Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "cult"

The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


An intense, epic thriller that takes us into the dark heart of a cult.

The Strike and Ellacott Detective Agency is approached by a father whose son has joined a religious group and is now entirely estranged from his family.

With the reclusive Universal Humanitarian Church impenetrable by outsiders, Robin goes undercover to join the cult and ultimately takes residence at their headquarters of Chapman Farm in the Norfolk countryside.

Working from outside and within, Strike and Robin uncover the sinister nature of the UHC and a history of criminal activity, abuse and mysterious deaths.

'The Running Grave' is the seventh novel in the Strike series by Robert Galbraith, pseudonym for JK Rowling in writing the detective series following the lives and investigations of Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott. Unlike any case they’ve pursued in the past, their client wishes them to find a way to free his son from the clutches of a nefarious religious group. Rowling once again treats us to a complex, detailed and engrossing novel of epic proportions, hooking us from the very first page and not letting go until the very last, as Robin goes deep undercover in her most dangerous cover identity yet, isolated from Strike and the team. This continues to be one of my favourite crime fiction series, featuring many elements I love about the genre – intricate mystery, subtle gothic overtones, psychological and philosophical depth, and riveting and electric plotting, woven into a superbly written novel driven by distinctive characters.

The Universal Humanitarian Church is richly developed, delving into its history and creation, its religious practices and mythology, having birthed from events that took place many years previously - all of which come under scrutiny, Strike investigating these circumstances as he would a cold case whilst Robin is undercover dealing directly with their primary objective. We experience the UHC’s insidious strategy of manipulation, coercive control and indoctrination, powered by the superficial charm and acute narcissism of leader Jonathan Wace and his close knit team of family and acolytes, as they exploit members and followers of the church in service of their spiritual development and claims at altruistic endeavours for the good of humanity, with the promise of belonging within a select and special minority who understand and teach 'the truth'. So cleverly and artfully done, you could almost admire it were its intent not so cruel and evil – while mirroring behaviours we see in reality from the small scale of abusive households, through cults and radicalised groups, to the ideology of entire nations or groups spanning the globe.

As always, Strike and Robin are at the centre of the narrative – I love both these characters and their relationship. In some ways they are vastly different, in others very similar, so perfectly complementing each other in both their friendship and their business partnership. In their own ways, they are both damaged and in the process of healing, something we've experienced with them as the series has progressed. Finally, Strike is no longer in denial about his feelings for his best friend and business partner. Unfortunately, Robin is now the one in denial, having long since tried to accept that Strike feels nothing for her beyond their friendship and professional relationship, and is now in a relationship with someone else. Their separation and Robin’s peril increases the emotional pressure of their predicament, forcing their feelings closer to the surface. The narrative strikes a perfect balance between the continuing character arcs and current investigations, navigating multiple twists and shocks, bringing the case brilliantly to a close with the final revelation, followed by an emotional denouement that leaves us excited for where the series will take us next.

Powerful and captivating, ‘The Running Grave’ is another sublime, propulsive installment in a superlative ongoing saga. Book eight (of the planned series of ten), 'The Hallmarked Man', has been announced as coming soon!



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Little Eve by Catriona Ward

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A dark gothic tale of abuse and moral corruption.

With the dawning of a new year, a horrific discovery is made on a remote Scottish island - an entire family mutilated and murdered.

There is a sole survivor of the massacre - Dinah - who is able to testify to the atrocity committed by her sister, Eve.

But Eve's own account is a far less clear cut tale of good and evil. Through her story, the truth of what led to that brutal Hogmanay emerges.

'Little Eve' is the second novel by Catriona Ward. I've been excited about reading it since reading the fabulous 'Rawblood', and it proved to be another fantastic book! Ward immerses us in rich gothic prose, conjuring an atmospheric, slow-burning gothic horror. We meet two women - Dinah, the survivor, haunted by the ghosts of her trauma; and Eve, an innocent victim who becomes both liberator and murderer.

Beautifully written, with deeply evocative descriptions, the setting is vividly brought to life, the isle of Altnaharra almost a character in itself, with its rugged, dangerous beauty, the ocean wrapping it in its arms, either protection or imprisonment; the only signs of human habitation the crumbling ruins of an old church and the ancient castle the family have made their home. Despite the horrors that take place there, you cannot fail to feel its potential as a place of peace and sanctuary – a power Uncle abuses to his advantage.

Through Eve and Dinah's perspectives, with some input from a police detective, we discover their family is truly a cult. Eve learns how their “family” came to be and the past of the man they call Uncle, testing her faith in their deity, the Adder, and their entire belief system, as she begins to see the truth of what is happening on their island. We delve into the beliefs of the cult, a chilling subversion of Christian myth - particularly of Genesis and Revelation - how this "faith" allows an abuser to flourish unhindered, and, ultimately, as the mask crumbles, exploring what it truly means to be free when wounds remain in livid scars.

Intense and introspective, 'Little Eve' is a gripping gothic novel that reaches deep to touch your heart and soul.



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