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

717 replies

EggTheParrot · 27/09/2023 12:42

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!

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14
FrogSplash · 01/10/2023 19:40

I was wondering the same @Islandsadness - why wasnt Becca arrested with everyone else?

UnaOfStormhold · 01/10/2023 19:41

Great minds @shortpoet!

I initially found the "she just knew" moment a bit annoying, because it was suddenly dropping some sort of psychic connection into a book which is very much pragmatism and logic vs woo and mysticism. Then I reflected that it's a sign of how well she knows Strike, how much she trusts him and an utter confidence that he has her back.

UnaOfStormhold · 01/10/2023 19:45

Yes, I guess it is a mum thing. Or perhaps a grandmother; I can imagine Pat catching the discussion about the detectives leaving chocolate and making very clear in her inimitable way how much more sensible it would be to provide all round nutrition! Or perhaps pulling some vitamin tablets and some home-baked protein bites out of her bag. In addition to chocolate of course - mustn't overlook morale.

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Shortpoet · 01/10/2023 20:07

I was also cross with Robin how unprepared she was. Things like an address to write back to, donating money should all have been anticipated.
He lack of preparation for the revelation was also poor. She knew it was coming, she’d seen it happen to others. Where was her back story?

Shortpoet · 01/10/2023 20:11

I also thought Bijou would tell Strike she was pregnant with his child and he would say he wanted nothing to do with it, then have a moment of clarity about Rokeby (and then it would turn out Bijou was mistaken).

Lancelottie · 01/10/2023 20:13

I'd have liked to see some hint of how she faked a believable online presence for Rowena and family (surely someone in the cult would have googled her to see how rich she was).

And why do a bunch of undercover detectives have their pictures on the website - even if it 'doesn't look much like you'?

I do love a good nitpick.

Lancelottie · 01/10/2023 20:14

Shortpoet · 01/10/2023 20:11

I also thought Bijou would tell Strike she was pregnant with his child and he would say he wanted nothing to do with it, then have a moment of clarity about Rokeby (and then it would turn out Bijou was mistaken).

Ooh, very nice!

Hollyhead · 01/10/2023 20:15

Yes Lancelottie I thought that too.

the80sweregreat · 01/10/2023 20:17

It felt rushed Robins prep to go undercover.
I had the impression that none of them actually believed how bad it was in there.
Apart from the hair / clothes etc everything else was a bit half hearted.

Zitouna · 01/10/2023 20:24

I really enjoyed Robin’s meal with Prudence. She seemed so calm and collected and in charge of the conversation and how it was going - even in respect of her own experience of rape and bringing her rapist to trial, which I don’t think she has mentions in any conversations (that we’ve seen) apart from that one with Strike in book three. She seemed much older somehow, deeply impressive and very much on a level with Strike. All totally believable as part of her character growth - but very nice to see.

I was DEEPLY frustrated by her relationship with Ryan and the strange passivity there unless really really pushed. Frustrating that she doesn’t realise that ‘not as bad as Matthew’ isn’t a winning criteria in a man.

ShedHermit · 01/10/2023 20:27

Glad/amused to see I wasn’t the only one planning what snacks to leave Robin rather than two chocolate bars! I thought a protein and vitamin c rich smoothie, and some nut-based protein, whether that’s trail mix or protein balls. Maybe a babybel or some other mini cheese.

edit - and chocolate obvs. I think would be aiming to get an extra 2000 calories into her ideally.

SuperCam · 01/10/2023 20:33

I enjoyed it but also felt some bits of plot holes or issues as others have mentioned around contraception. I didn’t understand the bit around Daiyu’s DNA testing - Allie’s family wanted a DNA test to prove she was a Graves and so seek custody and control her inheritance? But that would also mean that her mother Mazu would presumably be in line for inheriting from Daiyu who had already in theory inherited from Allie, and thus have control over her inheritance (cash if not the house) in order to give it to the UCH. I’d have thought the Graves would want to prove she wasn’t Allie’s, perhaps I misread around this? Will have to go back and check!

