Book Summary – The Silkworm – Cormoran Strike – Book 2

Book summary by chapter of The Silkworm. Includes spoilers from the lost manuscript to the end of the book. Words can kill when laced with resentment: in Bombyx Mori, each line dissects buried grudges until fiction becomes autopsy. Cormoran Strike finds Owen Quine’s body staged as a grotesque feast, but it’s the ink of betrayal that sketches the real killer. Through a web of literary lies, the detective unmasks Elizabeth Tassel—the architect of silence and the book’s true executioner. Justice is served, but in publishing, innocence is fiction and survival the only truth.

Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott walk through a foggy London street lined with editorial shop windows, in a tense and mysterious moment – Chapter-by-chapter Summary - The Silkworm

Introduction – The Silkworm

Words can cut deeper than any knife. In The Silkworm, the second novel in the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith, murder hides not in a dark alley, but within the pages of a scandalous manuscript. When struggling author Owen Quine vanishes after submitting Bombyx Mori—a grotesque allegory exposing the literary world's dirtiest secrets—detective Cormoran Strike enters a maze of buried betrayals, editorial vendettas, and symbolic corpses.

With Robin Ellacott more determined than ever to be a true investigative partner, the case unfolds through disturbing clues and chilling echoes of fiction turned fact. Each chapter reveals how ink not only stains—but wounds, accuses, and ultimately kills.

To fully grasp how this dynamic duo evolves from their very first case, begin here: Reading order of the Cormoran Strike series ➤

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Reading Order ➤

Chapter Navigation

• Chapter 1 Summary – The Silkworm – Blackmail and Betrayal at the Smithfield Café

• Chapter 10 Summary – The Silkworm – Tense Dinner with Matthew and Revealed Truths

• Chapter 20 Summary – The Silkworm – Suspicions About Leonora and Secrets in the Quine Kitchen

• Chapter 30 Summary – The Silkworm – A Race Against Time and Robin’s Emotional Strain

• Chapter 40 Summary – The Silkworm – The Revelation

• Chapter 50 Summary – The Silkworm – The Manuscript in the Freezer

Chapter 1 Summary – The Silkworm – Blackmail and Betrayal at the Smithfield Café

Before dawn, Cormoran Strike arranges to meet journalist Dominic Culpepper at the Smithfield Café to hand over compromising documents about tax evasion by Lord Parker. In exchange for the exclusive, he insists on protecting the identity of the source: a scorned and betrayed secretary who sought justice after discovering that her boss, with whom she had a relationship, would never keep his promises. Strike, exhausted after a sleepless night, eats a greasy breakfast while Culpepper reacts with surprise at the evidence. The tension rises when the detective sets his conditions to avoid harming the woman. After arguing about professional ethics and legal threats, Culpepper agrees. They step outside; the journalist exults at the magnitude of the scandal and proposes new blackmail related to Strike’s personal past, including his relationship with his father, the famous singer Jonny Rokeby. Strike, firm, defends his privacy and heads to the subway, exhausted but intact.

Chapter 2 Summary – The Silkworm – An Unexpected Client on Denmark Street

Cormoran Strike returns to his small, austere apartment on Denmark Street after a sleepless night. On the subway, his mind wanders over the randomness of existence and his origin as the illegitimate son of rocker Jonny Rokeby. Upon arriving home, he barely manages to sleep when Robin, his efficient secretary, wakes him: William Baker, his next client, has arrived, and also a woman without an appointment. Baker, arrogant, demands priority, but Strike, irritated, dismisses him flatly. The stranger introduces herself as Leonora Quine, wife of a missing writer named Owen Quine. Her disheveled appearance and humble tone contrast with her determination: she needs to find her husband. Although her resources are limited, she is sure someone must help her. Strike, tired but intrigued, listens to her first words before deciding which of the two cases truly deserves his attention. The office door closes behind the choice that will define his next mystery.

Chapter 3 Summary – The Silkworm – Owen Quine’s Disappearance and the First Clues

Leonora Quine explains that her husband Owen has been missing for ten days after an argument with his literary agent. He is a temperamental writer who has run off before, but this time something tells her the situation is different. She recounts how Owen left the house furious, taking his new manuscript after his agent changed her mind about its publication. Leonora suspects he is at a secret writers’ retreat she heard about at a party. Although she has tried to contact editor Christian Fisher, she has received no response. Additionally, since Owen’s departure, strange events have occurred: dog droppings in the mailbox, a mysterious woman announcing someone named Angela’s death, and a hunched figure that seems to follow her on the street. Although Strike doubts she can afford his services, Leonora asserts she will pay with the help of Owen’s agent, whom she blames for the disappearance. Finally, he agrees to help her.

Chapter 4 Summary – The Silkworm – Work Conflicts and Personal Secrets

After Leonora leaves, Strike collapses on the office sofa while Robin watches him sympathetically. Exhausted from the Lord Parker case, he acknowledges his irritation with arrogant clients like Baker. Robin, jokingly, guesses that Strike agreed to help Mrs. Quine, a case out of the ordinary. Soon after, he receives a call from Matthew, Robin’s fiancé, to reschedule an appointment with Strike, which causes tension between the couple. While Strike sleeps deeply, Robin recalls the poor relationship between the two men, marked by Matthew’s prejudices against the detective. The resentment has grown since Robin decided to work with Strike, despite skepticism from those around her. Still, she hopes they will eventually meet and respect each other. When Strike wakes, Robin informs him about the appointment with Christian Fisher, the editor who might know Quine’s whereabouts. Thus the investigation continues.

Chapter 5 Summary – The Silkworm – Strike’s Unease and the Trail to Christian Fisher

Late at night, Strike tries to relax in his room after a grueling day, surrounded by Indian food, beer, and notes written by Robin. A meeting with Christian Fisher is scheduled for the next morning, but he is intrigued by the editor’s insistence on seeing him personally. Although he did not expect to take Leonora Quine’s case, he admits that a mix of pity and curiosity won him over. In his mind, Owen Quine’s erratic attitude still echoes—a quirky writer who disappeared after a fight over his manuscript. While reflecting on the dangers of media recognition, his distant relationship with his famous father, and people’s interest in his past, Strike reviews his recent decisions, feeling somewhat irresponsible. The notes also include another appointment: the meeting with Robin and her fiancé Matthew. Strike feels uncomfortable about that meeting, though he appreciates the professional distance he keeps with Robin. Tired, he falls asleep as London grows cold.

