When I recorded the Three Broomsticks Podcast's Prediction Episode for The Running Grave, I was asked not to say anything about the 53-page preview that had, by then, been released. I had to bite my tongue a few times. naturally. As I was listening to the podcast today, I kept coming up with bits and pieces of the now 11-chapter preview; and things I would have loved to say. So, I decided to go through and put together some time-stamped notes where I could add to or re-think predictions and other story elements in light of what we know now, from the preview. So, without further ado, SPOILERS in BLUE. Just be forewarned: Irvin predicts more deaths than Sybil Trelawney when off her anti-depressants.
Yes! We know from the preview that the UHC's Chapman Farm is in that area! The former home of the Aylmerton Community, if fact.
25:06. Irvin: I want better for Prudence.
Bea: She's not going to get eaten by a snake.
We do, of course, meet Prudence in Chapter 9. and she does live up to her name, both in the way she is gradually letting a relationship get established between her family and Strike before pressuring him to meet their father, and to the warnings she gives both Strike and Robin about the dangers of mind control in cult settings, cautioning them that anyone, no matter how smart, can fall victim. She even gives them some books to read on the topic in preparation. And, she made in through the first dinner with our heroes without being eaten by any venomous reptiles or otherwise perishing.
29:17. Irvin: Doesn't the synopsis talk about unexplained deaths?
Oh, yes it does! In the 11 chapter preview, we learn of multiple deaths related to the UHC, any of which could turn out to be murder: The Five (dead) Prophets (including the Drawned Prophet, seven-year-old Daiyu Wace), Jennifer Wace (apparently drowned after Mazu became pregnant or gave birth to Daiyu), Kevin Pirbright, who was making it his life's mission to expose UHC wrongdoings. I think we also have good reason to suspect that Deidre Doherty was murdered: how many moms would leave their small child behind in a cult where she had been raped by the leader?
There certainly is, as we learn in the preview. We are told in the prologue that Mazu Wace was abused in the Aylmerton Community, which was located on the Chapman Farm property. In Chapter 7, we learn this was the infamous Norfolk Commune, the worst experience of Strike's chaotic childhood, run by the Crowther brothers and previously called Forgeman Farm. Strike feels compelled to go tell Lucy of the connection to the Will Edensor case, to forewarn her of possible publicity. We also learn that two of the "Five Prophets," ex-soldier Rusty Andersen and healer Harold Coates, also lived on the Aylmerton Community property, though how involved they were in the commune is not clear. Eight-year-old Strike would have been at the commune at the same time as Mazu, who would have been 11-12. Mazu was probably too young to be the "teenager" Strike saw being whipped there, but then again, he may have misjudged her age. He was only 8, after all.
40:40. Bea: I think Charlotte's finished.
Irvin: From your lips to God's ears!
Unfortunately, I don't believe Charlotte would have been mentioned in the early chapters without reason. Robin noticed her in the paper with her new beau Landon, looking strangely glassy-eyed and blank, which is one description Pru's recommended book gives of someone under a cultic influence. I think there is a change, albeit slim, she could actually turn up in the UHC, especially if she learned of Strike's involvement in the case through her friend Izzy.
Not only did Charlotte get an early mention, we got dear Miss Bijou crashing the christening and throwing herself at Strike. Though so far he's resisted her, but she could well prove to be the third in a series of jewel-themed women who mean trouble for Strike: Lorelei of the jewel-toned vintage clothing, Madeline the jeweler, and now, Bijou, whose nickname means "jewel" but whose given name means "snake." Given the connection to the I Ching and Chinese astrology in this book, it is also interesting to note that the three core ideals of Taoism and Buddhism are also called "The Three Jewels."
44:43. Irvin: We are almost certainly getting a parallel to Bill and Fleur's wedding, with Robin's old roommate Max and his partner.
No sign of a Max-Richard wedding yet, but we got an nice churchy celebration in the form of Benjamin Herbert's christening, complete with a marquee in the backyard, a la The Burrow. Ryan Murphy did attend with Robin and Strike, who had previously gotten along with Murphy was well as he had with any Met cop, is clearly as jealous and resentful as Ron was of Krum. No dancing, but Ilsa noticed Strike noticing them holding hands outside the church.
