This is the author’s most adrenaline and twist infused story to date that grabs the readers attention and refuses to let go until the very end.
This seventh book in the ongoing Strike series is potentially the most exciting and dangerous yet – but equally extremely horrifying in many ways that makes the reader hope for a happier ending than beginning.
Stirke and Robin’s latest client Sir Colin Edensor has approached them asking for their assistance in extracting his youngest son Will from the fictional Universal Humanitarian Church which is essentially a cult. But this is no easy task given the church’s popularity and the variety of methods they use to try and keep those on the outside away from the truth of what they do. In order to do this, Robin decides to volunteer to go undercover to try and find out more about the UHC – but instead of the compassion and kindness they promote, when she arrives at Chapman Farm (the church headquarters) a much darker and horrific reality faces her: no electronics, cut off from their family, sleep and food depravation and sexual abuse lie at the centre of the church’s ‘beliefs’ and the further she is dragged into the cult the more difficult it becomes for her to escape leading her to being put in danger. To say anymore would ruin the great level of suspense that the book builds towards – which is one of its greatest strengths.
While many of the Strike novels to this date have elements of bleakness to them, The Running Grave feels ultimately the darkest of them all – particularly in the way in which the author describes many of the horrific activities and punishments experienced by the members of the church further down the line. There were plenty of times I had to put the book aside briefly to try and absorb what I had just read. But the church itself and its beliefs are of course completely fictional, but as shown here (and how Robin even becomes acclimatised to what is going on) shows just how easily it is to be caught up in a cult.
Of course, the book is really quite lengthy and parts of which could have been edited (particularly in regards to other cases the team are working on which didn’t do anything for the main plot) as it is too easy to get lost and distracted from the purpose of the story through other aspects of the story. I’m of course not suggesting that we shouldn’t have an insight into the character’s lives outside of the work (Strike’s personal matters proving to be particularly heartbreaking) but it could just do with a little bit more focus – although the book ends with a surprising (but not unpleasing).
Much of the focus of the book is on Robin and actually shows how she has gown in strength in character and more assured in the role of detective, while trying to deal with her conflicting emotions to Strike and Ryan Murphy (her new boyfriend) – her emotional reliance on one more than the other is really cleverly highlighted. But Strike also has undergone some changes (one misguided dalliance aside) that offers a different and potentially more emotional side to him towards those closest to him – particularly when it comes to family. This is the book that we can most clearly see how Robin and Strike have helped each other develop more than each of them are aware.
It is certainly one of the most adrenaline filled books of the series that keeps the reader guessing and ensures that you feel that none of the characters are safe at any point. While it could have used a bit more editing, I can’t wait to see what happens next in the series.
By Emma Clarendon
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Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