The Running Grave Chapter 97 (Chapter 95) – Robin’s Return and the Drowned Prophet’s Victim
⚠️ 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 her parents leave for Yorkshire, Robin finishes her report on Chapman Farm and receives Strike’s parallel document. Her boyfriend Ryan Murphy returns from a trip, and their reunion includes sex and Murphy’s declaration of love, which Robin reciprocates but later questions. The next morning, she picks up Strike for the drive to Thornbury. Strike updates her on the UHC’s Wikipedia smear campaign targeting the agency, former members, and Kevin Pirbright. A tense phone call with Lieutenant-Colonel Delaunay, Alex Graves’ brother-in-law, criticizes Strike’s investigation. Then Robin reveals that Deirdre Doherty likely drowned in the pentagonal temple pool during a Manifestation of the Drowned Prophet. Strike identifies the anonymous Pinterest artist “Torment Town” as Flora Brewster, a former member and current therapy client of his half-sister Prudence. Robin argues they should not approach the fragile Flora. The chapter ends with a frosty silence that is partially broken when Robin apologizes and they drive on.
Key Events
- Robin’s parents leave, allowing her to complete and send her Chapman Farm report to Strike.
- Murphy returns; they have sex, he says “I love you,” and Robin repeats the words with unease.
- Robin picks up Strike; they begin the long drive to interview Cherie Gittins (Carrie).
- Strike shares the UHC’s online attacks on the agency, Kevin Pirbright, the Graves family, Sheila Kennett, and the Dohertys.
- Delaunay calls, angrily accusing Strike of wreaking havoc; Strike rebuffs him.
- Robin connects Torment Town’s drawing of a woman in a pentagonal pool to Deirdre Doherty’s death during a ritual.
- Strike deduces the artist is Flora Brewster, a wealthy former member who now sees therapist Prudence.
- A heated argument erupts: Robin insists Flora’s trauma justifies her silence, while Strike sees her as privileged and inactive.
- Abigail Glover calls, confirming that Mazu “Mazu” Wace kept guns at Chapman Farm, and angrily denies Barry Saxon’s claims about her nightmare.
- The partners remain silent for 30 minutes before Robin breaks the ice with an apology.
Character Development
- Robin Ellacott: Back in London, she wrestles with her feelings for Murphy, realizing she may have lied about loving him. Her trauma from Chapman Farm colours her empathy for Flora Brewster. She defends the complexity of survivors’ responses and stands up to Strike’s pragmatism.
- Cormoran Strike: His class prejudices are exposed when he dismisses Flora as a rich “cushioned” woman. He shows a tactical side in tracking down the witness, but must confront his bias against wealth and mental health fragility.
- Ryan Murphy: His return highlights the contrast between comfortable domesticity and Robin’s lingering connection to Strike. His declaration of love pushes Robin into self-examination.
- Abigail Glover: Her phone call reveals both her volatility and her vulnerability. She resents being a “reality show” for men like Saxon and Patrick; her denial about the nightmare suggests deep shame.
- Lieutenant-Colonel Nicholas Delaunay: His rage underscores the family divisions the investigation has caused. His military rank and class entitlement clash with Strike’s bluntness.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Water and Drowning: The pentagonal temple pool becomes a symbol of UHC’s hidden violence. Robin’s own near-drowning in the same pool gives her visceral insight into Deirdre’s death.
- Class and Compassion: Strike’s chippiness about wealth leads him to judge Flora as “sitting on her arse.” Robin’s defense of Flora highlights how privilege does not erase trauma. The chapter critiques the idea that money automatically buys resilience.
- Love and Obligation: Robin’s automatic “I love you” to Murphy echoes her old marriage to Matthew. The contrast between genuine feeling and social performance is explored.
- Silence and Speech: The car journey’s frozen silence reflects unspoken tensions—Robin’s guilt about her feelings, Strike’s embarrassment at his own prejudice. The eventual apology, though partial, shows that honesty can restore partnership.
- Surveillance and Smear: The UHC’s Wikipedia campaign and Abigail’s paranoia about guns demonstrate how cults use digital tools to discredit and threaten.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point for the investigation. Robin’s realization that Deirdre Doherty was killed during a ritual provides concrete evidence of a UHC death. It forces Strike to confront a key witness (Flora) while also straining his partnership with Robin. The personal subplot with Murphy and Robin’s uneasy love declaration adds emotional depth to her arc, showing her struggle to reconcile her past trauma with a “normal” relationship. The chapter also showcases the corrosive effect of class assumptions and the need for empathy when dealing with survivors.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Robin feel she may have lied when she told Murphy she loved him?
Robin says the words automatically, a habit from her marriage to Matthew when she would say “I love you” even when she no longer meant it. After Murphy falls asleep, she stays awake ruminating, unsure whether she truly loves him or is simply grateful for his kindness and the physical release. Her unease suggests her feelings remain conflicted.
2. What evidence leads Strike to identify Flora Brewster as the Torment Town artist?
Strike notes that Prudence’s therapy clients are wealthy, often A-listers or heiresses. Flora was listed on the 2001 census at Chapman Farm, stayed five years, and lived near Prudence in Strawberry Hill. The drawing of Deirdre in a pentagonal pool matches the temple’s shape, and Flora’s account vanished after Strike mentioned Deirdre’s name, indicating guilt or fear.
3. How does the argument about Flora Brewster reveal differences between Strike and Robin?
Strike views Flora as a privileged woman who should have gone to the police instead of drawing pictures. Robin, who endured similar trauma, argues that survivors process differently and that forcing Flora could trigger a second suicide attempt. The conflict shows Strike’s pragmatic, justice-first approach clashing with Robin’s trauma-informed empathy.