Title: The Stone Circle (Ruth Galloway Mysteries) Pdf
Author: Elly Griffiths
Published Date: 2019
Page: 368
DCI Nelson has been receiving threatening letters. They are anonymous, yet reminiscent of ones he has received in the past, from the person who drew him into a case that’s haunted him for years. At the same time, Ruth receives a letter purporting to be from that very same person—her former mentor, and the reason she first started working with Nelson. But the author of those letters is dead. Or is he?
The past is reaching out for Ruth and Nelson, and its grip is deadly.
Disappointing I have been a fan of the Ruth Galloway books, but didn't enjoy this one, for many reasons. Firstly, it was slow moving and the plot was just not that interesting. There wasn't enough archaeology, which for me, was something then set it apart from other mysteries. The constant references to previous novels was confusing; yes, I have read them, but that was years ago and I didn't remember details. Most authors when referring to past books in a series give the readers more information. Readers making this their first Galloway book will, I think, be completely lost, thinking who is Eric, what's a Cathbad and what does Scarlett, whoever she was, have to do with Margaret? I was confused and I've read all the books. Lastly, I don't like Nelson anymore. He gets to eat his cake and have it too and seems to think he is entitled. He just isn't that interesting anymore. And, don't get me started on Ruth. She gets weaker, as a character, in each book. She should move to Cambridge with Frank and Nelson and his daughters can visit Kate. I am bored with the relationship and was entirely bored with the book.Frustrating references to previous book This book makes MANY allusions to the first book in the series. If you are new to the series, I imagine this makes the story pretty baffling. (On top of having to figure out the complicated relationships.) I have read the entire series, but even I found it frustrating trying to remember exactly what happened 10 books and many years ago. The references are typically cryptic and limited, leaving it to the reader to fill in the blanks. I wish the author had just given a synopsis of the previous book instead of all these oblique hints about other characters and events. That aspect of the book made it frustrating for me to read and is the main reason for my low rating. I generally like this series and find the characters and setting interesting. (I might add, however, that I would really like to see Ruth grow more backbone. She thinks of herself as independent, but she is terribly docile, going along with other people’s demands and rarely saying what she really thinks. And I am growing tired of Nelson’s selfishness.)The Stone Circle I know that I say this for the majority of series books but this time I really do strongly believe that you would be better off starting from book one and reading in order. I say this for two reasons: one, these books are very character driven and there is a lot of personal stuff going on in the background with the main characters and what they get up to now, and have got up to in the past; and two, events in this book are very interconnected with things that have gone before so, at the very least, you really need to read book one - The Crossing Places - before tackling this one. Yes there is the obligatory catch-up to be found within this book but this is more directed as memory links rather than a complete fill in.So, Nelson receives a letter that feels very familiar. It alludes to a body and, lo and behold, said body, well the bones of at least, is found near that of a dig. Turns out that the son of the author of the original letters is spearheading said dig. On investigation, Nelson and his team think that the bones could be part of a cold case, still unsolved some 30 odd years later; the disappearance of a young girl during a street party celebrating Charles and Di's wedding. Obviously with only skeletal remains found, Ruth gets involved. But with the impending birth of Michelle's baby looming things are strained between her and Nelson. Especially with Frank back on the scene. And then another child goes missing, this time a baby not even a month old and it becomes a race against time to get to the bottom of things.I do love Ruth, well, actually I have a soft spot for the majority of the main characters in this series. We've been together for so long and I have invested so much of both my time and emotions on them that I kind of consider them all to be almost friends by now. Yes, we do have quite a lot of personal stuff going on in each book but that's part of the beauty of reading a series; for its familiarity. If you're not a fan of this then maybe this isn't the right series for you, but for me, the whole is definitely more than the sum of its parts.The crime(s) in this book are especially interesting as we have to go back in time to 1981, the year of the Royal Wedding, to get to the original crime. We also revisit the events in the first book, when the gang were just starting to come together.I can't fail to also mention the setting. The salt marsh especially is almost a character in its own right. Usually I am not a fan of too much description but here, this goes hand in hand with the rest of the story and adds so much colour and atmosphere that I absolutely love reading about it.Also in this book, Nelson and Michelle welcome the new addition to their family. Not going into detail with this but just to say that this new addition makes things a bit awkward for both Ruth and the rest of the Nelson clan. It's going to be interesting seeing how the author takes this thread further...All in all, another cracking instalment of one of my favourite series. Can't wait for the next one. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
The Charlie Davies Mysteries Books 1-3 pdf
The Haunting of Winchester Mansion (A Riveting Haunted House Mystery Series Book 2) pdf
Witches of the West pdf
Witch Myth Super Boxset pdf
The Third Girl (Molly Sutton Mysteries Book 1) pdf
The Beatrice Stubbs Boxset One pdf
The Inspector Graham Mysteries pdf
Tags: 1328974642 pdf,The Stone Circle (Ruth Galloway Mysteries) pdf,Elly Griffiths,The Stone Circle (Ruth Galloway Mysteries),Houghton Mifflin Harcourt,1328974642,Detective and mystery fiction,FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Police Procedural.,FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths.,Galloway, Ruth,Mystery fiction.,Women forensic anthropologists,Amateur Sleuth,Detective and mystery fiction,ENGLISH MYSTERY & SUSPENSE FICTION,England,FICTION,FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Amateur Sleuth,FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Police Procedural,FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Police Procedural.,FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths,FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths.,Fiction-Mystery & Detective,Fiction/Mystery & Detective - Amateur Sleuth,Fiction/Mystery & Detective - Police Procedural,GENERAL,Galloway, Ruth,General Adult,Monograph Series, any,Mystery & Detective,Mystery fiction.,Mystery/Suspense,Police Procedural,United States,Women Sleuths,Women forensic anthropologists,FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Amateur Sleuth,FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Police Procedural,FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths,Fiction/Mystery & Detective - Amateur Sleuth,Fiction/Mystery & Detective - Police Procedural
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.