The Running Grave Chapter 136 – Aftermath and Reconciliation
⚠️ 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 and Robin visit Sir Colin Edensor at his Thames-side home, where they watch James, Will, Kate, and Lin supervising toddlers – including the now-renamed Sally (formerly Qing). Sir Colin describes the emotional reunion between James and Will. Pat Chauncey offers to help Lin and Sally settle nearby. The conversation turns to the ongoing investigation at Chapman Farm: more bodies have been exhumed, including infant remains. Jonathan Wace was arrested trying to cross into Mexico; Mazu, Taio, Jiang, Joe Jackson, and Dr Zhou are in custody. Ex-members are coming forward, but some like Danny Brockles and Becca Pirbright remain defiant. Robin worries the church might re-form. Strike reveals that Mazu has not spoken since arrest, and that Abigail Wace will likely be charged with murder. Later, Strike meets his sister Lucy; she finally accepts his career and lifestyle.
Key Events
- Strike, Robin, Pat, Dennis, and Sir Colin watch the children play in the garden.
- Sir Colin recounts James and Will’s first meeting, where James shouted and Will accepted blame.
- Pat offers to help Lin and Sally find accommodation near her, with family support.
- Robin and Strike update Sir Colin on the discovery of more bodies at Chapman Farm, including baby skeletons and a child’s thigh bone.
- The media frenzy is detailed: Fergus Robertson leaks details; Giles Harmon, the MP, and a packaging millionaire face scrutiny.
- Jonathan Wace arrested in Mexico; Mazu remains silent; Abigail’s former boyfriends turn on her.
- Danny Brockles claims evidence was planted; Becca Pirbright defends the Waces on television.
- Robin learns Louise Pirbright attempted suicide; Emily refuses to see her mother.
- Strike visits Lucy, who finally accepts that Strike is not cut out for settling down and praises his work.
Character Development
- Robin Ellacott: She struggles to celebrate the cult’s downfall. She is haunted by the fear that the church will rebuild, and she watches Becca’s media appearances with dread. She shows deep empathy for the victims, including Louise and Emily Pirbright.
- Cormoran Strike: He remains pragmatic and resolute. He expresses no sympathy for Abigail Wace despite her difficult childhood. His conversation with Lucy shows a rare moment of emotional vulnerability and gratitude.
- Sir Colin Edensor: He is compassionate and grateful, genuinely wanting to help Will and Lin.
- Pat Chauncey: She steps up as a maternal figure for Lin, offering practical support and drawing on her own experience as a young mother.
- Lucy Strike: She finally accepts Strike’s choice of life, releasing him from pressure to marry and have children. She acknowledges the good he does.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- The Persistence of Evil: The chapter opens with an epigraph from the I Ching stating that evil can be checked but not permanently abolished. This frames Robin’s fear that the UHC will resurface, and Becca’s unwavering loyalty represents that threat.
- Aftermath and Accountability: The chapter focuses on the legal and emotional fallout: arrests, confessions, denials, and the beginning of healing for some families.
- Reconciliation: James and Will’s reunion, Pat’s offer to help Lin, and Sir Colin providing shelter all illustrate fractured relationships mending.
- Silence as Power: Mazu Wace’s refusal to speak is interpreted by Robin as a performance of divine status, a final act of control.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter provides essential closure to the UHC investigation while leaving open questions about the cult’s long-term influence. It shows the human cost of the case – Louise’s attempted suicide, Emily’s rejection of her mother, the exhumed remains – and highlights the resilience of those who choose to rebuild. Strike’s personal reconciliation with Lucy mirrors the broader theme of family healing. The epigraph reminds readers that victory is temporary, setting a somber but realistic tone for the ending of this story arc.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Robin find it hard to celebrate the downfall of the UHC?
Robin fears that the church will reform and rebuild despite the arrests. She sees Becca Pirbright’s calm denials as evidence that the ideology persists. She also worries about her own pending child-abuse accusations and the lasting damage done to families.
2. What does Strike’s conversation with Lucy reveal about his character?
Lucy’s acceptance of Strike’s unconventional life moves him. He shows tenderness by squeezing her hand, and he values her acknowledgment of the good he does. It marks a shift in their relationship, freeing him from family pressure.
3. How does the chapter show the theme of “evil returning”?
The I Ching epigraph directly states that evil always returns. Robin’s fear of the church’s revival, Becca’s continued advocacy, and the possibility that new temples will appear all reinforce the idea that the struggle against such ideology is ongoing. Strike’s refusal to excuse Abigail Wace also suggests that evil choices are not excusable by circumstances.