Lancelottie · 01/10/2023 20:34

SuperCam · 01/10/2023 20:33

I enjoyed it but also felt some bits of plot holes or issues as others have mentioned around contraception. I didn’t understand the bit around Daiyu’s DNA testing - Allie’s family wanted a DNA test to prove she was a Graves and so seek custody and control her inheritance? But that would also mean that her mother Mazu would presumably be in line for inheriting from Daiyu who had already in theory inherited from Allie, and thus have control over her inheritance (cash if not the house) in order to give it to the UCH. I’d have thought the Graves would want to prove she wasn’t Allie’s, perhaps I misread around this? Will have to go back and check!

Edited

If you ever work it out, please let me know!

Islandsadness · 01/10/2023 20:38

SuperCam · 01/10/2023 20:33

I enjoyed it but also felt some bits of plot holes or issues as others have mentioned around contraception. I didn’t understand the bit around Daiyu’s DNA testing - Allie’s family wanted a DNA test to prove she was a Graves and so seek custody and control her inheritance? But that would also mean that her mother Mazu would presumably be in line for inheriting from Daiyu who had already in theory inherited from Allie, and thus have control over her inheritance (cash if not the house) in order to give it to the UCH. I’d have thought the Graves would want to prove she wasn’t Allie’s, perhaps I misread around this? Will have to go back and check!

Edited

Allies family knew she was his because of the resemblance - the 'rabbity' look. They wanted DNA so they could apply for custody.

Islandsadness · 01/10/2023 20:38

ShedHermit · 01/10/2023 20:27

Glad/amused to see I wasn’t the only one planning what snacks to leave Robin rather than two chocolate bars! I thought a protein and vitamin c rich smoothie, and some nut-based protein, whether that’s trail mix or protein balls. Maybe a babybel or some other mini cheese.

edit - and chocolate obvs. I think would be aiming to get an extra 2000 calories into her ideally.

Edited

I think you're confusing fake rock with fake boulder that can fit a feast 😂

Lancelottie · 01/10/2023 20:40

Islandsadness · 01/10/2023 20:38

Allies family knew she was his because of the resemblance - the 'rabbity' look. They wanted DNA so they could apply for custody.

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Fat chance, surely, when the child was living with her mother?

Islandsadness · 01/10/2023 20:41

@Lancelottie you'll have to have that argument with Jo 😂 she wrote it!

Lancelottie · 01/10/2023 20:42

I'd love to - and much as I love picking holes, it somehow doesn't spoil the books

Lancelottie · 01/10/2023 20:44

(Don't even mention the 'only one signature ' will that's so crucial to the first book)

BernardBlacksMolluscs · 01/10/2023 20:45

I always end up picking plot holes after I finish a mystery. I read an Inspector Lynley last week, LOVED it, and then within 2 days of finishing was FURIOUS at all the plot holes I kept realising were there!

SuperCam · 01/10/2023 20:48

Definitely doesn’t spoil the books - it’s great to chew things over and try to work out if things are deliberately written in a certain way. With such a lot of characters and action it’s inevitable that some grey areas might arise. I think the main criticism of JKR is usually that she could do with a better editor and I think that’s fair.

but I love her books being so long, I never want them to end!

Lancelottie · 01/10/2023 20:50

Oh, me too!

On the other side of the balance, though, Strike holding Robin and kissing her hair without apparently even thinking about it when she's just got out, despite the pair of them usually being king and queen of the Second Guess... hell yeah

Lancelottie · 01/10/2023 20:50

I'm a good editor. Pedantic, but good.

Just saying.

User478 · 01/10/2023 21:29

I was a bit surprised that she had this detailed backstory about her having just called off a wedding but hadn't thought about why!?

I was really suspicious of the sister and brother in-law, I thought they were the source of sweets and had Daiyo squirrelled away somewhere.

I'm sure lighter, vaping Strike is a bit less smelly and repulsive but still doing nothing for me. I think its the fact that he's basically Hagrid, lovely character but not remotely sexy. (Is a hairy arse ever going to be sexy?!). -Although I'm disappointed that no one not even Bijou has described Strike's gentlemen's parts as "simply too big to be allowed".

Prrambulate · 01/10/2023 21:58

I don’t think the team knew how much Robin was being underfed - I can see her sharing minimal details on that front. Strike was shocked at how much weight she’d lost.

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