Chapter 6 Summary – The Silkworm – Owen Quine’s Forbidden Manuscript

Cormoran Strike visits the offices of Crossfire Publishing to interview editor Christian Fisher, who immediately recognizes the name “Cormoran” from a children’s legend. In the chaotic office, Fisher reveals he received the manuscript Bombyx Mori from Liz Tassel, but soon begged her not to read it, seized by panic. Strike deduces the book contains offensive material and realizes that several real people appear barely disguised, including figures from the publishing world like Daniel Chard and Michael Fancourt. Fisher hints that the manuscript is defamatory, filled with grotesque symbolism and violence. Although Quine was no longer published by Crossfire, he had sought an alternate publisher after tensions with Roper Chard. At the end of the conversation, Fisher seems more interested in Strike’s fame from the Lula Landry case than in helping with the disappearance. Strike withdraws knowing the manuscript could be key to understanding why Owen Quine vanished suddenly.

Chapter 7 Summary – The Silkworm – Photograph, Hotels, and the Secret of the Silkworm

After confirming with Fisher that Quine is not at Bigley Hall, Strike calls Leonora, who, distracted by caring for her daughter Orlando, insists the author used to hide out in hotels like the Hilton. She refuses to involve the police, fearing Owen’s reaction. Robin investigates the word Bombyx Mori and discovers it means “silkworm,” a creature boiled alive to extract silk without damaging the cocoon. Intrigued by the symbolism, Strike attends to other cases while Robin contacts the Hiltons and manages to schedule an appointment with Elizabeth Tassel. Later, Strike visits a used bookstore and buys The Brothers Balzac, one of Quine’s earlier works, finding it absurd and overloaded. When he sleeps, he has unsettling dreams. The next day, Cornwall appears in the news for severe floods. His aunt Joan invites him to spend Christmas at her home. In the office, Robin hands him her wedding invitation. Strike, distracted, puts it away without opening it.

Chapter 8 Summary – The Silkworm – Elizabeth Tassel’s Bitter Truth

Strike meets with Elizabeth Tassel, Quine’s literary agent, in a decaying office that smells of cigarettes and old dogs. Tassel, sick and coughing incessantly, denies having funded the search for the writer and reveals she no longer represents him. She explains that, being ill, she skimmed Bombyx Mori superficially and, without grasping its gravity, sent it to two editors: Jerry Waldegrave and Christian Fisher. Upon learning of the offensive content, she panicked and tried to retrieve it without success. The novel includes barely disguised references to real figures like Michael Fancourt and Daniel Chard, which has provoked tensions in the publishing world. Tassel denies conspiring with Quine and is being marginalized by her colleagues. She asks Strike to clear her name if he gets the chance. Strike notices an old photo showing Quine, Fancourt, Tassel, and another deceased writer. Finally, he obtains information about Quine’s lover, Kathryn Kent, whom he plans to visit soon for new leads.

Chapter 9 Summary – The Silkworm – Violent Encounter with the Writer’s Lover

Strike calls Robin to update her as he walks in the rain. He asks her to contact hotels and mention Kathryn Kent’s address, Quine’s lover. Later, he conducts an unfruitful surveillance on a parallel case and then heads to Fulham, where Kathryn lives. The neighborhood shows signs of decay, and upon arrival, he finds her apartment closed. While waiting, he receives Robin’s wedding invitation and briefly thinks about his past with Charlotte. When Kathryn arrives, a confused and violent misunderstanding occurs: she attacks him believing he is someone else. Once cleared up, Strike identifies himself and explains he is investigating Quine’s disappearance. Kathryn denies knowing his whereabouts and shows hostility, especially when Leonora is mentioned. Strike suspects she’s hiding something, especially when she carries heavy hardware store bags. Despite her aggressive and evasive reaction, the visit reveals tension, fear, and the possibility of deeper involvement in the case.

Chapter 10 Summary – The Silkworm – Tense Dinner with Matthew and Revealed Truths

Robin arrives at Strike’s office overwhelmed by the sudden heat and the recent argument with Matthew, sparked by her invitation to Strike for their wedding. Although they attempt to reconcile, the unease persists. In the office, Robin and Strike analyze Owen Quine’s case. They discover Kathryn Kent’s blog, the writer’s lover, where she reveals intense feelings and mentions someone called “Pippa,” expressing violent wishes against Strike. Kent also hints at working in a high‑security place, raising suspicions. Later, Strike meets Matthew and Robin at a pub, where the tension is palpable. Matthew scorns the detective’s work, while Robin tries to soften the conversation. Strike senses Matthew’s insecurity and Robin’s discomfort. When they part ways, the engaged couple shares a loaded silence. Matthew feels overshadowed, and Robin begins to view her partner in a new light, influenced by Strike’s presence.

Chapter 11 Summary – The Silkworm – Plan to Infiltrate the Publishing Party

The next morning, Nina Lascelles calls Strike after receiving his contact from Culpepper. Excited about the possibility of an infiltration, she agrees to accompany the detective to Roper Chard’s anniversary party. With this, Strike secures a chance to gather clues about Quine’s whereabouts. As he shaves and prepares for the day, he reflects on his personal code of ethics: doing the job right. Although the day unfolds normally, a conversation with Robin reveals latent tension, especially after the dinner with Matthew. Robin, hurt by Strike’s lack of enthusiasm about her fiancé, becomes even more frustrated when he mentions the possibility of hiring someone new. Offended by what she sees as a lack of recognition, she leaves the office without saying goodbye. Strike, surprised, tries to downplay it, though he senses that Robin expects more than just a secretary role. Their professional relationship is going through a delicate moment.

