The Running GraveThe Running Grave
What it's about
Private detective Cormoran Strike is hired by a worried father whose son, Will, has joined the Universal Humanitarian Church, a seemingly peaceful religious group in the Norfolk countryside. Strike suspects the cult is far more dangerous, and his partner, Robin Ellacott, goes undercover inside it, where she discovers how hard it is to get out.
Why it's worth reading
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It's one of the most gripping books in Robert Galbraith's Strike series, a deep dive into how cults work.
You'll love it if you liked
The Thursday Murder Club
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Long GoodbyeGood to know
It's the seventh Strike novel, and the series is best read in order. It's nearly 1,000 pages.
By the numbers
- Readers93 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller50 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #38 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #88 of the 481 new books we rank
- #498 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by Robert Galbraith
If you like this, read next
The Correspondent
The Housemaid
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty
Remarkably Bright Creatures
The Tainted Cup
The Frozen RiverExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Running Grave worth reading?
Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It ranks #498 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 78.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Running Grave about?
Private detective Cormoran Strike is hired by a worried father whose son, Will, has joined the Universal Humanitarian Church, a seemingly peaceful religious group in the Norfolk countryside. Strike suspects the cult is far more dangerous, and his partner, Robin Ellacott, goes undercover inside it, where she discovers how hard it is to get out.
How long does it take to read The Running Grave?
About 25 hours (999 pages), or about 7 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Running Grave?
If you liked it, try The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson or The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler.