Chapter 35 (Chapter 33): Strike Meets Shanker – Frame‑Up, Family Guilt, and a New Lead
⚠️ 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 hands surveillance of the Franks to Midge and travels to Bethnal Green. He receives a text from Bijou Watkins containing lingerie photos, which he deletes without replying. At Pellicci’s café, he reads a newspaper article about Charlotte and Landon Dormer at a fundraising dinner, hinting at a possible engagement. Strike studies the photo longer than he looked at Bijou’s, wondering whether Charlotte lied about having cancer.
His old associate Shanker arrives. After a brief exchange about Strike’s weight loss, Strike asks Shanker about Jordan Reaney, a prisoner at HMP Bedford who has information useful to an investigation. Shanker agrees to help without payment, referencing Strike’s earlier aid with “Angel’s fing.” Strike then raises the murder of Kevin Pirbright, a young man from a church background who was shot with a Beretta 9000 and whose flat was planted with drugs and cash. Shanker immediately calls it a “frame-up” and suggests bent police might be involved. Strike dismisses that possibility but notes that Reaney is afraid of pigs (the animal), which complicates any plan.
A phone call from Lucy informs Strike that their uncle Ted has a GP appointment. Strike promises to attend, and Lucy expresses surprise at his reliability. Shanker shares that his own father had early-onset dementia. He then asks Strike why he never had children, noting that Leda’s children were everything to her. This remark triggers a memory of Strike’s half‑brother Switch, the son of Leda and her killer, whom Strike has never tried to contact. He realises he may not know Lucy’s full feelings about Switch.
Heading back to the station, Strike feels burdened by guilt and unease. He wishes he could call Robin, but she is unavailable. He becomes acutely aware of how much he relies on her voice and her being “always on his side.”
Key Events
- Strike deletes Bijou Watkins’s lingerie photos and resolves never to meet her again.
- At Pellicci’s café, he studies a newspaper photo of Charlotte and Landon Dormer, questioning whether Charlotte faked her cancer.
- Shanker agrees to help persuade Jordan Reaney to talk, waiving his usual fee.
- Strike describes the murder of Kevin Pirbright; Shanker calls it a “frame‑up” and suggests police corruption.
- Lucy calls about Uncle Ted’s GP appointment; Strike commits to attending.
- Shanker’s remark about Leda’s love for her children leads Strike to reflect on his half‑brother Switch.
- Strike acknowledges his growing emotional reliance on Robin after realising he cannot call her.
Character Development
Cormoran Strike
This chapter deepens Strike’s emotional arc. He shows guilt over neglecting his family (Uncle Ted, Lucy, and even his half‑brother Switch). His reaction to Shanker’s question about children reveals unresolved feelings about Leda’s death and his own avoidance of family ties. Most notably, Strike admits to himself how much he depends on Robin’s presence and support—a vulnerability for a character who has always prided himself on self‑sufficiency.
Shanker
Shanker remains a loyal, street‑wise ally. He offers help without payment, demonstrating his respect for Strike. His immediate identification of the Pirbright murder as a frame‑up shows his deep knowledge of criminal patterns. His personal sharing about his father’s dementia adds a layer of empathy beneath his rough exterior.
Robin Ellacott (mentioned)
Though absent from the scene, Robin is central to Strike’s thoughts. Her unavailability forces Strike to confront how much he relies on her, both professionally and emotionally.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Guilt and Responsibility
Strike’s guilt over his family surfaces repeatedly: he feels he should have done more for Ted and Lucy, and he recognises his long‑standing neglect of his half‑brother Switch. The chapter underscores how past traumas continue to shape his sense of duty.
Frame‑Up vs. Truth
Shanker’s instant diagnosis of the Pirbright murder as a frame‑up introduces a motif of deceptive appearances. The planted drugs and cash suggest a corruption that Strike must untangle, paralleling the agency’s broader work of uncovering hidden realities.
Reliance and Connection
Strike’s longing to call Robin—and his admission that her voice raises his spirits—highlights a theme of interdependence. The most self‑sufficient man now recognises his need for a partner he trusts implicitly.
Family and Neglect
Leda’s role as a mother who loved her children contrasts with Strike’s own decision not to have children and his emotional distance from Switch. Shanker’s comment “You free was everyfing to ’er” forces Strike to confront the legacy of family bonds he has largely ignored.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter advances two key plot threads: the agency’s attempt to extract information from Jordan Reaney (who can potentially confirm the Pirbright frame‑up) and the personal development of Cormoran Strike. Shanker’s willingness to help strengthens the network of contacts Strike can rely on. The chapter also deepens the mystery around Kevin Pirbright’s murder, suggesting a conspiracy beyond a simple drug‑dealing dispute.
On a character level, Strike’s reflections on his half‑brother Switch and his growing reliance on Robin signal a shift in his emotional landscape. The guilt he carries about his family may influence his decisions in future chapters, and his dependence on Robin becomes increasingly central to his wellbeing.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Strike delete Bijou’s photos but study the newspaper photo of Charlotte?
Strike has no interest in meeting Bijou again and sees the lingerie photos as a temptation to weaken his resolve. The photo of Charlotte, however, stirs deeper personal questions: he wonders whether she lied about having cancer and is caught between concern and resentment. His longer scrutiny shows that Charlotte still holds emotional weight in his life, unlike the casual fling with Bijou.
2. What does Shanker’s instant “frame‑up” verdict reveal about the Pirbright case?
Shanker, with extensive knowledge of London’s underworld, immediately identifies the planted drugs and cash as a setup. His suggestion of corrupt police involvement, though Strike doubts it, introduces the possibility that the official narrative is wrong. This gives Strike a new angle to investigate: who would want Kevin Pirbright dead, and why frame him?
3. How does Strike’s reflection on his half‑brother Switch develop his character in this chapter?
Strike has always assumed he knew everything about his sister Lucy’s feelings, but he now admits he may be wrong. His lack of curiosity about Switch reveals a deliberate emotional distance from his mother’s violent past. The guilt he feels about not doing more for his family—and his sudden awareness of his reliance on Robin—marks a growing willingness to confront his own vulnerabilities.