Chapter 12 Summary – The Silkworm – The Roper Chard Party and First Revelations

Strike arrives with Nina at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese before attending the Roper Chard party. She, thrilled, confirms that the Bombyx Mori manuscript has triggered a wave of nervousness at the publishing house, with lawyers coming and going over the offensive content aimed at real people. Nina admits to having read part of the manuscript using the safe combination of editor Jerry Waldegrave. She describes how Owen Quine caricatures Daniel Chard as “Phallus Impudicus,” a grotesque being who practices necrophilia, and also attacks Jerry for no apparent reason. Strike confirms that the novel has been secretly read by several employees despite censorship efforts. Waldegrave, though hurt, shows compassion for Quine and believes the manuscript is a suicide note. Strike senses that the book’s content may have unleashed more than just a publishing scandal. Nina, delighted by the detective’s attention, seems hopeful about what she sees as a date.

Chapter 13 Summary – The Silkworm – Past Scandals and the Fancourt Story

At the party, Strike and Nina run into Jerry Waldegrave, who, already drunk, reveals crucial details about Bombyx Mori. The manuscript suggests that Michael Fancourt was the real author of a cruel parody that triggered the suicide of his wife, Elspeth—not Owen Quine, as was long believed. This scandal sparked the rivalry between Fancourt and Quine. Waldegrave sees the novel as a burst of despair, with cruel and grotesque content reflecting Quine’s mental collapse. At nine, Daniel Chard enthusiastically announces Michael Fancourt as Roper Chard’s new star author, causing surprise and mixed reactions. Strike observes tensions among the editors and Chard’s sudden disappearance after the announcement. Later, Nina guides Strike to Waldegrave’s safe, where they manage to retrieve a full copy of the Bombyx Mori manuscript. The detective leaves the building with the key evidence hidden under his coat.

Chapter 14 Summary – The Silkworm – Reading Bombyx Mori and Its Obscene Symbolism

As London fills with anti–Iraq war protesters, Strike, unaware of the event, follows a client’s husband who hides jewelry to hurt her in a divorce. After recovering a suspicious necklace, he returns home, eats a kebab, and prepares to read the Bombyx Mori manuscript. The text turns out to be an obscene allegory, saturated with sexual violence and grotesque symbolism. Each character represents real people from Quine’s circle: Leonora as “Succubus,” Elizabeth Tassel as “The Tick,” and Jerry Waldegrave as “The Censor.” Strike detects a pattern of repetitive violence where the protagonist, Bombyx, is constantly victimized and simultaneously symbolizes literary purity. Though sickening and offensive, the manuscript conveys a message of despair. The reading is interrupted by Arsenal’s loss, which irritates the detective. He decides to postpone finishing it, exhausted by the filth, though aware that this book holds the key to the mystery.

Chapter 15 Summary – The Silkworm – The Birthday Dinner and the Revealing Manuscript

Cormoran Strike agrees to attend a party hosted by his sister Lucy, accompanied by Nina, despite his discomfort with such family events. Upon arriving at the house, he discovers the evening is in his honor, though he had no idea. He meets Marguerite, a woman Lucy hoped to set him up with, and reunites with his friends Nick and Ilsa. The conversation revolves around his past, his wandering mother, his years in Cornwall, and his limited relationship with his famous father. Tension rises when they talk about literature and writer Michael Fancourt, whom Marguerite admires and Nina despises. Through the dialogue, the rivalry between Fancourt and Quine is revealed, rooted in the inheritance of a house shared with the late Joe North. Strike realizes the evening was an emotional ambush and leaves with Nina after an uncomfortable night, taking the key to visit Talgarth Road the next day.

Chapter 16 Summary – The Silkworm – The Discovery at Talgarth Road

After spending the night with Nina, Strike leaves her flat early, still haunted by memories of his relationship with Charlotte. Reading the paper confirms that the report on Lord Parker has been published without compromising the source. He decides to call Leonora Quine to ask about the house her husband inherited with Michael Fancourt. She confirms the property exists, on Talgarth Road, but insists Owen would never use it. With a set of keys Leonora gives him, Strike heads to the address under heavy rain. Once there, he smells strong chemicals and feels unusual heat in the vacant house. Upstairs, he finds a severely decomposed body staged in a macabre scene: tied up, gutted, surrounded by plates and cutlery as if served for a feast. Strike recognizes the setup from the Bombyx Mori manuscript and calls emergency services, realizing he has found Owen Quine.

Chapter 17 Summary – The Silkworm – Interrogation at Scotland Yard and a Promise to Leonora

After discovering Owen Quine’s body, Cormoran Strike is summoned to Scotland Yard, where Inspector Rawlins conducts a lengthy interrogation. Despite the tension and the pain in his inflamed knee, he remains calm. Later, his friend Richard Anstis takes over the case and questions Strike again, more cordially. Strike explains that Leonora hired him days after her husband’s disappearance and that thanks to her he obtained the Talgarth Road key. He also reveals that the Bombyx Mori manuscript seems to describe the exact manner of Quine’s murder but refuses to say how he got a copy. During the conversation, Leonora calls and surprises him by announcing she is in the station lobby. The woman, seemingly calm but confused, asks him to keep investigating. Strike agrees, knowing the police likely suspect her, but he is starting to believe in her innocence.

Chapter 18 Summary – The Silkworm – Personal Conflicts and First Reactions to the Crime

Strike, eager to share the discovery of Quine’s body, texts Robin, who is at home with Matthew. Her shocked reaction leads to a heated argument with her fiancé, which intensifies as he senses Robin’s growing dedication to her job and closeness with the detective. Jealous and upset, Matthew feels pushed aside by the case and its importance to Robin. The fight exposes deep cracks in their relationship, leading her to sleep on the sofa and leave early for the office the next day. Meanwhile, Strike focuses on processing the discovery and begins reconstructing the events leading to Quine’s brutal murder. The connection between the manuscript and the crime increasingly unsettles him. Despite his exhaustion and physical pain, he is determined to keep investigating, while Robin, ever more committed, proves her unwavering loyalty to the case and her boss.

