stephaniedoke's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
about_wind_and_willows's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
halfcentreader's review against another edition
5.0
My favorite in the series to date! Ruth and family (including Cathbad) find themselves near Blackpool for "summer holiday" after being invited to examine some bones believed to have ties to the legendary King Arthur.
kath61's review
3.0
The first half was very slow and the final denouement was lost on me but I still like the characters and their world.
janaya_langley's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
govmarley's review
2.0
I don't know why I keep torturing myself with these books. Ruth is the worst. I grow to hate her more with each book I read. Actually, no, I take that back. I don't hate Ruth, I just don't like her. It's Harry I hate.
In this one, a huge contrivance of events takes Ruth and Harry back to his hometown (separately, of course) where ridiculous things happen. Along the way there is danger for Ruth, she feels terrible about herself and is jealous of her supposed best friend, and has guys falling for her regardless. Same MO as the other books in the series, with a slight twist that I won't ruin for you here. But you do get Cathbad, and that should be enough but it's really not.
I read this one because I accidentally skipped it and read book six first, but I won't be continuing on. Ruth and Harry can figure out their boring lives without me.
In this one, a huge contrivance of events takes Ruth and Harry back to his hometown (separately, of course) where ridiculous things happen. Along the way there is danger for Ruth, she feels terrible about herself and is jealous of her supposed best friend, and has guys falling for her regardless. Same MO as the other books in the series, with a slight twist that I won't ruin for you here. But you do get Cathbad, and that should be enough but it's really not.
I read this one because I accidentally skipped it and read book six first, but I won't be continuing on. Ruth and Harry can figure out their boring lives without me.
awebofstories's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Oh, Ruth...you are every woman!
Elly Griffiths has created a fabulous heroine in Ruth Galloway--she's both strong and insecure, curious and careful, loving and suspicious. In this book, we get Ruth at her best in her element and a healthy dose of her best friend, the Druid Cathbad.
Nelson, the police officer with whom Ruth has a not-entirely-professional relationship, is also here...which is interesting because this book doesn't take place in Norfolk, the area they all call home. Instead, we find these characters in the vacation spot of Blackpool, Nelson's hometown. Ruth is called to examine a find left behind by a college friend who recently died under suspicious circumstances.
This book brings about the best elements of this series. We have Ruth working in archaeology, Cathbad bringing the more ancient features, and Nelson in a problematic situation. Here, Nelson isn't only in his usual difficult situation with Ruth. He is also on the outside of law enforcement--while he began his police career with Blackpool, but is now little more than an outside consultant. This shift in position allows for a bit more character growth with Nelson. I quite liked this mystery--it was the perfect mix of the modern and the ancient. I also could not solve it beforehand, as Griffiths give us more than a few effective red herrings.
My favorite element of this book was the relationship between Cathbad and Ruth. Cathbad has always been an interesting character, but he's also always been the mysterious guy on the outside. Here, he is in the middle of the action. His friendship with Ruth is one we rarely see in books--a healthy one based on mutual respect. Even though their relationship is unproblematic, it is still fascinating to watch.
I had a few minor quibbles here and there, most of which would be spoilers if I mentioned them here. But none of them were so big that they caused anything but a faint ripple of annoyance as I read. This is an enjoyable mystery series that I would heartily recommend.
Elly Griffiths has created a fabulous heroine in Ruth Galloway--she's both strong and insecure, curious and careful, loving and suspicious. In this book, we get Ruth at her best in her element and a healthy dose of her best friend, the Druid Cathbad.
Nelson, the police officer with whom Ruth has a not-entirely-professional relationship, is also here...which is interesting because this book doesn't take place in Norfolk, the area they all call home. Instead, we find these characters in the vacation spot of Blackpool, Nelson's hometown. Ruth is called to examine a find left behind by a college friend who recently died under suspicious circumstances.
This book brings about the best elements of this series. We have Ruth working in archaeology, Cathbad bringing the more ancient features, and Nelson in a problematic situation. Here, Nelson isn't only in his usual difficult situation with Ruth. He is also on the outside of law enforcement--while he began his police career with Blackpool, but is now little more than an outside consultant. This shift in position allows for a bit more character growth with Nelson. I quite liked this mystery--it was the perfect mix of the modern and the ancient. I also could not solve it beforehand, as Griffiths give us more than a few effective red herrings.
My favorite element of this book was the relationship between Cathbad and Ruth. Cathbad has always been an interesting character, but he's also always been the mysterious guy on the outside. Here, he is in the middle of the action. His friendship with Ruth is one we rarely see in books--a healthy one based on mutual respect. Even though their relationship is unproblematic, it is still fascinating to watch.
