Will I love The Crossing Places?

Elly Griffith's characters sparkle with originality in The Crossing Places, as does her setting and plot. A light read, this mystery nonetheless drew me in, surprising me with twists and turns, making the most of archaeologist Ruth Galloway's curiosity and DCI Nelson's unswerving dedication. The two uncover mysteries in the marshes and bogs near a remote beach, a fitting setting for ancient burial practices. I'd choose a second one in this series!

So, I might be favorably inclined towards archaeologists (I married one, just like Elly Griffith did). When I read the first of the Ruth Galloway series (local archaeologist in Britain), what I liked most was the authenticity of the archaeological sequences.

I’ve also worked with police as a consultant, and the police procedural parts of this series are solid. A great combination! I’m about to start the Ali Dawson series of Griffiths, and I have high hopes for that too—but read these first. 

Ruth Galloway, an archaeologist is called in to identify a child’s remains found on a nearby beach near her home in Norfolk. As the story unfolds another child’s remains are found, but this time Ruth also finds herself in danger. As in all of the Galloway mysteries, I found this an absorbing, poignant read, and difficult to put down.

This book has the winning combination of everything I love!

First, a spooky setting—in this case, the salt marshes on the Norfolk coast. They have a dismal beauty, but they are full of dangers like sudden tides and quicksand-like marsh mud. Second, a strong female protagonist. Ruth Galloway is a delight. A noted archaeologist who teaches at Norfolk University, Ruth is independent, intelligent, and curious. Third: Romance. Ruth forges a connection with DI Harry Nelson, who calls upon her services to identify the age of some bones. Fourth: Humor. This book, though often scary in a deliciously Gothic, historical way,… show more.

I’m especially fond of Ruth Galloway because I’ve worked as a volunteer excavator at Fort Vindolanda in the north of England, and Ruth uses her archaeological skills to solve murders. I love that Griffiths has created a world with distinct and interesting characters, a haunting setting, and intriguing mysteries.

The tension in this first book of the series kept me turning pages, and I wanted to read the next book immediately. 

I love to get into a good series and when the characters are unusual it adds much to the enjoyment. Ruth Galloway is someone totally unlike a detective or crime fighter and yet through her inquisitiveness and intelligence she finds herself involved in things other than teaching archaeology. Added to the crime aspect is the wee frisson of romance that develops throughout the series and the scene setting in a place that I don’t know at all is wonderful. A great introduction to a much-loved series. 

The first of Elly Griffiths’ books featuring Dr. Ruth Galloway is an introduction that has drawn me into the rest of the series. Galloway is a forensic archaeologist at a Norfolk, England university, and the details of her field research and how her academic life intersects with more modern murder mysteries is a glimpse at the scientific side of real crime. The cast of characters around her is a “family” I enjoy visiting.