Chapter 19 Summary – The Silkworm – The Manuscript Reveals the Crime’s Horrors

Strike locks himself in the office early to finish reading the Bombyx Mori manuscript, convinced it contains direct clues about Quine’s murder. He uncovers grotesque scenes that exactly match the body’s discovery: tied up, disemboweled, doused with acid, with plates and cutlery around—everything described in the novel. Robin arrives early too, shaken by the news. As she reads the key pages, she grasps the weight of the manuscript’s symbolism. Both acknowledge that the crime scene was a faithful reenactment of the final scene in the book. Strike explains that several people could have read the manuscript: editors, agents, and publishing staff, any of whom might be suspects. As they discuss the case, Robin receives tragic news: Matthew’s mother has died suddenly. Upset, she rushes out. Strike, meanwhile, contacts the police to report that the murder was described in detail by the victim himself before his death.

Chapter 20 Summary – The Silkworm – Suspicions About Leonora and Secrets in the Quine Kitchen

Cormoran Strike, alone in his office and still shaken by the discovery of Owen Quine’s body, organizes his investigation into a methodical list to steer Anstis toward other suspects. During a late-night call, Leonora Quine tells him the police have searched Owen’s study, which worries Strike about how it might affect her situation. After hanging up, he sinks into dark reflections on his responsibility in the case and his own judgment errors. The image of the mutilated body haunts him, as does the brutality of the murder. Unable to sleep easily, he recalls every gruesome detail and blames himself for not acting sooner. In the midst of everything, he confirms the news has already reached the media. Ending the day exhausted, he knows he needs urgent answers to clear Leonora of the growing police suspicion.

Chapter 21 Summary – The Silkworm – Orlando’s Enigma and Waldegrave’s Visit

Upon arriving at Leonora’s house, Strike faces a swarm of journalists who already link him to the discovery of the body. Inside, he meets Orlando, Leonora’s daughter, a young woman with learning difficulties who greets him while hugging a stuffed orangutan. In the kitchen, unexpectedly, is Jerry Waldegrave, Quine’s editor, holding a bouquet of flowers. Leonora remains wary of both and openly declares that the police suspect her. Orlando mentions seeing Elizabeth Tassel enter Quine’s studio the previous Monday, news that surprises her mother. During the conversation, Orlando makes a grave accusation against Daniel Chard, claiming he touched her during a visit to the publishing house, though Leonora scolds her for saying “nonsense.” Tension builds in the home, as Strike senses that both mother and daughter are vulnerable—and that someone is leaving them alone to bear the weight of suspicion.

Chapter 22 Summary – The Silkworm – Hypotheses, Theories, and an Unexpected Revelation

After visiting Leonora, Strike meets Robin at a pub to share findings. They discuss Bombyx Mori, trying to decipher clues in its grotesque symbolism. Robin suggests the killer used the scene from the book to mask the true motive, while Strike believes the crime’s precision implies medical or anatomical knowledge. Together they review who had access to the manuscript before the murder, including Pippa2011, a commenter on Kathryn Kent’s blog who might have read the ending before Quine disappeared. Robin tries to stay objective but is visibly disturbed by the imagery. A call from Matthew interrupts them and sparks an argument, which Robin attempts to calm without success. As they part, Strike declines her offer to help with another client’s surveillance, leaving Robin feeling both saddened and professionally frustrated.

Chapter 23 Summary – The Silkworm – Forensic Report, Key Clues, and Leonora’s Past

Strike has dinner at the home of his former army comrade Anstis, enduring the discomfort of Anstis’s wife Helly, who reveals that Charlotte, his ex-fiancée, is marrying Jago Ross on December 4. Disturbed, Strike feigns indifference while awaiting the true purpose of the visit: the forensic report. Anstis reveals that Quine died from a blow to the head with a doorstop and was likely unconscious or drugged when disemboweled with hydrochloric acid. His intestines were removed, complicating time of death estimation. The house keys were accessible to several suspects, and conflicting testimonies place Quine alive days after he vanished. Kathryn Kent mentions bondage-related sexual practices, adding complexity. Finally, Anstis reveals Leonora once worked at a butcher’s shop, increasing police suspicion. Though skeptical of her guilt, Strike acknowledges the evidence could be used against her.

Chapter 24 Summary – The Silkworm – Nightmares of Charlotte and a Clue on Bonfire Night

That morning, Strike wakes shaken from a dream of Charlotte in red, fleeing an altar as he searches for a missing baby. The image rattles him, but he refocuses on the case. Online, he finds a Tatler article about Charlotte’s upcoming wedding to Jago Ross, which mentions their stormy past and deeply affects him. The news drives him out despite the pain in his leg. Accompanied by Robin, he visits addresses of suspects with access to the manuscript. They discuss the logistics of hiding evidence, such as Quine’s intestines, and revisit Talgarth Road. Strike suspects someone disguised in a burqa might have entered the house on November 4 during Bonfire Night’s chaos. Although the police investigation progresses, he remains convinced of Leonora’s innocence.

Chapter 25 Summary – The Silkworm – Suspects’ Homes and Tensions in the Snow

Strike and Robin crisscross London investigating people who had access to the Bombyx Mori manuscript. They visit Talgarth Road, noting cameras and potential escape routes. They then examine the homes of Christian Fisher, Jerry Waldegrave, Elizabeth Tassel, Daniel Chard, and Michael Fancourt, evaluating accessibility and whether any could conceal evidence. Despite his worsening leg pain, Strike presses on, and Robin helps him walk. They discuss conflicting accounts of a burqa-clad figure seen at the crime scene, reinforcing the theory that someone entered unnoticed. Robin proceeds alone to Clem Attlee Court to photograph potential hiding spots, while Strike returns to the office by taxi. Their tension eases thanks to their camaraderie, and Robin begins to feel increasingly dedicated to the case, though she hides her excitement from Matthew.

