The Crossing Places

by Elly Griffiths

This is the first in a series of 15 novels about Dr Ruth Galloway, a forensic archaeologist who lectures at the University of North Norfolk.  Although not Elly’s first novel, it is her first foray into crime fiction. The subject matter was inspired by her husband who gave up his job in the city to retrain as an archaeologist and her aunt who lives on the Norfolk coast and filled Elly’s head with myths and legends when she was a child.

Dr Ruth Galloway lives in a remote seaside cottage on the edge of the bleak windswept marshes of North Norfolk. She lives alone with her two cats and is happy with her isolated existence – it suits her! It is a bleak area but beautiful and the haunting desolate atmosphere plays a huge part in the story as it pans out, giving an air of menace and foreboding.

Ruth is an interesting character. She is a strong single woman, quirky and sharp tongued.  She is not particularly bothered by her attire, choosing comfortable plain clothes to wear. She is content with her own company and that of her cats, rarely seeing her neighbours and hating social events. But she is happy. Her lifestyle is her choice. She is fascinated by the archaeological interest in the salt marshes and has participated in digs in the past. Quiet and reserved, she is not your usual story heroine but this does make her seem more relatable.

When a number of bones, believed to be that of a child are found near the site of a pre historic henge on the salt marshes, Dr Ruth Galloway is called in.  The police, particularly DCI Harry Nelson, need to know if the bones are prehistoric or if they might belong to a young local girl, Lucy Downey, who went missing ten years previously.  Her disappearance continues to haunt Nelson who refuses to give up the search for Lucy particularly since he has been receiving strange notes alluding to the mystery. Nelson believes that Ruth’s natural inquisitive manner and her differing perspective, ie looking at things from an archaeological background, may be extremely useful.

The bizarre anonymous notes contain details of ritual sacrifice and quote Shakespeare and the Bible. His belief is that Ruth has the expertise and experience that could help him finally solve the case and find the body of Lucy.

When the bones turn out to be that of a sacrifice many years before, Nelson has to rethink and shares the notes with Ruth, hoping that she may be able to explain them further. Ruth is quickly drawn into the mystery, intrigued by the mind of the letter writer who seems to have an in depth knowledge of archaeological digs, along with what appears to be psychic powers.

 And then a second young child goes missing.  This occurrence draws Ruth into unknown territory and unknowingly puts her in serious danger. When she begins to receive personal threats, Ruth realises that someone is possibly watching her every move and she no longer knows who she can trust.

I really enjoyed this book despite it being very different to my usual book of choice. The setting is perfect for creating a mystical air and a sense of gloom and fear which builds as the story progresses. Ruth is instantly likeable – she is by no means perfect – and so we can relate to her easily. Her persistence and that of DCI Nelson to solve the case has you willing them on. What really did happen to Lucy Downey?  Can she ever be found?  And who is responsible? There are several contenders and I was left guessing almost to the end.

I enjoyed the book sufficiently to start looking for others in the series as I would like to know what happens to Ruth.  Does she remain in her isolated home and  in her solitary existence and does she have a real connection to DCI Nelson?  I do like a happy ending but since there are 15 books in this particular series, it may take me a while to find out!!