I had a few minor quibbles here and there, most of which would be spoilers if I mentioned them here. But none of them were so big that they caused anything but a faint ripple of annoyance as I read. This is an enjoyable mystery series that I would heartily recommend.
andrew61's review against another edition
3.0
Fifth in the series finds Ruth called to Blackpool after the death of a University friend and his discovery of the bones and tomb of a long dead apparently important person. At the same time DI Nelson and wife return to his home town for a holiday.
Lots of nasty goings on make for a great read.
Lots of nasty goings on make for a great read.
fictionfan's review
3.0
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones…
When archaeologist Dan Golding finds the burial site of the Raven King, he writes to his old university friend Ruth Galloway to ask for her expert help in examining the bones. But by the time Ruth receives the letter, Dan is dead…
In this outing, Griffiths takes Ruth north to Lancashire, accompanied by her child Kate and her druid friend Cathbad. Nelson follows, partly to visit his old home and the family and friends that still live there, partly to find out what’s happening in the police investigation of Dan’s death. The descriptions of Lancashire are very good, highlighting the differences between the glitzy vulgarity of Blackpool, the net-curtained respectability of the small towns around, and the wild and desolate feel of the countryside and woods. Ruth remains a likeable character on the whole, although her constant obsession with her weight is becoming ever more tiresome. We get it – she’s fat and she’d rather be slim. Cathbad and Nelson are becoming more rounded and more likeable as the series progresses and Griffiths’ portrayal of each of their relationships to little Kate feel very realistic.
However, I found that there were a few problems with the book. Firstly, I got very tired of Northerners being portrayed as somehow culturally Neanderthal, dragging behind their sophisticated counterparts down south in questions of sexism, racism, and political correctness generally – a very clichéd approach, I felt. I found the present-tense narrative felt false and contrived and the book seemed to take an age to really get going. But more than that, there were some ridiculous things relating to the police investigation that lent an air of unreality to the whole thing: it took the police weeks to start a murder investigation – it seemed as if they were content to do nothing while they waited for Ruth and Nelson to arrive; no-one except the police seemed to know Dan had been murdered till Ruth told them; the police didn’t think to call Dan’s phone – it was left to Ruth to come up with that hardly revolutionary idea; and finally and most unrealistically, the police gave Ruth a copy of Dan’s diary to read to see if she could spot any clues – presumably Northerners can’t read?
Having said that, the plot is interesting (if a little far-fetched), the characterisation is good and the last third or so of the book is exciting and full of tension. Overall, I enjoyed it but I feel the author has to tighten up on the loose plot contrivances if she wants to take her place in the front-rank of current crime/thriller writers. Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars for me, so rounding up because despite my criticisms I will still be looking out for the next in the series.
NB This review is of a proof copy supplied by the publisher.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
When archaeologist Dan Golding finds the burial site of the Raven King, he writes to his old university friend Ruth Galloway to ask for her expert help in examining the bones. But by the time Ruth receives the letter, Dan is dead…
In this outing, Griffiths takes Ruth north to Lancashire, accompanied by her child Kate and her druid friend Cathbad. Nelson follows, partly to visit his old home and the family and friends that still live there, partly to find out what’s happening in the police investigation of Dan’s death. The descriptions of Lancashire are very good, highlighting the differences between the glitzy vulgarity of Blackpool, the net-curtained respectability of the small towns around, and the wild and desolate feel of the countryside and woods. Ruth remains a likeable character on the whole, although her constant obsession with her weight is becoming ever more tiresome. We get it – she’s fat and she’d rather be slim. Cathbad and Nelson are becoming more rounded and more likeable as the series progresses and Griffiths’ portrayal of each of their relationships to little Kate feel very realistic.
However, I found that there were a few problems with the book. Firstly, I got very tired of Northerners being portrayed as somehow culturally Neanderthal, dragging behind their sophisticated counterparts down south in questions of sexism, racism, and political correctness generally – a very clichéd approach, I felt. I found the present-tense narrative felt false and contrived and the book seemed to take an age to really get going. But more than that, there were some ridiculous things relating to the police investigation that lent an air of unreality to the whole thing: it took the police weeks to start a murder investigation – it seemed as if they were content to do nothing while they waited for Ruth and Nelson to arrive; no-one except the police seemed to know Dan had been murdered till Ruth told them; the police didn’t think to call Dan’s phone – it was left to Ruth to come up with that hardly revolutionary idea; and finally and most unrealistically, the police gave Ruth a copy of Dan’s diary to read to see if she could spot any clues – presumably Northerners can’t read?
Having said that, the plot is interesting (if a little far-fetched), the characterisation is good and the last third or so of the book is exciting and full of tension. Overall, I enjoyed it but I feel the author has to tighten up on the loose plot contrivances if she wants to take her place in the front-rank of current crime/thriller writers. Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars for me, so rounding up because despite my criticisms I will still be looking out for the next in the series.
NB This review is of a proof copy supplied by the publisher.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
vanna's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0