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The Running Grave
Group Read - The Running Grave
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Group Read - The Running Grave parts 1-3 ch 1-51 spoilers welcome
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Ok, let's get started with the little summaries. I won't be able to keep pace with Ann anyways.SUMMARY PART 1
Prologue - Excerpts from the correspondence of Colin and Sally Edensor with their son Will; further correspondence with witness Kevin Pirbright etc.
Part 1 ch 1 >> Strike and Robin attending the festivities of Ilsa's son's christening. They are godparents.
ch 2 >> Christening continued. Robin is with her boyfriend, Ryan Murphy. Strike grumpy.
ch 3 >> Strike alone at home. He finally confesses to himself that he is in love with Robin. Refuses to take a call from Charlotte. Promises to help his friend Shanker to find the physical father of his stepdaughter who suffers from leukemia.
ch 4 >> The first long, long interview. Sir Colin and his two sons, elder brothers of Will. Will has joined a peculiar religious group called Universal Humanitarian Church (UHC) and cut off all contact to his parents. Sir Colin wants the detectives to help him free his son from the clutches of that church. Robin accepts the task.
ch 5 >> Robin and Strike discuss the accepted case. Robin is eager to try and join the UHC undercover. For Strike, it is a relief that she obviously doesn't mind being separated from her boyfriend for several weeks.
ch 6 >> Robin reflects her feelings for Strike.
ch 7 >> Strike reads the documents on the case from Sir Colin; especially some reports of a former UHC member who left them: Kevin Pirbright. This Kevin has meanwhile been killed, most probably in some struggle about drugs.
Reading Pribright's mails, Strike finds that he and his sister Lucy had been living in the predecessor of UHC as a child: the "Aylmerton commune". That Aylmerton commune had been prosecuted and its leaders punished for pedophilia before UHC was founded.
ch 8 >> Strike meets police officer Wardle for dinner. He gets some information on the police inverstigation on Pirbright's death and asks for some census records on UHC that are not publicly available.
ch 9 >> Robin has a new hairdo - short blue hair - for her impersonation of a rich slightly silly woman who is interested in joining the UHC. She receives a couple of stylish clothes from Strike's half-sister Prudence who is delighted to meet her and to be of help.
ch 10 >> Robin visits a service at the UHC temple,
ch 11 >> Strike visits Lucy to inform her that he is working on a case that might involve them personally due to their history in the Aylmerton commune. Lucy is very dishevelled by the memory and reveals to Strike, that she and other little girls had been sexually abused by some of the leaders of the commune.
ch 12 >> Strike thinks about his mother Leda. He got the information about the census from Wardle.
ch 13 >> New possible interviewees from the census information. Robin contacts one Sheila Kennett.
ch 14 >> Strike interviews journalist Fergus Robertson who had tried to publish a report on UHC and almost lost his job on that task due to legal threats against his paper. Tells about a poor girl who had left UHC and seems to be broken since, Flora Brewster.
ch 15 >> In S&R's office. Probably no chance to meet Flora Brewster, but they plan to interview her former friend who had taken her along to the UHC farm.
ch 16 >> Strike has a sexual affair with "Bijou" whom he met at Ilsa's son's christening. Ilsa is worried she might plan a pregnancy-blackmail.
Robin interviews 85 yo Sheila Kennett who had been in the Aylmerton commune as early as 1960s. She and her now dead husband used to be "hippies". She even remembers Cormoran Strike as a boy.
ch 17 >> Strike interviews Henry Warthington-Fields who had lived one week at the UHC farm when he was 18. While he left after one week, his friend Flora stayed there.
ch 18 >> Charlotte shows up in the pub where Strike met Henry. Reluctantly, Strike listens to what she has to say. She sais she has cancer. Not clear if Strike believes her.
ch 19 >> After her third visit to the UHC temple, Robin gets invited to stay at the Chapman Farm.
####### spoiler chapter 6 ########Difficult as ever, those two! Now Strike had had three years of boyfriend-free Robin. Looks like he didn't use that time. But of course - I detest that Murphy guy as is my duty as a real fan!!!
I am having objections against the topic of the novel - had them when I read the blurb a couple of week ago.
My country Germany has a very ugly history of religious prosecution in the 1980s and 1990s. England (and even much more the US) were always more liberal in that respect. I am not sure if I like the topic where the free will of grown up persons to belief what they wish is being defamed as lunatic and brain washing. There are many brains in the world that do need washing from the malign influence of their parents and their Christian upbringing indeed. I hope this novel won't go the way of propaganda against religious minorities. But we'll see.
####### spoiler chapter 11 ########I am amazed how in this series, little sidelines of the plot become important much later. The childhood of Strike just seemed to be a dim memory, now it becoms the cebter of their interest.
