A Glimpse Into the Norfolk Commune and What Catullus Really Said: Lethal White Read-along, Chapters 14-25. Part 3 of 8

This section starts off with Strike's trek to see Dawn Clancy, Jimmy Knight's ex. We are treated to a bit more reflection on Strike's childhood, including Strike explicitly comparing Robin and Lucy's responses to trauma. In the lead-up to The Running Grave, this section is of particular interest because it gives us the most troubling bit of information about the Norfolk commune to date:  the fact that Strike witnessed a teenager being whipped there. No wonder Strike mused in TIBH that he sincerely hoped the place no longer exists. Even if it doesn't, a lot of fans are betting that some of the abusive people do, and that Strike will, on some level, come to terms with them in the next volume.

Robin's trip to see Chiswell seems to serve no purpose whatsoever, as he spends only a few seconds with her and asks her only a few quick questions, all of which Izzy could have easily communicated by phone or text. other than to introduce Della Winn and the idea that she holds a grudge against one of Chiswell's godchildren, who has a name that can be confused with "Venetia."

We get a nice bit of ring-echoing in the interview with Dawn Clancy, with her quoting "Least said, soonest mended" just as Teagan Butcher does later. They are both somewhat dazzled by Strike's celebrity, both express doubts about whether they should be talking to Strike and both smoke with him while being interviewed on a break from work. One interesting bit was Dawn's description of Jack O'Kent as a "joiner" rather than a standard odd-jobs man:  the first hint that his wood-working is relevant to the story. 

Robin has another encounter with Geraint Winn, where he confirms that his wife mixed "Venetia" up with someone else, "Verity." We get an indicator of his intrusiveness when he touches Robin's scar---  an echo of his tendency to trigger panic attacks in Robin, which he does twice in the book. In Chapter 18, we get another echo: Strike expecting and dreading a call from Lucy and getting Barclay instead. As we'll see later, Strike will be talking with Barclay when Lucy calls him about Jack's hospitalization. Strike also makes a serious error when he dismisses the fencing team connection as a reason behind Geraint's grudge against the Chiswells. We also get another glimpse at the tension between Matthew and Robin, and sigh with relief as Robin gets an night to herself in the guest room. 

The next morning, she successfully uses her lost-bangle trick to plant the first listening device. She goes from that high to another low, as Raphael triggers her third panic attack in as many days. We get an insight into Izzy's contempt for both Tinkies I and II, ironic given that the family's finances may well get saved in the end by Tinky I's horsey painting. Raphael's remark "Izzy doesn't believe in mental illness" is also entertaining in retrospect, since Izzy herself will be willing to attribute Raff's murder of their father to mental illness at the end, 

I enjoyed Robin and Strike's meeting at the Two Chairmen, when Robin gets to show off the information she collected via the bug. Sad to see her rushing home to dinner with the Flobberworm, given how clear it is she would rather be with Strike. The next day a work, Raphael bungles Robin's first efforts at learning about the charity fraud, then we are treated to Aamir's and Chiswell's visit to the office. I was surprised about how aggravated Aamir made me, as he insisted on pressing Izzy to add the Level Playing Field trustees to the Paralympic Ball, despite her repeatedly telling him that was not her job. If anyone is curious about Chiswell's quotation, it is the first two lines of Catullus's 16, a poem so obscene that a full English translation was not published until the 20th century. The lines Chiswell recites can be translated "I will sodomize and face-f*ck you, bottom Aurelius and catamite* Furius" or as "F*ck you, boys, up the butt and in the mouth, you queer Aurelius and you fag Furius!"  I think it is interesting that, just as Catullus was speaking to two young men for whom he had contempt, so is Chiswell, given that, as we will later learn, his words are directed as much to Raff as to Aamir. 

Robin then gets the call from Strike needing her to do a last minute weekend job, which she has to decline because of her anniversary plans. I always find Chapters 22 and 23 difficult to read, as Robin's and Strike's relationship, which had been improving, deteriorates, for reasons that are not really either of their faults. We feel his physical pain as he trails Jimmy and Flick at the march, just as we feel Robin's emotional pain as she struggles through the Flobber-versary, and finally concludes she doesn't really love Matthew anymore. 

Chapter 24 is also grueling, as we see Strike return to his flat with the knowledge that he has messed up the relationship with Lorelei. Error alert: he comes in Friday morning saying he had spent 5 nights and 4 days with Lorelei, However, the march was Saturday, making it 6 nights as 5 days. I always breathe a little sigh of relief when I re-read the end of the chapter and see Strike rush off to the hospital to be with Jack, because I know both that we are about to see a better side of Strike and that his and Robin's relationship is going to get back on track.

Chapter 25 is another day for Robin to shine, as she gets the charity fraud information out of Sir Kevin, earning gratitude from Chiswell and restoring her confidence in herself, when Chiswell tells her Strike called her his best. She also snags an invite to the Paralympic Ball where she will finally have a chance to don the Green Dress. 

I'll be back on Thursday with Chapters 26-35. The hospital, the accidental kiss, the Ball, and Charlotte....