Chapter 26 Summary – The Silkworm – Undercover Visits and Robin’s Revealing Clue

Using a new cane, Strike visits the homes of Elizabeth Tassel and the Waldegraves to search for potential hiding spots. While observing Jerry’s house, he’s confronted by Jerry’s wife, who scolds him for lurking. Later, Anstis calls, upset that Strike remains involved in the case. The police plan to search the Mucking Marshes landfill, where Quine’s remains might have ended up. Strike calls Leonora, advising her to hire a lawyer, then meets Robin at a pub. She shares useful photos and proposes a new theory: the killer may have hidden the remains in medical waste bins across from Clem Attlee Court. Impressed, Strike finds her theory stronger than Anstis’s. Their working dynamic strengthens over lunch, marking a new level of mutual professional respect amid a winter storm.

Chapter 27 Summary – The Silkworm – Secrets Unveiled Over Strategic Lunches

As London braces for heavy snow, Strike pushes forward despite intense leg pain. He meets Elizabeth Tassel at Pescatori, where she reveals past secrets: she confirms Quine wrote the parody that led to Michael Fancourt’s wife’s suicide, sparking their falling out. She also explains the Quines’ financial troubles and how she loaned them money for years. Elizabeth admits entering Owen’s studio after his disappearance but claims she found nothing. She confirms Kathryn Kent works at an animal lab and shares details about Joe North, the late writer who left the house jointly owned by Quine and Fancourt. After lunch, Strike calls Robin, who offers to drive to Devon to meet Daniel Chard. Though hesitant at first, he agrees, knowing there’s no better option.

Chapter 28 Summary – The Silkworm – Stormy Journey and Secrets at Tithebarn House

At 5 a.m., Robin drives to Devon with Strike in a rented Land Cruiser through heavy snow. Tension with Matthew intensifies due to lies she told to accompany her boss. During the drive, Robin and Strike discuss Bombyx Mori, debate its coherence, and compare it to other Quine works like The Sin of Hobart. After narrowly avoiding a major crash thanks to Robin’s advanced driving skills, they arrive at the imposing Tithebarn House, where Daniel Chard greets them coldly. Robin, nauseous from hunger and the unsettling decor, is sent to the kitchen. Strike questions Chard, who suggests Quine had a collaborator: Jerry Waldegrave. He suspects Jerry provided sensitive content for the manuscript. The interview reveals Chard’s paranoid and egotistical nature, while Manny, the employee, denies pushing him down the stairs, hinting at hidden tensions in the house.

Chapter 29 Summary – The Silkworm – Confessions, a Suspicious Drawing, and Manny’s Secret

At Burger King, Robin confronts Strike about being sidelined during the Chard visit. He admits he intended to train her as a collaborator but worries about her relationship with Matthew. Robin declares she wants to pursue investigation full-time. She then shares an important discovery: at Tithebarn House, she found an art studio with detailed anatomical sketches and a nude portrait of Manny, suggesting Chard’s obsession with the human body and supporting the young man’s claim that he didn’t push his boss. She also notes the household’s cold atmosphere and how Nenita and Manny seemed afraid of Chard. Back in London, Strike gets a call from Ilsa: the police have harshly interrogated Leonora and found a bloodstained rag in a family storage unit—but no intestines. Robin fears missing Matthew’s mother’s funeral, as the worsening storm and traffic increase her stress.

Chapter 30 Summary – The Silkworm – A Race Against Time and Robin’s Emotional Strain

Trapped in traffic after yet another accident, Robin panics, realizing she won’t make it to Matthew’s mother’s funeral that night. She anguishes over her choices, torn between her calling as an investigator and her personal commitment. Sensing her turmoil, Strike decides to guide her through London’s backstreets, ignoring signs and using routes learned from a taxi-driver friend. With bold driving and speed, they reach St. Pancras just in time. Robin rushes for the train with her bag in hand and boards at the last moment, calling Strike to thank him. As he waits on crutches in the snow, he reflects on Robin’s loyalty and dedication to the case, knowing that abandoning the car will bring consequences—but certain it was the right thing to do. Thus ends a day marked by danger, loyalty, and decisions that could change lives.

Chapter 31 Summary – The Silkworm – A Camouflaged Killer and Memories That Reveal the Crime’s Profile

As London wakes under snow, Strike remains confined to his attic, unable to use his prosthesis. From bed, he reflects on the case, frustrated by the lack of forensic progress: no weapon, no intestines, no trace of the killer. He considers the nature of the crime, concluding the perpetrator isn’t impulsive but methodical—like a shark that only attacks when provoked. He recalls a real-life attack he experienced with a friend in his youth and links that behavior to Quine’s killer. Deciding he cannot move forward from the crime itself, he opts to go back to the days leading up to the writer’s death. He plans to contact his half-brother Al to access critical information. As he reconsiders the suspects, he rules out those without motive or access to the manuscript. Unbeknownst to him, someone watches from the street—a hooded figure with a box cutter in hand, a sign that danger looms.

Chapter 32 Summary – The Silkworm – Snowy Funeral and the Disturbing Voicemail

Robin arrives in Masham after a snow-covered journey, just in time for Matthew’s mother’s funeral. At St. Mary the Virgin church, memories of childhood and the emotional strain of the Quine case mix with her guilt over nearly missing the train. Seeing Sarah Shadlock hugging Matthew stirs hidden jealousy. During the service, her thoughts drift between Quine’s corpse and her looming wedding. Back home, she has dinner with her family and Matthew, who tries to be affectionate. Everything changes when she hears a voicemail from Strike: a confused recording, interrupted by a scream and strange noises—signaling her boss has been attacked. Alarmed, she tries to reach him without success. Matthew’s cold reaction only heightens her anxiety. Robin senses something serious has happened and fears for Strike’s safety.