I am so apprehensive of Robin's undercover investigation. Almost as hard as Snape's role as a Death Eater!
No spoilers on this post I am in the middle of chapter 7 and will come back to review the spoiler for up to chapter 6 in a bit, I want to keep listening to a bit more first - It's very good so far.
Re ########## spoiler to chapter 6 ############Sybotes, I must agree, Strike certainly didn't use his time wisely while Robin was boyfriend-free. These two are supposed to be crack detectives with finely honed observational skills and insight into human nature. It is sometimes said that 'love is blind' (though usually in a different context for overlooking faults) and we "can't see the forest for the trees" - this is stretching credulity at the chapter 6 point. .... I haven't given up on them yet. :) and of course we detest Ryan Murphy on principle!
Sybotes wrote: "####### spoiler chapter 6 ########
Difficult as ever, those two! Now Strike had had three years of boyfriend-free Robin. Looks like he didn't use that time. But of course - I detest that Murphy guy..."
################# spoiler to chapter 6 #############Sybotes: re the topic of the novel as revealed so far. I appreciate your objections as noted based on history in Germany and will be glad to know of your further opinions as the story progresses.
A difficult subject can be hard to read, I hope it doesn't prevent your enjoyment of the book.
Sybotes wrote: "####### spoiler chapter 6 ########
I am having objections against the topic of the novel - had them when I read the blurb a couple of week ago.
My country Germany has a very ugly history of religious prosecution in the 1980s and 1990s. England (and even much more the US) were always more liberal in that respect. I am not sure if I like the topic where the free will of grown up persons to belief what they wish is being defamed as lunatic and brain washing. "
############ spoiler ch 19 ###############Condoman Strike - is the name old Sheila remembers. In the very chapter where we learned that Bijou had the habit to inseminate herself sperm of their sexual partners from used condoms to hopefully get herself pregnant and might be doing so against Strike, too.
I know, silly comment. Maybe just a coincidence.
#########
I have difficulties to recunstruct the timelines. The novel is situated in 2016. Sheila is 85, so born 1930 or 31. She came to the commune 1969 as a "hippie". Is 38 not a little bit old for a hippie girl?
Then when she lived at the farm again, it has to have been in the 90s (Strike had information about her existence from the 1991 census). So she must have been highly in her 60s. I wonder why she was not made a little bit younger.
#########
So, finally Robin is in. I am afraid. As I said before - like Snape among all those Legilimens Death eaters ...
############## spoiler chapter 19 ####################So through part one
Sybotes, I am afraid for Robin too. So many reasons. Even Ryan Murphy now, from Wardle's comments about his being abusive when drunk and the way he's reacting to the undercover job and seems to becoming more controlling.
Between Charlotte and Bijou I don't know which of them is worse.
The more we learn about this farm retreat, the less likely it seems a place you can escape - or group you can outwit. And now at a time when Robin and Strike need to share everything they learn, every detail; they aren't. (And for the usual misunderstandings as a reason)
My heart broke for Lucy's revelation and was happy she and Strike understand each other better.
Cordoman, that made me laugh. Good point about the incongruity of Sheila's age.
On to part two tomorrow.
Sybotes wrote: "############ spoiler ch 19 ###############
So, finally Robin is in. I am afraid. As I said before - like Snape among all those Legilimens Death eaters
Condoman Strike - is the name old Sheila remembers. In the very chapter where we learned that Bijou had the habit to inseminate herself sperm of their sex..."
No, in my copy it's Condoman, not Cordoman. That's why I connected it to Bijoux' used condoms.
Sybotes, I see, yes - a typo on my part. I'm good at those. I missed the reference from the audio. Sybotes wrote: "No, in my copy it's Condoman, not Cordoman. That's why I connected it to Bijoux' used condoms."
So I could probably summarize part two later, I did finish it. :)
So did I, but not much opportunity to write here. I forget who everybody was. So many characters, sparsely described, and appearing at different times. Looking forward to the part 2 summaries.
############ spoiler part 2 ################Just some open questions at this point. To help remember ...
-> possible murders:
Daiyu, Deirdre (mother of Niamh and Lin), Pirbright
-> unclear relationships:
Who is Lin's father?
Who is Daiyu's father? Main candidate: Allie the stolen prophet.
Who is Mazu's father?
-> connections:
The guy who had to whip himself:Jordan Reaney
Made responsible for Dayiu's death, punished as "pigs": Abigail, Brian (old Sheila's husband), Paul Draper (retarded), Reaney, Cherie.
###
I'm missing S&R's conversations already. Not about do they don't they love each other, but discussions about possible steps or interviews. I think Strike should have forwarded the information to Robin that Mazu's uncle was an illusionist/magician. I saw some things in magician shows that seemed almost more improbable than the appearance of the Drowned Prophet.
