The Running Grave: Chapter 24 (Book Chapter 22) – Lunch, Theories, and a Call from Ava Reaney
⚠️ 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
After interviewing Niamh, Strike and Robin have lunch at Merlin’s Cave. Robin feels pressured by Murphy’s expectation that she return quickly, but she accepts the invitation. They theorize that Deirdre Doherty may have been murdered by Jonathan Wace after writing in her journal that he raped her. Strike notes the difficulty of proving a crime without a body and the cult’s control over time. Strike receives a call from Ava Reaney, who reveals her ex‑husband Jordan has nightmares about pigs from his time at Chapman Farm. Robin and Strike discuss boar aggression. The chapter ends with Strike receiving a text from Bijou Watkins.
Key Events
- Lunch invitation: Strike invites Robin to lunch to debrief after Niamh’s interview.
- Debrief on Deirdre Doherty: They connect the pregnant woman described by Henry Worthington‑Fields to Deirdre, discuss her heart condition, and the possibility she was murdered by Wace.
- Journal evidence: Robin points out that Deirdre wrote about rape in her journal, which she knew would be read by church leaders.
- Timekeeping problem: Strike and Robin agree that Robin must secretly track days while undercover; Strike will put dates in his notes.
- Robin’s request for Murphy: She asks that Strike pass personal notes to Ryan Murphy via the rock.
- Ava Reaney phone call: Strike learns that Jordan Reaney (former Chapman Farm member) is in prison, has separated from Ava, and suffers nightmares about pigs.
- Discussion of pigs: Robin describes boar attacks she witnessed, relating them to Jordan’s trauma.
- Bijou’s text: Strike receives an emoji‑filled text; Robin decides not to warn Strike about Bijou.
Character Development
- Cormoran Strike: Shows strategic thinking by extending lunch to delay Robin’s return to Murphy. He also demonstrates empathy when probing Murphy’s past but backs off when Robin grows cold. His diet slips briefly (bread roll).
- Robin Ellacott: Grows irritated by Murphy’s possessiveness, reminiscent of her marriage (Matthew). She asserts her professional priorities by staying for lunch. She plans practical solutions for timekeeping and note‑passing.
- Ryan Murphy: Off‑screen, his phone call with Robin left her annoyed; his controlling behaviour is highlighted through Robin’s internal resentment.
- Ava Reaney: Speaks with bitterness about Jordan; takes malicious satisfaction in his nightmares.
- Jordan Reaney: Described indirectly as a violent ex‑cult member who remains traumatised (pig nightmares), now incarcerated.
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
- Control of time – The UHC forbids calendars and watches, making it difficult for members to recall events or prove alibis. Robin must secretly mark days.
- Unreported death and buried truth – Deirdre’s possible murder on farmland symbolises how the cult hides its crimes. Without a body, justice is impossible.
- Pigs as trauma symbols – Jordan’s nightmares tie farm animals to violence and fear, echoing Robin’s story of a boar attack. The boar motif recurs as a symbol of concealed aggression.
- Sexual violence and silence – Deirdre’s journal entry about rape, written for the church to read, speaks to her desperation. The rape remains unpunished.
- Professional vs personal boundaries – Robin struggles to balance her commitment to the case with Murphy’s expectations; Strike’s subtle interrogation of Murphy’s drinking crosses a line.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter tightens the circumstantial case against Jonathan Wace by linking Deirdre’s heart condition, her journal, and her sudden “expulsion” to possible murder. It also introduces a new witness lead (Jordan Reaney) whose pig‑related trauma hints at unseen brutality at Chapman Farm. The timekeeping discussion sets up a crucial plot mechanism for Robin’s undercover mission. Finally, the tension between Robin and Murphy deepens, foreshadowing conflict between her personal and professional life.
Study Questions & Answers
1. Why does Robin agree to have lunch with Strike despite Murphy expecting her back? Robin feels irritated by Murphy’s controlling behaviour during their previous phone call, which reminded her of her ex‑husband Matthew. She prioritises the case and her partnership with Strike over punctuality.
2. What evidence do Strike and Robin consider that suggests Deirdre was murdered? They note that Deirdre wrote about Wace’s rape in her journal, which posed a threat to him and the church. She was “expelled” in the night, leaving her youngest daughter behind. Her body was never found, and farmland offers endless hiding places. Even a natural death from her weak heart would be a crime if unregistered.
3. How does the call with Ava Reaney advance the investigation? Ava reveals that Jordan has nightmares about pigs from his time at Chapman Farm. This suggests the farm used pigs in a way that traumatised members. The boar aggression Robin describes reinforces the possibility of the animals being used as weapons or instruments of control.