Chapter 33 Summary – The Silkworm – The Box Cutter Attack and an Awkward Dinner with Nina

Strike is attacked by a hooded figure outside his building. He fends them off with his cane but drops his phone and injures his knee. Wounded, he heads to Nina’s flat for their scheduled dinner. She greets him coldly due to his lateness. When he finally checks his phone, he sees Robin’s calls and the accidental recording of the attack. He calls her immediately and explains what happened. Robin’s concern confirms their deep bond. He then attempts to resume dinner with Nina, but the atmosphere is strained. She recounts a dream about finding Quine’s intestines in Waldegrave’s desk, which Strike mentally notes. During dinner, Nina admits that no one mocks Bombyx Mori anymore since the murder. She reveals Waldegrave has resigned and started drinking again, and begins to feel uneasy about the dark world in which Strike operates.

Chapter 34 Summary – The Silkworm – Fancourt on TV and the Breakup with Matthew

Robin, exhausted, watches an interview with Michael Fancourt alongside her family. He declares that love is merely narcissistic projection. His arrogance and comments about his wife’s suicide make viewers uncomfortable. Robin tries to hide her reaction, but tension with Matthew builds. He flips through the Daily Express and, seeing an article about Robin’s near accident, begins interrogating her. She admits she drove Strike to Devon for work, sparking an argument. Matthew storms out, and Robin finds herself torn between her duty to him and her growing commitment to the job. Her pragmatic mother advises her not to justify herself. The interview ends with Fancourt seemingly crying over his wife, confusing Robin even more. Overwhelmed, she rises, determined to find Matthew, sensing her personal and professional lives are about to irreversibly collide.

Chapter 35 Summary – The Silkworm – Press, Routine, and an Interview with Key Details

Sunday’s press mixes glowing obituaries with lurid headlines about Owen Quine’s murder. Strike, limping and having spent the night at Nina’s, returns to Denmark Street loaded with newspapers. He studies every article, looking for clues. At the office, Robin, clearly emotional, hides her argument with Matthew. Strike shows empathy. Robin reports that the medical waste company found nothing suspicious, dismissing that theory. She later visits the bookseller who claimed to have seen Quine on November 8. Using kindness and clever questioning, Robin gets him to contradict himself: the elderly man misremembers the date and confuses the day with one before the crime. Robin confirms he cannot reliably place Quine alive on the 8th, weakening a potential alibi. The conversation makes it clear that his once-crucial testimony no longer holds weight.

Chapter 36 Summary – The Silkworm – Lunch with Waldegrave and Confessions Over Drinks

Strike meets Jerry Waldegrave at the upscale Simpson’s-in-the-Strand. The editor, visibly shaken, drinks heavily and reveals growing tension in the publishing house after the murder. He claims everyone read Bombyx Mori and now fears being implicated. Waldegrave blames Elizabeth Tassel for fueling Quine’s resentment toward Michael Fancourt. He admits Quine had delusions of grandeur but also views the manuscript as a desperate cry. As lunch progresses, Waldegrave becomes erratic and aggressive, argues with his wife on the phone, and is kicked out of the restaurant. Outside, drunk and broken, he tells Strike that Bombyx Mori ruined his life and cryptically mentions a personal link to the book’s most painful passage. Strike, recalling a scene involving an attempted drowning of a dwarf woman, finally grasps the symbolism—possibly a vital clue to the real killer’s identity.

Chapter 37 Summary – The Silkworm – The Attack by Pippa Midgley

Limping back to his office, Strike notices the same young woman who had followed him days before. Pretending not to see her, he sets a trap in an alley and subdues her after a brief struggle. He drags her into the office, where Robin opens the door. They discover the young woman is Pippa Midgley, a transgender individual who tried to assault him with a box cutter. Under pressure, Pippa admits her motive was Quine’s betrayal—she was cruelly caricatured in his novel—and she and Kathryn Kent believed Leonora was trying to frame them. Pippa confesses to following Quine before his disappearance with the intent to kill him and reveals Kent received the manuscript with a cryptic note. The interrogation ends when Pippa escapes, but Strike keeps the weapon. He and Robin reflect on the anger and disappointment that drove her—and what it reveals about the case.

Chapter 38 Summary – The Silkworm – Leonora’s Arrest

Strike spends the morning on routine surveillance in Battersea, tailing a man from his lover’s home to his office, gathering evidence for a minor case. During the operation, he receives confirmation of an upcoming meeting with Michael Fancourt. Returning to the office, he hears a message from Leonora: she has been arrested. Contacting Ilsa, Strike learns that the police have receipts of suspicious purchases made with the Quines’ credit card, including rope, overalls, and a burqa—all sent to Talgarth Road months earlier. Leonora denies any knowledge. Strike deduces that after speaking with Pippa, Kathryn Kent gave the police evidence to frame Leonora. The authorities, especially Anstis, seem eager to close the case. Frustrated, Strike suspects a grave injustice is underway and prepares to prove his client’s innocence.

Chapter 39 Summary – The Silkworm – Strike’s Commitment

Leonora Quine is officially charged with murder, and the news spreads quickly. Tabloids fuel the scandal, mocking her appearance and eccentric marriage to Quine. Kathryn Kent also appears in the media. Ilsa confirms that Leonora will be transferred to Holloway Prison. Strike visits her and finds her fragile, devastated by separation from her daughter. Leonora explains that Quine used her card at a charity auction—an opportunity someone might have used to copy the details. She also reveals she made online purchases from a neighbor’s computer. Strike suspects these details could help prove she didn’t place the incriminating orders. Despite the grim situation, Leonora trusts him. Strike is driven by the conviction of her innocence and commits to proving it, recognizing the purity of her original motive: to find her husband for the sake of their daughter.

Chapter 40 Summary – The Silkworm – The Revelation

While still handling minor cases, Strike receives a cryptic message from Charlotte, his ex, now about to marry: “It was yours.” Intrigued but determined not to be dragged back in, he pushes forward with the investigation. That night, he dines with his half-brother Al at the River Café, hoping to find someone who witnessed the argument between Quine and Elizabeth Tassel. A waitress confirms there was a heated exchange and that Quine shouted a puzzling phrase about Fancourt. The conversation with Al reveals Fancourt and Chard’s connections to Rokeby, Strike’s absent father. As pieces fall into place, scattered data begins to make sense: the revenge letter, the manuscript’s symbolism, and the personal motivations. In that moment, Strike achieves total clarity about the crime. Everything fits. He knows who killed Quine—but still can’t prove it. Yet the truth is finally within reach.

