Robert Galbraith's The Running Grave - Review

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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