Chapter summaries The Running Grave Robert Galbraith

Chapter 129: The Polaroids and the Jogger

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Strike questions Abigail about Becca Pirbright’s childhood. Abigail confirms she never saw Becca at the Birmingham centre, aligning with Strike’s intelligence. She recalls Louise, a woman Mazu resented for sleeping with Jonathan Wace. Abigail identifies figures in the Polaroids: the tall man as Joe, and the smaller man as “Dopey Draper” (Paul Draper). The setting appears to be a barn, not the Retreat Rooms, and Abigail notes that Mazu and her father despised homosexuality, so the photographed acts were forbidden. Strike reveals that both Cherie Gittens and Jordan Reaney attempted suicide after viewing the Polaroids. He also mentions the “jogger” seen on the beach the night Daiyu disappeared, and wonders if Cherie ever mentioned him. Abigail is unsettled by Strike’s persistent use of “disappeared” instead of “drowned,” and eventually texts her boyfriend Darryl that she will be late.

Key Events

  1. Strike confirms that Becca Pirbright never lived in Birmingham as a child, matching his operative’s findings.
  2. Abigail recalls Louise, mother of the Pirbright children, and states Mazu “had it in for” any woman Jonathan Wace slept with.
  3. Strike shows Abigail the six Polaroids; she identifies Joe and Paul Draper.
  4. Abigail notes the Polaroids show a barn, not a Retreat Room, and that Mazu and her father were anti-gay.
  5. Strike shares that both Cherie Gittens and Jordan Reaney attempted suicide after being shown the Polaroids.
  6. Strike asks about a jogger on the beach near the time Daiyu disappeared; Abigail is disturbed by his choice of word “disappeared.”
  7. Abigail ends the interview early, texting Darryl that she may be late.

Character Development

  • Cormoran Strike: Demonstrates his methodical, almost relentless questioning. He pushes Abigail to connect fragmented memories, and his deliberate use of “disappeared” instead of “drowned” hints at his growing belief that Daiyu did not drown.
  • Abigail: Initially dismissive, she becomes increasingly unsettled as Strike reveals the suicides and the jogger. Her defensive chewing of gum and her decision to text Darryl show her discomfort and desire to flee the conversation.
  • Abigail’s view of Mazu: Her description of Mazu’s hatred for Jonathan’s lovers adds depth to Mazu’s character as jealous and controlling, beyond mere spiritual leadership.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Power and Control: Mazu’s jealousy over Jonathan’s “spirit wives” illustrates how sexual possession was used to maintain hierarchy at Chapman Farm.
  • Hidden Truths: The Polaroids, hidden in a biscuit tin, symbolize suppressed evidence of abuse that the cult tried to erase.
  • Language and Meaning: Strike’s choice of “disappeared” over “drowned” reflects a deeper truth – Daiyu’s body was never recovered, keeping the mystery open.
  • Suicide as Silencing: The suicides of Cherie and Jordan’s attempt show the deadly consequences of exposing the cult’s secrets.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter provides a crucial link between the Polaroids and identifiable figures from Chapman Farm. Abigail’s identification of Joe and Paul Draper gives Strike concrete suspects. The revelation that Mazu hated her father’s lovers explains motive for Daiyu’s death as a possible act of revenge against Louise. The jogger’s presence on the beach introduces a new potential witness or perpetrator. Most importantly, Strike’s insistence on “disappeared” foreshadows that Daiyu may still be alive or that the drowning was staged, shifting the direction of the investigation.

Study Questions & Answers

  1. Why does Strike keep saying “disappeared” instead of “drowned”?
    Strike uses “disappeared” because Daiyu’s body was never found. This keeps open the possibility that she did not drown, challenging the official story and suggesting foul play or staged death.

  2. What does Abigail identify about the Polaroids’ setting and why is it significant?
    Abigail says the room in the photo looks too large to be a Retreat Room – it appears to be a barn. This matters because the acts depicted (homosexual sodomy) were strictly forbidden in the cult, indicating the photos capture secret, taboo cruelty that may have been organized by someone else, possibly Joe.

  3. How does Abigail’s memory of Louise affect the case?
    Abigail recalls that Mazu resented Louise for being involved with Jonathan Wace. This gives Strike a possible motive for Mazu to want to harm Louise’s child, Daiyu, adding a personal jealousy angle to Daiyu’s disappearance.

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