The House at Seas End by Elly Griffiths
Published by Quercus (first published January 1st 2010) ISBN13: 9781849163675
When bones are unearthed at the foot of a north Norfolk cliff, forensics expert Ruth Galloway and DCI Nelson are put on the case. The skeletons have lain there for decades, possibly since the war, and for all that time a hideous crime has been concealed.
When a body washes up on the beach, it becomes clear that someone wants the truth of the past to stay buried, and will go to any lengths to keep it that way. Can Ruth and Nelson uncover the truth in time to stop another murder?
My Thoughts;
Another great book in the Ruth Galloway series. This third one sees Ruth juggle the demands of her job at the university as an archaeologist as well as being seconded to the serious crimes unit of the police, with that of being a single mother. Griffiths explores this wonderfully as Ruth pitches between her desires to be a part of an exciting discovery and then the ensuing investigation and her guilt at her perceived failures as a mother. Griffiths doesn’t provide easy answers or magic up people we’ve not previously heard of. Neither does she change the behaviours of those we have already met, just to suit. This storyline is an area that many working mothers will be able to identify with deeply. I found it real and genuine and it brought an added depth to the story.
The setting along the harsh cold coastline is as always an enormous character of its own. It feels forbidding and dangerous without the considerations of a murderer at large. And the investigated murder crosses time periods with history, covering the second World War period and family secrets play out in a wonderful story that has you entrenched firmly in there, wondering at a time gone by, and how things may have actually occurred in small coastal towns.
The ending will leave you gasping to read the next one as soon as you can. A perfect way to end a book in a series!
I need to start reading this series, they sound really good.
I will have to pick this latest book up. I enjoyed the first two. I like how Ruth is different than your typical “lady scientist ” protagonist.
That one has me intrigued.
Rebecca – I’m a fan of this series (Hint, hint for the book club!) – I really am. I thought this one was a terrific entry, too. I think among many things about this series that really work, Griffiths does an excellent job of evoking place.
You’ve done it again, Rebecca–loved this book. It was so peaceful and safe, despite the murder and mayhem. I went on to read several more of Griffiths’ books.
I read the first in this series and then jumped back in again around book 4. I’ve been meaning to go back and read the ‘missing’ ones for ages. Thanks for the push! 🙂