I was sorry to have missed an author event with Elly Griffiths in Huntingdon organised by Niche Comics Bookshop but it did put Elly’s name on my radar. With the name Elly Griffiths lodged firmly in what passes these days as my memory, I looked in the local library. Picking up a copy there of The Crossing Places, Elly Griffith’s first novel in the Dr. Ruth Calloway series.
Elly Griffith’s, Dr Ruth Calloway is a Forensic Archaeologist, and lecturer at the North Norfolk University. she is called in to help the police when bones of a young child are discovered buried in a salt marsh, close to Ruth’s home. The man requesting her assistance is Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson, a man trying to solve the mystery of a child who disappeared ten years earlier. The book is well written in as much as the characters are finely drawn and believable. The landscape and the locations are described with great skill.
However, the plot could be better. This is I understand Elly Griffiths first crime novel, I will try some of her others, to see if she has addressed, what was in my opinion a serious shortcoming.
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Posted by summertime75 on September 28, 2023 at 10:05 pm
I doubt that you will be disappointed, my wife bought me The Crossing Places last November from a charity shop and I read the following 14 by February when the final, The Last Remains was published, the only copy purchased new and autographed. The author admitted after messaging her that there was some “wriggle” room for another Dr Ruth Galloway book, hopefully that will be the case as I liked the character. I have read another The Postscript Murders but didn’t like the principle character enough to read more, however The Brighton Mysteries have been recommended so I may look at those next.
Posted by fenlandphil on September 28, 2023 at 10:32 pm
What did you think of the plot of The Crossing Places? I didn’t want to spoil it for anyone else wanting to read it, by giving too much away. I am struggling for time to read much for pleasure at the moment but I will try some of the others in the series. Are you living in Cambridgeshire?
Posted by Cathy Cade on September 29, 2023 at 8:59 am
Now I will have to read it to know how I feel about the plot!
Posted by Marsha on October 3, 2023 at 7:50 pm
One thing I appreciate about you, Phil is your honesty. 🙂
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