The Crossing Places: The First Ruth Galloway Mystery

By Elly Griffiths

Book Overview

The first entry in the acclaimed Ruth Galloway British crime series follows the "captivating"* archaeologist as she investigates a child's bones found on a nearby beach, thought to be part of a decade-old cold case.

Forensic archeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway is in her late thirties. She lives happily alone with her two cats in a bleak, remote area near the Norfolk coast, land that was sacred to its Iron Age inhabitants--not quite earth, not quite sea. But her routine days of digging up bones and other ancient objects are harshly upended when a child's bones are found on a desolate beach. In this gripping police procedural, Detective Chief Inspector Nelson calls Galloway for help, believing they are the remains of Lucy Downey, a little girl who went missing a decade ago and whose abductor continues to taunt him with bizarre letters containing references to ritual sacrifice, Shakespeare, and the Bible. Then a second girl goes missing and Nelson receives a new letter--exactly like the ones about Lucy.

Is it the same killer? Or a copycat murderer, linked in some way to Ruth's remote home?

*Louise Penny

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0547386060
• ISBN13: 9780547386065
• Release Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Mariner Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.73 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.2" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Good mystery

All in all a good mystery with interesting characters. I believe I've read another book by this author, and would probably read another one from the Ruth Galloway series based on this one.

A thriller on the mysterious marshlands

Ten years ago, a young girl disappeared from her family's garden, a disappearance that has haunted Detective Chief Inspector Henry Nelson. Whether she is dead or possibly still alive, is a question her family must live with every day. So when some bones are found in the nearby marsh, bones that appear to be those of a child, Nelson hopes part of the mystery may now be solved and turns to a local professor, archeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway for help. She discovers they do not belong to the missing child but rather to an Iron Age girl, partially preserved in the bog, who died over two thousand years ago. This is an exciting discovery for her and her work but thinks no doubt it is the end to her involvement with helping the police. Nothing could be less true. Galloway is a bit of an odd sort, herself living in a cottage on the edge of the marsh, a place she fell in love with after a dig on a discovered henge there a decade ago. Just about 40, overweight, not in a relationship since her last boyfriend ran off and married someone else, no one, even her friends understand her lifestyle. "Everything is pale and washed out, grey-green merging to grey-white as the marsh meets the sky. Far off is the sea, a line of darker grey, seagulls riding in on the waves. It is utterly desolate and Ruth has absolutely no idea why she loves it so much.. But Nelson see her differently than most people and is quick to ask her help in the investigation. It seems that he has been receiving taunting letters from the supposed kidnapper, letters full of literary allusions and archeological information. He shows then to her in hopes that she will see some clue he has missed. "But she interests him. Like all forceful people (he calls it forceful rather than bullying), he prefers people who stand up to him, but in his job that doesn't happen often. People either despise him or kowtow to him. Ruth had done neither. She had looked him in the face, coolly, as an equal. He thinks he's never met anyone, any woman quite as sure of themselves as Ruth Galloway." When a second girl disappears, and Ruth personal life is effected, seemingly as a warning about her involvement, she finds herself thick into the investigation and into an odd friendship with the Detective Chief Inspector. This book has a great deal to recommend it. This dangerous, mysterious marsh is a wonderful setting for a mystery and one that particularly appeals to me. Also Ruth is a great character and a nice chance from most mystery heroines. Middle aged, more concerned for her work than her appearance, smart, independent....and yet still having those issues living up to her parents expectations for her. The plot is quite good..even though I must say I correctly guessed the outcome, it in no way lessened the book's enjoyment for me. It is a well written, page-turning read, full of twists and turns not a few of which might cause you to drown in the marsh. This is the first mystery book by the author, using the nam

Fast paced and suspensful

"The Crossing Places" is my first Elly Griffiths' novel. I truly couldn't put it down once I started. The main character, Ruth Galloway, is believable; she has more depth than any female character in other detective novels I've recently read. She's very intelligent and independent, yet she makes natural human mistakes which serve to give her character depth. This is not easy to do, and I applaud Ms. Griffiths in her effort to make a really smart, likable female character. The story is fast paced, and filled with interesting characters who are also very realistic. I look forward to more Ruth Galloway "whodunits." I adore Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson. He must also be in new novels with Ruth Galloway!

