My 2nd Ruth Galloway book since I am determined to read them all. Two more are on my kindle now from my digital library. Would love to read them all in order but I will catch up, free is free, and samples are always available on Amazon.
Possibly I am really drawn to this body of work as my graduate degrees were in Anthropology, although no fieldwork for cultural anthropology usually. I am quite selective about my reads and only follow certain authors, and was once in a virtual tour group but did not like losing personal selection. My preference in mysteries are historical and being written about another country than US.
All of that being said, Elly Griffiths does have understanding of archaeology, and this area in Norfolk. Her character, Dr. Ruth Galloway is unique and refreshing, as are her associates and loved ones. Ruth is fortyish and overweight but supposedly pretty, and her various love interests will attest to this attractiveness. Her peers also are not completely monogamous, so modern relationships are evident.
Ruth makes the acquaintance of DI Harry Nelson because of her expertise in dating of bones, specifically those that are in peat bogs. Harry, as well as some other will continue to be present in subsequent novels. Most of her compatriots are academics like herself.
Many of Ruth's memories and personal history are at risk in this novel where two young girls have gone missing ten years apart. Ten years prior was a watershed discovery of a henge in the salt marsh area she now lives in. What has happened to these girls and when did it happen? Others who are contemporaries or of past importance to Ruth are drawn into this nail biter, when Iron Age and modern skeletons are discovered near to her home and work.
A 10th Ruth Galloway book will be released in 2018. My recommendation is that you start reading now to catch up. 5 Stars.
While I was looking for the new Victoria Thompson from my digital library I found 3 books I never read yet.. This one was really great! So glad I found it and got it free and did not read everyones reviews about stereotypes, which perhaps were somewhat for period authenticity. However I give it 4.5 stars because of some of that.
In this book, Frank and Sarah's relationship is starting to develop and their families and cohorts are beginning to come together around them- somewhat anyway.
So Chinatown- and mixed marriages- play into this mystery. Being mostly Irish I felt that the O'Neal family were typecast and their names - Quinn? Keeley?- would never have never gotten past any priest who had baptized them. Their living situation was pretty dire too, although I know people doubled and tripled up in city apartment as they came into the US.
The mystery was good and I did like the introduction of this particular type of assimilation ( mixed marriage), especially with my graduate degree in Anthropology. Yes, I liked it and will recommend it to others who like period mysteries.
The first Ruth Galloway book I have read, but not the last. I found it a lot of fun to read. I like that Ruth is an Archaeologist as I studied Anthropology,and I will read more of these books. Happily for me, 3 more are available from my digital library loan.
Some of the more unbelievable parts ( woo woo) of "The Dreaming", and that explanation of the deaths was cleared up medically with inhaled spores and pneumonia, so I am good with it.
Ruth herself and her romances, or what passes for romances, is quite interesting. Will it be Max or Nelson as the love interest- or both? Kate wants a "DaDa" or a father figure more substantial than Cathbad the Druid or the cat.
Recommended for those who enjoy mysteries that diverge from the usual.
"Apprentice healer Lassair heads on a perilous journey north in the absorbing new Aelf Fen medieval mystery."
Happily I received this ARC from NetGalley and #8 was the best of the Aelf Fen series so far. I have good expectations that there are more to come, "When I emerged once more, perhaps the world would be a happier place. It right even be all right again." Pretty sure Lassair will return- to Jack? I am not sure of that.
I find the fens intriguing and this trip by Lassair and Rollo, that seemed to skirt them, was even more perilous to read about. Usually there is a threat of the fenlands taking lives but this time? Well..
The plot was suitably complicated, although I figured it out a few pages ahead of time. Very well done.
Lassair has always been very well developed as a character, Rollo has his ups and downs but he ended well here ( read it and see). Jack has definitely evolved but will he return? Also I am wondering how the relationship will develop between Lassair's father and his newly discovered father?
Here is hoping that Aelf Fen book 9 is in the works. Preorder your copy now !
Thanks to both NetGalley and Lake Union publishing for this ARC, which I award 4.5 stars and thoroughly enjoyed. A different genre than I usually choose, from mystery author Rhys Bowen, but delightful to read.
It was a very fine stand-alone read about WWII, told with two time lines. In 1944 a British warplane was shot down over Tuscany and Hugo Langley ( Sir Hugo actually), the pilot, although wounded parachutes to safety. The story is told alternately between winter 1944 and Hugo's tale a and Joanna his daughter in the 1970s ( born in 1945). In Italy, in the same time shifts are Sofia a lovely Italian young woman with a young son.
Joanna in 1973 goes to San Salvatore to try to put closure after her father's death and meets Sofia's son.There is an interesting dual love story going on, as well as a very good mystery.
I know little about how the war progressed in Italy or about the privations that people endured so that part held my attention also.
Perhaps the characters might reappear under different circumstances? I loved it and Rhys Bowen has a way of drawing one into the environment she describes. An exciting and fun Christmas read which I am recommending to mystery fans.
Thanks to Severn House for this great ARC by a new-for-me author..it won't be the last I read for sure. The idea of the Cotswold's drew me and I did have some things to understand as an American- like what is a snug ( snug, a small private room within a public house) , and how remote was this area ( great for walking tours and sheep) ? It was terrific!
What I do not know until I read other books in the series is, how close did Alex's mother Lily keep her daughters father's identity and why was that? It is clear that it is 2 generations of oppressed women who were able to grasp their lives in a unique way.
The story had a fresh and complicate mystery plot, besides the remoteness of the area that I came to appreciate. It took me awhile to understand all the players here as the chapters had different scenarios. I had prepped a little bit by reading the "sample" on book #1 on my kindle so I did know that Alex and her coterie did sort of "fall into" mysteries.
This one has some brutal murders which fortunately were mostly alluded to, although the presence of the medical examiner definitely shared the forensics. A lot of players in the law enforcement community will become clear with further reads for me.
Recommended for mystery fans who like unique settings. Preorder link is up now in the US but start now and read the 4 (at least) others.
A very enjoyable Medieval Mystery in Priscilla Royal's Prioress Eleanor's outing #14, possibly one of the two best ones so far. The poignant ending, connecting the two Prioresses and their families, ratcheted it up to 5 Stars.
"Spring 1282. England is at war again with Wales.. Baron Hugh of Wynethorpe,prepares to join his King's army in Outremer." He asks his sister Prioress Eleanor to carry a gift of rents from the to Mynchen Buckland Priory. The reasons for this unfold as you will read this fine mystery.
Prioress Eleanor, Brother Thomas and Sister Anne travel to Somerset where they stumble into a scenario much different than they had planned. Former Prioress Amicia is confined in a cell, charged with murder and the new Prioress Emelyne is hostile and tries to get them to leave immediately.
What can our trio from Tyndal Priory do to solve a mystery long over? Well order your copy now and you will find out. Suitably complicated and quite delightful.
