**In the seventh installment in the "outrageously entertaining" Strike series, detective duo Cormoran and Robin must rescue a man ensnared in the trap of a dangerous cult. ( *Financial Times* ) ** Private Detective Cormoran Strike is contacted by a worried father whose son, Will, has gone to join a religious cult in the depths of the Norfolk countryside. The Universal Humanitarian Church is, on the surface, a peaceable organization that campaigns for a better world. Yet Strike discovers that beneath the surface there are deeply sinister undertones, and unexplained deaths. In order to try to rescue Will, Strike's business partner, Robin Ellacott, decides to infiltrate the cult, and she travels to Norfolk to live incognito among its members. But in doing so, she is unprepared for the dangers that await her there or for the toll it will take on her. . . Utterly page-turning, *The Running Grave* moves Strike 's...
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. Any connection between the music referenced in the story and cults is purely fictitious and the use of lyrics in the work is not intended to be associated with any cults or groups in real life.
Copyright © 2023 by J.K. Rowling
Cover design by Duncan Spilling
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First ebook edition, September 2023
Published simultaneously in the UK by Sphere, September 2023
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ISBN 978-0-316-57213-2
E3-20230828-JV-NF-ORI
To my goddesses,
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Juno, Ceres and Astarte
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Dylan Thomas
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Letters between Sir Colin and Lady Edensor and their son William
13 March 2012
Will,
We were appalled to learn from your personal tutor yesterday that you’ve dropped out of university and joined some kind of religious movement. We’re even more astounded that you didn’t discuss this with us, or bother to tell us where you were going.
Unless we’re being lied to by the woman who answers the phone at the headquarters of the Universal Humanitarian Church, handwritten letters are the only means of contacting members. She gave me her word that this letter would be passed to you.
Your mother and I don’t understand why you’ve done this, why you didn’t talk to us first, or what can have persuaded you to abandon your course and your friends. We’re extremely worried about you.
Please get in touch IMMEDIATELY you receive this.
Dad
16 April 2012
Darling Will,
The lady at the church headquarters says you’ve received Dad’s letter, but we still haven’t heard from you, so we’re still very worried.
We think you might be at Chapman’s Farm in Norfolk. Dad and I will be at the New Inn, Roughton, this Saturday at 1 p.m. Please, Will, come and meet us, so we can talk everything over. Dad’s been doing a bit of research on the Universal Humanitarian Church and it sounds like a very interesting organisation with worthy aims. We can certainly see why it would appeal to you.
We aren’t trying to run your life, Will, we really do just want to see you and know that you’re all right.
With lots of love,
Mum xxx
29 April 2012
Dear Will,
