Book Review - The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths

The Crossing Places
by Elly Griffiths
Published January 2010

Over weight, a bit messy, and leaning ever so slightly towards the life of one of those crazy cat ladies, Ruth Galloway isn't anyone's idea of a heroine but then again she was never trying to be one. A forensic archeologist Ruth has carved out a happy life for herself on the desolate Norfolk coast until she is asked to date some recently unearthed human remains. Soon Ruth is involved with the police on a more recent case when a small girl goes missing and Ruth's expertise may be the only means to find her. Ruth's beloved salt marsh will test her tenacity and shake the foundation of her carefully built life.

A lovely traditional mystery and hopefully the start of a long running series with Ruth and Detective Chief Inspector Henry Nelson knocking heads in a future adventure. If you love British mysteries try The Crossing Places.

From the Publisher -
"When she's not digging up bones or other ancient objects, quirky, tart-tongued archaeologist Ruth Galloway lives happily alone in a remote area called Saltmarsh near Norfolk, land that was sacred to its Iron Age inhabitants - not quite earth, not quite sea.

When a child's bones are found on a desolate beach nearby, Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson calls Galloway for help. Nelson thinks he has found the remains of Lucy Downey, a little girl who went missing ten years ago. Since her disappearance he has been receiving bizarre letters about her, letters with references to ritual and sacrifice.

The bones actually turn out to be two thousand years old, but Ruth is soon drawn into the Lucy Downey case and into the mind of the letter writer, who seems to have both archaeological knowledge and eerie psychic powers. Then another child goes missing and the hunt is on to find her. As the letter writer moves closer and the windswept Norfolk landscape exerts its power, Ruth finds herself in completely new territory - and in serious danger.

THE CROSSING PLACES marks the beginning of a captivating new crime series featuring an irresistible heroine."