###
To what I called "objections". I can't say the construction of the novel seems impossible to me. What I didn't like: The UHC do almost everything that Scientology or similar religions have been accused of in the 90s. So just use press diffamation against religious minorities - there you have UHC.
############ spoiler part 2 ################Yes! me too, Sybotes: Summaries for Part 2 to come - short ones.
Thanks for the character lists, the various ex-members are hard to keep track of.
We do miss the conversations between S&R. Strike does as well. Robin is too busy most of the time as the UHC works to wear down the recruits. I was maddened several times as it seemed Strike was either avoiding telling Robin some details or interrupted while doing so before she went undercover, and now the rock and message system has flaws. This isn't a walk in the park. I'm nervous about part three.
Sybotes wrote:
"############ spoiler part 2 ################
Just some open questions at this point. To help remember ...
###
I'm missing S&R's conversations already. Not about do they don't they love each other, but discussions about possible steps or interviews.
I think Strike should have forwarded the information to Robin that Mazu's uncle was an illusionist/magician. I saw some things in magician shows that seemed almost more improbable than the appearance of the Drowned Prophet.."
############ spoilers part 2 ################Chapter summaries part 2
Ch 20 The detectives do research into the layout and cameras / security at Chapman Farm, an UHC retreat.
Ch 21 R&S interview Niamh, a child at the farm who left with her father, brother and sister Maeve but leaving her Mom and youngest sister at the farm. Niamh has adapted pretty well on the outside; Maeve has not, and Strike lets Niamh know that Maeve may have been a victim of the doctor.
Ch 22 Strike arranges for Robin to spend more time with him (and not Ryan Murphy) before Ch 23 when Robin goes to the farm. Becca Pirbright, Kevin's sister is one of the team introducing the recruits.
Ch 24 The farm, the dormitory and routines. Will Edensor is there. Taio Wace, Jonathan's son has taken an interest in Robin. The groups are designed to slot them into types.
Ch 25 Strike is on a shift for Bigfoot surveillance and connects with Abigail Glover (the firefighter ex UHC member and Papa J's daughter) to meet soon.
Ch 26 Robin sees Mazu in a session in a large temple.
Ch 27 Dinner, very spare of food or nutrition, a sludge of vegetables and gluey noodles. Papa J speaks to the recruits.
Ch 28 Strike visits Lucy and agrees to help with getting Uncle Ted examined by his doctor for dementia and interviews Abigail. She gives UHC background including that Daiyu was not Jonathan's daughter and that Mazu is Malcolm Crowther's daughter. With plenty of wine, she tells of the pig punishment, days in the mud with pig masks, naked.
Ch 29 Strike researches, DNA and paternity may have been a factor in Daiyu's death.
Ch 30 Robin meets Lin, Deidre's daughter. Mazu is disapproving. Dr Zhou sends for Robin.
Ch 31 The doctor is 'checking for Robin's readiness to fast' and asking many personal questions - he gives her a few drops of some tinctures in brown bottles.
Ch 32 Strike approaches Littlejohn on his omission of having worked (fired from) the competition. he talks to Alex Graves' father (Daiyu's grandfather)
Ch 33 Strike meets with Shanker
Ch 34 Robin is hungry and sleep deprived, Papa J conjures up Daiyu - the night to find the rock has arrived.
Ch 35 The call to join and become a member has arrived. Robin and just a few others do join. They are finally able to eat again.
Ch 36 The party for the new members goes on and on. Robin breaks away and sneaks out and finds the rock but is almost caught by Will and Lin also in the camera dead zone, gets lost, and has to hide in nettles and cuts her leg. She leaves a message but forgot to write Ryan a separate note in her haste.
SUMMARY PART 3ch 37 >> Suspicions on Littlejohn, because he had hidden the information that he had been hired at Strike's competitor before.
ch 38 >> Interview of the Graves, family of the "Stolen Prophet" Allie Graves. Allie had an instable adolescence; his first girlfriend Mazu seemed to dominate him. They claim Allie was Daiyu's father. They tried to get hold on the girl after Allie's suicide; Mazu now claimed it was Jonathan's child. Daiyu died just when the Graves' demanded a DNA test.
ch 39 >> Robin has to write a letter to her relatives. In her made up persona there is nobody who might be trying to keep contact to her, but she can succeed without arising suspicion.
ch 40 >> Strike at his uncle Ted's who seems to fall into dementia. Further internet research.
ch 41 >> Robin has a hard time to shelter herself from indoctrination. Imagining she is being observed by Strike helps. The Pirbright sisters Emily and Becca seem hostile to each other.
ch 42 >> On the way back from her "contact rock", people are searching a little boy who ran away. Robin hides in a barn and finds old polaroid photos of rape and abuse in pig masks.
ch 43 >> Strike's office meeting in a pub in Littlejohn's absence. Compromising press article about Strike: insinuating that he helped his "client" Bijou to blackmail a high prosecuter ("QC").
ch 44 >> Strike meets Bijou to warn her ever to state she had slept with him.
ch 45 >> An ill church member, "Jacob", is taken care of. Robin can't get better information on him or his treatment.
ch 46 >> Robin still wants to stay until she found out more. Letters from Strike are always a consolation for her.
ch 47 >> The actress who had hired Strike because of being stalked by the "Franks" finds a Snake in her living room. Third stalker?
