries Strike usually has to solve.
.@g_rafael @ClaveDeFabiana @jk_rowling Or Lethal Shade, Lethal Shame, Lethal Chaos...
— lizo mzimba (@lizo_mzimba) March 14, 2017
Loads of people have got the first word.
A few people have got the second word.
Nobody seems to have put them together yet.— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 14, 2017
As with any game, the internet couldn't help having a little fun with it:
@jk_rowling My best stabs:
"Mighty Rhino"
"Eighty Shoes"
"Mashed Chips"
Did I get it? :-D— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) March 14, 2017
@jk_rowling I really hope it's Fishen Chips. Or something Thong as you enter your 50 Shades Phase...
— James Rhodes (@JRhodesPianist) March 14, 2017
@jk_rowling YACHTS SHARK
— Sylvain (@Sylvqin) March 14, 2017
I want to see my editor's face when I tell him I've changed the title to 'Woohoo, chips!' https://t.co/KTS1ys11i3
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 14, 2017
@jk_rowling I can't wait for SEAHOG PHONY
— TechnicallyRon (@TechnicallyRon) March 14, 2017
Apparently the real title — or something close to it — exists in a sea of Twitter responses.
@DylanBrady9 Closer than you might think...
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 14, 2017
Somebody just sent me a joke suggestion that is one letter away from the title...
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 14, 2017
At any rate, she's writing. And with such quality detective work from fans, a title announcement can't be far...
Well, that was fun. Back to chapter 23.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 14, 2017
So, who's got theories? My money is on Nachos Chips or Father Ghost. Also a big fan of this Harry Potter spinoff. The first three Strike novels — The Cuckoo's Calling, The Silkworm and A Career of Evil are in bookstores and in development for television at the BBC.
