A great listen, excellent work!

The trouble with each new Ruth Galloway title by Elly Griffiths that I purchase on pre-order is that as soon as it's in my account I must listen to it in large chunks, and then I am left waiting for the next title!

Book 10 has a different landscape, which was a really interesting insight, the subject matter is interesting, and I can always relate Ruth's concerns and worries. Another excellent listen, when is book 11 being released?

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27 people found this helpful

Good story

I was a bit out of my depth as I have not read any other books in the series. How er I enjoyed the mystery,, the twist and the narrstion

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Another superb listen

Credit must go to Jane McDowell who does such a fabulous job of bringing Elly Griffiths' excellent writing to life. Her articulation and diction is so perfect it's a balm for my ears. Of course, Dr Ruth Galloway has got to be one of my most favourite ever characters. Her creation, by the talented Ms Griffiths, is so impressive. Dr Galloway is so knowledgeable, so erudite and so dedicated to her chosen career. It's hard sometimes, to hear her thoughts of self-denigration. How she feels she's too fat or too untidy and it's utterly credible. No matter how successful a woman may be, she's always going to beat herself up if she's not a size 10 and dressed from head to toe is top fashion. Yet Dr Galloway has so much to offer the world. I so want her to end up with Nelson, it would be good for both of them. This whole series is just too divine for words and I certainly can't express myself in the way Ms Griffiths can. But Dr Galloway is good for my soul and heart and I can only advise you to buy every book in the series as it's perfection. 5 stars just doesn't seem enough.

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Another enjoyable story

This is my favourite 'crime' series, not least because not much crime is involved. It is much more an evolving story of the lives of the main characters most of whom have been there from the start and who have come to seem like real people, not least Dr Ruth Galloway, who is an endearing creation, anxious about being over-weight, but confident about her professional expertise.

Up to now the stories have been rooted in Norfolk and the Ruth’s interesting archaeological work as an expert on bones. The present book has her working further afield in Italy helping with the identification of some very ancient bones. As with the Norfolk-based stories, the author is adept at evoking the atmosphere of the Italian location: a small town perched on a hill-top full of both ancient and WW2 history.

The archaeology and the murder of a priest take second place to the complicated relationships between Ruth and DCI Nelson and Nelson’s wife and Tim, Nelson’s former sergeant. The murder is resolved but the personal relationships are still up in the air.

I’m glad to say that the author has kept up her high standard of compelling story-telling and I’m looking forward for book 11.

Narrator, Jane McDowell, does a splendid job of all the new accents needed for dramatising all the scenes in Italy.

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13 people found this helpful

enjoyable book

Good narration to this book. Another good book in the series, looking forward to the next one.

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Waiting ...

For the next episode! Have just ‘re-read’ the series and can’t wait to hear what happens next.

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A trip, a skeleton, a convict, a body, and drama.

This is not the book to read or listen to if you haven't read the previous books. There is too much back story to pick up on.
Ruth is feeling down about Nelson's situation so grasps the chance to go on a working holiday to Italy with an old one-time lover picking up the bill to reignite interest in his TV programme.
There are a fair few strands in this book, life in England, life in Italy, tensions relating to the second world war, and tensions relating to family.
I found it an engaging book, although it is a bit overblown and there are moments of pure melodrama , which I feel detract rather than added to it.
I love Cathbad, who is such an appealing person, and Judy who is a very calm person, so it was good to see then in their supporting roles, but missed Clough who was on his honeymoon for most of the book and therefore not in the story much, although his presence was still felt.
I don't think this is the best in the series, but it was good for it to be outside the normal constraints of Norfolk.
The narration was good, although there are occasional mouth-clearing noises which are very off-putting.
Overall I would say this is a 3.5/5 stars, rounded up to 4 to fit the star system.

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A really good listen.

I really enjoyed this listen, narrator excellent. The story tied up a lot of loose ends and you got to know all the characters personally in connection with each other

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Ruth in Italy

Sometimes I think that the personal lives of the various characters overshadow the rest of the plot. Anyhow, it's a story about Italian bones, former lovers and old grudges. Enjoy.

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not so hot on the Italian setting

other than that, great story again of my favourite female archeologist and very well narrated.

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