Strike first hears about Jordan Reaney in Kevin Pirbright’s email to Sir Colin Edensor. Kevin recalls a boy who lived at the Farm called Jordan whipping himself across the face with a leather flail, and that Jonathan Wace would sing the spiritual ‘Roll Jordan Roll’ whenever he saw him (Ch 7).

When Robin visits ex Universal Humanitarian Church member Sheila Kennett, Sheila remembers Jordan, recalls his surname as Reaney and tells Robin that he was a ‘rough sort’ who had been in trouble with the police (Ch 16).

Robin eventually tracks Jordan down, discovering that his full name is Kurt Jordan Reaney. Reaney is in prison, having been sentenced to ten years for armed robbery and aggravated assault. 

Strike speaks to Reaney’s wife, Ava, at her place of work, a nail salon called Kuti-cles. She tells Strike that she and Jordan are divorcing. She was aware that Jordan was a member of the UHC and that he had nightmares about pigs. Ava agrees to pass a message to Jordan that Strike wants to speak with him about the Church (Ch 22).

Strike receives a call from an agitated Reaney who warns Strike to ‘stop pestering his family.’ Strike mentions pigs in the call at which point Reaney shouts at Strike and hangs up (Ch 32).

Strike asks Shanker for his help in getting Reaney to talk. Strike meets Shanker in Il Pellicci in Bethnal Green Road.  Shanker tells him that Reaney is in HMP Bedford and that Shanker has a couple of friends in there who will help (Ch 33).

Strike visits Reaney and observes that Reaney looks like a dangerous man; over 6 feet tall, thin but with broad shoulders and a shaven head and yellowish-brown teeth. Almost every inch of his skin is tattooed including his throat. He has large bright blue eyes. It is clear that Reaney is rattled by Strike’s visit especially when Strike shows him some polaroid photographs and mentions the drowned prophet. Without warning Reaney gets up and leaves the room leaving Strike wondering ‘what exactly was putting Jordan Reaney into such a state of alarm that he was prepared to face the worst kind of prison justice rather than divulge it?’ (Ch 56).