Reviews

I decided to go back to the beginning, have just finished last last book (sob) of the Ruth Galloway series and feeling a bit bereft I wanted to meet all my favourite characters again, remember how they met and so I’m audioing the series this time instead of physically reading.

Narrated by Jane McDowell, who is frankly just perfect for this job we once again meet Dr Ruth Galloway. She is an archaeologist at the University of North Norfolk and is asked by DCI Harry Nelson to come and look at some bones that have been found - could they be new? He is thinking of a girl Lucy Downey who went missing 10 years previously and was never found.

I think that because I know these characters so well and I know their story already and their relationships and trajectories, it has made this such a great experience. I have sat listening and walked across fields with a big smile on my face - being in the know has been great. It hasn’t taken away from the story itself. I couldn’t remember all the details and I’m a way is like rewatching a Poirot on the TV, you know what is coming but it’s just pure joy.

These characters just walk from the page, or in my case into my ears fully formed, Griffiths is an expert storyteller, there is murder, drama, and tension plus the setting on the windswept Norfolk saltmarshes is perfect.

I am so glad to be back at the start with Ruth and Nelson.

samsearle's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Content Warnings

lthale's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

lthale's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

ashleylm's review against another edition

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3.0

Enjoyable mystery, but (curses) the surprises were not so surprising to me. I'm also not sure what to make of the protagonist, who is described as schlumpy, unkempt, and overweight, but who manages to attract more than her fair share of romance (yes, I know unkempt overweight people in real life do manage to pair off from time-to-time, but not usually in the circumstances in this book).

Still, it was intelligently written, and I'm happy to try another in the series.

charlottefw's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

rebjacks1963's review against another edition

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4.0

3.75

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