*Spoilers spoilers spoilers* the running grave spoilers thread.. (Content warning - mentions suicide)

[EggTheParrot]

Just as the title says really.. spoilers ok in this thread. Let's keep the other one spoiler free??

Oh my god why is Robyn going undercover!

I'm almost finished my second listen. I'm so glad Strike was sober when he said what he said. Love the change in him in this book, both mental and physical. He's really growing up.

I’m up to Robin & Murphy’s conversation after she spent the night in the office & have to feel kind of sorry for him.

Robin says ‘Strike and I are friends’, he says ‘Lizzie went off with a supposed ‘friend’ in the end’, Robin says ‘I know that, but what you’re failing to factor in here is, I’m not Lizzie.’

And we all know what’s going to happen.

Just finished. Must go to bed. Can’t read the whole thread but WHO WAS THE JOGGER?

Just finished. So good.
Having read a ridiculously spikey review in the Times I thought it would be overlong. Bit what we get for our money is a huge amount if entertainment - in my case a full 2 weeks work. Bargain.

I did from the start take notes so I knew who was who - she has such a huge cast that I've previously not known who a certain name applies to.

I did guess whodunit when Strike told her that he was on his way to Thornbury but I'd didn't guess what she'd actually done.

Well done to PP who noticed the pub sign! I wonder how many missed clues there are. Most writers tell you about the clues at the end but JK leaves them in your mind for younto remember over time.

Having read a ridiculously spikey review in the Times I thought it would be overlong. Bit what we get for our money is a huge amount if entertainment - in my case a full 2 weeks work. Bargain.

I saw that review. ‘More soap than sleuthing.’ There was another one that complained about the existence of side cases & subplots. What the writers clearly don’t get is that fans of the series aren’t just after pared-down thrillers. We want the soap, side cases & subplots!

So glad I made this thread! I'm re listening and it's amazing how much you pick up on the second time around

@EmpressaurusOfCats yes!

Without the subplots the other sub contractors wouldn't have any personality. Although the agency is focused around Strike and Robin, they really add an extra dimension.

I also like the balance with the main plot. I needed a rest after Robin's time at Chapman farm. It was intense so a bit of light and shade is very welcome.

I am also on second time round. I think the scene where Strike ends up in the church to say goodbye to Charlotte is beautifully written but I was so stressed about Robin first time that I didn't fully appreciate it.

So why did Becca hide Mazu's necklace? Was it just to punish "Rowena" for helping Emily?

Yes that was my understanding of it.

Just a red herring, not important

I think it was to ensure that Robin was punished even more harshly (the dreaded box). Possibly Becca's actual goal was to have Robin thrown out of the cult?

How much do the Strike and Ellacott agency charge for their services? I'm not sure there's enough money in the world to get me to give up chocolate, my phone and privacy for four days never mind four months.

Must confess I was past caring who did what on the night Daiyu died, it all got so labyrinthine I lost sight of the bigger picture. I just wanted Will and as many children as possible to be rescued and safe.

They must charge an awful lot. Their clients are always wealthy too (except when he does charge).

And he paid for Tasha's stay, and several full time surveillance.

And Denmark Street rent is not cheap!

Also, I loved the Mumsnet references of course. But what was he hoping to find? Everyone on here is anonymous. Was he planning on starting a few UHC threads and hoping for the best?

I don’t think he’d have known before looking that everyone was anonymous, or that he’d have had the faintest idea where to start . That would most definitely have been a job for Pat & family.

I really wanted to see Strike’s reaction to browsing AIBU and learning what LTB and CF stand for.

Just finished- LOVED IT and still swooning after the final scene

I've just finished and now feel bereft. Also ashamed that I've been reading Ilsa as Isla up until this book!

Loved every minute of it although the undercover storyline was incredibly stressful to read. I was convinced early on that Daiyu would still be still alive somewhere but the killer was a complete surprise.

The ending was perfect, going back to reread it now.

I just want Strike to start a thread on Mumsnet beginning ‘Man here’.

I want Pat to introduce Robin to FWR.....

Oh god yes!!

I haven't RTFT so sorry if this has been mentioned already but I am confused about one point, the Wace's wanted everyone to believe Daiyu was Jonathan's biological daughter but they also wanted the inheritance due to Daiyu as Alex Graves daughter?

Also just realised the bit about the pigeons never leaving the loft was a hint, I knew it couldn't be in there for no reason when I read it.

But once they'd got the inheritance it didn't matter. And no one on the farm would ever find out she was Alex's daughter.

What was the hint about pigeons never leaving the loft? I must have missed that!

It's at the start of chapter 114, Dennis tells Will about someone cheating at pigeon racing with a microchip and the pigeon never left it's loft. Might be reading too much into but I felt it was perhaps a hint that Daiyu never left the farm.