Chapter summaries The Running Grave Robert Galbraith

The Running Grave Chapter 63: Strike's Investigation at Cromer Beach

⚠️ 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

Cormoran Strike arrives in Cromer to investigate the drowning of Daiyu Wace. After extricating himself from the Heatons, he walks to the esplanade and looks down at the beach where Cherie Gittins brought Daiyu twenty years earlier. Strike reviews the known facts: Cherie drove Daiyu away from Chapman Farm, was seen carrying the child onto the beach, but no witnesses observed what happened at the water’s edge. He considers several possibilities—a secret rendezvous with a boat, a drugged child intentionally drowned, a body moved to deep water, or genuine accidents. The common denominator is Jonathan Wace. Strike wonders whether Wace could have induced an epileptic fit in his first wife, whose accidental drowning occurred at the same spot seven years earlier. Later, Strike checks into the Hotel de Paris and battles a wave of depression. He worries about Charlotte’s threats and regrets not acting on his feelings for Robin during a previous trip to Whitstable. He finds an old Facebook photo confirming Cherie’s birth name (Carrie Makepeace) and her childhood crush on a boy named John Curtis, which explains the pseudonym “Curtis” used by Cherie later.

Key Events

  • Strike leaves the Heatons tactfully and goes to the Cromer promenade.
  • He surveys the beach where Daiyu drowned, noting the lack of witnesses for the critical moment.
  • He mentally lists four theories: secret boat transfer, intentional drowning after drugging, body weighted and dumped offshore, or two coincidental accidents.
  • He suspects Jonathan Wace may be connected to both drownings, and makes a note to research whether epilepsy can be induced.
  • He decides to stay overnight, booking a room at the Hotel de Paris.
  • In his room, Strike struggles with low mood triggered by thoughts of Charlotte and Robin.
  • He recalls a night in Whitstable when he was single and Robin was single, but he said nothing.
  • He Googles Cherie Gittins and finds a childhood swimming team photo, identifying her as “Carrie Makepeace” and spotting the name “Curtis” in the caption.

Character Development

  • Cormoran Strike: Demonstrates thorough investigative logic by weighing multiple scenarios. His physical discomfort (sore stump, tight leg) mirrors emotional strain. He fights self-pity but admits to regret over Robin. This chapter reveals his vulnerability and fear of rejection, which has held him back personally.
  • Cherie Gittins: Re-framed as a possible tool rather than mastermind. The discovery of her former name and a childhood crush gives a plausible reason for using the alias “Curtis.”
  • Robin Ellacott: Though absent, her presence dominates Strike’s thoughts. The contrast between their professional ease and personal tension is sharpened by Strike’s self-recrimination.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • The Sea as Memory and Mystery: The flat grey sea and “running grave” quote evoke unresolved death and the weight of the past. Strike’s gaze out at the water mirrors his search for hidden truth beneath the surface.
  • Regret and Missed Opportunity: The Whitstable memory highlights a recurring motif in the series: Strike’s habitual emotional restraint costing him happiness. The hotel room’s claustrophobia symbolizes his internal trap.
  • Deception and Performance: Cherie’s “simpering smile” in the photo contrasts with the tragedy she later enacted. Strike’s theory that Wace might have staged both drownings reinforces the theme of charismatic manipulation.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter crystallizes the central mystery of Daiyu’s death. Strike’s systematic unpacking of possible murder scenarios gives the reader a roadmap for the remaining investigation. It also deepens Strike’s personal arc by tying his romantic hesitation to the same risk-averse thinking that could endanger his case—or his heart. The quiet seaside setting forces introspection, making the emotional stakes as high as the plot stakes.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. What four theories does Strike consider for Daiyu’s disappearance?
    He imagines: a secret boat ride that took Daiyu alive to a new location; a drugged child drowned intentionally by Cherie; a body tied to weights and sunk in an unseen spot; or two genuine accidents seven years apart.

  2. Why does Strike doubt the “two accidents” theory?
    The common denominator is Jonathan Wace. Although Wace was not present at the first drowning, Strike wonders if an epileptic fit could be induced—making the first death potentially not an accident either.

  3. What personal regret does Strike dwell on in the hotel room?
    He remembers a night in Whitstable with Robin when both were single. He wanted to say something but said nothing, and now fears he lost his chance, pinning his hopes on Robin’s boyfriend Ryan Murphy drinking too much.

Navigation