THE CROSSING PLACES
Ruth Galloway Mysteries #1
The first entry in the acclaimed Ruth Galloway series follows the captivating archaeologist as she investigates a child’s bones found on a nearby beach, thought to be the remains of a little girl who went missing ten years before.
Forensic archaeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway is in her late thirties. She lives happily alone with her two cats in a bleak, remote area near Norfolk, 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.
The first entry in the acclaimed Ruth Galloway series follows the captivating archaeologist as she investigates a child’s bones found on a nearby beach, thought to be the remains of a little girl who went missing ten years before.
Forensic archaeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway is in her late thirties. She lives happily alone with her two cats in a bleak, remote area near Norfolk, 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. 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 the site near Ruth’s remote home?
- Mariner Books
- Paperback
- September 2010
- 303 Pages
- 9780547386065
Buy the Book
$14.95
About Elly Griffiths
Elly Griffiths is a writer and former publisher of children’s books. Her Ruth Galloway novels are inspired by her husband, who gave up a banking job to train as an archaeologist, and her eccentric aunt, a sea captain on the Norfolk coast who filled her niece’s head with the myths and legends of that area. She lives near Brighton, on the English coast.
Griffith’s Ruth Galloway novels have been praised as “gripping” (Louise Penny), “highly atmospheric” (New York Times Book Review), and “must-reads for fans of crime fiction” (Associated Press). She received a nomination for a 2012 Barry award for Best British Fiction for The House at Sea’s End, and is the winner of the 2010 Mary Higgins Clark Award.
Praise
“Forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway stirs up fears and passions among the living even as she unearths Iron Age remains. She’s an uncommon, down-to-earth heroine whose acute insight, wry humor, and depth of feeling make her a thoroughly engaging companion.”—Erin Hart, Agatha and Anthony Award nominated author of Haunted Ground and Lake of Sorrows
“A remarkable debut, The Crossing Places will keep you up late and perhaps haunt your dreams.”—Richmond Times Dispatch
“A gripping debut which announces the arrival of a cast of characters that I am sure many will be following for the foreseeable future, and an author to watch.”—By C.S., crimesquad.com review, May 2009