Charlotte calls Strike and warns him about some of his sexual partners being interviewed by the press.
ch 48 >> "Bigfoot" hits Dev Shah in the face in the brothel. So that is enough evidence in this case!
ch 49 >> Barry Saxon, a former lover (or wannabe lover) of Abigail, visits Strike in the office, saying that Abigail was threatening him; she might still have contact with her father Papa J who could treat Saxon like renegade Kevin Pirbright.
ch 50 >> Robin feels more and more pressure to participate in "spirit bonding". She loses track of the time and is early at the correspondence rock. And, without knowing why, she seems to be punished: She is separated from her group and summoned for low agricultural work.
ch 51 >> Strike meets Murphy. He gets some documents on the former searching of the farm. No guns found.
############# spoilers up to chapter 45##################Sybotes: thanks for the chapter summaries for part 3!
I hope to finish this part tonight.
Up through chapter 45; I am intrigued that this early in the book, just past the one third or so mark, Robin has already been undercover for a month. What on earth will she endure for the second half of the book?
############# spoilers up to chapter 45##################Yes indeed. And I wonder how so much of suffering can be charged adequately. And no prospect of an end ...
The Strike chapters are always a recovery from those awful Robin chapters. It starts to become incredible that she still remains sane. Good trick to immagine Strike observing her - but will that suffice?
I almost forget what Robin is looking for anyways. Something to charge the UHC legally? But as far as we know, Will Edensor would be devastated if the church were annihilated. At least for him there is no solution. What is Sir Colin paying for?
##############Spoilers up to chapter 51 ##############Sybotes: I know what you mean, we may be getting addled ourselves from Robin's lack of sleep and food. - it seems Robin is trying to get something that would stand up in court to protect the innocents and the oppressed inside UHC, or at least at Chapman Farms.
I'm not clear on the intent for Sir Colin: is it to get Will out or for a sort of revenge? Robin is I think evolving in her reasons and I wonder how long she can hold out and (shudder) avoid Taio
Several of the other detectives are quite vehement in their aversion to pedophiles.
Sybotes wrote: "
####### spoilers up to chapter 45 ##################
The Strike chapters are always a recovery from those awful Robin chapters.
I almost forget what Robin is looking for anyways. Something to charge the UHC legally? But as far as we know, Will Edensor would be devastated if the church were annihilated. At least for him there is no solution. What is Sir Colin paying for?
The Strike chapters are always ..."
##############Spoilers up to chapter 51 ##############Sybotes: On to part four, a parting thought for this first segment -- I'm remembering the last book and how it made me nervous about Robin for much of it. I much prefer her in control and don't like this undercover work at all.
I finished TRG a few days ago and it's taken me time to get over here. I am now regretting that I didn't come over earlier... I would have benefitted from your excellent summaries and splitting the book into parts. I thought I had to power through the book before I could begin to discuss. Silly me.I listened AND had a print copy from the library to help me with all the detail. Even so it was hard to keep up. I am amazed at the detailed plot and story lines. RG/JKR is a genius at crafting stories. I don't know how she kept it all straight.
I quickly came to the conclusion, when R and S each separately acknowledged their feelings, and then nothing was done with it for a time, that we were being subjected to the time-worn tactic of delaying their getting together done in SO many book and TV series.
I was dismayed that Robin was going to enter the cult, both because I knew she'd be in danger and because that would eliminate the R&S interactions which I really enjoy.
I had forgotten about Murphy until he was mentioned. I didn't hate him but I keep looking for signs that he is not the one for Robin because, well, you know.
Carol: yes, the summaries were most helpful. Sybotes is a fabulous partner in keeping those up - very helpful. And I agree, the distance and lack of interaction between R and S after Robin entered the cult were hard to lose and I was on pins and needles while she was undercover. Carol/Bonadie wrote: "I finished TRG a few days ago and it's taken me time to get over here. I am now regretting that I didn't come over earlier... I would have benefitted from your excellent summaries and splitting the book into parts..."
Comments for Parts 1-3 may be included on this topic thread - please mark how far along in the book you are to alert others to your spoilers welcome content.