The Running Grave Chapter 87 (Chapter 85) Summary and Analysis
⚠️ 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
Unable to sleep at Felbrigg Lodge, Strike obsesses over Robin’s failure to emerge from Chapman Farm. He fears she has been identified as a private detective and taken hostage, possibly moved to another Universal Humanitarian Church (UHC) centre. Barclay calls to confirm she did not appear overnight. Strike resolves to wait one more night before contacting the police. Shanker then reports that a woman claiming to be Reaney’s wife contacted the prison and arranged a phone call from an area code 01263 number. Strike looks up the area, which covers Cromer, Lion’s Mouth, Aylmerton, and the lodge itself. He continues to wait, vaping and drinking tea, willing the hours to pass.
Key Events
- Strike checks into Felbrigg Lodge but cannot rest, picturing Robin in danger.
- He considers calling the police but fears procedural delays and a possible relocation of Robin to another UHC centre.
- Barclay reports that Robin did not appear during the night.
- Shanker provides intel: a woman contacted the prison posing as Reaney’s wife, arranging a call from an 01263 area code number.
- Strike identifies the area code as covering several locations near Chapman Farm.
- He decides to wait until sunset before returning to the farm perimeter.
Character Development
Cormoran Strike – Strike’s anxiety over Robin’s safety is palpable; his inability to sleep despite exhaustion shows how deeply he cares. His strategic mind weighs the risks of involving the police against the chance to rescue Robin himself. He relies on his network—Barclay and Shanker—demonstrating his professional resourcefulness and personal loyalty.
Robin Ellacott – Though absent from the chapter, Robin’s peril drives Strike’s actions and underscores her courage and vulnerability.
Barclay – Shares Strike’s concern and reinforces the gravity of the situation with his terse agreement to call the police if necessary.
Shanker – Delivers crucial intelligence about Reaney’s phone contact, showing his value as an informant and his long‑standing bond with Strike.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Patience and Restraint – The chapter’s epigraph highlights the “putting brakes on strength.” Strike deliberately waits rather than storming the farm, exercising strategic patience even as his instincts scream for action.
Surveillance and Exposure – The fear of being recorded by farm cameras and the risk of moving a hostage to a different centre underline the constant threat of observation within the UHC.
Isolation and Anxiety – The genteel comfort of Felbrigg Lodge contrasts sharply with Strike’s turbulent thoughts, emphasising his emotional isolation while Robin remains missing.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter ratchets up the suspense for Robin’s fate. It confirms that her disappearance is not a voluntary choice but likely a capture. The new intel from Shanker—a woman contacting Reaney from an area code near Chapman Farm—suggests a direct link between the prison inmate and someone close to the UHC. Strike’s decision to wait one more night raises the stakes and forces the reader to confront the possibility that Robin may have been hidden or harmed. The chapter sets the stage for a confrontation at the farm.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Strike decide not to call the police immediately? Strike worries that without clear evidence of a crime, the police might require a lengthy warrant process. He also fears Robin could be moved to another UHC centre (as happened with Deirdre Doherty), making a formal search futile. He gives himself one more night to see if she appears on her own.
2. What does Shanker’s intel reveal, and why is it significant? Shanker reports that a woman posing as Reaney’s wife arranged a phone call from an area code covering several towns near Chapman Farm. This suggests a direct connection between Reaney (presumably a UHC member in prison) and a female accomplice who may be involved in Robin’s disappearance or in coordinating UHC activities.
3. How does the setting of Felbrigg Lodge reflect Strike’s state of mind? The lodge’s comfortable, genteel decor—cream wallpaper, tartan curtains, cushions, a ceramic stag head—feels incongruous with Strike’s agitated thoughts. His inability to relax there underscores his intense worry for Robin and the mismatch between his surroundings and the danger she faces.