No Green Dress yet, but we know Robin needs expensive clothes to impress the UHC with her Rich Girl Rowena Ellis persona. True, Prudence was nice enough to let her raid her closet for some expensive casual duds and accessories for her first visit to the Rupert Court temple. Perhaps the Dress won't be quite appropriate for farm life (unless Rowena adopts a Green Acres approach), but it would be perfect if the UHC invites their attractive new recruit to some fancy dress party.
49:43. Me: We've been promised two biographies, one of each of Strike's parents. Rokeby was supposedly writing his autobiography, possibly having it published by Roper Chard, whom Strike has a connection with.
A quick note here to remind us that Roper Chard has turned up in the preview as the (previously) contracted publisher for Kevin Pirbright's exposé on the UHC. True, they presumably cancelled the contract, if not when Pirbright first went off the rails, then when he got himself murdered. Still, there could well be a copy of some early drafts on file there, and Strike is bound to have some connection who would pass it on to him. Nina Lacelles may not be too friendly, but Chard and most of the other editors are probably happy that Strike both found them the real Bombyx Mori manuscript and disposed of Liz Tassel, and would be happy to cooperate.
55:35. Sophia: Lucy clearly has a much more negative view of Leda than Strike does, and I wonder if something will come out that makes us understand, that makes Strike realize something that happened between Leda and Lucy, or some sort of situation that Leda put her in, that makes him change his mind.
We learn, of course that Leda was "enthralled" with Malcolm Crowther, (whose last name meaning, "fiddler," certainly can have unsavory connotations) and for a long time, refused to believe that the charges of pedophilia were true, because she believed her own children had escaped any abuse at the commune. Or at least, this is what Strike currently believes. Judging from Lucy's reaction (silent crying) when he brought up the subject of the Aylmerton Community. I think we can question whether Leda knew the full truth about what happened to her daughter, or whether the former groupie was motivated to hide or deny it.
1:00:27. Irvin: I'm predicting that in The Running Grave we are going to have a very dramatic reading of a will. It might be related to the case, but also, it might be Rokeby's.
We now know of at least two inheritances connected to the case:
- the money Will's grandfather willed him that he claims to be "willingly" giving the UHC
- the large amount of money bequeathed by Margaret Cathcart-Bryce, that paid for the graves and shrine to the Drowned Prophet.
As for Rokeby, there has been no mention of him being sick, so as of right now, we have every reason to believe his cancer, like the overwhelming majority of prostate cancers, was easily treated.
1:02:54. Bea: It could be Ted's will.
Irvin: Ted's the one person I believe will survive this book.
Lucy expresses concern that Ted is having memory lapses, so it is possible that he is developing Alzheimer's or some other form of dementia. Personally. I agree with Irvin that Ted is going to survive this book, but part of what we learn in the future may come from Ted, if his cognitive difficulties prompt him to speak a bit more freely. Perhaps, for instance, he will tell Strike why he supports Arsenal, or how he found out where Leda and Shumba had taken the kids, when Strike was nine.
1:16:15. Me: Saul Morris will turn up again, briefly, as an employee of Mitch Patterson...We're going to get to humiliate Saul Morris one more time and finish his career as a detective.
I feel a bit more confident in this prediction, knowing that the Strike & Ellacott agency took on the Will Edensor case only after Patterson, Inc. screwed it up. The files could well reveal that Morris himself was the one whose cover got blown.
1:18:27. Irvin: How much camping do you think we'll see in this story?
Bea: Oh, I think lots. The commune is a perfect location for camping, isn't it?
A note here to say that we also know food his highly restricted on Chapman Farm; we are told there are regular required fasts, and Will is described as emaciated. So, in addition to rural setting, the isolation and lack of communication, Robin could well experience the same hunger as the Deathly Hallows Trio did.
We have learned of the Five Prophets. Their graves, which are apparently an important center of worship of the UHC, seem to echo the church graveyard of Godric's Hollow. Their greatest dead "hero," Drowned Prophet Daiyu Mazu, has a statue erected in her memory, just as the Potters do. Between the prophets' graves, the book title, and the name of one of the prophets being "Graves" I think we would be gravely mistaken to underestimate the potential for graveyard parallels running between TRG and DH. Seeing Leda's burial place would be gravy.
Well, that's half of the podcast annotated. Part Two to come!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments are moderated.