The Running Grave Chapter 2: Christening Tensions and a Hidden Cult
⚠️ 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
The second chapter opens at the christening party for baby Benjamin Herbert, where godparents Robin and Strike mingle with guests. Robin speaks privately with Ilsa, who complains about the loud guest Bijou Watkins and expresses concern about Strike’s feelings regarding Robin’s boyfriend Ryan Murphy. Downstairs, Bijou corners Strike with crude work anecdotes. Later, Robin and Strike discuss a new potential client: Sir Colin Edensor, whose son has joined the Universal Humanitarian Church. Strike hints that the case may require deep undercover work and tests Robin’s commitment. Ryan returns from a call and interrupts their private chat. During the cake-cutting photos, Strike watches Robin hold the baby while Bijou presses close to him, capturing the underlying tensions of the day.
Key Events
- Ilsa vents to Robin about Bijou Watkins, a crass lawyer who invited herself to the christening.
- Robin confirms her eight-month relationship with Ryan Murphy, subtly acknowledging Strike’s discomfort.
- Strike and Bijou share an awkward conversation in the kitchen; Strike lies about knowing the QCs she mentions.
- Robin and Strike discreetly discuss the Edensor case and the Universal Humanitarian Church.
- Strike tests Robin’s willingness to go under deep cover, possibly full immersion with no outside contact.
- Ryan returns, suspicious of their private talk; Robin steps away from Strike.
- During the christening photograph, Bijou leans into Strike, ensuring she appears in the picture.
- The chapter ends with a captured moment: forced smiles, the sleeping baby, and the godparents pressed together.
Character Development
- Robin shows growing assertiveness when she volunteers for deep cover, despite Strike’s implied preference for the single Midge. She also feels self-conscious about her relationship with Ryan, indicating lingering discomfort.
- Strike reveals his jealousy of Ryan through body language and his test of Robin’s loyalty. His curiosity about the Universal Humanitarian Church suggests he takes the potential case seriously.
- Ilsa provides insight into Strike’s emotional state, noting his weight loss and unhappiness with Robin’s relationship.
- Bijou Watkins is established as a loud, manipulative social climber, using her job and body to gain attention.
- Ryan Murphy appears watchful and slightly insecure, questioning Robin about her private talk with Strike.
- Clive Littlejohn is mentioned as a new, extremely taciturn subcontractor; Pat dislikes him, but Strike values his reliability.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- The I Ching epigraph: “The companion bites his way through the wrappings. If one goes to him, How could it be a mistake?” foreshadows the chapter’s tension between commitment and independence, especially for Robin and Strike.
- Deep cover vs. open relationships: Strike’s test of Robin’s availability for undercover work contrasts with her need to maintain her relationship with Ryan.
- The christening cake as a symbol: The blue teddy bear, the forced photo, and the baby’s sleep represent the facade of harmony among the characters.
- Bijou’s push-up bra anecdote highlights the objectification of women and the ethical shortcuts some professionals take—Strike contrasts this with his own agency’s standards.
- Privacy and suspicion: The chapter repeatedly shows characters stepping aside for private conversations, only to be interrupted or watched (Murphy’s return, Bijou joining the photo).
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 2 lays the groundwork for the novel’s central investigation—the Universal Humanitarian Church and Sir Colin Edensor’s missing son. It also deepens the personal conflict between Robin and Strike, introducing jealousy and loyalty tests that will likely affect their partnership. The christening setting creates a social microcosm where each character’s priorities are exposed: Ilsa’s maternal anxieties, Bijou’s predatory networking, and the unspoken tension between the two godparents. The chapter ends with a photographic snapshot that freezes these tensions, hinting at future fissures in the agency.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Strike test Robin about her willingness to go under deep cover?
Strike wants to gauge whether Robin’s relationship with Ryan Murphy will interfere with her commitment to the agency. By asking if she would accept a mission with no outside contact, he subtly challenges her to prove her dedication, knowing she is the most suitable agent for the role.
2. How does Bijou Watkins function as a foil to Robin in this chapter?
Bijou is loud, sexually forward, and uses her appearance to gain professional advantage, while Robin is reserved, professional, and uncomfortable with such tactics. Bijou’s aggressive self-promotion highlights Robin’s more discreet and competent style, as well as the ethical boundaries Robin maintains.
3. What does the christening photograph reveal about the relationships among the main characters?
The photograph captures Robin holding the baby with a forced smile, Strike standing close but with a ruminating expression, and Bijou leaning into Strike to be included. The image symbolizes the superficial unity of the gathering while underscoring the real tensions: Strike’s jealousy of Ryan, Robin’s discomfort with Strike’s test, and Bijou’s intrusion into their partnership.