Chapter 41 Summary – The Silkworm – Cormoran Strike’s Inner Torment

Strike wakes up frustrated, sleep-deprived and shaken by the revelation that hit him the night before. He wants to share it with Robin, but she’s not there, which annoys him. He feels powerless, aware that his theory is solid but lacking hard proof. His thoughts drift to Charlotte, on her wedding day with Jago Ross. He recalls their tumultuous love, intense but destructive. He chooses not to contact her, knowing that chapter is closed. He sets out to find Kathryn Kent, but a neighbor tells him she’s fled. Later, he tries unsuccessfully to reach Jerry Waldegrave, reinforcing his sense that Jerry holds a vital piece of the puzzle. Finally, while drinking alone in a pub, he receives the definitive message: Charlotte is now married. Strike, resigned yet relieved, prepares to close that emotional chapter of his life for good.

Chapter 42 Summary – The Silkworm – Robin Discovers the Secret Plan

Robin arrives at the office elated after a pivotal weekend with Matthew, during which she revealed her desire to become an investigator. Grieving his mother’s death, Matthew eventually accepted it. Her excitement vanishes when she reads a note from Strike: “I know who killed Quine.” Alarmed, she tries to call him in vain. Suddenly, she receives an email with no text—just a photo of Charlotte in her wedding dress, disheveled but beautiful. Seeing it, Robin feels sidelined, overwhelmed by the emotional weight the image carries. Strike returns—the photo was sent by Charlotte herself. Without further comment, he shares his theory: Quine staged his own disappearance with a partner, and everything was meticulously planned. He then asks Robin to assist with a key task: speaking to Orlando Quine. Robin, stunned by the audacity of the plan, agrees—though she begins to question her boss’s state of mind.

Chapter 43 Summary – The Silkworm – The Confrontation with Michael Fancourt

Strike meets Michael Fancourt at the exclusive Groucho Club, posing as a friendly contact but ready to interrogate him discreetly. The writer, egocentric and dismissive, recounts his history with Quine and Elizabeth Tassel. He claims Tassel and Quine were lovers, with Tassel clinging to him out of desperation and jealousy. Fancourt belittles Quine’s talent, though he admits Bombyx Mori contains flashes of brilliance. He denies seeing Quine after his wife Ellie’s death and insists he never received an early copy of the manuscript—until he slips by referencing the name “Effigy” before it became public. The interview grows tense as Strike confronts him with Latin verses about betrayal, leaving Fancourt stunned. As he exits, the detective is sure Fancourt is lying and that his involvement in the story is darker than it seems.

Chapter 44 Summary – The Silkworm – The Tape That Could Solve the Crime

That night, Strike stays alone in his attic, exhausted but resolute. He briefly reflects on Charlotte, affirming that their story is over. His attention shifts to the evidence bag: the typewriter ribbon recovered from Orlando’s stuffed monkey. Wearing gloves, he carefully unrolls the tape and discovers typed words confirming that the killer wrote key Bombyx Mori passages. Overcome with emotion, he finally has a decisive material clue. Without delay, he calls his friend Dave Polworth, an engineer and ex–Army comrade, to request a risky favor that could change the course of the case. Polworth agrees without hesitation, ready to help despite the harsh conditions. Strike, satisfied, reviews his notes and highlights the word “Censor,” convinced he’s found a vital link between the manuscript, the killer, and the hidden motives behind the still-unsolved murder.

Chapter 45 Summary – The Silkworm – Kathryn Kent’s Confession and the Real Bombyx Mori

While the police continue gathering evidence against Leonora Quine, Strike and Robin focus on Kathryn Kent and Pippa Midgley, certain they hold key information. Robin gains entry to Kathryn’s flat by winning her trust with a carefully crafted speech. Inside, the women reveal details that bolster Strike’s suspicions: Quine had promised to portray them in Bombyx Mori as “beautiful, tormented souls,” but the final draft depicts them grotesquely—a betrayal in their eyes. Kathryn admits receiving the manuscript on November 6, delivered by Quine along with a handwritten note. She confesses to burning the note but insists it was Quine’s handwriting. She also says she first read the book on the 9th, while staying at the home where her sister was dying. Gradually, her resentment surfaces until she confirms she knew the identity of the Censor: Jerry Waldegrave.

Chapter 46 Summary – The Silkworm – The Discovery That Changes Everything

After a long night of intense investigation, Strike is frustrated by the lack of physical proof to support his theory. Robin, meanwhile, feels a deepening connection with her boss after their revelatory interview with Kathryn. Tension rises when Polworth calls to confirm he has recovered from the seabed the monkey, burqa, and typewriter used to frame Leonora. Though Strike is elated, Anstis refuses to search the true culprit’s home, clinging to the case against Leonora. Enraged, Strike decides to act on his own. He rallies friends, including Al and Nick, and devises an alternative plan to provoke a confession. Robin, still eager, offers her help—unaware that the killer may have recognized her. With the typewriter as his only hard evidence, Strike embarks on a risky operation to expose the truth before it’s too late.

Chapter 47 Summary – The Silkworm – The Trap at the Chelsea Arts Club

On a freezing Thursday night, Strike launches his final plan. Taking advantage of a Roper Chard party at the exclusive Chelsea Arts Club, he enters the event with help from his half-brother Al. From the bar, he observes the suspects: Michael Fancourt, Elizabeth Tassel, Daniel Chard, and Jerry Waldegrave—all present. His mere presence unsettles the group. He hands Waldegrave an envelope with a shocking message: Fancourt has been sterile for years, making it impossible for him to be Joanna’s father. The envelope passes from hand to hand, building tension until it reaches Fancourt. With each glance, the group grows more anxious. Nina Lascelles confronts Strike, jealous and hurt by his indifference. As Strike waits for the fallout, he watches how his maneuvers stir discomfort among the attendees, setting the stage for the final confrontation between culprits, accomplices, and victims in the year’s most disturbing literary crime.