Drowned landscape

If you have any preconceptions about archaeologists, they probably don't include overweight nearly-40-year-olds living in isolated cottages. With cats. How much excitement can there be on the edge of a remote saltmarsh in the east of England? Author Elly Griffiths shatters your preconceptions with her first book featuring Ruth Galloway. Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson "invites" Ruth to examine the body of a child found buried in the marsh, hoping to find closure on the disappearance of young Lucy Downey ten years before. The body turns out to be from the Iron Age, possibly tied somehow to the henge site discovered on the marsh around the same time. Two-thousand-year-old bodies preserved in peat are right in Ruth's line, but when another child is taken, Ruth finds herself "helping the police with their inquiries." The Crossing Places is steeped in history, myth, and even a bit of madness--all pulled firmly into a modern setting. Ruth Galloway is an abrasive, outspoken loner, but she meets her match in DCI Nelson. This unexpected involvement in forensics could put her life into a spin--if she survives the danger of the Saltmarsh and the people interested in it. The book foreshadows some of the outcomes, which may be a problem for readers who prefer their mysteries to be solved only at the end. There is also a slightly surreal aspect to some of the minor characters. These quibbles aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in the series (which will be released in the U.K. in early 2010). I found the landscape, history and main character absorbing. For me, a five-star read. Linda Bulger, 2009

We who were living are now dying (T.S. Eliot)

Ruth Galloway likes living near the lonely salt marsh. It suits her personality as an introvert who gains her strength from aloneness. Much to the dismay of her parents, friends and former lovers, she is content to live alone with her cats. She is her own person and enjoys it. Sometimes she wonders if there should be more for her in life, but usually it is because of her parents and friends. An archaeology professor, getting involved in a murder mystery was not in her plan, but she finds it interesting. She enjoys the challenge and opportunity to use some of her ability to discern what others do not see in an event. She likes being useful to the police and society. Filled with interesting characters this book is a fast read and very interesting. Good story and character development make it fun. I had a hunch about the ending from the beginning and wasn't disappointed. I learned a lot about the salt marshes of England, as well as the early archaeology of the area. This is much different from my usual choice of book, but I am very glad I chose to read it. I prefer not to read books with extreme violence or gruesome details about killings. Griffiths manages to keep me up at night reading without turning my stomach. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I hope it isn't too long in appearing.

To be Re-released by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in January!

The Crossing Places A Ruth Galloway Mystery By Elly Griffiths Houghton Mifflin Harcourt ISBN: 9780547229898 306 Pages 2010 Edition Elly Griffiths' The Crossing Places, includes all my favorite things! With a professional rating of 1-5, my personal rating is 10! Mystery, suspense, a taste of gothic, great forensics knowledge, a little bit spooky, a touch of the mystic, a captivating whodunit, and a main character I can actually relate to! It doesn't get any better for me! Ruth Galloway is an archaeology professor who lives near a dig site she once worked. There are isolated marshes, dangerous areas where one can be lost instantly, yet Ruth has found the home that suits her and her two cats. Now ten years later, based upon her forensics expertise, she is called upon to examine a body that is found very close to the former dig and, of course, close to where she lives. This connection results in an avalanche of murder, intrigue, love, and loss of trust because Ruth is right in the middle of it all! Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson had also been there ten years ago. And when they found the buried child, he immediately thought, and hoped, that it was Lucy--Lucy who had been kidnapped and never found. Even finding her in death would be better than never knowing where she was! Nelson stood over Ruth as she kneeled to study the body. The child had been tied down, seemingly with vines. Then Ruth saw the torque, knew it definitely was from the Iron Age and suggested to the Detective that this was probably an ancient body, which on later examination proved to be correct. The find did not ease the frustration of the police and family, but it did create excitement in the archaeological field. Ruth called her former professor, with whom she had worked on the original dig and explained what had been found. He was able to take a sabbatical and was soon there, seemingly to take over her discovery. Ruth was not pleased. But Eric moved ahead, getting permission to dig, pulling together a crew... Even Ruth had to admit she was happy to be back digging! But then she would remember why permission had been granted. Another little girl had been kidnapped, her body found buried in the old dig site! The police had of course conducted their own investigation, but Detective Nelson knew that the detailed search and dig process by professional archaeological staff could be beneficial to finding additional clues. But during that time, the past came back to haunt Ruth: Her previous lover had separated from his family and came to live near her while he wrote a book, but really hoping to rekindle their earlier romance. One of the main protestors of the previous dig was found to be living nearby and even working at the same university where Ruth was. Eric's return brought back all of her hero-worship/love feelings for him, even while he was laying claim to her discoveries! And it was Detective Nelson who was pulling her further and further into solving the case--as