The Crossing Places

Crime

By Elly Griffiths

Paperback 320 pages
Publisher Quercus (2nd Jun 2016)

'Griffiths weaves superstition and myth into her crime novels, skilfully treading a line between credulity and modern methods of detection.' Sunday Times

📕My Review

DCI Harry Nelson enlists the help of forensic archaeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway to determine if bones discovered at a sacred Iron Age area on Norfolk's salt marshes are ancient or more recently buried. Nelson Believes they could be the remains of missing local girl Lucy Downey who disappeared 10 years earlier. When a second girl is reported missing, Ruth realises she's inadvertently placed herself in danger from the killer.

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First published in 2009, this series of books has been on my radar for quite some time. Finally I've made a start and wow, I wasn't disappointed! Two of my favourite subjects are combined — archaeology and crime.

The desolate, unforgiving landscape of the Norfolk salt marshes was a fantastic setting and gave the book a creepy, unsettling atmosphere. Although fairly slow-paced, the story didn't drag at all. I was fully invested and immersed. The writing was engaging and the two main characters likeable but with issues.

Overall I thought this was a great start to the series and I'm really looking forward to continuing it. 

Book Source: Purchased copy

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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📗The Blurb

Dr Ruth Galloway is called in when a child's bones are discovered near the site of a prehistoric henge on the north Norfolk salt marshes. Are they the remains of a local girl who disappeared ten years earlier - or are the bones much older?

DCI Harry Nelson refuses to give up the hunt for the missing girl. Since she vanished, someone has been sending him bizarre anonymous notes about ritual sacrifice, quoting Shakespeare and the Bible. He knows that Ruth's expertise and experience could help him finally to put this case to rest.

But when a second child goes missing, Ruth finds herself in danger from a killer who knows she's getting ever closer to the truth...

📘The Author

Elly Griffiths is the author of the Ruth Galloway and Magic Men mystery series. She is the recipient of the Mary Higgins Clark Award and the CWA Dagger in the Library Award, and her work has been praised as "gripping" (Louise Penny), "captivating," (Wall Street Journal) and "must-reads for fans of crime fiction" (Associated Press). She lives in Brighton, England.

Elly Griffiths' website