Chapter 48 Summary – The Silkworm – The Fall of Elizabeth Tassel

In the club’s snowy garden, Strike confronts Michael Fancourt and lays out his theory: Bombyx Mori was rewritten by someone else, and the final manuscript wasn’t Quine’s. Moments later, Elizabeth Tassel joins them. Strike accuses her of murdering Quine, altering the manuscript, and fabricating a cover story to mask her crime. The pressure rises as he mentions the typewriter, burqa, and monkey recovered from the sea, all bearing acid traces and forensic evidence. Tassel, increasingly unhinged, responds with sarcasm, gasps, and rambling until she finally breaks down. Strike reveals that Quine had been blackmailing her for years, threatening to expose that she wrote the parody that led to Fancourt’s wife’s suicide. Overwhelmed by guilt and cornered by the truth, Tassel flees inside the club, leaving Fancourt devastated. Strike, unfazed, moves to the final stage of his plan: delivering the killer to justice.

Chapter 49 Summary – The Silkworm – Final Chase in the Snow

Elizabeth Tassel, completely unhinged, flees the Chelsea Arts Club in tears and jumps into a taxi, unaware that Robin is behind the wheel. The blizzard and darkness play in her favor, but when she realizes they’re not heading home, she panics and tries to get out. Robin maintains control until Tassel violently attacks her, yanking her hair and strangling her as the vehicle swerves through the snowy streets. Amid screams, confusion, and chaos, Robin loses control and the taxi crashes into a shop window. Strike and Al, following in the Alfa Romeo, witness the scene in horror. Al sprints after Tassel and tackles her in the middle of the street. As bystanders protest, Strike reaches the taxi, finds Robin injured but conscious, and stops her from moving. Police sirens fill the square, sealing Tassel’s downfall. Exhausted but relieved, Strike allows himself a laugh of disbelief.

Chapter 50 Summary – The Silkworm – The Manuscript in the Freezer

A week later, Strike visits Robin at her Ealing flat. Still recovering from her injuries, she welcomes him warmly. He brings her two gifts: a professional surveillance course and a drawing from Orlando. They talk about the case’s closure: Elizabeth Tassel had hidden the real Bombyx Mori manuscript in the freezer, stained with blood and stored alongside Quine’s intestines. Analysis of the “dog poop” revealed human remains; more evidence was found in the Doberman’s bowl. The police, now convinced, acknowledge Elizabeth’s cunning use of Quine’s credit card and staged clues. Anstis admits his mistake, albeit reluctantly. Strike tells her that Roper Chard will publish the real manuscript, with an introduction by Fancourt, and that Leonora and Orlando will receive the royalties. The conversation turns intimate, and Robin, moved, thanks him for the thoughtful gestures. Before leaving, Strike gently kisses her hand. Christmas brings them hope—and a strengthened bond.

Conclusion – The Silkworm

Bombyx Mori wasn’t just a novel—it was a scream for help and a blueprint for murder. In The Silkworm, readers dive into a world where every character wears a mask and every page becomes evidence. The ending brings no redemption for all, but justice for some—and a sobering reminder that truth, when unearthed, can burn like acid on the skin of the guilty.

Strike and Robin emerge from this case more bonded, more scarred, and more aware of the cost of chasing truth in a world built on fiction. The blood no longer stains just the streets of London—but the very margins of the books used to kill.

The next case won’t let you breathe. Continue reading: Career of Evil – Full Chapter Summary ➤

FAQs – Chapter by Chapter Summary – The Silkworm

What does the Bombyx Mori manuscript reveal about Owen Quine’s murderer?

The grotesque manuscript is both a confession and a blueprint. Every character in Bombyx Mori is a thinly veiled version of someone in Quine’s life, and the final scene—where the main figure is butchered and eaten—is recreated exactly in Quine’s own murder. This signals that the killer not only read the full draft but used it to stage a symbolic execution. The detailed violence suggests someone with both emotional rage and physical knowledge, narrowing the suspect list to those close enough to access the manuscript and twisted enough to turn it into real death.

Why was Leonora Quine the prime suspect and what evidence pointed to her?

Leonora, Owen’s wife, was immediately under suspicion due to her apparent emotional detachment, her low-income background, and her previous job at a butcher shop. Police believed she had access to tools and opportunity. She also handed over the key that led to Quine’s body and had motive—resentment over his neglect and affairs. A bloodied cloth found in her storage further fueled the case against her. But Strike picked up on inconsistencies in the timeline and realized the evidence was too convenient—too staged—to be real.

What made Elizabeth Tassel a key figure in the investigation?

Elizabeth Tassel, Quine’s bitter former agent, distributed his manuscript but claimed ignorance of its contents. Her defensiveness and disdain for nearly everyone featured in the book drew suspicion. She had a motive: Quine mocked her viciously in the text, and she stood to lose her already crumbling reputation. Her secret visit to Quine’s home after he disappeared, combined with her physical illness and professional desperation, hinted at a woman pushed past the edge—possibly into murder, not just bitterness.

What’s the deeper meaning behind the “silkworm” metaphor in the story?

Bombyx Mori—the Latin name for the silkworm—is a creature that must be boiled alive to preserve its silk. This chilling metaphor mirrors Quine himself: a man sacrificed for the art he created. His death is not just brutal—it’s performative, echoing the fate of his fictional alter ego. The silkworm represents not only the brutality of the publishing world but also Quine’s own desire to die for his work, leaving a grotesque legacy behind.

How does the case change the relationship between Strike and Robin?

The Silkworm marks a turning point in their bond. Robin proves her worth as more than a temp—she’s insightful, brave, and relentless. Her involvement in high-risk situations and her growing conflict with her fiancé Matthew create emotional stakes. For Strike, Robin shifts from assistant to trusted partner. Their dynamic becomes more layered: filled with silent respect, occasional friction, and an undercurrent of emotional intimacy neither is fully ready to confront. The case forces them to see each other clearly—for better or worse.